Gametes In Love

Griffin had his last club soccer tournament last week-end. His team made it to the play-offs, but alas didn’t win.

This was the first game I attended this season, and sadly the only, since the following morning Storm woke up with an ear ache, and I took him home to confirm an ear infection. Oh well!

Griffin loved Gatorade. Not sure he realized what he looks like afterward. I call this the “I kissed a smurf and I liked it!” shot

Followed by “I ate it!”

Griffin came home from school yesterday really enthused about the upcoming election. They had covered the electoral college in his grade. Later that night he was telling Shane how their teacher exclaimed that many people choose not to vote. He didn’t understand why. Shane gave Griffin an absolutely amazing explanation on why voting is important.

(What follows is a conversation overheard in bits, but mostly relayed via Shane.)

Shane: Ok — so imagine we are about to vote on dinner for the following night. The choices are between hamburger and pizza.
Let’s say that YOU want pizza, and Mommy wants pizza, and I want pizza. Storm, however, wants hamburger.
Given what you know, what do you think we’re going to have for dinner tomorrow.

Griffin: Pizza!

Shane: Right. Ok — so all the votes have to be in by 5pm the night of dinner.
Now, it’s 4:30, and I’m upstairs busy, and I’m not able to come down to vote. (all voting has to be put in downstairs in the kitchen by 5pm). But I know that you’re going to vote for pizza, and Mommy is going to vote for pizza, so we’re ok even if I don’t vote.
Meanwhile, Mommy is doing something in the kitchen, and she’s thinking “Shane is going to vote for pizza, and Griffin is going to vote for pizza, so we’re fine. I don’t need to stress it if I don’t vote.”
You are playing basketball, and don’t want to stop just to go vote, but you know that if I vote for pizza and Mommy votes for pizza, we’re having pizza. So you don’t vote.
Meanwhile, Storm casts his vote for hamburger.
Guess what we’re having for dinner that night?!?!

Griffin: (sad) Hamburger.

Shane: That’s right. That’s why you gotta go vote!

So… you heard it here folks. Go vote! Or you’re going to end up with hamburger for dinner.

Our littlest is 6 today.

I showed him his 6th year video, and after we watched several from years past. It moments like that when I realize just how much he’s grown. He’s gone from a Lego obsessed, costume wearing, Christmas-music listening, snuggly, picky eater to a Lego obsessed, story-writing, snuggly, picky eater. Ok, so maybe not too much has changed 🙂

This past year Storm experienced quite a few milestone firsts: first bike riding, kindergarten, first sports team, and first trips to some cool vacation destinations. It’s been a big year for sure. See some highlights here:

Now… onto

What is your name?
Storm
What is your full name?
Storm V R************
Do YOU know what the V stands for?
Viktor

How old are you about to be?
6!

What’s your favorite color?
Turquoise.
What does turquoise look like?
It’s like… it’s green. To make the color, equal yellow and blue together.
Really? How do you know that?
I tried it!
Did you know that turquoise was one of my favorite colors when I was your age?
Actually, turquoise is not my best, best color. Taze blue is my favorite color.
Oh wow! Say that again!?!
Taze Blue
Taze Blue? (anyone getting flashbacks of the Yao Ming AMEX commercial here?)
Taze-z-z-z-z
Taze?
You, you say Tay- then, you say—
I’ve never heard of this color. How did you hear about it?
It’s actually some of the Lego boxes — they tell you the colors. And there’s this one color. It’s taze blue. It’s the awesomest blue I saw. It’s pretty awesome.

Who is your best friend?
I have pretty much three.
You have three best friends? Alright who are your best friends?
One is Parker. Danny. Who is the next one? Who is it? Oh yeah — Dominic and Justin.
That makes four. Ok!
No! No! No! No! It equals three because Dominic and Justin are twins.
[laugh] But they’re not the same person!

What is your favorite book?
I don’t know the title, but I like it.
Why don’t you tell me what it’s about? Maybe I’ll remember the title.
I think you never read it.
Ohhh-ok!

Alright then, what’s your favorite movie?
Movie… Do you know …. Do you know I pretty much know half of Jurassic Park?
I guess because people are telling you what it’s about. Why don’t you tell me what your favorite movie is?
Jurassic World!
You’ve never seen it! Tell me something you’ve seen.
Ok fine! Kubo and the Two Strings.
Ok! Why do you like that movie the most?
I like the part where he gets the armor.
When he gets the armor?
Uh-huh!
Ok!

