The BBC came to Orange County last night in the form of Walking with Dinosaurs – the Arena Spectacular.   The Honda Center very kindly invited my family and I to attend opening night.  The show has been touring for three years and Anaheim and next week’s show in Los Angeles at the Staples Center will bring the tour to a close.

I knew we were going to see life size dinosaurs but I wasn’t quite sure how good they were going to be and if the boys would enjoy it.  We were intrigued but not convinced!

As each dinosaur, twelve in all, was revealed throughout the show, they just seemed to become more and more spectacular.  They moved with grace and ease around the floor, seemingly operated via remote control.   I’d actually love to see behind the scenes and how it all works.  It’s fascinating.  It would make a wonderful documentary.

The star of the show was, of course, the T-Rex.  My son excitedly told me that his water was shaking every time the T-Rex roared.  I felt like we’d been dropped onto the set of Jurassic Park.

If only you could walk amongst these amazing creatures.  I don’t know what they plan to do with the dinosaurs at the end of the tour but I would love to think that a museum or theme park could create a ride based upon them.  How amazing it would be to actually walk amongst them.  The dinosaurs were huge from our seats but I would love to stand underneath a T-Rex and really get up close.

The next production the company is working on is King Kong – Live on Stage and then they will produce How To Train Your Dragon.  The boys are huge fans of the book so I think we’ll have to make sure we see the show.

Walking with Dinosaurs – the Arena Spectacular is playing at the Honda Center in Anaheim until 5^th September and at the Staples Center 9^th-12^th September.

As part of The Gallery this week, Tara encouraged everyone to take a photo on Sunday, 29th August in the style of Blipping. Blipping is taking a photo record every day and I really like that idea.  I signed up for the service at the weekend but decided to start on Wednesday as it is the first day of the month.  I’m at BlipFoto – you’ll find me there as Calif Lorna.  I’m not sure I’ll remember to do it every day but I’d like to try my best.

So, here’s the photo, taken after a BMX session at the skatepark.  The boys all jumped on one bike to ride it back to the car, luckily there are pegs on all wheels, making jumping on for a ride a bit easier.  Whoops, no helmets.  Think I’ll have to let that one slide.

Tara asked that we mark this day for Josie, Sian and Eva, UK parenting bloggers who are in Bangladesh this week.  They’re raising awareness of the work Save the Children is doing with mothers and children in one of the most poverty-stricken places on the planet.  I hope you can visit their sites this week and support their efforts.

This makes my photo even more poignant for me.  My boys are strong, healthy and have the luxury of a Sunday morning at the skatepark.  I’m going to take some time today and look through the posts with them, I’d like them to understand that not everyone is as fortunate as they are.

As Sian says:

We want to get 100,000 signatures on our Press for Change petition, but that is where we really need your help. You can sign on the Facebook app or at the Save the Children site. Mention it to your friends, your colleagues, your family. Every signature makes a difference.

So please, go over and sign.

My boys did learn stuff this summer.  Promise.

They’ve been quite busy with surf camp, boogie boarding, bmxing and swimming.  They’ve cycled along the rim of the Grand Canyon, hiked a river in Zion National Park and explored Angel Island in San Francisco.  They really have done stuff.

But they’ve also discovered X-Box Live this summer.  They’ve transitioned from playing with toys and now put on a headset, plan attacks on Modern Warfare and chat online with their friend in Seattle whilst they kill things.  The teenage years seem to be approaching rapidly.

I have turned this into my advantage though.  X-Box Live has become a currency in our house.  For them to earn their X-Box time, they must do chores.   I’ve been making them do chores in the past but it’s been painful to watch and they’re never done quite right.   Rather like their father’s attempt at DIY, there’s lots of groaning and complaining, stopping, asking for a snack, complaining they’re exhausted.   But now, with their X-Box Live time at stake, suddenly the dishwasher is emptied at top speed and reloaded, laundry has been carried down to the washing machine, the hoover has been whizzed around.  I’m getting an excellent exchange rate at the moment and I’m hoping they don’t try and reduce it.

