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THANKSGIVING 2005 - Oakland

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	We've taken to alternating holidays between Seattle and Oakland and this year Thanksgiving was spent in the Bay Area. Terry and Ken graciously sacrificed their holiday by giving up there house to us. Julian is not a strong believer of sleeping on airplanes and this trip was no exception. He actually enjoyed looking out the window with his mom -- as well as crawling up and down the aisle.
	One big reason we enjoy going to Oakland is so that Julian and his great grandmother, Edna, get to see each other. Edna is doing so well and is amazing with Julian. He responds to her voice and gives her plenty of smiles.
	We arrived on Thursday for a late Thanksgiving dinner. The first order of business for Julian was to play with his cousins, Ana and Mia. The first order for me was to stuff my face with the gimungous grapes and brie (yes, I still had enough room for plenty of turkey).
	The rocking chair was Joy's brother, Mark's, when he was a baby. As soon as we put Julian in it and showed him how to rock he couldn't get enough of it. I have great video of him trying to rock himself.
	On Friday we met up with Mark and Laura in Golden Gate Park to see the recently opened DeYoung Museum. I am such a huge museum goer that I insisted. Here Julian and I are posed outside the Conservatory on our way to the DeYoung.
	The museum was actually pretty neat, probably because we didn't go into any exhibits. We just admired the architecture (and structure) while strolling through the public areas. We did manage to talk our way into the museum through a side door (the entrance line out front was a couple hours long) which, I am learning, is pretty easy to do with a baby in your arms.
	We also wandered through the sculpture "folly" -- Mark's amazing vocabulary, not mine -- where Julian hatched an apple.
	While in the midst of all this art I decided to get artsy myself. I think this photo actually turned out kinda cool. I could have had everybody look at the camera but I tend to like more candid shots anyway.
	I hate talking about the weather but it does deserve mention. While it was nasty and rainy in Seattle we were enjoying sunny, clear blue skies in the mid-60's. We had our Friday lunch on the outside terrace at the DeYoung, Saturday lunch outside at the zoo and Saturday lunch outside on Brian's deck.
	The Rock-Fam. I have now completed my one museum a year quota for 2005. Just in the nick of time. With the lines this place has and prices (adm: $9, ham sandwich: $9) forget real estate -- you gotta get into the museum business.
	Friday night was a night out for Joy and her mom while I stayed home and babysat the XBox. I also watched Julian but those dreaded convenant freaks were building another Halo. Ken and I went out of Friday and picked up Halo2 for his XBox and he also got the latest karaoke disc and a second mic. I had a blast picking songs and characters and making other people sing. Everybody did really well which is exactly why I was not doing the singing.
	Saturday's outing was a trip to the zoo. Julian loved the slow moving rock (at left), the pig (I think it was a boar) and the goats. But his favorites were the monkeys, especially the little cat sized ones that bounced all over their cage, and the toucans because they were loud both in squaking and colors.
	Unfortunately, with our schedule of being out and about a lot, Julian was taking most of his afternoon naps in the car. Which meant we either sat in the car for a while or drove around so he'd sleep longer. One such drive was on the way home from the zoo and took us up around Piedmont. This has to one of the nicer areas in Oakland -- the houses were pretty incredible. Not to mention the view of San Francisco with the setting sun.
	This was how I was carrying Julian when I got reprimanded in the DeYoung. I guess it's not that appropriate in a museum, mainly if you are actually in exhibits. Anyway, out here on our walk down to the local bakery I was free to have him on my shoulders. He got mad at me when I wouldn't share my donut. Despite the warm weather the little earmuffs Julian provided me were nice.
	More playtime for Julain and Mia. They get along really well despite a few unintentional swats at her by Julian.
	Dinner Saturday night was out and we went to a hot pot place. I was a first timer but caught on after watching the experts. Julian ate some rice from Joy's chopsticks which was very cute.
	One said expert. The basic gist is that you add meat, vegetables, sauces to a pot that has broth brewing on your table. You can also cook as if on a grill.
	I stayed away from the pink and purple tapioca desserts but Mia dove right in.
	Edna (and Terry) made us breakfast on Sunday morning. Terry and Julian provided the music/entertainment.
	I was so excited to be taking this "4 generations" picture. I don't think this happens very often in today's society with people having children later in life and moving to new cities from where the rest of their families are.
	I snuck in a picture just to prove I was there.
	We had fun taking pictures and started dressing up. Julian grabbed the sunglasses.
	Our last adventure before departing on Sunday afternoon was brunch at Brian's house with his wife, Lauren, and baby Drew. Mick, Elizabeth and little Mariana also joined. Here are the three UCSD alumns and our recent offspring.