It is Thanksgiving which means a trip to California to see the relatives. Well, mostly one relative, the newest addition to my brother's family.
It turns out, if you get up early, you get to hold her without anyone trying to take her away.
And for entertainment (and possibly a try at some attention) her older brother shows us some of his best ballet moves. He really wants to learn how to dance like his cousin.
At my oldest son's request, we go to the Winchester Mystery House. I grew up here, lived here most of my life, drove by the signs on the freeway (all the way down in L.A.) but I had never been to the Winchester Mystery House. Shortly after taking this picture we were informed that we could not take any pictures while inside the house on the tour. So I put my camera away.
We are allowed to take pictures if we are outside though. On the second half of the tour we found out that pictures could be taken in any of the buildings that were not connected to the main house.
So here is the toilet picture. No collection would be complete without at least one of these.
Here is our group including a good friend of mine from college, taken at the most picturesque place on the grounds. (or so we were told.)
The house was under constant construction for 37 years, trying to free all the souls whose lives had been taken by the Winchester Rifle. When you are constantly building, sometimes things are made that don't make sense... like this door to nowhere.
Here is her lucky number carved into a bush.
Another fine example of something that doesn't make sense is this bathroom door, 3 feet off the ground. Only one way in and out. I believe there was also no plumbing inside the room.
Here we are again, after making it through 2 tours.
At Mom's house there is always work to be done. Who better to trim the overgrowth of vines than the oldest teenager and the 3 year old, out on the roof. Turns out they work well together, and now the bush is bare.
Vacation is supposed to be fun too... like learning to ride a 2 wheeler on the same 2 wheeler your dad used so many years ago. I believe we all learned to ride a bike on this red classic.
There was a lot of socializing going on too... and more baby holding. Like I said, we came to see the family :)
Busy riding a bike... when dad's back is done bending over holding the bike up, there are more available relatives with strong backs. The young man on the bike was requesting for Christmas or Hanukah his own 2 wheeler.
It turns out, if you get up early, you get to hold her without anyone trying to take her away.
And for entertainment (and possibly a try at some attention) her older brother shows us some of his best ballet moves. He really wants to learn how to dance like his cousin.
At my oldest son's request, we go to the Winchester Mystery House. I grew up here, lived here most of my life, drove by the signs on the freeway (all the way down in L.A.) but I had never been to the Winchester Mystery House. Shortly after taking this picture we were informed that we could not take any pictures while inside the house on the tour. So I put my camera away.
We are allowed to take pictures if we are outside though. On the second half of the tour we found out that pictures could be taken in any of the buildings that were not connected to the main house.
So here is the toilet picture. No collection would be complete without at least one of these.
Here is our group including a good friend of mine from college, taken at the most picturesque place on the grounds. (or so we were told.)
The house was under constant construction for 37 years, trying to free all the souls whose lives had been taken by the Winchester Rifle. When you are constantly building, sometimes things are made that don't make sense... like this door to nowhere.
Here is her lucky number carved into a bush.
Another fine example of something that doesn't make sense is this bathroom door, 3 feet off the ground. Only one way in and out. I believe there was also no plumbing inside the room.
Here we are again, after making it through 2 tours.
At Mom's house there is always work to be done. Who better to trim the overgrowth of vines than the oldest teenager and the 3 year old, out on the roof. Turns out they work well together, and now the bush is bare.
Vacation is supposed to be fun too... like learning to ride a 2 wheeler on the same 2 wheeler your dad used so many years ago. I believe we all learned to ride a bike on this red classic.
There was a lot of socializing going on too... and more baby holding. Like I said, we came to see the family :)
Busy riding a bike... when dad's back is done bending over holding the bike up, there are more available relatives with strong backs. The young man on the bike was requesting for Christmas or Hanukah his own 2 wheeler.
Back to work... breaking down the table which needs to leave the house. The problem was fitting it inside a car. Actually it would fit inside the car, the real problem was getting it inside the car. So the legs and the leaves came up to Washington, and the tabletop is still in Palo Alto.
Did I mention vacation and fun. Between work and eating, we managed to squeeze some in. We had the rare opportunity to hear a group of musicians jamming at a local pizza parlor.
One of the Musicians went to school with my brother, so we were in contact before the concert, and he was kind enough to bring an extra guitar for one of us. 
Did I mention vacation and fun. Between work and eating, we managed to squeeze some in. We had the rare opportunity to hear a group of musicians jamming at a local pizza parlor.
One of the Musicians went to school with my brother, so we were in contact before the concert, and he was kind enough to bring an extra guitar for one of us. 
Some of us were having a tongue sticking out contest.
Musicians on the left and family on the right. As you can see we were the only audience there. I believe they get together and play more for their own entertainment and fun than to entertain others. They are just out there having a good time. And we are loving it.
A man and his Mandolin...
...a boy and a guitar. 
Here is the winner of the tongue sticking out contest!!
After many yawns, long big yawns, he decided the surest way to stay awake would be to stand up and sing. And he did. Not necessarily the same song the others were playing, but he played and sang from the heart. For more on this event try going here.
When the sun is shining, we take advantage and head to the park. More family time.
Okay, we were all getting together for some reason... what was it? Oh, I remember!! Thanksgiving dinner. Here we all are on our best behavior.
A trip to the house would just not be complete without a repair to the radiant heating. This small pipe that brings warmth to the house appears broken, which leads to water leaking out.
Supervision of the repair.
Musicians on the left and family on the right. As you can see we were the only audience there. I believe they get together and play more for their own entertainment and fun than to entertain others. They are just out there having a good time. And we are loving it.
A man and his Mandolin...
...a boy and a guitar. 
Here is the winner of the tongue sticking out contest!!
After many yawns, long big yawns, he decided the surest way to stay awake would be to stand up and sing. And he did. Not necessarily the same song the others were playing, but he played and sang from the heart. For more on this event try going here.
When the sun is shining, we take advantage and head to the park. More family time.
Okay, we were all getting together for some reason... what was it? Oh, I remember!! Thanksgiving dinner. Here we all are on our best behavior.
A trip to the house would just not be complete without a repair to the radiant heating. This small pipe that brings warmth to the house appears broken, which leads to water leaking out.
Supervision of the repair.
When all is said and done, it is a good thing to leave your mark.
Visiting mom and dad with the family. Adding fresh flowers to the ones already there.
Traveling back 30 years to my high school days reunites me with a couple of old friends. Not that they are old like me, I have just known them a long long time. Here the kids have a chance to get to know one another over a friendly game of wii.
Traveling back 30 years to my high school days reunites me with a couple of old friends. Not that they are old like me, I have just known them a long long time. Here the kids have a chance to get to know one another over a friendly game of wii.
Posing for pictures... all together now!!
Here I am with the two sisters I have been visiting with all afternoon. The one next to me was in my class and I watched as she put together a handmade bag for her sister's Netbook. I was amazed when she needed an additional button, so she just made it. Her sister and I were in Mariners in high school. It turns out she works in the same place I had been working right before getting married and moving to North Carolina. It was fun seeing them.
A beautiful ending to a fun trip, took us past Mount Shasta.
Here I am with the two sisters I have been visiting with all afternoon. The one next to me was in my class and I watched as she put together a handmade bag for her sister's Netbook. I was amazed when she needed an additional button, so she just made it. Her sister and I were in Mariners in high school. It turns out she works in the same place I had been working right before getting married and moving to North Carolina. It was fun seeing them.
A beautiful ending to a fun trip, took us past Mount Shasta.
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