Back From Hawai'i

(Going swimming at a water fall.)

A couple of days ago we returned from a fantastic trip to Hawai'i. We went to see our friend Nicole get married to to her fiance Patrick. They live in Hawai'i so it was not technically a destination wedding. I was only able to get 5 days in a row off so Tami, Enzo, Ana, and Tami's mom Phyllis went out eight days before me.That was the longest I had been without them. Interesting, some good points to the experience, but still stressful. My comfort seems to include seeing my kids regularly. Eventually I did join them and it was a great trip. Here are some highlights including Tami's pictures from before I got to Hawai'i and some notable memories.

(Playing at the Dole plantation.)

Tami discovered that Ana has four teeth, molars, coming in at the same time!

Ana started singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars without using any of the lyrics. Enzo sings the song a lot and loudly. Ana has some words but none from the song. While she calls Tami Mami, she calls me Papa instead of Papi, and she calls Enzo Daddy instead of Enzo. But not having Twinkle or Little or Star, she just makes up her own words and sounds and belts it out like her brother does with the actual lyrics.

Enzo just throwing every toy off of a table in the condo...

R: What are you doing Enzo????

E: (calmly..) Making a mess.

(Riding a train at the Dole plantation.)

I invented a new iPhone app! Not really going to make it but I thought of it. At the wedding everyone was holding up their iPhones to take pictures. Who caries a camera anymore? And the the big moment was about to happen, the end of the wedding, official couple, and everyone had their iPhones in the air like lighters at a rock concert. And then it hits me, with my own iPhone high in the air... How am I going to clap at the big moment AND take a photo of the big moment??!! And then it came to me... a wedding "Big Moment App." An extra photo button for the big moment that claps for you AND takes the picture of the big moment at the same time! Yes- I thought of that! 

(Nicole and Patrick ger married!)

I had the kids to myself in a little swimming pool made for kids at the hotel where the wedding was held. There are no pictures because it took all of my energy to take care of the kids. Enzo was barely comfortably above the water line and if her did slip I wasn't sure how well he would be able to stand up so I needed to be ready to help if needed. This pool was really for slightly bigger kids. There were other kids almost as young as Enzo but they were all secured in one type or another of floating device with their parents. Ana, even younger, would just walk right in and jump around, water up to her chin when standing at the deepest points at the bottom of the stairs, running around in the water until she would eventually fall under the water and I would need to swoop my hand under and pull her back up while she laughed. But she didn't stay in one spot. She walked all over that pool and climbed out and got back in and jumped around and hopped off the stairs and tried to slip by me so she could jump in from the side. She went under water countless times and it never phased her. I walked 1,000 miles in that hotel pool made for kids making sure I was always within arm's reach of her without having to limit her exploring. And at some point I heard the term. "She is fearless." I have used that term to describe her many times. But this time it came from a heavily Eastern European accented woman talking to her friend in the shade  while watching, I assume, their grand kids. I overheard them. Pointing out, and obviously talking about Ana, one woman says to her friend (I am paraphrasing from memory here):

 "Look at her, she goes in, falls under, and does it again over and over. She goes back. She smiles, she laughs. She is fearless!"

(Throwing rocks into the Pacific.)

(Having so much fun burying and pulling out his feet again and again.)

When we got back Tami asked what my favorite memory was of the trip. I don't remember all of my long answer now but I do remember that it was a long answer and that I mentioned many stories. The first thing that I mentioned was coffee on the beach. Before I got out there Tami asked what I wanted to do while there. I told her that all I NEEDED to do was to have a morning coffee on the beach. After that, anything could happen. This is because, five years ago, before the kids when Tami and I were in Hawaii, coincidentally on our two year anniversary, for another friends wedding, I had coffee on the beach and it was one of those moments when all of the world felt in perfect harmony with me. The first morning I was there, we went to the beach and had coffee. Excellent! 

(Morning coffee on the beach.)

(Watching a parade we chanced upon. The kids got excited most by all of the horses involved. I enjoyed all the VW's.)

(Besos! Ana got a kis at breakfast in matching tops with Mami.)

Another of my favorite experiences was going on a train ride from the train museum. Both kids enjoyed the event and then had so much fun playing at the train exhibits afterwards. The ride itself was 90 minutes on an old narrow gauge railroad through a town, a resort, and along the coast. Then we had a picnic lunch, that Tami had prepared for us, next to the the exhibit train that had been prepared for kids to play in. The main motivation was that this would be fun for Enzo, and it was. The cool thing was that I had so much fun too as did Ana. I'm pretty sure Tami and Phyllis did, too.

(Riding a historic train route.)

(Playing on the first train, now a museum piece, on Oahu.)

