Stamper extraordinaire!

Ashwin is in action with one of his favourite birthday prezzos his stamper kit. As you can see he likes stamping everything in sight including himself! He was playing stamps with James and next thing I saw he was covered in red ink, I am sure Skippyjon Jones inspired him.

Ashwins 2nd birthday!

Happy birthday to you little one - Ashwin was 2 years old on the 11th October. Here he is opening one of his many gifts that was sent from Australia - we had to space the gifts out as he had so many. He had a fun time ripping open the paper and discovering what he scored. Overall he had a good time with his pressos and he got some goodies that he really enjoyed! He had a great day as well hanging out with the family :)

The train driver on his birthday...

For Ashwins 2nd birthday we were in Los Gatos on a venture so we thought we would take him on a train ride at the park. Unfortunately it was closed due to the weather - too much sunshine = beach time! So Ashwin had to settle for a stationary vehicle instead, that he really enjoyed! We will have to take him on a day that the wildcat railroad is opened, hopefully soon!!

The truckeater!

Ashwin must have been a bit hungry on our way back from SF the other day as he was munching on his truck before he fell asleep with the truck in his mouth. Maybe he was just entertaining himself along the boring trip on the freeway.

The glorious Golden Gate

As we were checking out the sites with the relatives from Australia we stopped by to check out the Golden Gate on a clear morning. Here we are, just the two of us - as Ashwin was asleep in the car taking a morning nap. We enjoyed the sights of the city from the Marin side of the bridge as you could see the panorama from the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge with the city in between.

A afternoon break at North Beach

On our way back through the Fleet Week crowds we stopped by to take a break at Washington Park. They had a collection of Ferraris on show that I had to keep Ashwin away from and we hung out till we felt we could face the crowds again! Man we were tired as we thought we could tram it back but no chance, so we had to walk for miles/kilometres back to the car - exhausted!

There go the Blue Angels!!

As we had guests to entertain we saw in the paper that it was Fleet Week in SF and you can go on board navy vessels and the air acrobatic team the Blue Angels were on show. Man it was crazy busy, still we experienced the sights & sounds of America in it's glory!

Get that suit off me!

For a Halloween costume we thought we would get Ashwin a frog suit to wear but there is a problem - he hates it! So it looks like it will be given back to the Goodwill store. So much for making an effort to celebrate a great American tradition, think if anything Ashwin will be a pirate but the problem is keeping the bandana on his head! It's next week so we'll see how we go and if we can trick or treat around the 'hood??!!

Our guests arrive...

As the year has flown by the day came for our first lot of guest visits arrived. All the way from Adelaide, Australia via Spain, France and the United Kingdom - whew! So I think it was good that they came to California to chill out and relax before a trip back to Australia.

Day out to Hakone Gardens

We are out on this beautiful sunny day to Hakone Gardens in Saratoga, touring with our guests Jane & Lloyd. It was a relaxing time for all - having ice cream for morning tea in Saratoga and checking out Knitting Arts for some yarn and then to the gardens for some zen time!

I am the firestarter!

Amazing what you can do with baby blueberry shampoo these days - even use it as a temporary hair product! Don't know if anyone remembers the band The Prodigy from the early 90's?? Here Ashwin has hair like the lead singer except it isn't bright orange. It would be cool if it stayed this way for a bit longer but maybe we need gelatin to transform Ashwin into a punk!

Surprise news!!

Well I think I had better make the announcement that James and I are having another baby and lucky Ashwin will be getting a sibling to play with! I am now 15 weeks and counting, so all of you in Australia get ready to see a belly when we visit in December.

Look out Hitchcock!

This could have been a scene from 'The Birds', Alfred Hitchcocks legendary film - think these birds were on a break at the time of this shot! Ashwin was having a great time chasing the birds and watching them fly away.

For all the 'Cafe Del Mar' fans...

Wow here is 'Rio of the Sea' where is Duran Duran - I didn't see anyone in their speedos falling off the pier!! We are still in California and this reminded me of all the Cafe Del Mar Ibiza CDs friends of mine used to listen to - so this pic is for you!

Not another Brighton Beach!

Here we are on New Brighton State Beach, just to be different from the Brightons in the UK and Australia (I am sure there are more but they are the only two I know!) on a Sunday drive on a beautiful day. Our beloved picnic blanket that accompanys us in the car and Ashwins sand toys are the essentials for the sand and cold water. Ashwin is eating sandy lunch in this pic.

Some felting action!

I had this scarf ready knit from my machine and ready to be felted - shibori stylee! Well that is what the ladies at Stitches told us the technique was anyhow... This is a beautiful alchemy yarn 40% silk and 60% mohair it is so fine and soft.

Art and da boys!

We caught up with some friends at "stinky duck pond" in Palo Alto one weekend recently & found these poles in the ground - we were discussing whether it was an art installation of someone got drunk while putting up a fence.

A bit of cross dressing...

Is this our son dressed in girls clothes - he even looks like a girl! I can explain this whole episode... you see I was at the pool with the mums group hanging out by the spa and Ashwin decided to go into the spa fully clothed!! Lucky another mum there had some backup clothes in Ashwins size but they were for her daughter. He ended up just wearing the top and nothing else - the life of a baby!

Hey punk!

On one of our chill out days together Ashwin and I go down to our favourite spot for a bit of wildlife viewing. Here we found a baby crane?? Well it was hanging around a beautiful looking mature crane at the lake. I just loved it's head dress!

Last day of childcare

This is Ashwins childcare centre that he enjoyed so much, Daddy was here to drop him off for his last day. He had a party and the carers were saying that he loves to wear fairy wings. Now that is an idea for a Halloween outfit - he can go as a boy fairy??

Mr Scamp

This is the scamp Ashwin in amongst the marigolds on a morning out to Los Gatos. He just loved his time in childcare when I was working full time then part time. Now Ashwin gets to hang out with Mum all the time! Think he has been enjoying himself and his days out doing stuff around the place. Think the best thing is doing the groceries and scoring free food, mmmmm!

Ever seen an Artichoke flower?

As I haven't blogged for months (it seems like forever!) as I have been busy with work, looking after Ashwin & for the last 3 weeks two lots of different guests from Australia - here's opening with something flowery. We found this at the Farmers Market in Sunnyvale & it smells like honey, when we first saw it I said to James - it's an artichoke flower & sure enough it was!!