Fun with Friends & Family

Enjoying Summer Sun

We've been enjoying summer vacation. Nye has settled into a new routine of reading in the mornings and swimming or playing outdoors in the afternoon. Both Nye and Arch are enjoying the lazy days of 70-80 degree temperatures and blue skies. Hey, who could complain, really! We have also been very fortunate to have had time to visit with friend and family. Sara had time to finally get a chance to meet Stacy's husband Deron and her son Terre. We were thrilled to have Chris, Laurie, and Julie come from Connecticut this past weekend. It is so wonderful to see friends and family from back east. It helps us to feel connected!

July 4th

We celebrated the holiday weekend by kicking back, sleeping late, and then driving over to Santa Cruz to explore the tide pools. Next time we promise to time it better. (I've purchased a new tide chart to help with that.) Not too far from Natural Bridges State Park there are these great flat rocks that are eroded by cobblestones. The stones create pits in the table rocks that many sea creatures colonize. We encountered sea anemone, chiton, snails, kelp, crabs, etc. In the fractures between the table rocks where sea stars and many other creatures. (Most of these were inaccessible to us because of the tides. Next time . . . .)


Down on the Ombogombo!

This past weekend we were delighted to play host to Chris, Laurie, and Julie. We did our best to entertain. During a visit to the pool in our complex Nye was introduced to the game of "Down on the Ombogombo" by Uncle Chris. (Credit to Uncle Matt I hear.) The playful pool game, which is basically a trip down the mytical Ombogombo River, involves many hazards -- alligators, crocodiles, whirlpools, hippopotimi, etc. It was a big hit with Nye!

As if traveling along the Omobgombo were not enough we took Chris, Laurie, and Julie down to the Monterey Bay Aquarium to enjoy the most wonderful aquarium we know. We all enjoyed a day of enjoying the sea creatures and keeping while looking out to the Pacific beyond the doors of the aqarium keeping our eyes open for sea otters, seals, and whales. (No whales this trip -- too early sorry!) We did have great time enjoying sea horses and jelly fish. If you haven't seen these really mesmerazing creatures you are in for a treat! (They put lava lamps to shame.)

We traveled north from Monterey to Moss Landing. There we spotted harbor seals, sea otters, and the most amazing crowd of sea lions we've ever witnessed. The moms and pups where piled three animals high on the pier and were spilling over to the rock embankments right up to the parking lot! (That is a crazy lot of sea lions and some rather crushed looking pups.) Conservative estimates put it them at about 500. We've gotten used to spotting the sea lions at Moss Landing but we were quite overwhelmed by their numbers during this visit.

From there we traveled up to Sea Cliff's State Park to enjoy the cement ship, pictured right .
(It is endearing in a way that is hard to describe!) We all worked on the S.S. SNAP, a sand vessel of Nye's special design. Sorry no picture here. Watching the seals in the waves just off the beach, boogie boarders, and the graceful curve of the pelicans. It is a great way to end a day. After our visit to Sea Cliff's we topped it off with a trip to the pier at Santa Cruz for a nice sea food dinner. (Most of us had good food -- Julie and I won't mix Mango and sea food again -- right Jules?)

So far July has been a quiet and enjoyable month with friends and family. We help to celebrate our friend's Charles and Julian's birthdays at the Benningtons. We've welcomed, Chris - Laurie and Julie to Callie. And we'll continue to explore, enjoy and share our new home.

Wishing all the best!!

Sara, Nye, and Archil