I'm working (see me work...) so Susy drove the kids to the swim meet. They made it all the way in to East Portland only to discover that the health department had closed down the pool where the swim meet was to be. So: no swim meet this weekend. Next weekend is a soccer tournament, so their next swim meet will be the last one of the year: the championship meet Sunday, August 13th, at Mt. Hood Community College.
We're getting ready to head to Pacific Beach tomorrow, to meet up with the extended family. Mali's not too happy: Zoë can't come with us, her flight arrives at 10:00 Sunday and she has an orthodontist appointment on Monday she can't postpone. Still, I'm sure Mali will be sufficiently entertained.
In other travel news: We just booked our tickets to Florida for Thanksgiving. We leave the 18th and return the 26th.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Soccer Tournaments
Nine soccer games in three days, in + 100° weather. Andrew's Aloha United Poi Dogs in the Lake Oswego Nike Cup, and Mali's Aloha United X-Treme in the Cascade Cup in Gresham/Clackamas. Both kids played great. Mali's team got second place in her division, losing a hard-fought championship game 3-1.
Here's my unwilling-to-be-photographed daughter. Click to see her properly captured, with the help of Laura, one of the moms.
Mali waits to receive her medal.
Here's a photo of her photo on display.
Here's my unwilling-to-be-photographed daughter. Click to see her properly captured, with the help of Laura, one of the moms.
Mali waits to receive her medal.
Here's a photo of her photo on display.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Redmond
I brought the kids with me to Redmond on Tuesday. They had a great time with their cousins while I worked. I heard all about the great trip to Greece, and then Andrew, David, and I played games late into the night. We had great food (grilled peaches, chocolate chip cookies) both nights out on their soon-to-be deck. We played another game last night, then left for home, arriving a little after 11:00.
Here is Dalton, not blogging.
Dalton and Rylin watching TV. Click to see them just before Rylin discovers the camera watching her.
Dalton playing his own game. Click to see Andrew playing.
Here is Dalton, not blogging.
Dalton and Rylin watching TV. Click to see them just before Rylin discovers the camera watching her.
Dalton playing his own game. Click to see Andrew playing.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Deschutes River trip
Yesterday was filled with river rafting. I'm still waterlogged. Mali called it a "life-changing experience."
We left the house at 7:15 and were on the river by 11:00, Paul and I in an inflateable kayak, and Mali, Lilly, and Natalie perched on a large raft with Doug the expert at the oars. Our other raft was manned by the father of the family I didn't know, and ten minutes downriver it highsided on a giant rock and dumped the mom and one kid out. I caught just a glimpse of the raft poking high in the air above the rock, then watched the mom and kid float downstream away from us. They were rescued by the first raft, and while Paul and I picked up various items they had dropped we got highsided as well. Paul immediately tumbled over backwards into the river, and I was free.
Paul was able to climb back in on the calm side of the rock, and we then linked up with the rafts for about a minute before the current pulled us downstream, where we finally found an eddie we could open a beer in.
The mom and both kids decided they'd had enough, and walked up to the road to hitchike to the park where our lunch was stored. After lunch they would all drive home.
Several times I went completely underwater while remaining in the front of the kayak. My hat didn't bother to leave my head until later, when it was completely waterlogged. Paul and Mali took turns saving it.
Paul and I debated opening a new front on the squirtgun battle with some passing strangers we saw were also armed, but we ended up sliding into a large hole in the water and both flipping in. Luckily, our potential targets were immediately next to us, and I was able to use their raft to haul myself out of the water and back into the kayak, after first rescuing our lone squirtgun. I then kayaked to a calm spot on the bank where I could hang on to a rock and wait for Paul.
He eventually made it back into the kayak, but not before heroically taking one more step into the river to rescue the suntan lotion. That one step was expensive, as he was dragged an extra twenty meters downstream, bouncing off of rocks all the way.
The largest rapid was not as dangerous as last year, since the water level was higher, so after we took a raft and the kayak through it, I let Mali take the last raft down. Doug piloted both rafts down, and Paul and I took the kayak. This was where Paul saved my hat.
Mali got her hat-saving opportunity later when we hit The Ladders, an area of very deep and turbulent water with no rocks, where everyone gets to swim down the river. There was a large crowd there, and we joined them, beaching the crafts and walking up just before the beginning of the rapids. Mali and I jumped in together, and she saved my hat, but lost me as I caught a current that took me to the far bank. I had to walk back upriver (on the well-worn trail - I was not the first to do this) and try again to catch the right current. I made it to the correct bank this time, but I've never been so tired in my life.
We left the house at 7:15 and were on the river by 11:00, Paul and I in an inflateable kayak, and Mali, Lilly, and Natalie perched on a large raft with Doug the expert at the oars. Our other raft was manned by the father of the family I didn't know, and ten minutes downriver it highsided on a giant rock and dumped the mom and one kid out. I caught just a glimpse of the raft poking high in the air above the rock, then watched the mom and kid float downstream away from us. They were rescued by the first raft, and while Paul and I picked up various items they had dropped we got highsided as well. Paul immediately tumbled over backwards into the river, and I was free.
