Thundersnow!

The craziest thing just happened! I was asleep and I woke up to a really loud boom, and then there were all these sirens from cop cars. Turns out, it was the weather. Something called THUNDERSNOW.

Back in Business

Yea!  My computer is back up an running.  I just have to transfer the pictures back onto it and I'll be back in the digital age.

Also, I offered to take Xander on the dinky "candy cane train" at the Goleta Depot.  He screamed, "I'm scared!" and ran into the other room.  (Last year he cried so hard we got off the train before it started.)  Looks like we'll wait another year for him to toughen up.

Ugh.

I just ended my work day by getting two incredibly nasty work emails. Tomorrow and Monday all I'm doing is having meetings with these people and addressing other complex conflict resolution situations. I'm tired.

I slept all day yesterday.

Two Saturdays in a row now.
I think I'm turning into a bear.

15 days!!!

I can't wait to get down there to see you!!!!

Its dark outside at 5pm

And I am so tired this week. Is it because I haven't been drinking tea or coffee? Except for when headaches are coming on. How many days does it take to get caffeine out of your system, and recharge? I'm tempted to wait until spring, when the daylight comes back.

Nebulizer!

Sometimes being a kid is a bummer...

Thanksgiving Party!

Xander had a great time getting ready for Thanksgiving (before he got sick).  We even made "turkey cookies" per his request.  Can you tell which cookie was made from Xander's hand and which was made from Brett's?  Can you tell which picture was taken after he ate a cookie?

life in the northwest

Gardening at 4pm, with my headlamp.

Allergic to Thanksgiving?

I've had a migraine for two mornings in a row. I wonder if it's the Thanksgiving food? I'll try eating something else today.

More Obama Election Night Celebration!

This from later in the night, after I headed home. But you have to check this out...
One of the nearby nighclubs put their speakers up on the roof and blasted Journey. And everyone in the streets started dancing and singing along:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1509319618/bctid1901061177

the scene last night

Happy Halloween!

Woo hoo!

I was sick and quarantined for most of the AmeriCorps retreat. But I felt a little better the next morning, so I had to get on that rope swing.
Look! I'm upside down!

Curious Xander

Xander wore his costume to the pumpkin patch this weekend.  He could've cared less about the pumpkins, water pump, maize maze, or farm animals because they have tractors there.

Then he got too hot, stripped off the jacket, and rolled in the straw.

And then went back to the tractor.  Check out those monkey feet!

Pumpkin Harvest in the Backyard

A couple weeks back Xander and Steve harvested this year's pumpkins.  They were small, so Xander got to use his "big boy" wheelbarrow to surrey them to the patio.

Visit from Sophie

The giggle machine came over the other night, put on my fairy wings and ran all over the house.

Highlights from Xander's 3rd Birthday Party

I love my dorky boys!

100 Things, Continued

4. She is a friend to all kids.
5. She knows all the good children's books.
6. She is a bargain-hunting lover of clothes shoes and fashion.
7. She has built a circle of really fun and awesome friends who stand by her through the tough times and drink wine with her in the good times.

Need to get out the door to work again! More soon...

Like Grandfather, Like Grandson

100 things I love about my Mom

1. Looking for shells and stones and sea glass on the beach.
2. Eating avocados
3. How she used to sit and tell Xander secret things when he was a baby.

To be continued..I'm late for work.

Hooray!  I'm 33!

Dance Party!

My name is Xander... I LOVE to dance!

Fire in the Hills

Yes, the Gap Fire is still raging in the hills of Goleta.  We are safe where we are, but there is plenty if smoke and ash in the air.  Here are some photos we took the two days ago.  All that stuff that looks like smog is smoke.

Th

I tried to take a picture of the fire at night, but the flash just picked up a bunch of ash.  It kind of looks like snow.

No Photos!

We just had a rad weekend, but I don't have any photos. (Lisa didn't bring her camera, and my camera isn't working.) But wait until you get up here, and I tell you stories about all the things that went down!

Hanging out with Little Sophie

This is Khoi's 3 year old niece. It was her birthday this week. Here are some pictures from a weekend of partying.