Goof and Stuff

Well, we finally made it to Golf N' Stuff. Thanks to a free coupon, we only had to pay for our game. We grabbed our gear and headed off to Course #3. It took a little bit of coaxing, but you finally got into the game. You liked all the little traps and mazes that the golf ball had to travel through to get into the hole. I think after another visit, you'll be that much better. Finally, whenever we drive past there you ask about when we're going to go back. This is the case with every place we go to and that you have fun.


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Christmas Parade 2013

The AYSO VIP soccer team that you were on participated in the Downey Christmas Parade this year. Luckily, the rain had came and went yesterday. However, it was still rather cold today. Add to that, we had to wait around for a few hours while everyone was assembled. Anyways, a little out of the four VIP teams showed up. The kids from our team that participated were Cyrus, Erika, and Elisa. Prior to the beginning of the parade, we took you to view some of the horses and you even got to sit on a donkey. You and I had a good chuckle when we say one of the horses dropping lots of green turds on the Downey streets.

I hung around with you and your mom until the parade kicked off. I then walked down to the end of the route so I could take some pictures. Finally, you guys appeared and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Your mom would later tell me that you were Mr. Popular. Apparently, your named was called on more than one occasion by various spectators. You guys had a blast walking by and waving to the people. I was later joined by Marissa and Josh who came to root you on. To end the festivities, we headed off to King Taco for some greasy food!

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Mountain out of a Molehill

Today was yard work day. We had been avoiding it for about two months now. I got up and busted out the new lawnmower and with the assistance of your mom, we were able to get it ready to rock and roll. Once we got started, it was hard to stop. Almost four hours later, we had success. While I was pushing the lawn mower back and forth, look at the creation you were able to come up with.

Guess what? We'll get to do it all over again in another month! Hoo-ray!

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History in the making

The second day of our Thanksgiving week off, we decided to take you to the Natural History Museum. It's next store to the Space Center where we took you earlier this year to see the Space Shuttle. I think the last time I stepped foot into this museum, I was still in elementary school. Well, the prices sure have gone up since then. Anyways, right when we walked in, you were already asking about going back outside. Unbelievable! The first area has two humongous dinosaurs bone sculptures for us to view. After that we went from room to room looking at all the dinosaurs and various animals that were on display. We also went upstairs to see lots and lots of stones and birds. In one area, it was almost like a rain forest complete with sounds. It was dark and once the bird calling started, you actually got scared and wanted to leave. That my friend, was too funny. We ventured around a few more areas before we went back outside and let you run around like a wild animal. Overall, it was a good experience. You may not care about it now, but one day you'll look back and say "Wow, it only cost $12 per adult back then!"

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Knotts Berry Farm 2013 #2

Well, this was the first time that I took off the whole week of Thanksgiving. I thought the extra three days would provide us with lots of opportunities to have fun. So, I decided since the weather was going to be nice that we should venture off back to Knotts. We had actually just taken you there a few weeks back for our annual trip. However, since we only have to pay for you and parking, it wasn't going to hurt our pockets too much to take you again. First, we kicked off the morning with a breakfast at Ihop. Man, you sure can scarf down those pancakes. It's really amazing to see how much you can shovel down your throat. After we got our filling, we headed straight to the site. This time around, it wasn't as packed because it was during the week. We actually started off by going on the sidewinder roller coaster. It does live inside of Camp Snoopy, but it is a pretty exciting little roller coaster. You then wanted to go on the blue skate and then it was off to the hot air balloons. After that, we all went on the Ferris wheel and then it was onto the boat ride. By then we were hungry, so we grabbed an orange bang and headed off to Johnny Rockets for some fries. Well, thirty minutes and fifteen dollars later we had our fries. Finally, there were some new rides in that section of the park that we had neither seen nor been on. We decided to try a few out for size. First it was the swinging fish ride. You and your mom went on and you really seemed to enjoy it. After that, we went on this solo car roller coaster. Only one car is sent off at a time with up to four passengers. So all three of us went on and you and your mom sat up in the front. It was a really fun ride and it had a pretty big drop right at the beginning of the ride. You did very well and it just made me and your mom realize how quickly you've grown and how brave you've become. Another fun day added to the books!

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Encino Tournament 2013

Well, today was our second soccer tournament of the season. This location brought back a lot of memories for me in particular because it was just down the street from where I was stationed as a Reservist in the Marines. Taking the route up the North 101 freeway and exiting Balboa Blvd certainly kicked up old memories of making the same drive on Friday afternoons to go to drill. Those are times that I hope to share with you when you’re older. Back to the matter at hand.


