Cousin Cyric visits California

Spring break for cousin Cyric brought him, Grandpa Glen, and Grandma Jan down for a visit without Auntie Thea or Uncle Scott. Cyric was very patient with the hero-worshipping Quinn, reading to him, playing hide-and-seek with him and rolling around on the skateboard.

One day we went down to the Birch Aquarium in town and the boys went wild watching the fish, touching the animals in the tidepool exhibit and marveling over the camouflage strategies of everything from seahorses to stingrays.

Cyric, Grandma and Grandpa also went to the wild animal park and got up close and personal with the critters on a photo safari. We were jealous. When Quinn is old enough we will probably give that a try. Then they went to Legoland, too. We'll try that one, as well, when Quinn's a little older. It was good to get a bit of a preview of the things we might be trying later on in the future.
Right now it's all we can do to go to the zoo for a couple hours at a time.

Silly small surf with visiting friends

Jared and Brenda are in town this week. Years ago (well not that many), Jared and I worked together at the APCD and became fast friends. Last summer he was accepted to Lewis and Clark Law School and moved to Portland with Brenda, his lovely bride. (She is a successful graphic designer who designed the AQCS company logo. Her company is called EyeMotion. If you need some slick yet earthy design work, give her a call.)

So, on Friday, we all played hooky in the morning and went surfing at GV. Attendees were: Jared, Wendy, Sterling, Ralf and myself. Problem was: High tide and no swell, (it was so small, Sterling actually used a longboard) . We managed to have fun anyway. Small silly waves that occasionally lined up well enough to get a decent ride in. This was also a special treat for Wendy and I. Quinn was in school and we could surf together. Best part was seeing old friends.

After surf, we went to a local pub for lunch and ate fatty food and drank beer. I was pretty done for the day as far as productivity goes and just wished everyone could hang around all day.

Ralf brought his new underwater digital camera...so here are the photos:

Jared surveying the surf

Wendy the Salty Sea Queen

Dork cross-stepping

Wendy and Dork splitting a wave

Ralf carving

Wendy gliding

Sterling on take-off

The visiting man of honor: Jared

Torrey Pines Trek

We checked the surf today at 8:00. The surf was tiny, but the day was beautiful; warm and a slight off-shore wind. We decided to take a ride down to Torrey Pines State Reserve an go for a walk on the Guy Flemming trail. The ride was mostly pleasant, but the last mile or so up the Torrey Pines hill was a killer. Quinn is growing and getting heavier...or I am out of shape, but this is my story, so I am sticking with the former. We got to the trail and walked slowly...at a two year old's distracted pace. We saw dolphins, surfers, lizards and flowers. Quinn was fascinated with the fine sand of the eroding bluffs. Here are some pictures if you care...

A trip to the hills

Back in December we went up to Julian to visit our good friend Greg who was down from Santa Cruz to help his dad work on some property they own. Joy of joys for Quinn, they were using a small tractor to drag logs to a hydraulic splitter and he got to ride around and around and around! And then we went into Julian for apple pie. Bliss.

School Days

It's amazing to think about how small Quinn was when we first started him at Elayna's, only 10 weeks old and such a little nubbin of a boy. This morning he started preschool at the neighborhood Montessori and walked in the door on his own two feet carrying his Thomas lunch box and wearing his Thomas backpack. We ran him in using the new stroller; 12 minutes door to door, probably less once Mama gets back in better running shape. Although he cried when we walked out the door, by the time we had taken five steps out of his sight he settled down and got busy. Apparently he figured out immediately (Mama bragging, take with grain of salt!) where to go to get puzzles, to get the little chairs down off the little tables, and to get right to work (he's brilliant!). I had thought maybe it might take him a day or so of sitting and watching the other kids to get in the swing of things but apparently he's transitioning well. We're starting up just in time for school pictures in two weeks. It's crazy!

Now comes the interesting part; what else is he going to learn at this new school from all the older boys and girls? Will he remain the sweet little polite (mostly) though somewhat opinionated guy he is now or will he acquire rougher 5 year-old-style (can't believe that's actually something I worry about) habits? Only time will tell but one thing is certain, he's going to be learning a lot and he's going to change.

