Monday, September 2, 2013

Summer is Over!

Hi all,

Wow, the summer has flown by...here we are at Labor Day, and it seems like it was just Memorial Day!
Here are some highlights since last time...

Carson "graduated" from 5th grade at Bubb Elementary School, and he's now headed to Graham Middle School.

Receiving his certificate from his favorite teacher, Mr. Pohling


Carson looking smart!

It's official
Maggie had a birthday party by the pool
Then we headed up to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite for the 4th of July

Awesome views on Lembert Dome
Carson, Maggie and their friends at the top of Lembert Dome

Beautiful Elizabeth Lake at 9300ft altitude


Thunderclouds over Lembert Dome and Tuolumne Meaows
 We are also in the middle of a house remodel, so we took an extra week to live in Santa Cruz - Grandpa and Grandma came to visit - hot dogs and a bonfire on the beach:
Twin Lakes State Beach

Fooling around

Grandpa and Maggie
I mentioned that our remodel is stilllllll going!
The front entrance

The new back gable

This will be the kitchen

Positioning the impressive glu-lam
Here is the back gable further along...
The family room with new efficient and low-pollution fireplace
New kitchen window and lighting
 While the work on the house continued, Annett and the kids (and I for a weekend) escaped to Atlanta to visit Oma and Opa. Stone Mountain and a ropes course were highlights:

The big granite batholith

On the ropes

Kids having fun

Maggie enjoying the heights
 And then all of a sudden, it's time for school! Here are they kids on their first day:



We are still adjusting to the new schedules, sports, and other activities, and we're still working on the house - should be done in mid-October! Wish us luck!

Hope you are doing well - drop us a note!

Love,
The Trails

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Moving, Holidays, Birthdays, Beaches, and Snow

Hi all,

Wow, welcome to 2013! The last months have been super-hectic, so many apologies for not having posted updates throughout. There were a few things going on that hampered the evening free-time for blogging: we sold our old house on Nilda and bought a new one nearby, I was involved in a search for our church's new rector, and I've also been traveling quite a bit. But here are the main things we've been up to as a family over the fall and winter since the last posting. I'll try and post another update to include the spring as soon as I can!
The Move
Moving truck from 1182 early October


New house pool needs work...

Rebuild spa wall...
Spa and pool resurfacing...


Ready for pebble-tech...

Resurfacing almost done...

Ready in January!


The Holidays

We had some nice visits from Oma/Opa/Grandma/Grandpa over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Dinner in the City

Hike on Russian Ridge
View from Skyline Drive


Christmas Eve service
Tree after a visit from Santa Claus


The Birthdays
Carson turned 11

Carson asked for a hike to Maisy's Peak - his new favorite spot
Beautiful winter view across Silicon Valley

Picnic birthday lunch

Pump It Up party...

Bouncy-house mayhem!

Carson's buds...

Birthday boy
We then traveled out to Tampa, Florida to meet Oma and celebrate her 70th together on the beach near Clearwater.


Happy Oma

Birthday breakfast on the balcony

Rocket Football with Carson

Maggie building sand castles with Opa

Carson in constant motion

Maggie's Castle

A beach full of sand and shells

Hatchepsut  in miniature...

The Castle complex...
A mermaid washed up on shore...

Searching for shells

Sunset

Billions and billions of shells

A visit to the Clearwater Aquarium

Winter the "Dolphin Tale" star

The prosthetic tail

Some Skiing

We took a few trips to the Sierra for some skiing.
Snowball fight!
Kirkwood


Boys Only Outing with Ryan to Kirkwood

Beautiful day at Northstar

Lunch with Malik

Sundeck

Carson and Malik getting the hang of the black diamonds

Carson trying out his new helmet cam...

The ladies enjoying lunch on the patio

Maggie and Savannah

A great day topped of with conquering the world playing Risk