Cousin Vanessa came to visit

Andy's cousin, Vanessa, came to visit us. We had so much fun!

After picking Vanessa up from the airport, we walked along the Embarcadero in Downtown. We found that the commercial fishing docks were open and went for a stroll looking at the big boats. One of the crew members saw us and asked (jokingly) if any of us wanted to crew a fishing boat. Logan tugged on my shirt and whispered, "Mommy I don't want to go fishing!"

We headed off to the little village there on the bay and had some lunch and then some fun on the grass!

Did I mention this smile warms me all the way through?

Another day Emma's class had a field trip to the zoo so we all went along. And the elephant was so close...the highlight for Logan!

During Vanessa's visit, the kids had their annual Jogathon fundraiser. They get donations based on how many 1/4 mile laps they run. Briley was so sweet to her brother and ran his speed the whole time. She ran 10 laps with Logan.

The kinders and first graders ran in the second hour, after the older kids. Cam is a sprinter! He was so amazing and ran 13 laps! He earned a medal as one of the top kindergarten runners (there were 4 or 5 other kindergarteners out of 100 that also ran 13 laps). 

Emma did really well and ran 11. Her goal was to run more than Briley. Funny how such competition is already there between the two! We didn't tell her that she ran more because Briley went Logan's speed. We'll save that for another day!

Logan was one little trooper! In the first hour he ran 10 laps with Briley. In the second hour, he was slowing down but was by no means going to stop. He ran another 7 laps for a total of 17 laps. That's 4 1/4 miles!

 

After school we headed downtown to hop on the ferry across the bay.

This is a favorite activity for our family!

Sadly Vanessa had to go home, but before heading out to the airport, we went to the beach.

It was a beautiful day!

Cool enough that we weren't hot, but not too cold and it was sunny!

Thanks for coming to visit Vanessa!

Happy Birthday Logibear!

Logan turned 4! He is one happy little guy, growing so fast.

He loves learning and is so excited for the day he gets to go to school too (even though it's still a year away!)

"How to Train Your Dragon" is currently his favorite movie and books. We spend hours on end at Barnes and Noble reading books from the movie (and nonfiction animal books).

That smile just warms me all the way through. 

One day this little guy is going to grow up to be a zoo keeper I think. All he talks about is that when he grows up he wants to take care of animals, mostly elephants, but other animals too. He has incredible knowledge about animals from his books that he reads. His grandma even mentioned one day that she has learned not to question him when it comes to animal facts!

Did I mention he loves elephants?!

More Raptor Baseball

PLAY BALL!

Coach gives out position assignments and they head out to the field.

He loves playing catcher...there is a lot of action!

Pitcher is his other favorite position.

He has a strong swing and usually gets on base. This hit was a single.

This was a powerful hit and he got a double! He hit out passed second base before it hit the ground and bounced! Great hit Cam!

And this is my favorite picture from the baseball season. It just makes me smile. It's one happy kid and one proud Dad/coach!

AH Custom Interiors and Sons...and daughter?

 Andy was building a frame for a shade cover for our garden. Cam saw power tools and was instantly in there ready to help. That starts so young!

The battery end of the screw gun is a little heavy and he needed a little support.

 He can be a little trigger happy and Andy has to remind him to slow down, but otherwise he does really well.

 Logan loves to help Andy and spends quite a bit of time with him around the yard watering the vegetables and picking green beans, and any other little thing Andy gives him to do. Today was no exception!

 Emma was not to be left out. Andy asked if she wanted to cut some wood and of course she said YES! In light of the fact a friend of ours recently cut his thumb off on a similar such tool, I was uncomfortable with this idea, but she came out with all digits intact!

 She was perfectly at ease using power tools and had some fun too! That could really come in handy one day!

fun photos with my new lens

 

So the layout is messed up this time...I couldn't get it right then decided I didn't care enough because I wanted to get the pictures up! A friend of mine recently helped me pick out a new lens and I spent some time playing around with it. I should spend more time editing my photos, but at least you get to see them! 

 

The most amazing little boy

I want to tell you the story of the most amazing little boy. He went for a hike with his mom on a small local mountain (see the tallest peak behind his shoulder).

 She kept trying to talk him into turning around because she didn’t think he could make it to the top. He’d stop and rest and even draw in the dirt when he needed,

but he kept going. He could taste victory, and had his goal in sight and nothing would keep that little boy from the top.

He trudged on, even when his little legs were so tired, he stopped every three feet to rest. He was determined to reach his goal. His mom gave him a piggyback ride for only 20 feet. Then, he saw the sign. The marker that meant he did it. And he wanted down. He wanted to do it himself. And so he did.

He made it all the way to the top. And then he hiked back down. Well, most of the way. His little legs were so tired and his mom gave him a piggyback ride. What an amazing little boy!

Happy Birthday Briley!

Briley turned 9. I asked when I got old enough to have a 9 year old, and a friend said, "Today." And I smiled. I can't believe she is 9. She told me some of her favorite things today.

Favorite color: Blue

Favorite animal: horse

Favorite food: gnocchi

Favorite book: James and the Giant Peach

Favorite scripture/story: The Good Samaritan

Favorite school subject: reading

Favorite free time activity: reading

Favorite place to go: Grandmere and Papa’s condo

One place she would go: Washington DC to visit the President

Favorite birthday moment: riding her bike at the church

She has grown so fast. 

 After dinner, she got to open her presents...

and we saved the best for  last. But look at her face. I am sure she is thinking, "Really? This is the best you could come up with? I really don't want one of these!"

 Doesn't every kid want a big bike? Not mine! She was so terrified of it, but we convinced her to give it a try because she would get the hang of it eventually.

 And she almost crashed but Daddy caught her...

and then she tried some more...

 and wore her Daddy out so cousin Orrin took over. But she did it! She learned how to ride a two wheeled bike on her birthday!

                                 And we came home for some much deserved ice cream cake!