Last day at Elayna's

Wow, Quinn is leaving the nursery. He had his last day at his daycare with Elayna or "'Layna" as he calls her. We had a rough last week or two at daycare. He would fight and cry because he did not want to go. Reportedly, he had a great time once I left. Still, it was hard. Elayna has been so good to our little boy for the last two years. She gave him a Thomas train that stops and starts when you whistle at it. She cried when Mom picked him up. I am sad as well.

We have lots to thank Elayna for. Not just the day care, but for being so loving to Quinn and having so much good advice to give on how to deal with little ones. (She has been doing this for 15 years, so she knows.) Quinn is so polite with: "Please" and "thank you" and he has lots of other good habits and mannerisms and is good with smaller children and we have Elayna to thank. But, it seems time to move on.

He is headed to pre-school at a Montessori school that is only a mile or so from our house. The plan is to run him in in our new convertible jogging stroller/bike trailer and Wendy can pick him up in the afternoon on her bike and pull him home. I know Quinn is going to love it. Lots of new things to do, lots of children to play with and lots of time outside in the playground.

Perhaps I am sad because I can see the day when he has grown up too much for us to take care of him anymore and he will move on.

Immune to the hype

I take lots of pictures of Quinn and other things. The thing is, most of the time Quinn is doing something I know he really enjoys. But, in the pictures he always looks so pensive. Like I am torturing him by taking him places. Really I'm not!

So, anyway, we went to the SD Zoo a few weeks ago and got in just as they opened. Almost no one there. So as a rare treat, we went to the Panda exhibit. There is usually a line out the door and down the street for the Pandas. So this was a rare sighting for me. Quinn was unimpressed. He is immune to the hype.

After a couple of hours at the Zoo, we did a little more Balboa park, including the miniature rail road they have near the Zoo entrance. Quinn wanted to ride again and again...can't tell from the picture can you?

Mama was at a Malacological meeting at the Natural History Museum and met us at about 12:00 for lunch. Then we went to the Model Rail Road Museum. Balboa Park is a great place to take kids.

Great Leaps

The little man is on the move. Last Thanksgiving was about the time of his first steps. This Thanksgiving and Christmas were all about jumping and leaping and running, faster all the time. Just when you think he will be content to amble along at your side he decides to "go faster!" and takes off in his still somewhat drunken sailor-paced gate. Every now and then he'll be walking around and you'll know that he has a tune in his head because he'll start white-boy bopping, his arms swinging and his head nodding to an unheard beat. So far, we can still keep up with him...so far.

Friends and Football

At the beginning of November Jared and Brenda came into town to see the Chargers and the Browns. A big group had gotten tickets even before Jared found out he was accepted to law school in Oregon. Before the big game we headed out to Dog Beach for a little quickie surf. Quinn climbed around on the rip-rap before heading over to the Henehans' to spend the afternoon with Genesis and the girls. This allowed Mama and Dada a little tailgate time before the action.

Turkeys and Trains

Thanksgiving was a crazy wonderful time. Grandma Pat and Grandpa Norm came down and survived the epic trauma of getting a haircut for Quinn. Grandpa Glen and Grandma Jan drove down from Oregon and stayed after for a few days so Mama and Dada could have a couple days as a couple. While everyone was here (including Uncle Brian) we went up to Mission San Juan Capistrano on the train. At the end of the trip Quinn spent about five minutes saying good-bye to the train...then all the cars in the parking lot and the buses at the depot. He's got a bit of a fixation.

A Love of Books

Quinn has always loved being read to. In the mornings we often find him sitting in his bed with a book. He'll look up at us when we come in and ask us to read the story to him before he comes down to breakfast. When we have friends come to visit, we often find them on the couch (like Ralf or David Miguel and Francisca) book in hand and a small boy in their lap.

The Garden Gnome in the House

We're still learning about holidays. What are they? Why are they special? What do we do when that day comes around? Quinn never did let me put on his beard or draw little red circles on his cheeks, but he did wear the hat long enough to get a quick picture.

I think next year we'll do a jack-o-lantern and learn a little more.

Family Fun

Quinn is so lucky to have a pair of great-grandparents who are in good health and are very active in all their family's lives. Great-grandpa Warren and Great-grandma Dorothy came out back in August and had a great (ha ha) visit, kicking the ball around and reading stories. We're headed out to see them again in April. Quinn will spend another day with the great-grandparents while Mama and Dada hike the Sandia peak and compare it with the winter hike of last year (see the old webpage for pix). Can't wait!

