What a year 2013 was!

For the sake of brevity, I will just share the photos and welcome your comments.  The following are from November which was a pretty busy month.  For the full album please check out the 2013Nov_Sports album

RBYB Basketball try-outs

My and my Laila

Selfie while I wait for Luke

Smita attacks the Spartan race

My funny munchkins

Tired Spartan returns!

Flat tire on the way home

Replaced it with the spare donut

December was just as fun with lots to eat, drink and play with.  For the full album check out the 2013Dec_Xmas album.

Disneyland on boxing day!

Disneyland teacup ride

Smita having a grand time!

Luke plucked out a tooth!

Christmas party at our house!

Manhattan Beach - My Disneyland!

PTO becomes DIY

Last week I planned to take Friday off so that I could accomplish a few things.  This is normally called personal time off (PTO) in corporate lingo speak.  I started the day with the intent of relaxing and possibly rewiring my home internet after dropping the kids off.  Note how surfing was not part of the plan because the pacific ocean has refused to produce waves for the last 60+ days.

Flat but beautiful

Flat but the sunset makes up for it

As I walked through the house mapping out my route, I noticed a puddle of water in the laundry room which made me scream like a man possessed.

Leak!

Most of you will remember the ordeal we went through when we had a leak in the kitchen that resulted in a whole remodel.

On closer inspection, I realized that the hot water heater was leaking.  I mopped up the water, turned off the mains and called the local plumber for a quote.

Operation Mop it up

I was quoted approximately $980.00 which included a new tank plus labour but they could only come in the next day (Saturday).  Cold showers are not a good option so I reluctantly scheduled it.

That evening, we joined our friends for some good old Friday night food and drinks and Smita casually brought up the topic about the heater.  Words cannot capture this accurately but before she could finish, Jim and TK had volunteered to do the job DIY style the very next day.  DIY was better than $980 so I accepted.


The video below shows the process and end result that cost $480 and I now know how to change a water heater myself!  I love my friends. 

Swim Team Try Out

Reposted with correct video permissions:
Luke has reached the zenith of the kids pool at South Bay Aquatics where he has been swimming since he was 8 months old!  The kid was swimming here before he could walk.

While it has been an expensive affair in dollars and time, it has been very worthwhile because of the confidence Luke has around a pool and the fact that swimming is a life long type of sport.  I have seen folks aged 70+ that are still active swimmers and/or surfers and they are in tip top shape.

The pool at South Bay Aquatics is indoors, small and heated for obvious reasons.  We decided to sign Luke up for a swim team as a natural progression to the next level.
The video below was his try-out session where he was assessed to be talented enough to join the pre-competition squad.  The focus of this squad will be clock reading, stroke perfection and endurance for 45 minutes!  This is pool is outdoors, larger and not as warm. (kept at swim competition regulation temperature which is a comfortable 88)

Let the excitement and work begin!

October visits California

October is here and it appears that she decided that California is where she will shed her personality.  What I mean is that the weather has been superb so far.  This time last year, we were dusting off jackets and thinking about bundling up because the wind had picked up a little chill but this year, we are still in beach shorts and sandals!

Anyway, this weekend was a perfect Cali day so we went about doing Cali type things shared in the photos below.

Monkeying around at the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair

Waiting in line for the ride at the MB HT Fair

Laila taking her turn seriously

Luke with a scurvy pirate at the MB HT Fair

Luke with Captain Jack Sparrow and his Pirate Parrots

Skeleton diamond check!

Just another day in paradise

Just another awesome sunset

Breakfast run at Brothers Burritos

Luke - My left hand man.

Laila - My right hand girl.

All together now!

Just another beautiful sunset!

Goodbye August. Hello September!

August was horrible as far as surf and waves go but September seems to be more promising!

The photographer in the first one here is Alan of 808soul shot yesterday with a GoPro Black.

The following two were shot by Brandon this morning with a Canon T3i.  The remainig collages are also Brandon shot on Thursday evening.

This is my favorite time of the year and it only gets better.  Enjoy!

Ladies and Laila

Laila and ladies she mentions a lot lately. 

If your picture isn't here its because I couldn't find one but she mentions you too. Lol!

August Austin

With Luke in real school, we have had to plan our vacations carefully to ensure that he isn't considered a truant.  This actually happened in October 2012 but that's another story.  This summer break, we opted to delay our vacation to the last weeks before schools begins.  Austin in August provided us an opportunity to see the Kinoti's and Sanchez's so we packed up and headed down south y'all.

We stayed at the Lakeway Resort set by Lake Travis.  The property was quite well setup with water slides, pools, gym and all the amenities you need to get into the vacation spirit.

Here are some fun shots.

The girls..all excited at LAX

Lakeway Resort.  Happy Hour with the Sanchez's

Laila at a splash-pad Round Rock

Munchkins being silly at Franks Hot-dogs

Silliness ensues

Now its addictive with Noah in on the action

Infinity pool at Lakeway Resort..bliss!

Feeling chillaxed

Selfie at the infinity pool

Swim up bar for 21 and up only!

Luke and I rented a boat and went 22 miles one way

My co-captain

Co-captain Luke testing the other seats

Check out the huge hotels and mansions cliff-side!

Huge mansions!

Captain Big-shot..says so on my shirt!

Captain Big-shot and son.

Co-captain took the tiller (wheel) for a bit.

Captain on the tiller and co-captain filming

More Captain and co-captain

See no evil

Hear no evil

Speak no evil

Think no evil (I made that up)

Now go crazy!

Chillaxed to the Max!

Kissy..kissy kissy!

Paleo burger from Wholly Cow Burgers.