Harry the Gymnast

Last week I signed up all three of my little kids for a gymnastics class. Unfortunately, today Julia and Eli were too sick to attend.  So Harry got to go all by himself.  And boy oh boy, did he have a good time.  Raef and Zach went with us and really enjoyed watching him as much as I did.

I took him out there onto the mat, and after getting him going with the warm-up running routine, he didn't need me anymore.  He did a great job following directions and standing in line.  Harry was just plain adorable.  Of course, any chance he go,t he was looking over at us, so we made sure to send him a copious amount of waves and thumbs-up.

The gymnastics instructor had them do a circuit with a large trampoline that ended at a foam pit.  They would bounce down the trampoline and then jump into the pit.  After that, they climbed out and then did a somersault down a slanted mat, then through a little tunnel and a little trampoline, and back to the end of the line. After Harry's first run, he decided he liked it so much, he just went to the front of the line again. The other kids looked concerned and he just gave his little stinker smile, the one where he knows he is being naughty but he is pretty sure he will get away with it.  Of course, it didn't last long and once the teacher saw where he was, she put him back in his proper spot.

At the end, he had to walk on balance beams.  The first one was pretty darn scary for him and when she got him going and turned her back, he just lunged for her and held on for dear life. My boy is a trip.

I can't wait to see my other two in action. It should be a lot of fun.

Virginia City Educational Tour

Last year I was poking around the thrift store and found a book published by some professors at UNR. It was a geologic and historic tour book of the Reno area.  You go to their starting point and set the odometer to zero and takeoff.  I have been wanting to do this with my kids for ages, and this was the week to make it happen.  We needed a break from math and stuff.  So we took the classroom on the road.

 

Yesterday, we did a quick geologic tour of Lake Tahoe. We saw fault lines and volcanic rock, different types of flora and lava flows.  I really learned quite a bit myself. 

But today was the big day. We took a four hour tour around Virginia City and the Comstock Lode. It was a lot of fun. We learned about the different types of rocks and pine trees and pinyon junipers that grow on the slopes.  We talked about wagon toll roads, bandits, mining, monoliths. It just went on and on. Oodles and oodles of stuff. When we got to Virginia City we got some lunch and then went on a quick trip on the V&T Railroad to Gold Hill. 

On the way home we went through Washoe Valley and saw where there were huge rock slides and such.  It is eye opening to realize how much history has happened in my own backyard.

I thought it has been a productive couple of days, doing some untraditional schooling with my boys. It makes me realize how important it is to get out and see the world with my kids more often. I don't do that enough.  I hope I can find more awesome books that give driving tours of local areas in the future.

SYFL Experience

Football season is gearing up here and we are excited.  Raef and Zach decided to play football this year.  So, not only do I have the college football season to relish, but my own boys will be out on the pitch.  They are playing on the Galena freshman team.  We are very fortunate to have an excellent coaching staff and enthusiastic and supportive parents. I have been impressed with the inner workings of our team.

The boys started official practice two weeks ago, and on Saturday they went to Fallon for the Sierra Youth Football League Experience. This thing is huge.  Apparently 10,000 people descend on this small town. All the players come and get officially weighed in and then they play a few scrimmages.

Our boys did great. They won one game and tied the second.  We are a smaller team, but well-coached, so I think we will do well this year. We shall see, I guess.

Coach DJ is giving the boys a pep talk before their first scrimmage. The boys are ready to play.

Go Galena Grizzlies!

Brother's Fishing Trip at Boca Reservoir

This year Rinar's brother flew up to Reno for a quick brother's fishing trip.  Rinar got the camp all set up and then went to pick up the bros late on Wednesday night.  If you notice that camping trailer, that is ours!  We just got it.  This is its maiden voyage. I have not had a chance to go out with the kids yet, which is a bummer.

Anyways, they stayed up really late playing games like 8-and-Back and Settlers.  Then it was fishing on Thursday. Unfortunately, the fishing was not so great. As in, I think they caught one fish.  Boo hoo. It didn't get much better on Friday. I believe they packed it in and went to see Batman.

But the camping trailer was awesome!

British Invasion

Eli did his first official athletic event this week. He went to soccer camp.  He loved it. I am quite impressed with the kid. He dribbled really well and took it all very seriously.  I think I might actually have to put him on a team next year.

Since he did the camp, we had another coach stay at our house this week. Her name was Charlotte and it was a lot of fun. The funny thing is, she did the camp last year and coached Raef and Zach. She actually wrote their names on their soccer balls. Crazy, huh?

We loved having her at the house. As she put it, she was just like part of the furniture.  Once again, I invited all of the coaches over for dinner. There were seven this time. Two of them were from Brazil. That was pretty cool. Rinar was able to use his Portuguese, and I think they really appreciated it.  Ironically, one of the coaches (Bruno) is from the first area where Rinar served his mission in Rio. Rinar got out his mission pictures to share with them. It was quite a bit of fun.

Here is one of Eli's coaches, Liam.

Eli is getting some instruction from Coach Bliss.

Reno Tahoe Open

Luckily, last Friday I was able to go for half a day to the Reno Tahoe Open.  I love going to golf tournaments. They are the best professional sporting event you can attend. Tickets are not horribly expensive and you can get so close to some of the best golfers in the world.  For example, here I am standing right next to Padraig Harrington as he is getting ready to hit a shot.

That is John Daly down there in the bunker wearing his crazy pants.

And as I was leaving, I saw Mike Weir practicing his putting before he teed off.

I walked a ton following Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink around for several holes. Professional golfers walk really fast. And at one hole Harrington hit it on the sidewalk, so it was quite amusing to see him get out of that pickle.  And I heart his Irish accent.

The Pro-Am

Last week Rinar was able to do something really cool. He participated in the Pro-Am golf tournament for the Reno Tahoe Open.  He was pretty darn excited.  The tournament was on Wednesday, so we went Tuesday night to a casino downtown for a special dinner where they matched the participants up with a professional golfer. Rinar and his group got matched up with Tom Pernice, Jr.

Tee time was at 1:30pm.  I was able to go and watch him for a little bit. This is Rinar on the first tee shot. He missed it pretty bad in the sagebrush to the left. I think he was quite nervous.  Luckily, they played best ball so he was able to hit his second shot from a much better position.

Rinar and his caddy, Ryan, from work.  Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday, caddying on the golf course instead of sitting behind a desk.

Here is his group.  Tom Pernice is the guy in the middle. Rinar was a last minute addition, so he didn't know anyone from his group. But it is golf, and it sure was a lot of fun, regardless.

Tom Pernice is taking a shot on hole 13.

In the end, his group took 4th overall. Not too shabby, huh?  I am really quite amazed at the incredible opportunities we have both been able to have in our lives together.  It was pretty darn cool.