August 2023

Jack is still obsessed with all things Japanese. He made plans with his friend Juno and her mom Minsun to make sushi using some of our frozen salmon from Alaska. They had to reschedule a few times due to travel and illness, but finally found a time to get together over the summer and make their dreams come true. The final report was that it was "too fishy," and msot of it got repurposed as fried rice. 

We had Jack and Hazel signed up for another week of volleyball camp. There were so many kids signed up for this session (right before high school tryouts) that they bumped the middle schoolers to an afternoon session. Then Hazel found out about a second volleyball camp happening at Livermore High in the afternoons and begged to do that one, too. So every morning I took Hazel to Granada High from 9-12, then I brought Jack down, left him there, took Hazel over to LHS, and picked everyone back up at 4:00. It was a ton of driving, but the kids enjoyed themselves. Meanwhile, Gemma had piano lessons, chess club, and play dates. 

Jack and Gemma were also hired to be the Zoerhoff's rat-sitters again, so they spent a good portion of their free time with that. 

The youth in the ward were invited to join another ward at Lake New Hogan for a boating overnight trip. None of the youth leaders could attend, so they reached out for parent helpers, and Todd was only too happy to volunteer himself for a boating trip. However, when they met up at the church Friday morning, there was only one boat for over 25 kids. (Several boat owners had backed out last minute.) Todd went into hero mode and impulsively rented two wave runners. He saved the trip. 

While they were out galavanting about and spending big bucks, Gemma and I headed up to the cabin for a one-on-one girls' trip. We had such a special time! I let Gemma take the lead and did whatever she wanted for as long as she wanted. We paddle-boarded across the lake, played game after game, read in the hammocks outside and upstairs, watched a movie, and snuggled to sleep in the same bed. It was a highlight of the summer for both of us. 

The Primary planned a night for the kids to show off talents or report on goals they'd been working on. Gemma has been trying to learn how to make waffles independently. She practiced with me, with Todd, and with her friends Clara and Lydia during play dates. When the Primary night came, she brought a platter of sample-size waffles and a sign inviting everyone to help themselves. 

Jack finished crocheting a tank top for Hazel. His work is just gorgeous and it is so much fun to see what he is capable of creating. 

Hazel had volleyball tryouts. She was invited to try for the JV team and was told by the coaches it ended up coming to a coin toss between her and another player. She ended up placed on the Freshman team. While initially disappointed, we have decided it's good for several reasons: she'll have more play time, she'll make friends with teammates in her grade level, and it will be a slightly lighter time commitment because the Freshman team doesn't have Friday practices. 

The same week, she also had Music Camp and Freshman Orientation. Two weeks before school started, and she was already spending all day every day on campus. It was a rude awakening for us of how little we are going to see of her this year. The week ended with a concert. 

Jack spent every morning that week babysitting the Robinson girls, ages four and one. Hazel had been asked, but Jack was the one with the time to give. I was thrilled he was given the opportunity. Every day he raved about how darling the little girls were and how much fun he had with them. When the week was up, the mom wrote a note that said, "Jack, just wanted to thank you for your help last week! We were super impressed with you, for how well you kept the girls entertained and even cleaning up the kitchen and playroom! We've had lots of babysitters before and you really blew us away, doing a better job than a lot of sitters we've had that are much older than you. Thanks again!" 

During the last two weeks of summer, Gemma and Clara had probably four play dates. Every time, they begged to stay longer and longer, going from a five-hour visit to a six-hour, and even a seven-hour-long adventure. Those two are such kindred spirits, they never have enough of each other. I wish so bad Clara lived close enough Gemma could bike to her house. They're so happy together. 

Gemma helped Todd change the oil on the van. 

We had a quick afternoon visit from the Turri's as they came through town. They're wild and fun. They love to make Napoleon Dynamite jokes with us. 

We've been having spectacular sunsets. I wish we could see them from our house, but we're too low and behind a wall of trees. But if we take the trail to the open space ... it's a feast for the eyes. 

Jack made ramen for us, with a special pork that had to be marinated for 24 hours. 

