Mother's Day 2013

 

We had a mom-a-thalon on Mother's Day. I started with a hike (on my own), and then the kids joined in for a bay trail bike ride, and a swim. Midway, we took reading breaks at both the local library, and Barnes & Noble, to redeem a gift card from C's birthday. I indulged in the magazine aisle, flipping through craft magazines which is a topic I haven't touched in years. A photo app was recommended called "Photo Toaster". At the end of the day I collected various iPhone snapshots and played around with the filters. It's similar to Instagram, without the social network. Overall, an enjoyable mother's day!

Ten

We made memory books for her 10th birthday. It was an ideal activity for this age group, and the creations were a hit. 

Cowell Ranch Beach

We returned to Cowell State Beach on a warm spring day, hoping for clear skies and cool weather along the coast. We'd seen the beach at the end of our Cowell-Purisima hike a few weeks back, and wanted to check out this pristine stretch on our next visit. Packing a simple picnic and a few beach tools, we dug into shell collection and beach art projects. My youngest was the designated artist, and we were her helpers. She gained some attention from beach walkers, complimenting her eye for design. Out by 10:00 am and home by 2:00 pm, we missed all of the traffic coming into Half Moon Bay in the afternoon.

Cowell-Purisima Trail

We spent Sunday afternoon at the Cowell-Purisima Trail in Half Moon Bay. The trailhead is about three miles south of 92, just beyond the Ritz. Total length of the trail is also three miles, and mostly flat which makes it very relaxing and kid-friendly. There are plenty of educational signs along the way explaining the history, habitat, and farmland. I liked seeing the artichokes grow alongside stunning views of the ocean and cliffs. In spring, the flowers and birds are abundant. I am already looking forward to going back, and next time will take a detour down to Cowell's pristine looking beach on the north end of the trail head.

Colored Eggs

Ventura art project, Easter 2013