“…Every painted sky
A canvas of Your grace
If creation still obeys You so will I…
If the stars were made to worship so will I
If the mountains bow in reverence so will I
If the oceans roar Your greatness so will I
For if everything exists to lift You high so will I…”
Seeing and feeling and experiencing nature stirs our affections for Him and beholding these things on the regular now still awes us. Don’t think it’s gonna ever get old.
Air show @ Miramar (yes, from Top Gun … apparently, Cruise was spotted recently in SD while filming the sequel).
Nothing like being on a tank on the grounds of a real marine air station, eh?
A “soldier man”!
Another {ex} soldier man (aka Daddy).
Ventured up north to the town of Poway for their rendezvous back in time to the Old West.
Witnessed some living history encampments of life during CA’s civil war eras.
Watched a gun-fighting demonstration! Can you spot the cowboy?
A steam locomotive train runs through Old Poway Park.
The small museum in the square was open.
This translated to something a tad larger. ;-P Like son, like father. But it’s worthwhile when gas is like 4 bucks a gallon and our house’s solar can run the car charger. :)
First official build @ the Lego store.
Nursery on a farm in the middle of the city? Interesting! Went to get ideas for our landscaping… All the houses in our whole development came with zilch landscaping so we’ve got like a couple of months to submit a plan.
This one was more interested in the animals than the plants.
Huge tortoise alert!
Don’t think they consume twigs, son. ;-P
Flying Ford Anglia buiid @ a local toy shop called Geppetto’s and a new acai place grand opening.
This pink ice cream parlour with chandeliers was just calling out to these boys, hehe.
Lakes close to our place. You can actually see our house in the distance.
Went to check out a fall festival at Point Loma Nazarene University. The parking lot had an awesome view!
Found another kombucha place we hadn’t tried out — they don’t make their own yet but carry many of the local brands.
Writer’s night @ school. Packed!
Farm 2 School Collective picnic — great initiative. Don’t think anything like that existed in TX.
Finally using our new Star Wars beach towel he had picked out in the summer.
So starting kindergarten and moving into our new house the same week wasn’t exactly planned — we actually were supposed to move in the week before school began but due to a flooring error, it got delayed. This whole process of uprooting our life has really made us more adaptable and to just roll with the punches. Still not incredibly fun but we trust that we are stronger as individuals and as a family because of it.
First day of elementary! So grateful to have gotten into this Mandarin immersion school. LOVE the mascot! :)
This one will live by the mountains and go to school across from the ocean. So very blessed to get to soak in God’s creation on the daily.
Day 1 assembly. They have one every single morning with announcements and a chinky hip hop dance. :)
Room 5, Ms. Lowe’s class.
Our extrovert already got invited to a b-day party — from someone we just met at a beachside playground weeks ago.
Oh yes, you can just show up to reserve some tables and have a birthday shindig by the bay here. ;p
B-day boy is into dinosaurs so the kiddos got to work on a neat excavation/dig.
He and Zander have become fast friends.
If you feel like seeing some waves after school on a Friday, you CAN! Especially when it’s 5 minutes away from your school. :)
Batman Day at a local library.
One of the reasons we chose our new place was its incredible proximity and easy access to the most extensive open space preserve in SD and one of the largest in the U.S. With all the unpacking and settling down, we took a break to explore one of the trails. They have a 5 peak challenge and this is one of the peaks.
We didn’t make it to the top as it was getting dark but Daddy did complete it another day and said the views are just fantastic! We’ll be back to conquer this one and the other four! Mommy also made a new runner friend that took her through a overview running “tour” of many of the trails.
Slime making @ another library. So many libraries, so many activities!
New BFF @ school: John.
The Museum of Creation and Earth History hosted an Open House so we checked it out. Interestingly, it was started by the Institute for Creation Research which is now headquartered in Dallas.
Moon Festival performances at Balboa Park. E’s school had performers in the line-up so we went to support.
Ice cream social in our new ‘hood. Loving all the neighbors and community so far.
And for once, it already feels like fall in September. :)
We are temporarily staying in a condo in downtown for the summer while our house completes so it’s city/urban life for a season. Def an experience and shift from surburbia TX.
And this boy is living it up!
Playgrounds by the beach are kind of his jam now. Spoiled!
Gotta get a West Coast baller hat, right?
It’s hard to beat sunsets over the ocean.
Yes, we are sporting a hoodie in the middle of summer. :)
Making new friends left and right. That hasn’t changed, lol.
Elias and the giant peach. Produce/fruit is SO fresh here! Checking out all the farmer’s markets – there are usually several going on every day of the week.
Got our special edition ComicCon SD library card.
Art Walk @ Liberty Station.
Acai bowls here are legit!
Been visiting churches… The feel of this one reminded us of Watermark.
On a mission to visit all the libraries… They are doing this thing where Waldo is hiding in each branch and kiddos can look for him.
Back at the Nat.
Getting to know all the neat little ‘hoods and pockets of the city. Art in the square!
Made us think of that other stunt guy we saw @ the Richardson library before we left.
Got called up!
This place is insane! Had no idea this was a tourist attraction.
All the fish tacos.
Lots of other good, local fare.
Not as much chain restos…
It’s the real deal when the menu’s in Español. ;P
And random new ethnic eats.
Our condo pool.
Short hike up to bluffs to overlook the sea below.
Daddy’s been using the “Bird” sometimes as mode of transport since it’s easier than having to find parking. He took E to one of his camps nearby in it.
D&B to use up an old card we had left over from Dallas.
“Reading takes you everywhere.”
Kids bowl free in an alley inside SDSU. Super nice lanes!
He has gone to Lego camp, church camp, Chinese camp and a couple multi-activity ones and has thoroughly enjoyed all of them!
One of 2 libraries in the world with Dr. Seuss murals — at the SD Central Library which is like HUGE!
Friday Happy Hour, hehe. @ a kombucha bar where we got a flight of alllll the flavors. :) We also now keep a growler in the car to fill up on whim. ;))
Back at Fleet Science Center. Caught their Impossible Science Festival this year.
Went to a cartoon drawing sesh and they happened to be teaching Sanrio characters! Mommy was uber excited. :)
Tried both sides to make it to the middle but not quite… yet.
Mouse Trap!
A jump house, jungle gym and rock climbing play place all in one.
This kid salon was the last place we went for a haircut in Dallas and the first in SD — at their grand opening! And then Mommy randomly meets their owner later on while standing in line (for a loooong time) at a consignment sale.
And it has merely begun… We’ll see where this road (or tide?) leads us!
