Cat Haven, Staff Retreat and other October Fun

 We started the month off with a field trip to Cat Haven; a sanctuary for big cats.  We got to see and learn about all types of big cats.

Henry and Zane getting ready for the tour

Snow Leopard

Tiger

We enjoyed a few bike rides during the month.  On one ride we did some crazy exploring and had to push through some thick brush, but it was worth it to ride across Pierce Meadow.

The thick brush we pushed through

Riding across Pierce Meadow

Casey

A Praying Mantis I spotted on the road

At the end of the month I hit 2000 miles on my bike

For Casey's birthday I gave Zane the task of making him a card.  He got pretty creative!

Casey got a card and a hat

We finished October off by heading back to Pismo beach for Hartland's staff retreat.  This year we rented Zane a surf board for our time there.  He did a great job and had a blast.

Camp kids on the sign

Surfing

Casey and Zane

That wraps up the month of October.  May everyone have a very blessed holiday season.

Trip to Arizona, School Explorers, Visit with Friends and Camping at Pismo

 We started the month of September off with a quick weekend trip to Arizona to spend some time with my parents.  Zane had a great time with Grandpa in his shop using the lathe to build some tops.

Zane playing with Gus and Dot

Working in the shop with Grandpa

Spinning the tops

Helping Nana clean the fountain

Grandpa, Zane and Nana

This year Zane joined the Explorers club through our Charter school.  Each month the kids explore different types of jobs.  September was Arts and Media.  We got to visit the Fox Theater in Visalia and Spirit Radio station.

On stage at the Fox Theater

Getting to play with the sound board at Spirit Radio

We had Rowanne and her dad, Steve stop by for a quick one day visit.  We headed up into the National Park and showed them some great sights.

Zane and Pops on a giant stump

Zane at the base of a giant Sequoia

Group photo

Casey and Zane at the Buck Rock Fire Lookout

Casey, Rowanne and Steve at Buck Rock

We ended the month camping at Pismo beach with the Embry and Anacker families.  We had great weather and lots of fun in the water.

Zane on the Pismo sign

Jesse, Henry and Zane

Zane and Casey looking for some waves

Boogie boarding

Zane, Henry and Jesse

Here's some more fun photos of other happenings in September.

Zane has been gathering firewood to cut and spit

Zane and I have been going on mountain bike/dirt bike rides

Zane enjoying his motorcycle

Trike ride in the woods

Pool fun

Riding go carts at a youth group event

This wraps up the month of September.  Thankfully we have had some good rains going into the fall months and our fire danger has been greatly reduced.  See you again in October.

Camp Activities, First Day of Fifth Grade and Bike Rides

 As summer started to draw to an end at Hartland, there were some fun staff activities we participated in.  

Staff Dodge Ball

Casey on the bike jump

Zane on the bike jump

Egg toss

Issac and Zane

Issac and Zane kayaking

In the middle of the month Zane started 5th grade.  As you can tell from the photo(zoom in) he's really into dirt biking at the moment.  He's finally tall enough to ride his motorcycle on his own.  

We did lots of bike riding this month, sometimes with Zane riding his dirt bike along side Casey and I.

Zane crossing the creek

Zane and Casey

We did another great bike ride in Sequoia National Forest, riding along the top of a ridge overlooking Kings Canyon.  The road followed an old railroad grade.  We rode about 14 miles with an elevation gain of 1575 feet.  

It's great to ride with family

Zane

following the railroad cut through a hill

railroad spike

In a few places you could still see the old railroad ties in the road

Zane and Caseey

Zane and Jess with one of the giant Sequoias we saw a long the way

Overlook of Kings Canyon

Zane and I finished the month with some blackberry picking and jam making.

It's been a great summer here at Hartland and we look forward to the cooler weather to come this fall.