JuliaBlog

On Julia's actual birthday, Jan. 2, she got a woodworking kit from mom and dad.


Katie came over for dinner and ice cream cake.


Cut that out, Katie!

On New Year's Day 2009, we had a party at Grandma Elaine's house for Julia's sixth birthday. We made a cat-shaped cake for Julia.


Julia's cousin Paul loves gadgets (just like his dad). Aunt Michelle helped him take a picture while mom lit the candles.


Blow out ALL the candles!


Uncle Scott and Julia.

Julia and her 98-year-old -- gorgeous as ever -- Great Grandma Blanche

My Berkeley girl doesn't get to see much snow. It snowed a little bit while we were in New York (December 2008), so we had to run outside and take advantage of it.

Somehow we managed to sled on this tiny tiny bit of snow. But it was extremely cold out and the rain boots I brought for Julia didn't really cut it, so we didn't last very long.

When Julia and I went to New York between Christmas and New Years 2008, Grandma Elaine took us to a whole bunch of shows. I do love the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall! Julia ate the whole hot dog, BTW.


I think Julia liked this $20 souvenir as much as the show - or maybe more?


There was even a 3-D segment in the Christmas "Spectacular" (see Scott's glasses?)


Afterward, mom arranged for us to go on a backstage tour of Radio City Music Hall. I'm not sure Julia wanted to stand quite this close to the camels.


It was so incredibly crowded in Rockefeller Center. You almost literally could not move, but somehow we managed to take a picture.

After we saw the Nutcracker and played in Central Park, we all walked over to Ellen's Starlight Diner just north of Times Square, where all the waiters and waitresses sing. Judy gave the little girls kitty dolls for presents.

It's the kind of place where chocolate milkshakes are mandatory.


Judy loves little girls!


Julia got her first piece of birthday cake. Only five more days to go!


The whole restaurant sang to her.


Say cheese!

After Christmas, Julia and I went to New York. Uncle Scott met us there, and we all took the train into Manhattan.


Grandma Elaine took us to see the spectacular New York City Ballet Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. Scott's friend Judy came along, with her daughter Jessica.


Afterward we wandered into Central Park and Julia made a friend on the big spider web.


Julia loved the tall slide. Once again, Mom got nauseous on the swings, but no one was there to document that moment.


There are wonderful rocks to climb on all over Central Park. I'm not sure what happened with this groovy picture, but my sense is it's the kind of thing that can only happen when you're still using an analog camera (like me).

Good morning, Julia!

Julia made a special present for dad.

Greg got a stocking this year, too.

Julia's favorite present was her new scooter. She couldn't wait to get outside and take it for a spin.


Of course there was a ton more presents to open up later with Cousin Shannon at Aunt Sandi and Uncle Dave's house.

Every year we have been going to Dunsmuir House in Oakland before Christmas (2008) to see the charming, old-fashioned puppet show, which includes a skating penguins and dancing menorahs. The puppets must be at least 40-50 years old. The kids laughed and laughed.


After the show, the puppeteers let Charlotte, Julia and Katie take a closer look at the puppets.


This guy was Julia's favorite.


On this outing I realized how big Charlotte's little brother Drake (left) is getting. As we walked through the gardens toward the mansion for our tour, he kept saying, "C'mon Julia! c'mon Julia!"

Julia and Katie have been taking gymnastics lessons on and off for a few years now. Julia's strength and confidence are definitely growing.



They are both pretty confident on the higher balance beam, too.

It's now a time-honored tradition for us to drive out to god-knows-where-in-the-woods-north-of-Shasta, on the day after Thanksgiving, with Gary, Kathy and Tyler (and various cousins), to cut down a Christmas tree. Julia and Zachary found a trough full of ice and water that was really fun.


Julia and Dad picked out a really good one...


...and a few days later they made it look really pretty.

Julia and Zachary (Tyler's first cousin) gamely rolled out the dough for apple pie (notice their rolling "pins").


What good are sweet potatoes without the little marshmallows?


It was warm enough for us to sit out side the Sweetbrier cabin for Thanksgiving dinner.


Savannah, Julia, Tyler and Zachary at the "kids" table.

In 2008, we spent Thanksgiving with Julia's cousin Tyler at his cabin in Sweetbrier, near Mount Shasta. There's a cool swing nearby at the "Red Cabin" that Julia loves loves loves.


The cousins helped Aunt Kathy prep the turkey for the barbecue.


I think they were watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. (In my day we had to wait for it to come on TV.)

Every year we host pizza and trick-or-treating for a bunch of kids at our house. Katie and Julia locked tails.


Julia made the rounds with Peyton, Isa, Jesse and Katie (and Erin, who went home early). Candy is still kind of beside the point - we've still got a nearly full bag in the living room. A few days later Julia drew a picture of Jesse in his alien costume and she totally nailed it.

The younger kids all wore their costumes to school on Halloween Day at Emerson school (2008). Our little rat/mouse had breakfast with a ninja, dog and many princesses.

Julia's friend Bella was a cowgirl. (Julia seems to be tugging at the costume in almost every picture - I hope she wasn't TOO uncomfortable...)

We love Miss Jeannie!

The clouds parted just in time for the kids' Halloween parade around the neighborhood.