A Hike To the Lake

After two days of snowboarding we decided to switch it up and take a hike down to the Lake in Emerald Bay.

It is always easy going down.

We made it to the lake. 

Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay.  We are coming back in the summer so I can tour the inside. 

The frozen lake kept Kira and Andrew busy for some time trying to break the ice. 

A frozen waterfall. 

I was sad to leave, but I am going back soon.  This just might have to become a second home. 

Snow Boarding

There really was NO snow anywhere to be found, but we did find a few resorts that were making snow and had some beginning runs open.  For our crowd, beginning runs were perfect.  Tom sucked up his pride and hung out with all of us amateurs on the beginning hills.

Here we are all suited up and ready to go.  It doesn't say much when I  am the most experienced snow boarder out of this bunch.  Thankfully Tom is so good, and also a very patient teacher.

Here is Kira and her first time going solo.  She did great and we will make a snow boarder out of her in no time. 

Andrew is like an old pro.  He is a hard one to photograph because I can never find him. He really loves snowboarding.  

This photo just makes me laugh.  

We kept Sean strapped in all the time. We just carried him from the bottom to the magic carpet and then from the carpet to the starting point.  He took it from there. 

Sean surprised me.  I thought for sure I would be hanging out in the car with him, but by the second day he was loving it and taking off by himself.  We had to chase after him so he wouldn't end up running over someone.  At one point, he got away from me and started down a hill.  A nice woman stopped him before he got to far and he punched her for ruining his run.  Thankfully she had a good sense of humor about it.  The first day there were some tears (the boots were bulky) but by the second day he was hooked.  We took lots of breaks and ate lots of snacks and it all worked out great.  We all can't wait to go again soon. 

A Dry Tahoe Holiday

We spent Christmas at home on Sunday and then Monday morning headed to South Lake Tahoe for the week.  Normally this is a the biggest week of the year for the area, and we booked our Cozy Cabin (that is the real name) months ago.  Little did we know it was going to be the driest season in years and I was starting to think this was going to be the Grand Canyon all over again.  Despite that, we loaded up and headed off for what proved to be a great week.

Our first stop was to the Donner Memorial State Park in North Lake Tahoe.  Andrew is studying California Immigrants this year and we anxious to see this place.

After this park and then a drive around the lake we arrived at our Cozy Cabin.

Our 900 sq. foot Cozy Cabin.  Something to be said about forcing your family to be close for a few days.   It was a fun time, except when Sean would wake up at 6am.  In a cabin this small, when Sean is awake, everyone is awake. 

The Hot Tub was a hit. 

We also managed to meet up with my cousin Jen, her husband Ed, their Son Ryan, and my Aunt Carol one night for dinner.  Why didn't I get a photo of that? 

The $20.00 Keys

I loose my keys daily.  

We have 4 entrances into our house and I don't always use the same one.  This results in my keys being laid down in many locations around the house, and I am always on the hunt for my keys.  Sunday morning, I of course couldn't find my keys.  Being that we were late for church I grabbed a spare set from my desk and off we went.  As of tonight I still had no idea where they were and started getting a little worried.  After looking all day, I told the kids I would give $20.00 to the one who found the keys.  Andrew found them in the closet downstairs in about 10 minutes (why there were in the closet is another story).  I think I had a new strategy for finding my keys, but perhaps I should have started with $5.00?

Christmas Came Early

Grandma and Grandpa showed up this weekend loaded with gifts (literally).  

Sean got glasses and a Captain America

Andrew got some Books.

Kira got a fuzzy sweater

Tom got a Book.  My mom keeps his library full.

I got the greatest gift of all... planter boxes for my new garden.   Thankfully my dad is handy, and he delivers.

I have to say Tom's doubt in my gardening abilities has only made me more motivated.
Let the gardening begin. 

Basketball and the Lessons Learned

Andrew has been playing basketball for a few years with the local Boy's and Girl's Club.  He has always liked it, but not exactly been the star player each season.  This season was a different story.  He started out playing and having fun as usual and about mid-season all the practicing seemed to show itself in his playing.  He made 5 points in his game a few weeks ago and helped push his team into the finals, and then into the championship game.  There were 8 teams in his division and his team (the Sharks) made it to the finals and played this past Saturday.  

The minute the first buzzer rang to start the game, I knew we were in for some big competition, and some intense parents taking this game way too seriously.  The fouls were being called left and right and we had many kids hitting the flour and tears flowing at times.  Even Andrew our very kind kid who doesn't like the idea of fouling, ended up fouling out in the last quarter.  Two fouls were really not fouls and he couldn't understand why the refs would make those calls.   Andrews team ending up loosing the game 10-15 but the lessons learned were the most important.  Andrew learned that in sports, it is not always fair and when a championship is on the line, you can get inspired to play harder then you ever thought you could.  It was hard to watch at times, seeing my boy get a little banged up, but he held his own, making a few baskets and some free throws.  

