Flower Power

Flower Power
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

We went to the Montclair Village farmer's market today in Laura & Joe's new neighborhood. It was a lovely day -- the kind where strangers walk up and hand you a wonderful smelling rose!

Fairyland Princesses

Fairyland Princesses
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

To top it all off, we visited Fairyland where Cameron & Helen saw a puppet show presentation of Peter and the Wolf, rode "The Jolly Trolley", and ventured onto a mini-ferris wheel that made all of us adults cringe (although the girls were just fine, thank you very much!)

Moss Landing Beach Buddies

Moss Landing Beach Buddies
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Helen and Christina enjoy some sand art with Baba Chris.

We had a delightful day with the Mau family including lunch at Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing. After working up an appetite picking strawberries, we were all ready for fresh cioppino!

Anniversary Party

Anniversary Party
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Happy 10-year Anniversary to our neighbors Jill & Todd.

Thank you for the tacos. And the cake.
For emergency vet service.
For last-minute dog sitting and garbage toting.

We sure do hope that the next 10 years are spent right where you are!

Did you call me a goat head?

Did you call me a goat head?
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Carousel Smile

Carousel Smile
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Helen has consistently been less than enamored with the carousel. Up until today, she would either refuse to go on it at all, or only ride with one of us on the little bench. Something finally clicked. Maybe it was going to Happy Hollow twice in one week. Maybe it was being there with her friend Mikalee who is a little older than her. Or maybe the fearful stage is finally coming to an end. Whatever the reason, it was wonderful to see her smiling.

Ladybug Express

Ladybug Express
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

And if you think the carousel is fun, you should have seen these two on the ladybug ride.

Or are they caterpillars?

Either way, it was charming.

Making Lemon Pie with Grandma

Making Lemon Pie with Grandma
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Thank goodness there is someone in Helen's life that can teach her the real important things like how to make a lemon pie! Helen and Grandma had a lovely evening together while we went to dinner and a movie with Los Tios.

Since we rarely see movies anymore, we were pleased that "Little Miss Sunshine" was such a good pick.

Lost in Golfland

Lost in Golfland
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Well, this isn't an Olympic sport, but it certainly can entertain all ages! A fun evening with the Pandori family and Auntie Margaret. As it turns out, none of us will be quitting our day jobs to join the pro circuit.

Miniature Golfer

Miniature Golfer
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Helen added an element of fun to this game by randomly selecting our balls to drop into the hole -- a sort of handicap in reverse. Our biggest challenge was convincing Helen that she didn't need to go inside the little house, windmill, castle, or (god forbid) pond. It must be beginners luck, but Helen came in a solid first place with a score of 22. :)

Three for Brunch

Three for Brunch
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

What do you do the morning after a great party? Brunch of course.

Mae, Helen & Maxine await the marvelous buffet at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel -- not a fussy eater among this group!

Let the party begin!

Karaoke Ballad
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Helen gets ready for Jerrod’s big Bar Mitzvah party by practicing a few favorite songs...

The Guests Arrive

Cherylanne & Kai
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Cherylanne & Kai were among the first to arrive, and the evening provided a great chance to catch up.

Ru Families Celebrate

Ru Families Celebrate
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Bottom Row: Big sister Olivia, Kai, Mae, Maxine & Helen
Middle Row: Cherylanne, Adena, Eric & Kelly
Back Row: Rich, Kirsten & Chris

And they danced...

Mother Daughter Dance
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Mama & Helen did a little warm up dance to get the feet moving.

And they danced...

Dance Girls 1
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Before long, everyone was ready to boogie, including Helen & Maxine.

And they danced the night away.

Bench Warmers

Bench Warmers
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

A beautiful day in LA...

Taking a break after a big pizza lunch.

Temple Steps

Temple Steps
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Jerrod's Bar Mitzvah was absolutely lovely. And long! The girls didn't make it all the way through, but we were all honored to be a part of this special celebration. Jerrod gave a speech worthy of any high school valedictorian, and there were many moist eyes in the audience.

Page Museum

Page Museum
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Stephanie is conveniently located near LACMA & the Page Museum. We checked out the latter venue on Friday, and Helen seemed to really dig it (no pun intended...)

Wolf Skulls

Wolf Skulls
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Future Paleontologist?

Friendly Skies

Friendly Skies
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

A long journey to LA with new flight rules in place, but it was friendly skies for us because for the very first time, Helen walked directly to her seat, sat down, buckled her seat belt, and proceeded to act like any other passenger for the duration of the flight. Wow. We've come along way from our struggles to keep her contained for take-off, yet alone any other portion of the flight!

Santa Clara County Fair

Santa Clara County Fair
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Fair time. This is a little out of sequence because we misplaced our main camera for about a week!

Helen and Finn had fun checking out the animals, especially the pigs (that's my girl!)

Measuring Up

Measuring Up
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Then it was off to try the rides. Notice Helen's concern that she wasn't going to meet the minimum height requirement.

Just by a Hair!

Just by a Hair!
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

But, the stars aligned, and Candy happened to give Helen an extra high pony tail which put her over the mark!

Buckle Up for Safety

Buckle Up for Safety
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Whew, after that brush with disqualification, it was off to the races -- after buckling up of course.

Talledega Tryouts

Talledega Tryouts
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Steer clear!

Zero One

Zero One
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Seven days of art and connectivity in Downtown San Jose... from the Pigeon Blog to this amazingly cool light display at City Hall by Akira Hasegawa.. this is what happens when artists are in charge! We were just 3 of the thousand or so people who gathered on the plaza to see city hall transformed into a canvas with a constantly morphing array of colors and designs. Too cool. http://isea2006.sjsu.edu/

Jardines

Jardine's
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

On Sunday we went to the 43rd annual San Juan Bautista Antiques and Collectibles Flea Market. We didn't find anything to add to our house, but we did have a nice lunch at Jardines.

Two Point Five Today!

Cubby Hole Helen
Originally uploaded by Chris & Kelly.

Today Helen is 2.5 years old. Half birthdays at this stage of the game seem significant because the development and physical changes are so rapid. We are amazed by so many things -- by her speech which is mostly in sentences now, by her gestures which have an increasing dramatic flair, by her empathy for both humans and animals, and most of all, by her playful and loving personality. Grandma Poh Poh helped us celebrate tonight with some "banilla" ice cream and new books -- "Saturdays y Domingos" and "Tikki Tikki Tembo". It just gets better and better. Our hearts swell with love for this wonderful child.