RJ and Logan and the Last Chance Pool Picnic - August 2, 2013

So excited to get in!

August has just started, and so a title of "Last Chance Pool Picnic" might seem a little odd, especially since it's still going to be pool weather through September and maybe into October.  However, we have not yet had a chance to go to the big fun pool at the Livermore Recreation Center, and our good friend was starting full day Kindergarten on August 5 (RJ doesn't start until August 14), so August 2 was literally our last chance to go to the pool with our co-op friends.  In a normal summer, we would have frequented the pool, probably going at least a handful of times, but we just didn't coordinate it this year.  

RJ and Ashlan LOVED posing for underwater pictures together!

And even when we do go, I usually don't photo-document it, but THIS year, we just got our new camera, which is waterproof to 33ft, so I took a TON of pictures!

Logan also frequented the slide!  

Picnicking with Lisa, Austin, & Zach

We didn't just go to the pool, we made a whole day of it.  We arrived for tot time (its a calmer time where they have the pool open for kids under 5.  Yes I realize that RJ is 6, but they seem to overlook that as long as you have a bone fide toddler with you.).  Then when tot time was over, we potluck picnicked on the grounds and then decided that we should go BACK to the pool when they opened for the public swim at 1, where they have all the fun sprayers on for the big kids.

Big Kids Picnic (also testing out how good the zoom was on the new camera)

Little Kids Picnic

Zach controlling the sprayers

There was lots of sunscreen reapplication, but both boys still came home with rosy cheeks and I had an all out sunburn (which is now peeling - eww), thanks to the fact that I completely missed a big section in the middle of my back.  It was worth it though!  

Austin jumping in!  (Logan and Austin took turns for a while!)

Happy Zach

RJ Swimming Underwater

Ashlan Swimming Underwater

Logan landing from the slide.

Sisterly Love

Logan, loving the zero depth pool, where he could touch the bottom with his hands!

More pictures can be found here.

RJ Rides a Two Wheeler - May 5, 2013

I took RJ's training wheels off today.  I had originally intended to do it over spring break, but never got around to it. So I just decided to try it today.

I expected that he might have a difficult transition, not because he lacked the skills or balance (he actually has pretty good balance, which is why I thought he was ready in the first place), but because he is my dramatic son and new things are usually met with drama.

I positioned myself for the classic hold-on-to-the-back-of-the-seat-and-run-behind-the-kid's-bike move, but he just took off and I almost immediately lost my grip and then he was halfway down the street.  So, no more than 5 minutes from the time that I took the training wheels off, we had a kid riding a two wheeler.  I was shocked that it was that easy.  For the first half hour, he still needed a hand to hold the bike steady when he got his second foot on the pedal, but then he figured out how to get himself going too, and he spent a good amount of time doing laps around the park when I played with Logan on the playground.  I was very pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.

So, for your viewing pleasure...RJ riding a two-wheeler!

  

DeLanceys Go to Rock City - April 28, 2013

If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE rock climbing.  So, when Lance mentioned that we should take the kids to Rock City on Mount Diablo to do some rock scrambling and verrrrrry light bouldering, I was all in.  

I've been to Mount Diablo (Boy Scout Rocks, Butt Rock area) for top roping a couple of times back in the summer and fall with my friends Laura and Lydia, but Mount Diablo State Park also has some sandstone rock formations, including some cool wind caves, in Rock City that are easy enough to scramble up without any equipment. I wouldn't really classify it as bouldering (although there are some places were it would be), but it was fun for us as a family.

Logan did really well climbing!
What he lacks in skill, he makes
up with his fearless attitude!

Both RJ and Logan enjoyed
themselves.  I love this picture -
Logan was so excited when he got
to the top of his first little climb that
he gave me a huge bear hug at the top!

Logan and RJ inside a cave, as viewed from atop another
rock formation.

RJ, Logan, and I lounging inside
one of the many wind caves.

Me, on top of that rock formation

RJ and I on top the rock formation.
I went up alone first, then realized
that it was plenty easy for RJ to try.

I'm not sure what we're doing here,
but I SWEAR we are NOT reenacting
Glee's 'Don't Stop Believing' routine.

When RJ got up with no problem, I convinced Lance and
Logan to come up too.  Lance was a ball of nerves with the
kids up there the ENTIRE time, even though they were
not even close to the edge.
He's cute when he's worried about us though. 

