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5/19/2001 9:10:00 PM
Boulder Creek, CA
In the Santa Cruz mountains and the redwood forrest

March/April 2001

I am just looking into my calendar and have to find out that nothing much has happened in March - thank goodness - except our ski trip to Kirkwood - close to Lake Tahoe ...

Well before the next report for May is due I should try to finally translate the last 2 months report.... (it's been sitting in my draft file for ages...)

Hi here I am again!

You probably wondered when the March report is coming.... Well, we were so busy lately that I did not want to stress myself and decided to do a 2 month report, which I regret now... So let's get started:

I am just looking into my calendar and have to find out that nothing much has happened in March - thank goodness - except our ski trip to Kirkwood - close to Lake Tahoe. Since our week in Canada in February was such a success with skiing we decided to take Sebastian one more time this season and even though spring had come up already were happy to see the "white powder" again. We had a great weekend, wonderful sunny weather, still good snow conditions and lots of improvement with Sebastian and  my skiing skills. Sebastian was in ski school Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday, and even though it took him a bit longer to get adjusted there than at the one in Whistler (they had an excellent and professional program up there!), he had a good time and learned a lot. On Monday I took him out for a couple of hours and was impressed on how well he did and after a few runs on the easy blue slopes (not even the baby ones..!) we did not even have to stop once and I did not have to make an effort to drive very slow. He certainly wanted to be first at the chair lift and at the end he didn't even want to make a "pizza plow" but only swung his hips left and right... what a cute picture! I was very proud of him and cannot wait to get up on skis next year, maybe he can even go some more runs with us. Benjamin still wasn't very crazy about snow and since Robert and I did not even have a full day together in Whistler we decided to get a babysitter. So Sunday it was just the two of us and with my new ski gear and Roberts expert advise I also improved a lot and even got to do some mogul, diamond and canyon runs.... Not that I had a very good style but at least I got down save and sound and overcame my inner fear. Well with this 3 day trip we ended the 2000 ski season and next year all 4 Schmids will stand on skis!!!

Robert has had a couple of intensive travel weeks and even had to fly out on a red eye to New York the night we came back from our skiing trip. (The week before he had to be in Detroit). So we all went out for supper and then dropped him at the airport, and I drove home by myself with the kids and a car load full of skiing stuff - not quite the end to a short vacation...! Broesel had spent the few days with Maura and Bob and they were so wonderful to drop her at home so at least I did not have to pick up the dog. The three of us also were home for a few days before we took off to our next vacation, told ya' we were gone a lot...!

On Friday April 6th we went to San Diego for 10 days, since we had not been at my aunts and uncles place since August 99. Sebastian also had spring break and my mom was going to arrive in LA and I wanted to surprise her. So that were enough reasons to go! Robert decided since we were not going to be home for the weekend anyway and he had to go back to New York the week, to fly the other direction (to Europe) and visit his family (and it is hard to believe that the air fare overseas was even cheaper than within the US!) Everybody was happy to see him, even though it was only for a short time.

In the meantime we were busy with all sorts of activities. Even though we had the worst weather ever in San Diego, rainy and cold, we were lucky that on the days we went to the theme parks the sun came out and it was dry. Upon Sebastian's request we went to Legoland first and since he is such a big Lego fan and fantastic builder he had a blast. It really is a great place and amazing what they have built with just those little pieces - live size elephants, that even sprays water - cities and their famous sights,.. - there is also lots of things that children can play and interact with - a paradise for kids! On Monday Barbie, the boys and I went to Anaheim and spent allay Tuesday at Disneyland. Barbie and I both love it a lot and even though Sebastian had a great time when he was just 1 1/2 years (like Benjamin now), it took him a while to warm up and enjoy it all. I think it was a bit overwhelming and too much, he is not crazy about the rides but loved the different characters, the Mickey Mouse (house), Whinnie Pooh, Woody and Buzz,... It was worth staying late and seeing the fireworks, he was quite amazed by that show. I think next time we go he will know what to expect and we will hopefully go more than one day

On Wednesday noon my mom arrived in LA and had now idea we would also be there. The boys and I were hiding behind the sliding exit doors and she was so involved at a conversation with my aunt that she did not even see us right away. Once she got over the first "shock" she was so happy and glad to have us around for a few days. Robert also came on Good Friday, as well as my cousin and his girlfriend were there for a couple of weeks, quite a full house at Barbie's and Jim's! On Sunday my second aunt Ute, plus her daughters and family came and we all went out for a traditional Easter Brunch. Since there are perfect paragliding placed very close to their house, Robert took off a few hours a day to practice and collect some points for competitions. On Easter Monday the 4 Schmids went into different directions - Robert again to New York for 4 days and the three of us back home

10 days later, last Thursday (May 26) my Mom and Barbie drove up to us and watched the boys over the weekend. My mom did this already last year (together with my friend Hemma's au pair) and offered us to do this every year now. Originally we had planned to go back to Vegas but since we could not get any flight we decided to drive to San Francisco. We had a wonderful time and again tried not to plan too many things and just live the day without an agenda for once. We had excellent dinners, shopped around, went to a comedy club,... The only thing we were not allowed was to sleep in, since the room next to us was busy with 2 noisy kids (the hotel only had about 250 rooms...). So by 7.30am we were awake, but at least we did not have to get up! On Sunday we met Austrian friends (Tommi, an "old" friend from Roberts university in Austria and his wife Sonja) for brunch at our hotel and in the evening they treated us for a home cooked meal, for once at friends without children. We really enjoyed the whole time and it is amazing how much energy you get. I hope we will be able to do such a short get away at least twice a year...!

Yesterday (well this is not quite correct, since my mom is already back for 10 days...), my mom and Barbie went off to their trip to Mount Shasta (up in North California) were my mom joins a spiritual festival every year. They will be gone for a week, Barbie will only stay for one night (she also has guests coming) and my mom for 3 weeks. Unfortunately my mom had very bad back pain in the beginning of her trip and after a visit to the doctors found out she had a ruptured disc. After a few injections, millions of pills and 7 visits to the chiropractor she is much better. She certainly cannot carry anything (no kids!) and has to take it easy with walking. So this time it will be a bit more quiet and homey, but she knows all the sights anyways from the last year.

Robert has left today for 2 days and will come back on Friday, Saturday I am off for a moms day, but that belongs into the next report. Attached again a few pictures so you can see some acts to the stories. We hope your are all well and look forward to hearing from you as well.

Lots of dear greetings, hugs and kisses from the 4 Schmids - Niki, Robert, Sebastian, Benjamin and zoo - Broesel, Max, Moritz, 10 goldfish, at least 40 frogs, raccoons and deer as well as all the other creatures in the woods

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