Category Archives: Family

“It looks like nature outside.”

Above – Hodad’s!

Below – Kando & Alo’s first day of school.

Maya & Sparty Art at Amma & Pappa’s

Bird house art.

Sidewalk art.

Cute hairdo.

The last of our babies that flew away a while back.

Me and my girl at our lookout point …

Sparty and Hogan.

Sue and Monette enjoying their cruise from Vancouver to San Diego.

Robb sent me these photos of the otters in the creek along one of the many bike paths near his house. Pretty cool!

Here are a couple bigger otters riding the new bikes they got for their birthdays …

Alo’s riding without training wheels now.

Back at Tilden Park where you can feed the farm animals. This is always a fun place to visit.

Robb hanging out on the porch of the Airbnb I rented last time I came to the Bay Area.

I had the privilege of going with Robb to pick the boys up from school.

Then we went for sushi for dinner.

Maya and Sparty snorkeling at Kellogg’s Beach …

I’m visiting Robb and the boys this weekend. I asked Alo what I should call this blog post. I showed him all the pictures and he came up with “It looks like nature outside.” I think that’s appropriate, don’t you?

Blogged on Amma’s MacBook from Walnut Creek with LOVE!

Visiting Relatives (Dead & Alive)

Above – Visiting Great Great Grandma & Grandpa.

Below – Visiting Great Great Uncle Jon. Uncle Jon was a character. Really.

The photo below is the other side of the tombstone – Jon’s mom and dad.

Jon’s got a great view!

Photos from Robb, Alo and Kando’s last visit – in Great Grandma’s back yard.

Scooting at Liberty Station.

Super Heros.

Swimming at Ron’s.

Cannon Ball …

Here’s Sparty’s version of a cannon ball …

Christening the new bedroom. This was early on in the project (several weeks ago).

On the drive back to Walnut Creek. I think this In-N-Out Burger is a recurring stop.

Back in the Bay Area on an outing at Knowland Park Zoo, Oakland. Three happy boys. The kids love it there!

I was going through some boxes of photos (and other miscellaneous treasures) in my mom’s garage and came across this classic photo of my dad (on the left) with one of his fireman buddies (nicknamed Suzy). This photo was taken circa 1954, around the time I was born. I remember my dad working on a fire boat when I was very little, but it wasn’t this one. It was pretty cool having a dad who was a fireman. He had a lot of time off to spend with us. He was pretty handsome too.

Mo and Maya, a match made in heaven. Mo is Maya’s gymnastics coach, and these two have created quite a bond. The look on Maya’s face tells it all. They’re looking at a video Bruce took of Maya doing some great feat in gymnastics. I have a lot of great videos I’ll share if I ever get my act together.

I love that smile. She is so proud of herself.

A very special occasion – Andy, Mo, JR and Max came to visit Great Grandma a few weeks ago. We got out the family heirloom Civil War era rifle with bayonet, which was (and always is) a great conversation piece.

The boys have grown up so much since we saw them last. They were perfect gentlemen and we enjoyed their visit tremendously. Word has it they’re coming back to visit again Sunday.

A little one-on-one time with Amma at Lighthouse Ice Cream shop with a walk to the beach.

Silly faces. Note Sparty’s Pune bracelet. During the month of August there’s an India holiday called “brother’s day” where girls give their brothers or someone who is like a brother to them these bracelets. They sell them everywhere. You may remember seeing photos when I posted from Pune. Well, I brought home a whole bunch of them, so there are plenty to last a long time, forever maybe.

Fun times hanging around the construction site …

Creating memories on Amma’s MacBook with LOVE and JOY!

Oakland – Part 3

Above – Amma and Sparty Oakland bound! Last year I took Maya on a special Oakland outing to see her cousins. Now it was Sparty’s turn (a couple weeks ago).

On the plane … Dorito’s and video games were all it took to keep this little one happy.

Below – First BART ride. The first BART tram is free, from the airport to the BART station. As soon as we got off the tram, a train was waiting and one of the workers said we could get on it, so we did. Right about the time the doors closed, I realized we were headed south – the wrong direction. LOL!! I was a bit frantic because I knew Robb was waiting for us (on his lunch break) at one of the stops. The best part of this mis-adventure was we got to go down and up a couple extra escalators, which Sparty thought was really cool and a lot of fun.

This BART went past the home of the Raiders. We were headed the right direction this time.

After we met up with Robb, Sparty feel asleep in the car so I dropped Robb off at work and drove to Robb’s house. After a nice little nap, we packed a lunch and went to the park.

Then a bike ride on the new bike Kando got for his birthday. Alo’s bike didn’t have training wheels, but this one has a handle bar rev mechanism that makes a way cool noise so it was the bike of choice.

Then a bbq dinner consisting of ribs, corn, salad and salmon.

It’s always fun to go to bed in someone else’s bed. There are so many things to make a kid smile here. The best part of this bedtime was that Alo and Kando would be arriving early in the morning and the cousins would have a whole day to play.

