Sunday, July 27, 2008

Horray for shark week

Today marks the start of one of my favorite weeks of the year. Shark week on Discovery. It should be a national holiday!!! Enjoy some of the pictures of the stars of the week.

Here is the Great White doing a full breech out of the water. Originally found doing this aournd South Africa as they would hunt seals.

Here is the Tiger Shark, the unofficial garbage can of the ocean. Found in all sorts of water temperature, including around Hawaii. They have literally found garbage inside these giants of the ocean. Known to have one of the most devastating bites of the big sharks.

Here is what shark experts have voted as the #1 most dangerous shark, the Bull Shark. They can grow up to 10 feet, but what makes them truly dangerous is their ability to swim into fresh water. Some have been found in the Mississipi as far north as St. Louis and some have even swam the cooler waters of the Illinois river and have been found in Lake Michigan.

Broadbent Family Reunion

For the week of 4th of July, our family flew to Missouri for Rebecca's family reunion. It was fun tiring, and HOT. Being a CA boy, I am sure not cut out for the humidity, but it sure was green. Gas prices were cheap, relatively speaking, and there are plenty of bugs around. Here are a few of the photos I took while we are there highlighting the trip. The cousins sure had a blast with each other as you can tell from the photos. Thanks to those in MO that helped organize this event, especially Emily and Cammie. Thanks to the Ben Broadbent family for putting up with us in their house. Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle Jesse and Aunt Emily for being the host houses and putting up with the army of kids that took over their houses. I know that they didn't leave them any cleaner. Also, thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for paying for the super activities, we enjoyed going on them.

One of the kids favorite things was to run and roll down the hill behind Uncle Jesse and Aunt Emily's house.

Here is a video of Little Jesse trying it out.




These are the kinds of fireworks you can buy in Missouri! For a pyro like me, it is like Christmas. I didn't even have to worry about running from the cops. This was our grand finale, but there was plenty where this came from. Funny that the kids just prefer to play with sparklers than to watch the show. I don't think the fathers cared if there was an audience.

Here is a little sample of the show. Photo work by Big Jesse.




Some of the parents took the kids fishing. It was hot and only the true fisherman were catching anything worthwhile, but I think the kids had fun. With catches like these, there was no need to buy dinner.

The family went to six flags and spent most of the day at the water park portion. Needless to say 92 is not the same there as in Folsom. I admit, I am a wimp when it comes to humidity. After we went to Steak N Shake for dinner, a few of us went back with the older kids to do some rides. Here is one of my favorite shots of ALL TIME. I love the looks on the kids face.

On the way out of the park, we got a chance to hang out with the characters and get some photos. Here is Aunt Cammie and I along with Cecilee, (going clockwise), Jeremiah, Chloe, Porter, Blake and Brigham.

Here is the watermelon crew.

Here is Jesse getting some time with Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Steven.

Here is Uncle Ben with daughter Ali, nephew Garrison and Little J. I call him the baby whisperer.

I think Garrison could fit one more finger in there if he tried. This is Aunt Miriam's oldest. He is a little character.

This is towards the end of our stay. I think we finally wore their batteries out. Here is Quinn and Jesse sharing some nap time together.

He is so tired the thumb isn't even staying in.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Easter Break at Tahoe with the Cousins

We had a lot of fun with the Rebecca's sisters and their families that came to visit us over Easter break and her mom. Grandma brought the kids some bouncing balls. All the kids like to do was eat oranges and race on the bouncing balls, and we were all out of oranges. I think the girls were glad to have the noise outside of the house for at least a little while.



The kids took turns on the tire swing. It was kind of like a roller coaster for them. Too bad I was the motor. Here are the oldest boy in each of the families: Porter, Blake and Drex





Here is Ellie, Chloe and Cecilee having some fun.







Mary Jane, Quinton and Jesse having some fun.








Libby and Jesse both had a hard time not having the swing. Charlie and I found a solution to that. They actually seemed OK with it and what a fun photo it made.






With all the snowfall this year there was still plenty left, although not the best quality. That didn't stop the kids from playing in it and having snow/ice ball fights. Charlie was even cool enough to dig out this tunnel...



...and make this slide.
















Sunday, July 20, 2008

Snowy Days


Don't the kids look cute getting ready to play in the snow?

Jesse had a hard time walking up the sleding hill, so he mostly just sat and ate snow. I wish it was cleaner snow, but I tried to put him in a clean pile, you know, no yellow snow was around.

Blake had the most fun of all. He did it without complaining about walking back up to. Not even I wanted that much exercise



Here is what happens when you sled on crusty snow and have a wipeout. 4 month later I can still see part of the evidence on his face. He kind of wore it like a badge of honor and seemed a little happy about the attention it brought him. Oh boy!

Doesn't Cecilee look cute in her glasses. I took her and Blake with me skiing. Cece just preferred to lean on me as we skiied down the hill. I think she will do some more lessons next year if she wants.

Blake really enjoys it so we went one more day on our way home from Tahoe. Cece and Mom went to the Princesses on Ice show. Blake's favorite part of the run was going through these trees. He never missed the opportunity, even skiing around people to get there. We really had fun together.




Saturday, July 19, 2008

Swim Team

So, we had our first year of swim team with the kids. We just thought we weren't busy enough on Saturdays and I got to sleep in too much. Fortunately 6 and under (both Cece and Blake are in that age group) get done around 11, so there is still some time. We are very proud of our two very good swimmers. At the beginning of the swim season they didn't even know how to swim the strokes and by the end of the year they were competitive in their age groups. Of course, they have fun still just free swimming.




Here is Cece swimming and her post-race smile. It's a winner.




Here she is ready to start back stroke. Despite a late start she took the lead, but lost it at the end and came in 3rd. Gotta work on the conditioning!!!





Here is Blake swiming in his relay. You can just see him on the other side ready to start and in the other one, his arm is poking out of the water. I know, it is like National Geographic quality photo work.



Here is Blake swimming the backstroke. He was sick today, but toughed it out. Way to go!


Here is Jesse jumping in. I just wish he would not jump so close to the steps. The other one is a swim position I like to call, "The Jesse".




I swear I saw this as a movie poster shot. Who doesn't fight evil with oversized squirt guns?