PaliTutor

I had to get Logan into his chaps and teepee simply because he looks so darn good in ‘em.

We celebrate 9 family birthdays during the summer, and that does not include Father’s Day!  Interrupted only by a bee sting through his green Croc, Logan painted and “jeweled” away.  He found all of his jewels during a treasure chest hunt in Pirate Week at Lutheran Preschool summer camp.  ”So shiny,” he said as he set them aside for grandpa and grandma’s presents.  

Sea glass mirror for Great-Auntie Mimi

Painting a blue frame for Grandpa

A different blue for Auntie Megan

Yellow bird house for Grandma

Finished!

We wanted something yummy for Auntie Meggy’s birthday bash so Logan and I tried something new and came up with these delicious Grannies.

One green Granny Smith

Some sprinkles

Logan’s 1st summer soccer game really was a smash!  The first thing he did this morning was to line up his cleats, socks and shorts.  He wanted to know what color his “new soccer shirt” would be.  He arrived at the field and told his coach “I’m ready!”.  Indeed he was.  He scored two goals, made one assist from the Shark’s goal line and he kicked, slid and ran his lil heart out.  Oh and in the middle of the game Logan had to run over and give Marlo a big smooch. 

Logan and Elsa

Determination

Orange Smash vs. Sharks

Slide

Bringing it in from the end of the field

Getting closer

Goal!

Midfield

Moving in

Defending that ball

“I did it! I won!”

We took our first road trip this past week with both kids to watch Alden race in the San Francisco Alcatraz Challenge Aquathlon & Swim.  The biathlon began with a ferry ride to Alcatraz Island and included a 2-mile ocean swim from Alcatraz to Crissy Field and a 7-mile run across the Golden Gate Bridge.  Alden had quite a cheering section and placed 10th in his category with over 900 competitors in the race.  Along the way we had to have some fun too!

Logan aboard the Balclutha

Logan, Marlo and Me at Hyde Street Pier

Logan and Tristan hiking through John Muir Woods

Alden, Logan, Marlo, Me, Grandma, Auntie Mimi and Auntie Catherine

Tristan, Alden and Grammie

Grandma and Grammie pre-race, early AM

The Blue and Gold Ferry taking the swimmers out to Alcatraz

Swimmers

Finishing the swim portion of the race

Racing across the Golden Gate Bridge

Headed to the finish line (photo borrowed from Flatstar Design)

Alden and Logan

Kayaking in Half Moon Bay

Marlo, Logan and Me collecting sea shells at Half Moon Bay

Alden and Marlo at the Palace of Fine Arts

Marlo and Me at the Palace of Fine Arts

Logan at Crissy Field Beach

Our day began before 5:00am.  Typical right?  Yes, but this time we had to get both kids ready by 6:30am to register for the 10K.  Of course I didn’t preregister because secretly I was trying to avoid the pain!  But we did it and it was incredible!  Having not run in a race for over 15 years it was a blast for Alden and me to compete in such a grueling event.   Alden’s final tag time was 46:34 and I finished at 52:36.  Yipee!

My mom finished the 5K pushing 65 pounds of double-stroller, including a stop to make Marlo a bottle, hand off to Logan for a feeding and a replacement of a lost decorative tissue-paper flower, in a time of 41:31!

Logan and his pals proudly rode their trikes in the parade for “Kids on Bikes”.  For over one mile they waved at their friends, smiled at the spectators that cheered them on, raced to catch the flying confetti and loved every minute of it. 

The day ended with grub at Grammies and a firework show at Pali High. 

 Here are a bunch of photos to share our great day with you.

Pre-race: my mom, me, and Logan (Marlo tucked inside stroller)

Pre-race: Alden and me

Alden at Mile 2 (Photo by Jennifer Bloom)

Lisa Taylor and my mom at Mile 2 (Photo by Jennifer Bloom)

Me coming in at Mile 6 (Photo by Jennifer Bloom)

Tae, Zoe and Maggie (my running motivator)

Marlo in her Firecracker Tutu, my mom and Barry Jo

Chloe, Logan and Elsa

Mason

Marlo (is that a bee on here tutu?)

The gang

Logan

Heather and Kaylie

Red-Clay Wharton-Ali Clan

The Paparazzi

Darrell and Elizabeth Krasnoff

Me and Marlo

My mom

Barry Jo and Marlo

Every girl needs something festive to wear today so I made my niece Olivia a Firecracker Tutu to enjoy at her 4th of July party.  Have fun!