What is your favorite TV show?
TV: Pokemon!
Why?
Hmnn.. I like it because… because there are lots of pokemon everywhere.
Ok
…and we can catch them.

Storm, what is your favorite animal?
My favorite animal is ugh… is ugh… I have two
What are they?
The red fox and the Snow Tiger.
What does the fox say? HAHAHA! So tell me why those are your favorite animals!
Oh the red fox; I like the red fox because it’s the name of my school. Fox part. And I like snow Tigers because they blend in with the snow.

What is your favorite food to eat?
Pumpkin bread.
Pumpkin bread? You just had that for the first time today!
I really like it!

Storm, give me a piece of advice.
Of what?
I don’t know — give me your best piece of advice.
Ok, it’s a way to make origami. It’s a tip if you have a hard step. If you have a hard step…. No. No — it’s about reading. If you have a hard step about reading, just skip the word.
Oh! Ok! Alright!

What’s your favorite toy?
My Iron Man shooter. No, my NERF gun.
So all of your toys can go away as long as you have your NERF gun?
Hey!
That’s what I mean; what’s the ONE toy you can’t live without?
Pretty much all of my toys.
All of your toys? Alright!

What is your favorite shirt?
My Safari shirt.
Your Safari shirt?
Yeah; it reminds me of Safari Run.

What kind of job do you want to do when you grow up.
I don’t know what they’re called, but they help … like … ugh… I wanna be a worker
What kind of worker?
I want to be a person that helps make toys.
What kind of toys?
Kid toys
What are you going to do? Design them; build them; or what?
I’m going to draw them and make them real!

(I have no doubt you will, Bud!)

We went back to Arata Farms last week-end, and brought some friends.
I gotta admit — the maze was much harder this year than I remember, and getting through was only made more complicated by a gaggle of 8 yr olds determined to guide the expedition. Without a strategy (other than just running ahead) it drove the adults bonkers. We finally made it out though ;p I WILL go back next year, just need to figure out a plan first.

What is your name?
Griffin
What’s your full name?
Griffin V R*****
What does the V stand for?
Viktor?

How old are you about to be?
8

What’s your favorite color?
Black, blue and orange

Who are your best friends?
Milo, Brayden, Lincoln, Hector, Hayden… did I already say Hayden?
You know… you don’t have to also list the whole Blasters team.

What’s your favorite book?
That Magic Treehouse: Pirates at noon

What’s your favorite movie?
Star Wars, Force Awakens

What’s your favorite TV show?
Phinneas & Ferb

What is your favorite animal?
Cobra
Why?
Because it shoots poison

What’s your favorite food?
Pasta
What kind of pasta?
Long noodle, and tube pasta

What is the wisest thing you can tell me?
Don’t pollute the earth!
Huh — that actually is a really wise thing!

What is your favorite toy?
Pokemon cards

What’s your favorite shirt?
Any shirt
Any shirt?
Yeah, pretty much anything inside my closet.

What kind of job do you want to do when you grow up?
Hmn… a baseball player
What kind of baseball player?
A good one!
What position do you want to play as a baseball player?
1st base

Oh Monkey! You are a smart, smart-ass kid that I love in ways I can’t express. You drive me bonkers. I make you mad. We snuggle just right. I suppose it’s as it should be.

My wish for you in this coming year is for you to embrace creativity and let your mind explore. Be it through art, through building, through reading, or through coming up with your own experiments. I hope you continue being curious; continue being athletic; continue loving math, and get bitten by a reading bug. Above all I hope you are healthy.

Love ya, G!

We have a second grader in the house! Joined by a kindergartner. We’ve also achieved single drop-off. Yeah!!!

Let me tell you about our day (in photos).

This was 7:16am this morning — not a good sign for trying to get out of the house at 7:45. The view in my bedroom (as far as my male counterpart goes) looked about the same 🙂

7:45. Getting there!

Car-ride with bagels — breakfast of champions.

It was interrupted by the following statement: “Mom, I need to go pee. RIGHT NOW!!!!!” So our chill time in the car became a rush to the school trying to find an open bathroom. Thank goodness for Griffin calling out that the bathrooms by the kinder rooms would be open. Thank you, kid! After that at least I got to manipulate the kids into the shot (hello, first day of school frame-able!)

