“The world is a playground, and life is pushing my swing.”

Today was a day to just cut back and relax a little. We headed to Ramona to see Hawks, Eagles, and Vultures. Instead we saw cows, crows, and meadowlarks. It was a beautiful drive and the weather in San Diego couldn't be better. We popped in at Costco for a slice of pizza and then headed to the playground. We all played...It was a typical Munson Saturday afternoon. Now we are getting ready to head out to watch Riley play some hockey. Let's go Wolves!!

Yes, a concert for recorders...

Yesterday I was in attendance for Riley's first fourth grade recorder concert. There were probably 100 4th grade students playing these recorders (little plastic flutes). They have been been playing only four weeks now and starting and stopping isn't always on cue. However, they can read music and every song was distinguishable. Bravo to the 4th graders at Westwood Elementary. The concert was about 30 minutes ( I don't think I could have taken much more) and it was great seeing the kids so happy. Riley has decided that for 5th grade he is going to play the saxophone. I think he's really going to enjoy that.

Riley's friend Thomas (he's also our neighbor) wants to play the saxophone. Good Luck Boys :)

Whole lotta checking going on......

Taken from Wikipedia so that you have a better understanding of the multiple types of checks in a game.
Body checking:
Using the hip (also known as hip checking) or shoulder to knock an opponent against the boards or to the ice. This is often referred to as simply checking or hitting and is only permitted on an opponent with possession of the puck. Body checking taken too far is penalized as charging, as is hitting from behind. Any body checking is a penalty in women's hockey. It is also usually not allowed in amateur leagues and leagues with young children. Some intramural university leagues do not permit body checking in order to reduce injury and avoid incidents of fighting. "Leaning" against opponents is an alternative to body checking but, if abused, may be penalized as holding.
Poke checking:
Using the stick to poke the puck away from an opponent.
Sweep checking:
Using the stick in a sweeping motion to knock the puck away from opponents or deter them from passing.
Stick checking:
Using the stick to interfere with an opponent's stick.
Fore checking:
Pressuring an opposing puck carrier (analogous to a full-court press in basketball).
Back checking:
Rushing back to the defensive zone in response to an opposing team's attack.
Cross-checking:
The act of checking an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands and with arms extended. This is illegal and earns a minor or major penalty depending on the severity of the infraction.
Lift checking:
A player lifts or knocks an opponent's stick upwards with his/her stick followed immediately by an attempt to steal the puck. This may also be used by a defense man to keep an opposing player from deflecting shots when both players are positioned in front of the net.
Press checking:
A type of stick check used to stop or control the movement of an opponent's stick by placing stick pressure over top of the opponent's stick.

Last weekend was an amazing game for the team. There were penalties left and right and lots of checking. These boys were on fire. The final score was 8-4. And I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Riley's team won!! Great game Wolves!!

Here the boys are stretching and getting ready for the big game.

Riley on the ice...#24. Not that you can see his number :)

All I wanna do is have some fun, Until the sun comes up over Santa Monica Boulevard

Sunday morning we decided to take a road trip. One of our favorite places to visit is The Grove in Los Angeles. It's not to see the celebrities... but I do look for them. First stop for Lauren and I was American Girl. She has been collecting these dolls since before she could walk. She's got Bitty Baby, The Twins, A doll that looks like her (Emma), and Nikki (the girl of the year, from last year or the year before). She also owns every horse that they have put out except for one. Spoiled, yes. Her Grandmother (an only child) had two boys... She is loving having Lauren as her ONLY granddaughter and American Girl is her favorite store to shop for new goodies for LEM. While we were there, Emma (the doll) got a new hair style and facial (complete with a full body scrub). She got a couple new outfits, and got a few new dogs. Pete and Riley walked around and browsed some of the other shops. Riley got a new Lego. He's always been a huge Lego fan. We headed over to Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill for some lunch, and then a stop at Barnes & Noble. Before leaving LA we stopped at La Brea Tar Pits. We've always been a fan of this place. Rancho La Brea is one of the world’s most famous fossil localities, recognized for having the largest and most diverse assemblage of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the world. Visitors can learn about Los Angeles as it was between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, when animals such as saber-toothed cats and mammoths roamed the Los Angeles Basin. Through windows at the Page Museum Laboratory, visitors can watch bones being cleaned and repaired. Outside the Museum, in Hancock Park, life-size replicas of several extinct mammals are featured (this was taken from their site). For giggles we decided to drive down Santa Monica Blvd. We always wanted to stop at the Pier but could never find a parking spot. Well, luck the was in the air. We got a spot just as the sun was going down. It was beautiful!!! We rode the roller coaster (yes, I did too), the kids played some games, and we watched the sun set over Santa Monica Boulevard!

So long Starbucks....It was nice knowing ya!

Well, anyone who knows me knows that I have an addiction to the Green Goddess. I can't tell you how much of my husbands hard earned money has gone to this corporation. I have mugs from all over the world sporting the Starbucks logo....I have even been to the very first Starbucks that was opened in Seattle in 1971 (I didn't go there is 1971). Well, things are about to change....I have converted our wet bar in to a coffee bar. I am now serving up my own espressos and lattes. Here are a few photos of the new cafe right here inside my house!! All I need now is my own logo and LED cafe sign to hang in the family room.

A Quick trip to the Zoo.....

We had a few hours on Sunday to kill so we stopped by the zoo to see what the animals were up to. Spring must be coming and love was in the air....I didn't take any of those kinds of pictures but here are few that were behaving themselves.

As for the Meerkats, the verdict is still out as to what they were doing....

The Munson Family heads to Annapolis and DC

Pete was presenting a paper at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland last week. We decided to make it a family trip and flew to the east coast. We didn't stop there though.....my mom and dad showed up for a surprise visit (the kids didn't know). We visited the National Aquarium and the sites of DC. It was a short visit but packed with fun. It was great seeing my parents. Pete and I even had a night to ourselves.