thingnext: It's been far too long...

Wishing Mom a farewell before she heads out on a business trip to Krakow.

Krakow castle during an early morning walk.

Measuring how much she's grown!

Just hanging out

Taking a precious walk at Granny's house in Santa Cruz.

Easter

Someone was very excited at her visit from the Easter Bunny

Dance Party at Mara's school.

Spring Break in Sedona, AZ.

Walking to Slide Park.

Such beautiful landscapes, hard not to smile!

The explorers.

Hiking near our hotel in Sedona.

Enjoying the sunset on the drive in.

So much to paint & draw - Mara and Clare's favorite past-time while we were there!

Dinner creekside

Exploring downtown with all of its rock shops!

Cathedral rock where Mara and Clare did their own Vortex Yoga!

Avoiding all of the cacti

Sun salutations

Meditating

The different times of day provide an everchanging backdrop

You can never get sick looking at the landscape!

Happy Family!

Nothing like the full moon!

Having fun downtown

Love those cactuses!

Showing off her new Sedona shirt!

Practicing for her big recital!

So proud of Walk-a-Thon, benefiting her school. This year she walked over a dozen laps!

Our little singer.

Horse back riding at Mt Madonna for Mother's Day.

Celebrating our fifteenth wedding anniversary, back to where it all began: Monticello Winery!

But with one major addition!

Lots of kisses together!

School performance!

Reliving an old favorite: Cat's Cradle!

Ed Szluk's 90th Bday celebration in Detroit, as it should be: surrounded by all of his grandchildren!

Visiting Nona who was a little bit under the weather!

Another summer milestone & highlight: Mara swimming all on her own!

Mara and her matching American Girl Doll outfit, our dear friend Jane made her!

Playdates with her friend, Valentino.

Just before the big recital at the San Jose Performing Arts Center.

The anticipation before heading out on stage.

Dad so proud of our little princess and her performance of Second Hand Rose!

A natural!

Hiking in Nysene Marks for Father's Day

Mara has matured so much this summer. We are particularly proud of her ability to face her fears including her prior paralyzing phobia of doctors.

Enjoying time with our friends this summer, including little baby Andie!

We visited Montreal, Canada for Fourth of July and Mara's 4 year anniversary.

Happy Family at the vista on the top of the hill in Montreal.

Mara's first Double Decker bus exploring the city.

A view of Montreal.

One highlight from the trip (in addition to their outdoor Jazz Festival), was visiting their magnificent Botanical Gardens.

The big highlight was watching Mara take on steps all by herself!!

Note the sign in the back - indigenous plants for Mara's home country of Georgia!

What's a summer without bubbles?

Celebrating Nick's b-day.

For Nick's b-day we visited Napa/Calistoga and experienced our first camping trip together as a family. Mara did beautifully: a real camping pro!! Here Calistoga's Old Faithful Geyser.

Hamming it up for the camera while practicing her cursive.

This summer was spent doing lots of physical things, including a soccer league!

Camp CMT

Mara took summer dance camp at her dance studio. She was in heaven with the different Disney themed classes, as well her new found interest in American Girl Doll.