We went to “Buck N Horse” Ranch in Gilroy this afternoon for Max’s first horseback riding lesson with his good buddies, Alex & Sean
He was paired with Chai, a sweet little pony
Max & Chai took one look at each other and bonded immediately
Max feeling quite comfortable riding Chai
Giving Chai a big hug to say goodbye after his lesson. This was kind of a trial basis lesson to see if it would be something he would enjoy doing.
Browsing Posts tagged Sean
After 3 days in the Jungle … we hopped a canoe to the mainland …
… and, as goes without saying, piled into the bus again. If you are interested in seeing my “Jungle Hair” then check it out! I was sitting in between Max & Norma on this trip! Hard to see in this photo, but believe me … there was some serious jungle hair going on here!
Let me just zoom in on this wild hair thing going on.
David getting comfortable with his new baby alpaca blankey from the Otavalo market
Emily decides to sit in the far back seat of the bus with the crazy boys: Nick & Sean! The feet are Sean’s.
Emily looking cute in her Christmas dress AGAIN, but is soon to be booted out of the back seat into the arms of her mama!
Nick settling in for a long journey back to Quito, but first things first (particularly with this group) …
LUNCH!!!
Sean, Nick & Max waiting for lunch to be served as they watch the popular iPad
Again, another beautiful spot for hummingbirds!
Papa Dave checking them out with his binoculars
Then off to Quito for one night before our short plane flight to Guayaquil
View of Napo River from our room at La Casa del Suizo
Max enjoying the hammock on the back porch
Emily & David playing “dolphin” in the baby pool
Wallace being attacked by the kids!
Papa Dave & Max on the Jungle Excursion
Dorian, Charlie, Alex & Aunt Claudia
Although the Napo River had pirhanas, these were not pirhanas!
Max saying “hello” to a tortoise at an animal sanctuary
These were all injured & rescued animals of the jungle
Toucan
Aunt Claudia getting ready for white water rafting in the pirhana infested Napo River. According to the guide, the pirhanas are well fed so they don’t tend to bite people! Max went white water rafting in Wallace’s lap just to be safe! 
Sean
We went to a Butterfly Garden in the nearby jungle town of Ahuano (about a 15 minute walk from the hotel)
We sat down for a minute before our guide came to take us into the butterfly garden & in seconds Miss Em was asleep on Papa Dave’s lap
Gorgeous butterflies!
The butterfly was attracted to the cardinal on Charlie’s shirt
Alex hot, tired & trying to remain still so a butterfly would land on him too
Norma in the hot baths at Termas de Papallacta
David in paradise
Norma & John enjoying some alone time with me & my camera
Mary, Emma & Sean (hiding)
Max & Emily’s front yard: thermal hot baths!
Max & Emily enjoying their private hot bath in their room before heading off to the Jungle
On the road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been
First stop was a lovely lunch spot featuring hummingbirds
Alex, Emily & Charlie hanging out on the couch before lunch was served
Lunch menu. Surprisingly enough black pepper ice cream with basil sauce is pretty darn good!
Vicky (our tour guide), Normita & Fernando (our driver)
Wallace embracing his mama
Emily walking down a path to the hummingbird feeding stations
Charlie, Emily, Alex, Max & Nick watching the hummingbirds
We arrived at the bank of the Napo River in the evening to take our canoe ride to Casa del Suizo Hotel
Great Uncle Dorian (aka “GUD”) deeted up in an attempt to repel the mosquitos
David ready to go! He probably needed to deet up a little more than he did ’cause he was eaten alive by the mosquitos
Part of the group heading over in the canoe
Our luggage took an entire canoe!!
The beautiful La Casa del Suizo hotel as we arrived via canoe
We stayed here in the jungle at La Casa del Suizo for 3 nights
The next day we jumped on the tour bus again and headed to Mitad del Mundo (Middle of the World)
Check it out! 0 degrees-0′-0″
The Krasnoff Family straddling the equator
David, Norma, Wallace & Max straddling the equator
Mary & Sean straddling the equator
Wallace & Sarah straddling the equator
Emily thrilled to be holding a rhinoceros beetle
Max a little freaked out about it which is kind of funny because he is having a reptile/bug/beetle party for his 6th Birthday next month!
Happy Emily
She wasn’t phased at all
She even touched & petted the beetles.
David was the first to attempt the “beetle thing”.
Emily wanted to do this too, but her face was smaller than the beetle
John & Dorian — a quick stop at a scenic view after Mitad del Mundo
Max at the scenic view
Solar Museum
Here we are as a group on the equator at the Solar Museum
Mark successfully balances an egg on it’s small end on the equator. Yeah Mark!
Then we headed to Maria Elena’s house for what they refer to as “lunch” at 4pm’ish.
Max & Emily had fun on the teeter totter
Alex, Nick, Sean & Max all on the teeter totter!
And, there was a rope swing here too!
Emily loved it!
Max did too!
Charlie too!
Sean too!
They even had a white pet rabbit which was a big hit with Max & Emily
Emily fell in love with the bunny rabbit!!
We traveled through Ecuador for 16 days with 15 of our closest friends & family members to include a total of 19 travelers in our group. Here are the individuals in no particular order:
Cousin Nick
Cousin Alex
Cousin Charlie
Aunt Claudia
Uncle Mark
Brave Cousin David
Great Uncle Dorian (aka “GUD”)
Grandpa Dale
The Oma
John
Papa Dave
Friend Mary
Friend Evan
Friend Emma Jane
Friend Sean
Emily
Max
Wallace
And, here begins the tale …
Oma sent Max & Emily a cool cardboard house for Easter! We opened it a wee bit early (okay, a month early!) ’cause the rain has been relentless & we needed something to entertain the little rugrats!
This cool casa cabana has a door, 7 windows and spy holes!
Emily having fun decorating it.
Sean, Alex & Emily decorating the house as Max pops his head out of a spy hole to find out what’s going on with his house painters!
Emily is totally into yellow so she would only color the house with a yellow marker! HUH?!?! It’s been PINK! PINK! PINK! What’s the sudden switch to yellow?
Alex & Sean helping to decorate the back door.
Sean really getting into it.
Max writing his name on the front door! THANKS OMA!!!! This has provided Max, Emily & friends with a lot of fun!
We went to Donner Lake (Tahoe) this past weekend with the Kensler-Iversen Family
We rented a pretty home with two sets of bunk beds & a spiral stair case to a secret “kids only” hideaway. Kid’s Paradise to Erik’s angst.
Max @ the Donner Lake Mountain House
Emily @ Soda Springs Ski Resort where she went tubing
Sean @ Soda Springs Ski Resort
Alex @ Soda Springs Ski Resort
Sarah & Sean @ Soda Springs Ski Resort. Sean tried some skiing and was quite successful.
Wallace carrying Max to the tubing hill. He was too tired to walk.
Wallace & Erik in the kitchen on Saturday night making a fabulous meal for me & Sarah!
Potato, Green Cabbage & Leek Soup with lemon creme fraiche as our starter. Life is Good.
Alex, Sean, Max & Emily chilling in the downstairs livingroom watching “Harry the Dirty Dog” after a long afternoon at Soda Springs while we enjoy wine & adult conversation upstairs.
Wallace reading “Silly Sally” to the kids on Sunday morning before getting ready to head back to the Bay Area
We went to Monterey, California for President’s Day weekend with the Kensler-Iversens. Sean, Alex, Max & Emily are such good friends! Here they are outside the elevator door on their way to the indoor swimming pool.
Seaside Beach was located directly outside of our hotel less than 1/4 mile.
Took a picture of this sign for The Oma ’cause she is always concerned about earthquakes.
Emily running wild ‘n free on the beach! She insists on wearing sundresses in winter!
Sean running around with a large bird feather in hand!
Max attempting to time the waves.
Sean loved to pick up wet sand and throw it!
Sean
Two of the cutest tushies!
Max
Max
Max
Max & Emily
Emily, Sean & Max
Max
Max
Sean
Sean
Emily
Emily
Max
Emily & Uncle Erik
Alex
Alex, Max & Sean
Sean
Alex
Alex
Alex & Max
Max & Alex
Alex
Sean
Max & Alex
Alex
Max
Max
Alex & Max
It was 45-48 degrees today on the beach, but they insisted on wearing their swimsuits! They didn’t last too long! Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. The adults wore winter jackets and were still freezing!
We celebrated Emily’s 3rd BD yesterday with friends & family
The main event for Emily’s 3rd BD was “Happy Birds”, a performing parrot show
Seven beautiful & friendly parrots entertained us all and Emily even got a kiss from pretty “Piper”
This particular bird is a trainee to the show. Emily is feeding him an almond.
The bird show consisted of various birds riding a bike, riding a scooter, singing songs, making other animal impersonations, skateboarding, opening water bottles, etc.
Max was an active participant in the audience with lots of questions for the “Bird Lady”. He loved it!
Piper wants to give Max a kiss,
but Max holds back …
Piper gives Max a kiss on his cheek
Piper riding a scooter
Max and his friend, Cameron, intently watching the bird show
Sean & Zack
Zac & Megan
Zac & Cameron
Zac & Max
Alex & Zac
Brennan & Zac
Riley & Forrest
Papa Dave, Brynn & Kedryn with Zac & Forrest
Kedryn (my nephew) & Zac
Brynn (my niece) & Forrest
Papa Dave, Brynn & Kedryn with Zac & Forrest
Forrest & Christian (Kathy had to bribe Christian to get near this bird!)
Michael, Kathy & Olivia with Zac & Forrest
Brynn flaunts her muscles by holding these two fairly heavy macaws
Sweet Samantha with Zac & Forrest
Max & beautiful Forrest
Max was totally enthused by the birds
Cute Keddie with Forrest
Emily with Forrest
Emily enjoyed watching & participating in the bird show
Emily & her friend, Megan, with Forrest
Ready to blow out her candles. Notice the pretty red fingernails! Brynn gave her a manicure before her party!
Princess Emily
Happy 3rd Birthday Emily!!