The night before we left we enjoyed something great. Tami volunteered to make a home made dinner at Nicole and Patrick's house. The five of us were there, as were Nicole's immediate family, and that made it a house of about 12 people. Tami made cheese and chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice, and beans. Everyone was having a great time. My kids were running around playing, people were laughing and telling stories, it was great fun. It was  a perfect family event and I thoroughly enjoyed that evening.

(Ana playing toy trains in front of the first train.)

(Our last stroll to the ocean before driving to the airport.)

(Enzo watching the world go bye on our way home.)

(Ana pointing out the world on our way home.)

(The sunset over the Pacific on our way home.)

(San Jose Airport! How are they so awake at this hour?)

Some Recent Pics

Cuddling on the couch.

This is how we dress to play soccer at our house.

Ana picked out the boots to wear.

Enzo playing trains with his buddy Micah.

Driving around the yard.

Having fun at dinner on the town.

Ana trying to eat, Enzo trying to play.

Driving at Gilroy Gardens.

More driving.

Eating on their new table and bench.

Tami made them their own baby carriers for their teddy bears! They are so cute.

Playing at the park.

Enzo likes to be the one to push Ana on the swings and she likes it too.

My beautiful girl.

Ana will climb anything even if it is for older kids.

And swing from it....

And then do it again.

There she goes climbing again.

He Can Do Math

(Splashing.)

Last week.....
I was on the phone with my mom as my beautiful kiddos were playing around me in the family room. Then, my daughter decides she is going to climb onto the table. This is something she tries to often but usually stops after the third time I tell her to get off the table "no en la mesa, Ana." but this time, the kids must have sensed my weakness in trying to multitask because Enzo and Ana laughed a bit and smiled and then, working together they both continued to get half way up on the table while smiling, maintaining full eye contact with me, and only pausing during my protestations in Spanish. Numerous times I had to actually get up and help them off the coffee table. At one point, they literally each put up their left leg on the table in a slow motion synchronized maneuver without taking their eyes off of me. Huge smiles on their faces. Then, ever so slowly, and simultaneously, they leaned forward and got up onto the table at the same time. Little punks! Adorable, but still punks.

Tami decided to come to the rescue, as she told me later, to make sure I wasn't frustrated. I don't think I was getting frustrated though I was certainly beginning to doubt my ability to stay stern despite their cuteness while distracted. And it was abundantly obvious that my authority was completely compromised. My mom and I ended our conversation just as Tami asks who wants chocolate. This is her planned diversion to rescue me.

Because I was feeling goofy, and because I love chocolate, I raise my hand and say I Do! Then, with the kids I went and sat down at their little table as Tami counted out for each of us three little organic dark chocolate chips. Tami had commented before on how, unlike uvas (grapes) of which Enzo will eat an entire bowl of washed and halved fruit in no time, Enzo takes his time and savors each little chocolate chip when she gives him three as some special snack. So, I was doing the same and enjoying the chocolate with Ana and Enzo when Enzo held up his last chip and says "Papi, I have one chocolate." I smile and say "I do too." at which point my son casually leans over, picks up my last chip with his other hand and says "Papi, I have two chocolates!" That's great" I smile, "now, give it back to Papi." but he smiles and refuses to hand it over! Little punk! It took me at least a minute to convince The Kid that he needed to give Papi back his chocolate chip.

I look to Tami for a little sympathy and instead she says "He can do math."

Enzo Said

One afternoon, Getting onto his red tricycle, Enzo said:
"Bye bye Papi. I'm going for a ride. I'm going to the beach. I love you bye bye."

This morning, talking to his dog Monte when playing in the living room early in the morning while I tried so hard to feel, as close as possible, as though I was still asleep, my eyes squeezed shut on the couch and wrapped in a blanket, Enzo said:
"Throw the circle Monte!"
[pause of three seconds]
[then in a defeated voice...]
"Ahhh, you don't have hands Monte....."

My Lucky Wife, Asymmetrical Ana, Mechanic Son

(Ana and Enzo are at the left. Look how fancy my daughter is dressed to go and feed animals at Ardenwood Farm.)

It's quite clear to me that Tami has been having more fun than I lately as many of the best pictures are on her phone instead of mine. I have some that she has sent to me but I look forward to seeing the rest that she has. Every now and then she sends me a delightful photo of her and the kids enjoying some adventure while I work. Here are some examples of what the kids have been up to with and without me.

(Ana, who you can see, and Enzo getting autographs on the A's field. Tami was very excited they got Jemile Weeks' autograph. She mentioned something about him being so much younger as the only reason she didn't flirt with him.) 

 (Ana playing ball at Micha's house.)

 (Enjoying the A's.)

 (Dance break!)

(Enzo fell asleep reading! Deep inside I feel there will be nothing to worry about in his education now.) 

(Ana looking at the giraffes at the Oakland Zoo.) 

(Elephantes!) 

(My gorgeous boy in his new hat that Grandpa got him.) 

(My beautiful girl on a raft ride at Gilroy Gardens.) 

