Ben: Batman (full costume with mask, cape, chest, ...)
Connor: Evil Jester
Avery: Bat (mostly black, looking like a cat, but with wings)
Ben going down for a nap in the afternoon: "right now I'm Bruce Wayne but later I'll be Batman!"
11.01.2009
8.01.2009
Connor Summer Trip with Grandma/Grandpa
Oregon
some geocaching info from gma
WHAT CACHE'S CONNOR AND GMA/PA FOUND ON TRIP
GC11TD2
GC10ZVD
GC11A9T
GC19EOH
---------
GC1P5V2
took nothing, left bug
GC1NP6H
took nothing, left pencil & suction cup guy
GC11HHC
took basketball, left pencil
GC13WRT
this was really unique, loved having to figure this one out
took nothing, left pencil and compass
some geocaching info from gma
WHAT CACHE'S CONNOR AND GMA/PA FOUND ON TRIP
GC11TD2
GC10ZVD
GC11A9T
GC19EOH
---------
GC1P5V2
took nothing, left bug
GC1NP6H
took nothing, left pencil & suction cup guy
GC11HHC
took basketball, left pencil
GC13WRT
this was really unique, loved having to figure this one out
took nothing, left pencil and compass
6.28.2009
Bennett's Birthday Weekend
As usual, the birthday celebration is spanning over a couple days.
Friday - combined preschool graduation with his upcoming bday, brought cupcakes to the "promotion ceremony".
Saturday (actual bday) - went to swim lesson buddy Zoe's bday party down at Poinsettia Park. Jumpy, badminton, horseshoes, pizza, cake. Presents, Bapa Cliff / Gma Nancy came down to visit, more presents, then we all went to Sammys Pizza, recently reopened after their fire.
Sunday - party at the house. "Water fight" theme - water balloons, squirter guns, cake, repeat.
Friday - combined preschool graduation with his upcoming bday, brought cupcakes to the "promotion ceremony".
Saturday (actual bday) - went to swim lesson buddy Zoe's bday party down at Poinsettia Park. Jumpy, badminton, horseshoes, pizza, cake. Presents, Bapa Cliff / Gma Nancy came down to visit, more presents, then we all went to Sammys Pizza, recently reopened after their fire.
Sunday - party at the house. "Water fight" theme - water balloons, squirter guns, cake, repeat.
6.25.2009
The Nerd of Naw-Naws
Background: Ben has forever loved "tags". Yes, tags usually that are on a shirt, or pants, pajamas, etc. The silky smooth ones are his favs - rubs them with his fingers and on his face as he does his reverse 2-finger suck. The name "naw-naw" comes from the sound he used to make when sucking his fingers and playing with the tag. Since his tongue is behind the fingers in his mouth, whatever noise he's trying to make just comes out as naw-naw-naw...
With his 5th bday in a couple days, I was asking him again when he's going to give it up. After some discussion,
Ben declared he is the "Nerd of Naw-Naws" ...
...and that he will never give them up.
With his 5th bday in a couple days, I was asking him again when he's going to give it up. After some discussion,
Ben declared he is the "Nerd of Naw-Naws" ...
...and that he will never give them up.
6.14.2009
Ponies at Fiesta Island
I had never been camping on Fiesta Island - actually have never even been out ON Fiesta Island in Mission Bay. It's famous for hosting the over-the-line (OTL) tourney, but never made it to that either.
Anyway - great venue, there's a Youth Camp / Yacht Club out there on the North-East corner of the island that we get to monopolize and setup tents. There's actual sites scattered around the street the rounds the area.
Chief Stace tore his achillies tendon a couple weeks before this, so he was there on Saturday only, in full boot, crutches, wheel chair. Had a great time riding bikes around the loop, Avery and I took a longer ride around the island, saw where OTL is held, and a small cove with a water ski slalom course and a ski jump.
Cardboard boat race in the afternoon - Ponies entry sank almost immediately, but Stone swam a small piece of it around the course.
Swim across the bay
When Stace was there with the boys (last season?), he swam across the bay to the mainland where the hotel is - barely making it by his own admission. Got "stuck" over there, not being able to get back - long story short, he flagged down a random jet skier to give him a ride back over.
So this time, when we were all sitting on the beach watching the girls frolic in the water, Stace laid down a challenge (from his wheelchair). 8 of us jumped in and proceeded to swim across. (OK, a couple of us, including me, needed some coaxing). 6 of us made it back after a short rest on the other side. Dan, Scott F, James H, James E, Chris, Tom, Jon, Kevin, Stone
Stace, you gonna join us next year?
