Just been busy

So I have been neglecting my blog, I know. Ever since we got back from vacation it seems like it has been go, go, go. Lexx is excited...she got her drivers license, went to soccer camp at CSU Sonoma and started back to high school. Austin has been working non-stop, Todd has been furloughed two days a month, and I am working as usual.

Lexx has had a couple of soccer tournaments, the first her team did really well, the second, her team did, let's just say, not very well.

Well I hope I remember to blog more than once next month...we'll see :)

Summer Vacation

The ocean is so calming, maybe that's why we decided to take our vacation there this year. All four of us stayed a week at Russian Gulch. It was a great time, we spent lots of family time together hiking, kayaking, shopping, playing on the beach...you name it. We arrived Saturday and decided to just relax and set up camp. Sunday we found ourselves hiking and playing on the beach. It was very relaxing and Austin and I enjoyed soaking up the sun while Todd and Alexxa explored tide pools. Monday we decided to take the kayaks out on the Noyo River. It was nice, but the trip ended about two miles in as trees were blocking the river, so we turned around and headed back. This was Austin's first time kayaking and it was quite interesting, we had a hard time keeping the kayak straight and were in the sideways position for about 1/3 of the trip. Tuesday we decided to visit the Mendocino Botanical Gardens and explore the area between Fort Bragg and Mendocino. We also decided to watch the sunset and it was spectacular. Wednesday we decided to hike Fern Canyon (a 5 mile hike). Todd was disappointed and said that he thought there would be ferns growing straight out at you. I kept telling him that it was Fern Canyon not Fern cliffs. We then visited the Pygmy Forest, ate lunch, and then decided to do a little more kayaking. This time we explored Little River and it was spectacular. We were so in awe, we didn't realize we had kayaked about 7 miles. We managed to see some wildlife, but most fun were the family of otters, about 10 of them. They would just come right out to the kayak. Thor and Loki found this particularly interesting and dove in after them. Thor almost drowned as he got caught in the seaweed and couldn't find a place to rest. Everything turned out okay, and our little buddy is still with us - Thank Goodness! The next day everyone recuperated from all the physical activity and we went shopping in Mendocino, visited Jughandle and relaxed. Friday, all of us slept in except for Todd who took the kayak into the ocean and explored the local coastline and caves. When he returned we briefly went back to Mendocino and then headed in to Fort Bragg to eat some seafood and watch Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. When Saturday rolled around, we cleaned up camp and headed back home. The entire time while at the coast, the temperature never exceeded 70, we get back home...it's 103. I want to go back!

It's been a little while...

So it's been a while since I have updated my blog, but life gets busy occasionally. Lexx has had a couple of tournaments, one in Modesto the other in Huntington Beach. Her team won the sand soccer tournament in her age division and everyone had a great time. Todd and I managed to get sunburned, but we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was in the 70's while we were there, and unbeknownst to us, it was 108 and 114 degrees at home. I'm sure glad we were there. Poor Austin couldn't join us because he had to work, but we had a good time for him :)

After we returned from Huntington, Todd took his new kayak out. We visited Stumpy Meadows and had an amazing time. We saw a bald eagle, otter and a momma duck with her ducklings. The best part about the trip was that there was hardly anyone there. We swam a little after kayaking and amazingly the water wasn't freezing. Again, Austin couldn't go because the Deli needed his assistance. Don't feel too sorry for him though because he will be joining us on vacation at the end of the week.

That's all I have for now, but I will have some 4th of July photos and vacation pictures in the next couple weeks. Until then, enjoy your summer.

That's Mr. Engineer

Well Todd did it! He graduated from CSU, Sacramento on May 20th with a Mechanical Engineering Technology degree and boy was he happy. After twenty-two years of perseverance, all his hard work paid off. Family and friends were there to help celebrate. The smile on his face i says it all. Congratulations Todd! Woot, woot :)

What a Week For Alexxa

Alexxa started out a wonderful week last Saturday. She attended the Junior/Senior Prom with her boyfriend Cory. The two of them looked wonderful and so grown up. They met at our house for pictures and then went to a friends house for dinner. After dinner Lexx and a group of her friends were chauffered down to the Sacramento Ballroom (by yours truly) and danced the night away from 8 PM-12 PM. When Todd and I arrived to pick the gang up, Alexxa walked up with a tiara on her head. I was thinking what in the world. Apparently the Junior class votes for a Prom Princess and Alexxa received the honor. This just goes to show that her father and I are correct when we tell everyone that she is a little princess!

