2003 on Multer family website

Movies, sundaes, and New Year's noise makers

Wed, 31 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

In an effort to stay up late enough to see in the new year, we followed dinner with a movie marathon. Plenty of action and comedy to keep everyone awake. The minute there’s the first signs of drowsiness, it’s time to get some sugar into the system. Charlotte bought all the fixings for some pretty heavy duty sundaes. Nick and Monica show of their creations.

We all made it through the night, so it’s time to make a bit of noise. Not like the spectacular fire show up in Michigan, but plenty of fun anyway.

Gabe's feelings on the bad weather

Fri, 26 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Time for a bit of post-holiday roaming, even if the weather isn’t cooperating. We swung by a very cool knitting place called The Golden Fleece near downtown. Charlotte has been knitting lots of scarves, and this is one of her favorite places to oogle yarns and things. Gabe and I hang out nearby after checking out the Roaring Camp train that just went by. He’s either not happy about the rain, or me taking his picture. I’ll let you decide.

Christmas morning and dinner

Thu, 25 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s the big morning and everyone is ready to start tearing presents open. The excitement is nearly unbearable, but the wait is finally over. Plenty of great stuff this year including a new bike rack for Charlotte, a new scanner for me (and the website), lots of handmade scarves, movies, games, software, and music. I’m looking forward to getting back to loads of scanning.

Even Abby got a new hedgehog.

Chanukah gift time

Fri, 19 Dec 2003 00:00:00 +0000

That may be a Christmas tree in the background, but we’re celebrating Chanukah damn it. We’re not very choosy when it comes to holidays. I figure any excuse to enjoy yourself has to be a good thing. Dad, Karen, and Max are in town for the holidays again this year. Time to kick back and let the kids go wild.

A last bit of knitting with the Hoyems

Sat, 29 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s been fun having George and the family over. I know our kids have loved spending time with Maddie. It sure is tough to get a good picture of a small black dog.

It’s also been a great chance for the girls to share in their newfound knitting hobby. Monica started quite a bit later than her cousins, but she’s developing her skills quickly.

Playing with the Hoyems

Fri, 28 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

George and his family stayed overnight following Thanksgiving. They’re off to Monterey for the day, but there’s time for the kids and the dogs to get in a little fun first. Maddie has really learned to hold her own with Abby.

Thanksgiving at Valri's

Thu, 27 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Time to put in some miles on the bike before the feeding frenzy that is called Thanksgiving. It’s a nice change to be riding around Santa Cruz during the week again. The rides from work are fine, but there are a lot more hills to climb around home. Unfortunately George wasn’t able to make it down early enough to join me. It’s always nice to have some company on a long ride.

Grandparent day with Gordon

Wed, 26 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte took Gordon up to Burlingame today for Caroline’s grandparent day at school. I imagined that Gordon was part of some sort of show and tell, but it looks more like an assembly type event.

Looks like the crew headed out for some lunch after the event.

Monica and Abby in bed

Fri, 21 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

This is the usual routine with Monica and Abby. I’m not sure if Monica is convinced she’s really a dog, or that Abby is convinced she’s human. Either way they look very happy together.

Couch full of Multers

Thu, 20 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Unfortunately we’ve had a ton of rain while Dad, Karen, and Max have been in town. We caught a few movies downtown including the latest Lord of the Rings and the Last Samurai. Both very excellent movies. Back at the house we’ve got our own home theater setup. Not quite the latest movies, but it sure is cozy.

Monica and Daisy

Mon, 17 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Monica enjoys bringing Daisy in the house occasionally for cuddling sessions. Here they are catching some episodes of Sponge Bob together. I’m sure Daisy enjoys the comfort of a nice antique bed instead of the usual outside spots. It also must get lonely out there with Tasha not being around.

Playing tennis with the kids

Sun, 16 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It was such a nice sunny day, we decided to head over to La Madrona and get in a bit of tennis. It was a whole lot more crowded than I expected, but we lucked out getting a bit of time on the last open court.

Daisy the indoor cat

Fri, 14 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Actually Daisy is anything but an indoor cat. She’s spent her whole life outside standing guard against the tide of vermin that would invade our home and yard. The wood rat situation was overwhelming when we first moved in so many years ago. Once we got their numbers down to a manageable state, we brought in the elite guard to avoid another population explosion. They also manage to keep control of the gopher and mole problem.