Bounce Out
Typical bounce out session for the girls "graduating" out of Princesses (usually 4th graders). Avery has 1 more year at least, technically she could do another one (age 10 when you start in the fall). Create a line of dads, pass the bounce out girls above our heads down the line. The Ponies section of "tall vball dudes" flipped the girls as they came through. End up on the tarp for a true "bounce out" at the end of the line.
Anyway - great venue, there's a Youth Camp / Yacht Club out there on the North-East corner of the island that we get to monopolize and setup tents. There's actual sites scattered around the street the rounds the area.
Chief Stace tore his achillies tendon a couple weeks before this, so he was there on Saturday only, in full boot, crutches, wheel chair. Had a great time riding bikes around the loop, Avery and I took a longer ride around the island, saw where OTL is held, and a small cove with a water ski slalom course and a ski jump.
Cardboard boat race in the afternoon - Ponies entry sank almost immediately, but Stone swam a small piece of it around the course.
Swim across the bay
When Stace was there with the boys (last season?), he swam across the bay to the mainland where the hotel is - barely making it by his own admission. Got "stuck" over there, not being able to get back - long story short, he flagged down a random jet skier to give him a ride back over.
So this time, when we were all sitting on the beach watching the girls frolic in the water, Stace laid down a challenge (from his wheelchair). 8 of us jumped in and proceeded to swim across. (OK, a couple of us, including me, needed some coaxing). 6 of us made it back after a short rest on the other side. Dan, Scott F, James H, James E, Chris, Tom, Jon, Kevin, Stone
Stace, you gonna join us next year?
Bounce Out
Typical bounce out session for the girls "graduating" out of Princesses (usually 4th graders). Avery has 1 more year at least, technically she could do another one (age 10 when you start in the fall). Create a line of dads, pass the bounce out girls above our heads down the line. The Ponies section of "tall vball dudes" flipped the girls as they came through. End up on the tarp for a true "bounce out" at the end of the line.
4.19.2009
Aztecs at Hurkey Creek
Took the boys to Hurkey Creek with the boys this weekend. Ben's second campout - he's a real veteran now. :)
Ben did the 6-aims again, this time rattling them off pretty well to MedMan Jim Babcock. Stuck just for a couple secs on a couple of them, and then the great last one: " ... preserve the great spirit's beauty in forest, field, forest field, and stream ..." Love it.
It was FREEZING at night. WeatherUnderground says it was 25° at Lake Hemet which is just 200 yards down the road. Probably a little colder there cuz it's on the water, but ranger on site at Hurkey Creek said low of 31°. I was jealous of the 82" arctic sleeping bag (down to 5°) that Herb and Brook have - think I'll be making a run to Sports Authority. Considerably warmer on Saturday night.
Tribal comp was laser tag. Portable outdoor setup from some company, looked like the old x-games setup. IR based guns, headband with velcro sensors. Ben didn't play - prepped him before the campout that it probably wouldnt be his thing. He was super patient when having to sit and watch the whole time. Took forever to get through the games, about 15 mins each for 2 tribes against each other. Us Aztecs sucked - lost all 1st round matches split up into A, B, and C teams.
This was Chief Brook "Big Foot" last full event. Next month he'll pass the reins to Rod Dargie, and usually even by Friday heading over there, the new chief is already in charge. What a great year with Brook at the helm.
Ben did the 6-aims again, this time rattling them off pretty well to MedMan Jim Babcock. Stuck just for a couple secs on a couple of them, and then the great last one: " ... preserve the great spirit's beauty in forest, field, forest field, and stream ..." Love it.
It was FREEZING at night. WeatherUnderground says it was 25° at Lake Hemet which is just 200 yards down the road. Probably a little colder there cuz it's on the water, but ranger on site at Hurkey Creek said low of 31°. I was jealous of the 82" arctic sleeping bag (down to 5°) that Herb and Brook have - think I'll be making a run to Sports Authority. Considerably warmer on Saturday night.
Tribal comp was laser tag. Portable outdoor setup from some company, looked like the old x-games setup. IR based guns, headband with velcro sensors. Ben didn't play - prepped him before the campout that it probably wouldnt be his thing. He was super patient when having to sit and watch the whole time. Took forever to get through the games, about 15 mins each for 2 tribes against each other. Us Aztecs sucked - lost all 1st round matches split up into A, B, and C teams.
This was Chief Brook "Big Foot" last full event. Next month he'll pass the reins to Rod Dargie, and usually even by Friday heading over there, the new chief is already in charge. What a great year with Brook at the helm.
3.01.2009
Aztecs at Dos Picos - Ben's First Campout
"Snuck" Ben into his first Indian Guides campout this weekend at Dos Picos. He's 4 now, will be 5 in June, so he's "close enough" to check it out.
