The Parker Project: outdoors

Showing posts with label outdoors. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Spring Family Photos with Erin of Hello Pinecone Photography

I apologize that it has been so long since my last post but I promise this one will make up for lost time. Below are a few of my favorite photos from our mini session with Erin of Hello Pinecone Photography. I stumbled across Erin's work on On to Baby and started following her on Facebook late last year. We wanted to book her for our holiday photos but couldn't manage to get to LA in time so I waited for her to announce her spring mini sessions and booked immediately. I love Erin's use of light and the fact that her subjects seem so natural and at ease. All the waiting and the 6+ hour trek to LA was well worth it. Topanga Canyon was in full bloom, Parker was in a good mood and my floral crown didn't look cheesy in photos. That's all a mama can ask for! Enjoy :) I hope we can make it to LA this winter for another session.

What everyone is wearing

Tuan: Shirt - H&M, Pants - Gap, Shoes - Converse

Parker: Zara Kids from head to toe

Mary: Dress - Forever21, Shoes - Target, Necklace - J Crew, handmade floral crown

[Love these two]

[All he wanted to do was hand me rocks]

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Feeding Ducks in Scripps Ranch

[Free fun! Feeding ducks in the pond by the Scripps Ranch library. Thanks for the tip San Diego Family Magazine!]

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Running Around Liberty Station

Remember how I said a few posts ago that I wanted to go back to Liberty Station just to run around? After Parker's haircut on Sunday, we had the chance to do just that. We had breakfast at Con Pane, wandered over to the Yellow Brick Road bookstore and then ran around behind Stone Brewery where there is a big, grassy courtyard. There was hardly a soul around even though it was 11 AM. These flat grassy areas are perfect for inexperienced walkers like Parker. There is very little he can trip on!

[Found a leaf]

[Dropped his leaf]

[Carrying Parker around in our new Tula baby carrier. So happy we bought his super comfy carrier.]

[Shirt: Zara, Pants: H&M, Shoes: Toms]

[Little man had a giggly good time running after me. Sometimes I still can't believe how mobile he is now.]

[Right as we were about to leave, a man showed up with his two dogs. Parker walked right up to the little one to say hello. No fear.]

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Cabrillo National Monument 27th Annual Whale Watching Weekend and Inter-Tidal Life Festival - Jan 11-12, 2014

On Saturday, we took Parker to the the Cabrillo National Monument for their 27th Annual Whale Watching Weekend and Inter-Tidal Life Festival. I'm really glad we were looking forward to visiting the tidepools instead of trying to spot some whales because the fog was so thick that you would have needed x-ray vision to spot anything at all. In preparation for our trip to the beach, I made Tuan go with me to find water shoes.

Me: We need water shoes to go tidepooling.

T: Why? We can just wear flip flops.

Me: What if you slip and drop the baby??

T: I'm not gonna drop the baby.

Me: You might drop the baby.

T:...you just want another pair of shoes.

Me: :)

And that is how we both ended up with new ugly-as-sin but very practical water shoes. I LOVE them.

I hope these photos inspire you to get outdoors and spend some time exploring our beautiful coast. Make sure check when low tide is and arrive early because parking is very limited. We spotted hermit crabs, fish, seaweed, seagrass and anemones among the tidepools. I put Parker down and he was so curious about the textures of the rocks and seaweed. He wriggled his toes in the sand and splashed in the water. The highlight of the day was when he picked up a hermit crab and popped it into his mouth! I quickly fished it out and realized my son is not afraid of anything...which is exactly how I want him to be. For $5/day ($15 for an annual pass) you could not find a better deal. Hopefully next time we go it won't be so foggy. You never know, we might spot a grey whale!