Playing tourist in San Francisco

Tue, 11 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte, Val, and Gordon headed up to San Francisco with Doug and Gabe today. The kids have off for Veteran’s Day, the sun is shining, and it’s time to make the most of the day. The skulls exhibit at the Academy of Sciences is very cool. Wish I was there.

George works up in the city and fortunately had time to hook up with everyone for lunch down at Fisherman’s Wharf. Doug and Gabe sure do enjoy themselves. They make quite a pair.

Gordon's birthday dinner at Michael's

Sat, 08 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We celebrated Gordon’s birthday at Michael’s restaurant. Besides great food, friends, and family, we had the pleasure of dining alongside walls full of Val’s artwork. It was such fun having Bea, George, Ellen, and Carol here to join us for this occasion. The food and conversation was loads of fun as usual. There’s always plenty of great stories with this crowd, especially with George in the mix.

Monica's birthday

Sun, 02 Nov 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Gordon’s in town for the month and Monica’s birthday is just around the corner. Since her birthday falls in the middle of the week, we decided to have grandpa and the Peyser’s over for barbeque and cake on the weekend before the official day.

Halloween time again

Fri, 31 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We didn’t have much luck growing pumpkins this year, though we did manage to get a nice one out of the garden. The rest we picked up at the market for the kids to carve. The carvings turned out great, and the kids always enjoy the pumpkin seeds. Gabe went for the anaconda look, Monica the vampire queen, and Nick the gigantic and terrifying bone man.

Plenty of nice close ups, including one of the always frightening Doug.

Valri the artist

Thu, 30 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Valri just finished up with Open Studios again this year. I think it was another great success. She’s also getting display time at the Soquel restaurant Michael’s.

Another tooth surprise from Gabe

Tue, 28 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe’s hiding something he doesn’t want the tooth fairy to find out about.

He breaks down and shows off the missing tooth. I guess it missed its twin that left town just a month ago.

In a totally unrelated story, Charlotte and Monica show off the latest works of art they created at Petroglyph.

A nice day at the Filoli Center with Phoebe

Tue, 21 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We unfortunately don’t have a lot of pictures from Mom’s latest visit, but Charlotte managed to snap a few on their trip up to the Filoli Center. We used to drive by this place all the time when we were commuting from Half Moon Bay, but never managed to stop by. It’s supposed to be even more impressive in the spring when the flowers are blooming, but it looks pretty awesome to me even this time of year.

Cross country meet at Cowell Beach

Fri, 03 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Nick’s latest meet was at Cowell Beach. Running in the sand is really hard, but how many kids get to have a cross country meet at the beach!

A gift for the tooth fairy

Sun, 28 Sep 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe’s been wiggling his front tooth for what’s got to be a week. We were about ready to take him over to his Aunt Val’s house for her patented removal technique, but fate intervened. A handy bump while on a trip in the car did the trick. Good thing he’ll be asleep when the tooth fairy shows up. If she saw some of these faces, she might fly off and never return again.

Cross country meet at Pony Park

Fri, 26 Sep 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Nick is doing cross country this year. He’s never had any luck finding a sport he can really get into and enjoy, but I think he’s finally found it. He’s been improving very quickly and they seem to go running in some really great locations. This meet was held in an area they call Pony Park.

Fishing with Gabe in the bay

Sat, 20 Sep 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We decided to rent a boat from the Santa Cruz wharf this time. After waiting for the fog to clear and the sun to come up enough to see, we headed out into the bay. We caught quite a few kingfish, but the unique catch of the day was this starfish. It took some time to get him to spit out the hook. I also managed to catch our first halibut. It’s rather embarrassing how small he was, but he sure was cute.

Charlotte's garden and sunflowers

Fri, 05 Sep 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Not a lot of heat this summer, so the tomatoes are ripening a bit late. Its been hard waiting so long for those juicy red devils. We finally had a good crop of sunflowers this year as well. I can see why Van Gogh was drawn to paint these beauties.

Seymour Discovery Center and the beach

Tue, 02 Sep 2003 00:00:00 +0000

One last stop before Lynda and the family head back. Some more marine life and another touch tank at the Seymour Discovery Center.

