Tooth #2

Fell out just as we were getting ready to leave school today!

Big Sur and Monterey Photos

We began at Sand Dollar Beach in southern Big Sur and camped at Plaskett Creek, right across Hwy 1 from the beach.

This area is famous for it's jade...and the girls became quite adept at scrambling the rocks in their hunt.

The excitement from the girls upon finding another piece and the stories they told as the whole family searched the tidepools will be remembered forever.

With the approaching storms we were grateful for a dry night camping and packing up the tent. We started north toward Monterey and stopped along the bluff for oatmeal and hot cocoa. It was a beautiful sunny morning and the girls collected ladybugs between bites of breakfast and sips of cocoa.

We made a quick stop at the famed Coast Gallery after breakfast.

 

We also hiked out the the Big Sur rivermouth in Andrew Molera state park. The path is covered with "poisoned oak" so careful navigation was a must. This is a guaranteed destination this fall as the area is absolutely beautiful hike in only camping and set up for adventure on the headlands and the beach.

We spent the next 3 days visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Asilomar, and Carmel. As luck would have it, Nana and Grandpa were also in Monterey celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. So we got to get together with them for a couple of dinners and lunch between visits to the aquarium and swims in the hotel pool.
Here is a picture of Jillian learning about sea life at the touch pools in the aquarium.

 

The aquarium is spectacular with otters, sharks, tuna...you name it. The new sea horse exhibit was amazing, I had no idea the creatures were so diverse. I think the girls favorite exhibit was the jellyfish which we visited each day. By the end of the trip, Sabrina even started to look a little like a fish...

Headed to dinner in Carmel with Nana and Grandpa!

Jilli was able to find many things to spend her recent wealth
(birthday money!) on at the much revered and cherished Thinker Toys
shop. She got her very own umbrella, a dress up skirt, rhinestone
gloves and a harmonica. Sabrina also got her very own umbrella and a
butterfly net. All this after a morning at the Monterey Aquarium, fish
and chips and clam chowder at the London Bridge Pub and a swim in the
pool. It was a full day yesterday and we're headed back to the
Aquarium this morning (for the third visit this trip) and will catch a
swim before heading home in reported blizzard conditions this
afternoon. So it should be a great powder day for her first ski "team"
day tomorrow with school... More pictures from our wonderful trip when
we get back home so stay tuned.

Big Sur pic

Jilli's 6th Birthday

Jilli turns 6 years old today, January 11, 2010. It is amazing to us that she is 6...
On one hand we want her to stay little and uncorrupted by the world.
On the other hand, she demonstrates maturity and talent beyond her years and we are excited to watch her learn and conquer all of life's exciting opportunities.

Jilli was excited to host her classmates and friends at a bounce house to celebrate her 6th.

Here is the crowned "Guest of Honor" with some of her closest friends (L to R Jillian, Calli, Jillian and Sophie).

The obligatory action shots...they were buzzing so fast down this one that the camera focus couldn't catch up.

Jilli wanted a castle cake this year, so we made it pink!!!!!!

 

And then the chaos continued as Jilli was the princess in the throne opening all of the generous gifts from her friends.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILLIAN, WE LOVE YOU!

Chistmas Pics

Everyone was excited, especially the girls on Christmas Eve.

David and Betty treated us to a wonderful dinner at La Famiglia, so I couldn't don the typical uniform (jeans and a t-shirt)...but it was worth it!

Suzie, Holden and Scarlett arrived to celebrate Christmas with us.

We all enjoyed Betty and David's visit, especially the girls...

Getting Ready for CHRISTMAS!!!!!

In anticipation of Santa Claus' visit on Christmas Eve, the girls did a little skiing on a bluebird day.

The girls at High Camp, Sabrina was visualizing her gold medal run...

Feel "The Force" Luke... (that's Lake Tahoe in the background)

Watch out ski bunnies, here comes the new school!

And a little preview of Christmas morning, to be continued...

A special sledding day...

We got to go sledding yesterday with the Mikulaks who are up in Soda Springs for Christmas. We shoveled some tracks right out front of their place...

...ultimately took a little rest to recharge the batteries...

...ate a big lunch while Andy dried maybe 5 loads of snow clothes, then ventured out to another (apparently very popular) hill in Truckee before dinner.
 

The always determined Jilli decided it was time to make a snowman...

...she and Amy rolled the bottom from about 100 yards away, but by the end I think everyone (but me) contributed to the completion of the masterpiece!

Andy, Melis, Hannah and Nick.

Good times with great friends!

Trimming the Christmas Tree

As promised, here are a couple of shots of decorating the tree. As you can imagine, for the most part the ornaments are concentrated between 5-8 feet high as this was the sweet spot for the girls on the ladder...high enough to feel accomplished/pushing the limit, but not so high as to be too scary!

Hello El Nino!

Well, just as we were wondering what kind of ski season it would be with the light/moderate el nino conditions expected (though effects not necessarily strong in this part of the Sierras)...we woke up this morning to about a foot of fresh, light, powdery snow! The girl's school was closed so we went outside to play (and shovel the drive as we are expecting snow for the next week). Hopefully this is a sign of things to come and we can take advantage of a stellar ski season.
Sabrina was hysterical, she just kept repeating, "It's so deep." I guess it is more apparent when you're inseam is 15 inches.

 

Looking forward to more fun in the snow with the family!

...and near perfect execution of the classic snow angel!

Amy is coming home early so we can decorate the Christmas tree tonight (hint: I had to begin stringing the lights while standing on the second floor at the top of the stairs because the ladder wasn't tall enough!)...also, here's our new visitor, Eye Nicholas, watching and reporting to Santa whether the girls are behaving naughty or nice.