The Soash Adventures: Carving Melons, Wildlife, and Public Transportation

I cannot believe how fast October went by, and November seems to be going even faster!

The 31st, the kids and I made one last trip to the Exploratorium in San Francisco. When it was time to leave the museum, we ran into a whole lot of Giants fans. I didn't realize the parade was the same morning, and at 2:30 the streets were still filled and many streets were blocked off. I was forced to take a detour to get back onto 80. During our detour we had our first, and hopefully last, experience with a shooting. We were safe, and because we were headed uphill

we really couldn't see anything. The police response was amazing and overwhelming. When the area was secure we were allowed to make a right turn and be on our way.

That night we went to a family party at the church the kids have been attending Awana. Athan wanted to challenge his dad to a bean bag race. He quickly found out that running doesn't work well. After his fall, he recovered, and was able to hop in a big win.

I hadn't even been thinking about Halloween costumes. Obi and Gavin chose to go as Ames Soccer Club players, Gavin as a Ballard Youth Baseball player, and Cora found a dress that somehow made it's way to California in the boxes. They were good sports about it, and had fun playing games.

Cora and one of her friends from youth group.

The boys brought this lizard in and stored it in a jar for two days.

It was dead when they found it, but that didn't make it any less cool.

This year I completely forgot about buying pumpkins, so we improvised with carving melons on the 1st.

The kids were disappointed about the pumpkins, but the carvings from Cantaloupe sure do taste good.

It's about the same concept with minor changes.

Scoop out the seeds, drink the juice inside, carve, and eat the trimmings.

Then the you get to kill your creation and eat it!

That weekend we hung close to home.

We went to the Sand Hill Crane Festival and watched a RC Jet Rally, both in Lodi.

Here's a horned owl enjoying a quick lunch, and a bald eagle with only one remaining wing that were displayed during a wildlife show.

The jets were fun to watch, and of course you know what all of the boys now want for Christmas. :)

Sunday, Phil had to catch up on some work so the kids and I left to go enjoy the 80 degree day watching the wildlife.

Saturday, the 10th, we ventured into San Francisco again. This time by train. We got onto the BART train in Pittsburgh. When we arrived at our destination in SF, we purchased a MUNI day pass that would allow us to use the buses, streetcars, and cable-cars all day. We used the streetcars to take us to the Fisherman's Wharf and to explore the other wharfs along the way. At pier 39 we enjoyed a quick lunch at Boudin. We explored the shops along the wharf and the view at the end.

We then boarded another streetcar and headed farther down the road. Most of the streetcars were quite crowed. As we stood on the street waiting to board, you tell the kids that it is their job to get onto that car. We've spent many years teaching our children to be kind, wait their turn, let someone else go in front of you.......all of that has almost no place in this situation. :)