Happy Birthday to Buzz!

I can't believe it, but today is Buzzy's 5th birthday!   He celebrated his birthday on Thursday with his friends from pre-school and church.  He had his party at a place called Wowzille in Laguna Hills.  It is a really cool place that has three party themes, of course he chose the "Race Zone". He and all the kids were able race Nascar (I think Buzzy has a little redneck in him) cars, they all had a really good time and it was fun to see him celebrate with his friends.

Buzzy in Race Mode, notice the intensity.

Kate racing, not so intense!

Jeff taking a spin.

Brooke and Kate patiently wait for the pizza and cake.

Buzzy receives an award for "Racing Excellence"

Evening Picnic and Beach Trip to Strands

Yesterday evening we met Jon & Lou Ann and their kids at Strands. We love the evening trip to the beach on days when it is warm. Easy parking, no crowds, no sunscreen, easy to keep an eye on the kiddies, etc.....It is just the most relaxing time! We brought down dinner from Jack in the Box, so no cooking for the moms, making it all the more relaxing. The kids had a great time, cousins are the best!

Buzzy and Luke, so happy to eat chicken strips on a Spongebob boogie board, does it get better than that?
The "Big Kid" table, no Spongebob boogie board......boring!
Just out of the water.
Buzz heading back in at the most beautiful time of day.
Hanging out in the big pit, beautiful craftsmanship by these sand sharks!

Backtrack to Father's Day

In reviewing my past posts, I realize that I left out Father's Day. Since I don't want to bore my reader's (all two of you) with more pictures of us at the beach, where we have been everyday (except of course Sunday) and because this blog serves as my digital scrapbook, I will rewind to June, 15th, Father's Day.
The morning began with breakfast in bed (chocolate/chocolate chip pancakes from Trader Joe's) and the children singing "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home"
Kate made Jeff this at school, it says "A chip off the old block", cute idea and so true, they look so much alike!Brooke gave Jeff the gold that she panned for at Knott's Berry Farm (how many of us remember doing that?), the vial it came in broke, so a plastic baggie was used. Yes, that is Ronald Reagan on Jeff's shirt. It is Jeff's favorite t-shirt of late, it says "Save Trestles" (Jeff's favorite surf spot)on the back, he wears it so much that we feel like Ronnie is part of the family!

I gave Jeff portraits of the children. A friend of ours is an amazing photographer with a beautiful studio, and he took these. This is the ultimate "picture of a picture", they really are much more beautiful, but I thought I would share.

Back to the Beach Chair

Today we officially celebrated the beginning of summer. Buzz still had school yesterday, so today was the first day that all of the kids were off. Hmmmmm, what should we do? Call the cousins and have them meet us at the beach, sounded good to all of us. I got so excited while I was packing the car that I actually screamed in the garage, I was giddy, summer fever hit me then and there.
We went to Calafia State Beach in San Clemente, one of our favorites. We got there at 10:30 and left at 5:30. The kids had so much fun with their cousins and the water was warm for CA standards so they were in and out the whole day. Did anyone get bored? No. I did not hear "can we go home now? or I am bored"once. They would have stayed longer if I would let them and if Pedro's Tacos wasn't beaconing them to dinner.

Buzz and his cousin, Luke, checking out the sandcrabs in the bucket.

Brooke and her cousin, Corrie, taking a break on a boogie board and reminding me that the teenage years are not too far off.

Kate(right) with her cousin, Curran (left) about to take off.

Buzz and Luke throwing sand on a boogie board, they are both 4 years old and being able to throw big clumps of sand and not get told to "stop" is obviously very liberating and fun.

A Few Thoughts on the Last Day of School

We've been revving up for the summer, we're all so excited about the prospects....a couple of vacations, no schedules, hours at the beach in the waves and digging big pits:) Well in 15 minutes (2:35) we are officially free! I love spending the summer with my kids, it truly is my favorite time of year, I love having them home. Sooooooooooooooo, it took me a little by surprise this morning that I got a little misty when I was dropping them off at school, in the same place we have been dropping all year and it suddenly occurred to me that this was the last time that I would see them run down that hill (they are changing schools next year), the last time that I would have Buzzy in the backseat (because he is going to school next year), the last time that I would honk the horn when they were half way to school and have them turn around and wave back to me, that last time Buzz and I would be yelling "good-bye" and urging them to pick up their pace (because we are always running late). I guess it was just one of those moments when you realize that your babies are growing up and while you love nurturing and watching them progress, at the same time you understand that you can't stop it or slow it down and that it is happening way too fast.

In my realizing that it was the last drop off, I wanted to quickly take a picture of the view that I've had at 8:15 am for past ten months. The girls are on the blacktop (little dots in this picture), just before the "honk and wave".

Angel Game: Friday June 13, 2008

We attended an Angel game on Friday, they played the Atlanta Braves. It was "Mormon Night" so we got tickets through the ward. The seats were in the highest section of the stadium in the furthest out section in right field. I think Angel Stadium is onto something here by selling the tickets to unsuspecting Mormons and giving them the seats that never sell! I am surprised every Friday night is not Mormon night. We actually had a good time for the 3 innings we were there. We didn't arrive until the 6th inning because Buzzy had a bike accident of his ramp right before he was putting his bike in to leave for the game. The ill fated last jump of the night. He was showing me how he can jump off the ramp and instead showed me how he can faceplant right into the concrete. It was not pretty, blood everywhere. Basically all skin on his nose is gone and his two front teeth are a little wiggly (I was shocked that they weren't completely knocked out). We are hoping that once his gums heal that the teeth will tighten back up. The only thing that broke his fall was his face (no hands at all), so we feel really lucky that the injury was so minor. So that explains the bandaide on his nose in the pictures. I think we saw like two plays of the game between getting to our seats, getting food, and eating. Oh well, the Angels lost, but the fireworks were good.
You have to look closely to see the band aide, they camouflage very nicely.
The view from the top, and I forgot to mention that the foul ball pole blocked our view of the batter making our seats that much more entertaining.

