Sharks

We welcomed in the start of the National Hockey League season by attending the San Jose Sharks second home game.  There was a nice change for us during this shortened season:  more day games.  We visited our friends Peter and Cheryl on the way down to San Jose, then caught up with our friend Brandon on the way home for dinner.  In between, we enjoyed some great hockey.  The Sharks were led by Patrick Marleau scoring 2 goals in his fourth consecutive game to start the season and Thomas Greiss (sounds like Bryce, which excited him) recorded a shutout in goal.  The final score was 4-0.

 

Let's go Sharks!

I loved climbing on the web-like ropes course both before and after the game.

I'm going to climb too, maybe then I'll sit for most of the game.

Bet you can't catch us, Dad!

I'm on top of the whole structure, nobody can touch me up here.

Good to know I really can balance up here.

We sat right in front of the luxury boxes...

My favorite part was the zamboni.

I brought candy to share with my family.

I wasn't scared of the Shark head this time.

Smile!  We just scored a power play goal.

Sharks Territory was a sign we found frequently around the Shark Tank.

Family Bday Party

We celebrated the January and February birthdays in our family this month.  Joy made a wonderful mint-flavored cake in honor of Caitlyn, Haley, Wendy, and Brett.  Each of the honoree had a marzipan sculptured person depicting them on the cake.  Yummy.  Grammy and Poppy hosted the event with a delicious dinner.

 

Marzipan people, figure out who is who?

Caitlyn, Haley, Wendy, and Daddy are photo bombed by Bryce.

Garrett 7y8mo

Garrett started formal guitar lessons under the instruction of our friend Andy.  Brett goes also to learn as much as he can and to be able to build on what was taught in the once a week lessons.  This also resulted in our first capo purchases so that we can play some songs we couldn't easily otherwise.  Is Brett learning some music theory?  Scary.  Garrett continues to have a love for Theo, our cat.  He was very much saddened when Theo disappeared twice this month.  Once for 24 hours, but Brett discovered him in a tree and rescued him.  The second time only 4 days later, he was gone for 4 days, and we are still not sure where he was, but he came back no worse for the wear and now has stuck around for the last 7 days.

 

I just love sitting with Theo and petting him or watching him curl up.

Do I look more sophisticated with my bean mustache?

Part of our current study was Central American history and the Aztecs, so here is a calendar I colored.

Guitar practice time.

I have captured a bee, I'm not sure I want to let it go...it might be mad...how long shall we study it?

Why do I have a helmet on while riding a big wheel?  My brothers are out here with me on bikes, enough said.

I have successfully completed the ramp jump in the big wheel.

Bryce 5y6mo

Bryce has reached 5 and a half, and he is ready for 6.  He used his Christmas money and his savings from the last year plus to purchase the Lego Fireboat, which he has talked about for a long time, or so he claims.  After Brett found it for a good price on Ebay, Bryce relished the chance to shell out his savings to purchase something he has longed to have.  He continues to talk about all the cool features and was very pleased that he was able to build it himself within hours of opening it.

 

My new prized selection, the Lego Fireboat.

Didn't I tell you I wanted to be a firefighter, only I am not going to fight building fires.

My bean mustache looks more like a catepillar on my lip...

I will defeat you with Shamu and my lightsaber.

I am always up for sampling Mommy's cookies, okay I've done more than just sample here.

Before school started up again Mommy let me have a playdate with my friend Cade from church.
I'm Rex and I'm Boba and we are here to pump you full of nerf darts!

Griffin 3y9mo

Griffin has coined a new famous phrase: "Affiny Ballon"  which of course really is supposed to translate "to infinity and beyond."  We are not sure when our last exposure to Buzz Lightyear was, but something stuck and we laugh with him when that comes out now.  Griffin was excited to get the news that we are going to be signing him up for t-ball this year, he is ready to be a sports player.

 

Give me a little longer and I'll be ready to shed these training wheels, but I'll keep them for now.

Our friend, Jace, joined us for a biking stunt show day in the court.

Ok, Theo, we are going to teach you some letters and you can make words with me.

I'm into small Legos now too, although I am unclear how long of an attention span I am ready to afford on them.

I went with the upside down bean on my face.

Art day at home, we do this when Dad is at work for sure.

Jan School

January continued our study of birds and flying things.  We gave our family presentation at Classical Conversations about the birds we have studied and seen this year.  In the meantime, we are continuing our study of ancient civilizations, specifically Egypt, so we began to make papyrus paper.  There was also a major moving and sorting of school items as we were required to move everything from the kitchen to the diningroom to the computer area because our floors that had been damaged by the improper installation of our new dishwasher were finally replaced after four months of negotiations and patient waiting.

 

Time to work together to draw our best bird pictures.

Announcing the start of our papyrus paper project.

It might take a miracle for this to actually work, but we're going to try.

We are not turning water into wine here, but let's see what happens...

Our favorite thing about pigeons was how the army used their homing instinct to deliver messages.

We were amazed by these guys first flight being from Kauai to Panama.

We liked their mating dance.

About the extent of our bird knowledge prior to this year of study.

These guys fly at over 200 mph during their dive to kill prey.

What a huge raptor and unique to North America, so what's not to love?

January 2013

The theme for our month was determination.  We tried each day to pick out moments when we witnessed each other showing determination.  It was fun to hear the answers the kids came up with in support of each other.  This month, we saw Brett start his new job in full force at the research center.  We celebrated the start of hockey season just as the 49ers in football were building up hype about their return to the Super Bowl.  We gave our CC Family Presentation on birds and so many other little stories took place.  Enjoy our reflections on the first month of the new year, 2013.