Solo Mio and a Trio!

I went out kayaking with Daniel Woods, adventure photographer again. He offers an amazing exploration of San Diego's cove. If you are interested in seeing his site click here Daniel resides in San Diego so he knows a lot about the area and can help lead you as he photographs you on your kayak adventure.

This time I took my friends Brynna, Sherie and Kathy with me. We had an amazing day. Thanks to Daniel we can relive it again and again. Daniel not only photographs you underwater but he can also video tape your snorkel expedition.

A group of sea lions resting by the caves.

Brynna and Kathy entering "The Clam."
We saw a ton of garibaldi swimming around the cove
Sherie and I in the cave.
One of the sea kittens as Daniel likes to call them. These are leopard sharks. Very docile creatures swimming right off the coast of La Jolla.
Kathy and Brynna after we saw the sea kittens. See how close we are to the shore. Those leopard sharks are harmless.
A fish
An amazing shot by Daniel. How he got all four of them. . .amazing.
Daniel caught me practicing diving. I had to pop my ears to get deep. It's a little scarey!
Brynna and Kathy
Sherie and I
All of us outside of the cave
Kathy and Brynna in the cave. See me behind trying to capture Sherie.
There she is.
Afterwards, I wanted to keep snorkeling so Daniel took me to another spot, where I could swim around and explore. Daniel has so much fun swimming with you, he will photograph you as you explore but also find little creatures for you to see. I highly recommend Daniel Woods at beachshootsandiego.com

Looking UP! My O turns 5

Tonight my Oboe got out of the shower and looked at the tag on his underwear and said, "Hey I am five now." I guess it is time for new shorts, as The Big Guy likes to call them because my boy is 5 now and he can't be wearing size 4.

This boy has been a joy from the moment he entered our home. He always has a smile on his face and feels that most things are AWESOME--his favorite word. He has a great deal of confidence and finds a tremendous amount of joy in all things around him.

He is a tender heart. He loves to be cuddled and hugged. He notices little things and comments on them He is known to say he likes the earrings I have on, the curtains in peoples house, a new outfit I might be wearing.

He is a cautious boy. He is nervous about trying new things/ This is comforting to me because I know he will always take precautions. I should be so cautious. On the other hand, Owens imaginary friend, Lil Jacob, is a daredevil and does amazing stunts. I find this interesting.

Owen is a natural athlete. He loves to play basket ball and baseball.

He is a thinker. Often he will draw a conclusion about something and say, "Yea I thinked about it in my head."

Owen wanted to see the movie UP for his birthday at the drive in. We invited our friends The Stewarts to come and share the experience with us.

Pizza for dinner and then chocolate cake with chocolate icing for dessert. Emma made the cake and did a great job. His brother Mitchell helped me decorate the cake.

For his birthday Owen got two Star Wars Lego sets. One ship with Annakin and R2 D2 and the ship has four robot droids. Very cool. He got a paddle game like the ol' Zim Zam I used to play when I was a kid, a new GI Joe and a Nerf dart gun and bubbles from the Stewarts. Of course Owen thinks all his gifts are Awesome.

The Tiki drive in was. . .loud, slightly uncomfortable, distracting and a ball. It is an experience unto itself and well worth it. We will be going again.

Dem Bones

Little Explorers

Crash! the door flies open and the boys sprint in "Mom, mom, mom, guess what we found--bones. After dinner we are going to go back and get 'em."

"Yeah, I found dem, I just looked down and saw dem." Owen says confidently.

"You have a good eye don't you Bud!"

"Yea, and dey are AWESOME!"

"Really?" I say, "Bones? Your bringing them back here?" I am already squirming at the thought. This is one of those moments where I realize that my boys need so much more than I can offer, because I am sure, actually very confident, I would have talked them out of bringing those bones back to the house, but their dad, he was all game for it.

Will describing what the bones are.

"It's a whole body mom!" Will says with an attitude of authority.

"Yeah, wif little teef." Owen shares with a big grin. I see the excitement in both their eyes, the smiles on their faces and I can tell how happy they are, but all I can think of is yucky decomposing bacteria.

By now the girls are sauntering in. "Did you here about the bones that Owen found?" Lily says, she has wide eyes too, but no smile. "Yea it is the whole animal, you can see the spine and the head and the teeth and everything."

Our neighbor we affectionately call Little Austin

"Wow, did you find this at the church?"

"Yeah in da bushes! We are gonna go back and get it after dinner so we can find out what it is!"

"I think it is a bird that ate a mouse!" Will concludes.

"We know it is not a bird because it has fur." says their dad, he is smiling too. "But we can go get the bones and figure it out." It is a great mystery that needs to be discovered.

Now I am smiling because I am thrilled at the curious minds of my boys and because their dad is encouraging it. Oh yeah and that I can stay here, far from the bones and not have to be the one to collect them.

Before dinner we pray and Will offers:

"Dear Heavenly Fader, thank you for the bones of the bird."

"It's not a bird," Lily whispers,

"It's not a bird!" Owen declares,

"Thank you for the bones of the bird!" Will repeats.

"Thank you for the food and bless it," and then he closes the prayer.

