What were we thinking

WW: baseball and bey blade b'day

2012-02-01T12:09:00.000-08:00

We had a beautiful day on Sunday.

Warm weather for playing ball and eating outside!

My Knabb side came over to celebrate Jack's 6th b'day.

So we had a great game of baseball going, bey blade playing and soup!

Angry bird shirt that Jack can not wait to wear!

Showing Uncle Jake and Diana his bey blade moves...

Apparently, the beys go better when you stick your arms behind you!

Happy 6th Birthday Jack!

2012-01-26T12:43:00.000-08:00

I can not believe that my first born is 6 today!

Where did the time go!

He is such a smart, funny, conscientious,

little guy. Tonight we are celebrating by going out to a Chinese restaurant Uncle Bill and Auntie Kate and this weekend we are having more family over for a b'day lunch in his honor and then in February the kids party at SC gymnastics...it is like the birthday that lasts for a month!

He is well loved!

WW: boy in a hole

2012-01-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

It is great to live in California in the winter.

It can be even nicer then summer!

Light sabors...all the rage

2012-01-21T19:25:00.000-08:00

You know, I have never been a big star wars fan.

Sure, the first movie was good, but I think I pretended to like them to impress the boys.

And well, boys are the ones that love it.

Jack knows EVERYTHING about star wars...and he has never even seen it!

And they ask incessant questions about star wars in which I do not have any answers!

Luke is too afraid to watch the movie which is fine with me.

Anyway, since Christmas, we have a lot of light sabors and they are a lot of fun!

(and so far, no one has been injured by a light sabor which I find amazing)!

Carmel in Dec

2012-01-19T21:19:00.000-08:00

Okay, I promise that this is the last of my December pictures that I am going to post!

But it was such a beautiful day in Carmel!

We had lunch on the beach.

Grandpa Ron guarded our stuff from the brave and hungry birds and squirrels!

I was taking a picture of the Pebble Beach golf course and wish I knew who this couple was to send them a copy!

The boys....always on the move!

This is one of my brother and his fiancee's favorite places to go in Carmel...they turned me on to it and I can't wait to go back! The Cheese Shop If you are in Carmel and you even slightly like cheese....you must go!

They have lots of samples and a very friendly staff.

We sampled (and bought) the most amazing truffled cheese - not quite like the one Jake and Diana brought over one night but equally amazing!

I even got my pix taken there behind the counter!

Road trip up north

2012-01-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

It was a dark and stormy night...

okay, this picture was in Dec.

So far, January has been BEAUTIFUL!

but cold.

We headed out to the pigeon point light house.

It is under construction, now we know.

And it was a super foggy day. We had 2 days like that in all of Dec!

Even under construction, it is a beautiful place to visit.

The rough and tumble ocean, and the giant light house!

Then we headed to Pescadero for some Harley Farm cheese

If you are ever in the neighborhood, you must go!

Lots of samples of yummy cheese!

We bought two!

Long Marine Lab

2012-01-13T19:14:00.000-08:00

I know....bad blogger...but I have been incredibly busy.

Work has kicked into high gear
and the boys are still rather active!

Santa Cruz has been particularly beautiful the last 2 months.

Tho we really need the rain!

So these are still from our christmas break when my inlaws visited.

We took them to the Long Marine Lab...

at least the outside of it, since it was closed.

It is a beautiful research lab for marine biology at UCSC.

It was an amazingly gorgeous day!

More Grandparent pix!

2012-01-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

Still around Christmas as I did not get all of my pix posted!

Grandma Honey reading The Grinch to the boys.

This year it is one of Luke's favorites.

Playing play-doh with Grandpa Ron...

He is enjoying it as much as the boys!

A little fake snow on xmas eve with Grandma Trish and Gpa Danger.

Sure does seem like the boys love messy things!

WW: Grandparent games

2012-01-03T20:38:00.000-08:00

These are all from before Christmas, but still good!

Jack has learned to play checkers and roped his grandpa in to a few games.

While Luke plays candy land with Grandma!

Jack takes the game very seriously!

Steam train ride

2012-01-02T12:01:00.000-08:00

I love this before and after picture of Luke and Loren on the train.

Makes me laugh!

We live across the street from Roaring Camp in Felton, CA

We visit quite often, but this is the first time we have ridden the train.

It was not intentional.

Luke was supposed to go with Gpa Ron...

Tickets were purchased.

Loren and I showed up to take pictures of them on the train and walk the redwood loop only

to find Luke refusing to go on the train....

He would only go with Loren, so away they went.

Another family had a son get sick so the mom had to stay back with him.

So I got a free ticket. As soon as Jack saw that I was on the train with Luke and Loren, he decided he was no longer afraid and came aboard.

Now Luke wants to go with Grandpa...

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

One, two, three let her rip!

I am ready for a new year!

It is a beautiful day in sunny California and we have just about finished putting Christmas away.

I will have a lot of more pictures in future posts (and I will try to be a better blogger!)

