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The Downtown Livermore Christmas Parade was one of last years highlights.  So much so that this year we decided to get involved so that we could be a part of the fun.  After decorating the J. Rockcliff mobile and trailer – complete with Snoopy and Woodstock – we toured through the parade route in spot 49 and enjoyed the thousands of people that came out to enjoy the festivities.  As a wonderful bonus, the girls got to spend a little one-on-one time with Santa!

We’re already looking forward to something bigger and better for next year!

Papa

Generally speaking, I don’t like posting items out of order, and I still have a ton of stuff leftover to share from Halloween.  That will come, I promise, but I had to share today’s trip to the beach and thought I’d drop in a quick little video to show you how great it was.  More pictures, more story, click more…

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It was wild – we were at the zoo and there were so many children dressed up.  Everyone was looking great, excited as all get out, and if anything like us, having the time of their life.  That’s right – we went to the 2008 Boo at the Zoo at the Oakland Zoo.  We got there quite early – about ten minutes to 9:00, before they even opened, and we were one of the first to arrive.  I’m glad we got through the exciting stuff quickly, because we really did get to see the zoo and the other kids in their costumes – the girls even got their face (Sofi) and arm (Natalie) painted.

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Sometimes I wonder, are my children beautiful because of who they are, or are they beautiful because of how they make me feel?  I’m not sure that I will ever know the answer, but when I see my girls out having fun and enjoying their life it makes me thankful, every day, for what I am able to share with them and what they give back to me.

This year for pumpkins we went to some “nearly world famous” pumpkin patch that is somewhere between a carnival and a pumpkin patch.  They’ve got everything – corn mazes, train rides, pony rides, pumpkin games, hay rides, and of course pumpkin sales.  The only thing against them is that they fee the consumer to death – from $3 parking to a ride package that’s basically about $20/person, and that’s before you even get to the pumpkins!  Fortunately, in the area of pumpkins they were pretty reasonable.  But,… I will try to remember that it’s not about the money – but rather what it provides for you.  For this weekend - a little money went a long way – we had a blast!

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When people talk about why they love living in California, it’s weekends like this that they’re talking about.  The weather was gorgeous, the air was clear, and there was so much going on it was hard to avoid it so that we could simply spend a weekend with our children.  This past Saturday we took in a fair share of the Bay Area from San Jose, to Mountain View, to San Francisco and we even spent some time on the beach.

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When I think back to growing up in San Diego, the pieces of time that I remember msot vividly and fondly are surrounding thoughts of the ocean and Mission Bay.  I can remember fishing, boogie boarding, body surfing, snorkling and sailing as though it were yesterday and I am thankful every day for those experiences that brought me so much joy from life.  Even today thoughts of the beach bring me happiness and my dreams include sailing with my family to distant shores.  I’m thankful that my children have a similar love of the ocean and they really seem to come alive whenever we’re even near to the beach.

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I think it’s universally true that “the fair is fun.”  Heck, even I can remember going to the Del Mar Fair in San Diego.  The Santa Cruz County Fair is no exception, and I’m glad that the girls got to experience it this year.  The great weather, wonderful sights (games, rides, food) and exposure to 4H animals was outstanding.

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There is something amazing about theme parks in general and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is no exception.  Sure, it’s not a DisneyLand or Six Flags, but the old-school rides, carnival food and gaudy atmosphere make this something special for old and young alike.  For me, the park is exciting for more than just rides.  It’s the proximity to the ocean that makes this place special for me and the fact that nearly every ride provides a view that is unmatched at the biggest parks.  For the children, it means that the excitement doesn’t end when the rides are done – there’s another world to explore, enjoy and share amongst friends.

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I like that Mama is only working outside the home half-time and more importantly that being a teacher allows her to take some time off over the summer.  I’m sure it’s not enough time for either her or the children, but it’s wonderful that they get to play this summer and I can really see in both Sofi and Natalie how much they appreciate getting to spend time with her.  Surprisingly, I am rarely jealous that they’re out having fun together and enjoying the weekdays without me.

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One of the local K-5 private schools off Union Avenue had a special Easter treat this past weekend, and after seeing the Easter Bunny announcing the event we swung a quick u-turn and decided to take a peak.  We arrived with the first group of 15 or so children – most of whom seemed to be students of the school – and we got to follow the bunny himself before starting off on a very exciting Easter treasure hunt.

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