The Holidays

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True to form, it is only in the last days of January, on a snow day, when we're finally able to sit down to chronicle a very dense two weeks that took place in Northern California over a month ago. We now have icicles on our phone lines, and the snow is so deep that you can't tell the road from the sidewalk. After dark mornings and cold days, as well as dry and bitter nights, it's about time we got something out of this Winter weather-- snow!! Our apologies to those few people who have been waiting with baited breath for the next post from the Hackberry Hooligans.




We spent a good chunk of time in California, diving our time between the Bay Area and Tuolumne County. Our friend Chad had a friend who was going to be out of town, and we happily volunteered to housesit, since we needed a place to stay. We happily watched over this beautiful house and took care of a supposedly 16 year old cat named Yoda (who was very healthy. We have serious doubts about the age).

Lisa's favorite sister Lauren drove all the way from the colony of Walnut Creek to visit us, braving tunnels and persistent traffic cops all to hang out with her favorite nephew Soren. Lauren is a great gal who owns 75 pairs of shoes (!!!) and is having a great time working for Virgin Airlines. Even though she has had a bad experience with Thai food, she braved the Albany strip to venture into the world of Southeast Asian food. We're happy to say that this time, it was a success. Soren is especially fond of Aunt Lauren's long hair (as are the single men! Watch out!)

Our Christmas in Tuolumne was a serious event! For one thing, Lisa met my Grandpa Stu and Grandma Kay for the first time, and they met Soren! They're both pretty lucky-- Soren is their 5th great-grandchild. Can you believe it?

And of course, they loved both Lisa and Soren. What's not to love, right? Both of my grandparents are into their late 80's and have battled health problems of varying degrees for the past decade. They're both huge troopers, and some of the most loving, accepting people I have ever met. I love them to death.

My cousin Erin (above) drove my grandparents down with her son Forrest and daughter Elsbeth. Erin is was the first granddaughter on the Exstrom side of the family, and she still feels like the Matriarch of sorts. She had white hair as a kid-- a Super-Swede! Forrest has recently fallen in love with playing piano, and Elsbeth has recently fallen in love with Soren.

Here you can see Mr. S indulging in his new favorite pastime: Eating Paper. This is a fortunate hobby, since it's really easy to find an endless supply of this free item!

Before heading up the hill, though, we got to spend my 30th birthday party with some of my friends from CSU Hayward. I'm glad to have kept in touch with so many of these guys, even after we moved out to the middle of nowhere. My friend Darren set the whole thing up, in about half a day, and i treated myself to a Chinese Birthday Cake from Oakland China Town, which i have wanted for years! It was a Honeydew fruit cake. Highly recommended, especially with Zachary's Pizza, which Darren also brought.

Jess, Keiko, Rob, Darren, Yukie, and Liz all met Lisa and Soren for the first time. Yukie and Keiko both agree: especially in his sleep, Soren is "kawai"-- cuuuute!

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During Christmas of 2008, the happiest people in the entire world, without exaggeration, were my parents. They had met Soren one time earlier, and were besides themsevles at the prospect of spending five days with him. They kept suggesting that Lisa and I go somewhere for a date, so that they could selflessly stay home with him and babysit. Soren is their first and favorite grandkid, and from the moment he woke us up in the morning, their fingers would start twitching with excitement.


My dad took a special affinity towards Soren, and read Curious George Rides a Bike to Soren, who acted was very interested. (My dad may have been using special voices, because Soren is not quite as interested to hear me read this story to him).

We came home one night after a date at Sonora's one local brewery to this scene: my dad reading Curious George aloud, with Soren and my mom both listening with eyes closed. This just about broke my heart-- talk about an experience you could never even imagine.

Soren in a sun bath!


It looks like my Grandma just proposed a difficult riddle to Soren...

We spent a day in Yosemite for a potential wedding site. So beautiful and snowy!

My dad's oldest brother, Dave, loved his new Great Nephew.

Eeeee! Our little monk!


Soren with his Aunt Lisa (one of two)