Re: summer fun

We had a fun visit recently from Walker and Yalda. The three boys had fun. Ranier was holding his own with the "big kids."

We just returned from a great trip to beloved Oregon to visit family in the Applegate Valley. Here are Dahrius and Lucas, cousins (or cousins Becca and Megan's kids) chilling on the Applegate River at their place on the 4th of July. We had swimming, BBQ, Mirrorpond, and good company!
Ranier found a great big rock...which he proceeded to throw. Yikes!
The lovely Miss Maria.
Cousins Jeremy and Erin were able to come down from Eugene to celebrate!
Grandma Jean chilling on the rocker with the kiddies (Ranier, David and Maria).
Ranier showing off his gangsta look (diaper, not shorts)
Ranier blowing bubbles with Grandpa Fred.

Here's Fred and Jean's farm in the Applegate Valley. Lovely!! Ahrash and I had a great time doing a very modest amount of work in the garden and were pretty pooped. Meanwhile 70+ year-old Fred and Jean did 10x as much work as us with farming and taking care of many kids (including baby David who likes to be held constantly!) Whew! I'm all tired out just remembering it...But we had a blast harvesting garlic, weeding, planting lettuce, gathering eggs. It's so satisfying working with your hands and seeing the garden bounty!!
sheep:

We had a surprise visit to Berkeley from Becca, Korry and the kids the following weekend. It was quite a treat to see our cousins again, and we all had a crazy sleepover (which involved very little sleep, I'm afraid), but fun was had by all.