LAKE SISKIYOU 2010

The Crowley's, Gouveia's and Ruiz's all ventured up to an area called Lake Siskiyou, near Mt. Shasta, for a week-long vacation this June. Mom joined us in our luxury cabin and we all had a crazy, action packed respite, which included: walks, beach and water play, day on a pontoon boat, breakfast-lunch-dinner family excitement and lots of laughs (and a few temper tantrums here and there, but Michael got me under control.)

First, I'll roll out some pics of the scenery, which was beautiful. Lake Siskiyou sits just beneath Mt. Shasta so you get to peer off your back deck at the sites below.

A few pics of our luxury accomodations (I believe it was approx. 400 sq. ft. at best)

The Crowley's spend some family time together before the Aunts/Uncles/Cousins arrive.

My Boys...one with a freeze headache and one with a growl smile.

Someone may be a bit tired after the last tantrum, but it's so hard to tell.

Liam is showing off for some little girls who are not pictured. They are friends of the family, but they are also several years older than Liam. FLIRT!

Drew just having a ball!

Mom and her Girls. We are all flashing these hideous rings we bought at the country store. Each with it's own delicate beauty of large colored plastic/fake enamel flower petals.

Kids throwing rocks....what else!

Woohoo!! Now we're cooking with fire! Loved being out on the pontoon boats! We enjoyed some cruising time and fun in the water...although it was VERY chilly.

Laura and Guy

Uncle Joe teaching Drew to drive. Not sure it's fast enough for Drew as I believe he'll need a high-speed race car to keep him engaged.

Some fun beach time...looks like Liam is strutting his stuff, but I don't recall the peacock feathers.

Hey! That's not a smile Spider Man!

Cutie Patooti in his Spider Man goggles.

Liam was infatuated with this butterfly family. Drew wanted to chase them all away. Not sure what they were doing, but there were probably 10 more before I took the picture.

Sand ice cream cone anyone...lots of fiber?

Some candid shots of breakfast and biking with Drew

All the kids playing hide and seek before the cousins arrive.

Laura Turns the BIG 5-0!

Laura gets a bit teary as she reads her cards...decides best way to handle it is to wrap her face in gift wrap. Interesting choice...

Drew sneaking an extra marsmellow....little devil!

FATHER'S DAY 2010

We started the day with a relaxing, but very windy, breakfast at Wente Vineyards Golf Course, Club House. The boys had fun this time because they got to bring their electronics AND no one else was eating outside so they had full rein of the patio!

Dad and his Boys

After breakfast, some of us took a little nappy-poo, but then snapped back into action for Dadda's BIG surprise...a tour of and flight on the last flying B24 bomber! He was so surprised and excited to finally take the ride that he'd talked about doing for years. Evert year we would both be reminded of these cool planes over Memorial Day when they would take passengers out to flight from the Livermore airport. Then, we'd forget about it all year until the next Memorial Day weekend. This year, I decided it would be a fun thing for Dad and kids to do (at least tour them) together. The kids loved climbing up through the old warbirds and after about 45 min. of play, we were all asked to leave the tarmac area accept for the passengers. Michael got a quick tutorial, "1) don't touch any of the exposed wires, those are for all the electrical controls, 2) don't touch the exposed cables, those are what control the direction of the plane, 3) don't step on those panel doors (used to hold in the bombs!!!), because if you do THEY WILL OPEN AND YOU WILL FALL OUT!" Excellent tutorial and surprisingly, not one of them didn't follow the rules. It was a very clear and warm day, so the charted course to head to San Francisco was perfect. Michael was able to see some uninhabited mountain land in our area just prior to flying out over the bay and circling Alcatraz. He said it was an amazing flight, "one of the most memorable things he's ever done" and apparently even held a sacred spot on his "bucket list". For the kids and I, it was also a thrill to see him take off and land.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY BABE!! XO

Michael is aboard and we're waiting for the engines to start!

Michael lands safe and sound...whew!

The next group of passengers boards the plane. Michael (on tarmac in red shirt) takes a final photo.

LIAM ~ SURVIVES 1ST GRADE!

LIAM SPENDS THE LAST FEW MINUTES IN CLASS WITH HIS GAL PALS

CONGRATULATIONS, LIAM!!! YOU SURVIVED 1ST GRADE!

Liam's last day at school ended before lunch. We celebrated by heading to the pool with all our neighbors and having a swim party! What a great way to end a successful year of accomplishments. We're very proud of our soon-to-be 2nd Grader!

CREEKSIDE OPEN HOUSE

Liam is approaching the final days of 1st grade. He and his brother will then have what promises to be a fantasic summer, free of homework and commitments. We were able to check out all the awesome works of art that he created in class over the year. Attached are just a few pictures from the Open House.

Liam was Star of the Week pretty early on in the school year. He did a great job writing in all the boxes...writing not his favorite thing to do, if you know what I mean.

They each were asked to bring in their favorite t-shirt for an Open House secret project. Now we know what they were up to. BTW, Liam had just received this tshirt from Liz's colleague, so it was fairly humorous that it became his "favorite" overnight.
(Cute hair!)

And the piece de resistance.....

"What Kind of Liquid Helps Plants Grow?"

Liam completed an "optional" science project with Ms. Erin, his Tutor. What a great experience this was for him to work with someone far more creative and patient and to walk him through the thought process for the project. He did a fabulous job and was so proud of himself after undertaking all the work involved to pull it together.

GO LIAM!!!!