GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES!

Gavin’s annual Pinewood Derby with the Cub Scouts was as always, tons of fun from making the car at the workshop to proudly showing it off on race day. Some of the kids were super creative this year. We saw everything from pencils to surfers and even a pink flatbed with a pig in the back.

We did pretty well for the first half of the race as did a few of Gavin’s friends but in the end, the Weblos took most of the prizes. After all, they do have two more years on us. I also included a few pictures of Megan, the little sister of one of Gavin’s best friends. Too cute!

 SAM

ALEX..... Goggles -or-sunglasses for everyone.

 JAKE

MATTHEW

The final result....The "GHOST RACER"

RACE DAY!

Gavin and Jake wait for the results .

Brian McDougall and Chris Azpeitia watch too.

"Thanks for the ride Gavin"
"Sure, well I'd better be going"

“you’re not going anywhere mister.”

NEVER a serious moment.

Gavin and buddy "T" Azpeitia.

FACING THE DAY.......

“Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of faith.”......... Magaret Shepherd

This morning began in the usual way, lying in bed, eyes still closed, trying to compile a short “to do” list for the day in my head. Only on this particular morning the list kept growing at an alarming rate. Not the usual short scribbled post-it-note. This puppy was rolling out like some nightmarish medieval scroll. Oh my gosh, seriously! Just today I need to:

Buy the remaining supplies for the Pinewood Derby car.

Bake brownies for someone at school.

Deliver a cake dome and gift card to a friend

Wash Gavin’s Cub Scout uniform for Saturday.

Hit the grocery store.

Get two birthday cards and a few thank you cards in the mail ( write them first).

Run and empty the dishwasher if we’re going to eat dinner tonight.

Find the tax organizer.

Meet a friend for lunch to exchange birthday gifts.

Spend the 3 hours it takes to wash, dry and straighten my hair (short is sounding good right about now).

Pick up papers to grade from the substitute teacher...... and all of this before pick up at 3:00. It's just the kind of day that stresses me out. Did I mention that I failed the course in time management? TWICE!


I don’t know how I’m going to pull it all off so I’m just going to open my eyes and jump in with both feet. Wish me luck!

INAUGURATION DAY '09

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.”.....Abraham Lincoln

Juanita Nelson

turns 31 years old today.

Rattlesnakes and Tumbleweeds

From early on the word “desert” always conjured up images of sandstorms, rolling tumbleweeds and a hissing rattler coiled up on a rock somewhere while vultures circled overhead. But to my surprise, the desert is really a beautiful place in the winter. It’s too cold for snakes and the tumbleweeds are still attached to the ground and green. The skies are blue and the air crisp. I can’t believe how peaceful it can be….Well that is until the sand toys start rumbling.

For the past several years sometime around November, we say “goodbye” to our beach camping and say “Hello” to the beautiful California desert.

 


Here are a few memories from our trip near California City last weekend.




Camp Vargas. My boys coming in from a ride.



Off again to the nearby city of Randsburg.

 For those of you not familiar with the desert craze, this is called a Ranger. It’s kind of like a smaller version of an off-road jeep.

The city of Randsburg is a cool little western town but instead of riding in on a horse, most people ride in on every kind of off-road vehicle imaginable.




The town is full of old antique stores, general stores and a neat little museum too.
Below are some shots of our friends and their kids and some cool things we found while exploring. We also had lunch at the General Store. Absolutely the best burgers and shakes around.

Of course I can never have too many shots of the kiddos.

Kevin with our pal Patty.

Back at camp, ready to watch the sunset.

Ahhhh the bromance


Another bright moonlit night in Cal City.

HERE'S A FEW MORE