the kids have this week off for 'ski break' (they're currently outside playing in the water with their barbies on this sunny 70 degree day) so we went down to the
monterey bay aquarium, thinking it wouldn't be too crowded on a tuesday. i made a conscious decision to just relax and enjoy my time with them at one of our favorite places in california. my mellow mood must have rubbed off on them because they were on their best behavior and we spent a fun four hours wandering around, trudging back up the hill to feed more quarters into our meter and leaving exhausted, lorenzo in tears (
pleeeease mama can't we stay a little longer?) the exhibits have changed since we were there last and there was an incredible section on sea horses (
mama, they're so tiny you can't even see their EYEBALLS yet!). we saw a 75+ year old lobster (caught for dinner down in santa barbara and rescued and given to the aquarium because of its enormous size (apparently they can live over a hundred years)), baby skates gestating in their mermaid's purse, and the lone otter that's not fostering cubs. it's days like these that make me wish that i had all the time and money and patience in the world because it was so joyful to just watch them explore together.
on the way home parker and i chose six perfect (and gigantic) artichokes from a roadside farm stand (with lorenzo fast asleep in the car). we cooked them and gobbled that up for our dinner. it was a good day. :)