Vacation! Day 1 (Sunday 9/2)

We stopped by Matt’s work and visited the baby cows and “BIG” cow (the boys make it sound like they are giants but I guess they would be to a two year old).  Then we hit the road.  It went much better than it did two years ago!  We made two stops (including lunch) and made it down in just over six hours.  The kids didn’t nap and didn’t want to eat much dinner but thankfully went right to sleep after their baths.  Ah, and early to bed for us!  

A walk around the neighborhood

On Sunday morning we took a long walk around the neighborhood. There is a great path for walking and the kids did really well and would have walked longer but Anna was hungry. She must be growing because she is always hungry lately.

Summer haircuts!

It has been very hot this last week and the boys were in serious need of haircuts.  This morning they got a serious haircut!  :-)  They were getting rather shaggy and they got buzz cuts just like Dad!  They did really well and seem to like having less hair! 

Masons being silly! (Anna, a.k.a. Rapunzel in the background didn't get a haircut today.)

 

 Olivier enjoying a ride down the slide.

 Olivier, Anna, and Mason playing train on the slide.

 Mason was being super silly and full of smiles!  A big change over two days ago when he had a bad cold. 

The boys really liked the idea of train on the slide.  Olivier was the "Captain" of the train.  

Go Dad Go!

Matt rode in the 100K bike ride as part of the Central Coast Cancer Challenge.  It takes him through the great area we live in and is for a great cause!  This year the course was nearly reverse to the route from last year.  The last organized stop was at the park across the street from my brother.  They were there with my parents and were able to go see him go through the stop.  At that point he had six people ahead of him, and he passed one of them before the finish line!

Such a nice park!

 Taking a quick breather.

 And back on the road!

We went across the street from our new home and waited to see Matt ride by.  Daneya, Ed, Connor, Ryan and Zachary were in town and joined us in cheering Mat on.  Mason, Olivier and Anna made a sign and Anna was very excited to hold it.  Thankfully Connor and Ryan were happy to help!

Here comes Matt!  Yeah! 

Matt finished his ride in 3 hours 38 minutes!  Amazing!  Way to go love!

Swim lessons!

This summer has been a whirl wind of activity including swimming lessons.  Anna did four weeks with her class and is doing another four weeks in the evenings.  We are are at the half way point of the evening swim lessons and it is great to see the progress!  Anna is moving up to the next level.  Olivier is ready to as well (depends on if there is space) and Mason is making huge strides! 

Here is a group shot enjoying some shade.  It is still very bright with a lot of reflection off the pool. 

 

 Olivier swimming with Dad.

 Olivier practicing his back floats.

 And more swimming, and in typical Olivier fashion he has his tongue hanging out!  Silly boy!

 Mason is usually slow to warm up.  He likes doing "monkey crawls" along the wall of the pool.

 Anna loves being in the pool.  During her first four weeks of lessons she was very hesitant to put her face in the water.  We broke down and got her some goggles.  It seems to have helped her get more comfortable with putting her face in the water and swimming more. 

 Anna is in a class with a teacher and no parent.  She has done really well!

 I think she is suppose to have her face in the water at this point.  Getting closer!

 Olivier swimming with Dad.  He is a true water bug!

 Anna swimming to the wall.  Doing a great job kicking and pointing with her hands. 

 The boys enjoying the shallow water where they can walk. 

 Olivier showing off how he loves to go under water!

 Listening to the boys teacher on what skill to work on next. 

 Anna working on her back float.

 Anna enjoying some splashing in the shallow water. 

 

We have two more weeks to go.  It has made for long days and mixed up schedules but we see how much the kids like it and how much they have improved and it is all worth it! 

Happy 1st Birthday Rhys!

It is hard to believe Rhys is 1!  Where has the year gone!  Although things were very busy with moving the day before, we were happy to break away and enjoy the party!  The kids had Grandpa working hard pulling the wagon. 

 Natalie and Mason were enjoying a ride at this point with Olivier "helping" Grandpa pull. 

 

 Now Mason is joined by Liam (Natalie and Rhy's cousin) and Natalie was "helping" Grandpa. 

Rhys really enjoyed her cake, much like her sister.  Yum!  Who doesn't like cake? 

 Anna, Mason, Olivier, Natalie and Liam sure love cake too! 

Happy Birthday Rhys!  We love you!

Swim lessons

We have started swim lessons with Mason and Olivier for the next four weeks.  Anna continues her lessons (she has taken four weeks already and will take four more).  The first day went very well, Anna was happy that she now has goggles, Olivier is ready and willing to do anything, and Mason is enjoying kicking his legs.  The next four weeks will be beyond busy but we would not pass up on this time for them to learn the basics of being in a pool.