Freshman Season, Check

Last swim meet of the season for Peanut. I didn't get any good pictures, but he finished the season strong with 2 PRs, in the 100 free and 100 breaststroke. We're so proud of him and how he's worked this year. It wasn't easy, but he didn't complain.

I'm almost going to miss the 6 a.m. practices. At least I got to walk around a different neighborhood for a couple of months.

First Week of School

I don't know why school has to start so early, or HOW this child is already in high school?! But here we are, mid-August and doing the public school thing yet again. We had a nice year off from someone else dictating our schedule, and it was marvelous, but Peanut was ready and excited to try out the "real" school thing again.

He missed the orientation day because we were in the Channel Islands, but had a friend who took him around to show him the ropes and help him find his classes (and tell him which bathrooms to avoid at all costs, haha.) And by his reports, the first day wasn't too bad. He met a couple of kids in his classes, and then at lunch, he sat down somewhere, hoping that someone would join him, and a couple of the older kids who we had been camping with invited him to sit with their group, so he didn't even have to eat alone the first day. I'm grateful that for all the grief we give teens, they are sometimes kinder and more observant than we can hope for.

And while Peanut was experiencing school for the first time, we went with Bug to the temple as he prepares for his mission. It's a big step making official commitments and it was really great to be there with him on such a beautiful and Grandma was able to join us, too.

We had time to grab lunch and ice cream at Fenton's before we had to get back after school.

 There are things I miss from the early days of our family, but I also love the relationships we've built with our kids. I love watching them grow and figure out how to be adults and what type of person they want to be. I love that they still like spending time with us and want to include us in their choices and experiences. I love that they'll still come pile on our bed at the end of the day (even if sometimes I am more than ready to go to sleep and kick them out as quickly as I can, haha.) We're in a very different place than we were 10-15 years ago with diapers and naps and belly laughs and problems that could be kissed and snuggled away. It's not always easy, but it's also kind of beautiful.

Senior Night at Polo

Last game of his high school career--they always save the Livermore/Granada game for the final night, and do a combined senior night with both schools. 

It makes sense because a lot of these kids play club water polo together the rest of the year, so they all know each other pretty well.

We had a pretty big group of seniors this year. I think the teams will miss them next year--they've got some strong leaders who have really tried to help the teams grow, despite inadequate coaching.

Bug and his friend, B, who plays on the team with him, and then three of their friends who came out to support them. 

And more cheerleaders--there were a few families from church who came to watch the kids from our ward who play--and these two made shirts, haha. 

 It ended up being a really exciting night--the girls were down most of the game and then came back to tie it up in the last minute and won in overtime. And the boys kept it close for a long time and then lost by a still-respectable score, which was really as much as we'd hoped for.

It's hard to believe that this is it. No more high school water polo games for us. And within another year or so we won't even know any of the kids on the teams. Luckily, we still have a lot of club games to look forward to, and hopefully in college as well.

Senior Homecoming

Senior year means lots of lasts.

Bug had his last Granada homecoming. He's made some new friends since last year and went to the dance with them.

The whole group

Bug has had a lot of fun with all these kids the last few months.

And then he got a bonus homecoming this year--a friend from church asked him to go to the other high school dance.

Picture taking--

They had a fun group.

He really only knew one of the guys, none of the girls very well.

But they had a fun night.

(And took so many pictures. Guess it's a bigger thing when people are there with dates--or just that one of the moms was a little picture crazy.)

(She had all types of suggestions, haha.)

And the pose the kids came up with!

One more last is over. I really don't love the idea that this kid will be gone next year.

 

A Peek at the First Couple Weeks of School

Peanut and I have had a couple of dog check-ins with these two pups. Sophie, the smaller one, loves to play hide-and-seek and we've got her pretty well trained. She's awesome (and Brinkley, after 4+ years of us visiting, still won't come near us voluntarily, haha.)

This one spends a lot of time on homework now, although he also spends a lot of time getting sidetracked and diving deep into things that really aren't required. But the love of learning never stops.

Peanut and I took our read-aloud to the pool. Might be my new favorite spot to read.

Bob is coming along nicely!

We fit in an evening swim with dinner at the pool one night. Probably should have let Bug stay home to get started on his homework, but it was just too nice out.

I got out for an early morning walk, which I haven't been doing much of this summer, and was blown away by all the wildflowers down by our creek, which still has water in it! Unheard of at this time of year. It's really beautiful to see what a wet winter can do for our state. Maybe not quite as wet as last year, but it has made for some different plants popping up, or lasting longer than normal.

Peanut started LAC again--practices two time a week and he says he might do a couple swim meets this year. We'll cross our fingers that he's at least willing to give it a try. But I'm glad he gets the swimming time either way.

School water polo started again. Bug is a captain this year and trying to do everything he can to improve the team. He started a lunchtime club last year that meets one day a week to go over different rules and plays and just help the kids learn the game a little better. They're going to film the games this year and watch some of the footage, too.

First game could have been worse (and would have been if Amador hadn't pulled way back after being up like 15-2). 2 of those 7 goals were Bug. Our team just doesn't have the coaching to dig them out of this history of losing badly to most of the teams in the league (and our league happens to have a lot of REALLY good players in it--the ones who are going on to play D1 polo in college at some of the top schools in the country.)

