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.

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.

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.