Thanks giving and Xmas

Bunch of busyness going on. Very happy mum is coming to stay for thanks giving / Xmas!
This well be great as she hasn't spent much time with the kids or met Kiwi. Thanks giving has turned into a bit of an extravaganza with Sharene's extended family coming; so think big NZ Xmas. We are hosting with turkey and all the trimmings. Kids are not with is this year ... Sad for us and a little for them as their cousins will be here.
As part of mum's visit I will take her to New Jersey and then we will have a weekend in NYC. Once mum flies out to meet Karen & Brice Sharene and the kids fly in; another weekend in NYC for me and the we all drove to Rhode Island to see their cousins. Back to CA on the 24th Dec. Xmas day with the kids then they are off to their Dads and I think we are hanging around home. All up a busy time.
Work chugs along and I am well into the weekly commute to New Jersey. In the end I am away 3 nights and live Eastern hours when I am here....so generally up before most of the household.
Oh and I went to Denver, can't remember of I wrote about it. Really loved it - cool crisp air and big sky's. The bed sashimi I have had ... who knew. Crazy big hotel room too.












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At the airport ... Again

Such an odd life flying across the country every week! On the upside this is proving easier than Kansas City.
This weekend was the pumpkin festival in Half Moon Bay. By default that meant we refused to drive anywhere. 1000s of people descend - it does mean the beach is almost empty. We walked into town twice, 1.5 miles so quite manageable. Looked at all the stuff and went through the haunted house, which was very well done!!!
Sharene has pics so nothing visual to share.
It was a really nice, fun weekend; flew by fast. Kiwi's a big lad now ... 40+ pounds and solid with it. He's sweet and still puppyish. Mymy is a saint with him!









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Running times

Ran a half marathon in one country this weekend...great fun and better than I expected!











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Check this out

Sharene and I made this for Claudette for her birthday .. I folded the origami and Sharene assembled it all.
























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NYC 2

We went out to dinner at Claudettes (claudettenyc.com). The food was fantastic and had the right mix of stylie/casual.

We went to a Jeff Koons exhibition; kirky mix of art:






















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NYC

Sharene came to New York for the weekend. We had a great time; stayed in Times Square and walked miles!
Saw the ground zero memorial, it's very powerful to watch and hear the water...there are two, one for each Tower.





Saw some great street art too...more to follow!

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Visitors

Helen and her girlfriend Mary arrived from NZ on Friday for a brief visit. I had spent the week in Dallas/Plano Texas so Sharene picked them up from the airport a few hours before I landed. It was a really fun weekend.
Friday night we took them to our fav local sushi restaurant. Saturday morning the 3 of us went running along the coast before we all headed into the city to Golden Gate Bridge, Mexican food, the Mission, Casto and a little drive by of Moultrie street.
Sunday was more outdoor adventuring, heading down to Santa Cruz to the redwood forest for a hike. The trees are impressive and it's a pretty walk. The kids had stayed at Sharene's mom's so we swung by there to make introduction and pick them up. Madi and Brax were very sweet and funny, providing evening entertainment. It was great to see Helen; realizing we have known each other for 15years!
I am writing on the plane heading to New Jersey. Exciting week as Sharene flys in Thursday night. We are spending the weekend on NYC, adventuring. Staying on Times Square we have a couple of fun thinks on the list, mostly sightseeing. Hotel location has us in the hub of things so easy to be spontaneous. I am hoping we will be able to bring the kids over at some point too as their cousins live in Rhode Island. Sharene isn't convinced about NYC in the winter...but I think a trip at Xmas time in the snow would be magical. Meanwhile I am hoping to get to see some of the fall colors as where I work is very "green" but promises to turn golden at some point.



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Cruising

One if the team rolled off the project so we caught a train to NYC and did a dinner cruise, very cool.



















Twin Towers tribute











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Giants run

Last weekend Brax and I did the Giants Run; 5km along the embarcadero then finishing in the stadium. For the kiwis (well and me!), the Giants are the SF baseball team...won the World Series. Brax got it in his mind he wanted a medal so Sharene and I found this run. Got a bobble head of one of the players (ummm yeah he's famous...) and really had fun. Won't post pics right now because that seems to be hard from my mobile and I want to post this tonight (Sharene says I have got slack on the blog!).
I am back in New Jersey. It's always hard after a week at home but I keep rolling with it. I am sticking to my training plan for the half marathon too - miracle.
Last weekend Michelle had a fleeting overnight visit. So nice to see her and the kids love her. I really am lucky to have such a good friend so close.
Tomorrow night I am doing a River cruise thing in NYC to farewell one of the team...funny, when I first came to the USA I thought I would live in NYC; instead I landed on the other coast, but here I am.
Sharene and I have all the logistics for her trip planned, apart from visiting the Met. we haven't planned anything in particular - much like our Chicago trip, rolling with it. Staying in Times Square so close enough to walk places and get the subway.
I am sure I have forgotten some updates but that's the news of the day.


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Weekend

Came home to a fun weekend including an art fair in the redwoods.

 Paths had wood chips and the "galleries" were between the trees. Sipped a glass of wine as we wandered around. Beautiful location and we found this......

Walked the beach and came across a field of sunflowers.

 

 

 

Training for a half marathon in wine country in October. Keeping it honest and actually going to the hotel gym when I am in New Jersey.

Off to Texas (near Dallas) for work in a weeks time as well. We've made some team changes so I am stepping up to more responsibilities.Sharene coming to stay for a weekend on the East Coast (flex travel, instead of me flying back home and out again she gets to fly to me). We are planning a weekend in New York - gotta love that part of the job for sure.

Hrump

Been having challenges publishing photos...annoying. So behind in a couple of posts. Past weekend went into the city for a friend of Sharene's birthday.






Kiwi found a chair his size.


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New Jersey

Finally got to hang out beyond the Airport, hotel and work.



Cake Boss


Inside and Kylette's brother Dom


Gift for Madi's birthday


Big city 1


Big city 2.
Awesome restaurant, Molos...view tick, food mixed.









Can't wait for Sharene to come and visit for the weekend so we can go into NYC!

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Glass blowing & stuff

Went to a cool glass blowing event...free handmade glass and beer and wine while you watch a display. And the night we went guess the name of the band?









I also made Sharene's cousin a ball of cranes.



Madi's 12th birthday this weekend.



Getting into the swing of New Jersey. Fly out Monday afternoon, fly back Thursday night - 3 weeks travel, one week home. Work EST hours when I am on PST time; early starts early finish. Too early to know how that will go! Project is interesting, learning a lot .


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Week 2 done

This week I worked from home; nice! Working Eastern time is a challenge but mostly people are kind enough to schedule meeting 9am eastern aka 6am my time.
I've already learnt a lot of new things so excited to see it seems like a good choice so far.
Life is getting even busier as Sharene kicks off her two internships. This will have her start to gather more hours so she can get her MfT license....giving her a lot more choices for work.
Summer has been fun with the kids. Last weekend they all went off to Sacramento to a concert, I stayed home and looked after the dogs.



I've also been learning some new origami folds...I like these boxes.



I am back to NJ Monday night and will get some pictures...it's very pretty (well at least where I am). I am also going to plan a team outing into NYC for dinner, it's a 30min drive so very manageable.



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Home

We are back from LA - it was quite the adventure.  After our Disney/Universal Studios trip we drove down to San Diego; lovely town near the border of Mexico. Stayed in this really great luxury resort that also let us have Kiwi (at a cost of course).
Day 2 Brax and I went to Legoland.

We spent a bunch of time in the water park as well - no pics from that but I did enjoy the wave pool.