13th Anniversary Weekend

Last weekend was my and Beth's 13th wedding anniversary.  This year it was complements of AAA!!!  Long story short, half of the team I am on at work were laid off, including my boss.  She had been with the company for 25 years and it will be a major loss.

So before she left, she gave our team a bunch of gifts.  Our family got 10 movie tickets, Starbucks, Target, Coldstone Creamery, and Jamba Juice gift cards.  This paid for our weekend.

So on Friday we put the Target gift card to use for gifts for the kids.  So when the girls came home from PJ's day at school, we had gifts waiting for them.  Myles had been eyeing a Mr. Incredible costume, so he got that.  The girls got outfits for their race as well as a stuffed puppy.  Later that evening we were treated to dinner at Jamba Juice after a long run.

So on Saturday, we took the kids to a movie.  Not the greatest movie; however the kids enjoyed it.

On Sunday, we ran as a family the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure.  Beth and I ran it last year and enjoyed it.  This year, with Emma and Sophie running 5K's, it was a family  affair.  For Beth and I it is pretty emotional.  Last year my mother was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.  Beth's friend Nancy went through the same this year.

After the race, we got lunch at Starbucks and had a Picnic at Chelsea Field.  It is such a beautiful area with the T]the kids flew kites and threw Frisbees.  Afterwords, we drove back to Walnut Creek to a lovely 103-degree day.  Perfect time to use the Coldstone Creamery gift cards.

 

The past 13 years has gone by so quickly.  So many ups and downs.  However, one thing has continued to grow stronger year over year, my love for my wife and my kids.  I love you Beth.

Congregation Picnic

The congregation picnic was this past Saturday.  It is always nice to get together with everyone outside the congregation meetings and the weather was perfect for an upbuilding time.

Normally held in September, the location is perfect.  There is a swimming pool, a volleyball pit, and a place to play football or Frisbee.  The kids especially love the pool!!!   The girls have become such good swimmers.  In fact this was the pool that last year Emma and Sophie learned to swim.

The Lessers normally organize the gathering.  We got there early to help set up.  The Lessers were already there cooking hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, and carne asada.  They will be moving to another congregation nearer their home in a couple of weeks.  They will be missed.

Take me to the ball game!!!

Every year I have the opportunity for San Francisco Giant's tickets through work.  Typically I get the bottom of the pile (I will never get Dodger tickets). I do try to pick the tickets latter in the year on the odd chance (lately) that they are part of a Pennant race.  And unlike the lowly Mariners (sorry Jim and Kate), they are in it!!!

Last year, I only was able to get two tickets.  This year, however, I was able to get four.  This meant that I could take the kids and give Beth the night off.  While Emma and Sophie have been to a couple of games before, this would be Myles first.

The nice thing about ATT Park is that they take into consideration making the game a family event.  In fact, if I had paid for the tickets and parking myself, I would have been out $240!!  So there are slides inside a Coca Cola bottle that the kids can slide down.

The game was pretty good, even though it was 3-0 in favor of the Brewers.  That was OK, because it meant 32 points on my fantasy team!!!

While we were watching the game, Myles and Sophie had Eskimo Pies and Emma had the classic bag (not box) of Cracker Jacks.

 

The kids and I had a great time.

The Walnut Festival Run

So today we as a family ran the Walnut Festival Run. While running 5K's is old hat for Emma, this would be Sophie's first and even Myles was able to run the last mile.

While the actual run had taken a hiatus since the early 2000's, this was the 23rd run.  The proceeds benefited the schools in the Walnut Creek City limits.  While the kids go to Woodside Elementary, which is in Concord, it was nice to see where the proceeds would go to education since the schools have taken such a huge hit financially.

We got up early and were at the start line at 7:15.  The kids got pictures with King Walnut.  Myles was a bit scared.  He asked why the walnut had make-up on his face.

Everyone was very friendly.  It was amazing how many kids were participating in the 5K.  I certainly helped Sophie to see so many kids her age also participating.

So I ran Sophie pushing the Myles in the jogger.  Beth made a special bib for Myles so he could feel apart.  Emma ran with Beth.  Her goal was beat her See Jane Run time, which she did hands down at 33 minutes.

Sophie did awesome at 47 minutes.  She ran 2/3 of the run passing most of the kids her age.  The point for her was just to have fun.  She got to experience her first aide station as well as her first recovery station.  She was so proud of herself as well as her parents.

Myles saw the finish-line about 1/2 mile out and ran through the finish line.  He is such a fast runner.

Sophie is now looking forward to her next 5K and Emma has chosen her next trail run.  The kids are going to have a great time.

Perfect Weather for a Trip to Ocean Beach

So the weather was perfect for a day at Ocean Beach in San Francisco.  It was a warm 76 degrees with a light wind.

The kids had a great time!!! They played in the waves, flew kites, and made sand castles. 

Emma also learned about mole crabs.  Their true name is Emerita and they look like a big salt water bug.   But when you put them back on the sand, they quickly dig and disappear. These little creatures are amazing.  

When I was a kid, I remember going to visit my grandparents when they would vacation in San Diego. What I especially remember on these trips was capturing these same little creatures.  It was fun watching the kids do the same thing I did at their age.

Something Beth and I do when we go to the beach is play Frisbees or throw a football..  As simple as it sounds, we can do this for hours.  I love that something so simple can bring so much enjoyment for the both of us.

As usual, it was a beautiful time at the beach.