Well, I had some big ideas this week that never seemed to make their way onto the page. All I can seem to muster these days on this blog is a weekly photo summary. Although honestly, I like the picture posts because it's a good reminder of all the fun and adventure we're having. I know I'm missing the details and the day to day stories... some day (sooner than later I fear) I will look back on all these toddler/boy days and will struggle in vain to recall the little details.

Today I want to remember just as it was. We started with our Sunday morning bakery visit and a deep study of the comics page.

Then, after a quick packing of warmer jackets and hats and gloves, we drove up to Palomar Mountain, leaving our sunny San Diego weather behind. As we approached from the distance we saw the top of the mountain shrouded in clouds, and driving to the top we found ourselves literally driving up into the cloud bank. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the vegetarian cafe on the mountain top, sharing our seats with bikers, cyclists and novice astronomers... then we made our way to the Palomar Observatory for a humbling and truly awe-inspiring insight into our (tiny, infinitesimal, microscopic) place in the universe.

After spending some time in the cold, cloudy heights we drove back down the mountain. A little over an hour later we were sprawled on our living room carpet playing a board game and eating popcorn while a light winter drizzle pattered on our roof top.

Then our late afternoon and evening went something like this: Games, practicing the piano, dinner, playing the guitar, more games, racing toy cars in the living room, and Robin Hood stories at bedtime... I'm fairly certain that every single one of us just had the best day ever.

Beach and Science

What a week we had last week!


Monday was a day off school for Martin Luther King Day, so we spent a lovely afternoon doing what we do best here in Southern California: going to the beach....


Then, Thursday was the big event: Owen's Science Fair at his school. Owen has chosen his own project every year so far: in Kindergarten he learned how to "Make your Own Paper" out of recycled newspaper, in First Grade he "Graphed the Growth of a Seedling", and this year he was exceptionally proud of his idea "Aeronautics: How Flight Works". The night was crowded with friends and family coming to see all the cool projects from all the creative elementary kids. And Owen had that quiet, self-satisfied look on his face that he gets when he's really proud of something. Way to go, kid!

Owen's poem

The Tree, January 2011

In my backyard there is a tree.
And in the tree there is a hole.
In that hole there is a squirrel.
With that squirrel there are some nuts.
The squirrel eats the nuts.

Above the squirrel there is a hole.
A hole of owl feathers and 3 babies.
Here comes mother owl.
It is cozy.

The seasons change and time goes by.
The leaves fall off.
And grow back.

A crow comes and builds a nest, with the owl and the squirrel.

I have no more to tell you now.

January in San Diego

I know a significant portion of the East Coast and Midwest is covered in bitter cold and snow. And, I apologize in advance for provoking jealousy (if you are prone to such a feeling)... but I have to share with you these pictures of the morning I spent with Elliot yesterday.

Nothing says January in San Diego like a morning at the beach:


Note the elevation Elliot achieves as he leaps with glee toward the water... and then manages to be airborne most of the way back from the water as well....


Putting his newly acquired knowledge about castles (more about this later) to good use by creating a moat and a double walled castle with a keep:


And, just basking in the joy of it all....

New Year

What a wonderful time we had over the break. We celebrated with family in all shapes and sizes: from intimate dinners and small exchanges of gifts -- to feasts and family parties -- to sprawling holiday get togethers with extended, extended families and distant relations.

And now were are trying to get back into our daily life. Back to school and back to doing all those things that are necessary but not always enjoyable to grease the wheels of our daily rhythm.

I'm finding it a little hard to jump back in this year. 2011. It sounds like such a big number.

As I was cleaning off my desk the other day, I came across a rambling note of "Big Project" goals for 2010 that I had set for myself. I was surprised to see how many things on that list I had accomplished or made progress towards. And, I was a little disheartened by the things that semed so important to me last January and for one reason or another slipped out of my sights and got lost. Maybe they really weren't that important after all? Or maybe it's just the setting down of goals that is important?

One goal I think I can manage: enjoy Life with Owen and Elliot.