SEASON'S GREETINGS 2014!

We hope you are healthy and happy and ready for 2015! We have had a year of transitions and renovations and celebrations.

We have been remodeling because THAT never gets old. We have turned our very poorly made 1970's addition into a entry hall and a third bedroom. For those of you who have stayed with us in the past, our guest room now has a door! We also remodeled our master bath and it looks too nice for the rest of the house now!

Douglas transitioned to private practice in an office back in his beloved Berkeley. Along with some partners, he found a space, had it remodeled and the hired psychiatrists and psychologists to fill the offices. His work load is lighter now allowing him to get more rest, family time and exercise.

Sheeba continues to work primarily at home for the same architecture firm. The large residential project that brought her to that firm is coming to a close after 2 years so now she is working on other smaller projects. She also caters to the increasingly complicated Peter-Frank diets providing a challenge even to this experienced cook. Sheeba and Mahala celebrated their 40th and 10th birthdays adventuring around Europe like 20-somethings. They visited Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Spain, done almost completely by train with only a few backpacks in tow.

Mahala is in 5th grade and plays violin and flute, runs track and has been exploring theatre. She still reads voraciously, wears sports everyday and continues to be a foodie, blessing us with some of her own gourmet creations.

Noble is 7 years old and is in 2nd grade and still talks non-stop. He lost his two front teeth and a few others and is

becoming a fantastic soccer player. He plans to grow his hair indefinitely and still can't enough Shaun the Sheep. These siblings continue to battle but the moments when they giggle together make it all worth it.

WISHING YOU A PEACEFUL AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

not-so-christmas crafts

douglas noble turned some cardboard and an old shoebox into a foozball game. noble then created a marble maze on the lid - it all turned out really cool - and it works! they had a blast making it even though it meant that we were postponing christmas activities!

christmas craft making

shadow puppets

mischa and sascha joined us for an outing to go see a shadow puppet show in the presidio. sascha and mahala got to take part in the show since they were some of the oldest kids there. then all of the kids had a chance to make their own.

thanksgiving #2

we drove to morgan hill to join the franks, the other franks and the smiths for thanksgiving. the kiddies at the kiddie table are no longer really kiddies! everyone stayed overnight and the kids stayed up late playing maffia - which they seem to always play when they get together.

thanksgiving #1

our annual 'friendsgiving' with the she's included some creative options for all of our crazy dietary restrictions - no one went home hungry! dinner of mashed potatoes, roasted cumin sweet potatoes, vegan gravy and vegan mushroom gravy, cauliflower with lime, maple roasted brussel sprouts, vegan paleo stuffing, gluten free stuffing, cranberry sauce, white beans with caramelized onions and for dessert, chocolate fondue with all of the fixings, gluten free apple crisp and paleo apple crisp. natascha put together a thankfulness activity and the kids put on a few performances complete with costumes and props!

thanksgiving toilet paper tubes

as long as i lead the way, the kids get really into making crafts. they made turkeys, owls and napkin holders (with dried beans) to dress up our table.