1 week down

My Dad is over fifty and running a marathon this year. This inspired me to get into better shape as well, and I dragged Katie along. So we started the 8 week adventure from Runner's World. And we completed the first week! Katie didn't want me to post this, but I think it an accomplishment. While we run at night now, hopefully by the end of the program we will chance a daylight outing.

The Ghost of Christmas Past

In answer to the question bleating out from the world at large: yes, we are alive. No, we have not dropped off the face of the earth. Yes, we are home. Yes, we are safe. Thanks for asking.

Now, I know that this is a bit after the fact, but here is our Christmas story in pictures. I think, in spite of the lateness of the whole thing, you'll still enjoy it.

Ben, trying on the stockings on Christmas Eve

Sam, clomping around in some stockings. We tried to stop them, but they both reminded us that, well, they were stockings. Wasn't this the whole point?

Mommy and Santa Sam

The boys were so into Santa this year. Intensely so. They wore these hats all over the place saying, "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" and absolutely loving life. They still love him. And they keep telling me that Santa is going to bring me presents. Looks like we missed the boat on the true meaning of Christmas. Better uck next year.

Benjamin Santa

Ben, helping me put cookies out for Santa. (p.s. I don't remember what those little glisteny tears were for, but they were very excited to be putting cookies out for Santa)

Shauna/Grandma had the idea to leave some carrots out for Rudolph and the other reindeer. It went very well. Until....

Rudolph? What? He's getting a little pudgy in the haunches anyway. He doesn't need no stinkin' carrots!

With the exception of letting the polar bear have a few nibbles the boys ate those carrots down to their stubs. I wish I had washed them first.

Santa Sam and carrot.

Oh Christmas Tree! Oh Christmas Tree!

Our Fam coming down on Christmas morning. Dark and early. The boys didn't want to wake up quite as early as Zach's sisters and were resisting. Then we mentioned Santa. Did I mention that we really didn't drive home the true meaning of Christmas home very well this year?

The boys playing with one of their gifts: a train set. Awesomeness ensued.

This is the chocolate rocking horse that Sam pinched from Emma's stocking. And then ate. And ate. And ate. Those boys were wired. Sorry again, Emma. But Zach says it's just payback.

I'd also like to profusely thank Scott and Shauna for feeding and housing us over Christmas. It was so much fun, the boys are asking to go back. They've named their stuffed dogs Harry and Teddy. And I am so, so sorry about everything they broke. Especially the stuff we don't know about yet. So sorry.

Merry
(late) Christmas!

P.S. Why do the British now say "Happy Christmas" and we say "Merry Christmas." They used to say it (see A Christmas Carol). And we don't put merry in front of any other holiday. Why? Can anyone explain this to me?

if your juice could talk

The following conversation took place after I gave each of the boys a cup of juice in the car the other day:

Sam: (after laughing his evil laugh) I'm going to eat you!
Sam : (in a higher voice representing the juice) No, don't eat me!
Ben: I'm going to eat you too!
Ben: (in higher voice) No, you're crazy!

That's a little glimpse into our lives.

Christmas Trip (or everything that can go wrong does)

We finally made it down to Phoenix and we are so glad to be here. Because, frankly, we had our doubts. Yesterday, we woke up at various times during the 5 am hour and got the last bits and details pulled together, walked out the door, locked it up, and turned to the car. We saw a river of oil gushing forth.

Dang it.

Soooooo, Zach ran down to the closest gas station and got more oil and another filter (our filter blew out) and replaced them both (he did all of this in less than an hour, by the way. Ya, he's totally awesome.) Then we got on the road. Just a minor set back. No worries.

We're heading down the highway and we hit a detour. Dang it. It took us all the way to the coast and it took us over an hour to get there. Before the detour we were 190 miles from Los Angeles. After the detour we were 210. How does that work?

Then we hit the L.A. traffic. We spent over 200 miles going bumper to bumper. It wasn't clear until we got to the east side of L.A. Sam gave up about half way through. He said wanted to go home. He was done.

So, in the end a 12 to 13 hour trip took 17 and a half hours. We finally ended up getting there at 2:30 am. Totally exhausted. Or rather, Zach and I were, but Ben and Sam had been sleeping the last several hours of driving so they were ready to play. Sigh.

