EVERLASTING MEMORIES WITH FAMILY

So far, we have had some great weather, especially on the weekends. But, it is forecasted that rain maybe here for up to two weeks. We have been able to get some terrific hiking in and also have been able to take our Friday night walks to Starbucks (round trip close to 3 1/2 miles). We even walked one night with drizzle/mist from the rain. The air smells so fresh. The kids get a hot cocoa and we get a coffee and read the paper. We look forward to our Fridays.

We hike as often as the weather will let us. Last week, the boys and I went , and we found an old hand saw in an ancient tree. The tree was a hollowed oak, and the saw was lodged in the mid-section. We turned it in to the Vistor Center. It was a foggy day, but so beautiful as the fog went in between the hills.

Jeff and I coached soccer this past fall. Jeff U- 10's, and U-8's for me. This was my first time coaching soccer. It was a blast and I had a super asst. coach-Preston's teacher. We had a terrific summer watching the boys swim in their third season of being on the Dolphin Swim team. They also played baseball last spring too.

We went to Tahoe in July with Jeff's family for 6 days, Arizona for a week to see the Hanke family and welcome baby Madison, and I went to Hawaii in Aug. to check Laci into the dorm, as well as, visit all of my family! Mom came for a visit in Sept. to celebrate the "Teacher of the Year" event with me. It was amazing! We also made several trips to Sonora to see family there. We also went to Monterey, Santa Cruz, a Hawaii vs. San Jose football game, and A's games. We recently took the boys to an alumni game at Cal State Stanislaus in Turlock. Good Times!!!

Jeff teaches 6th grade with 30 students (homeroom). He changes kids for math and P.E. each day so the counts changes. Jeff also will start volunteering helping 6th graders with math after school. Jeff also takes math classes in hopes to get a degree in math, or at least have more knowledge of upper grade math.

I teach K-5 Reading Intervention. I see roughly 55 students, 4 days a week, and 30 on Wednesdays. I travel to two schools. I really love what I do and I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with so many children. I volunteer 3 days a week helping 4th graders with math after school. I took a graduate class last semester in Reading.

Laci is adjusting well in Hawaii, and we are so glad that she is happy. Austin is in the 4th grade and Preston is in 3rd. The boys are on their first recreational basketball team. We are constantly reminded of Laci because she played in the fourth grade too.

In late Feb. Jeff and I will attend an International Job Fair in San Francisco to hopefully teach somewhere out of the U.S. We will see. It has been a great experience just becoming candidates. The boys are excited of what the future may hold for them.

A year of fun!

More fun

SUMMER IS HERE!!

The weather is so odd this year. It is cold, hot, cold, WINDY for ever, chilly and then hot..... When I say hot, I do not mean high 80's, or even 90's. It just skips all of those digits and goes to triple digits of 107 or hotter.

It is great to be on vacation though. I cannot express my gratitude to all my family for their help in making Laci's graduation party so memorable. The family reunion was indeed something we all needed. Thanks to everyone who joined us. I realize how costly it was. THANK YOU!! Heidi was stupendous for all her hardwork in planning and organizing. Thanks also goes to my dad and Chris for working on the yard. I know everyone helped. Aunt Michelle and Don thanks for having everyone over on such short notice.

I enjoyed playing the role of an aunt for the few days that I was able to. I loved every minute of it. I enjoyed ALL of the Lutz kiddos, Hallford's, Hanke's baby Brooklyn, and of course Jeff's nephew Julien.

June has been a very busy month. Lots of birthdays and anniversaries: Britten, Julien, Nitu, Paradise and Austin have birthdays and Nathan /Amanda and Jeff/ I have anniversaries.
We attended a wedding on the coast and have been doing exciting things with the boys.

I have been cycling about 80 + miles a week in the early hours. I go for about 2 hours. I love it. I would like to go to the city and bike up hills and see the coast though. I have also been tutoring four students three times a week. Jeff has been taking the boys to swim practice and enjoying good books and movies before school begins. We walk in the country two days a week when I am not tutoring while the boys swim. Laci has been busy working at Cold Stone and organizing her room so Austin can have his own room.

July is going to be even more exciting. On the 4th of July we head to beautiful Lake Tahoe for six days with Jeff's family. The boys have a big swimming Invitational the weekend of the 11th /12th. I have to attend a coaching clinic on the 11th half day so I can coach Preston in soccer for the Fall. Jeff will be coaching Austin.

We hope to head to AZ on the 16th early to avoid the heat so we can see the new Hanke baby expected July 8th or so.


We plan on going to Jessica's baby shower on the 27th.

We begin school on the 28th. YIKES!!!!!

Laci leaves for Hawaii on the 29th..........

Jeff and I plan to go to Hawaii on Aug. 17 or so for a parent orientation. Laci moves in the dorms Aug. 18th. We will not take the boys because it is so expensive and we paln to go for a few days.

I feel very lucky to have such a great family! I hope we can get together more often!!

1st project completed

This is the coolest model I have seen because the hood, doors, and part of the roof lift and open. It has close to 650 pieces!!!

Jeff's dad got Austin a GREAT GIFT!!


This is the car Austin created in NO time at all. It is called the Lego Creator kit... 3 in 1. Austin hopes to build all 3 creations this week. The directions look too complicated to me.

Austin's 9th birthday

There is a park with a creek that the boys like to catch crawdads and climb on rocks. What a great way to spend your 9th birthday... CHEAP TOO!! After the wedding we met everyone at the park. It was a HOT day at home so we took our time. It still was over 90 at Jeff's dad's.

Shannon and Tanya (Jeff's sister's) rode to their dad's house to see Austin and Preston who were staying overnight because we went to the wedding. The girls biked for an hour and a half from San Fran to San Anselmo. It is pretty awesome! You girls are inspirational. It also happended to be Austin's 9th birthday. Yahoo!!

Our friend (Austin's former teacher, Preston's teacher this year) was married this past weekend in Half Moon Bay on the coast (near San Fran) for those of you not familiar with CA. It happened to be 108 degrees where we live so you can imagine how LUCKY we were to leave and head to the coast. It was neat to watch the fog come in so quickly. It was sunny, and then it became foggy. Jeff and I walked along the beach and collected shells for the boys. We stayed overnight and had a blast. It was good to get away.

Hiking in Contra Loma on Father's Day

Nature is never something to take for granted.

Jeff and I love to hike and thankfully the kids, including Laci have enjoyed this hobby as well. This is a new route that we took on Father's Day. It was beautiful. We hiked an hour out and found an old windmill and enormous water holders for the cattle that graze nearby. Austin spied little frogs inside the water holder way deep in the front, hidden. There are many hills. It is close to where we live, but once you get out in the hills it is faraway. PEACEFUL!!!

On this particular day it happened to be extremely windy! At times, there were gusts of 40 mph winds. We decided to go play tennis. WHY? I do not know. We ended up playing for over an hour. It was fun to watch the boys hit the ball. Three years ago there was a tennis clinic at our school. For a small fee the kids received lessons and rackets.

We had a delicious dinner. I am so glad that we were able to join our family in the city. It was such a long week for everyone. It was a fabulous evening.

It was freezing and windy, but it was so much fun!!

Austin and Preston loved hanging out with Deanna. She was always so polite to them! They will cherish those memories.

Hanging out at Aunt Michelle and Uncle Don's pool. It was a blast for the kiddos,.... and the adults!

I feel so fortunate to have a large family! It was a very memeorable weekend.

Cousin Brittany with Hailey, Uncle Don, Grandpa Bruce and Grandma Flo.