Ambitious

Before we left on Saturday morning for the Right Coast. We decided to take in one of the final Padre's home games against the Arizona Diamond Backs. Chris Young had a perfect game going in the 5th inning when Quinn started melting down. As a courtesy to our fellow patrons, we decided to pack it in. Ami lent us her apartment in town that night so we could catch a 6:30 AM flight to DC. We went back to her place and had a beer and watched the rest of the game. Joe Randa hit a home run with one out and one on in the 9th.

Skate Rat

There is no place in his baby book for "first ride on a skateboard." And yeah, I know: "Where is his helmet?" Working on it.

Packing

We leave on Saturday for the East Coast. First to DC area to visit family and friends, then to New England to visit other good friends who are hosting us in a cabin in the woods in New Hampshire. I hope to get some good pictures of DC monuments and the fall colors in New England. I have not been to the East Coast since the early 90's so this has been a long time coming.

Summer Bike Trip

Wendy had a weekend with the girls in August. So, I was left to single parenting. I decided to take Quinn on a three day bike tour. We left from Oceanside on Friday afternoon by train and traveled to Anaheim. This was the first time Quinn had ever been on a train. He sees them all the time near our house and will stare and point and say, "T..T..T." But he had no idea that people got in them. He was a little concerned when we first boarded, but when he saw the chairs and seats and other people he decided it was all OK. He spent most of the ride pointing out the window and saying, "T..T..T."

In Anaheim, we saddled up and rode on the Santa Ana River Bike Trail to Huntington Beach and then headed up the coast to Seal Beach and stayed in an inexpensive motel on the Old Coast Highway. We ate Mexican that night at a place within walking distance that had a live Rock-n-Roll band. Quinn thought it was too loud so we went back to the room and watched the Angels beat the Rangers. At one point I turned off the TV and Quinn complained loudly' "Beeball...beeball!" So, we watched to the end of the game.

Saturday we made our way down the coast; stopping every hour or so for a play break at a park or the beach. We ended up in San Clemente and ordered pizza to our room.

Sunday was a short day. San Clemente to Leucadia with a long stop at the beach in Oceanside. Quinn and I had some good "bonding" time and it was good not to play second fiddle to Mama for a few days.

Going to the zoo, zoo, zoo. How about you, you, you.

Wendy's parents bought us a San Diego Zoo membership last year. We did not use them that much (Quinn was a little young to appreciate.) But, this summer we started going often. Quinn loves animals. I wish I had a picture of the first time he saw a giraffe. He was in total disbelief. We usually go for only an hour or so. So the membership is great. You do not feel like you have to spend all day there to "get your money's worth." Here are Quinn and Mama looking at the flamingos.

Hanging out with Quinn

Summer evening of playing in the front drive.

Cross Steppinng

Wendy has a very natural sense of trim. Here is an example of her stepping out on a long left in Southern Mexico.

Quinn learns to ride a bicycle

We purchased a bicycle for Quinn at Toys-R-Us. Tiny, tiny thing. Tires are made of the foam that you find in running shoe insoles. No brakes, fixed gear (like a track bike.) With the training wheels, really it is more like a tricycle. At first he was really excited about it but he took a couple of tumbles and is less enthusiastic now. His driveway toy of choice now is a skateboard that Jared gave him before he left for law school in Oregon.

Moving from website to blog...

If you have been trying to get updates about Quinn, you probably have noticed that I have not been maintaining his website very well. So, I am moving to a blog. I hope the simplicity of posting will allow me to stay more current.

More to follow.