Grandma Pilulaw Visits!

We have enjoyed having Grandma here with us for the past week. It has all gone too fast and Dylan asked her tonight if she was going to come back to visit again. The boys have enjoyed having her here, and she has been delighted spending time with her grandsons. Life is indeed grand and wonderful.

Grandma Pilulaw, Dylan, Poppy and Max.

Elk Grove, CA. July, 2011.

Max in Boots, Dylan in Water!

Dylan is taking swimming lessons at the Elk Grove Racquet Club, and is in his second session. He loves them and is doing really well with getting himself comfortable in the water - a big change from just a couple weeks ago.

Max loves boots. He puts them on, he takes them off. He wears them and tromps along in them.

There you are!

Dylan at Swim Lesson.

Elk Grove, CA. July, 2011.

Max.

Elk Grove, CA. July, 2011.

Max in Boots.

Elk Grove, CA. July, 2011.

The Blues Brothers!

Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark... and we're wearing sunglasses. 
Jake: Hit it. 


OK, so no cigarettes and we are a lot farther from the Windy City than 106 miles,  and it's not dark... But hey they got the sunglasses on and they're looking mighty cool.

Train Ride in Old Sac!

We took the boys on a train ride last weekend in Old Sacramento, along with their cousins and Aunt Diane and Uncle Lou. It was a grand ol' time, with a conductor ("Keep your heads inside - we don't want to litter the track!"), the old-timey RR car we were in rocking to and fro, and tons of train whistling from the old steam engine.

Mommy and Max, on the Train.

Sacramento, CA. July, 2011. 

Dylan, Waiting to Get His Ticket Punched.

Sacramento, CA. July, 2011.

More JMA Camera Works!

Found Jennifer's other memory card, so here are more photos from the recent past for you to enjoy!

Dylan, Poppy and Max Dressed to Party!

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011. 

 The Cousins: Evan, Max, Maya and Dylan

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011.

 Dylan and Classmates on a Field Trip to Mommy's School.

Sacramento, CA.  June, 2011.

 Max and Dylan - Photo Shoot.

Elk Grove, CA. June, 2011.

 Max and Dylan - Photo Shoot.

Elk Grove, CA. June, 2011.

 Max and Dylan - Photo Shoot.

Elk Grove, CA. June, 2011.

 Dylan and Max - Photo Shoot.

Elk Grove, CA. June, 2011.

 The Artists, At Work.

Elk Grove, CA. June, 2011.

 Brothers.

Elk Grove, CA. June, 2011.

 Dylan, Grandpa and Max Chilling.

Carmichael, CA. June, 2011.

 Dino Boys: "RooaaaR!"

Elk Grove, CA. June, 2011.

Max.

Fairy Tale Town, Sacramento, CA.

June, 2011.

JMA Camera April-May 2011!

Sometimes we sort of forget (OK, I forget) to dump Jennifer's camera's card. There are, of course, many great photos, and it's fun to look at them, though they are more historical than contemporary. Enjoy the walk down memory lane... (Now, where is that other memory card of hers...?)

Max, Eating.

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011. 

Easter Morning.

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011. 

How to Eat an Easter Bunny, Step 1.

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011. 

How to Eat an Easter Bunny, Step 2.

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011. 

How to Eat an Easter Bunny, Step 3.

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011.  

How to Eat an Easter Bunny, Step 4.

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011.  

Max on the Easter Egg Hunt.

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011. 

Dylan and Max Check Their Easter Bounty!

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011. 

Max Gets Some Help From Big Brother.

Elk Grove, CA. April, 2011. 

Dylan and The Library Lady.

Elk Grove, CA. May, 2011. 

Get Up, Stand Up!

State Capitol Protest, Sacramento, CA.

May, 2011. 

Friends Standing Together!

State Capitol Protest, Sacramento, CA.

May, 2011.

Fairy Tale Town!

Dylan suggested we go to Fairy Tale Town today, and as it was a beautiful day, how could we argue? He had a couple of major experiences: he ran the Crooked Mile on his own a couple times, and he went down two of the big, twisty slides on his own. He is getting to be a big boy! Max had a blast, too, running the Crooked Mile and seeing ducks - "Quack!"

Max and Dylan Down the Rabbit Hole.

Fairy Tale Town. May, 2011. 

Mommy and Max in the Tepee.

Fairy Tale Town. May, 2011. 

Dylan Reflecting on His Day.

Fairy Tale Town. May, 2011.

Water and Rocks.

Fairy Tale Town. May, 2011. 

 Bridge.

Fairy Tale Town. May, 2011.

Walk on the Wild Side!

Saturday (since the Rapture was a no-show), we went to an event at the (very!) nearby Stone Lake Water Bird Refuge. We got to explore normally off-limits areas and see many types of wildlife, including an alligator! Very cool. We joined up with Aunt Diane, Uncle Lou and the twins - Maya and Evan. I carried Max pretty much everywhere, so not many photo ops for me, but I did like this one a lot. A good time was had by all.

Evan, Dylan and Maya on the Run!

Elk Grove, CA. May, 2011

CTA Rally!

We took The Boys and ourselves down to the State Capitol to protest the insane and incredible cuts facing public education. Channel 3, a local station, interviewed Jennifer and took a short video of me waving my sign. You can see it on this link:

http://www.kcra.com/video/27891675/detail.html

Of course, they cut the part where Jennifer talks about how concerned she is about how these cuts impact her students and her own children - typical of the media's portrayal of teachers looking out for themselves. Furlough days have a huge impact, as they reduce the school year.

But we are proud of how professionally Jennifer presented herself and represented teachers state wide!

Spring Break, 2011!

Executive Decision #1,567 (for the week):

Get out of town during Spring Break!

So we went to Morro Bay, one of our favorite get aways, for a few days. As always, never long enough, but then, that's the secret to wanting to go back there soon.

We all had a blast, and here are some photos from Jennifer's camera. More to come...

Max and Dylan Riding the Ponies.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

Dylan Rides the Whale.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

Audrey, Max and Dylan Blowing Bubbles.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

Max.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

Max at the Water Table,

Children's Museum.

San Luis Obispo, CA. April, 2011.

Dylan Commands a Space Ship,

Children's Museum.

San Luis Obispo, CA. April, 2011.

Max and His Friend, the Dino Skeleton.

San Luis Obispo, CA. April, 2011.

Dylan Lives a Fantasy.

San Luis Obispo, CA. April, 2011.

One Tired Baby Boy.

San Luis Obispo, CA. April, 2011.

Max, Mommy and Dylan at the Beach.

Cayucos, CA. April, 2011.

Dylan Tames the Surf.

Cayucos, CA. April, 2011.

And here are the "more to come..."

Dylan.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

The Boys on the Run!

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

Mommy and Dylan the Silly.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

Max and Mommy.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

The Boys.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

Waiting is Exciting!

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

The Ephemeral Joy of Bubbles.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

Bliss and Joy.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

The Boys Have Their Eyes on the Prize.

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

This one is Mine!

Morro Bay, CA. April, 2011.

Max is Ready to Make Music.

San Luis Obispo, CA. April, 2011.

Dylan as Train Engineer.

San Luis Obispo, CA. April, 2011.

Dr. Max Chooses His Tool.

San Luis Obispo, CA. April, 2011.

Morro Bay at Night.

April, 2011.