Santa Clara County Fair

Even though we had a busy morning, we hit up the county fair this afternoon.  Unfortunately, the fair is a little small and sad.  We haven't had a chance to branch out to other counties for a couple years so we try to make the best of what we've got.  I dream of doing the state fair some day.  

First up were the pig races which we all love.  

 Huge racing fan.

 How could you not love adorable little pigs running around?

We also explored the Home Arts exhibit, which is my favorite.  The kids are good at humoring me and enjoyed checking out the decorated cakes.

 Then we moved on to the Robotics Show.  Here's Leo surveying some of the smaller robots.

 Then he got to meet some teenagers who showed him their robot.  Leo was very interested and the teens clearly enjoyed his enthusiasm.

 He even got to interact with a robot.

Of course, the real reason we go to the fair is for the Funnel Cake.

 Yum!

Aquamaids camp performace

Today was the last day of Aquamaids camp and they had a little show for the parents.  I took my camera to take video but due to a "user error" it didn't work out.  I assure you the performance was simple and cute.  Serafina did great and enjoyed performance like usual.  She even had her own cheering section since two friends and their kids came to watch too.  My friend Aida took some pictures on her camera so I'll post those soon.  

Serafina really enjoyed the synchronized swimming experience, but to continue at this point is a huge time commitment.  For example the pre-competitive team practices three times a week for two hours.  Whoa.  We aren't quite ready for that so she'll continue with her normal swim lessons and start dance again in the fall.  Maybe next year she can switch to Aquamaids if she is still excited about it.  

I'All the sun and chlorine took it's toll on her skin though.  

 When we got home from the performance, Leo's new racing swim suit had arrived so he immediate had to try it out.

Beach Day with Friends

Serafina is enjoying Aquamaids camp, but it wears her out.  Yesterday when it was time for her regular afternoon swim lesson, she rolled around on the floor and said her legs were too tired to do it.  But she managed to get up and go to the lesson, which I was happy about.  Maybe if I was nicer, I would have let her skip the lesson, but she's a tough cookie and I knew she could handle it if we just went.  

Today I got to see them practice a little before pick up.  It was really cute.  The camp is no joke.  These girls are stretching and running on land to start, followed by swimming laps, and then moving on to synchro moves.  They take a short snack break but it is a very physical camp.  

After camp, we had lunch and loaded up the car with stuff and friends and headed to the beach.  It was a hot day in Sunnyvale, but cool and overcast at the beach.

The kids didn't care.  They were excited to be at the beach.

 There was a strong rip current and a lifeguard jogged over to advise us on where let the kids play.

 We kept a close eye on them, but eventually moved them up onto the dry sand to build sandcastles and run around like lunatics.

 On our way out of town, we had to stop at our favorite ice cream shop.  On the left side of the table, Emma, Serafina and Felix.  On the other side, little Lane, Max and Leo.

Aquamaids Camp

Serafina really loved swimming with the Aquamaids when we attended their show in May, so I signed her up for the camp.  Synchronized swim combines her two big loves - swimming and dance.  She was excited this morning when we got to the pool and didn't seem nervous.  I think her prior camp experience helped set expectations.  

 The camp was small and they seemed very organized.

 Her name tag was a swim cap, which is pretty clever.

 Waiting for camp to start.

When I went to pick her up she told me "I had a little cry".  Apparently some water went up her nose, which I suppose it a common synchronize swim issue.  She was a bit worn out after but she had fun and I'm looking forward to her little show on Friday.

Keyboard

Leo is a music lover.  A while back he told us he wanted turntables.  I told him he needed to start with a foundation instrument and learn how to read music.  He agreed to this plan.  I decided he needed to start with a keyboard since we don't have room for a real piano.  Then Tom went through the long, annoying process of trying to get a gently-used keyboard on craigslist.  It took a while but we finally succeeded.  Now I need to get him some lessons and he needs to practice.  He's pretty excited about the keyboard so far.  

Tom is recovering okay from the surgery.  The pain caught up with him last night so he's been hurting more today.  His post-op appointment is tomorrow and I'm sure the doctor will be happy with his progress.

Jungle Bot and Daddy's knee

 Today was the last day of robotics camp.  During the week, Leo worked on building a "jungle bot".  Everyday on the walk to camp (it was held at the park building just a few blocks away), he would talk and talk about what he had worked on so far and what he needed to do that day.  He was so excited.  Today he tested the bot and got to bring it home.

Jungle bot in action.  

 Tom had surgery to repair his left meniscus (in the knee) over five years ago.  Today it was time to do the right one.

Tom was a good patient despite being hungry and thirst and without coffee.  The doctor was running late so his procedure took place about hour and a half late.

 My friend had the kids so I got to hang out, keep Tom company and watch his knee get shaved.  It took a while.

 I had the kids with me when I picked him up and he was doing remarkably well and in good spirits.

He's doing really well.  So well, in fact, I'm not sure he's going to take it as easy as he should but I'll try to keep him calm.  

Selfie stick

Leo made his own selfie stick out of Zoobs today.  

Robotics camp

Who was excited for his second day of Robotics Camp?  This guy!

Swimming with ski friends

It was a bit overcast and drizzling here this morning.  When we headed out to the pool, there was a rainbow around the sun.  

