Elmo's Flying Fish

While we were in California we went to Sea World. The last time I was at Sea World I think Brother was 3 years old. They have since added a Sesame Street area that had three rides for the very small. The Abby Cadabby ride was like the tea cups at Disneyland.

Before the ride got started, Brother was spinning the wheel super fast which resulted in a very spinny cup and some super dizzy kids.

There was also a watery roller coaster ride in addition to the Shipwrecked Rapids ride that Brother was too small to go on the last time we were there.

We saw a handful of shows. There is a new show called Blue Horizons which has dolphins, costumes and dancers flying from wires.

We saw a Sesame Street 4-D show which is probably on You-Tube because the guy sitting next to me was filming it.

And of course we saw Shamu.

Brother wanted to sit down low in the soak zone, rows 1-16. We sat in row 13. I was still completely soaked from the Shipwrecked Rapids ride that I took him on.

We had a great time seeing the shows, riding the rides and seeing all of the animals. Brother's favorite part was the Atlantis roller coaster and touching a dolphin. Sister's favorite part was Elmo's flying fish and Shamu.

Thanks mom and dad for a fun day!

Angel Game

I meant to post while we were in California but I just didn't get around to it.

Brother, Sister and I went to California for . Unfortunately Papa Bear couldn't go with us. Football and all of the other sports had started and they think they need Papa to take care of them.

We went to an Angel game while we were there.

Our tickets were pretty good, we were up in section 426, front row right after first base. But this is where we sat instead.

I have a friend, who I used to work with, who also ushers at the stadium. He works down in the diamond club. Whenever we come to the game I stop by to say hello. He told me to go get my party and come sit down here. Well alrighty then! During the game Brother told my dad, "Granddad, our seats you got us were good, but these are REALLY good!"

15 Years!!!!!!!!!!

This is what we did 15 years ago today.

Aren't we cute!?!

I like my tan line

Camping at Grayland

We recently went camping at Grayland State Park over on the Washington coast. The weather wasn't as nice as it was last year when we went, but it wasn't windy and it didn't rain. Our campsite was great. We walked right through the grass and down to the beach. Another plus.....close to the bathrooms!

It was a lot cooler this year but the kids still played in the water. There were a lot of empty crab shells along the beach this year. Guess the seagulls had been getting plenty to eat. One day we went kite flying out at the beach. Granny bought us all kites. Sister Bear loved her Barbie kite.

We had a marathon day of cornhole going. Papa Bear practiced one evening by himself for about an hour. He's trying to be the King of Cornhole.

Happy Retirement

Just wanted to send a shout out of "Happy Retirement" to my mom. Today was her last day of work. Woo hoo! Just another month and then my dad will retire. Then as soon as they can sell their house they will move up to the Pacific Northwest!

The Lake

Last weekend we went to Eastern Washington with some friends to the lake. They have a vacation place in a trailer/mobile home park. It is right at the lake, you just walk or drive the golf cart down. We would get up in the morning, have breakfast, gather our belongings and then spend all day down at the lake. Down at the lake we would bbq hot dogs for lunch, enjoy ice cream cones and sometimes go over to the playground to play.We would stroll back up to the trailer and make dinner and hang out before bedtime and then we'd start all over the next day. The boys also spent a fair amount of time fishing. Sister Bear was in heaven with the two twelve year old girls with us who paid alot of attention to her.

Out at the lake we would float around on the rafts. Or paddle around in the canoe.There was a dock you could swim out to and jump off of. It was nice because the shore was grass and had shade trees to help keep you cool since temperatures were in the 90's.

Western Washington is definitely much greener and prettier than Eastern Washington. Eastern Washington is hot and dry. The lake we were at was in a canyon that hundreds of years ago used to be part of the Columbia River. On the drive out we even passed windmills that reminded me of Northern California

It's Over

Well another season of Cal Ripken Baseball is over with. We didn't win the championship this year but that is ok. The boys had a good time playing together. When the regular season was over with a handful of the Angels went on to play together on the 10 Year Old All Star Team. We played in a few tournaments and had a handful of Thursday night games. The All Star season ended this last week with the Cal Ripken 10 Year Old State Tournament. We had two very long, hot days. One of the days we were at the field from 9am until about 8:45pm. We set up our easy up tents out in the trees past center field. Papa Bear and a sports trivia game made up for them. The boys may have only won one game but they enjoyed playing together. The last game they played was the one they won. Brother Bear got a really good hit which scored two runs. He was also on base when one of the players on his team hit a grand slam. Pretty exciting, especially since we'd never had a home run before!

More Baseball

Well, we had one weekend baseball tournament where it was pouring rain and probably 55 degrees. The next weekend our baseball tournament was sunny and warm.

We had a big break in between games. Parents brought their easy up tents and we bbq'd and hung out in the shade between games. The River dogs played 4 games and came in 3rd. I think Brothers favorite part of the tournament was they each got a medal. Sister Bear was quite the trooper. All day out in the sun and no nap. She fell asleep in the car on the way home with a pen in her hand.

Old Friends

The week after school got out my bff, Shannon, from high school and her family came to visit us. Shannon and family were on a 17 day road trip and stayed with us for 5 days. She has two kids Max(8) and Kate(4). The kids all got along great.

Sister Bear says that Kate is her best friend. Sister Bear pretends she is texting and talking to Kate on her cell phone. Brother Bear and Max came up with all sorts of movie ideas.

We hit up a Mariners game, Pikes Market, the zoo, Northwest Trek, Toy Story 3, and while we were at a baseball tournament they headed to Mt. Rainier.

This is the day we met in high school (Spring 1987). I was fairly new at the high school. I had probably only been there a month and it was the second half of the school year. Someone introduced us because they thought we looked alike. These outfits weren't planned.

Here we are 23 years later!

Happy Fathers Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Fathers Day Grandpa!!!!!!!!

Happy Fathers Day Granddad!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Fathers Day Papa Bear!!!!!!!!!!