For those of you who haven't heard from us in a while - we moved to Santa Cruz, CA in June 2004, shortly after the birth of Edie. We chose Santa Cruz, where I (Jess) was raised up, after considering other options such as Petaluma, Arcata, Oregon, and even returning to Dave's home state of Virginia.
For the uninitiated,
SC is a pretty hoppin' little town, lots of live music, great restaurants (but why no good Indian?), lovely nature including the ocean and redwoodsy forests just a short ways away. The perfect mix of kitchy pleasures (the Boardwalk, the Mystery Spot) and genuine breathtaking beauty.
Our good pals the Koskis (Jennie) (Darius) moved here the same summer, with their two boys, so instantly habitual BBQing was established! It's lovely that our kids are growing up together. 
I have family in SC as well, my mom and dad and aunts and uncles and cousins and lots of extended family too - so the family network has been fantabulous.
In SC Dave started out working for Darius' dad, building a house. After that project, Dave was hired by a super duper residential remodel company called Talmadge Construction. They have been fantastic to work for, and Dave is now a hands-on project manager, doing high-end remodels and construction projects. A perk of that work was meeting our friends the Lukes (Mike L. is a plumbing subcontractor) and their four kids who we adore!
I stayed on maternity leave for about 9 months after Edie was born, then was hired as office manager for the SC Symphony. About a year and a half after that, I was promoted to marketing director. That was a great learning experience on many levels. Recently I took the position of associate director for the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Check out the website to learn more.
Other big news: Fiona graduated from 5th grade in June, and thusly began Middle School this September! So far so good - she likes it, and we are getting used to a totally new social structure, and all that Middle School brings up! Fiona was also accepted onto a competetive soccer team, the Jaws, who travelled to the Silicon Valley and thereabouts. A whole new ball game, as it were! Very exciting, great coaching, great team mates.
She also was accepted onto her school soccer team, but has had to miss several matches due to breaking her wrist a few months back, then re-injuring it a few weeks ago. But kids are bouncy, right?She is a fantastic kid, we are so proud.
Edie is now a spicy three-year-old, goes to preschool and hangs out with her Mima and Aunties and cousins. Edie is truly a crazy nut. But a cute one!
Dave and Darius and Mike all bowl in a League together, and now the Lukes and the Frye-Steins have formed a bowling team (the Lane Asses), looking ahead to January and our second year in the annual Punk Rock Bowling Tournament in Las Vegas! Hee-Haw!
So - I'll leave it there for starters, more later... Here's a parting picture to help you look forward to next Thanksgiving - my sister Consuelo and my husband Dave, haggling over the birds. That's Schmuel on the left, kosher (no butter) and Earl on the right. Dave is trying to recover from having shoved an entire stick of butter up under Earl's hide. " 'Appy Cookeeng" as Jacques says!
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