Our Teenager

Wes got a k'nex set for his 13th birthday from Grandma and spent a few hours putting it together. He called us all in for the big unveiling. It's a pretty cool set and the balls go in three different directions. This is life after legos, I guess. He loves this stuff. I can't believe I have an official teen. Pretty soon he'll be on a mission. oh no, my baby!

Burbank Dolphins

Wes and Maddie are both on the Burbank water polo team. Last Saturday Maddie played in two matches. She helped the team tie up the score in the second game by scoring a goal. She was super excited. Wes was still at Scout camp, so he missed the game. This Saturday both kids will play in Pasadena. The kids are working out really hard every evening at the city pool. If you've ever swam laps and tread water, you know how exhausting it can be. They come home pretty wiped out. They are enjoying it though, and making new kids, and learning a new sport.

Maddie seems to be enjoying water polo more than Wesley. He says he thinks he'll just stick to basketball and golf. I guess he enjoys being on land more. We'll see how he feels after Saturday. Playing in an actual game got Maddie pretty excited. We are proud of both of them for their efforts.

What every mom loves to hear

Two nights ago Zach said, "Mom, could I pleeassse shower?"

"You never have to ask me that Zach."

Rice-a-Roni

A few nights ago Willie made ricearoni. It is sort of a treat, because I usually make brown rice or steamed white rice. Carina said, "Yeah, I like this rice. It has flavor."
We had a good laugh about that!

Uncle Q is so Cool!

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting Uncle Q at the fire station. He is a firefighter with the San Jose fire department and we got an amazing hands-on tour. We rode in the fire engine. I got to sit in the front! The kids tried on all the crazy heavy gear. The complete gear, after jacket, helmet, boots, etc., weighs approx 80 pounds. The kids each got to squirt water and Wes and Zach enjoyed knocking down the plastic patio set. It was Q's idea, honest. Quentin really is amazing with kids and my kids think he is just awesome! He even considers himself a jungle gym. Kids flock to him.

We really enjoyed our visit to Q and Shelly's and baby Boyd's. They are such a cute family.

The Beautiful Bay

It was so fun walking around and checking out the maritime museum. Willie took the kids on a tour of all the old ships and sailboats you see in the background. Boyd enjoyed people watching, but didn't enjoy the wind so much.

Checking out the Sites

The cable car was super fun. We got off on Lombard Street (the crooked street) and Willie and Shelly met us there and we hopped in the car and drove down that street. We also rode the trolley and drove across the Golden Gate bridge. We ran out of time in the day, so we couldn't walk across. It was crazy foggy and windy that day.

Having fun with Baby Boyd

We just got back from visiting Quentin and Shelly and the cutest, chubbiest, and most adorable baby, Boyd. We spent the holiday weekend with them in Gilroy. Boyd is 9 months old and we had such a great time getting to know him. These photos are from Friday in San Francisco. Boyd is just the cutest. He smiles all the time and so easily. He loves the kids and liked pulling Maddie's hair. The kids can't stop talking about him today. We miss him already. He loves to roar like a lion and he loved our dog, Strudel. He learned to say dog too. He would crawl after Strudel saying, "da, da".

I also had to put the pics of the kids having fun together. Sometimes I wonder if they even like each other, but then there are moments like this, so happy. I live for those moments.

We had such a fun day! We did tons in one day.

I will post more tomorrow. I gotta get to bed.

Zach has morphed

Found: a new creature. Name: Zrudel

This creature is known to give no harm to any other creature on planet Earth.

This species is only known to live on Earth.

(posted by Willie for Zach)