Keeping Busy in California

So, despite Kathleen's horrific cold (which she lovingly passed on to me), we've been keeping fairly busy here in California. Well, to be completely accurate, we sort of alternate between being busy and being not-busy. We'll have a couple days we spend just resting at my parents' house, and then we'll get out and do something fun for Kathleen. Not that there isn't fun for Kathleen at my parents' house. They've made sure there's plenty to do! There's a doll house, which Kathleen loves; she pushes and pulls all the dolls through the front door. And there's a baby doll, and lots to pretend with -- a toy stroller, a toy highchair, a toy bottle, and plenty of blankets. And there's a rocking horse that Kathleen rides like a champion.

But even with a rocking horse, there's only so long a toddler (even a toddler with a cold) can be stuck indoors!

On one of our get-out-of-the-house adventures we visited a park that my family used to visit when I was growing up. The park has been completely redone since then, and now it features a neat little water-play area. It was a really warm day, and Kathleen took to water-play like, well, like a fish to water!

Another day, when Kathleen was mostly well and I was marginally well, we joined my sister Caroline and twins Sophie and Daniel at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. It was a great, busy outing for Kathleen. She got to climb through all sorts of exhibits -- bounce on waterbed-like "lilypads," squirm through tunnels, make things bubble and squeak -- and play with (well, near) other children. And after all that fun, we had a tasty, if chilly, lunch overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

And then, this weekend, Nan and Grandpa took Kathleen to Train Town in Sonoma. I wasn't feeling well, but the marvelous thing about being with grandparents is that there are people to help out. So, even though I went to Train Town, too, it was definitely the Nan and Grandpa show!

We all rode the miniature train together. Kathleen wasn't completely sure about it at first, but she warmed up quickly and enjoyed watching all the fun things we passed. The train stopped at the petting zoo, which she loved. It amazes me that Kathleen isn't afraid of the animals, or even of feeding them. When the train ride was done, we took Kathleen on her first spin on a carousel. She had her very own horse, and I stood beside her the whole time. She was nervous and a little squirmy until the carousel started up, but when the horse began to move up and down, she just beamed. I tried to capture her glee, but coordinating a hand on Kathleen to steady her and managing the slow camera proved too much for me. All I managed was this shot after the ride... but it's her first carousel ride, preserved.