Lincoln Log Land

OK, we didn't go to Lincoln Log Land because, well, that's just not as cool (or weather resistant and termite free) as Legoland, where nearly everything is constructed out of Legos.

Yes, Chris' legs coming out of a lego shark's mouth.  I am working under the assumption that you all know Chris poses for these types of pictures and then begs me to photograph him.

A quite literal Lego land. 

For scale, that church is about 2 1/2 ft high.

My kids are still singing the jingle from this show: "Put the wet stuff on the hot stuff!"  Well, you might as well hose down that guy in the sunglasses.  Hot Stuff!

Our new family!  Don't worry Honey...we'll break them down and put them back in the box when you get home from work.

A big THANK YOU to our friends Dave and Melissa for the day passes!  It was perfect weather, crowd free and some of the best family time I've had in a long while.

Budding Naturalist

In late winter, I took advantage of a free bird watching class at the local Audubon society.  Our first stop was at the Buena Vista Lagoon where the highlight was this Batman-esk bird called a Cormorant.

I wish I was out in the middle of peaceful nowhere, but in actuality we were just about to merge onto the 5.

I loved getting out and learning about some new birds, but the truth is that I see all kinds of birds in my backyard.  This one so far takes the cake.  A White Heron.  Watcha doin' there, buddy?

Low Tide

To take advantage of our 7-day pass to Cabrillo National Monument, we took the boys back and this time visited the tidepools.

Sea anemone.  It wriggled up when you touched it.

Chicago loved ones...yes, this is San Diego in January.  You're welcome anytime.

When the tide is high it reaches all the way to these cliffs.

Do you see the speck of the lighthouse up on the hill?  That's the Old Point Loma Lighthouse from my last post.

Cabrillo

If you haven't watched Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea, I highly recommend it to you.  It inspired one of my New Year's Resolutions to visit more national parks and monuments.  To ring in the new year, we went to the Cabrillo National Monument. 

But first, a Slurpee.

Climbing out of his boat and onto shore in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo stepped into history as the first European to set foot on what is now the West Coast of the United States.

A simply glorious day to visit.  Those are not low-hanging clouds in the distance.  They are the snow-capped San Bernadino Mountains 139 miles away with the Naval Base Point Loma and San Diego Harbor in the foreground.

Here the land you see on the horizon is Mexico.

The Monument to Cabrillo: a crossbowman, wealthy landowner, shipbuilder, explorer.  Not a bad résumé.  And yes, sleepy kiddos hiding their faces for the family photo.

The monument with the Old Point Loma Lighthouse up on the hill.  We'll get to that...

The Old Point Loma Lighthouse has been safely guiding mariners into the harbor of San Diego since 1855.

Up the staircase.

The living quarters inside the lighthouse.  And no, that's not Isaac's ghost standing in there.  Just a little glass reflection camera trickery!

My alma mater, Point Loma Nazarene Univeristy is 3.4 miles from this monument.  During my tenure there I always thought, "Hmm.  I know there is a monument around here somewhere.  I should check it out."  But I never did.  It remains to be seen if my New Year's Resolutions will help carry me into a more observant, contemplative, meaningful, and respectful time in my life.

Peace & Good Will

Merry Christmas to all!  Christ is Born!

A Nativity Message from our son Isaac's patron saint, 

St. Isaac the Syrian (d. AD 700)

"This Christmas night bestowed peace on the whole world; so let no one threaten; this is the night of the Most Gentle One - let no one be cruel; this is the night of the Humble One - let no one be proud.  Now is the day of joy - let us not revenge; now is the day of good will - let us not be mean.  In this day of peace - let us not be conquered by anger.  Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake; so, rich one, invite the poor to your table.  Today we receive a Gift for which we did not ask; so let us give alms to those who implore and beg us.  This present day cast open the heavenly doors to our prayers; let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness. Today the Divine Being took upon Himself the seal of our humanity, in order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of Divinity."