We had a mellow NYE with just the 4 of us, champagne for us and sparkling cider for the boys.

Of course that was for dinner. The boys were in bed by 8.

We did stay up and welcomed in the new year...by going immediately to sleep!

Happy 2012 everyone!

Back to the butterflies

2011-12-30T19:32:00.000-08:00

We have been having some wonderful weather.

My in laws had been visiting for the holiday and sadly went home today,

but I have lots of pictures of things we did.

We took them to Natural Bridges State park to see the Monarchs.

I knew my Mom in law would love to see them!

There were more then when Jack and I went on his field trip!

Notice ole scar face, Luke.

He had a run in with a fig tree (or so he says).

and then there was Christmas

2011-12-30T09:42:00.000-08:00

It was like santa's sleigh exploded in our living room...again!

The most powerful beyblades and more light sabors...along with water guns and many things I still haven't uncovered.

Then we went to my mom's for a lovely brunch!

and dueling pianos!

More presents!

xmas eve

2011-12-28T20:24:00.000-08:00

So, lately I have been a terrible blogger....

we have been so busy and i keep forgetting my camera.

I will try to make it up to you!

This is xmas eve!

The boys are making "snow" and I am trying not to freak out because of the mess!

This is our well decorated house and we did get a visit this xmas eve from Santa on a fire truck!

Jack went on top of the fire truck and Luke was surprisingly afraid.

We always spend xmas eve with my in laws, my Dad, Trish, Jake and Diana.

Good times and good food!

I must say that these boys are spoiled to death!

It was crazy with toys even before Santa arrived!

Dad with his video and rum and coke in a wine glass!

and the boys playing games along with the beloved light sabors!

Ginger bread house

2011-12-19T20:36:00.000-08:00

We picked up this gingerbread house a week or so ago...and I was asked many times per day...when are we going to make it! Finally we did!

They took the job of decorating very seriously!

As well as seeing how many candies they could get in their mouths!

Now all they want to do is eat it! (And it really doesn't taste all that great)

I added candy corn to it because we have a lot left over from Halloween,

not very xmasy, but quite tasty!

It doesnt look all that great either, but it was fun to do!

I do need to work on my gingerbread decorating skills!

WW: Christmas tree hunting

2011-12-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

It is fun to go out as a family and hunt down our tree.

A tradition that started last year.

Loren had pretty much been opposed to the cutting of trees for decorative purposes...but the kids have cured him of that!

It was a beautiful day and I like to think we are helping the local economy at Crest Christmas tree farm

We hunted high and low and finally chose a tree that I promptly thought was too small...but what do you do with an already cut tree but take it home.

Loren put it up on cinder blocks and my grandma's tree skirt hides them.

Now the boys can have a train under the tree!

This ALWAYS reminds me of the last year we did this as a family when I was a teenager...

Found the perfect tree, put it on top of Neal's mustang, headed out on 17...

It got loose, fell off and got run over by a semi truck...

They went out and bought one a Longs or some lot that night,

and we never cut down a tree after that!

Luckily, we have a van, so the tree is safely inside!

Water beads

2011-12-09T15:58:00.000-08:00

Water beads are cool but not aqua dots as I had previously thought they were.

Apparently aqua dots have something in them that cause seizures in children!!!!!

So we are all about the water beads.

You can get them at any craft store and they are little teeny, tiny dots,

but when you put them in water...and wait 4 hours.

They start to change!

And grow, and get bouncy and gooshy!

See how they are getting bigger!

They feel really neat! - soft and rubbery. They are a polymer, if you know what that is (i have no clue).

I found this idea on a mommy blog and wish I could link to it, but I can't remember which one it was.

Here is a link to the water beads in action

They are only a problem when they tip over and roll EVERYWHERE!

My how time flies!

2011-12-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

I tried to get the boys to reenact this picture, but it didn't go so well.

Now they are hams!

And do not like to be posed!

These are from Thanksgiving at my Dad's house.

While I did not get a black Friday laptop, (black Friday seemed way over rated this year with hardly any good deals) Loren finally found me a suitable new one so I am back in the blogging world.

Now I just need more time! Our power was out for 3 days due to the high winds, my building at work was occupied for 2 days, the holidays are coming and cookies need to be made and presents found. Hard to find a spare moment!

WW: lighted boat parade

2011-12-07T11:23:00.000-08:00

We are back in action with the lighted boat parade!

Earlier fishing...

2011-11-18T12:52:00.000-08:00

Some how blogger ate my post...so here it is again.

You all will be seeing lots of older pix that never got posted now as

my computer has decided that it does not want any more picutres in it...

so I can not download any.

Here is hoping for some good black friday sales to get me a new, fancier one!

Wish us luck or I may never get to update the blog.

Anyway, these shots were taken a few weeks ago at Lake Chabot,

where we continue to have no luck.

I really think that they are not stocking the lake, but just telling us that they did!

But it is a beautiful fall morning!

And my husband was determined to catch a fish.

