Let the game begin!

Michael surprised everyone with a family gift this year ~ a foosball table! While Christmas Eve dinner was cookin', we headed downstairs for a friendly game! Reigning champs... Kelly and Papa!

Gopher hunting

Recently, we have lost several plants to gophers, including two of our favorite rose bushes. Koko is doing her part to help catch the darned rodents!

Oh what a weekend...late December back in '07

The winter solstice peaked yesterday at 2:09p.m. We have been busy with some last minute shopping and getting ready for Christmas Eve dinner, but we've been fortunate enough to fit in some fun as well. We've been able to experience some of the most negative tide we've seen in months ~ this called for some serious beach exploration. Last night, Michael and I took our first ride on the Santa Barbara trolley with Robby, Lindsay et al (we can check that off our "to do" list... ha!). Today we enjoyed the magnificent warm weather with a paddle off of Leadbetter ~ my first! Memories are made of weekends like this!!! More to come...

The City!

Michael and I just returned from a pre-holiday getaway to San Francisco! We (literally) ate our way through our vacation ~ dinner at Scala's, breakfast at Sears, lunch at The Slanted Door, dinner at Postrio... see, we're not kidding! We visited the museum, gallery-hopped, shopped and explored this amazing city! It was most enjoyable to walkabout the city in the rain and experience some weather for a change ~ it actually felt like winter. And yes, it was obvious that the holidays are upon us!
On the way home, we stopped in Santa Cruz to watch the surf (hence the photo of the surfers jumping off the rock into the wave) and had cioppino at Phil's Fish Market in Moss Landing. We had a full three days in the midst of the hustle and bustle of San Francisco! What a glorious time we had! We can't help but say, "it is THE MOST wonderful time of the year... or at least THE MOST wonderful December 17 -19th!!"

Back to the valley...

Today, Michael and I made our way back over the hill to the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Trattoria Grappolo and delighted in wonderful art and the company of dear, dear friends! This afternoon was the perfect ending to a most magnificent weekend!

Over the mountains and through the valley...

...to Solvang we went. Michael and I had the great pleasure of venturing over the pass today with Keoni and his daddy and mama. We enjoyed our breakfasts, complete with the traditional abelskivers, then it was on to the toy store and a little walk around town. Our last stop before heading home was OSTRICHLAND! The ostriches are quite the prehistoric-looking, maniacal animals.
It has been a "filled to the brim" 5-day weekend. Can I have some more, please?

Call them "Coach"

This basketball season will be a different one for those of us watching Devin and Kelly. The boys are still playing for the same team, but donning different uniforms. KJ and Dev have returned to their alma mater, San Marcos High School, to coach the Frosh/Soph basketball team. Tonight was the team's scrimmage against Santa Ynez. In Coach Dev's words, "the team executed well."
Personally, I thought you guys looked great! Can't wait to watch some more b-ball! (Of course, I'm the only mom taking pictures of the coaches instead of the players.) Good luck, Royals!!

It happened again...

...another amazing day in paradise! We were lucky to have the day off of work today, and we took advantage of it by heading to the beach for a remarkable sunset beach walk.

Make a BIG wish!!

Devin is 19 today!! Our amazing guy has a zest for life like none other! Dev doesn't just walk through life ~ this young man, he dances, he boogies, he glides with a most gloriously incredible spirit! He has a magnificently never-ending smile, a fantastically upbeat personality, a wonderfully positive attitude! Spend any time with our "never say never happy-go-lucky" Devinator and you can't help but be happy yourself! It's true!!
Dev, we are truly fortunate to experience the wonder of you each and every day!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEVIN JON!! WE LOVE YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!

Viva Las Vegas!

This past weekend, we all (Michael, Derek, Kelly, Devin, Koko (yes, Koko) and I) headed to Las Vegas to visit Craig, Patty, Kaitlyn, Sammi, Lyric, Grandma Minnie & Kyla in their beautiful new home. We had fun, fun, fun! We went bowling (so Grandma Minnie could show us all "what's up"), played Dance, Dance Revolution, sang karaoke, gambled and spent incredible family time together! We shared delectable family meals and unforgettable moments. All we could talk about on the way home was coordinating our calendars for our next visit ~ not an easy task, but we so look forward to it!! Thanks, Vegas Crew, for all the hospitality and good times!! We had a blast!

Sunrise, sunset...

Our California Days

This past weekend, Michael and I headed down to Orange County and visited with Derek and Nana. (Thanks to Kel and Dev for taking care of Koko!) As you can see, the ride home wasn't pretty. And yes, we've had more than our share of smoke here as of late ~ it certainly makes for an interesting sun and moon! When the smoke begins to clear though, we are treated to exquisite evenings such as the one we enjoyed tonight at the harbor.

What a difference a day makes...

See, it isn't always sunny here in Southern California. We took time out to check surf and walk along Shoreline Park with Koko yesterday morning and again today. The weather each morning was quite unlike the other. Yesterday, it was sunny, a little breezy... gorgeous following a night of light rain. Today, it was foggy and a bit on the cool side until the sun broke through in the late morn ~ still gorgeous, but different. Maybe we are into the fall season! Time to hunker down and get toasty by the fire...ahhh!

Kokobella!

She's a birddog...



She's a swimmer...




She's SUPERDOG!!