Spring 2011

Spring 2011, a set on Flickr.

Some photos from the first part of Spring 2011 in San Diego

Happy Easter!!!

Easter Egg making

Sunday night games

Moon Light Beach

A little trip to the Moon Light Beach with some time lapse photography.

The Birch Aquarium

Taking advantage of Grandpop's Christmas Present

Tessa's Shopping Cart Trip

Not quite extreme but none the less - some fun w/ the GoPro on a little Dad and Tess excursion.

from the iPhone

Mom got a new iPhone... here is a quick video from the phone posted to blogger right from the phone.... hopefully we can get back on the wagon and start posting more frequently.

Good Bye Bailey

From the alley behind Cafe Zesty in Manayunk to San Jose to San Francisco to San Diego - she will be more than missed.

Owen's Off Road Racing RC Video

Owen Christmas Card Drawing 2010

Owen's Christmas card drawing from when we were staying in the condo in Point Loma

We're Out of Here

It's been 14 years and 4 months since I threw the big dark green tote bag (which could double as a body bag) in the back of my white Jeep wrangler and headed out here to the Bay Area. First posting up in a Melrose Place style pad in San Jose w/ Rummel (okay maybe the only thing it had in common with Melrose was the pool) but it seemed like everyday was sunny and 80 out. It got to the point where Rummel and I were looking for a grey rainy Saturday so we had an excuse to stay inside. About a year later, Kim moved out with her two cats - we played three's company for a while and then the writers of the show had Kim get a job up in San Francisco.

After seven years in San Francisco with a fantastic crew of friends, some great Halloween parties, big burly days at OB and fun winters in Tahoe - it was time to start thinking about a family (I was always ready - I don't know why it took Kim forever to relax and get serious about our relationship :) ….an amazing wedding in St. Helena.

With O on the way we did what we thought was impossible and bought our first house in Pacifica (or as it turns out, more like rented it from the banks). Sure, there was the occasional run in between Rupert and the skunks, Rupert and the raccoons, Rupert and the deer, Rupert and the neighbor's cat…and… Yes, it was small (with a constant "ssshh" being issued because the slightest sound from anywhere in house would wake up a napping child)…. but we will miss our first house, even though it was little, it will always have a big place in our lives.

Now that the pictures are down from the walls, the furniture is gone, the floors are bare and most noticeably there is no other voices to "ssshh" - the place feels lonely. It will always hold many warm memories but I guess there is something to the saying… "it is the people in the house that make it a home…" (yes i am trying out for the 99 cent greeting card writing gig)

So… 14 years and 3 kids, 1 dog and 1 cat later (um… the second headed back to Philly just a day after arriving in San Jose) - I am moving the last of the stuff down to our new "home" in San Diego. We will miss you SF but look forward to our new adventures in SoCal.

A few pics from our time here in Pacifica:

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Goblins, Garage Sales and Getting Sick

With a Halloween just around the corner, it was time for Owen's Halloween parade at kindergarten and what would Halloween be without watching The Great Pumpkin. But unfortunately, O came down with a stomach bug that is going around so... its a matter of time before the next one of us picks it up.... all with a Garage Sale planned today and me getting ready to travel out of town for work.

3 shirts later

Three shirts in thrashed from spit up in the course of 45 minutes

Mini Golf w Pop Pop L

Summer Coming to a Close

We are not really sure that the summer ever came to NorCal (or all of the California coast for that matter).  Pacifica, is not exactly Bay Watch during the summer months but this year was brutal weather wise.  But with the arrival of Finn and prepping for the big move, it didn't leave us much time for the outdoors.    We did get a few nice days early on where we were able to bust out the pool and roll down to the beach a couple of times.  We took the our annual trip to San Diego a bit later this summer and called out extra support from DeeDee and cousin Grace to help Mom while Dad was traveling for work. 

Along the way this summer, we saw O make some significant strides in swimming, riding his bike and getting rad on his skateboard (here we come X-Games) We also watched in amazement how he mastered every video game he owns. 

Tomorrow, Owen starts kindergarten!  And Tess will rule the roost during the day time (not that she doesn't regardless of who is around).  Tessa's talk, while still hard to decipher, made great improvements (...so now we can understand what her tantrums are about!)  She is definitely has turned into her own little person. 

Even though the weather wasn't the greatest - It's been another good summer with lots of changes and more to come.

2 Months and Smiling Big

Playing Together

Figure at some point we will need proof that Owen and Tessa were "playing together"

Welcome Finn Richard Loughery

June 15, 2010 2:06 pm 7.14 pounds

Waiting for Number Three

The posts have been a little slow over the last couple of months with the new job and getting ready for number 3 to arrive (Tuesday!!!).  

The spring seemed to rush by but we did manage to have some fun and a visit from Grandpop Loughery who was able to catch one of Owen's rookie season t-ball games.

As we get ready for number 3 to arrive, we have all been doing this in our own way...
Kim, nesting (read we needed a new carpet)
Owen, remaining steadfast (read more interested in his video games and playing to be bothered with the hoopla)
Tess, making sure all of the baby's things are in order (read stealing his baby blanket and toys that have been set aside for him and practicing her annunciation of the word "mine")
Dad... well I am not sure it has hit me yet and I am not sure what to expect.  I didn't know what to expect with number one and I know 3 will be 3 times the work... but something tells me it will be more than 3 times the fun!