My brother has fished here all his like, and I don't think he has ever caught anything!

I like that I get to sit down and read a magazine for a bit in between feeding the boys pirate booty and...

The world's best breakfast sandwiches made by my husband!

Delicious egg, bacon and cheese!

WW: CA fall beauty

2011-11-15T21:18:00.000-08:00

I must say that Arnold, CA was beautiful!

The reflection in the water was amazing!

Happy WW!

Random fishing

2011-11-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

Luke has the most energy and enthusiasm of any boy I know.
He doesn't take to fishing too well, because he has lots to do.
Swinging on fences.

Watching Daddy bait the hook.

More hook baiting...
Boys are pretty good at losing their worms.

Jack fishing on a rock.

And Luke giving fishing a try, again.
He does love to cast!
And he is pretty good at it!

Fishing in Arnold

2011-11-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

We spent the long weekend up in Forest Meadows with Auntie Kate and Uncle Bill.

We fished for 2 days.

On both sides of this lake.
The first day was a bummer...

But it sure was beautiful!

The next day proved to be much, much better.

Loren finally caught not just one trout, but 3 trout!
He was ecstatic!
And we went home and cooked them up for dinner...along with a nice pot roast.

Unfortunately, the boys didn't catch anything...and they lost interest in fishing pretty early on.
Luckily, this lake had lots of fun places for the boys to explore.
And, I got to read a magazine!

Monarch butterfly field trip

2011-11-10T08:04:00.000-08:00

I got to go on Jack's field trip to Natural Bridges State Park to see the butterflies!

He really could have cared less that I was there...he had fun with his friends!

So I got to do some socialized with other parents.

It was very nice.

And, I learned a lot about these amazing Monarchs!

I can tell a boy from a girl, and that they only eat milkweed and who new that hey shed there skin 4 times before becoming butterfly!

It was a beautiful day!

Natural Bridges

Hard to see them, but they are in there.
The kids had fun looking,

WW: playdate # 2

2011-11-08T20:23:00.000-08:00

The second play date of saturday was an afternoon/evening.
5 boys!

The oldest was a bit bored...

And then we did make your own pizza....
It was yummy!
Craziness until movie time, but lots of fun.
And our neighbors will watch ours next time!

Playdate # 1

2011-11-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

We double booked our play dates on Saturday.
The first one was Jonathan who brought his bey blades.
Oh the beloved bey blades.

For those of you without young boys, bey blades are all the rage right now.
It is kind of a fancy top that they kids battle...
We don't have any yet, but Santa has been alerted.

I tried to get them outside and they did for a little bit.
First they played on the play structure and then bamboo sticks were used.
Unfortunately, Luke whacked Jonathan with a stick on his cheek...
Poor kid had quite a welt on his cheek so we'll see if Jonathan gets to come play at our house again.

I hope so! Besides the stick, we had a fun time.
I got to do my first bey blades battle!

poppers

2011-11-06T14:57:00.000-08:00

These half off Halloween toys provided lots of entertainment for the boys (yeah!!!)

Press them down and wait for them to pop in the air.

Take bets on which one will go the highest...

Good simple fun!

Can you say...ham

2011-11-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

Luke, in his favorite shirt, being Luke.
(If these shirts ever come up on woot.com again...we need more. This one is dirty as he always wears it and he is not neat!)

He is a seriously funny guy!

WW: Journals

2011-11-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

Here the boys are writing in their journals...something we really need to get back in the habit of.
It had been well over 8 months...
(They really aren't doing the writing...just the decorating)

Luke is still rocking the spider man slippers.

Bonus:
And here is one of Luke being cute on the giant tire by jack's gym class.
We MUST look at it every time I take him to class.

happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T14:19:00.000-07:00

This is Jack's gymnastics class

And then his classroom

And the school parade...

We are very into halloween this year and we havent' even gone trick or treating yet!

More pumpkin cutting

2011-10-30T16:01:00.000-07:00

Jack helped Gma Trish cut the pumpkin.

And he pulled out the lid...but that was the extend of his touching the inside!
These pumkins had lots of seed so we had lots of yummy roasted pumkin seeds!

Here is daddy carving it under Luke's watchful eye.

And then we have carved pumpkins
(which sadly didn't last...they are all moldy and yucky on the deck right now!)

Luke and the pumpkin

2011-10-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

We brought our pumpkins to my dad's last week for carving!

Gma trish came over to help.

Luke was super excited about getting his hands dirty to pull out the slime!

Jack was not...

It was an improvement from last year when Luke refused to do it.

Im not sure that Jack will ever scoop out a pumpkin (he'll hire someone!)

Luke helped me get all the seeds out! Yummy!

Somehow I got the job of being the official pumpkin cleaner outer...not my fave job.

More carving pix later!

My wonderful husband got the modem up and running!

Lack of posts

2011-10-26T13:01:00.001-07:00

Well, we have run in to a problem with our modem...so now that I have a bunch of new pix to share..I can not access the internet at home. After much time with Loren on the phone to AT&T, they are sending us a free replacement. So hope to be in business by the end of the week!