On Tuesday Lexx had an academic awards banquet where she recieved the trophy for digital design, and on Wednesday she had her high school soccer banquet where she received her third year varsity letter, first team all league midfield, academic all league (3.5 gpa and above), and team MVP for the third year in a row.

As you can see...it has been quite an eventful week for Lexx, and we are all so proud of her. She really does work hard and it's nice to see her rewarded for her efforts. Way to go Alexxa and keep up the good work.

Todd Had an Ouchy

Well this week was busy as usual, but in a different way. Todd had a hernia and he needed to get it taken care of...so I took Thursday off from work and in he went. It was fairly confusing trying to figure out where to go and when, you wouldn't think it was rocket science, but this is Kaiser we are talking about so need I say more? In Todd's preop consultation the doctor said he would have surgery in Roseville and that he would get a phone call during the week to solidify all the details. Wednesday at 4:30 PM we get a call telling us to be in Folsom at 11:20 AM and to hurry and call as they will cancel the surgery. Nice, neither one of us even gets home until the earliest 6 PM. So we call and confirm, no prob.

We get to the surgery center at 11:20 and sit, and sit, and sit, and sit. They finally get Todd in to prep at 12:15 PM. I am starving by this time because I haven't eaten because Todd can't eat and I didn't want to tempt him. So, they tell me to wait and as soon as there done prepping him I can go in and talk to him before surgery. Okay, my blood sugar has dropped and I'm going to kill someone by this time. I give him a kiss and practically run out of the building and grab some KFC (yum yum yum). I go over to DWS, an awesome shoe store with about 1,000 different style shoes...a girl's paradise, then run to Wal Mart and then get gas and come right back. He is out of surgery and waiting for me by 2:15. What the heck? He's wide awake and saying, "That's it? That's it? No way." about one million times (yes he was higher than a kite). So he is dressed and ready to leave by 3:15 PM.

Todd is now in a panic because he wants to go watch Alexxa's high school playoff soccer game. I tell him I don't think that that is such a good idea, but he says, "I wanna go watch my daughter play soccer." So off we go. They lost, but Todd got to see the second half of the game and over-time.

The gang gets home and Todd decides he's hungry so he eats chicken tenders (doctor said no solids for a day or two-nice Todd). He keeps saying there is nothing to this surgery thing and everyones a wimp.

Long story short, Todd's meds start to wear off and he starts to change his mind about surgery being easy. Todd ended up in bed the rest of Thursday, Friday, most of Saturday and all Sunday.

He is recuperating well and actually went to his college class today. I have to give him kudos, the doctor told him he probably shouldn't work for 1-2 weeks. Four days later, he's up and going...that's my honey!

A Great Weekend!

Another wonderful weekend has come and gone. Alexxa's team played in the State Cup semi-finals and they lost 3-1. While the team didn't quite click, Alexxa played an outstanding game and was very happy that she gave it her all. Because we didn't win on Saturday, we returned from Morgan Hill, and were able to see my cousin and her daughter that were visiting from Vancouver, WA. Madelyn is 3 and full of life and energy. Alexxa had a good time playing with her, and I think now understands what it would be like to have a younger sibling. Brooke looks great and was enjoying her vacation away from work. It was great to see them and spend time catching up. Sunday rolled around and Alexxa had competitive tryouts, so it was up at 7 AM again for her. She, of course, made the team.

So, we all enjoyed a wonderful and peaceful Sunday, except for the fact that Todd may have a hernia...we will find out tomorrow when he goes to the doctor. Poor Austin had to work, but enjoyed a meal fixed by his Nana and Papa, so he was very happy. I caught up on laundry and sleep and Alexxa caught up on her internet surfing. All in all...a great weekend!

Pictures: Alexxa and Madelyn, Madelyn eating her well deserved ice cream, Brooke and Madelyn, and Alexxa heading the ball at State Cup Semi Finals.