Happy Kindergarten!

My friend Amy called me this morning at 8:45 am to find out where I was at Gavin's new school. "I am at home" was my reply. "You didn't stay for the PTA Coffee on the Green?" she was shocked. "I didn't even take him to school", I said. Silence on the other end of the phone. "Well I couldn't take enough photos or video footage of Zack," was the answer. So it is official, I am a neglectful mom on the very first day of school for my very first kid. Oh well Troy went and got a few cute shots of Gavin. When I picked him up, the first thing out of Gavin's mouth was, "I can't wait for tomorrow". Well that makes one of us buddy.
Colby had a little bit of a rude awakening this morning without his big brother/best friend around. He kept asking me, "Where is Gavin, Mommy?". It kinda added insult to my injury. When Gavin walked through the Kindergarten door Colby ran up to him and hugged him like he would never get another chance. Gavin was kinda pushing him away because he wanted to tell me all about his great day. I will be looking for quality Colby activities this year for sure! Happy Kindergarten!

Gavin the first kid on the playground

First Day Of School

The day I have been dreading for the past 5 years and 9 months is upon me. The day I brought Gavin home from the hospital in Dallas, TX, I kept thinking thank goodness I have at least 5 years before I have to worry about school. Those 5 years went by in a flash and I have been battling the tears and the upset gurgle in my stomach all day. Tomorrow I will know what it means to give my child into the care of the California School system. (Freaking Scary Thought!!!) I hate to think of everything he is about to face in the next 13 years of public school. I guess I am just lucky I got the time alone with him that I had and I should be grateful. Don't get me wrong sometimes I have thought to myself, "Why can't he be in school already?" Today I am just sad, petrified and trying to look so excited so he won't know the anxiety I feel. 8:15 am never looked so daunting and imposing. Good Luck Gavin I love you more than you will ever know! Have a great first day!

Backpacking in Colorado

This is being posted by Loralee who did not go on the trip. I feel like it needs to be documented and I will be interested to see if Troy feels the need to correct my documentary. :)

Scott, Dane, Troy, Robb, Glenn and Katy went backpacking in Colorado this last weekend. Troy had been planning the trip for about 3 months and was like a little excited to say the least.

He left Thursday afternoon for Colorado. Thursday night he called me from the airport and told me he loved me and would call me on Monday when he got out of the mountains. Monday night he called around 7:00 pm and told me he would see me around 11:00 pm. He walked in the door and looked like an official mountain man. I should have taken a picture of him upon his entry. I asked him about his trip and he sort of smiled and said, "It was fun, but we wouldn't have made it the whole time without Katy!". What a tribute from an older brother! I was so proud of Katy and of Troy for acknowledging that fact first thing. He went on to say, "She is amazing. She had the heaviest pack, the best endurance and knew how to camp in the snow." Troy also said they had a great time and despite the unpredictable weather, wet wood, super high elevation, and hard trek it was a total success! Here are some pictures of their adventure.

This is the prep before the hiking began.

Troy heard there was a little snow in the mountains a few days before he left and started to get nervous. He definitely had a reason for distress.

Katy is a professional fire starter with out matches or a lighter. She actually rubs two sticks together.


Troy is a catch and release fisherman and was a little apprehensive that Scott and Dane were so driven to eat the mini fish they would catch for food. He spent about 2 weeks doing research on the best breading and frying techniques for fish. He doesn't love fish flavor either.

These are the moments that make backpacking so rewarding. Sun up and Sunset. I actually wish I were there.

I love General Cleg!

"Let's see if the timer works on the camera!"



We need to do more of this kind of stuff!

It is half absurd and half irritating that after Troy downloaded all his pictures he blamed me for messing with the settings and setting the megapixels on the lowest of settings. He really wanted to blow up some of these pictures. In my mind, "Why wouldn't you check the settings before you took the shots?". Who am I though?! Just the mom who stays at home with the 3 kids while you run around the Rocky Mountains!

I need to get more pictures of the three kids together!

This is just a reminder for me that the kids are growing way too fast. Mazzy turns 1 in two months. I can't believe how quickly the year has flown by! Colby is starting his second year of Pre-School and is already impatient for Kindergarten. Gavin starts Kindergarten in two weeks which is exciting and heartbreaking at the same time. There is no longer a safety buffer and I feel like I am introducing him into a pack of rabid wolves. He is more than ready and will be comforting me on the big day. I hate growing up for me and my kids. Oh well it's going to happen regardless. I need to take more pictures to remember these days that pass so slow and terrifyingly quick at the same time!

ZZZZZZing Mazzy!

I love pictures of the kids while they are sleeping.

Rock Climbing Party!

Happy 6th Birthday Kadie Waldron! This is one of Gavin and Colby's favorite buddies! This picture is out of context however. I don't know how I managed not to get a picture of Kadie at her b-day party but I didn't. This is a picture from when we all went camping to Big Sur earlier this summer. Oh well they are a super cute threesome!


We were lucky to celebrate Gavin and Colby's special girlfriend's birthday party at a super fun Rock Climbing Gym in Concord. I don't know who was more excited the boys or Troy.

Gavin and Colby were awesome.

Not to mention Mazzy making her way to the wall every 5 seconds for a piece of the action. Troy still can't stop talking about how sore he is and the event took place 2 weeks ago. (I am falling behind on my blogging)

Gavin could not get enough of the different courses and keeps asking when we are going back. Colby keeps telling me that is where he wants his birthday parties from now on. It is so nice when your kids like to hang out with the same people you like to hang out with! We feel really lucky!

Red Tail Hawk

One of the cool things about living in Windemere is all the hawks. We see them every day. This is a picture of a Red Tail Hawk that was outside our balcony yesterday. You can't tell in the pictures but it was enjoying a meal of fresh pidgeon. I didn't realize how brutal they can be. Oh well they are pretty!

Oakland Zoo Day 7/30

It was a pretty cool week for the zoo. It is one of our favorite activities any time of the year. The highlights this trip was the confiscated alligator that resides with the tortoises. Fish and Game services took it away from a resident who thought it would be cool to have a pet alligator. The poor alligator kept getting bigger and out growing the bathtub that it was kept in. Someone told animal control and they saved the poor little guy. It is a good lesson for my boys because they are always asking me if they can have wild animals for pets.


We also got to watch the cool Lemurs get their dinner. They looked pretty happy. We are excited about the Panda Bears coming in the fall!
Colby's favorite attraction at the zoo is still the Train. I will personally be devastated when he out grows train rides.

It is always a treat to go with Grandma. Today Grandma and Hailey were a two pack! Hailey loves her grandma and vice versa!

I am glad Gavin and Colby still like to ride the airplane together. I don't know how long it will last.

These are my favorite summer days!