As they head back to school next week, I know that when their teachers ask them what they did during the summer, the response will be ‘played x-box live.’

So when they have to write that essay on the first day of school, you know, that one about what they did this summer, my boys could write:

• I watched bald eagles soar overhead at Lake Sammamish

• I cycled ten miles on my mountain bike along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon admiring mighty vistas

• I hiked into the Narrows through a river in Zion National Park on a day deemed high risk for flash floods (no, my parents aren’t very responsible.)

• I learned to surf the waves and hang ten

Yes, I’d like to think that they would write something poetic like that but here’s how it will go.

This summer I played X-Box Live.  I have now Prestiged and have an AK-47.  I have achieved a three-kill streak and have mastered the sniper rifle.

The End.

Please believe me though, they did do other stuff, honest.

Oh, pride does come before a fall.  As usual, my Sunday morning 9am Starbucks run was eventful.  This time there was the loveliest guy ever taking the orders.  Lovely smile, very friendly and when I told him my name?  Well, he turned to me and said it was ‘beautiful, just beautiful’ and duly wrote it on my cup.

I may have been overly flattered at this point and floated over to the coffee collecting area whilst my latte was made.  ‘He said my name was beautiful’ I quietly smiled to myself.

Then my coffee was made.

“Grande non-fat latte for…

LUNA!’

Luna?  Luna?  But I thought my name was beautiful. No, it’s not as dreamy and romantic as Luna, that’s a beautiful name.

I collected my latte and headed for the door.

For ten minutes as I drank my coffee, the printed LUNA was turned proudly outwards for all to see.

At least whilst I drank my coffee, I had a beautiful name.

My kitchen was full of boys on Friday night.  Boys consuming pizza and watching the X Games.  There was much talk of tailwhips, bar-spins, X-ups and various other BMX tricks.  I was surplus to requirements apart from ordering the pizza, paying for the pizza and pouring drinks.

Watching their passion for the X Games inspired us to take them on Saturday.  We’d already checked out the prices and for a mere $15 each, we could be sitting in the LA Coliseum and seeing the events first hand.  Plus there seemed to be loads of seats available in the stadium when we saw the events on television.

I’m not sure why the tickets are only $15.  We’re so used to paying extortionate amounts for concerts, we were surprised the tickets were so cheap.  I’d like to think it’s because ESPN don’t want to rip people off because they get enough money from their sponsors.  For four hours we watched rally car racing, BMX and skateboarding.  It was simply awesome.  We were only a few rows back from the front, were covered in a cloud of dust every time the rally cars whizzed by and loved every minute.

The BMX and Skateboarding Big Air were unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  At home, I’d been gasping whenever an athlete crashed to the ground, much to the annoyance of the boys.  They’d sworn me to silence when we were in the stadium but the entire crowd joined me in groaning whenever someone missed a trick and slammed into the floor.

The French lady behind me described the Skateboard Big Air Rail as ‘stunting.’  A wonderful description, if not quite the correct word.  They truly looked like stuntmen whizzing down a vast ramp and flying through the air trying to reach a small metal rail.

The other thing I love about the athletes is their sportsmanship.  These guys all know one another really well.  They may be competing against one another but they support one another and are delighted when one of them achieves an amazing trick or lands a massive jump.

And again the price.  We walked away from the stadium having spent $60 for the four of us.  How nice to feel as though you should have paid more not that feeling of being ripped off.  Thank you ESPN for keeping the prices down.  I’m sure you make a huge amount of money from the X Games and I like the fact that you don’t make it from families.

My only concern is that my son has now upped his game at his BMX lessons.  On Sunday morning he was on fire and immediately did a drop in he’d been too scared to do.  I can watch him ride in the skatepark but how any mother can watch their son ride in the X Games is beyond me.  They must have nerves of steel.

It’s that time of year, the time when I’ve had enough of the tourists.  Last year they were driving me crazy in the supermarket, this year it’s their parking.

We live in an area where parking is at a premium.  Thank heavens we have garage space for both our cars.  The parking on the street outside our house is constantly moving with people arriving and leaving the beach.  As soon as someone leaves a space, another car is pulling in.  Parallel parking is a must, you need to be able to reverse into a small space and do it quickly whilst five cars wait for you to perform the maneuver.

Then there are the tourists who can’t find a space or who can’t parallel park.  That’s why I’m here.  That’s why I’m in my kitchen cooking dinner.  I’m here to help, apparently.

“Excuse me?’ Hello? Is it OK if I park a little bit into the red?”

As Traffic Guru to the tourists, I leave my kitchen and let them know that they’ll definitely get a ticket if they’re even an inch into the red.  Then they’re disappointed in me, they want me to give them permission to park sticking out.

“Excuse me?  Hello? Is that your car?”

No, the car parked outside my house is not mine.  My car is tucked inside the garage.  I would love to magically move that car outside up a few feet so that you can fit your car into that space, but I can’t.  Thank you for asking though.

“Excuse me?  Hello? Do you think you could help me park?”

Why I’d love to! Keep coming, keep coming, keep coming, stop!!! Forward, forward, forward, stop!!! Back, back, back.  Forward, forward, forward.  You’re not very good at parallel parking?  Really? I never would have guessed.

We have another month of crazy summer tourists; Memorial Weekend will mark the end of the summer season.  Clearly I need a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the house.  Either that or a Parking Attendant’s hat.  Or I should start charging.  I’m sure a Parking Guru salary would be impressive.  And I can park your massive SUV in one maneuver.  I’m Peninsula trained.

We rolled back into town on Friday night in our RV after a week long trip to the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park.  The RV trip was supposed to be a one off, a trip just for the boys so that they could experience it.  I was dreading the whole thing but I have to say, it was fun and I felt rather sad handing back our home on wheels.

However, the boys then announced ‘next time we go in an RV….’ so I have a feeling we might be doing it again, this time with ‘pop outs’ – the side bits in an RV that can actually magically push outwards somehow.  That’s our fault.  We took along the film RV to watch whilst in our RV and their vehicle was much bigger and luxurious.  We all stared at the screen in envy.

Our stay at Zion National Park was one of the best things we’ve ever experienced with the boys, they both embraced it with all their hearts.

We walked the Narrows – a river walk through a narrow canyon where you literally walk through the river because there are no river banks in some places.  The boys loved it.  We walked up stream for two hours, took a few breaks and kept an eye on the weather as the conditions for a flash flood were deemed ‘moderate.’  This just added to the excitement for the boys and the idea of being whizzed down stream at top speed was almost anticipated with great excitement.  I tried to explain that a flash flood brought with it logs, sticks and debris but still I think the boys were thinking water park fun not death.

Luckily blue skies stayed in place and we just had the most wonderful day.  Once we’d walked far enough, we turned around and the boys walked, swam and paddled their way back down stream. The weather was close to 100 degrees, so a dip in a cool river was perfect.

I can’t express enough how much we love Zion National Park.  We’ll be going again – riding bikes, swimming in the river and hoping to take the boys on a tougher hike next time.  Maybe we’ll even be back in an RV – I can drive a 40 foot trailer, can’t I?

The chaos built slowly last week into a crescendo of complete and utter wild partying on the peninsula.  On Thursday we made sure we’d secured an extra parking space for a friend arriving at the weekend.  Food shopping was completed by Friday to ensure total avoidance of the supermarkets on the Fourth.

Then we sat and waited for the crowds to descend.  Fourth of July on the peninsula has become our Mardi Gras.  It’s the place to be seen.  The place to be arrested.  The place to scam beers from people sitting on their patios.

Last year we enjoyed the mayhem. We’d never seen it before and it was a sight to behold.  This year we shared the day with friends on our patio, mocking the groups of people strutting their stuff as they walked up and down the streets looking for a party that was good enough for them.  There were girls trying to catch everyone’s eye with a fabulous, hardly there bikini and an attitude worthy only of Fashion Week.

Next year, I think we need to escape the chaos.  We need a far more family friendly event.  The peninsula might be the place to be if you’re in your early 20s and ready to party but if you have children, you tend to feel as if you’re under siege.  We’re right on the edge of the party zone and ready to celebrate the Fourth with our children sat beside us watching fireworks, not protected from the chaos and drunkenness.

Apparently the local authority would like to make it a more family atmosphere and are trying hard to deter the crowds.  It will take awhile for that to happen.  A few years of cracking down on the endless parties before people move on and create another party hot spot.

The crowds have left and the locals are recovering.  The rubbish is being swept up.  The streets are being swept.  The decorations taken down.

But that’s one of my favourite things about Fourth of July, it marks the start of a calmer summer.  We’ll still have tourists and partygoers but they’ll be a lot mellower and they’ll come in a steady flow.

The peninsula is ours again.  Next year, I think we’ll plan an early escape.

The Newport Harbor sea lions have been wintering in walmer climes and are now heading back to their luxury sailboats.  Woe betide anyone who hasn’t made preparations for their return.  The sea lions are ruthless and once they’ve made a decision to set up home on your boat, there’s nothing you can do to stop them it seems, apart from turning your boat into Fort Knox.

Some people try to deter the sea lions with ropes and white plastic chairs.  But, as you’ll see from my photograph, white chairs are for wimps.  For my entry into The Gallery this week, here are some locals hanging about on their boat:

You may notice the white chairs floating in the water, tossed aside in disgust, like that’s going to stop them.  And the ropes, really, I weigh a few hundred pounds, I will simply lie on top of your piece of string.

For more evidence of the sea lions taking over, take a look at the video I shot last summer.

By the way, those sea lions don’t wade out into deep water like us civilized beings for a pee.  No, it pours out of them all over the leather seats.  Then they roll in it.  Then their friend rolls in it.

The sea lions trashing boats are truly the high point of the tourist season in Newport Harbor.

Tara’s theme this week is ‘Creatures’ inspired by a trip to Sea World in Orlando.  Make sure you head over and take a look at the other entries.

The final week of school is here and one of the many events taking place this week is the Honor Roll.  That sounds so American, don’t you think?  It’s the sort of thing I would have rolled my eyes at when I lived in the UK and didn’t know much about the States.

Back in England we would participate in Prize Giving at the end of the school year.  Prizes would be given to three pupils in each year for effort and achievement.  My son won a prize in his first year at the school.  He’d worked hard and we were really proud of what he had achieved.  But I also knew that he would never win another award.  No matter how much work he put in, how good his grades were, that was it for him.  The following year, he had achieved the same results so assumed he would get another award.  I explained to him that no, hard work wouldn’t mean a prize.  The children would all take turns and each year a different child would win something.

The Prize Giving started to become very predictable and we’d take bets on who would win.  New to the school and settled in well?  Yes, you’ll get a prize.  We’d all sit there in the audience and roll our eyes.

The Honor Roll seems to be a far better system.  It’s for children who have maintained high grades all year.  If your child has tried their best and worked hard, they will be recognized.  There’s no limit on the amount of children who can win the award.  There doesn’t seem to be any politics behind it.  Or I’m just not in with the right crowd yet and lacking in the cynical approach to it all.  You even get one of those annoying bumper stickers you see on cars in the US.  The ones that say:

‘My child was an Honor Roll student at school – I’m a smug bastard!’

So, did my son make it this year?  You’ll have to pull up behind me and see if there’s anything stuck to my bumper.

If there is something there, it’ll be next to my ‘Sarah Palin 2012′ bumper sticker.