Tri For Fun

So we intended to do this Tri for Fun all along, but we realized two days before that we really hadn't trained for this one.  In fact, we really hadn't swam laps or distance since last year's triathlon.  Well, to be honest, we really hadn't biked either, so we made sure that our bikes were working the Thursday before and took them out for a short 5 mile ride.  Brett crashed on the way home, but what else is new.  Since on-line registration had closed, we called to be sure that we could still sign up on the day of the event.  The main thing we had going for us was that we had already lined up babysitting for the boys with Grammy and Poppy, so why turn that down?  So that being said, we figured there were worse ways to spend a 5am date with the love of your life.

After we arrived, put our bikes in the racks, and signed up, we found out that we would not be able to start the race together.  They had redesigned the race and were obligating you to go in your age bracket.  Usually there was an open wave at the end where husband-wife teams could go together.  So Brett was entered into the "testosterone" wave with all the 18-39 year old males.  Wisely he chose to go at the back of the pack so as not to compete with former Division I Water Polo players.  After completing the swim and passing a few guys, Brett waited until Joy's wave exited the water just 10 minutes later, so we could finish the race together from there...which we did in a similar time that we have finished in before.  So what does that mean...all the training before was for naught, or we have achieved a level that can be maintained/sustained.   However you look at it, this was a pretty refreshing and romantic date!

 

Bobbleheads and Baseball

We went hunting for A's memorabilia in Oakland and Stockton.  First, it was the Coco Crisp Bobble Belly Give-away in Oakland in honor of the record number of walk-off wins achieved by the 2012 Oakland Athletics and the celebratory Bernie Lean that was performed many-a-times.  We attended that game with Clayton and Stephanie and their two sons Jesse and Levi.  But the story of the day was that we arrived at 9:30am in order to join the line that had formed much before we got there and then after the stadium gates opened at 11am, it still took us 45 minutes to wind through the line and successfully come home with our Bobble Bellies.  The weather was a cooker, as it hovered in the high 80s to low 90s in stadium packed for the occasion.  We even broke down and bought some sodas after we had polished off our water we had brought in by the 3rd inning.  Griffin also had the thrill of getting AJ Griffin's autograph by himself before the game down near the A's bullpen.

 

The second event took place in Stockton, the home of the Ports, Class A minor league team for the Oakland Athletics.  They were honoring AJ Griffin that night with a bobblehead give-away.  We arrived two hours early for this game to insure that we would get the bobblehead that was coveted by our youngest son bearing his namesake.  We were joined at this game by Grammy, Poppy, Gusto, Ali, and Anton.  Afterward, Joy vowed that we will not be attending games that require us to be there so early...at least not any more this year. 

 

Eating in line was a good time consumer...for a while.

...then we played soccer with one of our water bottles that we smashed up.

We celebrated with the Port's mascot after we got our bobble heads.

Griffin with his Griffin prize.

Hooked up with some sweet seats by Ali.

If you're gonna get there early enough, you might as well bring a table to set up shop on, right Stephanie and Clayton?

I found some shade, Dad.

I got four autographs on my ball today:  Blevins, Chavez, Griffin, and Voigt.

I got the one I really wanted:  AJ Griffin.

We enjoyed the kids fun zone.

I kept score, the whole game...Mommy would say to that:  "mini-me" as she looks at Dad.

Great job getting the tickets for us:  Clayton, Stephanie, Levi and Jesse.

Third of July Fireworks with Eric and Caleb.  I've never heard Daddy talk so much at a ballgame, but he really enjoyed some time to catch up with his Best Man:  Eric.

Friend Birthday Party

We put on a party to celebrate all three of our boys birthdays at our house.  We rented two bounce houses:  one water slide and one a dry castle-style.  We also had a sno-cone maker to go with Joy's excellent spaghetti dinner.  The theme was sports, so we set up 5 stations with skills tests in soccer, basketball, hockey, baseball, and football.  There was also two trivia questions in each sport.  The boys had a great time playing the games and enjoying their friends. 

 

Most of the party-goers, lacking a few adults, though who abstained from the picture.

This was before the waterslide pool turned muddy at the end.

Emily, Gina, and Noelle helped out in the kitchen early on.

Kick the soccer ball into the goal past the goalie.

Throw the football through the ring into the bag.

Cody, Noah, William, Jack joined Garrett for the soccer/football challenges.

Shoot the ball in the hoop, Grif.

A romantic moment during the craziness of the party.

The piñata didn't last past our three boys taking whacks at it, but Dad's jerking of the rope may have contributed to the downfall of the system just as much.

Another great cake created by Joy:  five sports represented.

The waterslide degenerated into the mudslide thanks to some boys wanting to get very dirty and wet.

Family Birthday Party

On the Saturday before the friend party, we had the family together out at our place to celebrate the July birthdays of Poppy and Bryce.  This was the first time we had hosted a family party since 2011, so it was good to have Brett's whole family out here.  We also planned to do our first family pictures here with Brett's family since Griffin was born.  So we got some pretty hammed up images.  Wendy's family just adopted a puppy who joined them 3 days before our party, so Kona joined us for the party as well.  This did lead to some confrontations with our cat, Theo, but nobody was worse for the occasion.

 

Grandkids gone silly.

Grammy and Poppy enjoy a little alone time, briefly.

In honor of the First Place Oakland A's...the Bernie Lean.

There was a request for a pyramid, but someone needed to be the sturdy base, so Brett was volunteered.

Theo joined our picture, but he wasn't fully convinced he wanted to be in it.

Wendy and James, Rachel and Haley joined by their new puppy Kona.

Finally!  Bryce declared, it is my birthday!

The smile says, "it is my birthday, it really is!"

4th of July

We had a couple of fourth of July celebrations this year.  Brett and Garrett joined Eric and his son Caleb for a July 3rd A's game which included fireworks.  The following day, the actual 4th, we joined our next door neighbors for quite the celebration with a bounce house waterslide that was big enough for the adults to enjoy as well.  We enjoyed a BBQ together and then shared some fireworks with them too.  Thank you for a wonderful day, Chris and Serena.  Then on the weekend, we went to our usual outing with Matt and Lisa and friends for swimming and more fireworks.  What a great Independence Day celebration extended over 5 days.

 

Jump off the rock...together!

We love Matt's fireworks and party.

Mommy's Shark Fruit creation for the party.

Enjoying some fireworks and catching up with Curtis and Nancy.

That is a big sparkler, let me give you a hand.

Patriotic Pizza from creative Mommy.

Next door neighbors bounce house huge slide on the 4th...sure we'll join your party.