RJ is actually getting REALLY good at
climbing.  He practices on the plastic wall
at our playground all the time, and while
the playground is easy, and this climb was
also pretty easy, he is CLEARLY ready
for more challenging routes.  I think it might
be time to purchase a harness and shoes
for him.  He told us several times how much
fun this outing was AND he was super
excited when I told him that he might be
ready to start coming on day trips with me.
If it's okay with Laura, of course.

Boys in a Cave.  RJ's grown quite a bit since the last time he
was in a Rock City Cave.
We brought him here when he was about 8 months old!
It would've been funny if he was in the same cave, but alas,
it is a different cave.  

See, different cave.  

The boys and I also managed to climb up to this connected wind cave, because
the boys were interested in the fact that people defaced the cave with paint and
carvings inside and wanted a closer look (and it was an excuse to climb something else).
Some of it is beautiful, but still really bad because it increases the already fast rate of the sandstone's erosion. 

More pictures from Rock City are here.

Cheryl Climbs Diablo - August 5, 2012

bye bye old climbing shoes

Thank goodness for my friend Laura!  I didn't have to wait long before climbing again, which was good, because I didn't want to wait another 6 years since I needed to buy new shoes (my rubber had split) and a new harness (since mine was "expired").

Although I was worried at first because I was excited to get started and got there a bit early.

It was really peaceful being there so early though.  The fog was just starting to lift and the air was fresh, and I didn't have to worry about any children getting stung by yellow jackets.  And Mount Diablo is closer to my house at just over an hour away (you can actually see the summit of Mount Diablo from our neighborhood and we've been there a few times, both with RJ as a baby and hiking alone).  

Lydia borrowed sunscreen and
found herself a little white.

The next day I made sure to get
RJ on the wall at the playground

Laura and Lydia got there and we found the climb we wanted on Boy Scout Rocks.  We were fortunate to have a friendly group next to us, who consisted of a couple taking their 11 year old nephew (and his mom/their sister/in-law) climbing outdoors for the first time.   We even swapped ropes a few times after checking each other's set ups.  It was a really cool experience getting to see a kid out there, because I got a glimpse of what I could have with RJ and Logan if they get interested in climbing too.  SO COOL!!








We focused mostly on a bitch of a crack climb, which was challenging, but good.  I didn't look quite so graceful this time out!

I think the photo credit goes to Laura, because Lydia
was belaying.

Lydia looks MUCH more
graceful in the crack.

Lydia's view from above

Can't wait to go again!

More pictures here.

July 2012 in Pictures

We started off the month by going to the Alameda Point Antiques Faire.  The children weren't overly impressed, but it's huge and Lance and I liked it.  Though we might go again WITHOUT the kids so we can look at more.

I found this beautiful gem!  British Release, Mint Condition, $20

We also celebrated Father's Day (with RJ's birthday weekend usually coinciding, we generally pick a different weekend to celebrate Lance).

We made daddy "burger" cupcakes.  That's a brownie stuck in there.  They were delicious!

We also took Daddy out to dinner in Livermore and walked around the downtown area there.

There were also randomly silly moments.

RJ is still taking gymnastics

Co-op is still going strong.

We finally converted Logan's crib to a toddler bed (and within a month, he gave up napping).

RJ's Harry Potter obsession began

We had fun with friends...

 And lots of fun at the park...

And ended the month with a visit to the zoo before our membership expired.

This is the most activity we've EVER seen from the tigers!  Usually there is only one of them out and it's sleeping!

More pictures from the zoo.
More pictures from July.

Cheryl Climbs Again...and a Climb-B-Q

My first climbing trip.
Yes, I'm climbing in Keds

Those of you who have known me for longer than we've had this blog know that once upon a time, I enjoyed climbing rocks.  This was a hobby that certainly made (makes) my mother nervous, but ever since the first time I was exposed to climbing way back during the summer prior to my Junior year of High School (1995), I was hooked.  Many people ask why on earth we'd want to dangle on ropes inching up rock faces and my answer is that it's just exhilarating. It makes you feel like a small part of nature, but powerful and accomplished. It's hot in the sun, but the air is fresh and your lungs suck it it easily. It's not a sport for everyone, but for me, it just feels right.  Climbing exercises your whole body and the view at the top is well work the scuffs and sore muscles.

