New Years in Salinas

by Becca G

We rang in the new year in a hotel in Salinas, CA.  It was a blast.  I mean, we had cable TV, what could be more fun on new year's eve?  We flipped back and forth between the Times Square countdown and the Disney channel countdown and ESPN when Jono could snatch the remote.  I have to say, I think the Disney channel was a little more entertaining.  Katharine McPhee is great but was it just too cold to get anybody else?

This pic was a spur of the moment thing.  Could be a new tradition though.

Salinas is the home of the great John Steinbeck.  Jono is a big fan so we went to check out the Steinbeck Museum.  I love all that local history stuff but I wasn't too hopeful that the kids would be that into it.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The kids got to play in an old timey car, ride the red pony, and climb, crawl on, or try to take apart the rest on the museum.  It was great.  One of my favorite parts was seeing the actual truck Steinbeck and Charlie took on their travels and the exhibit on East of Eden made me want to read it all over again.

 However, not everyone could be convinced that Steinbeck was a cool dude...

Drove over to Monterey for the afternoon and found Joe's skull!  I always knew his head wasn't screwed on tight.

Looking for sea life in the Monterey Bay...

What a wonderful way to start our year!

2010 in review

we have had such an amazing year!  looking through our year of pictures the other day, i was overwhelmed by how much God has blessed us.  here is just a few of the things we were thankful for in 2010...


Armstrong redwoods. Bodega Bay and the Best clam chowder in the world.  Chasing Crabs with shisha on the sonoma Coast.  Dinosaurs in san Diego.  Etsy sale.  Front teeth out (Joe and Trek) Front teeth in (Abby and Dylan).  Girl scout cookies.  Highway 49 and oldest saloon in california.  Intern fun like shrimp boil, 80's skating, and tubing in tahoe.  Jono and Bec's getaways to napa, santa cruz, and homewood.  Kicked off Joe and Abby's athletic pursuits with t-ball and soccer.  Leprechan treasure box.  Mission beach and bumper cars with cousin wayne.  Napa with Nonnie.  O. Did you say "Oh"?  Poetry by jono Posted on his new blog.  Quincy crawfish festival.  aRt classes in the summer.  Spring Snow (april and may) Sledding.  Tidepools (or Tadpoles) at point loma.  Underachieving geyser in calistoga.  Visiting bama-cousins united, college football, joe's first bama game.  Wonderful Wildcats at Woodleaf.  Xmas tree hunting in the snow and dark.  Yoda, darth vadar, thalia, mad hatter, red queen, and dead ancient greek warrior.  Zig-Zagging dangerous road on the way to yosemite.


count your blessings.  happy new year!  from the gardners.

One Sunny Day

 One sunny day, we went for a walk.  And when I say one, I mean ONE.  One beautiful blue sky day in the middle of days and days of rain like only the pacific ocean can bring.  So we out into the wild blue and fought trees...

 and threw rocks in the water...

 and, of course, the boys got soaked!

 It was a wonderful respite from our four walls.  Now, deep breath.  The monsoon continues.



Joe's Art

by Becca

 I am tickled as can be to share Joe's most recent artwork.  He was inspired by the kids art page in the new Highlights magazine.  This one drawing caught his eye because it was done by a 12 year old and i think his competitiveness kicked in because he thought he could do just as well (and he's only 6!).  And I tell you what--he did! 

Cigon Lincoln

by Abby

Were back with Cigon Lincoln.  He was out for a walk own day when he met Zeus!  So Zeus like was talking greek and stuff.  Zeus wouldn't stop talking.  So Cigon Lincoln had no choice but to talk greek back.  So they were having this big conversation when Zeus braut up him knowing more then Cigon Lincoln!  Then Cigon Lincoln said "I bet you don't know your ABC's!"  Zeus got so mad he blasted Cigon Lincoln with his master bolt.  Luckily he saw it coming and took off.  Zeus started chasing him.  Then Cigon Lincoln put on super speed which is 1000 miles per hour.  And he got away yay!

Top 8 Christmas Movies

by JOE

1. how the Grinch stole christmas
2. elf
3. Beverly hillBilles (the christmas episodes)
4. rudolph the red nose rainDeer
5. Scooby Doo christmas
6. the Santa clause
7. jackfrost
8. meckey's twice upon a christmas

Number 1 is my favrit becuse it is real and funny.

New Character

by Abby

I just created a new character. It’s name is Cigon Lincoln. He is part Cyclops part centaur and part Abraham Lincoln. He is invincible he can run 1,000 miles per hour. He’s totally awesome. He’s super strong. He’s my hero.