Fourth of July 2011

What has become a pretty regular tradition, we went back to LA to visit the Cottles and celebrate the 4th of July.  As usual, we had a great time.  Mike and I got away for a little golf, I helped get there new PC setup, including a new apple TV so they could stream movies to the bedroom.  We drank and ate like kings and spent quite a bit of time on the beach.

Nate and I joined Maria and the Cottle's Friday night for some sushi.  Maria had spent the past week with Lilia, celebrating her birthday in Palm Springs.  Nate and I hung out in Roseville, he attended summer camp while I worked.  While at dinner, Nate decided to tell us he needed some dental work to repair his buck teeth.

Sunday was the 3rd of July, which we spent the day at the beach.  Unfortunately we spent most of the day waiting for the sun to come out, which it never did.

We did play some Bocce Ball.  Had some pretty good competitions, although it got a little heated at times.

In some games, the losers had to drink.

In other cases, the winners tended to celebrate a little excessively.

Nate was ready to just relax in the sand.  Although he did go in and out of the water a lot.  He tried to paddle out far on the boogie board, until we made him come back.

These three joined us, felt like we were parting with the Kardashian's.  They stuck together like glue and you never saw them apart.

Nate and I playing with sand crabs.It was quite a treat for Nate who loved the experience.  It was a treat for Maria and I to see him so excited about it.

Nate and Jordan playing horseshoes together.

Part of the group on the way back from our beach day.  Luckily the beach is a short walk from Lilia's house.  Next up was the BBQ.

Maria in Chriselda's hat.  Love the hat, and love the way my girl looks in one.

Maria toying with her camera, the different settings.  She loves the black and white.  

Here I am showing Nate a sand crab.

Graduation

We wrapped up Nate's first year of school.  Graduation day consisted of a lot of singing and fun.  Parents brought snacks and the kids played outside after their performance.  Congratulations High School Graduating Class of 2023.

Nate and his Kindergarten teacher Mrs Martinson 

The entire Blue Oaks graduating class.  For those with great eyes, Nate's in the back row, left hand side, 9th from the end.

A closer shot of just Nate.

Nate with his proud parents.

And they're off.  Filled with a sugar high, ready to party party party all summer long.

Nate and Jimmy on the swings.

Jimmy giving Nate a push.

I think they may be a bit beyond these swings, but he still loves them.  He complained a bit that these are teh only style Aggie will let him swing on.  Grandma very careful with him.

As you can see, by graduation, he was no longer suffering from his tonsils removed.  He was back to his normal fun self, running around, smiling and having a great time.

Here's Mrs Martinsons kindergarten class.  Congratulations on a job well done. 

Below are a few videos that I had posted for some of the other parents on the final performances they performed.

Pirate Treasures

We wrapped up the T-ball season.  They finished the last couple of games actually pitching to the kids.  Nate even managed a few hits.  I love the coaches speak in the video, talking about Nate being a TRUE pirate.

Some pre-game warm ups, pitching to Nate

Hard to tell, but compare the above photo, which shows the ball coming towards Nate and this one, taken just after he hot the ball with his bat.

They seemed to play Nate a lot at short stop or left field.

Going after a grounder, within 3 seconds there were four kids on the ball.

Nate ready to make a play

One of the few times we actually saw Nate in ready position as the batter was about to hit.

The look on his face here is priceless, never seen it before.  Also he took to wearing his hat like a rally cap all the time.

 Here's Nate getting a hit in the game.

Another before and after batting sequence, this time in a game though.

I can't say it's the best form, but it works for him.

After the final game, we all went to round table for pizza and an awards ceremony.

Corbin, Nate, Jimmy and Casey all with their trophies

Here's the speech the cosches gave for Nate as they gave him his trophy.

Vegas, again.

I'd like to show more of the photos from Vegas, but unfortunately what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.  Probably forgotten with the morning hangover.  Anyway here are a few highlights from the great time we had celebrating Mike Cottle's birthday,

We had dinner at Roy's, a Hawaiian themed restaurant. 

The girls: Mary, Maria, Kelly and Lilia

What would Vegas be without a great Vegas hat.

Of course when you travel with Mike, you travel in style "Because he can".  Here we are in front of our limo.

Karate

In our ongoing effort to keep Nate busy, we've signed him up for a Karate class.

Nate, and his buddy Wyatt, two down.

The bald guy, is his Sensai. All the parents really liked him, as he was telling the kids to quit wiggling, stand up straight, no talking etc.  The class was focused on discipline.  Some kids were terrified, Nate took to it right away.

Here they are learning to throw a punch.

And how to make a fist.  Thumps out, not in.

The class is twice a week, a little bit of a drive to get there, but  they let you show up 30 minutes early for extra lessons.  Nate's been getting a full hour every time he goes and is progressing pretty well.  There's been a few times when he gets distracted, bored or sleepy, but he's been learning the 4 and 8 step Kata.  He should be ready to get a red belt by end of July.

May Updates

It's been a busy time for us.  I don't know how many times I right that its busy for us, certainly seems like a lot.  Maybe I'm just making excuses for not posting in awhile, or maybe we just haven't been around much.  Anyway, here's a hodgepodge post of different things that we did in May, yes I know it's July.  I'll have more posts up soon trying to bridge the gap.

Nate with his spring formal photo.

Nate was scheduled to perform in a school play.  He's playing a Robin.

We attended the dress rehearsal of the play, couldn't go to the real play, as Nate had his tonsils and adenoids removed.

Here I am reading to Nate before he's set to go into surgery.  He was a trooper, a little scared, but generally took it pretty well.

In the recovery room at Kaiser.  They allowed him almost 90 minutes before we put him in the car to take him home.

My poor little guy, he was so upset about losing his tonsils.  His throat was in so much pain.  We were able to give him pain medicine every 4-6 hours an he needed it.  He was miserable.  He'd being crying hysterically saying he wanted his tonsils back.  It took nearly the full two weeks for him to recover.  He's all good now, but it caused him to miss the school play and the field trip to the zoo.

For Mother's day, we had a quite day.  I got some cheese, crackers and wine for Maria .

 We also got her a hammock to rest on.  She quickly realized that resting with Nate on the hammock was a short lived experience.  She spent more of her time trying not to fall out.   

Jimmy, Emily and Nate also liked the hammock.

We went to an open house at Merryhill school.  The same group that Nate did his pre-school with.  A new location, but where they teach K-6.  We signed him up for their summer program.  

Nate's been practicing on the monkey bars.

He really likes to swing.

HP had their annual day at Discovery Kingdom.  OR what I've always known as Marine World.

Here's nate eating one of his favorite treats cotton candy.  He really got into this batch, had it all stuck to his eye lashes.

Nate got invited up to be one of the dolphin trainers on the day at Marine World.  I  don't think he realized how special it was that he was chosen.  He liked it, but wanted to actually get in and swim with the dolphins.  

                                           Here's the video of Nate and the dolphins.

Here we are soaked after riding the roaring rapids ride.  It wouldn't have been so wet, but they have these fountains you can pay $0.25 and shoot at the people riding by.