Coronado Butterfly Preserve to Ellwood Beach

On Saturday morning as Chone slept in the rest of us had breakfast (which was so cool it will get it's own blog post) 

 Of course with all the people and kids in the house getting everyone ready to get out the door takes a long time! The guys (and Chone) headed out and went to do some skeet shooting and us ladies stayed at the house to feed the kids lunch before we headed out for the afternoon.

My Mom made spaghetti and meatballs. Louie loves spaghetti and meatballs. She stuffed her face until she was full and happy.

 When the guys got back from shooting we piled everyone in the trucks and headed to the Coronado Butterfly Preserve.  A protected place where the Monarch Butterfly migrates to every winter. This is the beginning of the season but we had never been so we marched on.

 Mom always educating the little ones.

Following the signs to the butterflies.

 It is a short little walk into a grove of eucalyptus trees. As you look up it looks as if the trees are covered in brown dead leaves. But when you looks closely you realize that its not dead leaves but hundreds of Monarch butterflies.

Isn't nature amazing?

We continued through the trail to the cliffs overlooking Ellwood Beach. On the walk we saw this little guy (or girl?)

My Mom, Cari and the kids got there before the guys and I did. Good thing because I was able to get these shots.

We spent some time just taking in the view of the waves crashing, the endless blue and the silhouettes of the Islands.

My Mom and Pops and all their loved Grandbabies! Age ranges from 2-13.

Then it was time to walk back to the trucks

Louie really really liked this little outing.

The sun started to set and it was crunch time. Our next adventure started when the sun set!