More Catch-up

Trip to Malta - June 2011
I love this place.  Even though I'm growing up (or should be), have kids, and have lived in Palo Alto for 7 years, this house and this yard still fill like "home." 

 Nothing beats running barefoot in the grass on a perfect summer evening. 

 Ryan, always wanting to do things that are about one year beyond his ability.  Here he is at 16 1/2 months.

 The whole family (minus Jill and clan) at City of Rocks.  I love hiking here, but Jack also thinks he is about 8 years older than he really is and tries to keep up with cousin Brandon (14 yrs).  We end up doing a lot of yelling to get him off a big rock or scary drop-off. 

 Jordan with Grandma and Grandpa. 

 A view from the river house.  Quickly growing in my heart as a special place. 

 Doing his favorite thing - fishin' 

 Playing in the same little tree house that I played in as a kid.

 Driving the boat with Grandpa.  Ryan's favorite thing was honking the horn. 

 Hot tubbing in the rain.  Grandma's a good sport. 

 Saying goodbye is always dramatic and emotional.  He loves his cousins and the farm and hates to leave.   Last year, Jack didn't stop crying until after we passed the Nevada border.  This year, he cried off and on all the way to the airport in Salt Lake. 

 Getting kisses from the kitties. 

Until next year!

Catch-up

May 31, 2011  Happy Hallow Park and Zoo

 Jack and his cute, cute friend Emmy.  I secretly hope that he will marry her someday :)

Katie and I went in on a membership pass to Happy Hallow this last year and went several times together.  I love that we both have little boys names Ryan.  They are very different despite having the same name.  Her Ryan is fair, blond and blue eyed.  My Ryan has darker skin, brown eyes and brown hair. 

Ryan was actually a little braver on this trip and would go on several of the rides without fretting or crying. 

Memorial Day at the Golden Gate National Cemetery

Joy School Graduation! 

 I loved, loved the moms in our group.  Heather, Janet, and Emily were the perfect people to do this group with. 

Catch-up

 Oh Ryan!  This is such a funny little face.  He looks little tired or like he just woke up.  That's what you get for waking up between 5 and 6am every day buddy!

Jordan working hard at mastering these cross bars at the park where Jack was playing baseball.  They were low to the ground so she had a lot of confidence in trying again and again. 

Go Yankees!  Jack loves baseball and this season went way too fast.  He loved going to every game and every practice.  So, did Ryan.  Oh boy, that little guy knows how to hold a bat, swing and throw already...just 16 months old.  (at least he thinks he can)

After their last game of the season.  These little guys are so cute.  This was their second season together and we're hoping to keep them together next year.  About half of the team are from Jack's Young Fives Class.  His little buddy, Jackson had a triple play this year, all on his own!

Jack and his coach, Albert. 

Nice swing Jack!

Artichokes.  "Why are you posting a picture of artichokes on your blog?" you may be asking.  Well, they really are wild and knarly looking plants and I thought maybe you would enjoy seeing how they grow. 

Happy 10th Anniversary!



We drove the hour and half from our house to Monterey and parked our car and then rode our bikes from Monterey along the coast and along 17 mile drive, past Pebble Beach and then to Carmel.  It was the perfect day and the wide open views were spectacular.  We've driven this rode many times, but to ride it made it even better.  And even better to spend the day with Kent!  Ten years and getting better every day!

We got lunch at an Italian Restaurant in Carmel, shopped, and I even surprised Kent with arranging for us BOTH to get pedicures!  Ha!  I knew he would love it. 

I LOVE these pictures.  These little girls really know how to play and make-believe.  I wish Ella and Abby (her other joy school friends) were in these pictures.  Jordan cracks me up with her glamour pose in the picture below.  They would play for hours in their own little world.  Once in a while I would hear, "Mommy!" or "Mom!" and I would go into the room and say, "what?" and then Jordan or one of the girls would just look at me like I was totally interrupting them and say, "Not you!" 

We had a really nice Easter brunch at the Foster's house and the first of two easter eggs hunts. The kids loved jumping on their tramp.

Helping little brother...so sweet.

Jordan and her best friend Emily.  Jordan is about 4 inches taller than most of the girls her age.  I guess that's how I feel now with all of my friends, so I don't know why I'm surprised. 

Easter egg hunting with all our friends at the Woolfs and Hatches houses.  We are getting a lot of kids!  It's crazy to think that when we moved here, Jack and Nate and Ben were the only little kids among our close group of friends.  Now there are over 20! 

 Jack's class practiced for weeks with Senor Carlos to learn this dance of the pineapples.  They performed it at a special night at school and at the school's big Cinqo to Mayo party.  Jack was adorable and did a great job. 

 Having fun with bubbles one afternoon in April. 

 Hiking one Sunday afternoon up in the forests off HWY 92 on the way to Half Moon Bay. 

The kids loved looking for Banana Slugs.  I think we found over 20 of them.