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Independence Day is here! Wow, half a year has already passed, and I am glad to report that it has been a lot better than the last so far. Sure, there are still remaining construction related issues (thank you City), but nothing comparing to the stress of the past year.

Even Keegan has been  much easier: better sleeper, and way LESS tantrums (knocking on wood, touching iron, etc.). His vocabulary is increasing rapidly and his absolute non-interest in drawing and coloring continues. He has shown more interest and skills, so far, in math related games. He enjoys workbooks that are math related and has a good grasp of more and less (what is heavier, what is more, etc) which surprises me, definitely not the math genius. The other night he even did some basic math on his carrots. He knew he had to eat 5, so he said: “I have seven carrots, I will took two off and eat 5”. I was clearly impressed. Ok, so he gets it from his dad. Well, engineers make a lot more money than artists.

The long weekend started early: on Thursday we spent a beautiful afternoon in Mission Bay with Hannah, her mom Jennifer and her little sister Natalie. It was a perfect afternoon: sunny and breezy, but not hot. We finished up the afternoon with a nice dinner, and Matt reached us there.

On Friday, I left early from work to meet Keegan at school, just in time for his Bike Parade. All the kids, with their decorated wagons, tricycles and bikes go around the block to celebrate the holiday.

ready to go with Elliott

It is really fun to watch them go, struggling uphill, and flying downhill. I guess this year will be probably the last year we are using a tricycle: It is probably time for a real bike. Keegan knows, that, to get a bike, he needs to pedal on his own (he likes to be pushed when the road gets tough). And honestly, I think it is a little easier to pedal with a bike. So now my months of research start to find the perfect(ly looking) bike.

All together

After the parade, a sweet surprise was waiting for them: sorbet and lollipops.

triple K trouble: Kelsen, Keegan and (Mac)Kenzie

The long weekend was fun. We enjoyed some really good time together. Saturday, since there is no trace of marine layer, we headed to the beach. It was nice, and we got to play in the water and sand. Keegan had a nice long nap, while we rested and worked around the house. We even did a little yard work.

Sunday morning we headed to a park waiting for the Annual Church Carnival to start. It is really cool (and free). We went last year, and there Keegan discovered the magic of bouncie slides. They have all sort of booths, prices, free food and desserts and of course bouncies. We played some games, especially the fishing game, waiting for the bouncie to be blown up. We got enough tickets for a large one eyed leopard. He loves it. More bouncing and then, the highlight of the morning: a huge water slide. Keegan saw one the day before, so he was very excited. Even so, it took a lot of convincing, since he did not have his swim trunks.

But once he tried once, trunks or no trunks, you could not stop him. He was sliding up and down  for more than 40 minutes.

I finally took him home, exhausted, around 2pm. Amazingly enough, he did not have a long nap, but we got him to bed early.

Matt had been working on the pool, so we were both pretty tired by nighttime. We relaxed in the newly connected jacuzzi: it felt nice to be able to soak, after more than a year of watching it sitting there as a huge paperweight.

On the actual 4th, we finally blew up the dinosaurs pool from last year: he has been asking for it for so long… He spent most of the day in and out of the water, jumping, diving (don’t ask…I know it is only a few inches, but you go tell him) and splashing around, on a beautiful, sunny day.

We even inaugurated the new soccer goal, with annoying sounds effects. He had fun kicking the ball and hearing the loud GOOOOAAAL. And check out his technique!

Water guns were also brought out for a fun battle, since it has been very warm all day. The super friendly neighborhood cat Yogi stopped by to say HI. This is friendliest cat I have ever seen. She immediately comes over and rub against your leg even if she never seen you before. And she love cuddles, being pet and and being around people. She behaves more like a dog. Keegan loves her, and he is very delicate with her.

We had dinner outside, overlooking the canyon and listening to the various birds, and the squawking hawks. So beautiful.

After Keegan went to bed, we relaxed, and watched some of the Seaworld Fireworks from upstairs…at least the ones that were tall enough toe above the trees.

