toddlers are fun

Early May: enjoying flowers, rocks, oaks, views, and boardwalks at the Camassia Nature Preserve near Portland.











Mr. Sovereign (on the playground in Sacramento)















Charlie invented a new use for cups...












...and can look so innocent!

Trip to Friday Harbor

Charlie and mom were fortunate enough to spend a week on San Juan Island. (Less fortunate were the sea urchin sperm that had to die on the microscope.) Charlie adores watching and riding the ferries!









View from the sculpture park at Roche Harbor to Westcott Bay.












The westside (Deadman Bay, looking across to Canada) is always a favorite spot.

Spring break in Sacramento

The nice Sacramento Zoo is in walking distance from grandma's house.










Koi fish were more fascinating than flamingoes and tigers and giraffes...

Springtime in Portland

I figured out how to download photos from my cell phone :-)

A week ago: stopping to smell our neighbor's flowers...














Trees blooming on the first day of spring in Custer Park (the one with the best playground:)













OK, Charlie, smile!

We seem to take pictures only on trips...

In January, we spent another day on the beautiful Oregon coast, this time near Tillamook.

The emperor turns 2

The crown was made by Elias & Daniel in Friday Harbor last year :-)

Cute new outfit from uncle Manfred

Charlie blew out the candles with no problem

O Tannenbaum

Well, one should probably post a christmas tree picture :-) These were taken in Sacramento. The next day, all three of us went for a haircut.

Let's go west!

Since it wasn't raining, Charles had the brilliant idea to go to the coast on Sunday. We had a fabulous day around Cannon Beach.


 

Portland beaches

In October, we went to the Columbia River beach on Sauvie Island (half an hour north of downtown Portland) -- after picking a pumpkin with Sonya & Mason.






The sun is setting but of course we're actively working in the sand.








Bananas are a great snack!












Some days we like our vegetables...





















November 13: watching ducks where Lake Oswego meets the Willamette River.

Out in the country

On Saturday we visited Ann & Bill on their farm in Boring, east of Portland. Of course we picked berries which shows on Charlie's face...
Bill's tractor was a huge hit with Charlie!
Charlie and the three great mutts hang out while daddy lectures about the economy.
The dog flap was the best toy of all!

Portland party & San Juan Island

Our neighbors' Oktoberfest was a perfect occasion for Charlie to wear his "Pinzgauer Lederhosen". Vielen Dank Familie Altenberger.


















A genomics conference and a guest lecture were great reasons for Charlie and Iana to spend another gorgeous week in Friday Harbor.






In the background: clouds cover the tops of the Olympic Mountains

















Among Charlie's favorite things and words -besides "Wasser"- are "Boot" and "Flugzeug"















There's so much to do on the driftwood beaches...