Filling the Shoes

It seems that the Quinn is static sometimes, all of his pants from last year still fit and some of his shorts still don't fit. So it came as a surprise when his sandals fit one day, and then the next day he complained and pulled them off. Too small, too tight, give him some room because he's growing, even if we don't see it. Come to think of it, he's reaching door knobs and counter tops with greater ease every day. I suppose it won't be long before the size 7 shoes he doesn't quite fill out right now become Daddy's size 10s that he can't squeeze his feet into and he's towering over his 5'4" Mama. But for now he's still the little guy, clomping around in whatever pair of shoes he happens to pull out of the closet, earnestly insisting that he's ready to go outside...now.

Helter Skelter

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
Till I get to the bottom and I see you again.

Do you, don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me tell me tell me come on tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter.

Will you, won't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter

Look out, cause here she comes.

When I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide
And I stop and I turn and I go for a ride
And I get to the bottom and I see you again

Well do you, don't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter
Look out helter skelter
She's coming down fast
Yes she is
Yes she is.

Baby Koah

On the trip to Sacramento, Quinn and I got to meet Koah for the first time. This beautiful baby boy is the first son of my step-sister Stacy and her husband, Roy. I thought Quinn had lots of hair...you should see this kid. Quinn sees lots of babies at day care, so he is really good and gentle with them. He kisses and tickles them and generally gives me the fear that he is thinking of a career in politics. Pictures are of Norm (grandpa) and Koah, Aunt Pam and Koah, and Quinn and Koah.

Rental Cars and Child Seats

Did you know that most rental car companies will not guarantee you a child seat if you reserve one with a car rental? Since it is the law to have your child in a car seat and if one is traveling alone, and one finds one's rental car without the seat, what is one to do? So, we always travel with ours, if we are renting a car. I have some carabiners that I use to clip the seat onto my backpack. Makes for a big load and I get lots of comments. I usually have to apologies frequently for hitting other patrons in line and such since my profile while loaded is so substantial.

Anyway, I am thinking of contacting my Congressman or Senator about this. If there are laws that you have to have a child seat, then if you reserve a car with one...it should be guaranteed.

Boys on a Business Trip

I needed to go to a CARB (California Air Resources Board) workshop up in Sacramento. We have lots of family in the area, so I always mix these trips with some visits. Now that Quinn has come along, no one wants to see me if I am by myself. Wendy had taken lots of time off for our East Coast trip...So DaDa and Quinn were traveling alone...if not traveling light. Backpack, diaper bag, and a car-seat strapped to my back, Quinn and I made our way on via airplane. Quinn is the best little traveler. He really likes airplanes and for the most part stays in his seat, eats crackers and looks out the window. Getting through security can be interesting and we were pulled aside by TSA and sent to secondary on the way back. Even the guy in secondary was wondering why the guy with the toddler and all the bags needed to have his pack checked for explosives and made a comment about the "lack of common sense of some TSA employees."

Perfect Evening

Between DC and New England, we stopped in Edgewater Maryland to visit Jana and Mike. Jana was one of Wendy's classmates at SIO. She is administrating research grant money for ecological studies of the Chesapeake now and the two of them have a great house near the bay (about a block form the water.) Part of the deal with their house is that it comes with a slip where they keep a sailboat.

When Mike got home from work, we were going to go on a short sail actually a motor cruise since there was absolutely no wind) around the bay just so Quinn could get a feel for it. The short cruise turned into a run up the bay to a restaurant with a dock that we tied up at and had dinner and beer, took blue crabs to go. The air was warm and balmy, the company was wonderful, the crabs were delicious and a beautiful sunset was on display. Huge thanks to Jana, Mike and Remy for showing us such a good time.

DC

While visiting the Anderson's, we took a day trip to DC and walked the mall. Visited many of the iconic mall locations: Capital Building, Washington's Monument (dominates the entire landscape), White House, Lincoln's Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, WW II Memorial (Quinn fell into the fountain.) Picture shows a very tired Quinn under the benevolent gaze of Abraham Lincoln. I think of this trip as more of a scouting expedition for a longer trip inn DC.