You can't force a real smile on your children... You know if you try, they just give you a smile that just doesn't look like a smile. We went to the Santa Cruz County Fair yesterday, and when he got our tickets in his hand... He gave me this smile, and it wasn't the last that evening!

You know, if you want to know if your 4 year old is having a good time... You never get that "I'm tired of walking" or "Can I ride on your shoulders" or wanting you to hold then... And believe me, I NEVER heard it, all night long!

This fair was awesome! It was one of the best I have attended!

This truck ride was my sons favorite... I think he rode it about 10 times!

The Santa Cruz County Fair runs through September 18th, 2011.

-Chris Alston

Watsonville - Search Watsonville Homes

Watsonville is a small farming community in Santa Cruz County with a population of 51,199 according to the 2010 census. The average price for a home in Watsonville is $320,000. The city is home to people of various ethnicities. The economy centers predominantly around the agrigulture and is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and many other vegetables.

The Pajaro Valley temperature averages 60 to 70 degrees year round. Watsonville is an attractive coastal community for the neighboring inland communities with very hot summer temperatures. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District has approximately 18,000 students kindergarten through 12th grades. There are many religious-based schools in Watsonville such as Notre Dame School, Monte Vista Christian, Salesian Sisters and St. Francis. There are also several charter schools and an independent Pre-K through 12th grade Mount Madonna School.

SOQUEL HOME SALES - REAL ESTATE MARKET MID YEAR REPORT

Soquel, CA is located in Santa Cruz County right next to Capitola. Many of the homes for sale in Soquel are located in the foothills of Santa Cruz and have a rural character. Soquel Village is a filled with Antique Shops and has historical buildings. Let's take a look at Soquel home sales from the first part of 2011.

There have been 27 Soquel homes sales so far this year (January 1st to June 1st 2011)

The average price of a Soquel home sale in this period was $612,000. This is higher than Santa Cruz County as a whole where the median home sale price in April 2011 was $455,000.

The highest priced Soquel home sale was a 6000 square foot home set on 10 acres on Rodeo Gulch, it sold for $2,200,000!

The lowest priced Soquel home sale 2 bedroom short sale that sold all cash for $240,000.

Currently (as of June 1st, 2011) there are 35 active homes for sale in Soquel ranging in price from 2.8 million dollars to $300,000. Contact me for a current list of Soquel homes for sale and more information about Soquel neighborhoods and Soquel Real Estate Market conditions.

Watsonville Snow Days

Watsonville kids are in for a treat once again as the Watsonville Snow Days is set for this Friday December 3rd. The event is set to start at 4 and run until 7. The site of the festivities is the town plaza on Main Street by Beach Street. So bring the kids, dressed up for winter, with their gloves and hat as I am sure everyone is going to want to frolic in the snow and maybe build a snowman.

There will be all sorts of things for kids to do: a petting zoo, some arts and crafts activities, and of course snow. Hot chocolate will be served to warm up those cold souls. So dig into your pantry, get a few( at least 2, more is better) cans of food and enjoy. Be sure to bring your camera with a flash as there will be great photo opportunities to get photos and make Christmas cards from them. At least I am sure your relatives would love a card you personally made with a great photo.

Admission is 2 cans of food from your pantry for the Second Harvest Food Bank.

SYMPHONY HOME TOUR SANTA CRUZ

The Symphony League of Santa Cruz is hosting a Symphony Home Tour on December 3rd & 4th. The Santa Cruz Symphony League is a group of volunteers that organizes fundraisers to support the Santa Cruz County Symphony. Proceeds of the Santa Cruz Symphony Home Tour will benefit the Santa Cruz Symphony.

One of the homes featured on the Symphony Home Tour will be a lovely Historic estate built in 1860 located in Watsonville.

Participants in the Symphony Home Tour will be able to view many lovely homes including this historic Watsonville home. It is a private oasis in central Watsonville set on 1 acre filled with lush, manicured gardens, walking paths, sitting areas, gazebo and pool.

Inside this historic home is vintage 1860 for the most part. Original oak floors throughout the home compliment the fine mouldings and trim handcarved decades ago. The living area with paneled ceiling is like walking into the past with the high bookshelves and old pictures on the wall.

This is just one of the homes you can see on the Santa Cruz Symphony Home Tour. Visit here for more information about the Symphony League of Santa Cruz.