That whale is so cool, but I hear the docent so was so unbelievable boring the kids nearly lost it.

Time for some posing before heading off to the beach.

One last beach visit, this time to Natural Bridges. Too bad the tide wasn’t out, it’s a lot of fun going through the arch and checking out the sea life.

Sand dune beach with the Benedetto family

Mon, 01 Sep 2003 00:00:00 +0000

No visit is complete without a visit to our favorite beach. It’s even quiet on Labor Day. George didn’t meet us this time, so we had to make do with sandwiches from Safeway instead of the Garden Deli. Of course any meal on the beach is a great meal. Doug came along for his first visit to this beach.

Lynda, Charlotte, and Monica went for a walk on the cliffs. It was pretty warm even though the sun never really made it out.

Fishing off the Santa Cruz wharf

Sun, 31 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe is in desperate need of a fishing fix. We promised to do some crabbing and fishing, but the Capitola and Seacliff piers were packed with people. Luckily the Santa Cruz Wharf was pretty empty still. We didn’t have any luck with crabs or starfish, but there were huge schools of anchovies. I picked up a jig from the bait shop, and proceeded to catch them as fast as I could get the line down. I think we can count the trip as a big success. Should hold Gabe over until next weekend.

A long hike with the Benedettos

Fri, 29 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte takes Lynda and the crew out for a long hike at Henry Cowell. There’s plenty of big hills, but the observation post at the top has some great views.

A big day at the boardwalk

Thu, 28 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

No visit to Santa Cruz is complete without a trip to the boardwalk. If the pirate ship doesn’t make you hurl, I don’t know what will.

Monica makes the big transition to roller coaster riding. She’s definitely hooked now.

Meanwhile Gabe and Kyle stick to the tamer rides. I always loved those little boats when I was little.

Charlotte and Lynda appear to be enjoying themselves.

Gabe and Kyle make their own big leap to the scary rides.

The aquarium and the park

Wed, 27 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

A trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium is always a must. Some good photos of all the kids, and some great jellyfish shots. I wonder if the kids think about the Sponge Bob connection.

Everyone heads over to Dennis the Menace park for a bit of running around. They have some of the best structures to climb on.

A hike and a dip at Henry Cowell

Tue, 26 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte takes Lynda, Steve, and the kids to Henry Cowell for a nice loop trip around the redwoods. The kids always love crawling around inside the really big trees.

Down at the river, there’s a new bridge to play on.

Rachel and Kyle join in for some beach fun

Tue, 26 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Lynda and her family are in town for a visit. Of course no visit to Santa Cruz is complete without many trips to the beach. Monica and Gabe show Rachel and Kyle how to have fun northern California style.

The Santa Cruz Mystery Spot

Tue, 26 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Somehow we’ve never been drawn into the 150 foot diameter nexus of weirdness before. With Lynda in town, we generated a list of places worth visiting and the famous Mystery Spot happened to make the grade. I was unfortunately at work that day and had to make do with the tales of strangeness. The spot is really a house built on a slant that throws off your perception big time. An added bonus is that it makes you sick to your stomach. No one figured it out, so I guess it’s still a mystery.

Swimming in Val's pool

Mon, 25 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s been such a warm summer this year. The kids love to cool off in the ocean, and over at their Aunt Valri’s pool. The slide is clearly the most popular attraction.

Bonfire at Rio Del Mar beach

Sat, 23 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s been a little while since we did a bonfire on the beach. Turned out to be a fantastic day and a great chance to enjoy Mars on its close approach. The kids spent many hours enjoying the waves right up until it got dark.

Meanwhile the adults enjoy a few margaritas while catching up on events. Scott brought plenty of scrap wood for the fire, and we’ve got more than enough pizza for everyone.

Another fishing day with Gabe

Sun, 10 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe and I are up early again for some fishing out on the bay. No luck with the big fish again on this trip, but we did catch similar stuff as last time. The first one was such a cute tiny fish, I couldn’t resist taking a picture. Normally I would be embarrassed at having caught something this small. The unique catch for the day was Gabe’s octopus. It was quite a trick getting it out of the boat. Those tentacles sure can hang on.

Fun in the car

Sat, 09 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Just a few random photos of the kids while driving around in the car.