Ben did great! It's a LONG couple days without naps, and just being outside in the sun all day, doing various activities, and then up late for the nation fire. Tried to have him nap a bit on Saturday afternoon, he laid in there for about 45 mins, but didnt ever really get any sleep.
Ben rocked the 6 aims! This is his FIRST campout, and not even 5 yet, and he recited the aims to MedMan (Jim Babcock). Connor and I were working on them with him throughout last week, and I wasn't sure he'd remember many of them. Worked on them again on the drive out there, and then after the geocaching tribal event, he found MedMan and started doing them. I didn't even know he was doing them until the end, captured the ending. SO proud of you Ben! I've heard of other braves doing the aims on their 1st campout, but never a 4-year-old.
Rest of wkend was pretty typical campout. Connor and Ben mostly hung out with Harrison and Hayden Logan, probably their best buds in the tribe. At one point, they were off biking around the campground and Ben got "stuck" - couldnt make it up the (very gradual) hill (sill on training wheels). Harrison rode back to our campsite, and then ran back to push Ben past the sticking point. Turned in Harrison for the good deed - he ended up getting an award at Sunday Zocolo.
Next up - Hurkey Creek in May.
Ben did great! It's a LONG couple days without naps, and just being outside in the sun all day, doing various activities, and then up late for the nation fire. Tried to have him nap a bit on Saturday afternoon, he laid in there for about 45 mins, but didnt ever really get any sleep.
Ben rocked the 6 aims! This is his FIRST campout, and not even 5 yet, and he recited the aims to MedMan (Jim Babcock). Connor and I were working on them with him throughout last week, and I wasn't sure he'd remember many of them. Worked on them again on the drive out there, and then after the geocaching tribal event, he found MedMan and started doing them. I didn't even know he was doing them until the end, captured the ending. SO proud of you Ben! I've heard of other braves doing the aims on their 1st campout, but never a 4-year-old.
Rest of wkend was pretty typical campout. Connor and Ben mostly hung out with Harrison and Hayden Logan, probably their best buds in the tribe. At one point, they were off biking around the campground and Ben got "stuck" - couldnt make it up the (very gradual) hill (sill on training wheels). Harrison rode back to our campsite, and then ran back to push Ben past the sticking point. Turned in Harrison for the good deed - he ended up getting an award at Sunday Zocolo.
Next up - Hurkey Creek in May.
2.25.2009
Ponies at Indian Hills
Always one of the favorites, and this time Elena Trask went with us! This was her second campout (first one Marston last month), so Avery's loving having her around. In fact this time, Travis had sports commitments with the boys so we took Elena on Friday and had her with us until Trav showed up Saturday at 4pm. (shared our Costco tent with them)
The highlights:
The highlights:
- Zip line - no hands by Avery. Fun to think of the difference between now and when she was 5. Super scared to even DO the zip line.
- Paint ball - Robert Baron stood at the back of the range with a helmet and a sheet (like a ghost) as the girls pelted him.
- No gold mining this time, instead a hike to the observation tower and "split rock"
- The girls didn't do the BMX track nearly as much as the boys do (Avery never did)
- Wheelbarrow "races" - more about precision: girls sit in a wheelbarrow and hold a dish of water and try not to spil any as the dad takes them around the first couple turns of the BMX track, then pour their water into the tribe bucket. Tribe with the most water per girl wins. Stace super slow - got tons of crap, even A SKIT from the Painted Ponies about how slow he was going.
- Poker: first night Ponies joined by Bob and Jeff Lynch, two sharks. (Bob from the Cotton Tails is hosted the nation poker event in Rancho Santa Fe). Next night a couple more sharks that acted like they didn't know how to play, then took everyone's money, then they booted him (drama). I didn't play until after all that went down.
Guh, Guh, GO
We've been working with Ben on some of the sounds he has trouble making, mostly hard C's. Over the weekend, Jamie taught him about the hard G sound.
He can tilt his head back and say "guh, guh" like he's gargling water (I think that's how she taught him in the first place - with water). So when we want him to practice a hard G, he'll do that drill - a couple "guh, guh"s and then the word.
This morning, he's in an anti-school mood and said didn't want to "DOE" to school. We wanted him to say GO:
"guh, guh, NOT DOE to school"
He can tilt his head back and say "guh, guh" like he's gargling water (I think that's how she taught him in the first place - with water). So when we want him to practice a hard G, he'll do that drill - a couple "guh, guh"s and then the word.
This morning, he's in an anti-school mood and said didn't want to "DOE" to school. We wanted him to say GO:
"guh, guh, NOT DOE to school"
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