I spent almost all day alone with these little angels (ages 3, 4 & 4). I think it was pretty brave of me to take them to iHop…

After iHop we played. A lot. We rode bikes, played games, played cars, built train tracks and did all kinds of fun stuff, indoors and outdoors. I even got all three of them to take a nap. That was heaven …

Galoshes. The latest indoor fashion.

It was a very short one-nighter and now back at the airport waiting in the security line wishing I had taken more photos.

Look what someone left parked inside the airport!

Goodbye Oakland!

Blogged on Amma’s MacBook with LOVE.

Oakland Part 2

Above – The Bounce House!

Below – No visit is complete without a ride on the Tilden Park train.

… and merry go round. You may recall from a post a couple years ago that this merry go round once called Wonderland in our own Ocean Beach its home.

Cotton candy is a necessity.

Oh my! There is definitely something wrong with this picture…

Alo started Pre-K (pre-kindergarten) the Monday after I left. On Friday night we went to a luau at the school where the kids got acquainted with their teachers and new friends. There was a lot of good food and fun activities – bounce house and water slide. I took some videos but I’m having difficulty uploading them so that will have to wait for another post.

Tatoos!

Kando will also be going here for preschool/daycare. We got a tour of the day care facility where both kids will get a lot of fun play time with friends.

Time sure flies!

Waiting for the bounce house to arrive for Kando’s birthday party.

Is it soup yet?

Wild turkey!

Twins.

Birthday cake! Actually, it was a cupcake birthday cake. What a great invention – no cutting.

These green hands are not from finger painting. Very messy.

Stay tuned for Oakland Part 3 where brave Amma took Sparty on an airplane trip and took on three grandsons ages 3, 4 & 4!

Blogged on Amma’s Little MacBook with LOVE!

Oakland – Part 1

Above – Group photo at Kando’s 4th birthday party.

I had a fun trip to Oakland last week to visit Robb and the boys. Here we are waiting for my luggage.

After the airport we went to the Oakland Zoo.

This was a tight squeeze.

Outside the Zoo museum at the top of the gondola ride.

Below – Inside the California museum.

I wonder if we have a state insect???

Ice cream sandwiches hit the spot.

These kids love clams. We walked (kids rode their bikes) to an Italian restaurant down the street from Robb’s place where they serve a huge bowl of clams for $6 at happy hour.

Kando’s clam talks.

So cute… Every once in a while Alo will randomly get up and give Robb a hug and say “I love you.”

Silly funny face.

Getting ready to go camping and trying out the battery operated lanterns.

This is the campground where we stayed at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Note: Kando’s got his belly button…

The Redwoods are so beautiful …

Trying out the headlamp while eating raisins and fruit. That’s our tent cabin in the background.

Child-safe bug repellent before hiking.

Sitting on one of the three bridges we crossed. We hiked for 2 hours and the kids were troopers. Alo hiked the entire distance! Kando didn’t do so bad. He hiked a lot of it.

There’s nothing like some good healthy stick collecting!

… and bugs!

I’ll leave you with these last two photos. It was great spending this time outdoors in nature with the boys. Absolutely beautiful!

Swimming hole.

Blogged on Amma’s iPad from Walnut Creek with LOVE!

Grandkids – What Else?

Above – Cousins reunited!

Below – Robb & the boys BBQing.

My new home screen photo … Sooooo cute!!

Alo and Kando – Alameda Fairgrounds, June 27.

Maya and Sparty – Jamba Juice with Amma.

Making Pappa’s birthday cheese PIE. Maya decided that since it’s in a pie crust it should be called cheese pie instead of cheese cake. I’m starting my training now so I have someone to carry on the tradition with this yummy recipe. Nice crust, huh?

She’s quite the helper …

Where’s Sparty? Napping.

It’s not every day you get a heart-shaped potato chip!

Robb and the boys at Humboldt Redwoods State Park, June 29.

Theater seating for World Cup Soccer, June 19.

M&M – Movie & Mexican (& double dipping).

Odd … One day the tortoise had 4 legs, the next day it only had one. Suspicious …

Check it out … I’m not the only one with beautiful grandkids. Below, my New Zealand bestie, KJ with her grandkids.

Blogged on Amma’s MacBook with LOVE!

North to South & Building Memories

Above – Look who came to visit! What a happy day. Robb and the kids drove nonstop Tuesday night and arrived around 4am Wednesday morning. Here they are in Great Grandma’s back yard, the part of the yard that’s not strewn with construction materials and debris.

Below – Kando and Alo at Frog Park (Oakland/Berkeley) a few weeks ago.

Sometimes you have to take a break …

A couple weeks ago I took Maya and Sparty tide pooling …

It took Maya a while to get use to holding these harmless little creatures. You can tell by the look on her face and furrowed brows.

They couldn’t understand why hermit crabs come out of their shell in my hand but not theirs.

Robb’s really taking advantage of summer break. Here’s Alo and Kando having fun at the San Francisco Zoo.

Hopefully you noticed my new blog header at the top of this post. On Wednesday we only had about 15 minutes when all four grandkids were together after gymnastics and before Maya and Sparty had to leave to go to Mommy’s – a very short reunion. But what better way to have a cousin reunion than with ICE CREAM! Ice cream makes everyone smile!

The good news is I got to spend some quality time with the kids. The bad news is I had to leave yesterday to drive to LA for an Iyengar Yoga Therapy workshop, a program I signed up for over a year ago and can’t miss. The good news is all the grandkids spent yesterday together “scooting” at Liberty Station and are spending today together. They get along really well and are always excited to see each other! My workshop doesn’t end until 2:45 pm tomorrow and Robb and the boys will be long gone by the time I get home. The good news is I’ll be flying to the Bay Area in a couple weeks and will get to spend a few days with them, and I’ll be in Berkeley for a week in September and will get to see them then.

For those of you reading this in email form, In order to see the header photo and featured image you need to click at the top of the email to see the web version of the blog post. Headers and featured images do not appear in the email. Consider the email a “teaser” to get you to click to see the main attraction.

Blogged on Amma’s MacBook from the Courtyard Marriott in Century City (Los Angeles) with LOVE and gratitude for the time I get to spend with these little ones!

Happy 4th of July

Above – Yard Art in a neighbor’s yard. The notion that dogs can’t read so maybe they can decipher hieroglyphics doesn’t make much sense to me.

Below – After gymnastics and playing at the park, the kids got to greet Great Grandma outside the Bali Hai after she played bridge.

Then back at the house – Two hungry kids. Usually one of the first things we do when we get home is raid the refrigerator!

Brave ones forming a heart very close to the bluffs. I figured if someone was going to fall, I’d at least have my phone ready to capture it!

Ever wonder what it’s like taking these two boys grocery shopping? Here’s a glimpse.

Another outing with Daddy at Knowland Park Zoo in Oakland.

At the frozen yogurt shop next door to gymnastics.

Silly craziness. That’s what Amma’s are for, right?

Say cheese. (I have no idea what they’re doing with those credit cards …)

If you ever need to know what time it is, you know who to ask! Ooops … Just a minor dressing faux pas. LOL!

July begins a new chapter in my life. June 30 was the last day of working as an independent contractor for Pacific Medical Buildings. I began working there in 2004 as a full-time employee and then in May of 2015 I “retired” (whatever that means). After that I took my laptop home and began “virtual paralegal” duties for the company. I loved my job, and especially my boss and best friend since 1992, Evan Stone, who passed away two years ago of lung cancer. It was especially great working remotely in my home office with my little buddy, Bear, by my side. I’ll still do work for some of my smaller clients and, of course, mostly for Kelly Enterprises, which is Bruce’s and my “other job,” and not to forget the nectar of life – being a grandparent!

Maybe now I’ll be a little more consistent posting on my blog?

On another note – I’m enjoying World Cup. There have been some GOOD games!! And no, I don’t miss playing. Being pain free is more important to me at this stage in my life.

I’ll leave you with a photo of the July family calendar page.

Blogged on Amma’s MacBook with LOVE!

Happy Birthday to Robb (Yesterday)!

Above – The newest fixture on The Rock at the juncture of Froude and Sunset Cliffs.

This mermaid has been up for at least a week. I took the photo the first time we saw it on Tuesday. Every time we’ve driven by since, there’s a swarm of people gathered (smiling) to take pictures of it. I don’t know the history behind this, but I would imagine it has something to do with the Class of 2018!

Sweet angles wearing the towel hoodies Pappa and I bought and gave to them last time they were in town.

Beware – Ninja sighting!

Looks like train (& dinosaur) fun.

When Alo bumped his head, Kando got a sympathy bandaid.

Amma & Pappa treat the kids to FroYo after a gymnastics.

More train fun for Alo and Kando.

Yesterday marked the end of the Pt Loma Little League season and we attended the closing ceremonies. There was a final championship game that went into overtime so the ceremonies were delayed. But we were fortunate to be able to watch that final game that ended with a score of 10-8, and while that game was being played we watched all the kids playing with each other and having fun. It was a lot of fun to watch and be a part of this community event. It takes a lot of time and dedication to donate the time it takes to coach any team, and Ron did a great job of it. Kudos!

Here’s Maya and Sparty holding their trophies of appreciation.

I know how important a father’s relationship is to their children and their future, and it should come as no surprise when I say how much we love our boys and all our grandkids, and we’re very proud of them.

Blogged on Amma’s iPhone and iMac with LOVE and gratitude!

Happy Mother’s Day

Above – December 2017

Below – Flowers Robb and the boys sent me, getting more beautiful every day.

The kids – Ziggy and Bear. What you don’t see in this picture is the wall heater just out of sight to the right. This is the cabinet below my sink in the bathroom. When I turn the heater on the kids nudge each other to get a spot up close to the heater.