July at the Deck Family Farm

We arrive at the Farm with the Guerrero Family and Francisco, their Argentinian Exchange student, in time to celebrate the 4th of July and the First Annual CSA Potluck Picnic. Nearly 150 men, women and kids tour the farm, watch a milking demonstration, listen to bluegrass music and even manage to throw a few people into the pool. Friends of our Antarctica trip - Patti, Chris and Gary as well as Joe's good friend Craig - join us for the good food and fun.
























Maria celebrates her 14th birthday with her Godfather Nick, family and friends.




Getting ready to drive home -- with a stop at the Oregon Caves.



Nico learns how to be a spelunker.





















Saying farewell to the Siskiyou Mountains and heading home.

Summer Celebrations

Nico and Mariana's Piano Recital at UCSC, June 1st


Clare's 8th Grade Graduation from St. Theresa, June 7th



Clare surprised everyone by receiving a $1,000 award to Bishop O'Dowd High School. Congratulations Clare, Nico and Mariana!




An Island idyll at East Brother Light Station, June 8th.
This one-acre rock near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge boasts a light station and a Victorian house which is used as a bed-and-breakfast. The station still warns seafarers with loud blasts of its fog horn. It was an incredibly gorgeous weekend, San Francisco Bay at its best. We want to return!

A night on the Monterey Bay hosted by Nick and Celeste's friend Scott. Mariana loved playing the part of "Rose" on the Titanic.

"Camp Babi and Papa" in the middle of June was a time to explore Santa Cruz with Clare, Sam, Max and Henry. The beach, boardwalk, Seymour Center and here, Wilder Ranch, provided rich summer camp experiences. An example.....we walked by an agitated seagull protecting its egg (can you see it?) and returned twenty minutes later to discover . . . the chick had hatched!
A baby of a different variety arrives to bless our world on May 31st. This was our first look at Lily Bliss Chappins. You can see more of Lily on her very own website, http://lilpoppyseed.blogspot.com



June 28 - Sara and TJ Cirone celebrate a beautiful wedding! Welcome to our family, Sara. We love you.

The Côté Family arrives mid-July for the beginning of their sabbatical year.


August 11 - Cousins on the Golden Gate Bridge after seeing Frida Kahlo at the Museum of Modern Art


Clare has some big news---she's celebrating her Quinceañera!



Pink, pink and more pink. The girls shop till they pop with excitement. Finally, the day arrives on August 16, and yes, they're pretty in pink.

Lydia and Jerry are glowing almost as much as Clare.
Clare and her personal Mariachi Band.

May 2008 Highlights

 

Joe, Liliana, Joseph and Peter arrived May 1st to celebrate May Day, 

spring, 

their 11th anniversary and Henry's First Communion.  

The first of many beautiful days arrived with them, and the boys 

couldn't wait to get to Cowell's Beach where they were an 

exuberant duo.

May 3, 2008.

Celebrating Henry Agustin, Child of God, with family, cousins, and classmates.

May 15 - Andreas was Mr. Darling and Mariana an Indian in a Westlake production of PETER PAN.

The last day of May was a typically busy day for the Oakland Decks, and we got to experience their life in action.  It began with Max' baseball game.  He changed into black pants and white shirt in the car as we headed for the next event---his and Henry's violin recital.  The two boys arrived on time and fidgeted in their seats, waiting for the recital to start.  It took Jerome a few minutes to realize the fidgeting was more than nervousness.  Max complained that his pants were too tight and Henry that his were too big.  Hmmm.  Their dad took them to the restroom where they traded pants.  Their playing, however, wasn't affected by the sartorial mix-up.

Clare's ballet performance 

ended the day in sublime 

fashion as she and the corps 

de ballet danced to the 

music of Chopin.  Heaven.

What have we been doing since April 2008?

 April in Chicago

It is now January 2009, and I realize there are about 2,000 photos on iPhoto that have been added since the last post.  Trying to find images that capture the highlights of the last eight months of 2008 will be a challenge.  But I'm up to it! So, looking back . . .

Just after Easter - and the last post - we headed to Chicago for the wedding of my nephew Christopher Cirone and Molly Marker.  Both graduated in June from Loyola Medical School and are now studying at Oakland Children's Hospital (where Lydia is on staff) to become Pediatricians.  (Lucky the children who find themselves in the care of this compassionate, competent and beautiful young couple).

It was especially exciting to share the event with some of our children and grandchildren.  

In the back row are Maria, Isabelle, Clare, Jerry, Max and Lydia.  Front row are Sammy, Celeste, Kristin and Henry.  

Henry was a hit on the

dance floor.