Love seeing these cute moments with all the animals cuddled up in one part of the cage. I spent 3 hours doing a deep clean on the cage that morning and I think they were all so excited to snuggle into the fresh bedding downstairs in their stink-free cage. I love animals, but sometimes wish we had outdoor pets without cages to clean. Not sure what that would even look like, haha.

And finally, I'll end with this awesome burger that Peanut made for us the other night. He gets a monthly cooking kit and these burgers and drink were from a couple of his kits. He was actually testing out the recipe so he can make it again in a few weeks for some friends he wants to have over. I can't wait for him to be able to take over a night every week all on his own.

We've had some other fun these past weeks, but I'll give those days their own posts.

Back Together Again!

Last time we had our HHS brunch was in 2019, but this year, things finally aligned and we were able to all meet up for an afternoon/evening of snacks and fun.

Even these kids have gone a few months without seeing each other.

But we really loved getting to see this little guy and how much he's grown. He had a blast with the cars and trucks we brought out, and the food.

And this sweet girl was just 11 last time we got together. 

3 years is too long for the kids especially. 

We had lots of good snacky foods (although I want to remember for next time that we always hang out for hours and hours, so we might as well have an actual meal together. This happens every time, and I think it was about 6 hours before everyone was gone, haha. But at least there were lots of snacks, and some heartier ones than this.)

The gang from Hayward High School. We actually had all met by 7th grade, so it's been around 34 years that we've known each other. Crazy!

I love how much fun the kids have all have together.

The rest of us don't change much, but it's still too long to go without getting to laugh together and catch up. I'm really grateful to have lifelong friends in my life.

Smorgasbord of September

In an effort to get caught up, and still get a taste of what has been occupying our time. . . Here's a snapshot of the rest of September. 

Peanut had more swim practices. He hasn't complained too much yet.

Daddy-o made us a Chilean meal to celebrate their independence day. We had friends over for completos and empanadas--delicious!

We followed up the bedroom move with moving the actual beds a couple weeks later because it turns out, Peanut actually doesn't like having his own room and definitely doesn't like sleeping too close to the ground (and all those monsters lurking under the bed.) so we moved the bunk beds into his room and the big bed moved to Bug's room (and he's loving the extra length so he can stretch out.) Unfortunately, all that work hasn't led to a happy Peanut, but at least I now have the bottom bunk to sleep in when he needs someone in the middle of the night--and we got a new mattress for that bed, so it's actually very comfortable.

We got a crazy rainstorm--not only earlier than normal, but a LOT of water in a short time. Felt like we were back in North Carolina and we loved it.

Bean has been making friends at school--it's been a slower start than she hoped, but she likes these kids who she gets a ride to church with each week. Out of the 30,000 students at the school, these are the only four who live on campus and attend the same church as her. Not as big of a group as we were hoping for, but at least she's enjoying them.

Bug got talked into doing the class dance for their Homecoming rally and had fun as a 50's greaser.

He's been busy with water polo games and practices, including some early morning practices with the other Livermore high school. Our team doesn't do the early mornings, and his club coach is at the other school, so invited anyone who wanted to show up for those. Bug is the only one who has. He can't get enough of the pool.

Daddy-o got to see the Brubeck Brothers when they came to play at the Bankhead. No one else could get away that evening to go with him, but he said it was an incredible concert.

Peanut and I got to spend a beautiful morning exploring one of the parks on the bay with my nature group. The ranger who met with us was great and so excited about our goup.

She swore them all in as Jr. Rangers at the end--it was a fun class.

Bean, along with water polo, also found time to get belay certified and has plans for weekly rock climbing with a friend from the water polo team.

Daddy-o, Peanut, and I went to an A's game with friends. I think the kids were somewhat apathetic about the whole game experience.

It's actually a pretty far cry from the games I used to go to in the 80s/90s when the team was so good--they lost pretty badly, and the crowd was small and not very enthusiastic (I guess there's not much to be excited about when you're losing, but there was no attempt to do the wave or anything.) But the kids were happy with the ridiculous number of snacks they got to eat, so there is that.

Bug couldn't go with us because he had the homecoming game that night, and then the dance the next night. He went with a big group of friends and said it was a fun time.

Meanwhile, Bean was able to find a friend to go to a game at Petco Park. They rode the trolley downtown and watched the Dodger's beat the Padres which made her happy.

At church, during Stake Conference, I got put in as the secretary to the new Stake Young Woman's Presidency. I don't think I'm really great at the whole secretary thing, but I'm learning and these women I get to work with are amazing people, so that's going to be fun.

We spent a lot of time on California history--so many good books, and so much history that I didn't know anything about.

Peanut got a day at work with his dad, which he always loves, and he did some actual work. He also got a Taco Bell lunch out of the deal, which is reason enough to go.

Another nature group outing--this time at a local park where we learned all about leaves and finally got to do the leaf sketching activity that I've been wanting to try for years. The kids did amazing sketches that were mostly very easily identifiable which was the point of the game.

Also had a few days of checking in on this sweet pup and the other dog at the house (he hates me so seldom sticks around for pictures, haha.)

Those doggy days have given us a chance to mix things up and take school to a new location. Even just changing backyards can keep things interesting.

And that's pretty much a wrap on September.