summer cramming

Last week we had to cram in a bunch of activities since Alex starts school this week. We started off last Monday visiting the Discovery Science Center where they currently have a "grossology" exhibit. It was very crowded and noisy so I doubt the kids learned much, but they seemed to have fun. There were exhibits on animal poop, a smelling lab of the different types of smells animals give off, dung beetles, slime, etc.

Here are Alex and I being underwhelmed in a hurricane booth.

Alex attempting the rock climbing wall.

And Benjamin's attempt.

Charlie enjoyed the "Bob the Builder" exhibit.

Benjamin is the tiny red dot standing under this dinosaur.

Alex braving the bed of nails.

The boys spent that night at their cousin's house and we met up with them the next day at the Santa Monica Pier. This is one of the touristy type places that I've never been, and I was surprised at how much fun it was. I kept telling Ryan that it was better than Magic Mountain. It helped that there were no long lines and that the temperature was pleasant, and we found some free parking! I don't know when I became such a wimp about the heat, but few things get me in a worse mood than being stuck outside in a heat wave. But back to the pier, it's basically just a carnival, but cleaner and without the scary carnies. Alex suprised me by going on all the big rides. He said his favorite was The Dragon (one of those huge boats that swings back and forth- I think Shannon got puked on once on a similar ride at the fair), because it "tickled his heart a lot".

The view from the ferris wheel.

Then, last Thursday was our last beach day of the summer. A big group from our ward tries to go every week, and it's one of the highlights of every summer for us. This time we stopped at Bennett's Honey Farm on the way there and after the kids tasted eight kinds of honey they decided the Cactus variety was the best, so we brought some home with us. I didn't get a picture there but I did get a few at the beach.

Had enough? Okay, I'll stop.