Paul was able to climb back in on the calm side of the rock, and we then linked up with the rafts for about a minute before the current pulled us downstream, where we finally found an eddie we could open a beer in.
The mom and both kids decided they'd had enough, and walked up to the road to hitchike to the park where our lunch was stored. After lunch they would all drive home.
Several times I went completely underwater while remaining in the front of the kayak. My hat didn't bother to leave my head until later, when it was completely waterlogged. Paul and Mali took turns saving it.
Paul and I debated opening a new front on the squirtgun battle with some passing strangers we saw were also armed, but we ended up sliding into a large hole in the water and both flipping in. Luckily, our potential targets were immediately next to us, and I was able to use their raft to haul myself out of the water and back into the kayak, after first rescuing our lone squirtgun. I then kayaked to a calm spot on the bank where I could hang on to a rock and wait for Paul.
He eventually made it back into the kayak, but not before heroically taking one more step into the river to rescue the suntan lotion. That one step was expensive, as he was dragged an extra twenty meters downstream, bouncing off of rocks all the way.
The largest rapid was not as dangerous as last year, since the water level was higher, so after we took a raft and the kayak through it, I let Mali take the last raft down. Doug piloted both rafts down, and Paul and I took the kayak. This was where Paul saved my hat.
Mali got her hat-saving opportunity later when we hit The Ladders, an area of very deep and turbulent water with no rocks, where everyone gets to swim down the river. There was a large crowd there, and we joined them, beaching the crafts and walking up just before the beginning of the rapids. Mali and I jumped in together, and she saved my hat, but lost me as I caught a current that took me to the far bank. I had to walk back upriver (on the well-worn trail - I was not the first to do this) and try again to catch the right current. I made it to the correct bank this time, but I've never been so tired in my life.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
The Season's First Swim Meet
Yesterday's swim meet was a great success! So was Mali's sleepover Friday night - she didn't go to bed until 7:00 A.M.
Andrew won the backstroke by about 5 seconds. He got second in the Butterfly vs. a 16-year-old.
Here's the start of Andrew's freestyle Race. Click to see end.
Relay team:
Andrew won the backstroke by about 5 seconds. He got second in the Butterfly vs. a 16-year-old.
Here's the start of Andrew's freestyle Race. Click to see end.
Relay team:
Friday, July 14, 2006
Mali's New Hairstyle
Here's a candid shot of Mali's new hairstyle. Click it to get this morning's look, just before she heads out to Vacation Bible Study with Zoë.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Thursday - News
I forgot: The big news is that Mali got a haircut! She got tired of dealing with long hair during soccer and after swimming. It's very cute. I'll post a picture tonight.
Thursday - No news
Last night we had pizza - Mali has decided she likes my super-thin crust vegetarian, throwing the whole pizza ordering scheme out of balance. We managed last night because I somehow confused mushrooms with olives on Susy's half of the pizza, so Mali had a piece of that as well. Be sure to check back later for further pizza-preference discussions.
It rained yesterday, but happily cleared up in time for Andrew's soccer practice. It's sunny and beautiful now. They both have a practice tonight.
I'm finally reading Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. I love it so far. Andrew and Mali are going through the books he got at the end-of-schoolyear book exchange. Reading a lot, and yes, they're both signed up for the library's Summer reading program.
Sunday Mali and I are going river rafting with several families of Mali's friends. Paul is going, but his girls are heading to Toronto for two weeks.
It rained yesterday, but happily cleared up in time for Andrew's soccer practice. It's sunny and beautiful now. They both have a practice tonight.
I'm finally reading Wicked, by Gregory Maguire. I love it so far. Andrew and Mali are going through the books he got at the end-of-schoolyear book exchange. Reading a lot, and yes, they're both signed up for the library's Summer reading program.
Sunday Mali and I are going river rafting with several families of Mali's friends. Paul is going, but his girls are heading to Toronto for two weeks.
Monday, July 10, 2006
World Cup weekend
Pablo and his new bike made me rediscover mine and we went for a couple of rides this weekend. Yesterday we went to the Hillsdale farmer's market and bought berries for his new ice-cream maker, and so ate ice-cream at Paul's last night with our delicious and HUGE smoked ribs.
Susy and the van rescued us and our bikes at the Safeway, so we just missed the start of the World Cup final. Matias touched the already shaky cable from the wall to the TV just before halftime and it went out. Susy went out and bought another cable while we watched downstairs, suffering through some non-HD viewing. We only missed recording about a half-hour of it. Rocio's father, Isaac, requested Rocio record it for him - he and Marianne will be here in a couple of weeks. We think he'll like seeing it in HD. The difference is astounding.
