November 2010

What do you do on a beautiful warm fall afternoon when there is no school? You go for a hike of course and see the wonders of Nature.  That is what Andrea, Nathan, Jason, Memor and I did and it was great !!

Nathan and Jason started off the adventure to hike to Little Yosemite by crossing this nice bridge.  They always wanted to be out front.

Jason was making sure Memor knew how to skip.  I think she is doing a great job!!

As we walked along Andrea told us to stop and turn around.  We did and found a nice Trantuala walking across the trail.  It was facinating to watch him. 

Up close and personal !!

There wasn't much water at Little Yosemite but there was enough for the boys to throw rocks!

Andrea was trying to get the best angle for her pictures and I got a good angle on her.

Nathan showing off a pretty rock to Memor and Jason.

October 2010

October started off with a hike in the Pleasanton hills on a beautiful day.  The grand kids kept us moving!

Nathan, Memor and Jason

I tried to get the boys to lay on the ground but they wanted to do pile-on!

Who can make it to the top first?  Not Memor or Papa.

We were trying to hide from Memor in the long grass.

As we hiked back there was a flock of turkeys off to the right in the shadows.  They would let us get very close but the boys were ready to throw rocks at them if they came close.

October is always Blue Angels month with Fleet Week in San Francisco.  We enjoy going over every year and this was no exception.  Lunch at Boudin and a great show afterwards!

The Blue Angel model planes are always a hit

Waiting for them to come back.

The sight is always one to capture your attention.

This is the pier we watched from.



With Halloween coming this month you have to visit a pumpkin patch.  We had Jason for his first official sleep over at our house and went to the pumpkin patch first.

Trying to hide from Memor.

The tow truck driver was not in a hurry to tow me back to the shop.

Which one is the Great Pumpkin??

Looks like a great big hug for Memor.

How did Mickey get out of Disneyland?

Can you find Jason?

It was a fun day of hide and seek.

Alway good to sit down and rest a bit.

We had a low key celebration of Andrea's birthday but are so grateful for her and her family.  Looking forward to another great year.

I think some people can't wait to blow out the candles.

Opening presents is always fun.

Of course we had to have some games in the garage for the kids.  This year the theme that Memor came up with was some of the "Minute to Win It" games.  Lots of fun.

September 2010

September started off with a visit to Texas to enjoy the company of family that is just too far away.  We had a great time with kids and grandkids.

We got to visit Audrey's school and see her class.

We also got to have lunch with Audrey and grandparents got to sit on the stage with the student.  It was a lot of fun and I think both kids enjoyed it.

The American Doll store was a hit and "funny faces" were the order of the day.

We then tried our hand at ice skating.  Audrey was getting pretty good by the end.  A fun time.

I think Joshua liked being "dragged" around the rink but he had fun too.

Jello-popcorn was the hit of the night.  I think we needed more popcorn in the batch but there was definately enough sugar!!!

August 2010

August is a special month in many ways.  It started off with Marianne and I celebrating our 40th anniversary by going to Cabo for five days.  It was a great trip and it has been a great 40 years together.

The black spot in the background is a school of bat rays that kept jumping out of the water.  Very cool as was the whole kyaking experience

By sitting in the back of the boat Marianne could not see if I was paddling or not.  It was a great ride!!

As the days warmed up the coolest water in the pool was that coming out of the mouth of the serpants.  We enjoyed the warm and cooler water as well.

Another school of bat rays in the distance.  You can see their fins above the water.

The first day we got to Cabo there was a guy with an ultra light that was giving rides for a fee.  Marianne was brave enough to go and enjoy it.  He was not there the other days of our stay so it is a good thing she took advantage of it when she did.  The following pictures are from the ultra-light.

This is the Grand Mayan that we stayed at as seen by Marianne from the air.

MB in the pool

BB playing in the ocean

July 2010

Jason was exploring in the play room and found some of Audrey's toys and play things and decided that he needed to be Elton John!!  Pretty good imitation!!

Fair Time

July is fair month and we enjoyed the visit with family on a couple of occassions.  Nathan tried some new rides and Jason was not happy that he was too short to go on some of them.  Everyone had a great time.

Nathan finally tried the rollercoaster and loved it and went on it several times.

"Muttin Bustin" was new at the fair this year. Kids try to ride a sheep and get the best time.  Nathan got all suited up and ready to go but when the two kids before him got thrown he decided it wasn't a good idea after all and declined to go.  It did get a little rough so I don't blame him.

Not a John Deere but it worked.

Jason loved this bungy jump and the higher the better.

Horses and Zebras all run together.

Nathan got into the bungy jump as well.  Really soared!

Matt got Nathan to go on this ride and then Nathan liked it so much he took Matt on it three more times.  By the time is was over I think Matt was a little woozy.  Nathan was still going strong.

Some rides are a tight fit for the adults to accompany the kids.

Memor had a great time on some of the rides as well.

Opening day of the fair is always a fun display of fireworks.  Nathan really enjoys them.

Papa and Nathan lying on the ground looking up at the fireworks.

Fourth of July

Fourth of July is always a big hit and what is a celebration without a water fight!!

Marianne's Birthday

Marianne's Birthday happened this month and it seems to happen every year.  For her birthday she wanted to spend the day in San Franciso so we all boarded the ferry in Oakland and headed for Fisherman's Wharf.  We had Kristin, Alli and her boyfriend Jay with his three kids Jayla, Brodie, Jaxson and Andrea, Matt, Nathan and Jason.  Great day and good company.

Alli, Brodie, Jaxson and Jay

Alli, Brodie, Jayla and Jay

Kristin and the rest of the group on the pier where the ferry landed.

The street vendors had everyone's attention

The kids enjoyed watching the mimes and etc.

Boudin's is a a big hit for our family and Nathan really liked the sour dough animals.

As Nathan and Jason rode their Razor scooter a group of unicyclist came by.

Going under the bridge on the ferry.  Had to look at the bottom of the Bay Bridge.

Kristin, Jason and Papa on the ferry

Nathan and Matt on the stern of the boat.  It was a little bright for Nathan.

Bay Bridge from the ferry

Memor and Jason

Love the flag

Alcatraz Island

Good picture spot for Nathan adn Jason

Is that a police boat looking for two guys that escaped from Alcatraz?

It was a beautiful day to celebrate Memor's birthday

Alcatraz again.

Visit to Southern California

July was a fun filled month including a trip to southern California.  We had never been to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and it was a wonderful experience.

Marianne by the replica of the white house.  It was really cool.

Great quote from Pres. Reagan

They have an actual Air Force One in the museum part.

If the glare was missing you might have thought were were there with the President.

His burial site.

A piece of the Berlin Wall.