hiking

I always forget how beautiful the area is; my orientation being stuck in the LA experience of childhood, where almost nothing seemed particularly beautiful to me, save the beachtowns.I discovered hiking and natural beauty in the northwest and, earlier, in Switzerland.But the brown hills of So Cal turn green at times and it's pretty spectacular.

 We found the Wildwood trail, leading to a waterfall (just run-off) and inspired us to find the Malibu trails where Pepperdine students like to jump off rocks and swim.

 +++++

A couple of bowling pics of Jack's lowkey birthday this year. Jack discovered American in Switzerland at a classmate's party and was quickly hooked! I think of bowling as a strange affair, as we sit in air-conditioned, dark spaces eating french fries and Cokes and beer - a real middle-class sport. But it's fun.

Carolyn and I, earlier in our parenting days, imagined ourselves as a bicycling family, hiking family, etc, but none of it's stuck, I guess.

Jack turns 9

Jack, 9!

 "Many Jacks, but only one beloved Jack!"  Udo is very clever at drawing pictures.

 and the usual gifts - books.

as we slowly transition into a reading family. Michael turned the corner over the summer and Jack is next. Taking piano, as well as violin, brother #2 is definitely a musical kid.

Hummer

I don't have a strong memory of animals in my childhood neighborhood, but every rental out here seems to come with coyotes, rattlesnakes, squirrels, the occasional bobcat, and, at this house, quail and hummingbirds.

This unfortunate nest just outside our front door had a premonition of misfortune about it - why there? - as the palm frond sank and people scuttled back and forth past.

 Still, two babies were born and we rejoiced, until the mother flew into our house and eventually died, along with one of the babies who prematurely left its nest soon after.The third guy we fed with sugar water with an eyedropper and decided to take it to the California Wildlife Center down Malibu Canyon.A really great experience and resource, inhabited with baby deer, animals of all kinds.  Apparently, a local favorite among the Malibu fundraiser crowd who have, I suppose, taken over their natural territory.

Jack wanted to keep it as a pet, giving another reason for homeownership.  I cradled "Hummer" all the way to the center, hearing a week later he was doing fine.

Disney 2014

Perhaps the most successful Disneyland experience thus far, having finally learned the ropes: strategy, timing, attraction priorities. 

We entered CA Adventure from the hotel side and were escorted to Carsland, presumably so that no one would get trampled upon a la Walmart's Black Friday. We actually were the second car of the day!

It felt like a pilgrimage.

Enjoyed reliving a movie space, which lures the vast majority to this ride, in contrast to the Matterhorn's appeal a generation ago, which triggered the imagination sans cinema?

Though certainly Snow White & Mickey had their TV/film analog, the submarine, Main Street, autopia, Small World, etc were non-filmic in nature.

Not sure how long the boys will be captivated by rides below, but it's charming for now.

When I was a child, Disneyland was an exhausting day's event, arriving at opening and staying late, like attending a county fair. Now, many, including ourselves, turn this into a holiday and actually stay overnight.

Have to say, the food suffers, which is the one thing that has definitely lost its charm over the years, even when the park itself continues putting out fun across a wide span of generations.