What a fun weekend! We really can’t complain too much of not having vacations or not going anywhere, since San Diego provides us with so many great opportunities.

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We had a busy June. With the warmer weather and the longer days, there is always so much to do in San Diego.

Seaworld and the zoo are open later, so they are a perfect spot for a quick after school activity: this is where the the annual pass really comes handy. The is  also a great Inflatables World in the parking lot where the Pumpkin patch is and we made a trip there. While the admission fee is not cheap ($15), spending 2 hours sliding up and down made it worthwhile. It was amazing: 10/15 huge inflatables (mainly slides, which are Keegan’s favorite), in all shapes and forms. And being a Friday afternoon, there was barely anyone there, so no waiting in line. He had a blast!  He was running from one to the next, to the next, so excitedly! And since the place closes at 6pm, it was easy to get Keegan to leave: they were closing the gates, no discussion there. We will definitively go back.

The Gorilla one was my favorite. If I did not have to pay my own way, I would have loved to slide down there myself.

We also had some fun playdates. MacKenzie came to visit after school and the two kids had fun playing in Keegan’s play room. These two are really best buds, and they are great playmates. Even after spending the whole day together at school, they still want to hang out. Amazingly enough they did not break anything or hurt themselves.

playing house (with cars)

“roughing” it in the big inflatable ball

On the house front, we are still working on the yard, mainly getting pool and jacuzzi back. Then we will move on the yard, that by now looks more like a wasteland…I guess we are lucky we are living next to a guy who has a bunch of dried dirt and overgrown weeds for yard, so it makes ours look like a tropical paradise. Regardless, Matt always keep the weeds mowed, and Keegan often “helps” with his own lawnmower.

June meant also gray and cool days, but Keegan did not mind, since he get to wear some cool hooded jackets.

We also had two fun events, that happened on the same weekend: Father’s day and Torin’s birthday party.

As every year, we had a Dad Celebration at school, complete with a buffet and water games.

Keegan is helping dad with his water balloon toss

this, sadly,  is the best father/son picture I could manage.

During the weekend we celebrated daddy by cooking breakfast and giving him a little break. Matt got a couple of books, and a wonderful paper tie, created by Keegan. In the afternoon we went for a nice walk in Tecolote canyon, and saw a lot of bunnies and beautiful birds.

Torin’s birthday party was very fun, as always. Trains were the theme, and the kids played and run around. Water guns were added to the mix this year, and that was not good news for some of the adults that participated into a water gun fight.

The little guys got soaked, but they did not care. It was warm and sunny, so it did not matter. Pinata and cake arrived next, making everyone happy.

We all loved the train/lego block cake pieces. As always very creative.

One more fun event to close a fun month: we braved the crowds and headed up to the San Diego County Fair. We actually had the timing right: by driving up there 20 minutes before opening we did not find any traffic and scored a terrific parking spot. And we have heard that on that particular day the traffic, had been horrific later on, because they had a Beer Festival and a Gospel festival going on at the same time. I guess we were lucky.

We started by visiting the agricultural pen, looking at goats, cows,pigs and sheep. Keegan got soon bored, but he loved the little pigs races and swims.We could not postponed it any longer: we had to go to the rides. Keegan was well informed, and knew there were rides to be had. He could ride alone on more than half the rides, but of course he liked to pick the ones that required adults (= twice the cost to ride them).

Fortunately, we met one of his friends from school, Elliott, so they had even more fun riding together and we were mainly off the hook and could sit back.

Keegan’s first attempt at bumper cars

Look ma: I am driving a Mustang too!

“motorcycles…so dangerous!” (actual quote from Keegan, even if he loved this ride)

Overall it was a fun day: we have not been at the fair in ages, but definitively it was not a cheap proposition…these rides are expensive. But the beaming smile on his little face made it all worthwhile.

We are looking forward to some summer weather, without any June Gloom and lots more fun with our little guy.

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