Annual Father's Day Hike

We had such a good time last year that this year we did our 2nd annual hike up Mt. Tam for the father's day pancake breakfast with our friends. Lukas did his 2nd annual puke on the drive up. But after that, things went smoothly. The kids (other than Marieke) are getting so big that we now are saying "hey, wait up for us at the next turn!" rather than having to constantly try to coax them along. It was a beautiful fun morning - can't wait til next year!

Like father - like son

Rob isn't bike racing anymore due to 2 cute little energy/time zappers. But I know he misses it. This past weekend there was a bike race nearby that also had a kids' race. Lukas was very excited to sign up & don a racing number on his back. Lots of questions preceded the race - most focusing on whether other kids would have training wheels - which he was hoping for so that he'd have an advantage. ;-) The course was .7 kilometers on closed city streets. I waited halfway down the route to cheer him on. He looked so cute pedaling with all his might & laughing at the same time because he got the pedals going so fast he couldn't keep his feet on them. He did great & was happy with his race (6th or 7th place he says). Of course everyone was a winner with a medal & ice cream at the end!

Rob talks pre-race strategy with Lukas



A medal + an icecream = one happy racer!

Stillwater Cove

Our cute cottage by the coast. Rob poses for the camera while Lukas keeps an eye out for peacocks.

Since Marieke has been born, we haven't done much travelling or wkd adventures and I was starting to go kind of stir crazy. So at the last minute with some luck of a cancellation, I booked a wkd at Stillwater Cove. We had beautiful warm weather, a cute cottage on a ranch with lots of animals for the kids, great hikes right off the property and amazing coastal views. Perfect weekend to recharge!

It was mating season for the peacocks (there were 25 on the property) so the males were in constant display mode. Although they weren't aggressive, they also weren't afraid of people. And with feathers up, they easily outsized Lukas. And boy were they loud!

The ranch had sheep with an amazing view


Watching the sunset from the bluff


Of course - no matter where you go - there's always the old-fashioned jump-across-the-beds fun

Topsy Turvey Day

Lukas sports a blue mohawk - and some attitude - for Topsy Turvey Day - one of the last days of preschool.