What happened to 2013?

Other than me not blogging. Maybe because I upload pix to facebook and didn't want to upload twice...  I'm trying get back into the swing of updating the blog.  Here's a look back at some highlights of 2013.

Conquer the mountain, dude!

After coming back from the midwest for Christmas, we started our 2013 at Squaw Valley, getting some relaxing and skiing in. This time, Juliet was old enough to take lessons so she did a half day, while Claudia did another full day lesson. That meant that Peter and I got to go for a few runs together. I hadn't skied in at least 10 years. I had some good wipe outs but by the end of our 2ish hours, I was doing pretty good. Next time we'll be able to go longer since Juliet will do full day lessons too. 

Family photoshoot

I can't pass up a good groupon, so off we went to a park in Sunnyvale to have some pix taken. This was a fun one. I've always liked the look of other people's photos when the family is holding hands and walking. Our photographer had us do it too, and boy is it weird while you're doing it. :-) But still fun.

And then of course there were some intentionally silly photos: 

                                     

Juliet turns the big 4!

Juliet wanted to have both a Wow Wow Wubzy and a Caterpillar party, so we split the difference and for her actual birthday, we had the traditional Chiffon cake (made my Mom) and I decorated it with Wubzy on the top. 

Wow! Wow! Juliet turns 4!

We threw a caterpillar/bug party with her friends. I always have fun decorating the cake and throwing the parties. I'm lucky that the girls (and Peter) just let me run with the themes.

And this year I thought it would be easy to make a shirt for the party, so I whipped that up the night before. Perhaps took me longer than it should have, but it turned out well. 

The kids caught butterflies with elefun, decorated their "bug jars", and then went on a bug hunt. 

 

And then it was time to sing and have cake.

Showing off their qipaos

Gralu and Grandpa sent qipaos for the girls; they did a quick pose in front of the 4 seasons. 

What else would you do with laundry baskets, goggles (swim and ski), straws, and scarves? 

Hiking with Mom & Dad

We try to take Mom & Dad for at least one hike during their winter visit. We headed to Henry Coe on a foggy morning. And Don Edwards where the poppies were in bloom. 

Happy Easter!

These are the Easter dresses that Gralu (Peter's mom) made for the girls. So cute!

"And that's how you play the trumpet!"

Now that she's in 3rd grade, Claudia gets to choose an instrument. She chose trumpet. Here's her 2nd day's practice. If nothing else, she's into it!

I may be sending out warnings to the next door neighbors that we don't have an injured baby elephant; just a novice trumpet player. :-)  I think I'm going to learn along with her.

Uncles!

Uncle Michael came to visit overnight while he was on a business trip in the bay area. His flight out was delayed so we were able to play miniature golf with him. 

The next week Uncle John was in town for business too. We went to Happy Hollow with him and then  took him for dim sum. After dim sum we spent lots of time throwing pennies into the fountain.

Good times in Monterey

We spent part of the long Labor Day weekend in Monterey. When we go, we usually go for part of the the day - to the aquarium and home. So it was lots of fun for us to spend the weekend there as tourists.

Moonlight over Monterey

I think it was the blue moon weekend. It was amazing to see the bay in all the moonlight.

Peter & the big fish tank

We took a chance and went to the aquarium on member's night. We thought if it was busy we'd just spend 30 minutes there and come back the next morning or night. It turned out there was hardly anyone there. In the picture above, at the big tank, you can rarely get up to the glass because the crowd is 5 feet deep. This was amazing. We got to see so many exhibits that we normally walk past or don't get close enough to because of the crowds. The girls loved it too!

Cheesing in the clam shell

On Saturday we headed to Dennis the Menace Park. Everyone with kids that we talked to recommended this park, so we gave it a shot. It was lots of fun with all the slides and different play structures. The girls loved it. We also took a paddle boat ride around the surrounding lake/pond.

Racing down the slide

Hanging out

Cracking up on the roller slide

Playing with sand

Later, while Peter and Juliet napped, Claudia and I walked down to the beach, just a few blocks from our hotel. It was a little chilly at times, and I forgot to bring sand toys, but none of the that phased Miss Bean.

Running from the surf

Claudia spent a lot of the time building this "castle" with no tools. I got to just sit back and watch and soak in the sun.