WW: art

2011-10-19T14:25:00.000-07:00

Here fishy fishy

2011-10-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

This is the most ugly, crazy looking fish in the whole world!
It is a sunfish.

Anyone who really know me, knows that I am petrified of fish,
and have to say that this sunfish really freaks me out!

But I really do like the school of sardines!
(and Loren wants to eat them!)

The Monterey Bay Aquarium recently acquired its 6th great while..
I tried to get a pix of it, but he pretty much stayed on the top of the tank!

Crazy sardines!

MBA

2011-10-16T17:09:00.000-07:00

Any guesses where we went to day?!
We hadn't been in awhile so it was great to go!

Boys and the peanuts

2011-10-13T19:53:00.000-07:00

Great America is all about Snoopy and the peanuts characters now.

We happened upon this just in time for pictures and candy.

The characters were doing trick or treats.
Really they would have nothing to do with it until they discovered that they could get candy out of it!
And good for us that once they ate one piece and I put the rest in the back pack...they forgot about it!

This was the coolest Snoopy ever!
He was done doing photo ops when we go there, but made an exception for the boys.
He also high fived all of us, grown ups included.
Thanks, Snoopy!

WW: the swing

2011-10-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest, I really, really wanted to go on this ride.
I had to have a kid go with me and Luke was too short (he wanted to go)
and Jack was tall enough, but didn't want to go.
Thankfully, my wonderful husband talked him into it!

We both loved it!

JDRF walk a thon

2011-10-10T19:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had a perfect day!
We did the Juvenile diabetes walk a thon in the morning with Trish,
and then spent the day in Great America,
and then had dinner with Bill and Kate.

Great America was all decked out for Halloween!
SPOOKY!

Here we are at the start of the 1.5 mile walk around the park.
The boys did great with the walk tho it took Luke a bit to warm up.
Way to many people for him!

He didn't even want any breakfast or sword balloon!

Took awile for the clouds to lift!

super butt

2011-10-06T07:38:00.000-07:00

A parent at Loren's school gave the boys this cool matchbox cars toys.

Lots of fun and arguing for the boys.

I just love these superman pj bottoms that Luke is wearing!

Such a cute bottom!

Potluck

2011-10-03T17:47:00.000-07:00

They boys have been greatly anticipating Luke's preschool pot luck!
Everyday for the past few weeks.. "Mom is it the potluck?"
Not like they really eat anything anyway.

They did a few songs for us....
Luke was front and center, very cute!

He really is quite the ham with his deep loud voice!

Dinner and a movie

2011-10-01T17:56:00.000-07:00

We had our neighbor boys over for dinner and a movie last night.
So that their parents could go out for a grown up dinner.
They did the same for us a few weeks ago.
We really have the most awesome neighbors!

We were a little worried how the littlest boy would do since he is only 2, but he did great!
He is so cute!
Luke really liked him too, and wanted him to sit next to him for the movie.
He looks like he is sleeping in the pictures, but he really didnt like the flash!

I have no idea why Luke has such a funny face..

They really only looked all enthralled with the TV for 10 minutes, then Jack and Luke stayed watching the movie,
but the other boys played with the boy's toys.
Toys are much more fun when they belong to someone else!

WW: Jump

2011-09-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

In honor of Van Halen....It is the "Jump" addition of WW.

Lots of fun in the pool...and many floating devises!

The ride

2011-09-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

We let the boys pick one ride to go on before we left the fair...
And this is what they (Jack) chose...
Not the mini roller coaster or the fun maze with the giant slide...

But the worlds s l o w e s t train.

Seriously, it was painful to watch and it went around the track so many times...

But they had fun...and that is what matters!

Santa Cruz County fair

2011-09-25T18:00:00.000-07:00

Yee haw, last weekend we went to the fair with Uncle Bill and Auntie Kate.
The boys got to milk a pretend cow.

Check out the chickens.

Feed the animals.
(Luke was not having anything to do with feeding the animals....to scary!)

And check out the giant pumpkins! These would make a ton of pies!

WW: bubbles

2011-09-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

At long last, Sept 19 to be exact, summer has arrived...just in time for Fall.

Temps are high and all is good...just wish my ear would stop ringing...
and I could get the boys to go to sleep!

Stitches...again

2011-09-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned earlier...Luke got another round of 4 stitches.
He was racing a car, not looking where he was going and crashed into an umbrella stand.
The umbrella stand won. Luke's eyebrow did not.

He says that he won't run with out looking again (yeah, right).
Nor did he want to smile for the camera...
But I am loving the hair with the safety ear protection.
This is his second round of stitches...he had 4 on his hand when he was 18 months old and fell on something sharp in the back yard. We never could find what it was

And it looks like he has a light saber - he wishes!

