Spring break 2023 in Oceanside

Our spring break was the last week of March. We were grateful to spend a few days together in a beach house in Oceanside, California. We had a few days of sunny weather after all the snow here in Utah, and treasured the laid back time to focus on resting and playing.

The "back yard" of the house was all sand, and then over a rock wall was the ocean. At night, the waves crashed against the rocks. I loved the sound. James asked if we could turn it off — like a white noise machine.

The rocks were great play places. The first night, the kids and JB explored the shore. Here's the picture I took from the high point.

And here are the pictures JB took on the rocks.

This was a spot along the rocky beach where there was a drainage tunnel Andrew kind of fit in.

And Millie

Here's Jamesey on a walk with JB one morning to bring back donuts.

We went to church at a building we found ten minutes away. It was fast and testimony meeting, and two marines from Camp Pendleton bore their testimonies, which we all loved to hear. And Millie fell asleep on me.

During the week, the sandy back yard was the scene of much digging and playing soccer. The four boys played soccer for hours! JB and I kept saying we couldn't believe how much they played together. Andrew and Max played on a team against Ben and James. And Millie dug and dug.

The big boys also played with these paddles. Until that little blue ball sailed away too far.

On the sunniest day, Monday, we went to the beach north of Oceanside pier. The boys played more soccer.

Andrew tried a sand angel but that became a little uncomfortable. 

Ben dug a deeper hole for Mille and faster than she ever could.

James and Andrew tried boogie boarding. The water was chilly but they got a few rides in.

I waded a little in with Millie 

She splashed and splashed, until she got cold.

James also got some good cuddles with dad back at the house. We watched movies and The Chosen together every day.

We couldn't get over the beautiful sunsets on the water. We could see them from the balcony, and many people would walk along the beach and sit on the rocks to watch. 

Wednesday the forecast called for rain, so we set an appointment for Max, Ben and Andrew to do baptisms in the Newport Beach temple, about an hour north. First, Max and JB took a walk.

The temple was beautiful. We met four other families from Utah also on spring break.

That afternoon, it cleared and the kids played at the end of the rocky spot off our backyard and let the waves splash over them.

We found mollusks and clams and shellfish and hermit crabs on the rocks.

JB and I walked over to the Oceanside Pier and grabbed fish and chips.

The night we were home again, I missed the sound of the ocean right out the window. This vacation was one where I hope we created lasting memories and grew closer together as a family during a tender time. 

Ben's basketball season

We had such a blast watching Ben on the freshman team this year. They only lost twice in the regular season and lost by one point in overtime in the championship game. 

Ben started every game and played with heart and hustle. 

Here we are watching one of the early tournament games.

Millie waited with me for another game to start.

With JB at another game.

Nona and Papa came to the championship game.

The announcer called each boy's name and it was a thrill to hear "Ben Richards!" over the speaker.

Our bishopbric and other friends also came to cheer him on.

He played through a sore ankle and supported his team when he was on the bench. Max had a tennis match that night and I was texting him second by second updates during overtime. Of course we wished for the championship win, but we were very proud anyway. 

Arts Night success

After 12-ish years of attending Arts Night at our elementary school and entering to win a basket (donating to the cause of the arts program at the school), we finally won a basket!

We put most of the tickets into the Lego basket, but also some into the games basket, which the first grade class helped assemble, so some of my contributions were in the basket. 

The school called a couple days later and JB went down to pick it up, then we captured the kids walking in. 

Here Millie is excitedly telling me that her friend Nora brought in that game.

We don't need all of these games but we have loved trying some new ones together!

Speaking of Arts Night, Millie's class was the only one this year of our children to perform. And she gave it her all!

I tried to sneak photos of Ben and Andrew smiling while they watched her.

And for fun, here's a photo of our elementary schoolers on the way to school this week. It may now be officially spring, but it is still cold and sometimes snowy here. It's been a huge winter for snow.

Classroom happenings

Andrew's science fair experiment was to test different kinds of sleeping positions. He had to show examples of himself doing the experiment. So here he is demonstrating sleeping on his back, on his tummy, in the fetal position and on his side.

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I also helped him by putting a poll on my Twitter account, and 382 people weighed in, with more than half saying that their favorite position was their side. As Andrew tried to sleep in the different positions at night – for example flat on his back — he said he felt tired the next morning. 

He concluded side sleeping is best.

Then, we got a trifold for James because his class made inventions for things that were supposed to fill a need. He said he needed to find a way to sort candy, so he made this candy sorter.

The smaller Skittles went down the ramp and through a hole into a container, while the larger peanut M&Ms continued past the hole on the ramp into another container. This took a lot of experimenting and learning that it's ok to try try again and keep working at something instead of expecting it to work right away. (This is code for we had some tears at our house.)

But he was proud to show it off to his classmates.

Parents were invited to see the inventions.

Valentines Day was fun — here are the creations the kids took to their classrooms.

JB helped in Millie's first grade class with her Valentines Day classroom party. I had a mandatory work training that day but I am grateful I have been able to go to other classroom parties in the past, and glad JB got to help. Kids need dads! I cut out a hundred of these small hearts and the kids made heart banners with yarn.

Millie also had a dance "informance" at school, where they danced out science concepts. 

And, speaking of classes, Millie started a tumbling class and she loves it. She's doing handstands and cartwheels all the time now.

James Jr Jazz

I think James had fun this go around for basketball! He would sometimes grumble about it,  but when we got to practice or the games he listened to his coach, followed directions, watched the other players and tried to play well. He also cheered for his teammates.

Ben came with me to James's last game.

 And we took this photo of the team.

The week before, JB took this photo when he went to a game.

A spring session starts in March and some of the boys are going to be on a team again so James agreed to try to play again with those friends. This is a good thing!