The bright moments: we got to see the beautiful Pacific oceans, including seeing dolphins swimming off the coast, the boys behaved wonderfully, and now we're here. And that's nice.

The New "Slug Bug"

Katie and I have gotten bored of that tired old "Slug Bug" game. Easy game to play, especially when you live the campus life-style we do. But there is always that pang of guilt for calling the Volkswagen Beetle a Bug(two different models), and slug beetle just doesn't cut it. Call it the guilt of intellectual dishonesty.

Our solution? The Prius Punch. This car is as recognizable as the Volkswagen cars and they are plentiful. In addition to working out our anti-eco-liberal anger, we can have a little fun in life. The game works exactly the same way, we just substitute the Toyota Prius for the Bug and Voila! And let me tell you the Prius may be even more plentiful in this part of the country.

City by the Bay

San Fransisco Skyline

As promised, here are the photos from our trip to San Fransisco after Thanksgiving. This was our first real foray into the city since moving here. Aren't we slackers?

Sam and Ben looking into the Christmas shop windows. They had puppies and kittens in these windows that you could adopt. Ultra sweet. Unfortunately everyone in the city was trying to look into these windows at the same time as us.

Grampie, Katie, Jonathan, Zach, Ben and Sam in front of the gate to Chinatown. (I don't know what Jonathan and Zach are looking at in this one. They both look a little surprised. We saw a lady doing yoga on a store's windowsill, but I don't think that was it.)

We spent a good portion of our time in Chinatown. I, for one, don't feel completely comfortable in Chinatown. I think I've seen too much film noir. Behind every restaurant and souvenir shop I imagined crazy noir-ish shenanigans going on. And shady detectives eating noodles and maintaining a running internal monologue. I blame you for this, Bogie.

Ben, riding the giant turtle statue, Sam and Grammie.

I did manage to work in about twenty different versions of the "forget it, it's Chinatown" quote before Zach said I had to stop.

After some good noodles (f.y.i. chow mein noodles are the classic long, skinny noodles you are familiar with. Chow fun noodles and long and flat, and wide. Different thing, people. Luckily, both are yummy.), we headed down to Fisherman's Wharf to see all those crazy sea lions.

Crazy Sea Lions

Ben thought these guys were awesome. And we had a detailed discussion of the eating habits of the sea lion inhabitants. They eat fish. Sam fell asleep, so he missed out on this one. I gave him ice cream after we got home to make up for it. He said he was cool with it.

Jonathan, Zach, Ben and Grammie looking at the sea lions.

Ben, looking like a bear-hat wearing angel.

Little Bear Ben and Grampie have a chat.

San Fransisco, all lit up. That's Dad on the corner there.

Good times were had by all. Thanks, you guys! For coming and playing with us and for getting us up to San Fransisco. We had lots of fun. In spite of that last 90 degree hill. Or maybe because of it? No. Definitely not. Come again! And we'll avoid the hills.

Beach Day

In honor of my family coming to visit us in sunny California over Thanksgiving, it was perpetually cloudy.  In spite of it, we decided to trek through the foothills on over to the ocean anyway.  And, it was gorgeous.  

So, without further ado, here are some fun photos of our beach adventures.

Sam and Ben, playing in the sand

Sam and Zach, running from the waves.  There were several times that the waves were so close that Zach picked Sam up and carried him the rest of the way.  Good times were had by all.

My Dad and Mom.  These Mainers weren't cold at all.  The California residents were freezing.

Zach and Sam.  A close call.

My brother Jonathan.  Looking quite GQ, I think.  Or should it be JQ?  Haha!  

(Cricket.  Cricket.)

Sam, Zach, Jonathan, and Mom.  

This is one photo before my Dad assumed his classic, lay down anywhere that is vaguely comfortable pose.  Which is his habit.  Sadly, that picture is still on Zach's laptop, which is with Zach.

The Cliffs and the Sea

Jonathan, Sam and Katie.  Booty shots.

We also stopped by the Happy Taco.  Which is fabulous.  Try their agua de fresa and the verde pork.  Delish!