We went with our son to a New Year's Eve party at the home of our friends Marcus, Kristi, and Jonathan. We only stayed up to see the New Year in the central time zone… we were home in bed by the time it was 2012 in California. 

Our New Year resolutions this year? The same as every year: don't make New Year resolutions!

Last year, Leila and I went for a Christmas trip to Long Barn, CA. This year, we went on a similar trip, this time in nearby Strawberry, CA. Just like last year, our friends Irene and Tofique -and their three kids Evelyn, Erik and Emil- invited us up to share a cabin they rented, along with our mutual friends Kristi and Kalmer. 

Leila went to grade school with Irene and Kristi- they've known each other over 30 years, since first grade! We all got together in Los Angeles back in June, 2005 when Irene and Tofique's daughter was very little.

Leila and I took Leo for a stroll around Pinecrest Lake- this time of year it was mostly empty and what little water remained was partially frozen over. 

Enjoying nature next to the Stanislaus River in Strawberry, CA. 

On a forest hike with Leo.

Pop and Leo relax back in the warm cabin. 

At the Strawberry Store, complete with a statue of Bigfoot. I was hoping we might catch a glimpse of the real thing. It's said there have been many sightings in this part of the Sierra Nevadas- but no such luck for us. Or could it be that not encountering Bigfoot is actually a good thing?

The kids got to enjoy a second Christmas during the evening as we were fortunate to find a small Christmas tree, and everyone put presents they had brought under it. Having had a blast opening his gifts that morning at our house, Leo was stoked to have a go at it again.

We all piled into our cars and struck out for the Sonoma Pass- the 2nd highest elevation of the Sierra Nevadas at 9600 ft above sea level. Here, Tofique, me and Kalmer pose at a look off beside the road at a mere 8900 ft.

Leo- in his winter gear- enjoys his very first meeting with snow.

Later, he got his very first experience on ice, at the edge of a frozen pond high in the mountains.

With Pop- venturing out onto the ice.

Everyone poses for a group photo: Leila, Leo, Me, Evelyn, Erik, Tofique, Emil, Irene, Karina, Liisa and Kalmer. Missing is Kristi, who took the photo. 

Leo, Leila and I are hitting the road bright and early tomorrow morning (Christmas Day). We plan to spend our Christmas holidays with good friends in a cabin way up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the small hamlet of Strawberry, California. 

Wishing all our family and friends a very Merry Christmas!

Once again we're at Pershing Square in Los Angeles for Christmas Eve.  This year the first with our baby son, Leo. Joining us, our friends Kristi and Kalmer and their daughters.

Here’s the product, both in raw form and packaged for the mules to strap to their bodies…

Okay, it’s really just gingerbread made fresh in our kitchen by Leila and Katre, but its funny how it resembles a whole other type of enterprise.

When it comes to Halloween, they don't mess around in Santa Monica. Walking around the neighborhood our friends Kristi, Marcus and Jonathan live in, Leila, Leo and I saw some serious entries in what must be the "Best Damn Halloween Display Ever" contest. People have gone to great lengths to turn their homes and property into haunted mansions. Where else can you find a life-size grim reaper pumpkin carriage?

I predict that the above wicked witch- just off the public sidewalk- will likely give some unsuspecting midnight pedestrian either a serious case of the creeps, or a heart attack, one or the other.

I guess this marriage went beyond 'til Death Do us Part.'

Pretty much every house on the block was done up like these- it was quite spooktacular!

We're spending our Labor Day holiday in Irvine with our son.

We’re in Staunton, VA visiting my Mom for the 4th of July. We just watched the parade and now having some grub by the duck pond.

… to visit my folks in Virginia for the 4th of July holiday. Leo will get to meet his grandparents on my side. We'll be on an airplane by 7am tomorrow headed for the east coast.

Today, Memorial Day,  our friends Ed and Debbie stopped by for a visit to meet our new addition. They brought food and Ed cooked us some outrageously good hamburgers on the backyard grill. We also had fresh-squeezed juice from oranges Leila and I pilfered from a state park visit yesterday.

Later on, Leila, Leo and I went to Target to buy a few needed household supplies. It was the first time Leo was fussy in public; he whined a bit in his car seat atop our shopping cart. Usually he goes straight to sleep when in motion- in the car, being carried in his car seat, the stroller, etc. He probably had a little bit of an upset stomach. By the time we got back home, he was fine.