(Look at my adorable monkey! She could barely reach the bar and yet she hooked her fingers right on and did this over and over for 5 minutes.)

Ana has gone asymmetrical! She now has 10 teeth. The front four on top and on bottom for 8. And then, a space away she has grown out a molar at bottom left and at top right. And just writing this makes me smile as it reminds me how much I love to see my Ana smile. Also, my little Ana, scaler of all things scalable or otherwise, now climbs into her Mami's SUV, around to the seat, and up into her car seat all by herself. Yes, she is 1 and a quarter years old. Speaking of Ana the climber, I went to sit down next to her recently and she instantly jumped on my back and began to climb up and hold on, working her way to my head, all the time laughing. She is tall now, to me who must accept that she is no longer an iddy-biddy baby. And she is beautiful and adorable. One of my favorite things to do with her recently was just to lay down next to her, and in between her climbing all over me, to laugh and tackle and tickle her. This never gets old.

Enzo has crossed a major developmental threshold. Why, why,why????? Neither Tami nor I had ever heard him even say the word why before that day. I was not there but apparently he went from 0 to full on "Why-ness" all at once. Tami told me how she asked Enzo to get into his car seat and he said "why?" She answered and then it began; "why?" to every response. Tami said she eventually began to answer every why with "because I love you" and that worked. Awesome. I don't know if that will work for physics questions but I will remember this worked in case I need to stop an infinite why loop in the future. Another great story I heard from Tami is this. Following the day that Enzo and I tried to locate the short in the VW bug's wiring that makes the left headlight low beam not come on, Tami and the kids were in the garage. That's when Enzo picked up some child sized gardening tools of theirs, gave one to Ana, and said "come on Ana, let's fix the VW bug!" At that point Tami tells me he began applying the tools to the front headlight. Awesome!!

(Enzo got Grandma and Grandpa to put on gloves and play baseball in the house.)

And now for the best thriller story I have read in a long time. These are screen shots of my phone showing the text messages Tami sent me while I was at work last week.

Siete

Seven years!!!!!!!!!!!!


That is my beautiful wife...... of seven years and a day. There seems no way to adequately and correctly label our seven years in a brief statement but I will say that it has been perfect in the way it absolutely needed to be. I could not be more grateful to Tami for the love, companionship, and partnership though I certainly could show it more. Simply put, I love you Tami. Thank you for a life better with you in it. I know I am lucky to have you with me. I know I am better to be with you.

My Baby Girl

(Ana at an A's game eating a burrito.)

Today was a very long work day for me. I left with all of my family asleep and will return to the same. Thankfully these days are rare and usually relegated to only a couple of points in my work year; just before school starts for kids being one of those times.

Today Tami called me with a story that lifted my spirits and focus. She called just to tell me a story from earlier in the week so that she wouldn't forget to tell me.

The three of them were on the train for the second time that day at Gilroy Gardens while I was at work and Enzo was making his sound effects of "chugga chugga chugga chugga choo choo." And then Ana, quietly, started in with her own "chugga chugga chugga chugga." Adorable. My love makes sound effects.

And just like that, in the midst of work which has it's own feelings of goodness and satisfaction, I was transported to the presence of my family, a smile made it's way to my face of it's own accord, and my day is all the better for it.

Beyond the Cul de Sac

(Excited to go for a ride.)

Enzo really enjoys the VW bug. He gets excited whenever we get to move it together in the driveway shuffle. But this day he is in for a special treat.






Tuesday, we went beyond the cul de sac in the bug for the first time. That's right, my bug now has seat belts (in front) and our cruising together range has opened up dramatically. Not only are these the first pics of me and Enzo roaming far and wide (-ish) in the bug together, but also of the first time Enzo has ever sat facing forward in a car seat. Back in his Honda, he'll stay rear facing for as long as possible for his seat's capacity but he's been heavy enough for forward facing for a while now and cruising the bug warrants the luxury.






A wonderful start to the day.

But just the beginning. While I was off at work, The Kid enjoyed the morning with his amigos at school and then went with his Mami and Ana to Gilroy Gardens where they rode new rides including a raft. I admit, I'm a little bit jealous. Here is a pic that Tami texted me.

(Enzo and Ana on a raft ride.)

They followed that up with hanging out and playing in the pool at Charlotte and Laurie's house. These kids live large for a Tuesday.

(Enzo chatting with Charlotte at her house.)

If You Like Engines

If you like engines, or stop action, or just admire mechanics and creativity, a couple of minutes watching this video is well worth it.

Teacher Note For Enzo

Enzo gets these little notes from school on occasion to let us know something about his day. It's a cool idea. This one made us laugh. I can just hear my son saying this as he plays at school, sitting in the wooden boat in the playground. Changing his couple of Spanish words into English, Enzo said: I'm driving the boat and the shark is going to eat you Teacher.