I was really impressed with Griffin being immediately surrounded by friends saying “Hello!”.

Storm got to see his buddy. Also, happy to say that a kiddo from his most recent preschool is actually IN his classroom. So happy that there’s someone he knows in his class. From the 4 kids of our family crew that hang out, we’re surprised that all 4 got into separate classrooms. So I’m glad he at least has this friend.

Upon getting in, Storm needed to sign his name, and the parents got some homework — we traced the kids’ hands, and made them a heart.

The teacher then sat them down and read them the Kissing Hand. It was sweet. The kids needed this story to transition to this big day.

We were hugged out and sent on our way.

Sadly, Leona couldn’t stay — Storm was REALLY bummed out about this. I promised him that I would take her to work with me today, we’d have an adventure and we’ll take photos. Those will come soon — today, today’s about first days 🙂

The boys are sleeping off our late night return home. They have a day off today before starting a new school year tomorrow.
Me? I’m trying to hang at work, through my body is REALLY not ready to be back from vacation? Where did we go? My Turtle Sightings post was a spoiler, but we’ve just spent about 5 days in Maui.
I’m not ready to be back to life as usual, and already wishing another vacation was near, so I guess *I* had a good time. However, vacations with kids… well, it’s just different. Our kids didn’t have their toys, or other activities to occupy them, so whenever we were back in our room (or sitting still, really) they were constantly asking for the tablets… or teasing each other. Not the most relaxing, for the adults, for sure! At the same time it was really neat to see their reaction to new experiences. For example, one thing that sticks in my mind is listening to Storm, underwater, humming to himself while snorkeling. So imagine a 3’5″ wee-bit kicking while floating ahead just humming. It’s kind of one of the best things, really.

We took advantage of our CA body schedule and got up for an early morning boat ride out to Molokini and Turtle Town visit. G LOVED being on the boat. Snorkeling was not really his thing, so after Molokini he got back on the boat, and more or less became a hand, passing people noodles and hanging with the boat captain. He even took over the first mate’s chair. I don’t often see him this excited and happy! As a side note, I’m glad that the boys seem to have inherited their dad’s constitution when it comes to being on the water. My achievement for this trip was not throwing up. And trust me, it was a BIG effort. By the time we parked in Molokini my stomach was churning. Even being in the water sucked. Being back on the boat was even worse. When the boat was moving faster I was so much better, but docked I was lying down trying to keep it together. I’m surprised last year’s boat ride out to sharks and rays was fine. I didn’t feel sick. Same measures this year, totally different results. Oh well — doesn’t look like I’ll be loading a boat in the near future. Additionally, and I remember this from last time Shane and I went to Maui and did a trip to Molokini — the snorkeling we did off shore was just as good, if not better than what we saw out by Molokini island. So I’m going to spare myself the cost of money and body and just not do that again. Glad we did it for the kids, don’t see the need to do it again.

We also attended a luau. It was our first, and as it turns out literally right below our hotel room. We can hear the performances from our space, and occasionally at night we’d leave the door open just so we can hear it. Storm saw a poster advertising the luau in our hotel, but not knowing what it was about kept asking where he can see a ring of fire (think spinning poi). Without context, I had no clue what the kid was talking about so just shook my head at him a lot. Needless to say the kids were stoked about this. The food was actually quite good, the performance interesting, and the boys really dug it.

Shane and I stole some time to ourselves too — I really wanted to stay at a place that had childcare. It’s how we ended up booking Hyatt Regency to begin with. Kids love it at the kid-camp. To a point where they were mad we picked them up. Griffin had heard “all day” and in his mind 3pm did not qualify as an “all day” stay there. Shane and I went out for dinner one night, and then snorkeling on two beaches for a day trip. That part was nice!

