Dylan, Max and Poppy in San Francisco!

These photos are by my son, Jack, who has turned into quite the photographer on his own (and excellent) terms. I love the intimacy and tenderness of his eye and lens.

Dylan at the Beach.

San Francisco, May, 2010

by: Jack Novak-Zárate

Max and Poppy.

San Francisco, May, 2010.

by: Jack Novak-Zárate

Mommy and Dylan!

Dylan and Mommy

May, 2010

Mommy and Max.

May, 2010.

There are not enough photos of Mommy and her boys here! So here are two small effort to correct that defect. Aren't they all

You Must Watch This!

No, it's not about the boys, but it is about them and children and education. I think Sir Ken Robinson's 2nd talk about education is as inspiring and as thought provoking as his first.

Jack, Teresa and Dahlia (and Grandma Pilulaw) Visit!

We were so happy to have Jack, Teresa and Dahlia (otherwise known by Dylan as "Big brother Jack, Teresa and my little niece"), visit us at the beginning of the month. We were also fortunate enough to have Grandma Pilulaw make the trek up here from Santa Barbara, so she could visit her kid, her grandkids, and her great granddaughter! (And many thanks to Aunt Connie and Uncle Gary for making that possible - and our home just a bit less crowded!)

No matter how long such visits are, they are never long enough. It was great having them here, very hard to say 'good-bye' when it was time, and we miss them each day.

Oddly enough, I found I had taken few photos. Mostly it was because I had Max in my hands a lot of the time. But then again, there was so much to do, and I really wanted to spend time with them, taking photos wasn't top of the list.

(I must note that having two young boys full of life [Dylan and Max], two older boys who have set on their own life journeys [Matthew and Joaquin], a beautiful and supportive partner and wife, and a gorgeous granddaughter [Dahlia], makes for a rich, complex, challenging and multifaceted life - the likes of which I could never have imagined! Everyday I am amazed and thankful that I get to live this life, that I have all this love from all these wonderful and amazing people. I am, indeed, a rich and fortunate man.)

Here is a selection of photos from the Big Visit:

The requisite Group Photo

Back row: Jack, Uncle Gary

Middle Row: Teresa, Grandma Pilulaw, Aunt Connie, Max, Mommy

Front Row: Dahlia, Dylan

Another like above, but with Poppy

added to the back row

Max entertains, as only he can,

Grandma Pilulaw and big brother Jack

"My little niece,"

as Dylan referred to Dahlia

Dahlia finds an interesting orb to contemplate

Dahlia tries her best to do a Vulcan mind meld -

Impressive!

Dahlia finds something utterly fascinating

And then the fascination fades...

(notice Dylan, like all men, oblivious to what is happening because he is so into his car)

Dahlia, with Teresa in the background,

explores the backyard of her relatives

Helping Dahlia

in the sandbox

Dahlia prepares to paint her masterpiece

in a new medium: water!

Dylan and Jack play a game of 21

with his backyard hoop -

home court advantage to Dylan!

Jack, an old-timer when it comes to Twin Peaks,

shows Dylan all the sites

Dylan and Jack looking at the the grand view

before them at Twin Peaks (all Dylan can see is the guardrail, though)

Jack, Teresa and Dahlia

on a windy day at Twin Peaks

Dahlia and Dylan

at the airport as Jack, Teresa and Dahlia prepare to return to Louisville, KY

Dylan and Dahlia share a special

niece - uncle moment

at Sacramento International Airport

Teresa holds the two kids spell-bound

(notice Dylan's fat lip he got in SF)

Dahlia impersonates a ZOMBIE!

Max!

More Max!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for bringing such joy and pleasure into my life with these dear, sweet boys! You are a great Mom and I am so thankful to have you as a partner raising our sons.

Easter 2010 Photos!

Max does his turn as THE Easter Bunny (and the Oscar goes to.... Max Zárate!!!), and Dylan wins the Golden Egg for collecting the MOST Easter Eggs in under five minutes. Both boys had a blast on Easter, which is how it should be.

Morro Bay!

First off: Happy Birthday, Mommy!!! Dylan, Max and I are sooo very lucky to have you in our lives!

OK, so I'm getting ahead of myself here. Where are the Christmas photos?!? But as the author of the blog, I get to make command decisions - and I'm making one (and the Christmas photos are coming...promise).

We just got back from a very nice, if short, trip to Morro Bay. It was great to get out of town and see something besides Sacramento. It was raining when we arrived, but the weekend cleared nicely, and we enjoyed all our time there and in nearby San Luis Obispo. My mother was able to join us on the visit, and the boys enjoyed getting to see Grandma Pilulaw again.

Also, we got an unexpected surprise in that many of my relatives from Santa Maria drove up the 101 Hwy and met us in SLO on Sunday. It was great for me as it had been a number of years since I'd seen many of them. Dylan totally enjoyed meeting his young cousins, who kept him entertained.

So here are some photos from the trip in no particular order.

Dylan and Mommy.

Morro Bay. January, 2010.

Dylan loves things that move,

especially vintage cars - with surfboards!

Grandma Pilulaw, Mommy, Max, Dylan and Poppy.

Morro Bay. January, 2010.

Max and Mommy. San Luis Obispo.

January, 2010.

Aunt Frances, Grandma Pilulaw and Dylan.

San Luis Obispo. January, 2010.

Cousin Henry, Aunt Frances.

San Luis Obispo. January, 2010.

Cousin "Little" Ernie.

San Luis Obispo. January, 2010.

"Little" Ernie's Wife, Connie

and her daughter, Madeline.

San Luis Obispo. January, 2010.

Cousin Jose, "Big" Ernie and

his niece Amanda Rose.

San Luis Obispo. January, 2010.

Amanda Rose and Madeline.

San Luis Obispo. January, 2010.

Dylan had a blast with these two girls,

who seemed equally taken with him!