ocean's eleven

our last day...
it was so cool to sit on the warm santa monica sand and watch my brother's son surf!
we spent 6 hours enjoying every moment of this eleven year old boy surf the ocean.
the pictures aren't the same as being here...


they did some practicing before the competition...then once it started they were in groups of four. so joe had some time to dig...

it reminded me that he's not all grownup just yet.








he worked so hard getting out to the waves...
tons of PT for that elbow.







he's not a lover of my camera and knew i had it...but i got some great profile shots!





thanks joe, for a great first week of summer vacation!

i got some amateur video as well...coming soon...
as are we!!!!
loveyou
c6s1

defying gravity

there's this great little playground right next to where the surf camp sign in sign out happens. each am and pm we all love to play there while fetching the blond boy...

surrounding the playground are at least a hundred six inch round cement posts that stand about four feet tall, and about six inches apart...they line the edge of the whole playground.


they beg to be walked along!

...or jumped along!





some of the palm frawns hung low enough for them to leap off the table and swing on like tarzan!




cement trash cans, solid, hard, scratchy tables and tall palm trees were not safe with these boys around.









they played for quite some time after surf camp ended...

as we were heading out, i ran back for the pile of flip flops that we had left on a bench...this was written on the bench where we had left them...

skate camp?

he came to ride the waves, but after tuesday's day at the beach we headed over to our local skate park so he could slide across some cement. (he's got endless energy!)

keep in mind how tiny and archaic my camera is as you check out these fotos! :)






here's what the "others" did...





we were hoping they would get to ride their scooters in the park as well...but no dice. instead they found a pretty long, fast hill to race down. (think carter on his push bike down that huge hill)




(small blond girls with no steering mechanism on their motorcycles not allowed on fast down hills!)

miss you


oh...

ps...

what was the name of your orthopedic surgeon???

sandy pants

(me)-how was your first day of surf camp joe?
(joe)-it was good.
(i'm working on my 11 year old translation)...let's see, i think that means, "it was totally awesome! my parents are so rad for paying to send me here to do this! it totally rocks!!"

he came home physically wiped out but still managed to take three of our four on a bike/skate board ride around our neighborhood, sit through karate, and tolerate lots of sibling yelling,fit throwing and crying...all without any complaining on his part.

i think i may keep him! (it's a fair trade...a bit more laundry, a few extra boxes of granola, sand in the fridge...and in exchange i get some free babysitting!)

you guys would be so impressed with his manners...

he says please and thank you with no prompting.
he has not started one sibling fight.
he has rinsed every dish he has used(seriously!)
he has made mo messes...well, except the sand in the fridge and spilling the offering plate at church...but, come on, that could happen to anyone!!

he has been GREAT! :)

here are some more pics...we aren't allowed to take any of them surfing till friday...so i will send you those then.


he came home from surfing, changed clothes, refueled with food and then hit the sidewalks with his other board!







he was able to bring home his wet suit yesterday, so this morning, after thoroughly covering his body with sun screen he squeezed into his sandy pants and was ready to surf!




here's the real reason he passed out last night after a huge bowl of chicken soup and a hot shower! cousin overload!




ok...this one is just my kid, but, isn't he so cute! he is working on drawing clouds...he aspires to be an artist, along with like a hundred other things!

totally wish you were here to enjoy it all too! it's hard enjoying it without you...
we found a cool set of beach condos right across from where they surf each day and decided that you need to come rent one next summer! :)
love you
c6s1