Susy and the van rescued us and our bikes at the Safeway, so we just missed the start of the World Cup final. Matias touched the already shaky cable from the wall to the TV just before halftime and it went out. Susy went out and bought another cable while we watched downstairs, suffering through some non-HD viewing. We only missed recording about a half-hour of it. Rocio's father, Isaac, requested Rocio record it for him - he and Marianne will be here in a couple of weeks. We think he'll like seeing it in HD. The difference is astounding.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
4th of July
We had a nice 4th. Mali and I decided to go on a bike ride in the morning, and Andrew tagged along on his rollerblades. We had a lazy afternoon, and then went to Pablo's for dinner and fireworks. No great photos in the dark, but here's one to give you the idea. Yes, that's Andrew trying to light his hand on fire. No one was injured, not even Zoë, the firework magnet.
Monday, July 03, 2006
MaliBlog
Mali has blogged about her soccer game on her web site: http://www.xanga.com/pinkypox
I created a generic account anyone can use to post comments, both here or on Mali's weblog. To leave a comment on Mali's weblog - always much appreciated - just do the following:
Go to her website (You can use the link above. Also, if you click on it with the right mouse button, you can select the option to "Open in New Window". This allows you to keep these instructions open while you try them out. Or simply print them out.)
Select the tiny little " # comments" text at the bottom of her post. This will display a new web page.
Scroll down to the comment box on the new page, and write whatever you like - just please tell us who you are inside the message somewhere.
Then click the Submit button. A new page will appear.
In the "Please Sign In" box, type in the following:
In the Username box: GenericFamilyMember
In the Password box: generic
Give it a try!
To leave a comment here the process is nearly identical. Just use the "Login and Publish" button instead of the "Submit" button.
I created a generic account anyone can use to post comments, both here or on Mali's weblog. To leave a comment on Mali's weblog - always much appreciated - just do the following:
Go to her website (You can use the link above. Also, if you click on it with the right mouse button, you can select the option to "Open in New Window". This allows you to keep these instructions open while you try them out. Or simply print them out.)
Select the tiny little " # comments" text at the bottom of her post. This will display a new web page.
Scroll down to the comment box on the new page, and write whatever you like - just please tell us who you are inside the message somewhere.
Then click the Submit button. A new page will appear.
In the "Please Sign In" box, type in the following:
In the Username box: GenericFamilyMember
In the Password box: generic
Give it a try!
To leave a comment here the process is nearly identical. Just use the "Login and Publish" button instead of the "Submit" button.
Victory! and a Tie!
Callooh! Callay!
Mali's team won both their games, the first one on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie, and the second one 3-1. Andrew's team tied their last game 2-2, and finally showed signs of promise. Unfortunately we learned this morning that Sharog, who scored the first goal and is amazingly fast, broke his wrist in a fall in the first half. He had to leave for an X-ray and we were left with no subs. Both Mali and Andrew played fantastic, making lots of big plays and playing smart. We celebrated afterwards with Pablo, Rocio and Matias over hamburgers in our backyard.
Here's more photos of Mali and her team. Susy tried getting some of Andrew, but she's not used to the camera yet and they didn't turn out.
Behind the throw-in photo is one of Mali's team standing World Cup style to watch the penalty kicks. Mali is 7th girl from the left. They're bracketed by their coaches, Dean and Rhonda. Dean is British and the girls are all in love with him.
Mali's team won both their games, the first one on penalty kicks after a 0-0 tie, and the second one 3-1. Andrew's team tied their last game 2-2, and finally showed signs of promise. Unfortunately we learned this morning that Sharog, who scored the first goal and is amazingly fast, broke his wrist in a fall in the first half. He had to leave for an X-ray and we were left with no subs. Both Mali and Andrew played fantastic, making lots of big plays and playing smart. We celebrated afterwards with Pablo, Rocio and Matias over hamburgers in our backyard.
Here's more photos of Mali and her team. Susy tried getting some of Andrew, but she's not used to the camera yet and they didn't turn out.
Behind the throw-in photo is one of Mali's team standing World Cup style to watch the penalty kicks. Mali is 7th girl from the left. They're bracketed by their coaches, Dean and Rhonda. Dean is British and the girls are all in love with him.
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Soccer!
We had the start of the first real tournament for both Andrew and Mali today. The each lost both of their games, but they played well. I am now the assistant coach for Andrew's team, so I didn't get any pictures of them. Here's one of Mali preparing to fight for an enemy throw-in, with another from the pre-game practice behind it.
CoRyoko and Zeke in Oregon
Cory, Ryoko, and Zeke stopped by LATE Thursday night, but stayed until noon Friday. We had a nice visit, and tried to plan out another get together, but the Summer gets busy quickly. Possibly something just before school is out. Maybe a trip to Boise?
Here's a photo:
Here's a photo:
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