I convinced Shane to go down to the Wailea area for dinner one night. We hit up Monkeypod, which was yummy and even Storm ate at! He had a salad — gave it a thumbs up. Earlier that week Shane had mentioned that he’d love some local brewery rootbear, and since Maui Brewing Co had a tasting room (relatively) close to dinner, we stopped by for a tasting before we headed in for the evening. There was live music; the kids tried root-beer for the first time (both gave it a thumbs down), and then they watched some adults play life sized Jenga. I kinda want a set, to be honest 🙂

On this trip Storm figured out the art of the photo bomb. Ah, the gift that keeps on giving :-/

Now onto some photos
… but if you want to see the full set (there’s only about two hundred!), go to: https://www.flickr.com/gp/avalikelava/Ux7VVZ

Making sure we didn’t have to pay extra for the kids

This might be the only photo of me on this trip. It’s a good one too! Courtesy of Storm

View from our hotel room

And this was his first mastered photo-bomb. Griffin was the subject.

At least I didn’t get an actual moon 🙂

Look at this smile!!!

“Look, Mom! A snorkel!”

First Shave ice 🙂

Storm’s new buddy, Flipper. Hanging out with Leona (and I guess showing off how much bigger he is)

Maui — the land of the incredible sunsets and always white, puffy clouds

I don’t wanna go home!

There’s a ton of photos that need to be rescued (and shared) off my phone and camera. I’m caught up on editing them, and now I really need to share them.

The kids and I went to the beach at the start of summer. It was mid-day. The wind was something else. It was pelting us in the face, but the kids didn’t care. Storm got his feet in the Pacific Ocean waves for the first time. I’ve been (mostly) taking the kids to the beach by myself, and allowing them anywhere near the water has been a big deal. Yep — we’ve been the family where the kids go to the beach to just dig in the sand. Frankly, with how cold the water is, swimming hasn’t been something they’ve been craving either.

This is the story of Babe, Dude, and S2.

Dude has a crush on Babe. S2, however, don’t care and likes to get in between them for fun. Here’s an example.

Dude trying to get close to Babe. (see that elbow in the photo? Yeah — that’s the guy who’s about to ruin it all)

Dude isn’t too happy.

“Babe? What’s going on?”

Dude is now back to happy, but there’s always that “shadow”

All these photos started with G asking me to take a “pre-engagement” photo of her youngest and his crush. I tried to oblige. S2 had other ideas.

These 3 have known each other for two years. They’re good friends, but I find it hilarious that S2 kinda likes to torment his buddy “not getting alone time with his girl”.

So when is the appropriate time to teach your son about #brosbefore****???
(P.S. struggling to find a phrasing NOT including a female degrading term, but alas….)

We went camping (last week-end)! Yeah, you heard that right. There was a tent, unpaved roads, and lots of dirt!

The kids loved it. S has asked that we spend his birthday camping, and I didn’t get eaten by a bear. So it was a win for everyone!

We did the camping trip with 9 other families, and in all seriousness, it was a good time. I actually can’t imagine camping without a large crew of friends because I think it made everything better: the kids always had something to do, we shared cooking/child oversight responsibilities and the company was just great.

We did a whole bunch of hiking, and S2 didn’t ask to be carried once! So now I know this kid would totally do a 1mi walk. There will probably be whining, but it can be done. Eeeexcellent!

There were photos (too many, trust me!).

There were card games.

There were s’mores.

There were night-time snuggles to keep warm. Oh man, that first night was frigid! I woke up too many times to count because I was just cold.

Did I mention there was dirt? Oh so much dirt! A shower has almost never felt so good, and I swear I gave my moisturizer a hug when I got home.

I’d also not spent any time in my life more paranoid about a bear’s sense of smell. We couldn’t leave anything scented in the car. Down the air fresheners, and I each time I would wake-up on my first night, the first question my sub-conscious would ask, was if there was a bear breathing heavily outside of our tent. Also, on our second morning, my bladder was ready to burst come 5am, so I braved getting out and hiking to the rest-rooms. It was dusk, thankfully, so I could see fairly well, but it was quiet, and I didn’t want to spook, or be spooked by a black bear.

However, our camp did get attacked by a gang of squirrels. I didn’t know squirrels could open backpacks. Neither did S, but apparently they can! And they can eat through plastic bags… to get to jerky! Yeah, apparently not only are squirrels wily, they are also carnivorous?

Before we headed home we stopped by the Mercer Caverns, and it was so worth it! I’d never been to a cavern before, and it was really cool! Actually, literally cool: while it was in the 90s outside, it was a cool 55 in the caverns. Our guide was funny, the kids asked good questions. Totally worth getting home later in the day.