Gabe's new fishing charts

Sun, 03 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We went to West Marine today to check out the fishing stuff. Lots of great fishing poles and reels, but I think we’re going to wait a bit before we make the big investment. We couldn’t resist these charts of the Monterey Bay that went straight to Gabe’s wall. Gabe and I are scoping out all the great fishing spots.

Swimming at the beach

Sat, 02 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s always a good time for a quick trip down to the beach. Monica and Gabe don’t seem to mind the cold when they go boogie boarding. Gabe goes over to the rocks to check out what people are catching.

Camping in Big Sur

Tue, 29 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte and the kids decide to go for an overnight camping trip down to the Big Sur area. Sure wish I didn’t have to work.

Enough of the tent, time to head for the beach. Pfeiffer state beach is very nice, but I don’t know that it lives up to its most beautiful beach status. Give me a beach in Hawaii anytime.

The Big Sur coastline is always spectacular. Almost like a scene from an ancient Japanese print.

Fishing off Capitola

Sat, 26 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

The day has finally arrived. Gabe and I are off for some fishing in Monterey Bay. We’ve rented one of those small boats from the Capitola pier. I don’t think we’ll be heading out anywhere near as far as when Gordon and I went out for salmon a few years ago. A great blue heron is there to see us off.

No big catches on this trip, other than a few big smiles. We get a nice assortment of fish, but the end of the day brings a bit of disappointment for the big fisherman. I think he wanted to bring a 300lb tuna back.

Fishing at Loch Lomond

Sun, 20 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We promised Gabe a fishing trip, and Loch Lomond is a nice warmup before heading for the big ocean. Charlotte worked hard at stocking Gabe’s freshwater tackle box, so we’re off. Nick and Charlotte do a bit of hiking while Gabe, Monica, and I go for a bit of rowing. The fish aren’t biting, but it’s fun anyway. We top it all off with some BBQ and melted marshmallows.

Fun in Capitola

Fri, 18 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte took the kids down to Capitola for the day. It’s so nice and empty during the week, making it even more awesome than usual. Charlotte and Gabe are scoping out the fishing at the end of the pier in advance of my upcoming fishing excursion with Gabe.

Nick the Lego master

Thu, 17 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Nick is crazy about Legos, Bionicles, and other futuristic figures. He loves putting them together as they come in the original set, but he really shines when creating entirely new creatures of his own design. This is one of the more elaborate ones.

Gabe and Tasha

Wed, 16 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Our cats keep to themselves pretty much all the time. Occasionally Gabe likes to sit quietly with Tasha and spend some quality time together. I think they both enjoy it a great deal.

A day on the lake

Sun, 13 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Every day up north is a treat. It’s a really calm day and you can just make out Gabe and Doug out at the raft. Can you believe Gabe dragged a fishing pole out there. That boy is fired up.

Fun at Chutes and Ladders

Sat, 12 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

No summer can go by without a trip to Chutes and Ladders in Houghton. No good photos of the gigantic slides, but playing at the beach is always fun.

Fishing late on the dock

Fri, 11 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

A typical scene for Gabe. He starts fishing pretty much from when he wakes up to when the sun goes down. Even more amazing, the sun goes down around 11pm this time of year. Gabe’s a fishing maniac.

Varied sites of the U.P.

Mon, 07 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

A few random shots from up north. St. Anne’s church in Calumet is really a beautiful building. The moose mobile is quite a site as well. Back at home, plenty of kids and no shortage of fun.

Tubing in Portage Lake

Sun, 06 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Nothing like being dragged behind a boat at high speed in an inflatable tube.

Gordy's wedding

Sat, 05 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

The big event this summer is Gordy’s wedding. Time to welcome the new members of the family, Donna and her daughter Annie.

Pasta dinner at Rose's and a monster pike for Gabe

Wed, 02 Jul 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s pasta night at our cabin. We still call it Rose’s and I suspect we always will. There are a lot of hungry kids lined up out on the porch.

Gabe really went and did it this time. Everyone heads out to Jacobsville for some fun out by the lighthouse. Gabe of course has to squeeze in some fishing at the opening of the channel into Lake Superior. After about 4 casts with a big lure, he announces he’s got a fish. A little while later, with help from Uncle George, they haul in a 42.5 inch, 17 pound northern pike. It’s the biggest pike anyone has ever seen up here. It’s no fish story, and we’ve got the pictures to prove it!

