Mackinaw Bridge!

Here we are crossing the Mackinaw Bridge - one of the longest at ~5 miles.

Cannonball!

Jack tries a "Cannonball" while Elle looks on!   Note the Crepe Myrtle tree in full bloom.

The Wacky Dash

We completed the Wacky Dash obstacle featuring mud pits, bounce obstacles and many other challenges.  Generally, it was hard for me to keep up with these two!

Jack Turns 9!

Jack and his friends were treated to waffles and bacon at his birthday sleepover!

Try Everything - Zootopia!

Here's another track from Elle's pre-school graduation!  It is from the movie Zootopia which is one of the kids favorites.

Fun at the Fair

More pictures coming but here's a short video we did at the Geico booth at the fair!

http://www.geicokaraoke.com/458259/jKFVyhO32f8?

Lost Sunset Snap

I ran across this cool sunset on my camera.  I took it back in October...

Sleeping Jack

Elle Tries Aerial Yoga!

Super Hero!

And her accomplice "Pinky" the bear.

California Love

Notice Elle posing in the background in her dance outfit!

Happy Fourth of July from a Few Aspiring Patriots!

Best of Tahoe Pics

Here are the pics from the "real" camera from our recent Tahoe hike.

 And we're off!

Jack trying to recreate a famous photo I took of Ranger.

Lots of snow melt so the creeks were fast and cold.

My favorite pic.  Eagle like looks clear enough to drink.

Another good one of Jack.  And a duck!

Jack was all about finding snow.   And we did!

Sitting on the Corner!

We'll regularly take a family walk around the block to get the mail.  On the final stretch Jack and Elle usually run ahead of us and then perch on the corner and wait for us.  It is a pretty busy corner and they always draw smiles from passers by!

Exploring the Hills of Folsom

We went on a hike the other day in the hills around our house.

More Tahoe

There was still lots of snow and lots of snow melt....

Birds Don't Just Fly, They Fall Down and Get Up

Here Elle's class sings at their Pre-K graduation!

Little Sisters Complicate Jack's Life

Elle in Rainbow Dash PJs

Elle found her Rainbow Dash pony PJs and had to sleep in them the other night!

Down the Ditch

The kids and I went hiking and found our way down a drainage ditch in the hills close to our house.  Look closely to see the further down the ditch!

Father's Day 2016 - Elle Starts Swimming

Elle hit a big milestone in the pool today.  She started swimming!  Here's a quick series of videos:

 

 She also jumps!

 

 And Jack flies! And Elle jumps some more.

Doughnuts with Dad!

I got a jump start on Father's Day with a Doughnuts with Dad celebration at Elle's school!   

The Owl and The Crow

Rick installed his bobble-headed owl designed to scare birds away in Florida.  Sadly, it attracted a big black crow that sits above it and persistently squawks - trying in vain to scare the owl away.

3-D Printed Bear!

Jack and I were testing a 3-D printer at work and printed a finger puppet bear in the process!

Learning About Warren Buffet

Jack watching the Berkshire Hathaway shareholder's meeting while enjoying hot chocolate and a toaster strudel!

Elle Practices Rings

Look closely and you can make out Elle getting help on the rings at gymnastics practice!

Ready!

Elle's ready for dance show from a few weeks back!

The Delta King

Here is the Delta King's paddlewheel backdropped by Sacramento's famous bridge.

SPAM Snacks

Not a taste test I'm up for. Maybe Uncle Bill can do one!

Tools! Nails! Saws! Wood!

Warning!!!

Jack made this sign to keep young kids - but not Elle?? out of his fort.   Watch out for the wood!

Tahoe!

Jack and I went hiking at Lake Tahoe since he had a day off - note the big water fall (Eagle Falls) behind us flowing into Lake Tahoe.   More pics and videos later!

Jack scores perfect attendance!

Folsom Lake is Nearly Full!

She's slowly begun to drop as they need to release more water to keep the downstream temperature and to prevent ocean salt water from coming too far upstream.

Learning About Maps

Jack researched maps at school and had to make his own!

Elle's Dance Show

The opener!  Whip Your Tail...




The song Elle refers to as "Miles"






Gitchey, Gitchey, Goo

 

Weed Eating Frenzy

Look closely and you can see a startled turkey running away!

Jack Practices his Warren Buffett Oral Report

Here's an early practice session of Jack presenting his oral report on Warren Buffett.  He improved substantially with more practice and did it today at school.  He volunteered to go first.

File Under Things Rick Says...

If you haven't got a dog, hunt with a cat.

Pepsi's 1893 Reviewed!

Our take?   A pretty sweet as in candy sweet soda.  Pretty good all in all.   Likely not worth the $1.50 per can I paid but I'd have it again.   I didn't try the ginger version yet...

The Snow Goose

Jack researched snow geese at school and wrote a 3 page report on them!

Ready for Mother's Day Yoga!

Elle and Mom did Mom's day Yoga at the Spotted  Dog this morning.  Then Jack and I met them and swapped so Jack could take Mom to lunch...where?   at Jack's Urban Eats.

Jack and His Teacher

 

Here's a snap of Jack and his teacher Mrs. Crawley from the open house this week.

The San Francisco Bay

I caught this picture from a recent flight from San Jose to Sacramento...  You can see San Francisco in the upper left portion of the pic...

The "double bow"

It was a "rainbowy" week-end this past week-end.  First we saw these on Friday and then on Sunday we had a little thunderstorm blow through that featured real thunder, lightening and even some pea size hail.  It ended with a full beautiful rainbow.

Ice Cream Freeze!

The kids earned an ice cream at Costco today by helping me in the yard this morning after church.  They insisted on their own even though the things are huge.  It was my job to help each of them with the eating!  

Nordstrom Rack Opening Soon!

Excitement building for some in Folsom with the long anticipated opening of Nordstrom Rack just around the corner.

Kitchen

Here's a good shot of some updates made recently to our kitchen.   The white backsplash subway tile and the new pendent lamp shades.

Scooter!

Jack goes for a quick scoot in the park!

Cakes!

Elle helps Mom make a birthday cake!

The Magic Seed

The Magic Seed
A short story by Jack Tangeman

I found a magic seed.  I planted it.  The next day it was 3 feet wide and 20 feet tall!  The next day, instead of flowers it had money growing on it!

The first day it started dropping pennies, then nickels, then dimes, then quarters, then half dollars and so on.  One day it dropped a seed.  I planted the seed.

Now I had two money trees.  They kept dropping seeds until I had 100 trees.  One tree didn't drop money.  It started dropping this bright crystals.  I was picking up money when I started to get hungry.  I said, "I wish I had some food."  Food appeared immediately.  The tree that wasn't making money was making wishes!

The End

Same Day Delivery! A good thing?

Elle Does the Kitty Cat

  

Here's a snap of Elle from this week's gymnastics practicing the "kitty cat"

Nebraska Plate Struggles Go Viral

  

It is an ugly plate so hopefully the next rev. improves upon it a bit.