Here's a picture from under our pool gazebo.  

 Our ski house friends came over to swim.  Serafina looks much bigger than Nicolas but they are actually very close in size.  She is about 100 times browner though.

 Leo spent all day working on this trick.  He got pretty good at it.

Old tricks, pool tricks.

Tom is still trying to do his old tricks in the pool even though are kids are huge now.  

It didn't go too well with Leo.  

He had more luck with Serafina. 

Gymnastics Camp Show

For the last day of gymnastics camp, the kids put on a circus-themed show.  

Serafina was excited to see us when we got there.  

 Leo was ready to be a good audience member.

 They started the show with a few dance steps and gymnastics moves.  Serafina was towards the back and hard to photograph or video, but she did great.  She's truly a dynamic dancer and it is so fun to watch her because it's clear she loves it.

Then groups of kids showed off some skills.  In the video below, Serafina is on the "silks" (the long fabrics hanging from the ceiling) demonstrating her straddle.  

And they took turns on the Tumble Track.  

The finale included this pyramid.  

They had a little free choice before going home and here she is showing some good balance.

She definitely enjoyed gymnastics camp and I'm glad she got a chance to do it with her friend Mia.  

Moving up to Pre-Comp

Leo has passed all the levels of the swim school and was moved up to Pre-Competitive yesterday.  He was pretty proud of himself.  

 I could see him being tested on his strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breath stroke and butterfly kicks) and it was clear he was doing well.  I'm excited for him but a bit nervous.  He won't be getting the kind of attention he does in lessons.  They just throw all the pre-comp swimmers in the pool and have them practice strokes for an hour.  He is required to attend at least twice a week but can go up to five times a week.  We have other friends that swim pre-comp so I'm hoping there can be some carpooling involved.

After class we went to a new bakery near our house for a celebratory cookie.

 It was huge and delicious.

Nanoblock (AKA the worst toy ever)

This morning went well.  Serafina went to gymnastics camp and Leo had a playdate.  I ran errands and got almost everything on the classroom supply lists.  Then the afternoon was brutal.  I'm not sure what forces were at work, but my kids just took turns crying, whining and being miserable.  It was exhausting.  

When Leo was leaving the playdate, the mom handed him a little pouch and said "Max wanted you to have this."   It turns out it was a nanoblock kit.  Once we got it home, I realize this mom must hate me.  

Take a look at this.  The green block is a normal Lego; the brown ones are nanoblocks.  Also known as my worst nightmare.  

 I was almost immediately frustrated by the small size and the vague instructions.

 Leo wasn't deterred though and pressed on with minimal help.

 He completed the project but things turned south after he was done and pieces wouldn't stay on.  I was so impressed with his perseverance and building skills.  I praised him but he fell into an anger spiral that took him down an ugly path.

"Leo, let me take your picture with the finished product."

 The end result was a tiny, cute kangaroo.  Unfortunately, it's currently sitting on the highest shelf in the kitchen because its little front leg wouldn't stay on straight and that drove Leo bonkers, which drove me bonkers.

Leo did take a time out of his rage to write a thank you note to his friend, which was a nice gesture and completely unprovoked by me.

Gymnastics camp.

Serafina had her first day of gymnastics camp today.  She was very excited and a little bit nervous.  

 It helped that her friend Mia was signed up for camp too.  Her mom and I planned it since we knew the girls would enjoy it a lot more together.

 While Serafina was at camp, Leo, Nana and I did some apartment hunting for Nana's new pad.  We took a break for breakfast.  Here's Nana making Leo laugh.

We found some apartments that have a lot of potential in a great area.  All of us are looking forward to having Nana local in a few months.

Last Day, Hawaii 2015 (7/5/15)

It's hard to explain what it feels like to wake up to the last day in Hawaii.  We are homesick and running out of clean clothes, but we are also so sad it is ending.  Returning to real life seems like such a boring, disappointing proposition.  I have a deeply held fantasy about moving to Hawaii.  I know it's probably not realistic because I would get too stir crazy.  Yet there is something that speaks to me in the Islands that make it feel like home, like where I'm meant to be.  And living anywhere else feels temporary and false until the day I can get to where I'm supposed to be.  During the trip, Leo told me he would also like to live in Hawaii and work at a diamond store.  

I'm a practically a professional packer, so it didn't take too long for me to have us ready to go.  We had some time before we needed to go to the airport so we headed to Kiholo Bay for a hike.  The drive down from the highway was a bit bumpy, but we had already punished our rental car so much it didn't seem like too much more to make it down this road.  

I had my camera on a night setting for this picture, which caused it to have a strange effect.  

I figured it out and here's a normal picture of Tom spotting some sea turtles off shore.

We discovered a couple freshwater ponds just inland.  

Here's Tom in front of some fancy private home.  His future home, perhaps?

Shell frozen in lava.

Black lava rock mixing with sand on the idicalic beach.

Very pretty bay.  

Leo on the black "sand".

We could see Maui in the distance.  Maybe that will be our next Hawaiian destination.

I can't thank this guy enough for taking us on this amazing vacation.  We soaked up the island to the fullest and I'm glad we did.

Panoramic shot.  

We made it to the airport and through check-in, which was a sweaty, cranky process.

The flight home was uneventful.  We miss Hawaii and talk about it all the time.