Climbing in College

Despite my love of the sport, I have not been inside of a rock gym since at least 2006, when my friends Michele and Otte were my most frequent climbing buddies in Boston.  Sometime during our lives in Boston, I dragged Lance to the rock gym to see if he'd like to be my permanent climbing buddy, or at least my permanent belayer, but alas, the sport was not for him.

2nd climbing trip

I haven't been climbing outside since the summer prior to my Junior year of college (1999).  Fast forward to 2012 when my friend (and Kappa sister) Laura had started climbing outdoors and organized what she dubbed the "Climb-B-Q".  The plan was climbing in the morning, followed by a BBQ at her house, followed by a bonfire on the beach.  This sounds like an awesome day, and for me, it mostly was.

We left early in the morning with the boys still in their pajamas, so that we could get to Castle Rock State Park bright and early (it's about 1.5 hrs away).  We even treated them to Boston Creme doughnuts for breakfast in the car, which was a gigantic mistake.  We got there and decided that even though Lance and the boys were only dropping me off, that they'd hike to the base of the climb with me.
The hike wasn't too long or too rough for the boys, and then they'd get to watch the first climb.  I was really proud of how well RJ did on the hike in (a lot of times, hiking = whining with RJ), and I just loved being there, in the woods, in the Santa Cruz Mountains.  The fog was still around, the redwoods smelled awesome, and the view, even from the base of the climb, was beautiful.  

However, all perfect things must come to an end quickly.  There was a yellow jacket nest nearby that we had woken up hiking in.  And yellow jackets are attracted to Boston Creme doughnut remnants, because the little fucker landed on Logan's nose, causing Logan to grab at it (to get it off his nose), which led to him getting stung or bit (there is a lack of consensus on which it was, since yellow jackets don't lose their stingers when they sting) on the lip, and twice on his finger.

This was clearly frightening and upsetting for Logan (not to mention US, who didn't know what kind of reaction he might have, having never been stung/bit by a yellow jacket before), whose poor lip was already swelling (and remained swollen, earning him the nickname "Botox Baby" for the rest of the weekend), but RJ was actually the kid freaking out and crying more in the midst of his worry, even after Logan calmed down.  We quickly got back on the trail to head back to civilization, just in case, but thankfully Logan was calmer already and not exhibiting any shock or bad reactions (which would have been REALLY bad since we were at least 15 minutes down the trail from the Ranger Station in the parking lot).  Once we determined that Logan was safe, Lance (proving that he is the BEST.HUSBAND.EVER) told me I could still stay and climb and he would continue with his plans of going into Santa Cruz with the boys until it was time for the BBQ portion of the day at Laura and Jesse's house.  

Made it to the biner and it felt SO good!
Photo credit: Jesse Kempa

With the scary part of the day over, things quickly became AWESOME.  I FINALLY got to climb again!  I cannot even put into words how awesome it felt to be back on a rock face.  My face in the picture should tell you that.

Photo credit: Jesse Kempa

For those of you in the know, I think we were on a 5.7 climb here, and I made it up...so not bad for a first time out after 6 years of not climbing, and having 2 children.  

After a shower and some rest at Laura & Jesse's house, it was BBQ time.  So delicious food was had by all and we got to reconnect with some other CMU alums (where the boys met a friend in their kid too), as well as meet some new people.  Unfortunately, as good of a day as I was having, Lance was having an equally bad one.  The boys were really cranky and hyperactive, because they were tired from getting up early and stir crazy from being in the car a lot while Lance searched for ice for Logan's lip and lunch, etc.  And their behavior did not improve through the BBQ, leading Lance to eventually take them up to bed (thank goodness we stayed at Laura's for the night so we didn't have to drive home), and he ended up falling asleep too, exhausted from the day.  This of course, was unfortunate since he was missing out of the fun, but did earn him the Best.Husband.Ever award yet again, since I was able to still hang out.

At this point we were getting ready for the beach bonfire, which included Laura and I putting our wine into sippy cups so we could bring it along.   I also stumbled into a mini jam session with guitars and some good Classic Rock, which continued at the bonfire.  It was a really really awesome day with friends, climbing, hiking, singing, a bonfire, and wine!  And it wasn't even my birthday!!

More pictures here.