Pak-rat

In spite of my acknowledgment that I KNOW I'm a pak-rat...I have to say that I'm terribly pleased that my parents support this habit of mine. We ventured out to Bates Nut Farm and Mission San Luis Rey when they came for a visit, and not only did I find MY pamphlets of those places...buried under a week's worth of junk mail, I found theirs as well. Yes, I have 3 copies of the same information from both places. Maybe I'll mail it to them and say..."thanks! but my husband is making me give them back!"

Oceanside Pier

After visiting the Mission, we cruised a little into Oceanside to run a couple of errands while waiting for Brian to sneak away from work. We picked him up and drove to the coast (the coast is like a magnet with an ever increasing force when visitors come) and walked the Oceanside Pier to watch the sunset. About halfway across we met up with a pelican. I got a little too close and he nearly nipped my nose off. But I still managed to get a good picture of him before he sought safety on the roof of a kiosk. Check out his 'fingernail-looking' beak.

Dad caught this picture, with the sunset in the background.

Mom and Dad & Kids at the beginning of the pier.

Looking back to the Oceanside/Carlsbad coastline

Mission San Luis Rey

I hope that Catholics venture out to the Mormon temples just like my little family of Mormons ventured out to view an incredibly old historical Catholic Mission. You can learn a lot about how Christian we all can be!
Brushing up on my 'summarizing skills' here's a brief history of the mission.
Founded in 1798 the mission was named after St. Louis IX, King of France, who lived during the 13th Century. Between the years 1798-1832 when Father Antonio Peyri was put in charge of the mission the mission became home to approx 3000 Indians. The mission was self-sustaining, in that it cared for over 50,000 head of livestock, cultivated grapes, oranges, olives, wheat and corn (just to name a few of the crops). By 1830 the mission was the largest building in California. It was the largest of the 21 missions built and became know as "The King of the Missions."
When Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, the law of secularization was passed. Each mission was given 10 years to complete their religious instructions to the Indians. By 1833 'sticky secular hands' gained control and the mission was not given to the Indians as the law required.
From 1847-1857 the mission was used as an operational base by US soliders. "Notable figures that served at the mission include General Stephen W. Kearny, Kit Carson and the Battalion of Mormon volunteers, who served at the mission for 6 weeks." In 1850 California became a state of the union and the Catholic church petitioned the US Government for the return of the missions. Abraham Lincoln complied this petition in 1865. Unfortunately, it lay abandoned after the military left it until 1892.

Restoration begun in 1892 under the direction of Fr. Joseph Jeremias O'Keefe. Repairs to the church, rebuilding the permanent living quarters, rebuilding the quandrangle, uncovering the soldiers barracks, and conserving the paintings and sculptures in the museum is a continual process.

Mission Cemetery

Courtyard: Largest Yucca plant we've ever seen

I'm so glad we went to see it. There was also a Pepper-Tree brought from Peru. The history of the self-sustaining attributes I just envisioned it was it's very own city. Absolutely incredible...and I admit it piqued my interest when they mentioned that the Mormon Battalion had been placed here after they arrived to San Diego.

A Super Surprise visit from Grandma and Grandpa Hale

We usually are able to Skype my parents on Sunday evenings. This Sunday, however, my parents were supposed to be in Cancun Mexico. I had read an email Saturday night stating that their flights had been canceled due to Hurricane Ida. I had wondered what they were going to do with their time-off. Surely they wouldn't just go back to work! When we skyped them tonight we asked about their canceled trip and plans, and they asked what our week looked like. The only thing on our calendar (truly) was feeding the missionaries on Tuesday. Saying that, I asked, "Why? Are you guys heading this way?" "We're thinking about it!" was their reply.

Music to my ears!

This is going to be a fabulous week!

Annie Jane is 8 months

Oh our sweet little girl is getting closer and closer to being 1 year old. She is now 8.5 months, butterflying across the floor (no army crawl...it's the butterfly stroke) and finally realizes that she can 'look' for us if we're not in the same room. Although she 'tires' easy from her strokes (at least that is what she makes us believe.) She is captivated by Ethan's every move (Brian and I both have asked Ethan to 'leave the room' when she's eating...or to play right next to us so she'll keep looking forward) She pouts like he does, screams with glee like he does and almost laughs like he does. She absolutely adores him. And he absolutely adores her. So do we. She is such a joy. Her eyes continue to shine bright blue. I love it, they are so pretty.
Annie Jane just confirmed yesterday that she really can drink out of a bottle, if necessary. I had a primary activity down at the San Diego Temple, and was gone for about 2 feedings worth. Brian fixed her an 8 oz bottle and she downed it like it was second nature. Before yesterday, we've been working with her for about 2 months...bottles and sippy cups, trying to get her to catch on, but all she would do is take little sips or gnaw on it. This is a very good progress, and so convenient now that she's older. Annie Jane Earl, I love you!
Here are some pictures I took to capture that '8 month' moment.

Pumpkin Patches

Our own cute pumpkin bumpkins!

On our way home from the Train Festival, Brian took a new road in Fallbrook that led us past a Pumpkin Patch. Yay! A field full of pumpkins...we chose 2 to carve and Ethan chose his very special one too. It was a perfect way to end our Saturday fun.

Train Station Fun

This past weekend we took a family trip to Poway (50 minutes South) for their 13th annual 'Train Song Festival". It is Brian and my 6th year anniversary...and though this was an event that focused on kids, I knew we'd have fun. We needed somewhere 'free' to play. Ethan is so in love with trains, and the event offered a trip on a 1907 Baldwin Steam Engine around the perimeter of the park. We bought tickets (Golden tickets like on "Polar Express") and rode in the very last car of the train. We witnessed a "train-robbery" ...which upset Ethan, but when we were all 'saved' by the sheriff, he was good to go again!

In the last car of the train, we got the best view...hind sight is 20/20, right?
"We couldn't see where next we'd be... just where we'd traveled last!"

The whole park seemed to be a 'train depot' theme, and there was a Templars building that had a sign that said it served as Poway's first High school. Inside was a room filled with Electric Train Tracks, and model buildings. Ethan was fascinated to watch those model trains go round and through tunnels, etc. In front of the building was a sculpture of a pioneer woman waving a welcome to the passengers arriving at the station. It seemed this park was very dedicated to preserving the 'pioneer' spirit. We loved it!
We ate our packed lunch in the park, behind a stage where we could listen to performers sing all sorts of train songs. There were some great climbing oak trees, and Ethan got a little taste of that 'boy-kind-of-fun'

It was here I decided what he would be for Halloween: a train conductor. He had the white shirt, overalls and neckerchief...his outfit was complete once we bought the hat (see picture below). I am loving these years when 'goblins' 'ghosts' and 'monsters' are not a part of his vocabulary, especially in his land of make believe.

Ethan, Annie Jane & Mom in front of the Templars Building