Good Old Days 2013

 We started the day off with kiwanas supporting pancake breakfast and dancing.

 Followed by a mostly car parade, lots of old cars.

 Highlighted by traditional groups like the balloon platoon...

 cub scouts (hi Coryn!)...

 and the odd float (yum, artichokes).

 Had to visit the bird guy.

and squeefully ride a pony.

Streets of Bethlehem

So there are a million fun things to do around the holidays here, a variety of historical productions in particular.  We went to Salinas to see a program called Streets of Bethlehem where people dress up and act like the time of Jesus's birth.  
 Bus ride!  always a favorite.

This is a big production with acting at several stages so they only let people in a few at a time.  A roman guard keeps the crowds entertained with threats and bribes...

 Plus a variety of educational booths about the time with crafts and activities like bread making, Jewish holiday traditions, dried fruit, spice boxes, etc.

 For the finale, a musical number by a choir of angels

and the live nativity....  all in all a great Christmas tradition.

Tree Lighting

 The first Monday after Thanksgiving the town has its tree-lighting event including music from a few groups, we went to watch.

 And play in the dark because when else do we get to do that?











Weeeee!

Whats that?  A fire truck? with... 



Santa!

Halloween 2012

 Jovey loves to paint... she loves anything in the arts fields as a matter of fact.

 And we painted pumpkins

 Went trunk-or-treating (Jovey is a baterina, Coryn a zombie pirate, and Carter is obviously Kwazii, the pirate cat from Octonauts)

 I carved a pumpkin (or three because they don't do knives yet)

And keeping with tradition, Coryn changed outfits between events, here he's a blue-haired mad scientist.

Our Lucky Find

We love our house.  The owners are great, it is roomy, has a garage, kids can walk to school, great neighborhood, and so much more.  That being said... it has character.

 Character in the living room...

 the dining room

 the sitting room/toy room

 the bathroom

 the master bedroom

 master bath

 bedroom #2

 and #3

and other bathroom.  A LOT of character.