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| I think Fiona is cold! |
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| Where is the van? |
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| Fiona and Mommy at the Wrightwood Cafe |
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| Daddy Time! |
John has been non-stop busy all year. Work has kept him here and there... from Texas, Oklahoma, Northern California, Seattle, and Montreal, Canada. At home, most daylight hours have been spent building the addition to the house. In the spring we began the foundation and then the teardown of the existing house. Now framing and the second floor are taking shape. Our once bedroom is now a vacant space with boxes, but with stairs rising up to somewhere (that will soon be a master suite)... Most impressive are the beams, huge monolithic spans of wood that keep appearing. Studs and walls are being added and there are openings fr doors and windows. With the exception of hiring someone to lay the foundation and an extra set of hands to assist in lifting a few beams of wood, John has done all the work himself. He's an OCD kid with some tinekertoys... the walls are plumb, straight, and almost every scrap of wood has a purpose. (Nothing less would do... would it?) Be sure to check out the "Gibson Construction Zone" page for all the pictures and details...
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| The Foundation is Ready to be Poured. |
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| A momentous occasion: the cement truck arrives to pour the foundation... |
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| Fiona is Mommy's Assistant at the ArtLife Gallery "Paint with an Artist - Event" |
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| David finds a frog at the Madrona Marsh. |
This year, Suzanne was invite to become a board member for our local Madrona Marsh. Bringing kids to the Marsh and combining Art & Nature into some new programs is one of the goals of the Marsh Director, and new Arts and Crafts programs for children and adults are now being introduced. Throughout the year Suzy has brought the kids and their friends on exploring hikes to the marsh, and has taken a handful of photos to be inspiration for a new series of paintings... "Children at Madrona Marsh". During the summer, as the constuction impacted the oudoor studio area, Suzanne took her Summer Art Classes to various local parks, and several private homes. Several students hosted Art sessions in their own backyards, making way for "Suzanne's Mobile Art Studio" to bring art all over the neighborhood. Suzanne is now an artist with ARTLIFE GALLERY, in El Segundo. This is a SOUTH BAY ARTIST, Co-op Gallery. Several days a month Suzanne gives demonstrations and provides interactive art projects for children on the Saturday Art Walks. Watch for new art events in the coming year.
During the summer, Suzanne took the kids back to Camp Teresita Pines to enjoy a week of R & R. Fiona learned the joy of performing skits, Alex learned that he LOVES star-gazing. David hiked and learned how to play Monopoly. All 3 of them learned how to CANOE. Daddy remained home and worked on the house.
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| Fiona has a "treat" of "Petit-Fours" at a French Bakery! |
Fiona Graduated from Pre-school in June and started Kindergarten in September. She is very happy to be at the elementary school with her brothers, and mommy is glad to have one less trip to drive every-day. Our challenge is to keep her interested and entertained. At age 5, her reading is at a 2nd grade level. She enjoys additional tutoring at "Granny School" several days a week. To give her movies a second life, she is now asking to watch them in French and is determined to go to Paris when she is big enough to walk around on her own... "Oui Mademouiselle!"
Alexander is an ANGRY BIRDS fanatic. As well as an Ocean, Space, and Environmental Explorer, he enjoys watching Mega-Structures, Biggest Bang, Ocean Explorer, and Planet Earth Specials. If it is a Myth Buster, Destroy and Rebuild, or a How It's Made Show... Alex wants to know all about it. His 7th birthday party was a Field Trip for 8 of his friends to the Griffith Park Observatory. His favorite exhibit was the demonstration of the Tesla Coil. He is always asking technical questions and I've noticed that he and Grand-dad spend many hours on the flight simulator and get into philosophical discussions of various topics. The recent discovery of a planet that possibly could sustain life is the latest discussion.
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| Alex grew a Zucchini in our garden! |
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| David chills during one of the "Art in the Park" outings |
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| David's 9th Birthday Beach Party |
All 3 love LEGO'S and were treated to a day at Legoland in the summer. Fiona loved the views of "Paris". Alex loved the "Star Wars area"... and David was impressed by it all.... he's convinced that he's going to be a Lego Engineer!
In October Suzanne went to New York to celebrate her friend Rachael's 40th Birthday. Enjoying work and play, she met up with several other friends and explored galleries and took opportunities to relax and paint in Central Park, Rockerfeller Plaza and at the Metropolitain Museum of Art.
Then John left for Seattle to help a friend install a computer system on his boat. Perhaps someday in 2012 we'll be able to take a trip together, as a FAMILY!!! Right now we'll settle for a family day at Knott's Berry Farm!!!
Both boys are now in Cub Scouts and have just completed their first round of badges and achievements. Both have earned their WOLF badge and are aiming for new belt loops in the spring. Daddy is enjoying the time he gets to take the boys to their pack and den meetings... (Grand-dad does too!)
Granny and Grand-dad Brown have been an amazing help to us this year. The kids absolutely love being around them and they've truly assisted in taking them on adventures. LegoLand, The Whale Watch Center, Trips to see Uncle Simon, and exploring at the beach have all been on the adventure list this year... we are grateful to have family so close and so involved.
We look forward to the construction being completed so that we can host our friends and family to a grand-opening party. That truly will be a celebration!!! In the mean-time... if there is anyone wishing to exert some extra energy through the means of hammers, nails and power-tools... we are a safe construciton zone... we provide clean beds, warm water, and always have hot coffee and cold beer (for afterwards). As weather permits we're keen to throw some steaks on the grill and pluck some fresh avocados to share too! Contact the Managment: gibsonandgibson@socal.rr.com to arrange an interview and a menu selection!
More Photos will be linked soon!
