Christmas 2009

Although we were not able to make it back to the midwest for the holidays, we watched the crazy weather as it unfolded on the weather channel.  We are thinking that we would have spent the holidays in the airport...awaiting a flight that may or may not have gotten us to where we needed to be.  Instead, Christmas Eve day, we grabbed the ball and bat and a few neighborhood kids and headed to the park for a game of baseball. It was 55 degrees and the sun was shining.  After the baseball game, we threw some steaks, shrimp and veggies on the grill and enjoyed a yummy dinner.  We then "skyped" my parents and sister and we watched each other open the gifts. Kathryn scored a skateboard from her grandparents...she's pretty good with it already.

On Xmas day, Kat woke up at 7am and ripped through the gifts. Thank you to Aunt Elaine and Uncle Jim (Kathryn wore that shirt skiing today, she loves the jeans!) and Miki and family, we played with the playdough for two hours! We spent the entire day playing with all of the toys she received.

Today, Dec. 26th, we hit the slopes (Dodge Ridge Ski Resort) and finished out day off with some sushi.
Merry Christmas.

We have also planned New Years Eve.  We got the dog into our favorite kennel.  We made reservations at the Hyatt over looking the bay in San Fran.  We will be ringing in the New Year, watching the fireworks fly high above the SF bay.  I can't wait for Thursday! Stay tuned for the photos.  Thanks for checking in!

What to do?

I'm thinking of becoming a travel agent (not really).  I wish that I could be paid for the number of hours I spend on the computer trying to find the cheapest flights to get back the family for the holidays.  I have been looking since Halloween and still have not found anything reasonable.  Right now, all signs are pointing to staying in California.  Even the weather channel isn't helping.  I believe Chicago is about -20 right now.  Yikes.

Speaking of which, who really wants to go there for that kind of weather? (Besides us...to see family and for the mere fact that we are used to that weather!) So with that logic, the tickets should be dirt cheap and abundant.  But they are not...they are close to 700 a piece.

Now we are asking ourselves...now what to do? Who knows.  We may sit around for 7 seven days and look at each other? Including the dog, 'cause we can't find a kennel that will take him. (yet another sign). 

Then we remember that *hey! we live in Northern California*. 
So stay tuned for our last minute adventure. Who knows what will happen?

Giving Thanks 2009

Bowling at the Grand Sierra (Reno, NV)
Dinner at Charlie Palmers











Skiing on Black Friday

Kathryn's First Run. (Kat and Geoff begin at the top center of the video)

Lake Tahoe

Letter to Santa

Dear Santa Claus,
I wanted to make sure that you knew that I moved.  I hope you have internet.  My mom says you do.  We made my list today. Here it is.   My List.

Love, Kat

Our Toothless Trip to Wisconsin and Illinois

Thursday: Oct. 29th

We started out our trip by changing our plans.  The Bay Bridge to San Fran was out...so we jumped the BART the night before to get a hotel room near the airport.  Kathryn lost her first tooth that night in San Fran.  She lost a total of two teeth this week. 
No Teeth Missing  















One Tooth Missing:                            Two Teeth Missing:

       

Upon arriving back in the midwest, we stopped in to see family and friends. It was an exhausting week and we are glad to be home.  The time difference and time change has us up nice and early for school.  Hopefully that lasts for a while.  Here are a few pics from our travels (and yes...my husband is Napolean Dynamite and I am Deb!)                                        Kat & Rylee

The Best Pumpkin Farm Ever!

Yesterday, we spent the day at the best pumpkin farm ever.  Although we spent four hours there, we didn't get a chance to experience everything there was to do.  It was like nothing like I have ever seen. We started off our day with Kat riding a very large horse. I was a little nervous, but she rode like a pro. We then got lost in the biggest corn maze I have ever seen. We went through one of the wheels of the pumpkin cart part, through one pumpkin...to the bridge and back.  That's about 1/6th of the maze.  It was very cool. We then watched the kids fly through the sky on the ziplines, picked orange and white pumpkins, and went on a hayride and tractor ride (didn't go on the train, the scarecrow ride or the tram ride...next year.)  Kat then climbed the giant tractor tire pile, got lost in the hay bale maze, panned for jewels and wished we could jump on the giant pillows (the line was too long).  We then watched them launch pumpkins out of the large cannons, and finally left to get something to eat.  Next year we will have to do the haunted house, face painting, games and crafts too.  What a crazy place!  Check it out if you are ever in the Bay area in the month of October.  It's called Dell'Osso Farms.  We plan to go back in November and December, when they turn on the snow (ha ha ha) and we can go tubing and see Santa. 

Dress Like Your Fav Book Character

At Kat's school, today is the last day of the book fair.  As a reward, the students were able to dress up as their favorite book character for the day.  This gives the kids a way to show off their Halloween costumes.  Kat is actually going to be Tigress from Kung Fu Panda, but today she only wore the Ninja part of her costume to school.  When she left parent-drop off today...she was walking on air, proud of her idea for a costume. Too cute!

Labor Day in Yosemite

We spent Labor Day visiting Yosemite.

Zing Zang Zoom!

Last weekend, we went to the Ringling Bros. Circus in Sacramento. How fun! It was Kat's first trip to the circus. Before the start of the circus, we were able to go behind the scenes and check out the animals. It was hot that day (107 degrees). It was inside the Arco Arena (yeah AC) and was a true classic circus. Clowns, acrobats, tight-rope walkers and two girls being shot out of a cannon. Very Cool. Here are some pics.