Dana Point Tide Pools Field Trip

On Friday (6/13) Kate went with her class to the tide pools and the Ocean Center at Dana Point. It was her first field trip of the year so she was REALLY looking forward to it. I always wonder why they wait to do all of the fun stuff until the end of the year? It seems like the last two weeks of school are crammed with parties, field trips, picnics, plays, etc.....anyway, you get the idea.
Back to the field trip, I was able to join her at the tide pools and for lunch. The tide was pretty high, so we weren't able to see a lot. We saw some crabs, sea aneonomes, and sea snails, nothing too exciting. It was a warm day, and it was just fun to be there. Anything to escape the school walls! She really liked the Ocean Center, I didn't get to go in with her, but she said that touching the sea stars (formerly known as starfish, but her teacher was quick to correct me in an earlier conversation that they are Not fish.....whatever!) was her favorite part!
Can you find Kate? hint.....she is very close to the middle, behind a very large 1st grader :)
Sharing treasures with a friend.
Digging in the sand, we both love it!

ABC Preschool Graduation

Today Buzzy graduated from the distinguished institute of higher learning, commonly called "ABC Preschool". His teacher, Sister Greiner, normally holds school at her house, but for graduation day we met down at the San Clemente Pier. It was a beautiful, warm morning so it was really fun for the kids and parents alike. Buzzy was given the "best manners" award and then proceeded to talk throughout the rest of the program as the other children were given their diplomas ;) I guess he was showing off his mad skills. It has been a great year for Buzzy, he has learned a lot and has made a lot of really nice friends! Three cheers for Buzz!!!!

After a hard year of intense studies, the graduates are able to toss their caps and celebrate!
Living in a beach city has its perks, looks like he is starting a great career as a beach bum :)
Buzzy proudly displays his diploma. He is wearing sunglasses that were in his graduation goody bag.
Buzzy with his teacher, Sister Greiner.

The Little Red Hen, Peter & the Wolf, High School Musical 2

Yesterday was filled with musical performances from two of our three "little hens".

Kate was the first to perform in Little Red Hen..a musical rendition, performed by Mrs. Adams' first grade class at Vista Del Mar Elementary. Kate did a fantastic job as "Dot the Cow" one of Little Red's lazy barnyard friends. It was funny to watch her through the performance getting hotter and hotter in the big, furry cow costume. She was worried about the performance but came through with a touching and heartfelt performance, the sadness she felt as the red hen told her that she could NOT have any of the fresh baked bread because she did not help, was felt by the entire audience :( Way to go Kate!!!!



Later in the afternoon we were privileged to attend Brooke's first piano recital. The students all performed music from "Peter and the Wolf". Brooke's piece was titled "Bird and Duck Argue". She played very well, we're very proud of how she has taken to the piano and have high hopes that she will continue to enjoy it.


After eating dinner and a wardrobe change we were off to the school for an evening concert of the 4th and 5th grade choir. They performed music from High School Musical 2. The kids sang great, a lot better and more entertaining than the movie:) Brooke sang a solo, sorry no video because my camera was on standby instead of record the whole time!!! Aaaaahhhhhhh!
Brooke is on the top row at the very right
Brooke with Darcy (left) her friend who lives two doors down and with Melody, a very sweet girl who befriended Brooke on her first day of school at Vista Del Mar.

And many thanks to our third "little hen", Buzz, who sat patiently (as well as a four year old can) through it all!

World Famous Camp Pendleton Mud Run

Yesterday Jeff ran in the Camp Pendleton Mud Run. It is a 10K (6.2 mile) race, it is a trail race with a lot of mud, obstacles, and a small swim all throughout the course. The kids and I love to tag a long to the races and cheer for our favorite runner! Yesterday's race was really fun as a spectator because we got to see him crawl through a giant mud pit at the end of the run. I will admit that it looked like a lot of fun!

Jeff had a great time. He ran it with a 5 person team, they all had to cross the finish line together. Some friends from the ward were running in it and had a slot open and invited him to join them. We're glad they did because it was a fun time for all and we will be making a family tradition of it from here on out. Brooke was really bummed to learn that she has to be 15 before she can run in it. I guess waiting 5 more years will make her crawl through the mud pit all the more sweet.

Jeff after the race with his raving fans! His t-shirt was white at the starting line, I wonder if this will come out in the wash?








Jeff is in the blue hat entering the famed mud pit













"Save Energy" team photo













The long awaited shaved ice. We spotted the shave ice truck before the race started, but it was still closed. I told the kids that after the race I would get them shaved ice. They usually want Jeff to race fast, but this gave them extra incentive to cheer loud so that they could hurry him up and get their icey reward!

Chess Nerds Rock!

Brooke and Kate have been taking Chess class for the last three months. Boring Right? Wrong! They LOVE it! Brooke played with Jeff the other day and every time he thought he had her, she weaseled her way to safety. The game ended in a stalemate. Kate checked out a book from the school library called "Winning Chess" and was so excited about it. Guess who read it? Jeff...I think he is worried that the girls might beat him if he doesn't brush up on his skills.

Their teacher, Chess Master Joel, e-mailed me these pictures of the Chess Club. We've tried to get some of their friends to join the club, but apparently they think they are too cool;) So sad for them, because let's face it, how much fun is being cool anyway?

Long Live the After-School-Chess-Club of San Clemente, California!!