Mr. Darcy

Catching Up: Thanksgiving Show

This is the third time we've seen the second grade Thanksgiving show at our school. Sadie was in it this year (and Spencer two years ago, and Mason two years before that). Each class tells poems, sings songs, and performs skits about Thanksgiving.

Sadie was a puritan girl!

Catching Up: Hannah Montana

The day after Halloween, Jenn and Sadie went with their friends to the Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus concert in the Bay Area. The Jonas Brothers opened for Miley. Sadie, a princess in every right, dressed in her fanciest, most fashionable clothes. Of course, she and her friends compared notes before hand, so they could all match.

U2 3D Movie!

I just went to see this last night at our local IMAX theater. Totally worth the $15 plus parking that it took to see it. The filming is pristine, and the sound -- oh! the sound. This is the best experience in a theater I have had in the last 15 or more years.

Catching Up: Halloween 2007

Halloween this year Mason was a Werewolf, Spencer as Dracula, Sadie was an Evil Queen (a witch with a crown), Jared was several things but mostly Diego (Dora the Explorer's cousin) and Lissy was Dora. Jenn and I were invited to a huge Halloween party, which we attended as a Zombie Bride and Groom. Jenn got her wedding dress from Goodwill on the cheap. I felt bad destroying it for the costume.

Mason went trick or treating with some friends in the neighborhood. He came back several hours later with 14 pounds of candy. He had the pillowcase shown in his hand mostly filled.







The extra kid in the pictures with Lissy and Jared is Daegan, their buddy. He was Diego, too.

Catching Up: October 2007 - San Diego

We went to San Diego for a little family vacation during October. We stayed in a vacation rental condo on the ocean in a town called "Imperial Beach" just south of San Diego proper. The town is great, the condo was perfectly located, the weather was beautiful, there were NO TOURISTS, and we all could just decompress for a couple of days.

We spent almost three full days soaking up some beach time. The older kids tried to boogey board, and we all dug around in the sand. Every night, we'd go out to the beach and play until the sun set in the ocean. At first, we were amateur sand castle builders, then we looked up a website the last day were there, and we figured out how to make things better. (Note to selves -- bigger shovels are key).





We spent one day at Legoland, and an hour or so at the Temple on the way home. Then we hauled the family all the way back home. It was all good. We'll be returning there this year.

Catching Up: Jared's Birthday

Jared's birthday party was small, but lively nonetheless. He had a few buddies come over, and we played games, including "Simon Says." Mason did a whole magic show for them, using props he got over the summer. He's the big FOUR, now. What an awesome kid.


Jenn made that way cool cake with the Lightning McQueen car for a decoration.

Catching up: Miscellaneous September Pictures

Lissy is so cute!






















Mason works on his defender skills.

Catching Up: SLO Town

We listened to books on tape the whole way down to the central coast. One of the kids' books was from the Judy Moody series. It talked about the famed San Luis Obispo Bubblegum Alley. The kids interested, and since we were headed to the San Luis area, we took them to see it in all its disgusting glory.
































You can see Lissy isn't happy about this. It really is somewhat horrifying.































At the corners where walls of the alley meet the walls of the storefronts, the layers of gum were particularly thick, about an inch and a half.































Jenn's sister Alicia got up close and personal.











After depositing our own contributions to Bubblegum Alley, we went to the creek. Lissy had a good time splashing in the water.

Catching Up: Labor Day

For labor day this year, we headed to the beach in the Central Coast. We spent a quick extended weekend, then headed back to our lives. The kids had a great time at the beach.













Sadie in her favorite Dora swimsuit.



















Spencer, Sadie and their cousin Evan digging holes.












Here's me with Jared and Lissy in the shore break.












Jenn's mom supplied this cool fish kite.






































Mason (with the help of Spencer and Evan) dug two really big holes. Then they dug a tunnel between them . Then they took turns crawling through the tunnel.










Heading through the tunnel. You can see the top of Evan's head on the right.













Jared









Sadie and Uncle CJ

Catching Up: The Rest of August

Lissy is quite a character. Here's a picture of her showing off one of many summer dresses.


















We have this one blown up and hanging on the wall next to the piano.















Sadie played her second year of soccer.


















Here she is as Goalie!












Hooray Pink Flamingoes!





















I think this picture was for Jared's cooperative preschool.















LOVE THAT GIRL!

Catching up: Back to School

August wrapped up the summer. Nowadays, summer vacation ends the second week of August, making school start in the hottest part of summer.

We have new neighbors (our third set in 18 months). They have three sons, who are about the same ages as Mason, Spencer, and Jared. The boys find it faster to get into each other's yards by going over the fence.








Jared has grown up a lot. He frequently gets his own breakfast (oatmeal, or cereal) all by himself.














Mason on the first day of school. He's at the local middle school now.

















Spencer on the first day of school.



















Sadie on her first day of school.

Catching Up: The Boat

This summer I bought a boat. It is a Buccaneer 18, made originally by Chrysler (then Starwind, then Cardinal, now Nickels). It is the second fastest non-trapeze monohull under 20 feet according to the Portsmouth Yardstick handicapping system (the Thistle is faster). The boat is 18 feet overall, has a main, a 3/4 rig jib (with a furler), and can be rigged for a spinnaker (meaning it eventually WILL be rigged for a spinnaker).




























I have named her the Stede Bonnet. Not a becoming name, but if you google it, you will see why it is appropriate.

Catching Up: Jenn's Birthday in Tahoe

Our friends, the Petersens, have a family getaway on the Nevada shore of Lake Tahoe. Sometimes, when their whole extended family isn't using it, they invite us up for a long weekend. Last summer, we happened to go on Jenn's Birthday. If you want to know how old she is, she's older than when we met, but younger than she will be next year.

Catching Up: July 2007

The rest of July delivered plenty of fun. The kids went to a local church's summer school, as they have for years. Afterwards they had ice cream. Here are Jared, Spencer, and Sadie digging into their frosty treat.













For some time, Lissy thought that you had to close your eyes to smile. Here she is smiling pretty for the camera.



















Jenn took a curling iron to Lissy's hair to see what it would do. We though she looked like Emily Elizabeth from the Clifford books.
















Pioneer Day! The girls (Sadie with Emma) wore their (now quite small) Pioneer dresses from a few years back.
















Also at pioneer day, Jared got his face painted.














Lissy is sitting cute at the kitchen table.





















Sadie models some new goggles.













Sadie has her friends over for a get together.