We had to be there very early because the games were kicking off early as well as photos of the teams. We started off with our usual ritual of going to Portos first. Luckily, the weather was very cooperative and it turned out to be a very nice day for soccer. After we checked the team in, we took our photos. We then set up shop at the first field where we would be playing at. Our games were scheduled to be played back to back at 1015 and 1130am. You were definitely eager to get out there and start kicking the ball around. You did very well as you have all season. Scoring has become something that you really strive for. I’m so proud of your progress and efforts. It’s truly been an amazing feat to watch you play out there. The only thing that you and all the players can improve on is passing the ball.

In the first game we played a team with only 5 players, but everybody had a great time. I believe you got stepped on once by another player’s cleats and had to come out for a bit. You were then able to get back out there and seek out the ball a short time later. We then had to break down our area and move two fields down and set back up. In our second game, we played a team with more than double our players. It was still a great time. We cut this game a bit short because it was warmer and it seemed like a lot of kids wanted to go play in the jumpers including you.

We packed up our stuff and put everything in the car and then took you to play. You were primarily interested in the jumper with the slide in it. For some reason, I was really exhausted after the events. I laid down on the grass and shut my eyes for a bit, while you mom sipped on her smoothie drink. Finally, it was time to go. One last look in the direction of my old unit and then we headed back onto the South 101 freeway . We ended up stopping at King Taco to get some chow. You were really into feeding the pigeons and sparrows on this day.

Finally, we headed home and jumped into our bed for a family nap. Your mom had went out the night before so she was definitely looking forward to that moment. Another day, another adventure!

dpgmarine

The Dark Passenger

For Halloween 2013, your mom decided that she would paint your face and that you would look like a skeleton. The outcome is debatable, but I think it turned out even better than we both could have imagined.

We took to you to Trinity down the street where they had food, games, and jumpers. The best part was all your friends from Downey Christian were there and they very excited to see you. You had an entourage falling you all around. You had a great time and of course didn't want to leave. We were able to pull you away and eventually come home.

You truly are a star!

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San Clemente Tournament

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Sebastian's 6th Birthday party

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Six years old

Today was a very special day. You turned 6 years old. Oh Vlad, where does the time go? Last year, we had your grand 5th birthday party which had a very good turnout. After that, I said you wouldn’t have another big birthday party until you were eighteen. However, this year has seen a few significant changes. We ended up leaving our previous home and moving into a new home. Our new location has a tremendous back yard that you’ve been enjoying for the past few weeks. We decided that we should have a small gathering for your birthday. Well, that quickly turned into a full blown party. Again, we got you a combo jumper with the idea that bodies wouldn’t just be crashing into each other. The slide is a great way to divide you guys up and you really enjoy sitting at the top of slide and directing all the traffic.


We had another terrific turnout and a lot of family and friends that came to celebrate this special occasion. In a cost saving effort, we ordered pizza from Dominos. As soon as I brought it home, the flies were quick to make their presence known. Unfortunately, it was a battle that went on for the whole party. We even switched things up with your cake. Of course, we are big chocolate fans and normally get a cake from Portos. This time we still went to Portos, but we got you a red velvet cake. People seemed to enjoy it. It was a rather warm day, but everyone remained pretty cool thanks to all the shade in the back yard. You even had a piñata as part of the jumper package. Overall, it was another successful event. To be honest once the party started, I really didn’t see you. I think I saw you just two or three times. You spent most of the party up in the jumper, while your mom and I were busy entertaining. At the end, you were walking around limping. Your feet were in pretty bad shape since you weren’t wearing any shoes most of the day. I had your mom give you a bath and prepare you for bed while I was outside trying to clean up. It’s such a tiring task to run a party, but knowing how much joy it brought to you makes it all worth it.

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Second soccer practice

This is you at your second practice of 2013 led of course by your papa. Your coordination and ball control have gotten a lot better since last year. Look at you go!

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Interval training

You decided to hop aboard one of the elliptical machines at Sports Authority over the weekend. It looks like you're ready to hit the gym! You had a little help from your mom of course.

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Break it Down

We just got back from the daycare and I introduced you to our new soft, memory foam bed. You said that you were going to start swimming on it.

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Soccer 2013

Well, this year I was roped into being the coach of your VIP soccer team. Today was our first real practice. It's a learning experience for me as I really don't know much about the sport. One thing that is evident, is that your motor skills have vastly improved. Your attitude on the other hand, is a constant battle. It's difficult to try and coach the other kids when my own son is off doing his own thing. It's something that I'm going to do my best to improve as the season moves on. Above is a short clip of you dribbling the ball before everyone else got there.