The most troubling were the parents after the game.  Most of the parents from Andrews team felt the other team was being coached to play too rough and they confronted the other teams coach.  The language started and they were pretty close to the equivalent of a bar fight.   We quickly gathered a sad beat down Andrew and rushed him out the gym.  We got a chance to have a long talk in the car and I discovered that Andrew wasn't as sad about loosing as he was about having fouls called on him that he didn't do.  Another chance to learn that life is not always fair, but you pick yourself up and keep moving forward.  

After a long emotional day, I asked Andrew if he wanted play again next season and his response was, YES.  I guess he has had a taste of the almost victory and is willing to go back in for more.  I am very proud of the humble fighter this 10 year old has become.  Can't wait to see what next season brings, and hopefully we can get the crazy parents to keep their mouths shut and just let the kids play. 

Oh Christmas Tree

Tom's surf racks have come in handy for many years now.   Not only do they help when transporting boards to the beach, but they also help when transporting a Christmas Tree home for Christmas.  This year was no different.  I am sure Tom would rather be putting a board on top and heading to the beach, but we are glad he is willing to give up a little surfing time to make sure we have a Christmas tree in our house.

I over estimated the height of our ceiling this year, so our Sea Star is sort of crammed on top, but beautiful none the less. 

Let the holidays begin. 

Andrew, My Favorite Today

Sean was up 3 times last night, rotten kid.  Yes he is 3 and still does not sleep at night, frustrating to say the least. After dropping him and Andrew off at school, and returning to my desk to start the day, I saw this note from Andrew who was doing his homework at my desk last night. 

We have booked a trip to Tahoe for a week and it is quickly approaching.  You think Andrew is excited?  I was just happy to get a love note from a kid and it made my morning.

Thanksgiving

I am thankful for my family.  

Thanksgiving is always a big event with many mouths to feed, and my mother is the master at feeding a large crowd.  Even after all of us kids were out of the house, my mother continued to cook for 8 even when it was just her and my dad.  I am not sure she knows how to cook for just a few.  Regardless, that skill pays off at Thanksgiving.  Mom, the food was delicious.

I am a little embarrassed that Sean is shirtless at the Thanksgiving table.  He is always shirtless and I obviously overlooked this that day.  Next year our goal will be to have a shirt on this wild kid for dinner and to get my brother Jared a seat with the adults.

Tom still pounded the honey bombs, but this years hit was his ability to spin my nephew Miles.  This is another example why Tom is the favorite among my nieces and nephews.

We spent the day after Thanksgiving shopping and hanging out.  After that, I am not sure what went on. Andrew and Sean both caught a bug and I spent the rest of the trip in a hotel room trying the get them well.  Never fails, when we all get together, someone always gets sick.

Dear Lisa,

Thank you for dropping off William for a few days.  Andrew and William have had a lot of fun and it is always a pleasure to have William around.  Before he returns home I have a few confessions.

They have pretty much been eating off the same pizza since Monday for almost every meal.  I did make dinner last night, so he gome some home cooking.  The video games and movies have pretty much been non-stop so if he seems a little out of it when he returns, you will know why.  Bed time was never before 10, that I know of, and I was sure to make them brush their teeth at least once a day.  He is wearing the same clothes he came in, and a shower was just not in the cards this trip.  

Hopefully you will let him come again.  Maybe next trip I won't be so slammed with work that I leave them completely on their own.

Lemon Bars

My family loves them and our friend Carolyn makes them occasionally for us.  

I have been trying for years to get her recipe, that she refuses to share.  This Sunday I tried to duplicate them, and I think I got them pretty close.  What I mostly discovered is the real reason why Carolyn Lee's lemon bars are so good, is that they are usually delivered to the door and I don't have to make them.  Lemon Bars require too much work for me to include these in my short list of regular recipes.  

Carolyn, we will remain at your mercy. 

My Beefcake.

This ID just makes me laugh.  He already looks like a beefcake football player and this is just pre-school.  Thankfully he is proving to have the brains as well as the braun with each day he grows.

For those who don't get to see it in person.

Kira's Field Show

This is why we hardly every see her, she is too busy marching and playing the sax at the same time.  These kids are really amazing.

And of course, the peanut gallery.
Enjoy.

Sean, the Singer

This is what happens when I leave Sean and Andrew in the chapel to arrange hymn books while I vacuum in the other room.  Sean exposes his confusion over whether he is a Child of God, a man, or a Superman.  Hopefully he will figure out the right answer soon. 

