So, one of the things we do on random weekends is to go to the Autry. We went there on a whim last year, fell in love with the small, well-curated museum full of music and well-considered children's programs, and we are now on our second yearly membership.
Even though we've been going there for two years, we somehow missed the upstairs gallery of Western influences into pop culture -- movies, TV, music, more Hopalong Cassidy merchandise than you could shake a stick at.
Also? A saddle with a greenscreen where you can take part in famous Westerns.
Third Sunday of the month -- the country and western music jam. The best.
Haircuts. A Mohawk for Arlo, a respectable Joseph Gorden-Levitt for Oscar.
At The Goose's school, a classmate's older brother and dad performed the New Year's Dragon dance.
The Goose practices her pilés at the Y.
Playdate with Stella! Her mom was under the weather this week. Lucky for us! We got to have Stella over a lot!
FASHION SHOW!
Art house fashion photography by Arlo.
The Goose's friend Emily and her mom, MY friend Jen, invited us to a ballet recital of Peter Pan at the San Gabriel Playhouse. We got there early enough to have dim sum (and for The Goose to refuse to eat anything. Seriously? I already have one kid that won't eat anything. It should be against the laws of nature that I have two).
The recital was put on by a bunch of local dance studios and seamlessly included seriously talented teens and adorable yet distracted five-year-olds in pirate costumes. Here's a blurry shot of Jen and Emmy meeting the young dancer who played Tink, who stole the show.
The next day: My folks!
My mom, in her recent retirement, has developed a desire to do long-distance bike trips for fun. (I think it's because she was inspired by Evan's teenaged bike trips across the country.) She signed up for a four-day bike trip through Death Valley FOR FUN. My dad joined her in Las Vegas after the bike trip and they rented an RV and drove out to us.
First thing! Let's pick up The Goose and go to our favorite Japanese Tea Garden in Glendale.
Many, many hours of enjoyment came from the RV.
We drove the RV up the mountain (up where the B is) to Wildwood Canyon.
We didn't get to far before I made everyone turn back. Those are treacherous curves up there.
Arlo and Sampi amused themselves by investigating holes in the dirt.
More fun in the camper.
My dad gave the kids vinegar-and-baking-soda powered rockets for Christmas. We wisely saved them for him to put together. He included stickers. Because he is awesome.
Pouring in the vinegar.
Waiting for liftoff.
Ah well. No big liftoff, but lots of fun. As always, it's proof that we had a great time with my folks since we don't have any pictures of them.
Another lazy afternoon playdate with one of Arlo's friends. This park is three blocks from our house and we've spent many hours underneath this tree.
This picture pretty much sums up our life in California.
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