Soul Surfing

It's been a crazy couple weeks, but I think I'll be caught up after this blog! NO WAY!

I'll start with my brother AJ's concert at Soulstyce on Labor Day. To say that it was interesting would be tad bit of an understatement. AJ is in this band called "AKA" and they are FANTASTIC. However, being a hip hop band, you are guaranteed to play in some, shall we say, "worldly" arenas. I love a good, rowdy concert, but man...it was absolutely hilarious to see people's faces as our group walked into this place. The Crazy Horse in West Covina was the name, and hip hop was their game. In walked our clan: my 88 year old grandma, Moggy, Lynn, Keith, Denise, my mom, my dad and myself. I was the youngest one! I laughed the whole way in. We met my sister Erica and Brian there, as well as Lauren, who was singing in the band that night!

Needless to say, it was a long night of waiting, but when AJ and his band took the stage, the crowd went wild! They were so different than all the other groups. Their sound was great, their presence was awe-inspiring, and hey, they were the only group that had an 88 year old cheering for them! When the producers had to cut their show short due to scheduling mishaps, the crowd was chanting to keep them on stage. It was so cool to see my bro up there with all those people cheering him on. Unfortunately, they were not going to be able to play any more, but the people had spoken. When the next band came on (supposedly the big time band that everyone was there to see), everyone BOOED! It was fantastic! Anyway, great job to AKA and AJ for putting on one great show...

Now, switching directions to Dane starting preschool. Can I just say what a great thing preschool is? It makes me a better mom, a better wife...nay...a better person! He started school on September 8th and goes M/W/F from 9am-12pm. He absolutely loves it and has a lot of "girlfriends" already. Sigh...I took some great pictures of him on his first day. It was so cute to see him walk away from me with his "pack pack" and with such confidence. What a little blessing he is.

The following weekend, on September 11th, Mike was involved in an event at Windansea in La Jolla. It's a surfing competition run by Mike Wilson that's been going on for some time now. He actually has asked Mike if he would take over planning this event in the coming years. What an honor and a privilege for Mike - we are so excited! 

It was a fun time and a great little family affair. The honoree was the long time La Jolla native and surf legend, Woody Ekstrom. Mike has one of the surf boards his brother Carl Ekstrom crafted hanging on our wall. He brought it to the competition and got to take a picture with Woody standing next to it. It was a great moment! 

We sat on the beach and watched Mike surf, ate yummy Hawaiian food and visited with friends. Among the people there were Mike's dad Ralph, his co-worker/friend/surf buddy John Kuczwara, and his long time family friend, Wally Jewell. What a beautiful day in San Diego, and thanks to Mike Wilson for putting on such a wonderful family-friendly event.

Exactly one week after the Windansea Surf Competition, Mike was involved in the Boys to Men 100 Wave Challenge in Mission Beach. It was a sublime day and again, I brought the boys down and plopped on the beach to watch Mike and his life long friend Kevin Canatsey ride the waves. They made their goal of 100 waves, but it surely wasn't an easy day! The waves were not only big, but boy were they rough. Luckily the guys made it out alive, but Mike is hurting more today than after he ran the LA Marathon! Good job, Mike and Kev! Way to help the young boys of America, and thanks to everyone who donated to their cause. It was a wonderful event and a cool way to give back to the community.

Enjoy the photos below, and remember to check out our video page if you have a second. I've added five new hilarious videos! I also decided to add a little section to document the developments of our kids, as well as some funny things Dane says. Enjoy!

Recent Developments for September 2010

Ryan gets his top teeth at 6 months. (Bottom teeth came in at 4 months)

Dane's favorite things to say right now:

1) "Are you KIDDING ME?!"

2) Booger Board

3) "I wanna watch Bone and Luke the Dukth of Hathard!"

Kristy, Lynn and Denise ready to support AJ!

Keith and Moggy enjoying a little cocktail before the show. 

Erica and B.

Mom and AJ.

I just love this pic.

Kristy and Colorn.

Look at Colorn gettin' that hand up in the air!

Yes, AJ plays in his skivvies.

YOU DOWN WITH AKA?!

Dane dressed himself for preschool.

Can you tell?

Ryan is waiting for us to get ready to go!

Dane has his lunch and he's ready to go! Turns out, they don't eat lunch there...oops...

The brothers take a pic before we head out.

And the cats in the cradle and the silver spoon...

Little boy blue and the man on the moon...

Yeah, see ya later, mom.

One of Dane's new "friends."

Here are Mike and Ralph standing with the La Jolla legend, Woody Eckstrom. Mike owns that board and it's hanging on our wall! Too cool!

Yeah, yeah, yeah...I'm sleeping.

"Look at that wave!"

That is a heavy bucket!

There's granddad!

This is the exact spot where Mike and I took our engagement photos:) Awwww....

When ya comin' home son, I don't know when...

But we'll get together theeeeen dad...

"Look at that cute surfer! Who is that?" - Hot girl on beach

"Oh, that's surf hottie, Mike Roblee. He's married, though." -  Friend of hot girl on beach

"Dang! I knew it was too good to be true..." - Original hot girl on beach

"Oh...nevermind."
Ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa WIPEOUT!

Mike and Wally having a serious conversation about the science of surfing, I'm sure.

Here was Blizzard when we got back. Tough day, Bliz?

Ryan was TIRED after a long day at the beach. Then again, so was mommy:)

On to the next surf day! Here's Dane with the sign we made to support daddy in the competition.

Our camp.

Just chill out, mom...relaaaaax...

I said RELAX!

There's daddy!

I think Mike's shirt was riding up a bit, but nevertheless, look at that hot bod:)

Nothin' cooler than wearin' aviators while you're eating a PB & J.

Rock on!

Here's Ryan, my child who thinks it's cute to grind his bottom teeth against his newly forming top teeth. ARRGGHHH!!!

SO CUTE! 

Great job, Mikey! We love you!