Summer Fun; Ariella Turns Four

We are having a great time this summer, as you can see from the pictures. Ariella is keeping busy going to JCC summer camp, which ends next week. And she turned four - we can't believe it. The family bought bicycles, and we have had fun biking with the kids. Jonah transitioned from the inchworm crawl to regular crawling - and he is fast! He started pulling himself up to standing, and now that's his favorite thing to do. That, and demonstrating to us how our house isn't babyproofed.

Andi has been busy with her book club, starting to get more involved with the JCC, and keeping up with two active kids. Ariella has had swimming lessons and ballet lessons this summer, in addition to camp. And Rick has been training for a half-marathon he is running November 4 - up to six miles now.

So here are a bunch of pictures from the last two months - next update after Jonah's first birthday, which is in less than two weeks!


Ariella shows off what she has learned in ballet class.

The very proud dancer.

The whole family, Father's day 2007 at PF Changs.

Yes, Rick and Jonah are wearing sort of matching shirts.

Ariella gives a serious look for the camera.


Andi and Ariella in matching pajamas, June 2007.

Ariella at swimming lessons, June 25, 2007.

Jonah, in his own kind of pool, at 10.5 months!

Also at 10.5 months, on 7/4/07, Jonah started crawling like a big boy.

He crawls fast now.

Ready for the bike ride on the back of daddy's bike.

Ariella and Jonah after our annual strawberry picking fiesta, July 8, 2007.
You can see the strawberry haul in the foreground. It later made strawberry pie.

Ariella shows off her very advanced art skills. She drew that bird!

July 8, just before 11 months, Jonah starts using objects as "walkers."

Trip to SF, 7/14/07. At the Conservatory of Flowers.

Jakey, Ariella, and Zacky, 7/19/07, days before the boys moved with our good friends to New Jersey. We already miss them.

Ariella's 4th birthday party. Here, having fun with Isabel.

The hula-hoop-train.

Ariella surrounded by her friends.

Andi baked a beautiful castle-cake, and surrounded it with princesses. Ariella was very happy with the results.

The whole family, 7/29/07.

Andi and Charlotte, disguised as a cat.

Andi, Ariella, Julie and Isabel.

Gamah and Jonah.

Gamah, Andi, and the grandkids.

On her actual 4th birthday, Ariella measured 41 inches tall on her chart.

At our favorite beach, Natural Bridges Beach in Santa Cruz, 8/4/07.

Rick, in his "Viva El Papi" T-shirt.

Andi and Jonah in front of the "natural bridge." It was in the 80s at home, but only in the mid 60s (and windy) by the beach.

Andi and the kids at the beach.

Ariella, pretending to be a mermaid.