A Merry Madagascar Xmas

 Last weekend Shawna, Audrey and I visited the National Harbor area just across the river from Alexandria, VA.  40+ Chinese Chiselers spent a month and a half carving multiple sculptures out of ice blocks to create a Merry Madagascar Christmas theme.

Shawna slides down the slide of dooooom

The best characters of the show: Skipper, Kowalski, Private and Rico

The temperature is regulated around 0 deg F which is pretty chilly on bare hands.  No one was brave enough to lick any ice blocks.  We also visited the marina area to check out the shops and restaurants.

Santa wants YOU to have a merry xmas

The ball of wonder

I like to Move it move it...

The same day, we visited a xmas tree farm and took a tractor ride, ate chili, and picked out free winter clothes for Audrey.  Xmas trees were also being donated to military families but we declined since we have no space in our tiny abode.

cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeese!

Now an update for Audrey: she is not walking yet (even at 21 months) so we have a physical therapist to help her out a little.  She weighs a gravitational defying 18 lbs now!  She has an extensive vocabulary but cannot string two words together yet.  We are learning numbers and songs and she really enjoys listening to all types of music.  She has finally warmed up to daycare and gets excited when I come to pick her up. It's probably my favorite part of the day. 

Taxation without Representation

  OK, we are live again! We are coming up to our 3rd month residing in the DC area (technically Bethesda, MD) and have adapted to the bad driving, massive population density, and sordid federal spending.  Shawna is now working for Dr. Marie Kay as a dental receptionist/dental assistant three days a week in Tenley Town.  The dentist is an enigmatic Vietnamese lady who runs her practice out of her own house.  Shawna enjoys the assisting but despises anything to do with insurance.  My job has been busy at the hospital with post Army-Navy integration and reorganization woes in full effect.  I thought I had prepared myself to stomach government waste and abuse but my expectations fell an order of magnitude short.  I watch half a million dollars get sucked into human resources, facilities and infrastructure in a heartbeat.  Half the time money is all dried up and the other half there is so much money available that no one can spend it fast enough.  No one seems to care though, in pursuit of the finest healthcare and medical education that taxpayer money can buy.

In the last week of October my Mom and Mike ran over to DC to visit us.  Three days later, my dad came to visit.  We saw the DC sights, visited the Shenandoah Valley, visited Harper's Ferry and Antietam, biked along the Potomac and saw a concert in downtown DC.

Capitol Bldg

Antietam Battlefield, Dunkard Church in the background

The weekend before Thanksgiving we visited Shawna's relatives in Pennsylvania.  It was my first time setting foot in this state.  Most of Shawna's cousins are die hard snowmobilers/outdoor sports enthusiast.  We had a massive Thanksgiving feast with 20+ people; two Turkeys were devoured in a matter of an hour.  Eileen was a great host and coordinator, thank you Eileen!

Audrey loved the plethora of displays set up at Kraynak's - a gift store and flower shop

Audrey's LOOT

Audrey the Bumble Bee sits next to her Pumpkin

 

Great Falls, Class VI rapids.  Kayakers love playboating just below the falls

Crash course into the leaves

Fall Picnic in the Park

Seabee Days Port Hueneme


underwater construction team showing of their skills playing tic tac toe and writing underwater.


Classmates that were voluntold to be apart of the drawn ceremony.

Chad standing in as a side boy waiting for the admiral to arrive at Seabee Days.


Daddy dressed in summer choker whites. Audrey kept playing with the very impressive lone medal.


Making my way to the ocean.

Always have the right beach attire.


Mt Whitney

1500 ft glacade back to base camp



All of us reached the summit without too much difficulty.


View of the valley


I'm pretty much a badass


Shawna sitting in a cluster of sky pilots


The famous cable section of the Mt Whitney trail. This was installed back in the 60's to allow the winter and spring access to be much less treacherous.


Greg and I ascending the ice laden trail. This eventually melts mid morning.


5:30 am sunrise on the trail.


Our shelter at base camp. Not too shabby.


Greg, Sal, Shawna and I stand at the elevation where the last bit of greenery can be seen.

Rock Climbing at Ojai




We found an oasis just above the climbing area. Lots of rocks to jump off into these little pools buried between the sandstone walls.


Top the the first pitch.

Las Vegas 4th of July Weekend


On top of the stratosphere.


We kindly indulged ourselves into a free meal at the stratosphere after our friends acquired a $100 restaurant voucher from a time share presentation.


On top of the Rio at Voodoo Lounge. We made it up here shortly after the fireworks show at Caesar's Palace.


Everyone gets their picture taken here.


DJ Tiesto at Hardrock Cafe.


Shawna can ride this beast way better than I can.

Shawna's Trip to Montana


Morning Glory Pool


The big one.


Old Faithful is still old and faithful


First picture of grumpy at Yellowstone


The luxury pool.


Summer dress for a summer day.


This is my favorite thing to do in my play pen.


Always a tremendous help with laundry.

Visit to the Channel Islands


Hiking on Santa Cruz island.


Exploring the sea caves by kayak.


Ferry over to the Channel Islands. We witnessed a pod of 300 dolphins following the boat and two humpback whales about a half mile away from the Santa Cruz island.


Tiffan, Matt, Shawna and I stepping aboard the ferry.


Butterfly garden in Santa Barbara.


The life vest seems to be wearing a baby.


Im trying to stand! Leave me alone.