Hello

2011-09-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

Hi, I promise to be back later with more fun pictures, but these past few weeks have been kicking my butt! And my computer doesn't want me to down load new pix till I get more memory...or something like that. I am STILL having ear problems but no time to get to a dr again. Luke got his stitches out and is still as rambunctious as ever. 4 stitches certainly does not slow that kid down. Jack is still liking Kindergarten, tho I am not loving the late arrival to work. And working a bit at home, when I don't really have time too is challenging. Loren leaves for his beach trip next week, but thankfully I am getting some extra family help to make it all happen. UCSC has opened up for the Fall and it is a ginormous amount of cars and people not knowing where they are going messing up the people who do know where they are going. I am happy that I do not have to work this weekend, like I did last weekend. It is hard to keep all the balls in the air when I really just want to take a nap, (or play on my hp touchpad). xoxo

WW: yikes

2011-09-06T21:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, this has nothing to do with Jack looking pensive...
nor will it be wordless.
but, just wanted to let you all know why I haven't posted in awhile.
No pix because we have all be so freaking sick.
Not the boys, thank goodness, but Loren and I.
Sheesh. I am so over this. I have been sick for ages and thought that I might be getting better...
But no....Saturday night at midnight I woke up in incredible ear pain...i even cried.
Instead of going to the SF Giants game with Jake and Diana,
I went to urgent care. So disappointing.
They diagnosed me with an ear infection and I must say that it is the 3rd most
painful thing that I have experienced..
Now I know how babies feel! OUCH!
Before all of this happened, Loren got major sick...on Wednesday I had to pick him up from his work and take him to the Dr...
Asthma, vertigo and a sinus infection.
Evil sinus infection because I think that this is causing us to be sick!
We are both so tired of this!
However, I do think that we are keeping Kleenex in business!
Please send good wishes for health because it is something I haven't seen since July!
Sorry for the vent, but its just what going on!

Bowling

2011-09-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

This was the boys first time bowling (at Duncan's b'day party)
and my second time.
The first time I bowled was when my mom and step dad were dating...a million years ago when I was 10.
I have not improved since then, but it was a lot of fun!
Loren didn't bowl cuz he was/is still sick.
(he went to the Dr yesterday and was diagnosed with vertigo, a sinus infection and severe asthma - great - but is on the road to recovery now)

The kids had bumper up.
I would like bumpers too!

Jack loved it! Luke did not...till we were almost done and then he decided to give it a try.
Definitely something we want to do again soon!

WW: hug

2011-08-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Check out the 5 year old moves Jack has...putting his arm around his sweetie!

Field trip to Natural Bridges

2011-08-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, we went on a field trip with the boys preschool
to Natural Bridges State Beach.

We didn't go anywhere near the water with all these kids!

We did, however, play with magnets in the sand.

Who knew that there was so much black iron ore in the sand!
(I did have to google that because I didn't know what it was called and black magnetic stuff didn't seem like a very clear term!)
It was pretty fun tho!

Last of Luke's party

2011-08-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

We definitely should have waited for this weekend to have the party because it is beautiful here now!
One of the activities for the party was for the kids to make yak.
I found the recipe and Loren showed the kids

I now have more borax then I have ever needed (and I have never needed it)
Anyone have any crafty uses for it?

And the boys stealing chips while almost landing on the cake!

Luke's party

2011-08-25T20:16:00.000-07:00

Enough about this kindergarten stuff...
back to Luke's party!

After cake were the presents!

Lots and lots of cars!

And a little girl beating up my dad!

And another giving hugs...
This poor girl was playing with one of the remote control cars and got it stuck in her lovely, long hair!
It took 5 grown ups to get it out - they had to take apart the car and then still had to cut a bit of her hair.
She was quite the trouper...but I don't think she'll want to play at our house anymore.
Too many cars!

WW: 2nd day of Kindergarten

2011-08-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was such a zoo getting Jack to school and none of my pix turned out..
so I am going with a 2nd day of school picture.
We got there very early today!
He is in Mrs Bricken K-1 combo class with 2 of his favorite friends from pre-school.
Yeah Jack!

Happy Birthday Lukey!

2011-08-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

My baby turns 4 today...and my oldest baby started kindergarten...
it was an emotional and draining day!

Here are a few pix of Luke's happy birthday song...with more to follow!

Isn't he the cutest kid ever!
It was a fun party!

Jack did great at kindergarten, but we underestimated the parking at the school and Jack was late for his 1st class!
It was a zoo out there...Loren had to drop me and Jack off to park and we rushed to his classroom where everyone was in circle time.
I couldn't even get a pix at the door! But I did take a pix of his door which, once I get it off the camera, I'll show you all!

More fishing

2011-08-15T16:28:00.000-07:00

All I can say is that this has been a cold summer (not counting today, which is pretty warm).
And we were freezing when we were fishing!

My poor dad wore shorts and complained the whole time!
I ran up and down the stairs to keep warm.

This is the pier we fished off last time...moving spots didnt really help.

But it was still a fun morning!

Here fishy, fishy

2011-08-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

So once again we tried our luck at fishing at Lake Chabot...

