Grandpa this one is just for you

Anna wanted to show you how she can hold her breath and put her face underwater. I have a longer video but YouTube said it was too long for their free account.



Watch it on YouTube

Recent Visit to Nanas

On a recent visit to Nana's we spent part of a morning hiking through the Forest of Nisene Marks in Aptos. We usually do a morning run in the forest but this time we just walked. Anna enjoyed the walk and collected things she found along the way. One side trail took us down to a stream just below the trail.

see it at YouTube

One of the hotter weekends

We had another fun weekend. The weather was hotter than it has been recently, we've had a pretty mild summer this year. Anna played in our pool and we also took her to the pool at the park around the corner from our house. Julie received a pool chair for her birthday from her co-workers.

Here is a video of Anna sitting in the same pool chair.


Watch it at YouTube

Another fun weekend

Today we went to breakfast then came home and washed my car. Then the Thunderbirds were putting on a show at Mather A.F.B. and we could see it from our driveway. When they circle around for some of the maneuvers they fly right over our house a fairly low altitude. Last year it was the Blue Angels. I get a thrill out of watching these two teams fly.

I shot this in between watching the plains fly overhead

Then we jumped in the pool too cool off and later headed off for the start of the "Pops in the Park" summer music series.

The only photos I took were of friends and their families. I'll post crowd or band photos from the next concert.
Here is the bands website

New Kitten, Calpernia

A few weeks ago, while we were out of town for a long weekend, our former new cat decided to see what was across the street late one night and didn't make it to the other side. I found out from our neighbors while unpacking the car. We had to break the news to Anna and we were worried she would be very upset, but she took it well knowing he was in heaven. So, Friday I had the opportunity to bring home another new family member.

This one, it tuns out, has a very different personality. I was told she was one of the friendly ones from the litter but sofar she is very scared and tries to run and hide at every opportunity. The first day she hid behind and underneath a large piece of furniture. She stayed there for 24+ hours then we pulled everything off and moved this piece. Now the way behind it is blocked on both sides and little Calpernia is in a carrier while we try to calm her and get her to eat and drink.
The slightest move from anyone in the room and she jumps and tries to run for cover. I guess this is the epitome of a scardie cat. A little disappointing but we'll stick with the kitten and see if we can make it a fun pet.

Samurai Gardner

We had been talking about pruning a big cypress that hangs over our patio trellis for a couple of weeks. This weekend I decided to go for it. I climbed up in the tree and started hacking away. It turned out better than expected. There is now more light on the patio and the tree doesn't look bad. I only received a minor scrape on my shin from a large branch. From the pile in the street you would have thought I cut down a tree. Now there wont be as much stuff falling in the pool either.

Graduation Celebration

June 1st Laura graduated from her Dental Assistant program with honors!

Here is the banner we hung from the balcony during the ceremony. The crowd was a bit loud but it was fun seeing Laura and the others cross the stage and receive their diplomas.

Fun Weekend!

The weather was great this weekend so we took advantage of it and camped out on the deck then played in the pool and relaxed on the deck. Anna had a blast camping out in the backyard. We told stories and ate chips, ice cream sandwiches, watermelon, and cherries.

Praise GOD for keeping us safe!

This morning while driving to work, with my daughter in the back seat, I was just heading out of our neighborhood when, as I approached the turn to the main street I take to the freeway, a big-rig truck came through the intersection from the opposite side turning onto the same road I was going to turn on. Apparently he was going to fast for the turn and the truck rolled onto it's side and slid to a stop across the turn lane I would have been in, in another few seconds.

My first thought, and words out of my mouth, was "Oh my GOD!". Then I quickly turned into the mini-mart lot on the corner, parked and jumped out to go see if the driver was ok. He was kicking his front window out as another guy who was standing in the lot ran over and started helping pull the front window off. The driver got out and quickly moved away from the truck. When he saw that the truck wasn't going to ignight, he started cussing and hitting the truck in disgust. He then got his stuff out of the cab.

Since the driver appeared to be ok, I got back in the car and continued off to work. I told my daughter it was lucky we weren't in the turn lane yet when that truck over-turned.

I was shaken abit as I thought how close it was. I told my daughter we should thank GOD that we were still safe.

Father Daughter Day

Anna and I spent the day together. We went to church in the morning and she helped me count the offering after church. Then we went down stairs and enjoyed the food and fellowship that the church puts out after church every Sunday.

We went to the park around the corner from the house and played when we got back home.

View at You Tube
Anna climbed a tree (with some help)

then we headed home and Anna and mom made brownies. While the brownies baked Anna and I went to a big park downtown and fed the ducks and geese

then played at the huge play area for a while. Anna played hide and seek with another girl she met there.




It was a good Father Daughter day for the two of us.