Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Making August Last...

This week has been a limbo week. No school, no camps, and that is fine by us and our beloved nanny, Ana. Both kids are home, and spending their last days with Ana before she ventures on to the next chapter of her life. A new baby and a new City are coming soon for her, and OUR littlest muchacho will be starting school in September. This parting is something we have been dreading since the beginning of last year. We knew after Hay started school this inevitable and heartbreaking moment would be imminent. After almost 6 years, we will say Adios to the most special person imaginable. Okay, I can't type anymore because my iPad is about to flood with tears. Until D Day - some fun pics.

Number five is coming soon!

We are much safer with these guys in our ranks...or more fit...not sure.

Plants have invaded and are eating our family (good thing for those super jazzy heros above!)

This Super Dad had a Ronnie Lott birthday.

We are rockin' old sleep sacks...


We got our ride back and I'm not the only one who's happy.

Hasta Septiembre....Sad post coming soon *sniff*



Sunday, August 26, 2012

The End of Skate Week, is Only the Beginning.

Skate week, shark week, everything should have a "week." I will also be coining this as "Success Week!" Ry likes skateboarding! We have confirmed with him that YES, this is in fact a sport, so it counts (as far as choosing a sport). We really have not found something thus far that has peaked his interest, so we'll try to keep the momentum with skating. He also asked if he could take golf lessons- fitting, for one named Ryder.

Here are some final videos from the week and some pics.


Solo ramp run and some "Call Me Maybe"...



Conquering the Stairs



Pics by Andy Freeman

Chapter two....


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Skate Camp Day 3 - Go Big or Go Home.


So today Ry's skate Instructors informed me that he feels that learning the fundamentals are boring, and he wants to do the "big stuff." Those who have known me and my husband from childhood will probably find this funny...and somewhat reeking of karma. I guess the apple really doesn't fall far from the tree.

Mind you, this kid won't really skate down a small incline by himself yet, but in his mind, he's ready for the big time.



Here's another skill he can actually do himself...



We will be investing in Super-sized amounts of ice packs, children's tylenol and gauze.



Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Skate Camp - Day One

This week marked one of the most anticipated camps of our Summer, Skateboarding Camp! Society Skate Shop in San Carlos runs this camp through the Redwood City Parks and Recreation Department (a little shameless self promotion...from me, Leslie Knope) I also have to mention that this camp took no encouragement or bribery to get him to go, just an investment on our part for the right equipment...coupled with a zillion..."You'd better REALLY want this" since equipment-wise, we were starting from scratch.

The Skatepark itself is awesome. It was constructed with a lot of input from local skaters and named in memory of one of Redwood City's resident Pro Skaters, Phil Shao, who passed away in 1998 by way of an auto accident.


Big daunting bowls, rails, stairs, you name it. Ry is just psyched to learn to conquer the flat, but did spend a good part of lesson one learning how to fall "correctly" sliding down the sides of the giant bowl. His pads already look as if they have been annihilated by a full season of X Games training.

Here are a couple of pics from Day One... And a Vid. I'm totally impressed by how much they taught him in one day - he even rode down the stairs, solo!

Ramp assistance.

Learning to ride fakie in the big bowl!

First injury... "belly burn." I was also told that he got a "shark bite" that day. He was a champ and told me "I got hurt, but it didn't stop me from skateboarding." Attaboy.



Maybe someday he'll star in the sequel.
Until then...to be continued...


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Summergram

Summer is whizzing by and our days have been typical. Swimming, Summer Camps, Birthday Parties, Play Dates, Lots of Fro Yo, some road trips and well, Mommy and Daddy still find time to work. Here are some Summer pics, mostly via Instagram. (follow my feed @jfree2be and Andy @crownmoto)

Good Days


Bad Days :-(

Rolling Stone retrospective

Girls Trips

First Flops

Hair Cuts by Mommy...

Wiiiiiiiiii


Helping...


Tie Dying

Lots of Breakfasts at Alana's


Cooking... Once (s'mores cookies)


Ice Cream


Watching the Olympics and reminiscing.

Crazy Nights

Puppies! (no, we didn't take another one home... But you can!)


Just being natural

Jedi Lego Camps and X-Wing Fighters. I've been made aware that at the end of the week, he was now, certifiably, a real Jedi.

New Offices and helpers...

Andy's Office

Nights on the Town with Mr. Tambourine Man

Eating Pizza with Daddy

Completion of projects and new babies on the way... NOT US!

Shopping for new hobbies


And so it begins...


Just a snippet of our family here and there. There have been so many other moments that may remain unlogged- friends from out of town, road trips, etc. Hopefully, we'll have more to share soon. We are not ready to say that Summer is cooked just yet!