And once again we were not successful...

They saw a few fish in the water, and heard a few jump...but none took our bait.

As much as fish freak me out...I do hope they catch one soon!

Little Chefs

2011-08-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

Since Loren has been home for the summer he has been doing more of the cooking, including making pizza dough!
And the boys love to help!

They are mastering their pizza making skills now by rolling out and topping their own personal pizzas.
They love to get their hands dirty.

They make yummy Canadian bacon and pineapple pizza and
Loren makes me garlic, clam and shrimp pizza.
It is out of this world!

Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but I am suffering from a nasty sinus infection and not up for pix taking and post writing...

Happy Anniversary!

2011-08-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

6 years ago we go married!
Best day ever!!

And now, my wonderful mom and neal are keep the boys for 2 whole days and nights...yippee!!!

However, I just got back from Urgent Care...and yes I do have a sinus infection...
Besides that we are having a lovely, relaxing day!

Random summer

2011-08-04T20:14:00.000-07:00

Okay, I am having problem down loading new pix....
I either need a new computer or more memory and we haven't decided which is the best move yet.
So pix everything since going on vacation has lacked....
And I pretty much have been sick since we got back from vacation so I'm not much into taking pix...
My sense of smell is gone as well as my sense to taste!
I am not liking it!

A nice pix of Gloria and Uncle Wes

Linda helping Luke across the jungle gym.

And Jack doing it all by his self. He is becoming such a big kid!

ww: four square

2011-08-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

Loren took it upon himself to teach the boys (and the neighbor boys) how to play 4 square.
I loved to play it as a kid, but for the life of me do not remember how to play.

Its been a slow learning curve...but he says that Luke is the best, so far.
So long as he gets his hands out of his pants!

Road trip way home

2011-08-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

One of our stops from Jennie's to my dad's was in Redding.
Thankfully, it was in the mid 80's...not the 108 it usually is in the summer.

We went to the sundial bridge...it is very big!
And accurate...pretty cool!

The Sacramento River was a flowing!

and the boys loved throwing rocks in it!

Visit with my Ninnie

2011-07-28T18:24:00.000-07:00

My best friend and I hardly ever get to see each other.
She lives in Eugene, OR and me in CA, but we have been best friends since 6th grade.
She moved to Michigan in 9th grade, but we still remained close with letters and visits.
When we see each other it is as if we never left each other, even when it has been 2 years.
They say you can not pick your family, but It hink you can and I pick her (and her family - she's got an awesome family)!

Jennie runs a day care business out of her house and the boys LOVE visiting because there are tons of new toys to play with.
And Jennie has angry birds, so Jack will love her forever!

Can't wait to see you again, Ninnie!

WW: Oregon road trip

2011-07-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

One of a few stops we made on our way to visit my BFF, Jennie, in Eugene!
A cool salmon ladder.
Under the ground we could see a guy counting all the fish go by.
It is amazing how fast and strong the salmon are to make it up the ladder!

One of the many dams we saw.

More fish, trout this time.

and a GIANT 420 pound sturgeon!
"Bigger than a human" Jack says!

Last spokane post

2011-07-25T14:02:00.000-07:00

And then we left.
It was very sad to say goodbye.

After bike riding, mole wacking,

jungle gym swing and book reading...
It was a very good visit!

Sliding around

2011-07-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

This is still the park by my in laws in Spokane.

It has the great bike jumps and 3 play structures!

For hours of little boy (and superhero) fun!

Water park fun in Spokane

2011-07-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

This place is right near my in laws and it is a great place to cool down.

Took forever to get the boys in it but Jack is partial to the water guns.

Luke wearing swim goggles found a good place to stand to avoid getting wet!

Squirt guns and angry birds!

2011-07-21T20:02:00.000-07:00

While the weather was nice, the boys had lots of water blaster fights!

They were awesome and the boys could easily handle them.
(Poor Uncle Wes and Grandpa - Grandpa went thru 4 shirts one day!)

and then there is angry birds...Jack will drop EVERYTHING for angry birds!
Here he is with Aunt Mary, after getting Uncle Wes and Grandpa Ron very wet!

slippy slide with a hill

2011-07-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

Another fun thing at Grandma Honey's house.
Double slippy slide with a hill!

Jack did it for awhile till he tried to surf down and fell off and got "hurt"

But Luke slided on!
We had great weather except for the last 2 day of rain!
Us California folks are not so used to rain in the summer - tho this year has been the exception!

WW: Catching air!

2011-07-19T22:02:00.000-07:00

hanging at gma's!

2011-07-19T18:16:00.000-07:00

My computer has been out of commision...need more memory or something like that, but I will have tons of pix of our vacation eventually.

Before and after with Uncle Wes!

Playing legos

Hanging out out grandma honey and grampa ron's house!
(not the correct date in the pix - not my camera, but pix by Luke!)

Ice Cream!

2011-07-14T16:20:00.000-07:00

This was a big day!

