Our All-American girl

Bike ride on the boardwalk

Sea World

We did it. I'm surprised that the kids haven't yet figured out we are near Disneyland, but when they do they'll take comfort in the fact that we at least went to Sea World! Weather was gorgeous and crowds were light.

We went to watch the dolphin show and four out of the five of us were smart enough to not sit in the splash zone. However, none of us could resist the water rides and in the end we all were drenched.

Foreign sunset

A guy came up to Cindy during the sunset and asked her where we were from. Evidently local kids don't play in the sand on a Wednesday night in January.

San Diego

For Christmas I got some cheap airfare tickets for the five of us to Long Beach. We had no other details planned but decided to rent a condo right on the boardwalk in San Diego. We arrived yesterday, just in time as the weather turned beautiful...high 70s/80.

Today we did nothing but hang out on the boardwalk, in the sand, and on rusty bikes. It was perfect!

Swimming in snow

We returned from New York early because Seattle was hit with a major snow storm. We landed in the morning and Seatac was closed by the evening. Then we lost power for 2 days! It was quite the adventure, although I must admit that there was something nice about playing monopoly for 3 hours by candlelight...no Xbox, no Wii, no iPhones, just us and the evolving ice storm.

Kenzie was with Grammy and Grampy most of the week until we could get her on Friday afternoon.

As it was melting, the kids had a swim party.

2 seconds

Cindy, Felix and I just got back from a trip to New York. Kenzie stayed with my parents and Mason stayed with June and Bob. We left on Sunday when the first snowflakes were just falling, and came home to four inches on the ground and treacherous roads School has been cancelled and we are waiting for it to melt a bit so we can go get Bentley.

New York was a lot of fun! I had to work but found time to ring the Nasdaq morning bell (and get on 3 TV networks), sneak into a camera shot on Good Morning America, see a show (Memphis) and stay out one night Til 3:30 singing karaoke. A packed but fun trip!

Smack

Poem for a Museum

Kenzie wrote this poem. For a museum.

Izzy is my best friend ever,
my cat, she will be in my heart forever
I teach her tricks while she licks my fingers between a treat!
I don't take her out on the streets,
but she follows me, even when I eat!
Izzy is my best friend ever she will be in my heart forever

Snow, Thank the Lord

We haven't had any snow all year. Today, as Cindy, Felix and I were getting ready to head for New York, it started to snow! Kenzie has been praying "for weeks" that it would snow, she tells me. This morning, on the phone, she was so excited. I was just happy that we were able to get to the airport before it really stuck! Mason is staying with Grandma and Grandpa, and Bentley is in Mountlake Terrace. So, we're distributed in the weather, but each happy in our own way.The three of us are on the plane, New York bound!

Here I am

Kenzie went to choir practice this morning. Linda, the choir director, asked for a volunteer for a solo. Kenzie volunteered...

Happy cousins

BFFs

Kenzie and Emilie got to go shopping today at University Village. Kenzie's Christmas present was half of the "Best Friends" necklace. It is a treasure to her.