Valentine's Day Hike

Today was a gorgeous day...sunny, not a cloud, and about 60 degrees. Perfect for a Valentine's Day Hike. We went up Jesusita Trail towards Inspiration Point. Didn't make it near Inspiration Point, we stopped at the creek and had a snack and played before turning around. Here are a few pictures from today.

This was the view from the trail out towards the ocean. A lot of this burned in the Jesusita fire in May 2009. You can tell how many trees didn't make it...the were all burned black.

Another view, in towards the canyon. Lots of burned trees this way too, but very nice green hillsides.

Because it was expected to rain a fair amount this season (which it has), metal wire nets were put up several places to catch debris from the fires. Looks like they are working well, and in serious need of emptying.

The colors were amazing today! Look at that blue sky! So gorgeous.

I think we've been up this hike once or twice before, but there's not always much water. This was a nice waterfall on the way up. We're standing on a bridge going over it.

Huuuuge wildflower field! It was so pretty. We walked through it, and it was buzzing with bees. They were loving this!

Ready for their closeup!

This was where we stopped for a snack and some splashing. That water was cooooold, but Sebastian had a great time splashing around. He wasn't in the water...he was safely on land, with clothes, on, but he was trying to get as close as he possibly could :-)

Here he is!! We can not walk two feet outside anywhere without him collecting some sticks and rocks :-p.

He was having a good time washing his rocks of in the spring...though he didn't actually want to throw them in there.

Is it clean?

Then pappa and Sebastian went off for some climbing.

Isabella took a nap in the Ergo carrier all snuggled up on mamma on the way up. But once we got there, she got to come out and see the world a little more too. She wasn't completely sure about sitting on the rocks :-)

But then she decided she was a little curious anyways :-)

On the way down she got to ride in the baby backpack (Sebastian rode in it on the way up). She must have been looking very cute, cause everyone we met on the way down would smile and wave and comment :-)

The hike was followed by some naps and then we ventured out for a quick dinner. Noisy places are great for out with kids...don't have to actually worry if they get a little loud. Sebastian decided he wasn't hungry...but then he decided to have some fried calamari after all. I don't blame him :-)

I'll try to post some more pictures regularly, and I hope to get a review batch out from 2009, since Loren was the only one to post any back then, and I think I have some cute ones too :-).

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend!