Back to the Track

The kids managed to get back the Freedom Park this week for BMX racing. Both completed and placed in their age group. Both participated in gymnastics too. Rolling stones gather no moss.

Eliza is learning all about the letter A this week, and she brought home lots of evidence of her learning.

We don't have a lot to show of Landon's school work right now, but we know he is loving it. His teacher is great with him, and he loves being there. Landon will tell you his favorite subject is Math, and he says that many days feels shorter than the six hours he is there. All of those comments sure makes a parent happy.

Eliza went with Mike to Oxnard on an errand, and we caught a pretty sunset. We here another fancy sky is scheduled for Sunday. We hope to catch a good view of it.

Mike has had an ongoing project in his spare time over the last few years where he has created some family symbols that represent us and our values, including a coat of arms and a flag, each one chock full of meaningful . When we first got married, we chose Doctrine and Covenants 88:118-120 as a scripture to inspire us in our personal and family goals. While we’re still a long way from it, we have striven to organize ourselves to establish our own home as a house of God.

Flag with stars for each member of the family and a silhouette of the San Diego Temple (the House of the Lord) where we were married

The shield is blazoned "Per fess Azure and Vert a beehive Or surrounded by three bees proper" and mantled with the Sol de mayo and a laurel wreath. The motto is Latin for "Organize yourselves" or "Set yourselves in order," referring to D&C 88:118. 

We had a visit from the Aulenbachs, who came to the LA area all the way from Edmonton, Alberta. Hallie met Jerry when he was a youth when she served her mission in Nova Scotia.

On Thursday, the kids went riding at Freedom Park with Uncle Shad and Cru. Landon won first place in his division, and Eliza won third place in her division. Everyone at the track is so very nice. Eliza has a hard time keep her bike up in the lane, and so a great dad and his daughter held her upright in the gate until it dropped. Eliza is so happy to be at the track and wishes we could go more. Mom loves Freedom Park because it is the one place where the kids don't always get in trouble. They get on their bikes and ride for hours.

Mike had the car on Friday, so the girls took advantage of the Camarillo Trolley as they ran some errands around town, first for Mom’s haircut at Moxie, then to Rocket Fizz, and finally home. The heat has not let up. By the time Hallie and Eliza made it to the trolley stop, Eliza said her hair was burning and her legs were tired. Little did she know they still would have to walk to pick Landon up from school and then home. Eliza was a good trooper, and as long as she had her sour candies with her that she kept calling salty, she did very little complaining.

Eliza got her creative juices flowing and built a dragon.

Landon got invited to join the Boys Pre-Team at Victory Gymnastics. Landon has decided to accept this challenge. He will now be practicing three days a week, two hours a day. He doubles his practices at this rate. Mom thinks she needs to find some good books for her and Eliza. Eliza is a very good sport to sit and watch Landon so often.

Almost like reading a mission call!

The kids had their pictures taken with Grandma and Grandpa M. early Saturday afternoon. Later in the day, we all had our photos taken in Ventura. We got there early, and Eliza had fallen asleep on the way, so we had gelato at Palermo. The gelato was super yummy, and they had some fun flavors. Landon always surprises us with his choices. It was fun going up and down Main Street. We definitely want to go back and peek around the shops when we are not dressed in our finest and have more time to poke our heads into the eclectic looking shops. 

The thrill of it all

Saturday night ended with the kids watching Labryinth for the first time. They weren't quite sure what to make of it, but they did sit through the whole thing. Eliza wasn't sure about some of the Muppets, but Hallie reassured her that more often than not the good guys win. She seemed to perk up and not be quite as scared after that.