AFS International Desserts - 2018 version

On Sunday, we hosted 10 exchange students from all over the world (and their host families) for the AFS International Desserts Holiday Celebration. This marks 20 years that we've hosted this party. Here is the 2018 version.

Only 2 boys this year.

Fun kids.

Thanksgiving 2018

Nancy hosted Thanksgiving 2018. It was great fun. Helen, Dad and I joined Nancy, Heidi, Jerod, Stacy, Regan, Carly and Stacy's parents, Fred and Shirley. After a fantisimo meal, and an unbelievably tasty dessert called chocolate lasagne, a vigorous game of Mexican Train dominos lasted for hours. I failed to get any photos.  However, Helen noticed these two old family photos from 70-75 years ago. They include Nancy's father, Vansel Cline.

Nancy was a super cute little girl.

Vansel is but one of the many things we are thankful for.

2 Days - 2 Funerals

Saturday we said goodbye to Doug Kirk. We knew him for 40 of his 58 years.

Sunday we said goodbye to Rich Maxfield. We knew him for 42 of his 72 years.

This is hard.

Halloween and Wedding

This year Halloween was extra special. In addition to the standard parade of approximately 2200 Trick or Treaters ... 

we also hosted a 9 PM wedding in our living room. With the Bride dressed all in black as Morticia, and the Groom dressed as Gomez ... 

I officiated the wedding ceremony dressed as Dracula.

It was a hoot.

Let me tell you ... you don't see this every day.

Happy Halloween 2018.

Germans in California - Samantha turns 38

Samantha's birthday was extra fun this year as part of the German Family flew into San Francisco to help us celebrate. 

Iris and Uncle Harald brought

Iris' daughters, Leanna and Ariane.

Mark joined us too which doubled - maybe tripled - the fun.

We all stayed together in a wonderful old home in Menlo Park. While they explored the wonders of the Bay area, Helen and I either worked

or hugged grandchildren. 

We also joined them at a Carnival-like birthday party for one of their 3-year-old buddies.

Our good friends Emily and Dave hosted all of us for a wonderful dinner party on their back patio. Clea and Sebastian - who were in town from Geneva - joined us late and missed the photo.

We did other fun stuff too.

And Helen got to do her favorite thing with the grandchildren.

Oh yes ... we even wished Samantha a Happy Birthday.

Mega thanks to the Germans, Mark and The Qs for making this a super fun trip.

Laurin, Sven, Yannick and their Chevy Cruze

Extended cousin Laurin and buddies, Sven and Yannick, are traveling the US during their gap year from school in Germany. After exploring the west coast, including a visit with the Qs in Menlo Park ...

they arrived in Topeka after a long (49-hour) and adventurous bus ride (mechanical breakdowns and fellow passenger arrested) from Los Angeles.

After a nice visit, they were ready to explore the eastern half of the US. No longer interested in riding the bus, we helped them buy a car. They decided on a nice 2012 Chevy Cruze Eco 6-speed manual.

Next stop, Chicago. Then off to Toledo/Erie, Niagara Falls, Albany/Kingston, Boston, New York, Washington DC, Myrtle Beach, Jacksonville, Miami, Key West, Orlando, Atlanta, Memphis and then back to Topeka to sell the car. Then home to Germany.

Stay tuned for more.

Sierra Camp

Earlier this month we joined our grandchildren ... and their parents ... for a week-long adventure at Stanford's Sierra Camp. Located on the shore of Fallen Leaf Lake (which is just south of Lake Tahoe), Sierra Camp is the ultimate in outdoor charm combined with quaint cabins, excellent food, and spectacular views. Here is the main entrance to the Lodge.

Our cabin ... lakeside

and our lake view. 

We did leisurely things like paddleboarding,

sailing,

some gentle kayaking,

some couples yoga,

some pedal boating,

 some orienteering

... where Samantha and I were aptly crowned as the Camp Orienteering Champions.

George was in a fun parade.

Samantha, Jake and I went on a rugged 7.8-mile hike 

up to 8,730 feet which offered spectacular views of both Fallen Leaf Lake and Lake Tahoe.

And then, we had the scary trek back down.

Yes, this is part of the trail down.


Lucky for us, we got to spend a lot of relaxed and low-key time with our cute grandchildren ... and with Samantha and Jake, of course.

It was a time to be together. That is a good thing.


Mega thanks to Samantha and Jake for letting us join you.