Bumpa & the Boys

Here is our Bumpa enjoying a Choose Your Own Adventure book with Luke and Nate. These boys sure love their Bumpa.

Nate talks about him ALL the time, looking out the window, watching convertibles on the road, playing guitar, he will say, "BUMPA!!" At least once a day he picks up the phone and says, "BUMPA!" He finds a picture of Bumpa in the house and says, "Bumpa!" as he stares lovingly and proudly at his Bumpa's image.

Bumpa, you are special and loved!

Oktoberfest

Oktoberfest used to be an annual adult tradition. Now it is a more sober ritual, fun for the whole family. Although it is the Altenberg heritage, it plays in this video of the parade more like an Auchterlonie family reunion...

The boys loved the chicken dance and trading off wearing the chicken hat. Daddy and Mom enjoyed the Spaten!

Choose Your Own Adventure

These are our favorite books right now! We just raided the paperback rack at the Redondo Library- Luke is hooked. It's very rewarding when your kid is this fired up about reading. It's not so exciting when he makes decisions that get him killed and he cries and screams for a do-over.

Wild Rivers

Coming out of the waterfall...

One little tough guy waiting to slide...

More waterfall diving...

This summer we were lucky enough to make two trips to Wild Rivers. The first time, we got the lay of the land with Kiki and Kurt. The second time, Luke and I got to go with Cousin Jenny and Shyla.

Wild Rivers is so much fun, for the burgeoning swimmer as well as for the experienced one! We explored the Water Walk, rode the waves in the Wave Pool, rode the water slides, floated in the Lazy River (then swam in the Lazy River), and hung out in the jacuzzi. Luke's favorite part, though, was diving under and swimming through the waterfall in the main pool with Cousin Jenny.

Since our visits, Luke has been working to engineer his own water slides made out of tinfoil and Tupperware. He names them fancy names like, "Double Slide of Death" and makes his Lego men ride down them over and over again. Wild Rivers is often a topic of conversation in our home, and we are anxiously awaiting their reopening next season!

Hulk Smash

Soccer Season is here again, and this time I am team mom. Luke knows and loves several of his teammates, including Quinn and Josh. The team name is Hulk Smash, which thrills Luke, and even Natey is getting in the spirit!

WOO WOO

Now that Luke's in school full time, and Nate has entered Toddlerhood, it's time for me and Nate to go have some fun on our own. He loves the train at the mall, screaming "WOO WOO" and frantically gyrating in his stroller as we approach the station!

The First Day of School

Today Luke David Altenberg entered the California public schools and started Kindergarten. I am thrilled that his teacher is Mrs. Vernick, who has more than 30 years experience. She reminds me a bit of my own Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Strother, who ran a tight ship but with a gentle voice and a smile in her eyes.

When we got to the Kinder yard, we became acquainted with the procedures. Luke hung his backpack outside on the hooks and stored his snack in the large plastic bin so that Robby the squirrel will not eat it or eat through his backpack. We saw the homework bin (homework every night!) and then went in to meet Mrs. Vernick (he gave her a firm handshake), get a nametag, and find Luke's desk.

And then, as he sat down at his desk, my heart jumped into my throat and my eyes brimmed over. The moment got the best of me; I can only describe it as sort of a bittersweet lingering hanging heavily in the room. All the parents, with their cameras and their hopes, not wanting to leave but knowing that you have to.

Luke came home singing Down By The Bay and Days of the Week and in this put a happier song back into my heart. He loved his first day. And I still can't believe how quickly this day came.

Big Shoes, and Other Things to Fill

Nate loves to wear big shoes around the house. He will wear Luke's or Mom's or Dad's. Missing your Nike's? Chances are they are somewhere in his bedroom or on his feet.

He also likes to climb inside of containers, drawers, sinks, anything he can fit his body into. He's hilarious, and a handful, to be sure.

Scuba Steve

This is Scuba Steve, and he is an excellent swimmer, especially after his private lessons at Lucky Duck and his group lessons at the plunge!

Bob Baker Marionette Show

On Wednesday the boys and I headed downtown to check out the Bob Baker Marionette Show with our friends from Moms Club. Both the boys really enjoyed the puppets, although the show itself was about fifteen minutes too long, and the music quite dated. I had to keep Nate firmly on my lap because he was anxious to rush the puppets, screaming "Elmo! Elmo!" at a bunch of singing chickens. Luke liked Peter Rabbit the Painter the best.

Legoland

Yesterday Luke and I went to Legoland for a last hurrah before he starts kindergarten next week. We packed up bright and early, dropped our Natey at Bumpa's house (thanks Dad!), and headed to Carlsbad.

In Oceanside, I realized I had forgotten my purse. With all my money, ID's, credit cards. Etc. PANIC SETS IN. I call information to get the number of the nearest Chase Bank. And well, I won't bore anybody with the story of the waterworks and heated conversation with Dorothy, the branch manager, but I will tell you that she was finally persuaded to give me 200 dollars from my account. (I also need to give a shout out to my Uncle Steve who was about to drive over from Encinitas and loan me the money had Chase not pulled through.... thanks Uncle!) Then, Off to Legoland we went!

Legoland ROCKS. It is perfect for boys it is perfect for five year olds. There is an entire room of Bionicle building sets to play with, another for playing with Legos. While you wait in line, you queue around a kids lego play area so the youngsters don't have to stand in line. But on this day, there were no lines. We went on everything Luke wanted, played in the "Wild Rivers Land" as Luke calls it, and took our picture (with my cell phone) with Darth Vader, Bionicles, Sponge Bob, and a million other things made with legos. Thank God a crisis was averted- we had a blast!

Can't wait to go back!