Update

It's been a while since our last post. It's not that we haven't been doing anything. Quite the contrary. I feel like we have been super busy doing all sorts of cool things. Here are a few updates...more to come soon.

Josie got a Slip-N-Slide for her birthday and we had the opportunity to get it out a while ago. It has to tracks so they can go at the same time and race. All we need, one more thing for them to be competitive about :) The first one to reach the checkered flag at the end wins.

A few of the neighbors came over to test it out.

Candace's sister Kristi came in town to visit so we promptly took her to the zoo. We had a great time hanging with Tilly.

We also put Kristi to work cleaning up after the Deck Demolition.

We had 2.75 tons of junk to drop off at the dump. Thank goodness that is finished. Now on to a new deck...someday.

Fun Weekend In The 'Hood

Friday night both Isabel and Josie has sleepovers with neighbor kids. Lots of fun and yummy cinnamon rolls for breakfast. It was such a nice day we headed down to the Community Park for a little bike riding, basketball, soccer and playgrounding. After the girls had a dress rehearsal for their play we had some different neighbors over for homemade grilled pizza, the favorite was sundried tomato, basil and kalamata olives. Then the little kids headed downstairs to watch a movie, Cinderella. All in all, a good weekend! What would you expect from the greatest cul-de-sac in the world.

A little update in Isabel: she got her staples out on Friday. She said she was a little scared but it didn't hurt at all. The wound looks amazingly good and she feels great. She does put a row of cushions in front of the fireplace now when they play down there.

What's happening? I'll tell you what.....

We had our new neighbors and our old neighbors over for a bar-b-que last night and it was really fun. Lots of good food, wine, smores and heat.

This is my school harvest one day last week. Sadly, this is the last of the tomatoes, but the turnips and carrots are still going strong.

Robber Ted in the 2/3 rd grade musical The Brementown Musicians. It was great and so was she.

A little felt art by Mae and me. She made the balls and I strung 'em on the thread.

Please pardon the toilet; our art gallery.

Local oddities

I was on my way to pick up Lucy the other day and noticed this green stripe on the mountains. Luckily, I came to a red light and was able to snap these two pictures. This is the area above Goleta where the fire burned this past July. The city is worried that when the winter rains come, the area below the fire will get flooded due to the enormous amount of ash and dirt that will wash into the creeks.
There have been a few planes dropping hydromulch over the burn area for the past week. This article says that they plan on having the planes working for 22 days, sunrise to sunset. I hope it works because I like a lot of stuff that is below those mountains, none of which I want to see flooded.
This is an apartment building just a few houses away from us (picture taken from our back porch). I'm not certain, but I don't think they do this anywhere else. This house is being tented for termite extermination. I can't help but think of the circus every time I see one of these tents.

School Days!

The first day of school was Aug. 20th. Isabel was so excited to get back to Louisville Elementary. We are so lucky to have such a great school so close. We have 4 other kids on the block that go to the same school so we usually meet up with them and ride, walk or scooter together. Isabel and her friend Riley met up over the summer. Once they realized they had the same skort, they planned to wear it on the first day. Reminds me a little of the Jill and Jenny days :)

A little after school fun in the neighborhood.