Gabe catches a nice pike

Mon, 30 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe’s next nice catch is this sweet northern pike. It’s really quite a nice catch right off the dock. It’s good enough to bring grandpa out to have a look.

Gabe lands a nice bass

Sun, 29 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe has gone hog wild for fishing this year. Monica and Gabe show off the first nice catch of the summer for Gabe. We don’t typically show off the rock bass he catches by the dozens each day, but this one ain’t no rock bass baby!

Sunset in Bootjack

Thu, 26 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s always a beautiful day in Bootjack, and it often ends with a spectacular sunset.

Charlotte and the kids off to Bootjack

Tue, 24 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s that time of year again. Charlotte heads out to the beautiful shores of Portage Lake for many weeks of unmitigated fun. Sure wish I was going with them, though the long trip through Minneapolis airport isn’t something I really dream about.

Charlotte's garden

Thu, 12 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

The garden is coming along great this year. The warm weather has been a bit slow, so the tomato plants are a bit behind.

Charlotte and Lynn visit Union Square in San Francisco

Sun, 08 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Time to get down to some real shopping. This is the first time that Charlotte’s seen the new Union Square since they redid it.

New sheepdog puppies at Jeff's house

Sun, 08 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Jeff and Eileen sent these pictures to Monica. Monica says they look like cute little cows. She’s got this cow thing.

Charlotte and Lynn in San Francisco at the Marine Club

Sat, 07 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte and Lynn head up to San Francisco to enjoy the weekend together. Lynn and Peter are headed to Spain for Peter’s next post soon, so this is the last chance for a get together unless we head out to Europe. They’re staying at the Marine Club near Union Square.

Nick's Julius Caesar school play

Thu, 05 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Nick has been excited for weeks preparing for the upcoming Julius Caesar play. He’s playing the part of Cicero and he has his lines all memorized. There’s plenty of preparations before the play starts. Lynn’s up visiting and helps Charlotte with things. Looks like I’m running a few minutes late.

Nick looks so grown up with his sideburns. If it wasn’t for the toga, he would be the splitting image of Elvis. I was very impressed with all the kids. They memorized their lines perfectly and spoke very clearly and with great emotion. They sure do grow up quick.

Another cockatiel moves in

Mon, 02 Jun 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Another of Valri’s pets makes its way to the Multer house. This time it’s Booster, and Cheerio is in love again. He isn’t quite as noisy as Ruby, but he definitely spends a lot of time singing love songs.

Fun at the boardwalk

Sat, 31 May 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Monica’s been begging to go to the boardwalk for so long, we really had to go. It’s so close to the house, but the crowds are always a drag. We headed out early while the fog was still burning off. There were no lines, so it really was easy. Gabe loves the little flying rides like the helicopters. Nick goes for the high speed spinning rides. I like the roller coasters and the log ride. Anyone up for a big drop?

One last day in Bootjack

Tue, 13 May 2003 00:00:00 +0000

A few shots around the camp before heading back to California. The babbling brook really is going this time of year.

The lake is so clear and still, Charlotte gets a shot of a crayfish making his way between rock fields.

Before they leave, George manages to drop his expensive glasses into the lake. During the summer, this would be an easy problem, but the lake is really cold still. They decide to try and snag them from the small boat, but luck isn’t on their side. George finally leans over and reaches down to get them. Nothing like a nice cold plunge before heading out to the airport.

Saying goodbye to Charlotte

Mon, 12 May 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s good to see the family together on this very difficult day. It’s hard to see family pictures like these knowing that Charlotte won’t be in them anymore. I know I’ll always think she’s still there somehow.

The ceremony at the church was a small affair just like Charlotte wanted it.

After the funeral, I’m sure the conversation was very difficult.

I’m happy that the girls were able to get out and enjoy the great Michigan outdoors on a day like this. It’s the kind of quiet time where thoughts come most clearly.

A sad trip to Bootjack

Sun, 11 May 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte’s mom just passed away and she’s off to Bootjack with her brothers and sisters for the funeral. It’s certainly not the type of event anyone wants to bring family together, but I know they’re all happy to be up in Michigan.

