While Sophia is at the swim team practice, Avery gets a lot of swim practice in his corner of the pool.
He practices all the strokes including freestyle.
I like to sit at the edge with my feet in the water (it’s SO hot out there) and provide a leg to grab onto. Avery also likes to sit on both feet and be “launched.”
First guests
Dave and Phyl:
Summer Party
at Val and Chuck’s house.
The grill masters, Lance DeGooyer and Rich Jennings.
L-R: Ron Chaix, Ray Willett, John Zeleski, Chuck, Mike Rieff. And the back of Bill Brooks’ head.
Listening to Mike: Sue Rieff, Linda Chaix, Bill Brooks, Carole Jennings.
Joan and Ray Willett, Chuck and Val.
Carole, Mike and Sue.
Linda talking with Jan “the school nurse”.
Thank you, Val. It was, as always, a great party!
Sophia and Avery
This was the last week of school.
Sophia has swim practice every afternoon.
On Thursday, Avery wanted to go swimming while Sophia was at practice. He swam in one corner of lane 1.
Meanwhile, Sophia was getting a private lesson in lane 8.
Avery and I began a rotation of pools, from hot tub
to wading pool and back again.
Shopping with Lenin
I need almost everything for my new house, like a television – I need some NOISE around me, it’s too quiet! With all the new technology that I don’t understand, it was invaluable to have Lenin help me. He researched features and prices in advance and, in the store, did all the negotiating with the sales people since the prices he had on his cell phone were less than the prices in the store. The manager came to help, then other associates came to watch. Six of them at one point! It was rather amusing to watch.
Thank you Lenin!
Cynthia’s 70th birthday
On Saturday morning, Phyllis and I went to
for a surprise 70th birthday party for our cousin Cynthia.
She thought she was meeting just her daughter Trina for brunch.
Sisters Rebecca, Cynthia, Christine:
In the next picture, second from the far right is our cousin Judy:
I recommend the Bacon Bloody Mary (oh my!):
First night
A few basics were needed before I wanted to spend the night, like a real bed!
And blinds on the windows. Phyl came over and helped line shelves.
In the evening, Thais and the kids came over. First quest: where are good places for Hide and Seek. In the storage space under Grandma’s bed?
After some coaxing, Avery looked up.
Papers signed!
It’s almost mine.
I signed all the papers this afternoon, but I can’t get the keys until everything records tomorrow. Plenty of time to meet Ade for a quick visit. 
Tee-ball game
There are overlapping sports seasons at this point. The First Tee golf program has begun, but tee-ball is not quite over. 
Project Ride Smart
Week 2 at Witter Ranch. At 7:00 am each day, 40 bikes were rolled out. Gina and Deanna were there to help along with fifth-grader Gymmat – thank you!
Pollyanna prepped classes for the day’s activities.
Students wore colored jerseys to identify their group. Before leaving the classroom, they complete a personal safety check.
Outside students completed an ABCQuick Check on their bikes before riding.
Sometimes a water break at the nearby park is a good idea.
On Friday, we organized a few “fun” activities, beginning with a Chaos Box. The goal, after entering a small defined area, is to create order as quickly as possible. In less than 5 minutes every class was able to begin riding in a circle. Always counterclockwise, by the way. Mr McClurg’s class was the fastest at 51 seconds. Just before the start, Neilani began coaching those around her about what to do. I asked her how she already knew the solution. “I figured it out in my head.”
The last time I did the Bean Drop, I had to repeatedly sweep up small kidney beans to keep the game going. This time I swept up not a single bean! 1.Use large dry white lima beans. 2.Students must drop one bean at a time in each of 6 buckets and, if the bean doesn’t land in the bucket, the student must stop to pick it up and try again.
And there was an improvement to Paper Boy. I wrapped the newspapers in clear packing tape.
At the end of each one-hour class, Otter Pops! It was hot, I had one after every class. 
