I just returned from a family trip to Joshua Tree National Park in southern California.  Gunther, Eliza, Anders, Auggie and I drove down to visit  Eliza's Uncle Louie and Aunt Marie in Chino Hills.  The next day we continued on to 29 Palms Inn (established in 1928!)  We each had separate cabins on the property--built on the Oasis of Mara many years ago, and recently refurbished.  It was really great.   The town of 29 Palms is right on the edge of the part, so we drove in several times and feasted our eyes on the bounty of wildflowers and blooming cactic.  It was utterly peaceful and quiet--perfect weather in the 70's and low 80's.

Gunther went on a 50 mile bike ride (in headwinds) to keep up his training for the 100 mile Tour de Cure he is doing in May to benefit the American Diabetes Association.

On Friday we drove through the park one last time, visited the General Patton museum (the kids wanted to see the tanks) and then on to Studio City to stay with Sigrid, Jim, Trevor, and Chloe.

On Saturday we took all the kids to the Skirball Center to the Noah's Ark exhibit--really a wild time for the kids--climbing around all these wonderful fantasy animals made of recycled materials (think of an alligator made out of a guitar case and a rubber tire for a tail.)

Home again, and catching up.