SVEF century bike ride to Big Sur

Sat, 10 May 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We decided to put on a century ride this year to raise money for our local schools through SVEF. We rode 100 miles down to Big Sur with about 15 riders. It was a beautiful day for a ride as usual.

Cockatiel love story

Wed, 07 May 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Val’s bird Ruby was driving her crazy with his noises, so Charlotte decided to bring him home for a sleep over. Turns out that once he got a glimpse of Cheerio, it was love at first site. They were constantly nuzzling each other and he would sing the most elaborate songs I had ever heard from these birds. The only casualty in all this was Monica. Cheerio wanted nothing to do with Monica anymore. Ruby would also go bonkers if Monica took Cheerio into her room.

Charlotte Mae Hoyem

Mon, 05 May 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte Mae Hoyem, 73, of Bootjack, passed away Monday evening, May 5, 2003, following a lengthy battle with cancer at the Houghton County Medical Care Facility in Hancock where she had been a patient for the past two weeks.

Charlotte was born on November 30, 1929 in Ferndale, Mich., a daughter of Charles and Dorothy Valentine. She was a graduate of Marysville High School in Marysville, Mich., Class of 1947 and also attended the University of Michigan and Siena Heights College in Adrian, Mich. She was married to Gordon E. Hoyem on December 6, 1950 in Minneapolis, Minn. She later lived in St. Clair, Mich., Birmingham, Mich. for 27 years and since 1983, had made her home in Bootjack. She was an architectural draftsman, having worked for her father and husband. She was very artistic and did creative writing while living in Birmingham. She was very active in the Creative Art Center where she was the Director of Education. Charlotte enjoyed painting in her art studio in Bootjack. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Gabe's field trip to Happy Hollow

Wed, 30 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte took Gabe on his field trip to Happy Hollow in San Jose. It’s really a very fun place for the kids, though it can be quite a mob scene. There’s a zoo, rides, and it looks like some kind of play. I sure would have loved to take him on this field trip.

Charlotte's first quilt

Thu, 24 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

After much encouragement, Charlotte decided to take some quilting lessons. She’s been creating so many great blankets for everyone, it’s a natural next step for her talents. She doesn’t think that highly of her first effort, but I think it came out great.

Passover at Carole's

Thu, 17 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We head out to Carole and David’s place for the second night of Passover. I’ve never done the second night before, but it is a great excuse to see the rest of the family. John and Joni are there. Dad, Karen, and Max make it as well. Lots of catching up to do before sitting down for the Seder.

Enough fun, it’s time to go through the whole thing one more time. I think Gabe is glad to be here.

Passover at Carole's (Ira's photos)

Thu, 17 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

My dad sent in these pictures from our second night of Passover at my aunt Carole’s house.

The male progeny of Ira Multer.

Hanging out on the day after.

Passover at Lynda's

Wed, 16 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Before subjecting the kids to the pain of making it through the Haggadah, it’s time to treat them to fun at the local park. That rope web thing was a big hit.

Having the Seder outside was a real treat. I think Gabe is worried about what’s coming. Scott looks like he has the same concerns. We all made it through in one piece, so it’s time for more fun.

Sightseeing in Philadelphia

Tue, 15 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Now that Scott is in town, it’s time to pack the families up and head down to historic downtown Philadelphia.There’s no shortage of famous spots in this birthplace of our country.

We grab some lunch along the way. Annabel is really enjoying her spaghetti.

Next stop is the Betsy Ross house. That girl was quite the seamstress.

On to the next historic site, Independence Park.

Washington Crossing park and Lynda's house

Mon, 14 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s such a beautiful day here in Pennsylvania, we decide to head out and do some sightseeing. Here we are at Washington Crossing.The river really is moving here, it’s hard to imagine old George making it across on that cold winter.

Back at Lynda’s house there’s plenty of fun with Kyle and Rachel. That trampoline and playhouse sure looks familiar. Gabe had so much fun with those Nerf footballs.

There's snow in New Hope

Sun, 13 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

The family is off to the east coast for Passover vacation. First stop is New Hope on our way to visit my mom and my sister. We got into Kennedy late and decided to stop at a hotel in New Hope rather than waking my mom. The kids were thrilled with the sight of snow still on the ground. The weather was pretty much the same as what we left in Santa Cruz, so it was surprising to see some of the white stuff was still holding out.

The flowers are blooming

Wed, 09 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

A few images from the front garden.

Bath time for the birdies

Tue, 08 Apr 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte managed to snap some shots of the birds cleaning themselves. This is the uncensored version, so move on if you’re offended.

Charlotte's new car

Sat, 29 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We finally broke down and got rid of the crappy Suburban. It took a while to get a decent deal on that piece of shit, but Charlotte really pulled off an amazing negotiation effort and landed a beautiful new Honda CRV. What a concept, great mileage, minimal service, and very flexible.

Gabe's birthday

Fri, 28 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Gabe turned seven this year. He’s looking very happy about it, and I’m sure all the presents help too.

Indoor soccer with Nick

Sun, 23 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Nick signed up for indoor soccer over at the rink in Scotts Valley. The photos aren’t great, but Nick seemed to enjoy it a great deal. It’s a really fun game to watch.

Exploring at Rio Del Mar beach

Sat, 22 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

While driving around the area, we stopped by Rio Del Mar to hang out at the beach for a little while. It’s a great walking beach and there’s plenty to find on today’s walk. The last image has an orange house in the background. I was just there for an offsite as part of my recent contract work for Dana Software.

Abby and Tasha

Thu, 20 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

These two love hanging out together. It’s kind of an uneasy peace. Tasha stays close to cover, while Abby always looks for an opening.

The Hoyems and the Peysers stop by for some fun

Sun, 16 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

First a few quick shots of Gabe and Monica with the birds.

George and his family came down for the day. Val came by and brought the bunnies for everyone to enjoy.

Outside there’s plenty of things to keep everyone busy. Chris and his friends wolf down as much food as possible. The younger ones have some kind of WWF event going on the trampoline. The dads kick back and talk business and technology. Maybe I want to join the kids on the trampoline.

Charlotte and Teren walking on West Cliff

Mon, 10 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte and Teren enjoy a beautiful walk along the coast. This particular stretch of the coast is very popular with runners, bicyclists, surfers, and everyone else you could possibly imagine. Looks pretty quiet today.

Enjoying the day

Sun, 09 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Just a few random shots on a typical day. Doug is over for some fun with Gabe, Nick hams it up for the camera, and Monica has fun with her bird Cheerio.

Morning at the Multers

Mon, 03 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Another fine morning at our house. Monica and Abby settle in for the night, while Gabe enjoys making faces in his mirror.

Chris gets new wheels

Sat, 01 Mar 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Definitely have to swing by Val’s house to check out Chris’ new car. There are a few new paintings to check out as well.

Valri's pet menagerie

Wed, 26 Feb 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Another fun stop over at aunt Val’s house.

Their guinea pig wisely stays well hidden He’s aptly named “G pig”.

The really fun pets are the latest collection of bunnies. Monica has a particular fondness for the brown and white one. She enjoys rolling him up in a ball and carrying him around like a baby.

Valri's house, blankets, art, and bunnies

Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte is off to Valri’s to perform emergency restoration efforts on some critical blankies. It may look hopeless, but Charlotte is a miracle worker with the sewing machine. Val’s got some new artwork that’s worth checking out. One of the many bunnies bids Charlotte goodbye.

Shipment from Bootjack

Thu, 20 Feb 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte’s mom sent us a whole palette of stuff recently. Not sure how long the Abe Lincoln look-alike painting will last in the family room, but the rocker and the dresser look great. Charlotte did a whole pile of work restoring the dresser. I was pretty skeptical when it first arrived, but Charlotte really pulled it off as usual. Lots of odds and ends have been added to the menagerie scattered about the house.

Our new cockatiels

Sun, 16 Feb 2003 00:00:00 +0000

I really won’t go into the tales of woe regarding our previous bird pets, but Nick sure does love these creatures. Charlotte caught wind of a woman that’s really into birds and had a few she was looking to unload for free. It was too hard to say no, so two more animals join the ranks of the Multer’s pet menagerie. I’m trying really hard to focus on how much the kids love them, and not the crap (literally) they leave all over the house. Gabe and I work them into our castle action figure play. I don’t think they’re going to hold up as well as those plastic figures.