We do not have ice cream truck in our neighborhood!

and it hit the spot!

WW: first marshmallow roast

2011-07-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

We actually had to borrow marshmallows from a neighbor camper.
We went to 2 stores and they were all out and store at thousand trails was out till Friday!

Camping pt 2

2011-07-12T09:44:00.000-07:00

See all the monster rvs in the background?
Loren did a fabulous job manning the camping stove!
We ate very well!

The one thing that we were not prepared for was how cold it was at night.
We just bought the boys new sleeping bags so they were snug as a bug in a rug...
but not so much for us.
The morning we left at 630 am it was 37 degrees!

And this wonderful pool is not heated!
The campground has 3 pools and a hot tub.
One for families, one for adults and one for kids under 5 years old.
I heard that the adult pool was heated...and it looked lovely and with hardly any one in it.
The family pool could get rather crowded.

They boys make friends with quite a few other kids and loved when we said "go play".
Bike riding, mud pie making, tag, hide and seek.
It was great because we could keep an eye on them at all times and they had tons of room to play!

Jelly Belly tour

2011-07-11T19:28:00.000-07:00

On our way out of town, we checked out the jelly belly factory in Fairfield, CA

jelly belly factory

We stopped there last time we drove to spokane!
This time the line for the tour was forever....so we didn't do it.

But we sampled lots of jelly beans and bought the belly flops!

4th of July fireworks!

2011-07-11T12:56:00.000-07:00

We bought a few snakes and one volcano fireworks...
They are not legal in Castro Valley so we weren't able to do much.

Which was probably a good thing because Luke really, really did not like them!
But, Jack and I enjoyed watching them all over the bay area from my dad's balcony!

family vacation part 1

2011-07-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

So here is the beginning of the trip - since I haven't had the internet it will be a bit belated.
First we went to my dad's to do a color me mine project of painting bowls and plates.
Jack loved it, but Luke was a little impatient (and heavy handed with the black paint!)
I took him outside to run around.

Then the Castro Valley water park!
Yeah for all the rain we have had - the last 2 years this park was closed due to drought!

And then a little fun in the hot tub showing off their swimming skills!

Camping part 1

2011-07-09T17:35:00.000-07:00

We made it to Sunriver, OR for camping at thousand trails Bend and had a fabulous time.
Minus the time that Jack broke the glow stick and flung it in his eye.
Thankfully, glow sticks are not toxic - but we didn't learn that till later..

Here is the view from my spot in the tent the first morning.

and the messy boys side.
Many people commented on how large our tent was, but that is because everyone else all had RVs.
I have never seen so many satellite antennas in my life which I really think is not camping!

We also made it to spokane after a very long drive...but more camping pix to come!

Road trip part 2

2011-07-06T08:06:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't post road trip part one, but I will.
This is what happened on our drive to Redding.
It was 105 degrees and poor Loren had to unload the car to get to the spare, figure out how to get the spare out from under the car,

And then change the tire and put all the stuff back, plus the busted tire...
Did I mention how HOT it is?!

And then the joy of finding a place that carries a new tire...costco does not!
but, America's Tire in Redding was great and had us in the hotel pool in no time.
Because now it is 108 and our car air conditioner just quit.

slip n slide

2011-07-02T22:16:00.000-07:00

Alright, it has been way hot here...breaking out the slip n slide.

They are loving it!
I'd like to try it too!

Auntie Kate's new toy!

2011-06-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

A tire swing!

sprinklers!

2011-06-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

Not many posts this week...way too much going on.

I have been having a tooth problem that will result in a hopefully a sinus infection and more drastically an implant... I spent tueday at various dentists and want to put a plug in for

Dr. Neal Smith

Okay, he had to refer me out, but he is a great dentist!

And yesterday was the retirement party for 3 (count em 3 out of 7) senior evals in the office.

We are so screwed is out new motto!

Juli and I now are International Evaluation....

It was a very emotional day and I am very happy for the retirees, but will sorely miss them.

Back to the family blog...Last weekend was some good weather and we finally brought out the sprinklers!

It was cold and rainly on tuedsay...this weather is so strange!

The boys had swim lessons in the rain with poor Loren having to find shelter near by.

I am much happier with the sun shine!

Jack and Vaulting Vern

2011-06-26T15:57:00.000-07:00

Up, up and over!
Finally I am able to get better pix of gymnastics...
my new camera rocks!

We have had to rush the past 2 Tuesdays to get Jack from gymnastics at 4:45 to swimming at 5.
We are usually late, but still they get some swim time in.
Unfortunately, by the time we got there, he was done on the trampoline.

But here you can see him flip!
Vargas Academy rocks!

young explorers

2011-06-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

Hide the cars is always a hit at grandpa dick's house and tends to keep the boys out of the pond.

They tend to destroy everything in their path...

and already broke the pond so they are not allowed up there anymore.

but it is still a draw.

(You don't want to have one of these pine cones hit you on the head! - ouch)

Play ball!