Owen's Preschool Graduation Speech & Dance

Short clip from Owen's big day graduating from Building Kidz (20 years to the weekend after his dad graduated from HS) and his big break dance.

O Testing out the surf

Slow to Wake

When it comes to waking up for school, the only difference b/t Owen and a 16 year old -  is 11 years.   

Dad (softly speaking): Owen.... Owen.... Owen...
Owen (grumbling): What. 
Dad: Time to get up buddy.
Owen: Do I have to go to school for a full day today?  Isn't it summer yet?

Flying T-Rex

Flying T-Rex
Originally uploaded by rick loughery

Owen flying his kite that was sent to him from Grandpop Bill.

Owen Opening Day at T-Ball

Owen Opening Day at T-Ball from Rick Loughery on Vimeo.

If you click on the link above you can see the video in a larger screen

Tessa not so happy

Tessa not so happy
Originally uploaded by rick loughery

The best thing about this picture is the blue stool next to Owen. Tessa brought this stool out to climb up so she could see what Owen was eating. Owen was eating ice cream because O finished his dinner. Tessa didn't touch hers. It was a long and grueling battle but some how mom and dad prevailed. In fact, about 30 minutes later Tess started eating her dinner so she could get to the ice cream.

Owen Opening Day at T-Ball

Sliding at the pool

Big step tonight for O at swim class!

Tessa's first romp in the Gym

Sat, 27 Feb
Originally uploaded by rick loughery

Following in mom's footsteps

Welcome Dee Dee

Welcome Dee Dee
Originally uploaded by rick loughery

Happy BDay Evie

Tahoe Winter Vacation

IMG_3843.JPG
Originally uploaded by rick loughery

Great time up in South Lake Tahoe. Tess wasnt too big of a fan of the snow but she did do some sledding. And Owen loved his first time snowboarding.

A rainy holiday

Good for collecting worms (Owen)
Good for collecting rocks (Tessa)

Tessa Turns Two

Two already. Tessa celebrated with Owen and Sammy and Kiley. Since Tess is infatuated with Elmo... it made it easy to choose the theme for the birthday party.

Tessa's Couch Acrobats

Tessa's new thing....

click this link for better view

Christmas 2009

Another wonderful Christmas. The Kellers and Hayes joined us for an amazing Filet Mignon roast dinner on Christmas Eve. Santa most have been around late (until 4am) putting together Tessa's kitchen playset... but it was worth it, as it was a big hit. While we couldn't have family here, Nana and Pappa Joe joined via Skype to watch O and T open up the gifts.

Some pics over at flickr
Link to bigger video screen
Or click below

Christmas Play (long version)

Here is some video, about 4 minutes of Owen's performance at his Christmas play.

Click this link to see it on YouTube (a little bit bigger screen) or just click below.

Owen's Christmas Play

Look for more shorts from Owen's Nutcracker play from Building Kidz preschool but here are a few moments that gave us a chuckle.

Letter to Santa

Letter to Santa
Originally uploaded by rick loughery

Cutting the Christmas Tree Tradition

This year we broke "tradition" and instead of going over to the Sea Bowl to pick out at a tree we went down to Half Moon Bay to the Christmas Tree Farm to hunt and cut our own Christmas tree. O got a ride on the train with Rudy, Tess wanted nothing to do with it so - dad and Tess hung back while Mom and O took a ride on the crazy Christmas train.

Turkey day art

Turkey day art
Originally uploaded by rick loughery

Owen's first solo bike ride

This weekend was a big weekend not only was it Halloween but Owen officially was riding his bike on his own. After last weekend where we had some good 20 second and 30 second solo rides, this weekend Owen soared! From the moment we got to the trail he was off riding. Its pretty amazing how fast it clicked in for him especially since prior to last weekend he hadn't tried without training wheels in a few months. And on Sunday, we went down to the school and he was able to start peddling on his own (without us giving him a push).

Howl-o-Ween

Tricks or Treats

Owen is now an old pro - after several years of trick or treating, this year O was convinced not to be a dinosaur but to go as his second favorite thing... Scooby Doo.

For Tessa... she discovered trick or treating. At first she didn't even want to wear or customer or carry the Elmo bucket to collect the candy but once she saw her brother do a couple houses and there was candy to be had... she got over her fear pretty quicky. At one point Tess she had to climb up three big steps to get to the door. The elmo bucket was becoming cumbersome with its heavy load so she heaved up to the top step, climbed up, picked up the bucket and knocked on the door.

33 Seconds.

Big break through in riding the bike today. Owen was really getting the hang of it (sans training wheels). We would run along side and count. First it was 11 and then he hit the 20 second mark and by the end he was able to go 33 seconds. No major wipe outs

Birthday Scrapblog

Owen's 5th Birthday Party

The big bash was quite fun. Even though it was unseasonably cool we all were warm enough running around and jumping in the Scooby-Doo bouncy house, Scooby-Doo cake, Scooby-Doo Pinata, Scooby-Doo Balloons) (In case you couldnt guess, the theme for the party was Scooby Doo It probably would have been dinosaurs but we convinced Owen to go with his second favorite) Lots of fun and friends - Kyle, Kaiya, Kiley... as well as Justin/Jordan, Shelby, Madison/Joey, Nicholas/Michael, Rajeev, Ari - also Sammy and Sloan. Some more pics at Flickr
Or if you want to check out some pictures from Birthdays past click here.