Before there was Spring...

Before the pea shoots climbed and the lettuce ballooned there was snow in them thar hills above Ventura.


Zack took the boys to Rose Valley for a snow day with the Jennings family:

BC because

British Columbia because of friends:
Snowy views from our cabin!
Snow gear!
Skiing!
(Yes, that is Levi in there)

(Zack conveniently let Steve have his turn dragging Levi up the mountain)

Sledding!
Ski school!
(Micah had enthusiasm and never ending commitment in his favor, while the actual skills may have been in need of development)

(which conveniently buys time away together snowboarding on the mountain!)

And of course family:
Watch the 85 year old great grandmother go sledding down the hill:

Baby in boots, a diaper and on pink pony

Just because. The kids in usual form:
Noah looks on in dismay as Levi usurps his pink pony.

"Do I look like a musical robot?"

Forwards or backwards? How about both!

These are the people in our neighborhood

And with whom we must rely--especially when one parent is traveling. Like back in February when I was at a conference in Addis Ababa. Thanks to the Rice, Jennings, Burts and Schweitzer fams for being such good friends.

Levi splashing

A rare opportunity to splash:

Looks kind of like his dancing, no?

Pirates...arrrggghhh!

Back in Idaho the winter Zack and I sojourned there, some pirate jokes circulated our house. Why? I have no idea. But they come to mind of late, given the recent pirate craze that has swept the younger y-chromosomes.

Micah's VERY detailed drawings (ask him to explain them to you some time):




January marks the annual Tall Ships event in Ventura.




Next think I know, quite on a whim and several dollars later, we take to the high seas for the "battle" and canon fire.

So what's a pirate's favorite beer anyway?....P-B-Arrggghhh! What's a pirate's favorite radio station.....N-P-Arrggghhh! (you get the idea)

a gem

Just found this video from a quiet evening at home in December. Levi is about the same age as Micah was in the famous Toots video. The moves are progressing similarly.

Ojai in January

Perhaps the best time to head up the valley is January. Clear light. Sunshine. A dusting of snow on the surrounding mountains. Beauty and calm.

The Sunday Farmers market: just the right mix of crunchy granola, organic veggies and moneyed clientele--very Berkeley.


Ice cream in "winter" (it was very "funny" according to Levi):



Our second ever night away from the kids (Thank you Chris and Bernie!!!). This time we opted for the Lavender Inn.

Hiking!

And while this is from above Ventura, the Ojai Valley is in the back ground.



...and yes, those are wings that Micah is wearing. We made them from cardboard and duct tape. Here he is-- our modern-day Icarus:

Nikko and Micah are reunited

The Hurley-Kujawa clan came out from Montana to thaw out in sunny California. Fun was had by all. Good company, wine tasting, lots of eating and outdoor time. We miss them already but have already planned our next rendevouz in Zion in the Fall.

The Santa Barbara Zoo proved to be a great gorilla day:

Here the boys strike a meerkat pose:

Whereas Nikko and Micah just picked up where they left off in Mexico and were pretty much two peas in a pod the whole time, Levi and Keira ran in different spheres, or Levi just ran after Keira to take back and horde his toys. I have a feeling someday he will still be chasing after her, but for different reasons

Helllooooo 2011!

OK...a little late with that one, we know. So our new years resolution: blog more. And not just about the kids. So far we have not been off to an auspicious beginning. Seems we have a backlog from Christmas time. So let's dive right in:

Micah wails on the sticks at his annual holiday pageant with Montessori:



Iconic SoCal Christmas scene:


There was general spoiled-rotten-time at Christmas, with Grandad Joe as a bonus guest


and a good meal with our friends the Hamiltons.

Classic Christmas crackers were to be had by all:

Then after a brief spell of say maybe three weeks...It has largely been sunshine and 70 degree weather ever since. This prompts lots of reasons for Ojai in January...our favorite time of the year, farmers markets and hikes. But that will be covered in the next posts.