We're back... well, we never technically left. We've just been busy over on facebook. I do like the blog though & will continue to vow to update it regularly. Whether or not that actually happens remains to be seen but my good intentions are there... and who knows, maybe by the time I'm done in here pretending to be busy on the computer, Ross will have the living room clean! A girl can dream!
We have been keeping busy with all of our Christmakkah festivities. It is our greatest joy to share old & new traditions with Ayla. She is really enjoying Hanukkah & Christmas this year!

Tomorrow we head to Monterey for a much needed & deserved family trip. We are staying in a one bedroom cottage in Pacific Grove, a short walk from the Monarch butterfly sanctuary & Asilomar State Beach. We are also going to take Ayla to the aquarium for the first time. We are SOOOO looking forward to it all! We'll post pics & stories soon!

Happy holidays!!!!!!

Ice House Camping Trip

This weekend we headed up to Ice House Reservoir for a little camping. Since this was our first big tent camping adventure of the summer, we figured we'd stick close to home in case Ayla wasn't quite up for it. We had intended to stay at the campsite right on the water but got snaked out of the first come first serve spots. So we ended up at the Ice House Resort campground. The ambiance was a little redneck-ish but we love a good story!

Ayla discovered the dirt right away which was the highest quality El Dorado County silt!

Oh yeah!

Ayla enjoying the tent... we upgraded to a 6 person tent! We had room for all our crap + Ayla's crib. We are now ruined!! Next trip... AIR MATTRESS!!! No matter how much it will hurt Ross' heart. Yes, Mr. Backpacker is now a family man with a wife with a bad back! Ahhhh... I can hear the hiss of the air filling the mattress now!

Who's ready for a game of Koosh catch?

Wait a minute! No cell phones allowed camping, Ayla!!!

Whoever is on the phone must be SUPER funny!

Lunchtime at the campsite... on a monkey plate no less!

View looking up from our camp chairs...

View around us...

Story time in the tent...

Morning walk with speed racer...

Ice House Reservoir...

There's still snow on the peaks...

Ayla & Daddy getting ready for a splash...

She did not want to use her pool float but preferred to wade out into chest deep water... she's a water baby for sure!

Creating with mud...

This is serious business folks!

More of the water...

Enjoying a peach break...

Heaven on Earth!

Aside from disgusting bathrooms, numerous rednecks enjoying their gasoline powered sports, and mangy camp dog begging for food, one of the most charming things about our accommodations was the 8:00 p.m. dump truck run. Instead of there being trash receptacles available throughout the campsite, ONE would be delivered to each individual campsite each evening. If you had anything to throw away any other time of day (including in the bathrooms) you just had to wait until Dump Truck Guy showed up! So funny!!!

Ayla helping Daddy find sticks to use as kindling for the fire...

Ahhh... finally! Baby down to sleep & now it's Mommy & Daddy time...

Ross is such a good boy scout... well actually, he only made it to cub scout... but thank God he earned his fire badge!

Moon through the trees from our campsite...

Ayla & Baby all packed up & ready to head home!

We had a great time & may try to squeeze in another trip before Ross starts back back to school in September. Now that I've committed to blogging again, check back often to see what's new!

Yes, Virginia... there really is a Sourdough & Rye blog...

OK... we REALLY do suck at this blog thing as of late! I have promised Ross & other family members that I will get back into the swing of it!

Please stay posted & we will begin updating again... really... no, seriously!

Update...

Ok, so we've been kind of busy, and FB seems to have taken place of the good ol' blog, but things are happening here at the Gimpel Ranch...


So, Ross finally took his GMAT (the standardized test required for business school admission) on the road to working towards his MBA... Well, let's just say I did better than I hoped and now I might have to figure out how to pay for it! I really got myself worked up over this test and now onward and upward!

Ayla had her 1st Birthday on 4/27, but we celebrated on the 25th. The 25th is also Cindy's b-day, so it was a dual celebration.

We set up on the dining room deck, decorations and flowers by Ali. It was simple yet elegant...

Gerber daisies, 75 degrees and perfect, a very nice day!



Blowing out the candle...



Cake!


Ali and Jamie grew up together and had not seen each other in something like 12 years... With Jamie's daughter Kallie. It was a sweet reuniion, Cindy cried (not a huge surprise).


New ball, pink ball, happy girl!


We gave Ayla a new baby, she LOVES her!

Well, it's been an amazing year and more to come. Thanks to everyone we love for all of the support and smiles!!!


Good night!

A "Little Family" fun!

Here are some pics from our visit with friends Bob, Kim, Jack & Macy (aka the Little Family). We had a great time & can't wait to be together again!

Macy & Ross

Jack & Ayla

Ross, Ayla, Jack & Bob

Dr. Seuss Day & Other Randomness...

Ayla having breakfast...

She loves to feed me Cheerios & Puffs!

Visiting my classroom on Dr. Seuss Day

Squealing with glee during the story...

Hanging with the first graders...

Giving "100% attentive listening"...

Getting to the good part of the story...

Yay for Dr Seuss!!!!!!

Ayla had lunch with Grammy & new friends Makayla & Ryan the other day...

Makayla & Ryan's mommy, Lee, also joined the fun!