Hello Collins

a socially distanced Covid 19 portrait 2020  "It was the best of times, the worst of times" -Charles Dickens  :) We have had hours and days and months together :)  Lucy headed out for her first year of college at Cal Poly San Lis Obispo, declaring her major in Applied Mathematics.  The school requires you to submit your major when you apply, and this was the easy part for her but I'm like...b x 2 5 +-*?  haha...we love that math is her 2nd language! She has a walk on spot for the w omen's basketball team. That spot got  her on campus with a routine along with making friends who are either there for athletics or the absolute brainfest that is Cal Poly.  It's a beautiful little town with lots of outdoorsy things to do.  She loves it there and is thriving despite the pandemic :)   Audrey  started her first year of high school online.  She doesn't love it but she has done really well academically.  Except for Mr. Stassen's cla...

For the last 4 months we have either been  packing or unpacking,  loading or unloading,  buried in paper or buried in emotions ...hurting or collapsing :) we rented a duplex  close to our property (but it's blue so I'm calling it the Bluplex, haha) Surfer's Beach is right across the 1 and from our new place. Meanwhile, Lucy was home quarantining from school for 2 weeks since there were covid cases on her floor and along with 2 teammates testing positive.  She helped with the tail end of leaving Santa Clarita and came up with us!  it was fun to have her home when we thought we wouldn't see her for the holidays :) she makes everything better! this year's Thanksgiving called for a simple turkey pot pie with  some pumpkin and apple pie on the side :) unearthed middle school woodshop napkin rings seemed to fit the mood this Thanksgiving :)  made by Lucy Pillar Point Harbor is also across the street from us :) what was once a sketchy part of the 1 is no...

Winding through the back roads of California to explore Joshua Tree National Park it took a few hours along with a picnic lunch but glad we did it Spare and unique walking out to a climbing spot it was warm but not hot it was dusty it was the desert haha said climbing spot even in the middle of nowhere people will comment , "wow, what a tall family" long legs in the desert by Audrey and Henry Skull Rock perfect pre-Halloween nature spot I love this photo how Audrey feels being sandwiched in age between these two brothers haha Arrived at the Shuman household for Halloween fun! My sister always makes her house cute a round of cupcakes and cookies a must stop for me while in Phoenix pre trick or treat the neighborhood had tables in their driveways, everything was socially distanced it felt great to do something normal with the kids! Audrey and Ella as elephants :) I guess we went with animals this year! Elephant, hammerhead shark, peacock head Lucy sent this to me from school.  ...