"Don't you remember Will, it can't be a bird because it has fur!" Owen says with authority.

"Yes, Will birds have wings, mammals have fur, so it is probably not a bird." their dad teaches.

"Yeah it had all dat fur hangin' off da bones!" Owen persists

By now I am losing my appetite. "Can we not talk about the bones right now?"

Every one laughs because they see I'm loosing interest in my meal very quickly. We were having chicken.

"Did you see the head and all the teeth? All the teeth were still there!" Lily says again. She loves science and animals. She is into this as well. Emma thought they were cool too but could take them or leave them.Scary Skippy John Jones dinosaur bones faces

They brought the bones zipped up in a sweaty zip lock bag. "Look, look mom, look at the bones."

They were pretty cool, I will have to admit, "Wow, the teeth ARE all still apart of the skull." It looks like something you might find at a museum of natural history. "Remember those bones belong OUTside!" I say with authority.

My boys go out and place the bones on the table an begin classifying them. My little digger, explorers, with dirt in their fingernails, smears on their faces and messy hair. Perfect!

"Oh gross." Owen declares.
"What do yo see there Owen?"

"Sugar Bugs!"

By the way, the mystery animal was a possum. Go figure!

Runaway Bunny

When Mitchell was little, his favorite book was Run Away Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown. I had that book memorized, which doesn't say much because it is pretty short, whether we were snuggled in bed, or as we would wheel around in the stroller, he would turn the pages and I would recite the story of a little bunny who wanted to run away from his mama. I remember not really liking the idea as a young mother. I remember questioning "why would that little bunny want to run away from his mom?" and I didn't want Mitchell to get any ideas. . . But now as a mother of a nineteen year old, now as a mother who has had some life experiences, I understand more completely.

This book is so relevant to my feelings for my little boy who is now a man. My sweet kind hearted boy, you have been a blessing in my life and I cherish every moment with you. I am grateful for the joys and the pains because they both have enriched my life greatly. No matter what you need Mitch, I will be there. I will be who you need me to be, I will go where you need me to go, I will do that which you need me to do, and I will not waver, I will not shrink or turn away, even when you do not want my help, I will be there, always and forever, I will be there for you, for you will always be my boy.

I love you.


"Once there was a little bunny who wanted to run away.

So he said to his mother, “I am running away.”

“If you run away,” said his mother,

“I will run after you.

For you are my little bunny.”

“If you run after me,” said the little bunny,

“I will become a fish in a trout stream and I will swim away from you.”

“If you become a fish in a trout stream,” said his mother,

“I will become a fisherman and I will fish for you.”

“If you become a fisherman,” said the little bunny,

“I will become a rock on the mountain, high above you.”

“If you become a rock on the mountain high above me,”

said his mother, “I will become a mountain climber,

and I will climb to where you are.”

“If you become a mountain climber,”said the little bunny,

“I will be a crocus in a hidden garden.”

“If you become a crocus in a hidden garden,”said his mother,

“I will be a gardener. And I will find you.”

“If you are a gardener and find me,” said the little bunny,

“I will be a bird and fly away from you.”

“If you become a bird and fly away from me,” said his mother,

“I will be a tree that you come home to.”

“If you become a tree,” said the little bunny,

“I will become a little sailboat, and I will sail away from you.”

“If you become a sailboat and sail away from me,”said his mother,

“I will become the wind and blow you where I want you to go.”

“If you become the wind and blow me,” said the little bunny,

“I will join a circus and fly away on a flying trapeze.”

“If you go flying on a flying trapeze,” said his mother,

“I will be a tightrope walker,and I will walk across the air to you.”

“If you become a tightrope walker and walk across the air,” said the bunny,

“I will become a little boy and run into a house.”

“If you become a little boy and run into a house,”said the mother bunny,

“I will become your mother and catch you in my arms and hug you.”

“Shucks,” said the bunny,

“I might just as well stay where I am and be your little bunny.”

And so he did.

“Have a carrot,” said the mother bunny."

Promoted

Lily Grace promoted from elementary to middle school today and we couldn't be more proud of her. She has worked hard and had such a great attitude about school and it has all paid off.

Lily had to prepare a fifth grade reflections assignment which summed up what she learned from being at her elementary. She brainstormed many ideas and even started a few before abandoning them to something else. Finally she had an idea that she felt would best express how she feels about her education. She compared the human heart to her school. She wrote a poem and an essay about how the heart and her elementary are alike.

She worked very hard and her hard work paid off. Her paper was chosen above all the other students in her class to be read at her promotion ceremonies today. She read her paper in front of an auditorium full of her fellow students and their families. We were very surprised. Lily found out just before she walked with her class into the ceremony.

We are so proud of her and her desire to do her best and think things through.

Lily is such a delight. She always has a smile and is willing to help. She is thoughtful and considerate to her little brothers. She reaches out to others and shares all that she has with them. She is a beautiful light that brightens everyone's day. I am grateful to have her in my life.

I was watching Lily and as she approached the adults she looked them in the eye with a big smile, sharing all her joy, gratitude and love with them. We are so proud of you Lily. You are a beautiful young lady.