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!
We made a little road trip for our move out West as it’s likely we won’t ever be taking this route again.
Last drinks in the Big D @ Boba Latte. We haven’t been in years but used to go all the time and still had a free drink from their stamp card.
So long, Cameron Lane. It’s been real.
Farewell, Big D! Margaret Hunt, we may not see you for a long while…
Not a whole lot in Abilene but stopped by at their little mall to stretch out our legs.
Lone Star State, you are VAST! We just keep driving and driving and driving in seemingly flat plains upon flat plains (and lots of windmills!). :) Finally got to NM.
We’ve been to Carlsbad Caverns before but it was this one’s first time.
Mommy, a spiky plant!
Descending into the “bat cave”.
White Sands National Monument was an incredible sight to behold!
We got there as the sun was setting.
Stunning.
The sand is like no other (totally different from beach sand).
This place is a must see in your lifetime.
Daddy had to get the moving vehicle (and new Skybox) with the sign.
Kinda touristy but we dropped by Pistachioland — Ah-Gong would’ve loved this place!
There was EVERY flavor of pistachios imaginable to sample.
And then chocolate pistachio everything.
The New Mexico Museum of Space History turned out to be quite interesting. And yes, on the ASTC reciprocal list. :)
Daddy did pretty good on the flight simulator.
Trekkie? Nah, too young.
Surprisingly, small town New Mexico had a boba place.
Dwayne’s was in the middle of nowhere but was a fun shop filled with all kinds of jerky, nuts and other items. E found a little friend there to run around the store (in circles) for a bit.
Nice signs pointing to different cities all around the world. Guess where we’re headed? :)
AZ was hot, hot, hot but really enjoyed our local flavor hotel.
Saguaro National Park to see the giant cacti.
They climbed to the top of a rock despite super warm temps!
Give us ALL the A/C at Flandrau Museum, which is part of U of A. Another ASTC one.
Found Asian desserts and drinks. (And a little Trouble for this troublemaker!)
REI Tuscon.
And a Chinese resto rec from the lady who owned the dessert place we went to earlier.
This shady area under a bridge seemed to be a popular spot (and it was also July 4th) so we took a short walk (in like a bazillion degrees) to check it out.
Date trees at Dateland! We got a date shake and date rolls.
This one is for Uncle Jong. Thoory is kind of his signature saying. Who knew there were Thoory dates?
Crossing into CA and driving into SD was sort of surreal. We are really doing this? Here’s to another chapter…
Another lesson the Lord has been teaching us these past few months is to just be present, grateful and content in the now. With just weeks, days left here and despite all the packing/purging/cleaning/etc, He has reminded us to take joy in the moment – at exactly where we’re at today.
Pre-K graduate in the house!
Chinese school, too. :)
He LOVED his teacher, Ms. Cindy, this year. Sure gonna miss her. But hey, she’s a Cali girl and will let us know if she’s ever in SD. :) (Side note: see photobomber Emmanuel, ha!)
The “after school boys club”. Always had to play for a little while after pick-up.
Oh, the places you’ll go with that “diploma”. ;P
Team Pre-K strong!
What a creative cake! He really enjoyed all his classmates as well.
End of year parties and b-days.
Everyone taking a turn on the birthday boy inflatable throne.
That wiiiiiild imagination!
Mommy dragged him to some art events. :)
Star Wars day @ Perot meant wearing our b-day Vader PJ’s. :)
I.C. in the shade as it’s heating up. But this year, there is a light breeze at the end of the tunnel furnace!
Trying to use up all our punch cards, vouchers, etc.
Checked out the new Box Garden at Legacy Hall. Drizzle = breaking out the Batman boots.
And the Monkey King Noodle new location inside the hall. We went a loooong time ago to the original location and we still don’t understand the hype.
Oh, just lounging and reading (inside a retail store). ‘Cuz that’s what Texans do! :D
Find the elephant in the barn.
Playing piano.
Or pirate?
Back home from last day of school!
@ Half Price Books. We have probably been there more times than in all the years we’ve lived here — to sell stuff!
Will miss these girlies. And mommy will sorely miss their mamas.
Remembering that summer here was all about library events in the A/C!
Elias & Elias! :))
And this rolled in…
More part-ays.
Meccha Matcha grand opening! Not bad for Dallas, not bad…
Last time at NorthPark Center for a show.
Still thinking back to the days when he longed to climb this thing.
Missed seeing these sandals on him.
Hey, Paddington Bear, I’ve been to Paddington Station, too!
Last play date with bestest buddy Emmanuel!
Been good to us, Plano libraries! Off to explore the over 30 ones in SD. :)
One mo’ trim.
Last Sunday at our beloved WM. Praying for our next body of believers that we’ll call family.
Gracias, Auntie Shir and girls for the Texas memorabilia (minus the chocolate that got consumed for breakfast the next morn!).
The final throwdown with Coach.