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I'm stuck

Here's an example of you being a little clown. You like to delay your motion as you slide down to the bottom.

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Chasing Pigeons

One of your newest enjoyments is chasing pigeons and sparrows around. We were having lunch at In N Out where there is never a shortage of both. This is just a quick video clip of you attempting to wrangle yourself up a pigeon.

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Mmmm Cheeseburger

So what'the significance of you eating a cheeseburger from In N Out? Well, we've been taking you there now for a few years. The Papitas are your favorite. Slowly but surely, we've tried to introduce you to eating a cheeseburger. A good source of protein and just an overall awesome burger has been absent from your eating ritual. Well, as can be seen in the short video, you are slowly and most by force starting to come around.

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Burpee

Here's your version of the popular exercise move called the Burpee!

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Marbles now in place

Before

After

Today is the big day! Armageddon has finally arrived. We will be heading down to Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). You need to undergo a minor corrective surgery to help one of your undescended marbles. Your mom an I have been aware of this issue for a while. We were hoping that it would take care of itself as you grew, but it continued to be an issue. We expressed our concerns to your doctor and she recommended that we come here. We initially had an appointment for a consultation back in May. At that appointment, the doctor made the assessment that surgery would be required. He was able to locate your left marble, but your right one was on its own program. It was stuck up higher than normal so he would have to go in and adjust a few things. Yesterday we read the instructions before the procedure and one of the requirements was for you not to eat after midnight. This would be a tough task to follow seeing as the first thing you do when you wake up is ask for something to eat. It kind of made me feel like you we're a gremlin. A really cute one, like Gizmo! They were also not to be fed after midnight because they would turn into wacky creatures. So our idea was to keep you up as late as possible and feed you as much as you could handle the night before. You did eat very well and we had you stay up until about 10pm. I really didn't sleep well myself. I woke up many times throughout the night, but what else is new.

I got back up at 6am so that I could go for a run. I was worried that you would also wake up early as you usually do. Sure enough you did and you went to the restroom and unloaded your hose. Luckily, you were still pretty lethargic and you proceeded to go to our bed and back to sleep with your mom. This gave me the opportunity to go for that run. I ran for about 7 miles and when I got back, you and your mom had just woken up. By then it was almost 9am. We quickly showered and got ready. I gave you some water and we were on our way. We had to just keep telling you that we would feed you after we saw the doctor. Your appointment was for 1245pm, but they wanted us to be here by 1030am. We arrived and filled out some paperwork. Then we were taken to the Pre-op room. You mostly played with your IPad and they also had a small play area where you were pulling a wagon and your mom read some books to you. Unfortunately, a previous child's surgery went long so that delayed your start time. It really sucked to have to keep waiting and have the anticipation continue to build. Finally, around 145pm, they gave you some oral medicine to calm you down a bit before they finally put you under for the procedure. Then the OR nurse came by with the anesthesiologist to take you away for your surgery. By this time you were pretty groggy and didn't seem to mind. We both kissed you goodbye and told you that we loved you. We headed down to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat. Now, we sit here patiently waiting. Well, the doctor just came out at 350pm. He said that everything went well. Hoo-ray. You're such a brave little guy. I'll finish this up in a bit!


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4th of July 2013

This year the 4th of July fell on a Thursday. Nevertheless, it was a day off for everyone. We decided to pick up your old friend from Lynwood Zaira to join us for the day. I can’t believe how much she has grown up. She was only six years old when you were first born. She was also the main catalyst behind your infamous YouTube video. First we went down to the AMC theater to watch the movie Despicable Me 2. You did as well as we could expect from you at the movies. You’ll tend to watch for a few minutes at a time, but then your mind starts to wander off. We’ve tried to take you more frequently this year so slowly but surely you’ll enjoy the experience more. After the movie, we headed to Antoinette’s house. Boy were you excited about going down there. Right away it clicked in your head that you’d be able to go swimming.


As soon as we got there and said our hellos you hung out with Sammy the cat. You enjoy petting cats and you even managed to not get bit. After a small meal, it was time to jump in. The pool was a perfect temperature for us to get it. I was surprised by your improved swimming skills. You’re not exactly a fish out there, but you were doing great. We were able to leave you alone in the shallow part and you held your own. You discovered that you can stand up without going under so you were hopping around by the edge. You enjoyed playing with Zaira, your mom, and me. You always enjoy splashing, but your favorite activity was jumping into the water. Zaira was diving in and as soon as you would see her, you wanted to immolate her. We were in there for a few hours and finally it was time to go. You both were pretty exhausted at the end of day. We took Zaira home and then decided to go to In N Out for dinner. We’ve actually started forcing you to eat your own cheeseburger. What cruel parents we are! You can almost eat the whole thing now, but their fries are still your favorite. We didn’t end up seeing fireworks anywhere special, but there were plenty being shot up into the sky. For a bit, we sat in the back of Highlander to view them, but some of the louder ones sort of frightened you so you requested to view them from the comforts of the couch. Shortly after that, you showed more signs of fatigue and finally went to bed. Another great day!