David's birthday

Sat, 08 Feb 2003 00:00:00 +0000

It’s birthday time again for David. We did the Chinese food dinner thing this year. The kids really enjoy doing the pu-pu platter. There’s something about food warmed over a nice sterno fire. Back at the house I break open the booty and enjoy cake. I got a bunch of DVDs, books, and those JBL speakers I really wanted. My bro managed to get a pair of them for me as well. Now let me see what else I would love from Amazon.

Snowstorm traps Charlotte in Bootjack

Tue, 04 Feb 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte was supposed to head back today, but the weather had a different idea. The storm really hammered the area and left some pretty huge snowdrifts. Gordon breaks out the plow once again.

Charlotte skiing in Bootjack

Sun, 02 Feb 2003 00:00:00 +0000

If you can take the cold, the cross country skiing up north is pretty fantastic. It’s very remote and not too hilly. I wish I was up there with Charlotte. It’s a great way to spend the day together. I don’t think anyone is using the deer blind this time of year, but it’s best if Charlotte moves on before she’s mistaken for Bambi’s mother.

More fun in the Upper Michigan snow

Wed, 29 Jan 2003 00:00:00 +0000

This time Charlotte’s off to Calumet. The roads are looking pretty clear for now, but there’s more storms on the way.

Charlotte also spent a lot of time cross country skiing. There aren’t any mushrooms to photograph, but that stump sure looks like a snow mushroom to me.

Charlotte braves the Bootjack winter

Sun, 26 Jan 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Charlotte is off to Bootjack again to visit with her parents. Her mom is not doing very well and I’m glad to see Charlotte spending time with them while she can. There’s certainly no shortage of snow or cold this time of year and Gordon has his work cut out for him keeping up with mother nature. I’m sure glad I never have to do this kind of thing in Santa Cruz.

Monica's field trip to Ano Nuevo

Wed, 15 Jan 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Monica’s school class is off to Ano Nuevo today to check out the elephant seals. I’m glad I volunteered to drive on this trip. Turned out to be an amazingly beautiful day. Monica was just getting over a stomach flu, but managed to get up the energy to make the trip. This area of the coast has to be one of the most beautiful there is around Santa Cruz. Plenty of great views from the visitor center before we head out on the hike to the seals.

Fort Point, San Francisco

Sat, 04 Jan 2003 00:00:00 +0000

Before heading back home, we make one last tourist stop at Fort Point. Charlotte hasn’t wanted to see this place for some time, and I’m glad we did.It’s a beautiful walk along the bay to the fort.

Inside is one amazing fortification. There are all kinds of great cannons, walkways, hidden corners, and tremendous views. Charlotte tries her hand at a few artsy photos as well. I think the archways came out very good.

Greyhound Rock beach

Sat, 04 Jan 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We came back home along the coast as we usually do and stopped at a beach we’ve always skipped. Greyhound Rock has a great trail down the cliff to the water, where you’re rewarded with a fairly quiet and beautiful view. The big elephant seal thought it was a great location as well.

Enjoying the gardens and museums of Golden Gate Park

Fri, 03 Jan 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We decided to spend most of the day over at Golden Gate Park today. There’s plenty to do in the park including the arboretum and the Academy of Sciences. It’s a shame about the flash reflection, that big octopus was awesome.

On the way back home, we take the most crooked road we could find, Lombard street. Kind of like a roller coaster ride for the kids.

Nighttime at Pier 39

Thu, 02 Jan 2003 00:00:00 +0000

After settling in at the hotel, we checked out the local sites including Pier 39. The Christmas tree was still up and Charlotte wanted me to take a picture of this wierd silver guy. After discreetly snapping a photo and walking off, the kids let me know he was following me. Turns out he wanted money for having taken his picture, which didn’t sit too well with me. Charlotte ended the confrontation by giving him a buck. The kids are still talking about how freaked out they were that he followed us. Boy that was fun.

The Exploratorium in San Francisco

Thu, 02 Jan 2003 00:00:00 +0000

We decided to head up to San Francisco for a couple of nights while the kids still had time off from school. Charlotte worked a great deal at a hotel near Pier 39, but first we made a stop at the Exploratorium. The building is from the old Pan-Pacific Exposition and is one of the major sites in San Francisco. The crowds were a bit much for a visit to the museum, but the park is a lot of fun.