Our ward member, Irene Sanchez, teaches fourth grade and switched schools this summer, joining us at Croce. We spent a few hours helping her unpack her classroom (organizing books!) and she treated us with ice cream in gratitude. 

Gemma decided to try an acting class this fall instead of volleyball. She is excited to go each week. It's fun for me to chat with her about the improv games they do and the scripts they're working with. 

My friend Joleen hosted our game group ladies and their kids at her pool for one last summer hurrah. Hazel couldn't make it because she was at volleyball practice, but the rest of us enjoyed quite a party. 

Hazel had a sweet gig working at the Rhonewood Pool this summer. She only worked a handful of shifts and it was super duper flexible. There were always plenty of kids lined up to take her shift if she decided she'd rather go to the beach than to work, and the manager didn't blink an eye at how many days (cough, cough, weeks) Hazel requested off for camps and trips. They had an end of summer party for all the employees where they rented out the Vine Theater and showed the kids the Barbie movie, then treated them to frozen yogurt and an afternoon of swimming. Hazel and Kaitlyn went thrifting the day before for outfits to wear to the movie. Hazel dressed up as Barbie, and Kaitlyn as Ken. 

Jack had a couple more volunteering shifts at the library this month. He stuffed craft kits and helped set up and take down for a magic show. 

The young men went on a backpacking trip to Sword Lake. Todd went with Jack. They only hiked about three miles and spent the majority of their time playing in the water. It sounded like a nice trip, although one I was happy not to be on. I'd rather not carry a thirty-pound bag and sleep on the ground, thank you very much. Todd shared a tent with Ryan George and realized how grateful he is that I don't snore. 

Ideally, I would have taken the girls back up to the cabin. However, Hazel had volleyball practice on Friday until 4:30, and then wanted to go to a birthday party she'd been invited to. So Gemma and I had a movie night at home, and on Saturday we ladies went to Berkeley for an Art Day. 

We walked through the UC Berkeley campus wilderness area, ate scrumptious sandwiches, checked out some uppity thrift shops, walked up and down a street with poetry plaques inlaid in the sidewalk, checked out a game shop, and visited a hotel and women's club designed by the first female architect of California, Julia Morgan. It was a great girls day out! 

Then it was back to school, with three kids at three schools. Todd took Hazel day one and I biked with the other two and walked Gemma into her classroom. Everyone came home with happy reports which they spelled out for me over giant cookies. 

Gemma has Mrs. Valverde for her teacher, and has her buddies Imogene and Lydia as classmates. 

Hazel has friends in every class, is loving volleyball, and is doing an impressive job from the get-go of managing her time with more demanding studies than she has had before. 

Jack has got classes with a fresh batch of kids he didn't see as much last year because we chose not to take orchestra this year. He has enjoyed heading straight to the piano each morning before school; it's a happy way for him to start the day. 

Jack whipped up this cute kitty lovey for baby Zoe. We wish we could see her, but we know we will at least see Ryan in a few weeks at Chris and Jodi's wedding. 

We loved watching Hazel play her first game of the season. Her team was so synchronized. Hazel got to give the opening serve, and totally aced it. It was a great start! They won both games. 

Chris and Jodi came out for a quick weekend visit. Jodi had given Chris baseball tickets to see the Braves play the San Francisco Giants for his birthday, and they extended their trip long enough to hang out with us as well. We didn't have a lot of time, but they voted to go to the cabin anyway to see it and be in the mountains. We had a lovely afternoon at the lake and a fun evening playing hide and seek at the rocks. The kids begged for a movie, but I was not interested, since it was already past 8:00. They jogged home ahead of us, took fast showers, and had Princess Bride waiting when we reached home. Little manipulators! They couldn't have picked a better movie for me to have to say yes to. 

High school has been a hard adjustment for me. I'm overwhelmed with the emails, schedules, sports, homework, bus schedules, you name it! But Hazel forgot her away-game jersey the other day and asked me to bring it to her during lunch. As I pulled up, I could see her in the courtyard, long hair swinging as she ran around, hitting a volleyball in a circle of friends. She looked so confident and happy. It helped me settle down. New phase of life, here we come!