Merry Christmas!

We're having a great time at the cabin for Christmas this year. Our morning started out with a cozy fire and stockings and presents. In the afternoon we went for a walk on the beach, and then after diner we all crashed out (by the cozy fire again). So nice!

There had been a big storm blowing and raining all day on Sunday. When we first got to the cabin on Sunday afternoon, the creek was up to the top of the bulkhead (and then just over the top). We watched SO MUCH water rushing down the creek - not to mention big logs and whole trees getting washed out to the ocean. It was crazy!

Happy Birthday Papa!

Owen told me that 43 is the best age in life... because you can drive a truck.

Cousins....

Eloise, Mirabella, Elias, Owen and Madeline watching movies in the alcove. Awwwwwww....

Happy thanksgiving!

We are soooooooo full!

Look! Glasses!

Turns out Eloise needs glasses. What a surprise!

Look! No teeth!

We stopped by Great Grandma Lena's house yesterday to wish her a happy (92nd!) birthday. While we were there the kids were eating a little snack of trail mix. Eloise said "Mama, something hard was in my trail mix." Then she handed me one of her bottom teeth! We all laughed and Eloise spent a minute checking herself out in the the mirror. Then I asked her "When do you think the other tooth will fall out?" and PLOOP, out came the other tooth!

Happy Halloween!

So much fun to tell, so little time to write. Let's just say that we got maximum use out of these costumes. Lots of carnivals, parties and, of course, trick or treating!

Owen loves his new haircut!

Or maybe he just loves himself? Maybe he just loves the mirror? Could be he just loves kissing.

working on a project...

What do you think this is going to be???

The Tickle Claw

The tickle claw gets poor little Owen at the cabin this weekend. So much fun!

Happy Birthday Owen!

It's hard to believe Owen is already 3! He's a real big boy now. We all had a fun day with TWO birthday parties. That means a lot of cupcakes were enjoyed :)
Happy birthday Owen, we love you!

Ahhh... Capitola!

Another awesome weekend at the cabin :)

mmmm.... french toast!

We had some ridiculously delicious french toast for breakfast this morning. Home-made (batter made by Owen, flipped in the pan by Eloise) from home-made sourdough bread (made by mama) that is made from Uncle Bill's sourdough starter. That is triple home made!

first day

Eloise is off enjoying her first day of Kindergarten at this very moment! Can you believe it? I'm looking forward to hearing all about it when she gets home!

Happy Graduation!

Today was Eloise's last day of preschool. We had a really wonderful graduation party after school with yummy food, beautiful cakes, and a magic show that cracked up all the kids (and grownups!)
I'm really glad Owen still gets to go to Blue Sky Day School, otherwise I'd be too sad to say goodbye!

Never miss an opportunity ...

... to swing from trees while you're waiting for the library to open.

... and more vacation

The rest of our vacation was filled with more of the same. Yummy food, sleeping in, hot tubbing, hanging out at the creek and in the woods. Not to mention boating on the river, complete with rope swinging and inner tubes!

vacation

We're visiting Mana and Pata this week. It's fun to do art projects, play in the creek, sleep in, play with Mana and Pata and sit in the hot tub.

This past month has been jam packed with lots of fun... celebrating birthdays, hatching butterflies, going to more birthday parties, playing at the kite festival, playing with friends, playing at home, not to mention our camping trip in Yosemite (which was sooooo great - so sorry I don't have any pictures!)

Happy 4th of July!

It's that time of year! Yesterday I took E+O to the county fair. We went on rides and ate snow cones.
Tonight we trekked out to the Berkeley marina to watch the fireworks. They were pretty good this year! Woo hoo!

girls weekend!

Eloise and I spent the weekend in San Diego with Sandra, Doreen, Rosie, Lizzie, Anneka and Bella. What a treat! We had lots of fun in the sun.

One of those days

Not too hot, not too cold. We went to the library twice! Played at the park. Payed in the sun. So nice!

Fathers day

Eloise says "happy fathers day papa. You are my best friend!"
Owen says "I love you so much, bo buch. Ha haaaa!"

Feels like summer

Hangin out at the pool... Eatin lollipops :)

Dawa

We all had a really fun picnic and kite flying afternoon with Dawa today. It was our own little "goodbye" party since Owen is now at preschool 3 days / week. Dawa has been taking care of Owen since he was 4 months old! She is like a second mama to him :)

Fireworks

E + O put on pajamas and coats and we all drove down to the marina to watch the fireworks on the Golden Gate bridge tonight. They were excited about staying up late.
You can check out Eloise's new haircut in this picture.

awwww.....

Thank you Eloise, Owen and Matt for a wonderful Mother's Day. You guys are such sweethearts.

In other news, a big shout out to Eloise for riding a two-wheeler!

Curlers

Taken by Eloise

Up a tree!

Freeze frame

Saturday morning diaper heads

Happy Easter

E & O sharing some candy bright and early this morning...

Messy art day!

We had a great time at messy art day again this year. Here is Eloise and her friend Kaia stomping around in a vat of "clean mud".

Nap time

There's nothing quite like a long luxurious Sunday afternoon nap.

Rainy days

We managed to plant a bunch of flower seeds in the front yard before the rainy weather started. It looks like its going to be raining as far as the forecast can see ....

First day of school!

Today was Owen's first day of school. He had so much fun playing with Eloise and all his new friends!

Fantastic weekend

We had one of those weekends that just makes you smile. Sleeping in... going out for breakfast... bike rides and PERFECT weather. Ahhhh.

Rashy!

Poor Eloise has been plagued by rashes lately. Her first rash showed up on her feet and knees a couple of weeks ago. We took her to the doctor who diagnosed Lyme disease!!!!
So we started a course of antibiotics. After a few days the original rash disappeared, only to be replaced by this nasty reaction to the antibiotics. Eloise is on antibiotic #2 now and her skin is finally clearing up. Phew!

More fun with moustaches

Moustaches are an endless source of fun! Here you see Owen with his famous "chopper moustache" and "shy look" combo.

FIVE

Happy birthday dear Eloise!

Sunny days

It has been really sunny (but chilly!) the past few weeks. Now the weather forecast is telling us that we're in for a long stretch of rain. So, we've been going out to get every last bit of outside fun while we can. Every day = play at the park from post-nap to sunset. Then hurry home because it gets COLD once the sun goes down!