California Vacation 2014

It was one of our all around best California vacations ever.  Maybe it was the perfect weather we had all week (no June gloom).  Maybe it was the fantastic condo a few steps away from the beach.  Maybe it was the relaxation or the busy theme-park filled tourist activity days.  No, I guess it was spending lots of fun quality family time together with no schedule, no worries and no stress.  We're blessed and a week like this reminds us again how lucky we are.  Enjoy some of the best photos from our week in Newport Beach this past July.

View from our condo patio to beach access across the street!

Luke attempts to hold a pinwheel with his toes, but I don't know why

Being silly, or maybe just too much sugar?

Angela relaxes in the afternoon shade on the patio... ahhh vacation

A heap of kids on the chaise lounge

Boogie boarding in the surf

Luke begins to build (or destroy?) a sand castle

Luke wants to hang 10!

Sassy on display

Maddie strikes a pose in the surf

Luke's first adventure on a stand up paddle board (he did great)

Maddie successfully navigates her stand up (kneel down?) paddle board

Luke keeps Dad on course

After her first try, Maddie is a pro!

I'm going to get you, Luke!

Caught you!

An awesome tree for climbing

It's big enough to fit two kids!

Even big enough for Dad!

A happy mom

Famous Balboa Island ice cream shop (it was really good)

Ready for takeoff!

Maddie and Dad meet Snoopy at Knotts Berry Farm

Luke and Maddie enjoy a ride

Bouncy car ride... too fun!

Hang on Luke and Maddie!

What... me?

Trying not to laugh

Perfect beach day

Maddie finds anemones in the tide pool

Maddie Piano Recital 2014

Another "old" post from the backlog of photos and videos that I'm still catching up with... this one is Maddie's 3rd grade piano recital from April.  She played "Noel" (not the Christmas song) by Alexandre Tansman.  Enjoy!

Searching through old blog posts I noticed that I didn't post her 2nd grade recital, but here's a link to here first grade recital from 2012.

Florida Spring Break 2014

As I post this overdue blog update in the middle of the blazing hot summer, oh how I long for the cooler days of spring.  In March we traveled to Florida to spend spring break with Grandma.  While this area of Florida is known for some of the best beaches in the world, we didn't have the best beach weather during our visit. However the cool (and sometimes wet) weather didn't dampen our spirits.  We had a fantastic week of fun and awesome activities.  Oh, and we did get to the beach (several days) too!

Dad, Luke and Maddie building the perfect sand castle

Luke runs to the waves (and turns around to run away)

A boat sails into the sand castle moat

Maddie, Mom, and crystal clear water

Maddie tests the water

Luke scoops a handful of sand between waves

A new dump truck makes the perfect beach toy?

We caught a bucket full of... water

There's a boy wrapped in that towel...

Planting tomatoes with Grandma

Sitting on Grandma's dock looking for dolphins

Cheese!

Playing chase in Grandma's back yard

Camera shy Luke with Sissy

The freaky gorilla statue makes Luke uncomfortable... okay and Dad too

A moment of laughter on National Green Shirt Day

Maddie + Aquarium = Happiness

During a visit to a wild cat rescue, a "kitty" loves on Maddie

Lots of cat prints in this photo... one is real

Grandma and Maddie

Luke's School Completion Ceremony (from May 2014)

I'm still trying to catch up with blog posts but not doing so well... lots of great photos and videos to post.

Here are a few photos and a short video from Luke's "Completion Ceremony" in May when he completed his first year of school in his 3-year old class.  (This week he started in the 4-year old class)!  By the way, I have a longer version of the video and I can send the link if you're interested, just let me know.

Luke and Miss Erin

He did it!  First year complete!

Random photos from early 2014

I've been bad about posting photos and updates lately (okay, I've been bad for awhile - first post of 2014 is in June?!).  A big reason for this is simply the business of daily family life and work and all that is going on. However I wouldn't be completely honest if I didn't admit (at least to myself) that I just need to resolve to make time and commit to more frequent postings.  Let's see how that goes...

My lack of activity on this blog certainly is not due to lack of material to post and discuss.  We collect hundreds of photos and hours of videos, almost faster than we can download, view and process.

Here are some random photos from early 2014... enjoy!

Dad and Luke feed some hungry goats at the zoo

A moment of laughter at the zoo

Maddie gives iguana a high five

Big Sissy and Little Brother

Expressive... I can't remember what he was saying or doing, but it sure is a cute photo

A bath time photo