Summer in California, Part 1

We were able to spend the bulk of our summer at my mom's house in the foothills of Northern California.  It wasn't really planned.  But my mom's memory is having challenges and when she went through a period (about a week) of extreme memory loss (and other issues) we bit the bullet, paid a lot of money, and bought tickets to visit.  The most economical way to travel was to stay 6 weeks, so we did.  It ended up being too long for me, emotionally, but we were able to do a lot of fun stuff without completely wearing us out.

Here are a bunch of things we did during the first half of our stay:

Reading the safety card on our flight out.

The first morning there we woke up extra early (with the time change) and watched the sun rise over the dry earth.

Morning walks with Grandma.

Kayle's boat.

We were only able to go out on Folsom Lake a couple of times before it got so low (because of the drought) the lake was closed off.

More morning walks with Grandma.

Isabella enjoyed having little girl cousins to play "big sister" to.

Rope swing at Grandma's.

A favorite photo!!!  Isn't it gorgeous?! Picking wild blackberries.

I was so impressed with my brave girl for trying this.  We were at a church picnic where she didn't know anyone, but she was so willing to hop right in and get involved.

This splash pad was very fun!

Drying off in the intense sunshine at the splash pad.

Swimming!

Isabella and Kate helped me make a simple baby quilt for Mary's baby.  Or, I guess I helped them!  I love how involved they got.

Kate helped by deciding where to put certain pieces.

I know I'm the one that *looks* pregnant, but this is at Mary's baby shower.

Summer perfection!

Isabella adores babies and loved helping with Claire.

Despite the intense heat we tried to get out and run around as much as possible.

And catch baby lizards.

I love that Isabella got to spend time with her big girl cousins.

silliness.

More running!!!

Aunt Annie working her magic massage fingers.  I couldn't believe how long Isabella just sat there, completely relaxed.

Picking Tokay grapes with cousins outside the Folsom Zoo.

My cousin, Tori, and her cute kids on a little steam engine outside the Folsom Zoo.

This was at a Relief Society (church) get together for the women.  I didn't have anyone to watch my kids so I brought them.  Isabella got permission to swim in the host's pool, but she didn't have her swimsuit...that didn't stop her!

We got to spend a day at my Aunt Evelyn's home in the Bay Area.  My kids brought a lot of crazy to her home, but she loved them/us anyway and treated us so well!  I love my Aunties!!!

The Stars at Night...

After New Orleans we finally made it to Texas!  First stop was Houston; the city with the most intricate, confusing, unnecessarily high highway system I have ever seen.

Our first encounter with Houston.

Catching up with an old roommate and her wonderful family.

We stayed only briefly in Houston before heading to San Antonio to see the Alamo.  My younger brother, Sean, and his family live in College Station (about 3 hours from San Antonio), so they came to meet us so we could all play together.  AND my mom, from California  was visiting my brother in College Station at the time, so we got to see her too.  It was a wonderful treat!  Grandma and cousins!

After two days in San Antonio we all went to visit a family friend who lives in Comfort, TX, about an hour outside San Antonio.  There we got to hang out with my family some more, do an Easter egg hunt, catch up with a childhood friend (unexpectedly), and fire some real guns for the first time in my life.  (Real as in: not a squirt or nerf gun.)

Fiona was my neighbor when we were kids (5-12 years old).  When I posted a photo of myself shooting a gun, in "Comfort, TX" onto facebook she wrote and said she lived in a neighboring town.  She drove 20 minutes Easter morning to see me.  It was so much fun to catch up.

Here's an unedited (meaning: a tad too long) video of me firing a shotgun for the first time (and my reaction).

More Texas to come...

Isabella's Amazing Race

Yesterday we went to the New York Road Runners Youth Jamboree held at the Amory (a huge indoor track in Washington Heights, about the size of a city block).  The Youth Jamboree is a free track and field event open to all the kids in the city.  It was insanely busy with thousands of kids and even more crazy parents.  Since Isabella is a good little runner and her p.e. teacher encouraged her to attend we dedicated that morning to her and two races.  She ran the 55 meter dash and the 200 meter dash.  She competed with girls who were in Kindergarten and 1st grade (her division).

She started the morning with her 55 meter dash at 9am.  It was the first time she ran a race like that so she was a little slow to start, but did great.  We had a 2 hour break before her 200 meter race so Spencer (Brian's brother) coached and practiced with Isabella (all in fun and games) to help her do a little better on her next race.

With so many kids participating there was a lot of waiting involved, but when it was Isabella's turn she looked ready.  We had to stay up in the bleachers and watch.  Brian caught most of it on video, but I'm going to try and explain what happened.

A little background: Since there were so many events going on simultaneously different guns would go off and kids would often dash out at the wrong time because the gun was fired for a different race.  This problem happened over and over again.  

From my perspective:  The kids were getting lined up, Isabella was put on the outside lane.  An official was escorting two kids around, a gun went off.  Isabella dashed out, the official (with the kids was right in front of her) stopped her.  Isabella went back to the start.  (We all assumed it was another false start.)  But the other officials were yelling at her to run.  And all the other kids were already 1/4 of the way down the track.  (I couldn't believe it.  I felt so angry and frustrated for her!)  Isabella shot out like a firecracker.  She ran so fast and hard!  Half way through she was passing all the kids, one after another.  It was amazing!!!

She almost placed 2nd or 3rd, but she wasn't sure how to get around the two girls in front of her, who were running shoulder to shoulder, so she slowed down.  I couldn't believe how fast she was!

Part of me wanted to go yell at the officials, but I remembered to keep my cool and show Isabella how excited I was for her.  She was so strong, so fast, so determined.  I am so so proud of her!

And now, the video...

You can see her behind everyone and her speedy recovery.  See the person on the track in black, on the far left of the screen, that's the official blocking Isabella.  It's hard to see Isabella at the finish, since she's right behind the other girls...but enjoy.  I think you can enlarge the video so you can see her better.  And the photos below show the story as well.

Isabella's Comeback from Kiasa Carini on Vimeo.

And here are some fun photographs from the event:

At the ready for the 55 meter dash.

Dashing 55 meters

waiting

Lined up for the 200 meter dash

BUSTED!
This shows it all!
The other runners have already started; the official, and two kids, are walking right in front of Isabella.  
I'm saying, "What the $#%^@?!?!?

Full speed ahead!

3/4 of the way there and passing everyone.

She's stuck right behind those two girls!  GO ISABELLA!!!

Victory Cone!

I'm so impressed and proud of her!!!!  You go girl!