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Experiment

This morning we had planned to go to Portos, which is one of our favorite places for sweets. A thought popped into my head and we decided it would be a good opportunity to get your haircut. We’ve been keeping it pretty short for the last year or so. So we went to the barbershop just down the street from Portos. I asked you several times over if you were going to cry when you got your haircut and of course you said no. When we got there, only one person was ahead of us. Finally, it was your turn. Your mom had this “experimental idea” to let you sit in the chair by yourself. Normally, I’ve had you sit in my lap because you tend to squirm and move a lot while the barber is trying to cut your hair. Not this time my friend. You sat on the booster seat and then the cape was draped over you. On came the cutting sound of the clippers and instantly down came the tears. What a shock! You started moving and whining about getting your haircut. But wait, you told me that you weren’t going to cry. Here’s my surprised look (enter sarcastic image of my face). So I did my best to distract you by saying things that you currently like to say. These include Puddy pop, nasaya, mooka, and various other Vladimir phrases. It worked. In conjunction with your mom, we were able to keep your mind off getting your haircut for the most part and you did really well the rest of the way. Soon enough, you were done and looked like a handsome little man. Great job!


Afterwards, we went to Portos and you received your beloved bread and juice. An even bigger reward would come soon after. We had pulled out our inflatable pool from the shack in the back and took it to the gas station to fill up with air. It took us four dollars, but it was so much quicker than using the old foot pump. Well, guess what? It wouldn’t fit in the Highlander. So, since we were only about half a mile away from the house, I decided I would just carry it home. There I went, darting across the gas station, then across the street with this inflatable pool at my side. The sight of me trying to carry this must have been pretty funny. I was hoping your mom would have recorded some of the chaos. I didn’t care. I was already sweaty from a run I had in the morning. I didn’t make it far before you mom pulled over and said we should plop it on top of the car and just hold on it. Good idea! So we were able to do this until we made it home. Phew! We then proceeded to scrub it down and get the filth out. Then I had to use the foot pump to fill up the air that had seeped out. Finally it was ready to go. We threw you into the shower and then began to fill up the pool. It wasn’t even a quarter done when you came back out and wanted to jump in. So that’s exactly what you did. This was a very hot day, but the water was very cold as well. You didn’t care. You started jumping and diving right in. Next was your mom. She wasn’t the brave soul that you were and it took some convincing to get her to finally belly flop in. Lastly, I made my way in and boy was it cold. I don’t know how you were able to do it. I gritted my teeth and went down. It was very chilly. We hung out for a while and you couldn’t have had more fun. I’m sure we’ll get some more use out of the pool since summer just started. When we were done, we participated in another fun family activity; a family nap! Well, that was quite the fun first half of our weekend. Adios amigo!

dpgmarine

Just Another Day

Your mom went off for one of her work trips leaving you and me behind. I decided it would be a good opportunity for us to spend a little bit of time at the park. We are usually so busy with our daily routine that we don’t get to do this very often during the week. I picked you up from the daycare and we went home to pick up your scooter. You always get excited when we head down to “Duck Park.” You rode around on your scooter and had lots of fun. You’re becoming quite the rider. What I enjoy is watching you play on the slides and trying to interact with other kids that you run into. Now, you want them to follow your orders, but at least you’re willing to engage them. After some playtime, I rewarded you with a slice of pizza from Costco. Hoo-ray! Who doesn’t like a DOD (dog of death) or an eight hundred calorie slice of cheese pizza after running around at the park? 

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Worn Out

Your mom and I had a chance to go out to for dinner and a movie with our friends Alex & Gaby. We went to Outback Steakhouse and then it was off to the AMC. We saw the movie World War Z. It was actually pretty good. In the meantime, your cousin Linda was kind enough to stay with you for a small fee. As it turns out, your cousin Joshua came down for a bit and you two guys had a blast. I was told that you didn't even want to include Linda in your reindeer games. Usually, you make her participate in all that you do. However, with Josh there, this wouldn't be the case. Surprisingly enough, or not so much, you two guys played so much that you ended up knocking out pretty early for a Saturday night. I believe that you guys were down by 930pm. The two of you ended up falling asleep right next to each other. Fun was had by all.

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Kindergarten Graduation