I love, love, love this picture. So sweet.

Life's a beach

Peter and Juliet made it down to the beach after a couple hours. Juliet was more interested in playing at the water's edge rather than digging.

A little bit of digging

Portrait by Claudia

Checking out tide pools

Running from the surf

Digging together

We went back to the aquarium on Saturday night. It wasn't member's night so it was a little busier than the night before, but nothing like weekend days. We were one block off of Cannery Row and we walked on or crossed a coastal bike/walk path to get to the aquarium. We saw these surreys on Saturday and Claudia was begging to get one, so on Sunday morning we rented one and trekked out to Lover's point. Though it was mostly flat, it felt uphill both ways. The girls loved it!

Surrey ride

Backyard camping....and OUCH!

We've made it a tradition of camping in the backyard on the weekends in the summertime. Sometimes Juliet heads back into the house, but she seems to be staying out with us more often.

In this last picture, it was probably the last time that Juliet was smiling that night. :-(  She decided she wanted to sleep inside so I sent her into Peter. 15 or so minutes later I could hear her crying and assumed she just wasn't ready for bed. Then Peter came to the window and asked me to come in. He was holding her and as I was walking back into the house I could see something dark running down her face. She had tripped on her way into the brush her teeth in our bathroom and clipped her eyebrow on the corner of a nightstand. The bleeding stopped and she was able to sleep (Peter and I didn't though). But by Sunday morning it had started bleeding again so I took her to minor emergency where she ended up with 5 stitches. She was a trooper (I was directed by the Dr to rest afterward to let the blood rush back to my head. Whew!). 

Hoot n Howl at Happy Hollow

We were guests of the Schoennauers at the Hoot n Howl fundraiser at Happy Hollow. Food, drink, drink and drink, playing on the play structures, riding in bathtubs, and NO KIDS. It really was a hoot.

Posing with Danny the Dragon 

Peter driving a bathtub. He should have been pulled over for a DUI.

Art camp!

Claudia did the SJ Museum of Art art camp with the twins again. At the end of the week they have a showing and reception of the art work. It's fun to see what the kids produce and Claudia takes us around the museum to talk about her favorite art pieces in the museum.

The monkey's monkey 

Super Claudia!

Show us your guns

Juliet looks a little suspicious of me taking a photo of them in front of the artwork...

Outside the museum

Would you believe....

...that Juliet and her friend JULIET dressed alike with no planning? (at least no planning amongst the parents, maybe the two Juliets knew what they were doing...)

Twin Juliets

The midwest trip

No weddings this summer, but we still took a trip to the midwest to see both fams.

At the lake, having breakfast with Gralu

The girls on the bridge near the mouth of the Mississippi

The traditional picture at the marker. I'm not sure why everyone dumps their shoes and socks off RIGHT THERE.

At the end of our trip to Itasca. Whew! We made it through the fallen trees!

Our anniversary boat ride and fishing trip

Claudia was all geared up for fishing. 

Juliet wasn't quite ready. Juliet didn't seem to enjoy the boat ride as much as Claudia. She seems to be clinging to Peter a bit!

If the girls are lucky, they'll inherit my fishing skills. Look how jealous Tim is!

Family portrait at the Logging camp

Playing yahtzee with Gralu, Karolina and Allie

Looking at pictures with Rachel (and Cooper)

Sorry? with Uncle David, Gralu, Rachel and Aunt Loree

On our drive down from the lake to Lawrence, we stopped in Ames to have dinner with Jillian and Jo and then we stayed at Jo and Mark's in Des Moines.

Visiting Aunt Joey and Mark

Now in Kansas, hanging with Chandler

Dogpile Chandler!

The mosquitos in Minnesota LOVED Juliet. Poor thing, by the time we got to Kansas her mosquito bites were infected. We made a trip to minor emergency so that she could get some steroids for the swelling. The steroids also made her a little crazy!

Legoland in Kansas City just opened in April. It was small, but lots of fun!

 After Legoland we went to a restaurant that delivers your food via train. The girls loved it. So did the big kids.

Engineer Juliet

Engineer Claudia

2 big sisters

Juliet climbing up Uncle Darren 

With Poh Poh and Gong Gong

 Erin Kaci was doing an internship in Texas so we only got to see her at the airport when we were flying out and she had just landed.