Happy Valentine’s Day

from my bike and me:

On Monday, Maria and Tim drove down from Penn Valley and spent the night. We went to Oshima Sushi for dinner.

On Tuesday morning, I drove them to the airport. They are flying to Puerto Vallarta for a golfing vacation.

On Valentine’s Day, I got these cute postcards at a May is Bike Month meeting at SMUD Headquarters (next post).

Message from Carson

Last Monday I dropped off a birthday gift for Carson at about 4:30. When I said “So now you’re 8 years old,” he responded, “Not until 5:30.” LOL. Today, after I picked the boys up from school, he showed me a finished Lego project.

“Grandma, wait!” and he ran off to get a football jersey. “You should tell all your friends …”

Do you mean all the people who read my blog?

“Yes. Tell all your friends who like the Kansas City Chiefs that the 49ers are better.”

You have been duly informed.

Sports-filled weekend

Sophia played in a volleyball tournament all weekend.

Sunday was the busiest, volleyball all day for Sophia, basketball and flag football for both boys.

In the first half, Carson intercepted 3 balls and returned them for touchdowns. In the second half, he was quarterback for a while.

Thursday with C&A

I picked up the boys from school today. Avery finished his homework in the car. Carson waited until we were home, then got online with his friend Hudson. I could hear from the other room, “Number 2 is …” and he read a sentence. “Number 3 is ‘Will wanted to go fishing with his grandfather’.”

I asked: What are you doing? Giving him all the answers? Big smile.

There’s a new pet in the household. A quest by Carson for over a year. This is Mango, a 2 1/2 foot-long yellow belly python:

Hmm, what’s going on in the back yard?

Christmas Day

Everyone came over for brunch which was perfect because I got to try out a new waffle maker and recipes for yeasted waffles. Ham and Swiss with sour cream/mustard and orange-zested basic waffles with butter and maple syrup. Grandma was devilish this year with Carson and Avery’s gifts. Both were gift cards which required some creative packaging. Carson received a handmade felt cube filled with large dried lima beans. The letters and words on the outside formed two puzzles to solve.

I hid Avery’s gift card inside a large (heavy) box of walnuts.

And that’s where my picture-taking began and ended.

Christmas Eve

At Leah (Lenin’s sister) and Jeff’s. Jeff made a perfect prime rib roast via sous vide, smoking and searing, in that order.

Rita (Lenin’s mother) and Lino:

All the cousins. Leo, Jeffery, Lauren, Carson, Sophia, Brooklyn, Cameron, Cameron, Avery, Christian:

Sophia, me, Lauren, Brooklyn, Cameron, Cameron, Thais, Holly, Leah, Rita: