Graduation

Our baby graduates from Preschool...off to the Kindergarten now!

I am home

Pappa assembled a nice playhouse for Luka & Ella. Oranges are delivered right to the front door by an automated process.

DIY project

I have been working on creating a play area for the kids in the back alley - we have a patio door leading right to it from the living room, so it's perfect. Some decking from Ikea, succulent plants make for a new outdoor space for the kids! The coolest thing - the kitchen made toatlly from the scratch by Jason and I! Looks real, eh - materials: Wood crates, plywood, carbinet pulls, dog bowl for the stainless steel sink, real fosset ($9 Home Depot), linoleum for "granite counters, some plastic drain parts for the "gas range", blue and platinum spray paint.

Daddy's girl

Backyard Beauties

My favorite Southern California flower is the Bird of Paradise - they are all over - in our backyard too! The wondeful smell of the orange blossoms lingered in the air for weeks in February! We have enjoyed freshly squeezed orange juice too.

Soccer Boy

It's our first season in the soccer league - Jason is coaching! FUN!

Easter Egg Hunt

Tigger returns

Tigger has been a long time friend of Luka's. Luka was 2 days old when a family friend in St Louis gave Tigger as a gift, and from about 18 months of age Tigger and Luka have been inseparable. Through the years Tigger gained a personality, he was often "the misbehaving one" that Luka had to reprimand. But most times Tigger was just a cheerful friend who accompanied Luka everywhere. Then, tragically, he was left behind past summer on Finnair flight to New York. Luka was sad, but figured that Tigger was just traveling the world. Then a while ago Luka asked if Tigger would come home if Finnair ever retired MD11 planes, I gave in, and...thanks to EBay...Tigger is with us again!

winter in summerland

There is something very unique about the Coastal California OC winter - it is different from the summer for sure...the tourists are away, it's just locals, it's peaceful. Sure it gets cold at the beach at night, but the ocean is still beautiful, the sand is soft - the surfers might even take time to talk to you...and there are no lines to get into Ruby's at the pier to enjoy the best milkshake in town. Winter is good.