Father Daughter Dance

Tess assures me that we will go to prom together too.  

Tessa's first All-Star Try Outs

Tessa had a great season and she was selected to try out for All Stars.  There are about 70 girls.   Tess, Holly and Mylie were selected from our team.  

11 Years Old

Time flies by fast.   It definitely feels like just the other day, we were in Pacifica and I was walking Rupert up the hill for his morning walk.  Kim started have contractions but we thought we would have more time... by the time I got back from the walk with Rupert - the contractions were super close together.... a mad dash up to the hospital but only to wait for 12 hours as Owen was not quite ready to come.  He needed a bit of help and convincing and finally - we just had to reach right in and bring him into the world.   And we can't imagine a world without him (or his sister or brother :) The birthdays fly by - from his first and now on his eleventh.

Tessa's first attempt

Tessa paddle out with me beyond the inside white water to the outside.  We waited and caught a few on our bellies.  She even tried to stand up on one.

Best day ever (for Finn so far this week)

Started with pancakes followed by trip to LA to see and "meet" The Wild Kratts then char boiled burger at Astro Burger and a celebratory sundae at Menchies (because Finn touched the soccer ball ten times during his game) 

Finn's First Day of Kindergarten

Made it through the first day.  

Post school snack - graham crackers and milk (he had to settle because we were out of Oreos) 

Tessa's Dance Performance

Tessa's first year of Tap and second year of Ballet. These were recorded during her rehearsal. She absolutely crushed it during her actual performance. So amazing to see how far she has come in one year. Tap Ballet

Ice Cream didn't stand a chance

Finn's Graduation from Preschool

When asked what Finn wanted to be when he grew up

Getting his game face ready for the performance

Finn's Five

Can't believe how fast it goes.  (click for a little flashback)
And now Finn is five years old.

The Day Mom Coached Baseball

 In honor of Mother's Day... the mom's coached the boy's little league team.... "The GoPro Rays"

Camp Out

The third annual AOE Camp Out

Thank You Rupert

Thank you Rupert, not only for the memories - and there were many many many of them….
Sprayed by skunks on more than one occasion, encounters with the deer at our fence, miles upon miles of runs and hikes.   Putting Owen, Tessa and Finn to bed. The best security blanket ever.  Our place to dispose of countless pizza crusts.

Alway always always being there to greet me when I came home with the same happy puppy enthusiasm from day one to the last.


But more than memories - thank you Rupert for teaching us responsibility and prepping us for parenthood.... Learning that some thing is dependent on us and more important than us, and while it sucked to skip after work surf sessions, yoga or happy hours - the love and joy you showed was worth it. Teaching us not give to up and throw in the towel when things were tough in the beginning - eating coffee tables (two of them) chewing through a door, devouring down pillows, tormenting the cat, and for your less than tolerant attitude towards small white fluffy things - except for bunnies because for some reason you never minded bunnies.

Thank you for 12 years of joy, love and warmth that you brought to the family.
You will forever be missed and loved.

Here are a few early videos of Rup that we love.
Best Friend
Rupert Chasing Bubbles 
The Howl

Owen's Mission Project - Cooking Posole

Owen's Mission Project - Cooking Posole

Feety PJs

Doing a drop off at Goodwill. Sad but it's about time that these are passed along. All three kids wore these ones:

Weekend morning

A rare balance.

Finn's Fine Art

Finn working on an experimental piece. Rub d' tub

Dance party USA

Finn first spelling

Solo on this one