First visit to Sherman Island of 2016

The weather was nice, the weekend was free, so off we went.  Actually, come to think of it, this may have been a last hurrah on the semi-retired schedule, before Andrew started his new job! That explains how we had the place to ourselves.  :)

Clearly not afraid of the water - could hardly drag him out despite the drenched clothes!

Arjen in his Kayak, Andrew on the paddle board

Serious look of determination

Our little windsurfer

Love the cooperation and team work going on here!

A rare sight (still water)

Not much in the way of wind, but a fun family day no less at the river...

Happy 4th Birthday Gus!

Hard to believe baby #2 is four years old already!!  Some days it's clear he's still practically a baby...note all the napping pictures below.  But other days, I'm completely in awe of this child, who continues to wow us with his masterful building skills and creativity! Everywhere you turn in the wake of Gus, there is some creation looking back at you, something amazing especially when you consider it is the brainchild of a four year old.  

Some things definitely never change however...the napping...anywhere, everywhere (although tending to at least be in the bedroom these days), and in all positions

"Creations" all over the floor by his head

This was a new one!

 Then there is the imagination.  This guy creates, builds, and imagines worlds I would never have dreamed of.

Here the transformers are at school.  Big Optimus is apparently giving them all an important lesson.

Schooling the transformers

We built this city, da duh, duh, we built this city on fo-oam blah-ocks!  I might've been watching the back of my eyelids one morning while Aotis was taking his nap and Arjen was at school.  Gus busied himself by building this village out of foam blocks.  It is complete with houses with beds for the transformers and "warmers to rest their tails on" (the little ones) and a drive through McDonalds (I take zero credit for that). Incase you're wondering, McD's is the cluster on the right, with the drive-thru in the center.  On the far side, you may notice the "transport vehicle" (made of magformers).  

These guys seem to turn up everywhere...

The Big Day!  Gus lucked out with a weekend birthday this year!  After breakfast, he got to open gifts from his fam, with eager helpers by his side.

Checking out the new power rangers dino morphing something or other (it's so hard to keep them all straight!)

 And for his party this year, he wanted a "green Yoda" theme.  Easy enough!  We had a wonderful afternoon with family and a backyard BBQ.

The little one is getting big way too fast!

Totally happy with his ice cream Yoda cake...in Green!

Arjen kept it pretty close any time Gus was opening presents! 

Living the life

Look closely, and you can see the biggest kid of them all, with our two oldest sons, riding his tractor mower, doing his "public service" for the weekend. 

Our fish

The Artist has Emerged

Arjen made a smooth transition to his new school, our neighborhood elementary school Delta View.  He doesn't say much about it, but seems to be happy every day when we pick him up.  He enjoys getting to ride his bike or his scooter to school every day.  After about a week or two there, he came home with a picture he drew of a windsurfer.  The next day, he came home with one for Dad and one for Mom.  I think we may have found our new living room art! 

Rockin' the school uniform

First day of school, Part 2

The Creation Lab

Have I mentioned yet how much fun these two are having rediscovering all of their old toys?  They decided one day that they needed to build a factory for building creations.  Much to their dismay, we were fresh out of large cardboard boxes and we didn't have enough of any blocks to build something big enough they could crawl into.  They fortunately settled for the suggestion of building a fort out of the dining room table.  This became the "Creation Lab."  They hunkered down with a box full of random legos we'd inherited, and set to work...day after day, night after night...

Feeding the animals on Valentine's Day

Our Valentine's Day this year involved an impromptu trip to Tilden Park to feed the farm animals with Sloane! (And Brian and Shannon of course)

Before we left, we paused to enjoy the view from home.  Despite being overcast, you could really see the Sierras clearly! (Just not as well with an iPhone camera picture)

Then looking west from Tilden Park you could see all the way across the Bay!

(Pardon the car parked in my shot!)

Four years later, and Arjen has no fear walking up to feed the cows.

Nope.  We don't know the kid in the gray.

Sloane is almost exactly the same age Arjen was last time we were here!

Okay, so I knew Aotis was dressed in the requisite Oshkosh overalls for visiting the farm, but I honestly had no clue that I had dressed him in the exact same outfit as Arjen almost exactly four years ago!

Aotis-12 months, Arjen-15 months

The only downside to taking pics at the farm, is that you get everyone's backs all the time!

The littles were looking for someone to come play with them!

Cousins!

Once Aotis was let out of the stroller, it was impossible to get him back in.  This kid has definitely decided that walking is best!

After we left the farm, we had some lunch, had some playground time, then said bye to Sloane and fam.  Since we were so close to the old 'hood, Andrew and I decided we'd go for a Sunday drive - hoping we'd knock three kids out in the process.  We succeeded.  And being Valentine's day and all, I had to stop and "shoot" the roses.  These are what's left of the dozen roses Andrew gave me for Valentines day four or five (?) years ago.  It was sad to leave them behind when we moved, but at least they're still there! 

Hikin' the hills

Now that we've settled back into life at home a little better, it was time to go explore the hills!  Let me just officially apologize to my parents for all of the whining and complaining I did as a kid when it came to hiking - at least up Mt. Lassen.  Arjen was all fired up for the hike.  Actually, initially both kids were.  They packed backpacks with snacks and water, but I had to advise Arjen that the 4 books he wanted to bring could probably stay home.  Aotis had no complaints being stuffed into the hiking pack.  So off we went.  Less than 5 minutes in (which was all downhill mind you), Gus had already decided he wouldn't be able to make it up the hill we were going to explore.  Thank God for easily molded and persuaded and distractible young minds, because we somehow were able to keep Gus going for what ended up being just under a 2 mile hike.  

Pointing out the Sierras (which unfortunately didn't show up in this pick)

Having fun with the Panoramic setting

Aotis's first adventure in the pack.  He was pretty okay with it. 

Arjen and Andrew were leading the way pretty much the whole time.  Gus was most definitely pulling up the rear...until we started to head back downhill towards home.  Then he magically got a second...third...fourth? wind and took off! 

Gus way ahead, then Pole-dog, then Andrew, and now we see Arjen

I guess after a hike that rough, you get so tired you forget to put your pants back on before crashing hard on the floor.