Putt Putt & Wild Island

Owen started Kindergarten on August 27th, but I'll post more on that later.  The week before Kindergarten started, I decided to take a few days off work and "play" with Owen before he started his 17 year stint in school.  One day we spent in Reno with his BFF Ryder.......we took them to play Putt Putt Golf in the morning and then to Wild Island water park in the afternoon/evening.

This was actually Owen's first time on a putt putt gold course and he loved it!

Adler preferred to sit on the holes and draw on the score card!

Adler, Owen & Ryder

This was our favorite hole, through the candy castle.

Adler claimed this castle as her new house.

Best Buddies!

The second half of our day was at Wild Island.  Owen even ventured down a few BIG slides!

Owen and Me

Taking a snack break with Dippin' Dots

This is one of the BIG slides Owen went down.  By the end of the day he was going by himself!

It's hard to believe how BIG my son is. 

 

The second play day was spent at home with friends, playing in the yard and eating summer treats!

Ryder & Owen

Even Adler enjoyed the water gun fights!

Eating homemade fruit pops!

Sporting green mustaches after drinking green smoothies.

Day at the Beach

We had an interesting day at the beach a few weeks ago.  We found a nice area with lots of shallow water and rocks to climb on, and we set up camp for the day!

Owen spent the entire day catching craw fish and minnows.

Look Mom, I caught something!!!!

Adler after eating a bunch of cherries!

Paddeling across Tahoe

There were a lot of interesting things happening at the beach on this particular day!  This definitely caught everyone's attention!  I'm still not exactly sure what this contraption was, but it looked like Iron Man over the water. 

 

We also saw an ambulance arrive on the beach to assist someone, saw 3 people being baptized in Tahoe, listened to a man laying on the rocks who occasionally belted out some random opera music, listened to a guy walking up and down the beach playing Jason Mraz covers on his ukulele, and the best thing of all???  Chilled on the beach while Owen entertained himself with a bunch of other kids on the rocks!

Perfect place for a nap!

I really hope we can get in another beach day before warm summer weather comes to an end!!!

Aunt Madison

Madison stayed with us for a week in July and we had a blast!  I took some time off work while she was here and we kept the kids busy, busy with all kinds of summer activities.  We went swimming, had beach time at Tahoe, took the kids to the library, went parasailing, watched 2 local bands, and the two of us enjoyed a spa day at the Atlantis in Reno.

Madison swimming with the kiddos

We also took the kids to Wild Island water park one day.  The water was a little too cold for my liking, but we still managed to enjoy ourselves!

Miss A chillin' in the pool

Owen going down the slide!

Owen playing in the wave pool

Adler taking a cozy nap at Wild Island

Tahoe Time!

Here are some pictures from our beach day when Aunt Madison was visiting.

Owen is not a fan of the cold Tahoe water (takes after his mom), but he does love to dig and build things in the sand.

Adler & Owen feeding the geese

Adler and her Aunt Madison!

 About once a year we meet up with our friends, the Brooks family, at the beach. They just moved to the Bay area, so hopefully we will see more of them now!

Natalie, Adler & Audrey

Owen & Natalie enjoying each other!

Adler & Owen taking in the view

Adler LOVES the cold Tahoe water and will swim in it all day if Micah allows!

My sweet Owen.

Parasailing Tahoe

My sister Madison graduated from high school back in June and for her graduation gift I told her I'd take her parasailing.  As promised, during her visit her last month, we took the ride.

Getting ready to take off....Madison a little worried

Love that blue Tahoe water!

My sister and me!

My only complaint about this ride was that is was WAY TOO SHORT!!!!!  We had such an awesome time though!  Thanks Madison, for graduating, so we could experience this together!  :o)

Owen's Triathlon

I'm a little behind, but had to share Owen's second triathlon experience!  A few weeks ago he competed in the Capital City Kid's Triathlon.  I honestly wasn't sure he would participate because in the week prior to the event he kept saying he didn't want to swim or run......he only wanted to bike.  The water in the pool is too cold for him and he remembers the run being too long last year, so the only event he really wanted to do was the biking.  He finally agreed to do the entire race but ONLY if his daddy did it with him......NOT me.  I can't lie, that crushed me a little bit, especially because I am currently training for another sprint triathlon myself and I had a blast doing 2 events with him last year.  But at the moment he is a little shadow of Micah, which I really can't complain about.  So the deal was made.  I was the photographer.

Before the race, all the 4-6 year old participants listening to instructions.

Once we made it to the park and he saw the the older kids racing, Owen was IN.  I felt like a switch turned in his mind and he became a fierce competitor.  There was absolutely no hesitation as he jumped in the pool to swim.  And he proved to us that he can swim an entire 25 yards all by himself.

Micah was in the water with him the whole time, but the only time they even touched was when Micah got in his way and Owen swam right into him.

Here we are in transition, getting ready to bike.  Owen refused to dry off or put on socks.  He was frantically hurrying so he could move on to the next event.  This kid was serious.

Walking his bike out of the transition area before riding.

Owen & Micah finishing the bike portion of the race.

When Owen finished the bike race, he dropped it on the ground and took off running!  Micah tried to pace him a little bit so he could run the entire thing.

When Owen crossed the finish line, he was exhausted.  He immediately sat down on the ground to catch his breath.  For a second I thought he might pass out, but we got some water in him and a few minutes later he was running around with his friends.

All the kids did great!  They completed a 25 meter swim, .4 mile bike ride and ran .4 miles.

Leo, Owen, Ryder, Sofia and Ethan relaxing after the race!

Ethan, Owen & Ryder sporting their new tri shirts.