This morning we ate breakfast at a little counterculture place, checked out of our hotel, and headed down to the boardwalk. From there we explored the beach all the way to a little lighthouse. Now we're back in town, finishing our lunch at a quirky panino place with Star Wars decorations.

The plan is to visit The Mystery Spot and return to the airport. Home soon.

The displays were pretty cool wry the aquarium, especially the task tanks full of kelp and the jellyfish displays. We survived the crowds and made our way home, resting a bit before walking to the boardwalk to see the sea lions and watch the sunset. Eventually we made our way to a vegetarian space themed restaurant, which hit the spot. The night was capped off with silly television and a movie. Fun times.

The plan is to visit the local Center for Spiritual Living and head to Santa Cruz, visiting the redwoods along the way.

Update: We made it to Santa Cruz and checked into our B&B. Along the way we stopped in a forest to hike through the redwoods. Now we're going to a space themed vegetarian diner. Very exciting!

And sadly the space diner was closed. At the pizza place now, slightly disappointed.

Saturday we spent packing up the little kids and Cecilia for their trip.  It was pretty low-key, though Sam and I spent the entire Shawn the Sheep movie downstairs talking.  Isa's having some rough emotional times and Sam wanted to have someone to talk with.  While I'm not sure I have any answers, hopefully I was appropriately calm and reassuring.  We had pizza and science to wrap up the evening, one last tradition before the kids headed off.

Sunday morning we got up early and hugged the travelers before heading to Portland, Kevin taking them all to the airport.  I went back to bed for a couple hours, which I very much needed.  We didn't do very much that day.  Isa came over and played board games with us, in between some emotional conversations.  Emma and I went to the library.  My mom came over for dinner.

Now I'm at work, trying not to move anything to live before I leave for a couple weeks.  I'm hoping to take the kids up into the mountains to play in the snow, a little nervous about the weather but hopeful I can manage.  Emma's hanging out with my mom this morning and playing with Kate in the afternoon.  Wednesday I'm finally seeing Star Wars and hanging out with a bunch of family.  Fun, fun.

The week has been relatively uneventful.  Joanna continues to make presents for neighbors, teachers, and friends.  This morning she was writing cards to Duncan and Berry's teachers, along with jam and cider.  She also ended up doing most of the work on a scarf that Berry was knitting for a friend, but I suppose Berry just outsourced the labor after doing the design work.

Sam went to Isa's choir concert last night.  Emma was feeling under the weather, but decided to stoically go to school anyway.  Hopefully the tea and painkillers I gave her will help.

Joanna and I are going out tonight and then tomorrow is a hang out and prepare for trips day.  The house will get pretty quiet soon.

Of the three developers at work, one has decided to quit.  He's the new guy, relatively speaking, though it's going to put more pressure than usual on us to try and keep things together.  Hopefully we can hire a replacement.

This is the last week of school before Christmas break.  Duncan and Berry are wearing pajamas as much as possible this week.  Duncan was also explaining how he's making a Minecraft mod with Santa, and how he drops presents if you kill him.  I told him I was horrified.

I moved kids around last night, returning Isa home and taking Sam and Emma to get their flu vaccinations.  They were hysterical, talking in pigeon German and Japanese all the way to the clinic.

Joanna continues to work away at her hotel descriptions and keeping everyone fed.  We're slowly getting organized for our Santa Cruz trip.  Sam and I have been playing King of Tokyo non-stop.  Can't wait to play it with the rest of the crew. 

Saturday morning the little kids woke up early to open stockings, along with Cecilia, who was up early.  Joanna made her a knitted stocking with Cecilia's name on it, and she was quite impressed.  Eventually my mom and Sam arrived and we began the present opening in earnest.  I ended up with a nice big hard drive, some NFC tags to play with, and a funny book of French cartoons from Cecilia (fortunately translated into English).  Everyone else got some fun loot as well and we spent the afternoon playing with them.

The rest of the weekend had people running to and fro.  Joanna took the little kids to a movie and then off to a Christmas party.  Sam went off with Isa.  I took Emma and Cecilia to Sizzle Pie and Sweet Life, playing board games as we went.  Sunday we puttered around - I got a lot of chores down and managed some video game playing time.  Emma and I watched Inside Out.  Eventually the day wound down with a tasty lasagna dinner from Joanna.  Sam and I played King of Tokyo until we ran out of time and had to be responsible.

This is another busy week - we've got things happening just about every evening.  Next Saturday we're packing up Cecilia and the little kids and preparing them for their flight. Sunday should be pretty quiet.

I did wake up this morning, convinced it was Saturday instead of Friday.  It took Emma's convincing to make me realize I needed to take a shower and get ready to get kids to school.  

Today is also my 20 year anniversary at PeaceHealth.  I think I get a pin or something whenever Karl returns from Vancouver.

Emma also got good grades, with her only B in her science class.  Her art teacher loves her.  I'm going to a parent-teacher conference tonight and Friday night she has her winter concert.

Duncan and Berry are their usual selves.  I think they're getting excited for their first Christmas this weekend.  Joanna and Berry made a fancy advent calendar for Joanna, filled with sweet notes from the children.  Duncan is increasingly goofy and silly.  Cecilia took a day off yesterday - she apparently couldn't bring herself to tromp through the rain to Roosevelt.  She spent the day relaxing in a quiet house and trying to get the airline to fix the accent in her name.

We're slowly getting ready for our California trip later this month.  Even though we're flying into San Jose, I think we'll spend most of our time around Santa Cruz.  I haven't been there since visiting BJ back in the 80's, so I barely remember it.  Presumably the hair styles have changed since then.

It's a busy week ahead of us - first going to Emma's parent-teacher conference, then getting Joanna for a dinner date, and finally picking up Sam at Isa's house.  Tomorrow Joanna is making sushi for Isa and her mom.  Friday is Emma's concert.  Saturday we have Christmas with Berry, Duncan, and Cecilia.  'Tis the season.