A Trip to the Discovery Museum!

As promised, here is a recounting of our trip to the Children's Discovery Museum in Downtown San Jose, complete with pictures :)

As some of the older Stanton siblings began packing for a trip out to Colorado, Joel took the rest of his younger siblings on a little day trip. Trips to the Children's Discovery Museum have always formed a big part of growing up in the Stanton home and each of the Stanton kids have fond memories of spending the day here.

 The special exhibit for the summer was a Clifford exhibit.  As Clifford is a huge favorite among the little ones around here, excitement about seeing this wing of the Museum was high :)

As you enter the Museum, the first thing you see is a life-size replica of a city street with street lights, traffic lights, crosswalks, and a decommissioned fire engine and ambulance!  David loved pretending to drive the big vehicles...

"I think this valve should turn..." :)

Next we visited Bubble Fun!  David and Anna-Kate tried to make big bubbles.  After a while, they decided it was more fun to pop other people's bubbles instead.

Got one!

Me too!

To wash the soap suds off, we went to Water Ways to splish and splash around...

The yellow aprons are "supposed" to help little people stay dry...but of course, that's never what actually happens :)

Lots of plastic balls which
swirled and floated
through the
water provided
endless amusement

Outside in the sun...

Anna-Kate was the proud photographer of this picture!  After a little coaching, she got the hang of it pretty quick.

And last, but definitely not least, was the much anticipated exploration of the Clifford Exhibit!

David collecting and stacking Clifford size t-bones...

"I love Clifford, the Big Red Dog!"

As the afternoon waned, we headed back to the car.  David kept exclaiming how much fun he had that day.  A happy conclusion to a fun-filled day!

We hope you all enjoy these pictures! 
The Stantons

Hiking in the Bay Area

This morning, Joel and Samuel Stanton went for a hike with a long-time friend.  Our destination was a local hiking trail that led up to Mission Peak, about 2,500 feet above sea level.  We started the hike at 9:00 in the morning and got the top of the peak by 10:20 AM.  Returning back down, we reached the parking lot by 11:20 AM.  All in all, it was a great trip and we had some fantastic California weather for hiking.  Here are some of the pictures.  Enjoy!
Joel Stanton

 Spirits were high as we set out!  Joel foolishly chose to wear long sleeves :)

 The scenery from the bottom of the trail

 The scenery from the top of Mission Peak...that's a lot of houses!

From right to left:  Joel Stanton, Tim Callahan, and Samuel Stanton.  We were tired but very satisfied to have reached the top!

Psalm 8:1-4,9

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!  From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength because of Your adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease.  When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained; what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?  O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!