What's an Ostrich's Favorite Country?....Ostria

The New Years resolutions are in full effect.  Day # 1... 2012... get, get out and move people!  Well, we tried to go kayaking.  But it was closed....

So we took pictures on the pier:

And instead, we walked around the harbor before deciding on a nice long hike....

the babies

the grown-up couple

Briggles and Jesse Jams

Trulie

Girls Galor

Jesrey Fist Pump Champ

We hiked up to Inspiration Point at the top of the Tunnel trail in the scenic Mission Canyon region during which mother found the inspiration to avoid falling down again from an unfortunate rock to the tailbone wipe out.

battle wounds

We sure are an orderly bunch...

almost home

Other than that it was a beautiful walk followed by some refreshing smoothies at Blenders in the Grass and dinner on the pier at the Harbor Restaurant with mom's friend Jim. To cap the first full day of a brand new year we played family-style ping pong while enjoying our favorite beverages at The Neighborhood Bar.

The next day we were still a family outing in full effect and to take advantage of the last full day that everyone is in town we went Ostrich feeding!!! 

Nothing brings family closer together than the terrifying pecking beaks of 7 foot tall dinosaur birds:

scared

relief

Yes, we like to BITE!

scary

they like stink

Jesse, the ostrich master

Dinosaurs

good job, weena!--she is amazed at their eating techniques

what to do now?

Hi, do I know you?

Just imagine 15 years ago when we ranged in age from 10-16 and were all going through puberty and periods together under one roof and with only one phone line..... Ahhh, I'm a survivor!!

Then we stopped in the quaint little Danish-replica town of Solvang for some cheese shopping...

...before setting off to wine tasting at Kalyra...

papparazzzi

Marmy + wine + chair + magazine = happy

Lazy dog (aka Sheddy Spaghetti) + Trevor's fingernails = Heaven

Hard to tell which one is happier...

wine-o's

And more wine tasting at the Fess Parker vinyard....

After wining ourselves out we had some sandwiches and salads before dropping Weener off at the airport.  Some of us have to work, ya know.  Sadly the remaining family members resorted to beers, football, and YouTube videos in the Ramada Inn hotel room to cheer ourselves back up...

New Year's Resolution: Do Not Give in to Family-Induced Anxiety

On the third day, the Lord said let there be more Erickson girls....  and so upon the golden coast of Southern California descended the angelic elder Erickson sisters and their baggage, I mean boys,...plus their baggage...biggest bags I've ever seen!  My sister's suitcase is bigger than the bed I slept in in college....

But before they arrive, momma and her baby girls have a lovely cultural morning at the Santa Barbara Art Museum admiring the works of Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet among others.   My favorite part of any museum....the Gift Shop.

We stock up on souvenirs, grab a coffee, and head back to the beach. The afternoon presented the first and only minor hiccup of the trip.  I cleverly planned an afternoon beach BBQ to introduce the elder sisters and their boys to the sunny, warm Southern California climate and lifestyle... only there were two un-welcomed, uninvited intruders.  One being the fog and wind and the other being that foggin' drunk bum who kept trying to join our party!  The bum eventually left, as did the the fog, and as did the family.

Back to the hotel to prep for New Years Eve. But before we go out, we open presents:

Yes, our place is this tiny...

Then Weener found my iPad

these are some happy broads...

Isn't Joshy so cute!

For dinner we had a very classy, traditional Mexican feast at the festive, historical El Paseo.

The Newlyweds...still smiling...work on that.

Jesse and Bridget  (aka Will and Kate)

After which we picked up a case of Tecate (cheap Mexican beer of choice) and headed over to our friend and fellow Rutger's alumni, Todd's house for an evening of spirits and spiritual dancing..

someone got their second wind

THIS is my family

Marmy found a dance partner

Kevin and Todd

Rish The Magishian

Snap, Crackle, & Pop

I set them up

Everyone arrived safely home from the evening thanks to a pair of anonymous designated drivers (first time sober on New Years in who knows how long)

Once home, most people passed out due to the east coast to west coast time change where staying up till midnight actually felt like staying up till 3am.  However, one soulful partier caught the soft-step-boogie-buzz once she was introduced to Trevor's Forever Lazy and down comforter slippers: