The many faces of W1

While wading through the very significant number of photos from our Christmas/California trip, I happened across this little series.


I assume R1 was playing with the camera settings, and W1 was the willing model.


Don't pay any attention to the lush greenery behind him. That's California in December.


You know, so warm most days we wish we had packed shorts.


Was he practicing his angry eyes?


And I'll end with my personal favorite.

One tooth down...

In January, W1 lost his first tooth. It had been loose for a while, and the permanent tooth was growing in behind it, shark-style. There was a lot of groaning and complaining and eating of only soft foods, and we were all ready for that tooth to be out. One morning, W1 worked up his courage and pulled it out himself.

Then, all day he queried me on the specifics and mechanics of the tooth fairy. Where she lives, how she sneaks in, how she knows he lost a tooth, what she does with the tooth, etc. And I tell you, I did not have my story straight.


Even though he was a little skeptical, he was willing to give it a try. Into an envelope and under his pillow his tooth went. In the morning, it had been replaced by a crisp new one dollar bill.


Which W1 thinks, to this day, is fake money. He will not be otherwise convinced.

We can't win.

Remember that one time when there was enough snow for sledding?

This winter has been lacking in the sleddable snow department. While my back and my snow shovel are grateful for that, we have missed sledding.


But, there was one Saturday in January with enough snow on the ground. We met some friends at the park and had a great time.

Why is H1 so happy?

It could be that she just ate something very chocolately.


Or it could be that she is excited to meet her baby sister in June!

No trip to CA is complete without...

...a visit to Andria's in the Ventura harbor village for fish and chips.



And then, while you digest, a visit to the Channel Islands visitor center.


Admire the aquarium, then climb to the top of the observation tower and enjoy the view.

We don't go to CA just for the beach.

While in California, many evenings you can find W1 out by the barn helping my aunt Joyce feed the horses.


And once L1 got over his initial nervousness, he fed the pony some carrots.


This is the closest we will ever come to having pets, so they've got to live it up!

Fondue Night.

This always happens during our Christmas trips to California.

It may happen on New Year's Eve, or some other night during that week between Christmas and the New Year, but it always happens.

Dare I say it is a tradition now?

'Cuz even if it isn't, it really should be.

Because it is delicious and I can't live without it.