Halloween!

Friday Max went on a field trip with his school to an organic farm. There was a wonderful pumpkin patch there. They went on tractor rides, fed horses, sheep, bunnies and chickens, picked and ate strawberries and were able to take home a wonderful pumpkin! We had a great time at the farm.

This is Max with his teacher, Ami.

Akira, Lucas, Alex and Max waiting for a turn to feed the goats.

Max, Akira and Caio.

 

 

 

 

On Sunday Max and I went out with some friends in Aptos for a trick or treat extravaganza! Max filled his pumpkin to overflowing! It must have weighed in at 10 pounds. The pictures below are from Halloween night.

On Halloween we Max and I went out with some friends for trick or treating!

 

A scene from the neighborhood we tricked n' treated in.

Another scene from the neighborhood.

Santa Cruz County Fair

Coleman's third grade class had a field trip to the Santa Cruz County Fair today. I was able to get a few shots. We saw: Racing Pigs, Many chickens, Cows, Science stuff, Lego Contest, Photography, food, K9 show...I'm sure there are many things I missed. We're going back on Sunday with the whole family! We had a great time while there. And I am hopeful this year will be a WAY better year for Coleman at school. His teacher is very observant, straight-speaking and seems kind-hearted. And I think he might "get" Coleman already. Phew.

Never Before Seen Pictures!

At the BEGINNING of the now past summer, Paul and Lisa came for a visit. Here are some shots of their visit. It was a quick one, hike in the redwoods, trip to the aquarium, etc.

Above, shot of the redwood tree growing in the middle of the "End of the Rainbow Cafe" - Sweet. The boys playing the piano at said cafe.

Nana's 70th Birthday!

Nana moves pretty good for seventy. That's what Coleman says. I think that's true, too. Nana, You're a young seventy! We made the shortest trip ever to Massachusetts this weekend to go to Nana's party. So quick, in fact we never got off west coast time. Back to Nana's birthday weekend. I can't believe how wonderful a time we had the few days we were there. The weather was sweltering, of course. We partied at Uncle Chuck and Auntie Judy's house to celebrate. MB made a great cake, just the perfect size with a tea pot full of hearts on it. Could it have been more appropriate? No, I say. We had great food and music and the kids and grown ups alike had a blast. Wish I had gotten more pictures, hope you enjoy them.

The guards-down feeling of being in a place so familiar and comfortable is something I have felt only when I come home over the past five years. Even the smells, the way the air feels, the road work(!), the people, my family, it all makes me just relax. I miss this feeling and the smells and the people. Sometimes I even miss the sweltering heat. I got my fill until next year on this brief visit. :) I feel a bit like a puzzle piece in place back east and here in California a puzzle piece sitting on the side waiting to fit somewhere. It's a great place where we live, don't get me wrong. But there is just something about New England and proximity to family that leaves me aching when I leave.

Lots and lots of love to you all!

Vancouver and Seattle Wanderings

VANCOUVER

The three boys and I just got back from a trip to visit family, friends and classmates of yore. Chris' thirty year HS reunion took place August 3rd. We made a trek north on the first of August so Chris could make a golf game with a group of folks from his graduating class for Friday morning. (Turned out to be only three of them for the game. But they had fun). Meanwhile, the boys and I hung with Grandma and then Debbie and Wallis on Friday in the city. While we were in Vancouver we spent time with the Clan and friends from Chris' childhood. The four of us were welcomed into Rosemary and Dave's home in Delta, 30 minutes from Vancouver off and on (more on than off) over the course of our stay. We are so grateful to them for their hospitality and kindness. Richard and Marilyn even made a cameo appearance at Max's sixth birthday party in the park (one of three he will have this year!). We had such a great time with everyone in Canada this visit, happy memories.

Shots from the Vancouver leg of our trip:

Max never stopped moving while we were at the creek.

Three boys above, swinging, climbing and hanging, not necessarily in that order...

SEATTLE

We were lucky enough to have some time to spend with our friends in Seattle. We certainly don't see them often enough. But I have to say, when we do see them we are bound to have a blast! It seems most of our visits are during the summer, which by definition is fun, right? Wendy's mom and dad have a home right on Lake Washington, and once again we were welcomed warmly for a visit. We had the loveliest place to stay while we were there. But it was the company that really made for a good time. There are some constants in life that make me pause and, well they get me all choked-up - with happiness or thanks or so many good things I just can't put words to it. Wendy's warmth and steady, gentle kindness is one, and Jack's whit, humor and honesty is another. I love these guys, and their kids, too.  And now that I know Wendy's dad a little more, well I'm very fond of Bob, too!

Shots from the Seattle leg of our trip:

Fresh Eggs!

 

Two of our lovely chickens are laying eggs, Ninja and Cheerio. They are almost as excited about it as we are. They strut around the yard honking excitedly. Ninja layed the biggest brown egg I've ever seen, a double yolker! It was brown with little darker brown speckles. Cheerio turns out to be a blue egger, or a blue/green egger. Her eggs are more demure, and just a lovely shade of blue/green. Hard to see in the picture, we'll work on getting some better shots of these lovely eggs. Coleman has eaten three out of the five eggs we have found so far. They have a rich orange yoke and delicious flavor. Small issue; they are hard to find. Since they free range, they lay their eggs in the yard and we have a big yard with grasses as high as me. There may even be more eggs out there we don't know about. I may have to narrow their range a little.

Cheerio, above.

Ninja, above.

Front Yard Progress

Our Visit to Massachusetts

The boys were in Massachusetts for ten days, I joined them for the last four. Nana took them to so many places before I got there. They went to the Higgins Armory Museum for their first big trip. They went to my cousin Ann's farm to check out the horses and play with the three White girls. Who are pretty cool, even though they are girls. Walden Pond one day with MB, Eva and Nana. Many things they did before I got there. Then we went to Old Silver with MB and Eva, chased chickens in their back yard, went out for dinner with the Barnhardts. We went to Ed and Jan's for a quick visit. We went to the farm near Chuck's house and ate Royal Pizza with the Mascaris. A good time was had by all.