Easter Dinner 2013

The grown-up table, chatting after dinner

Norma and Jennifer (and Diego)

Mike and Jen

Beauty and the Beast

Carina in her spin dress

Carina posing with Alex

Paige must be ticklish

The March birthday blowers (Zach providing the long-distance assist)

Paige appears to still be hungry

Easter preparations 2013

Diego and Jennifer and Mike and Jen came over for Easter in 2013

Leading up to the vaunted Easter egg hunt, the kids hung out and goofed around

Some of the fare amidst the lovely settings put together by Andrea and company

More loveliness . . .

And more . . .

And alas, even more!  Isn't Carina pretty as a picture?

Renzo, with his special diet

And the two bounders, Gavino and Zach

Paige wants more food.  Strudel looks on, in her Easter best,

hoping that someone ( *cough* Paige ) might drop some food.

Two beauties

Alex found an egg; the egg didn't expect being found

The big kids playing with big toys

Wes and his digital addiction, drawing a crowd

Day hike to Henninger Flats March 2013

We started early on what was supposed to be a hot day.  And it's all uphill.

That brown layer . . . must be . . . chocolate air?

Zach and Christopher taking a break

Partway up the 3-mile climb, we all find welcome shade and and rest for our legs

We made it!  The rest of the way is downhill

Stopping for a photo op on a lovely nature trail,

although Chris appears to have a burr in his saddle

On the way back, the boys elected to add another 2 miles to the 6 we'd already hiked

We hiked up to Eaton Falls, and the water sure felt good

Isaias and Emmanuel, tempting fate, and documenting the feat

8 miles later, and ready to avail ourselves of an internal combustion machine

Anniversary Acrobatics March 2013

Carina and Daniela favored us with an amazing acrobatic show to commemorate our 19th wedding anniversary.

Right before we left to go out to dinner, Andrea and I had the pleasure of watching these aerialists amaze us with death-defying feats.

The navigated the high wire, went down the slide in every configuration imaginable,

swung high in the swing and jumped out at the apex, the spun on the high bar, and suspended upside-down  by their legs.

This was truly an anniversary to remember.

Carina in makeup March 2013

Carina, striking a hard-rock pose.  Ronnie James Dio would be honored.

BSA Leader Training at FSR March 2013

Scoutmaster Dave again showing me the ropes, 26 years later.

Dave the splitter

Javier, the young buck in the crowd, checking to see if it passes the 'smell test'

Five of us came, Dave Dwelley and Dean Michael to provide the training, and Jeff Townsend, Javier Rodriguez and myself to get trained.

Jeff and Javier thoroughly enjoying themselves

The highlight of this outing was, without question, the time spent with some fine men, and enjoying the brotherhood.  But Dave's stew on Friday night places a close second.

Marshall's Eagle Court 2013

Marshall Briggs made it

The Burbank Boys and girls celebrating Marshall's achievement

Valentine's Day Breakfast 2013

Andrea treated the kids to a beautiful Valentine breakfast.

What darling straws

Bonus treat:  the Paik girls get to breakfast with us!  Their parents

have to man their flower shop early on the busier flower day of the year.

Wesley is enjoying his meal, served with a healthy slice of love!

Maddie is pretty in pink