My Grape Pickin' Days

Growing up LDS in the Central Valley of California, I got to participate in the yearly grape picking at the Church's grape vineyard.  The grapes needed to be picked, and placed on paper to dry into raisins.  It was always hot, dusty, and of course sticky from the grape juice, but always a fun time.  I considered myself successful if I got through the morning with out a paper cut, from the paper used to place the grapes on to dry them into raisins.  You always got grapes dropped down your shirt and smashed into your back, you always came away so dirty it took a week to get all the dirt off, but always glad you did your part to help out.  My dad along with many that have lived there a long time have been participating in this for many, many years.  I just came across this article in the Hanford Sentinel with a picture of my Dad, working away at the vineyard and the memories came flooding back.  

Hanford Sentinel

Now that I am living in a more Metropolitan area, this type of service work is hard to find.  Perhaps I dogged the work by getting out of town, or maybe I just might yearn for a little dirt and grape juice every now and then? 

Happy Halloween Says the Hobo, the Witch, and Captain America

Our back up plan.  This was suppose to be a zombie, but when the dress didn't fit, we threw on a cape and made her a cute witch instead.  

Sean had the Trick or Treat thing down quickly. 

Got them all three together for a brief moment. 

Tom and I went as the busy parents who felt success that all three kids had costumes.

The Sort. This year Andrew's haul weighed in at only 5lbs.  Not quite as impressive as last years 8lbs, but enough.

Sean, meet Shawn

My Sean has a new friend in town, and his name is also Shawn.  They are just 2 weeks apart and are both pretty busy boys.  I have a hopeful feeling these boys will be friends for a long time.  Today they got a chance to play together while they both waited for their brothers to get out of school.  Shawn showed Sean how great it is to take your shoes off when playing, so my Sean, showed Shawn it is even more fun when you remove your shirt as well.  They both then proceeded to play in the mud puddle on the playground.  I can tell already these are going to be fun years watching these two navigate through childhood together.  

I couldn't hear what they were saying, but knowing Sean, he was telling Shawn to just remove his shirt like Hulk would. Only because that is how shirts are removed in our house daily.

With the entire school yard at their finger tips, the small mud puddle is the toy of choice.

We Get All Crazy When Tom is Gone...

 

We turn on the heat when it is Cold.

Kira wears excessive MakeUp.

And ClawFoot Tubs appear in our Garage (my latest project).



Dear children's underwear makers...

Please print the superhero photos on the front of the underwear. Since you don't, Sean insists on wearing his underwear backwards. I know Sean is not the first kid to insist this (at least that is what I am telling myself) so you would think it would make the most sense.  You know you have a problem when kids would choose to have a Melvin constantly rather then miss out on seeing Superman at any given moment.   

Sincerely,

A Mom who has decided this is not a battle worth fighting. 

As you can tell, we have started some serious Potty Training in our house.  Wish us luck.

Happy Birthday Tom!

Don't worry about Tom. We did finally celebrate his birthday a day after with cake and ice cream.  Also, don't even think we ventured out and did something different.  Enchiladas, strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting, same dorky grin, and the Olympic Movers T-shirt is there, just under the Giants sweatshirt this time. 

Happy Birthday Tom!  

I love you, and glad to be working my way through life with you as a partner.

One Busy Saturday

This weekend was a blur. 

One of those weekends where you wake up Monday morning and feel like a weekend never happened.  It was that busy of a weekend. 

First after dropping Kira off at 6am for her Band Competition in Cupertino, we headed to Milbrea Pancake House for a little birthday celebration for Tom and Andrew's friend Luke.  Luke was born on Tom's birthday and I think Tom has always been a little bitter they didn't name Luke Tom, or at least use Tom as his middle name.  Reggie made up for the error by buying breakfast.



Here is the gang that went, minus me who is taking the picture.  I am pretty sure the Pancake House employees were cheering when we left.

After breakfast we headed to Ocean Beach for Andrew to participate in a Sand Castle Build competition that his class at school was involved in.  This was the third and last year he will do this so it was a little bitter sweet.  Andrew LOVES this competition as you can tell from the photos. 

 This years castle is a Cheese Rocket blasting away from a planet that is being sucked into a black hole (I think).  Only a group of 4th and 5th graders could come up with this one.



Yes, that is Andrew on top.  Always right in the middle of the action.

 

After returning home, I spent an hour in line at Little Luca's Sandwich Shop to get Tom a much deserved birthday sandwich.  We then spent the evening waiting for Kira who needed to be pickup up at midnight.  Needless to say, we were all glad to just go to bed at some point on Saturday.

My Latest Endeavor...

is Strawberries.

This is the second of many edible plants that are going in in our backyard.  My biggest problem is not the lack of sun in Pacifica (surprisingly) but the squirrels, or squares as Sean calls them.  Out of 6 plants, one has been destroyed by an animal, assumed to be a squirrel.  Even with Sean's repeated screaming at the squares through out the day, there is one stubborn one that keeps returning.  My solution, Cayenne Pepper.  This squirrel is going to wish that he messed with some other woman's strawberries.

Hopefully with the help of the pepper, we will have mature plants by Thanksgiving and then Strawberries through out the year.