2011-06-22T20:55:00.000-07:00

Thankfully, we have a giant back yard!

This is where the garden used to be...for now it is for baseball and soon to be for chickens!
Yeah, eggs!

And a trampoline!
Soon we will have the play structure back (after we take out one more tree...)

WW: More fishing

2011-06-21T20:00:00.000-07:00

More pix from our fishing expedition at Lake Chabot.
It was cool the first morning and roasting the second!
Lake Chabot is a great place to visit if you are even in Castro Valley, CA!

first time fishing

2011-06-21T15:37:00.000-07:00

Over Fathers day we (Loren) took the boys fishing.
The first day we went with my dad and trish and the next day just dad.

They look all peaceful...hahahhaha

The boys did pretty good the first day, but the next was a little more unsettled.
Luke threw his pole in the water while trying to cast and grandpa had to fish it out.
I took Luke to the potty like 5 times (and the potty was not close.)

They basically like to cast...and yell and run on the deck,
not surprisingly, we didnt catch anything.
but is was still fun and hopefully the boys will grow in to it.

At long last...swim lessons

2011-06-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

Finally, we (loren with my prodding) got the boys in swim lessons at Cougar Swim School at the local high school.
I could not be more pleased...as well as Jack who loves it.

His teacher Brad is amazing and very patient!

He is just getting used to putting his face in the water, and kicking up a storm.

The first day, Luke would have nothing to do with it...he hung out with Loren.
But the next day, not to be out done by his bro, he was all in.
He even is more likely to go underwater then Jack now.
They have one more week of lessons...I don't think that they will learn to swim this go around, but they are closer.

Random

2011-06-16T21:14:00.000-07:00

Daddy discovered "Angry Birds" for his lap top.
Jack LOVES angry birds thanks to Uncle Jake and Grandma Trish!

Luke, instead, used my yoga mat to make a bed in the living room...
with no plans to sleep!

WW: wagon time

2011-06-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

Last year, the parents had to pull the kids...this year was a different story!

And, it was the hit of the party!

fairy face/hand painting

2011-06-14T15:18:00.000-07:00

Fairy's are also very talented to do face painting!
Jack wanted Flash...the fairy didn't quite know how to do that one.
(I don't know either, really)

Loren decided that it was lightning bolts on his cheeks to help him run fast!

Luke was anti face so went with a lion on his arm instead, just like his friend Nicky.

Right after this was taken, Luke was stung by a bee!
I have never heard him cry so hard and so long, poor kid!
I was really worried that he might be allergic, but thankfully, he was okay.
Then someone at the party said that it is the 2nd bee sting that you really need to watch out for...

boys and the fairy

2011-06-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

We went to Abbie's birthday on Sunday and a fairy came to visit.
She was amazing!

The boys, and everyone, were in complete awe.

Especially, Jack and Luke.

And the fairy made amazing balloon animals!

Congrats, Jack!

2011-06-10T17:23:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo, pre school graduation...
next up, Kindergarten, then 5th grade, 8th grade, hs and College.
Hope it doesn't go too fast!

Jack goes to Quail Hollow Montessori
and loves it,
so do we!

Such a great program and fantastic teachers!
Luckily, we are there one more year with Luke!

Here I come Kindergarten!

Walk at Henry Cowell

2011-06-09T21:07:00.000-07:00

We have been making this walk since Jack was just born.
We always stop at this bench by the big tree for a snack.
It amazing how much the boys have grown.
(they now hate doing this walk and only want to go to the train park)

The photogenic banana slug was out!

This time we took the train tracks into the train park...
They were charging 5 dollars a person that day so we snuck in.
Really, we where not planning on staying long.

But it was pretty fun to walk the tracks!

WW: grilling with Poppy

2011-06-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

2 of Lukes favorite things...Poppy and grilling!

Salmon all done!

Hedge climbers

2011-06-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

Boys have been on a bit of an evil kick lately.
Not my favorite stage.

They enjoyed climbing all over Auntie Kate and Uncle Bill's hedges last weekend...till they started breaking...
and then caused havoc elsewhere in the back yard.

However the view is beautiful at their house - even with the bad weather.
I got an awesome new camera (thanks Trish and dad!) for my birthday and
it has an amazing zoom!

Rain, rain, go away

2011-06-04T19:22:00.000-07:00

Still not happy with the weather...
but now providing current pictures.

all is wet and we all in winter wear.

Boys did enjoy "playing" with bamboo in the giant puddle down the street...

Whats up with the weather

2011-06-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

Okay this is ridiculous...
It is pouring rain and 54 degrees out.
And it is June 4th.

I am really over this winter weather that is going strong in June...

Play ball

2011-06-01T20:59:00.000-07:00

Between the rain drops this weekend we did get a tad of good weather...
time for baseball with Daddy and Gma Trish!

Gma Trish is the one that taught me how to hit many years ago.
They had a fun time and are good hitters, and are learning how to catch.

Grandpa watched from a safe distance.
Good times in the backyard!