Coach Perry's Suggestions for the boys...

It was the boys last day at Jr. Golf Camp with Coach Perry Green. He gave each of his students a video of their swing... what a great tool for learning!

Morgan's Golf Swing

Ryan's Golf Swing

... my little Golfers ...

Daniella is participating in her very first LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Program. The girls ages range from age 7 - 17 and it's every Monday & Tuesday from 11am - 2pm. Dani is enjoying Coach Perry Green once again... and mostly, she is enjoying the LUNCH at the club (ha ha... it's the highlight of the golf program!)

Coach Perry Green has been a PGA member since 1982 and earned the PGA Specialty Certification of Instruction. What we love most about Coach Green is his silliness and ability to make the game FUN for the kids! As a player, Coach Green won the 2005 Illinois PGA Senior Masters Golf Tournament in Chicago!



SUMMER JUNIOR GOLF CAMP for the boys is this week only - 4 days from 9am - 2pm... of course, their highlight of the day is also LUNCH at the club! My kids do love a good meal... and from swimming at 7:30am... to golf at 9am... they certainly work up an appetite! The boys always enjoy Golfing with Coach Green... here are a few pics from their days at Jr. Golf Camp!



LPGA - USGA GIRLS GOLF OF CHARLESTON

... 'tis the season for SWIMMING!

I'm still learning how to use our little FLIP MINO and how to download the video clips from it. Here's a few clips taken from tonights SWIM MEET. Our little swim team is new this year. There are only about 30 kids on the team. We're small in numbers... but big in SPIRIT! Most of the teams that we go up against have 80 to 100 kids! The nice thing about our team is that everyone knows each other and everyone gets to swim A LOT!

Tonight our little team did their personal BEST... placing 1st & 2nd in many events! Here is a Mix Medley Relay that Ryan & Daniella competed in... Ryan swam the butterfly & Dani swam the freestyle. This is the kids first summer to swim laps & learn strokes... and I'm so proud of their improvement and effort! I am convinced that this is a sport that we will continue each summer!!! Thanks to my pediatrician (Dr. Lane) who encouraged me to get the kids on swim team... it's definitely one of the BEST suggestions made!

There are two RYAN's on our swim team and they both swam the BREAST STROKE... one parent calls my Ryan "Ricco Suave" - and you hear him (and others) cheering little Ry Ry on as "go - Ricco!" I have to say... there is this little fighting spirit that drives Ryan to the Finish Line... my little 2 pounder (preemie) simply amazes me!

Morgan's BREAST STROKE... This is definitely Mo's favorite stroke and BEST stroke! I'm so very proud of Mo for doing his best... and participating in all the events that his coach puts him in!


More clips to follow...

Our Swim Coach

Our Swim Coach Katie... is quite the impressive girl! She just got back last week from the White House & meeting President George W. Bush! We are so blessed to have such an incredible role model for our kids! Read clip below of Kate's accomplishments... and she's only what... 18? I asked her one day at swim practice... "what did your parents do to raise such a great kid?" Her answer... "till this day we still don't have a properly functioning TV" Hmmm, that says a lot!

Fort Dorchester High School senior named prestigious Presidential Scholar
She’s attended the Governor’s School and the Fine Arts Academy at Missouri State University. She’s also an International Baccalaureate student, a Habitat for Humanity president, a member of the Spanish Honor Society, competes on the track and swim teams, won first place in a state art competition and was named “Most effective Attorney” at the 2007 Lowcountry Regional High School Mock Trial Competition. Now the young standout has another major accomplishment to add to her resume.

The kids are having a very busy summer... and also having LOTS of fun in the process! Last night was a nice relaxing time at home - we were able to eat a sit down dinner and just talk about all the fun they had during the day! We're also blessed to have my parents staying close by in their motorhome this summer. We are enjoying our time with them!

Partners in Grime!

Our wonderful friend - Gladys Tortal Griggs (she's the one who introduced Dale & I...) convinced me to do a MUDDY BUDDY with her in Atlanta, Georgia last weekend!

What is a Muddy Buddy? Well... it's a 6-7 mile course and 5 obstacles. At the start of the race, one team member runs and one will ride the bike. At the 1st obstacle, the rider drops the bike, completes the obstacle, and begins running. The runner will arrive, complete the obstacle, find their bike, and begin riding. Teams continue leapfrogging each other through the entire course. At the end of the race, racers will crawl through the infamous Mud Pit crossing the finish line together!

It rained most of the time which I didn't mind because it kept us cool throughout the race! The rain also made the course quite slippery and some of those steep hills were pretty intimidating on a bike! But overall, it was a great experience and I'm happy that GLAD convinced me to do it with her. THANKS GLAD!


... crawlin' thru the MUD PIT with my MUDDY BUDDY!

... it was GREAT watching our kids run the MINI-MUDDY! Parents encouraging & cheering their kids to roll in the mud, get dirty and have fun... IT WAS AN AWESOME DAY!

Morgan Ryan Daniella




The slideshow (above) will show our pictures from our weekend trip to Atlanta, GA. Once again, it was a full weekend of fun! Not only did we complete our MUDDY BUDDY... we also toured Inside CNN (Cable News Network ) Headquarters... walked around the city... viewed beautiful homes... and reunited with an old classmate of mine from Blue Mountain Academy. Dave Ennis & his family!

You'll notice that Mia was not in any of these photos... it was our first weekend away from our baby girl. She stayed with my parents!!! She probably didn't even miss us... but we sure missed her!

Wooster Family visit...

We enjoyed having our friends - The Wooster Family stop by at our place on their way to their family reunion in Jekyll Island! They spent 2 nights with us and we embraced and enjoyed every minute of their time shared! The best part was just hanging out and not doing anything but BEING relaxed and together! On Wednesday we all just hung out at the pool and relaxed and let the kids play for 3 hours! Thanks for coming to visit us - Dave, Caryn, Sabrina & Nate!

Dale & Dave...

Mia, Dot & Caryn

Uncle Dave & baby Mia...

Swim Team

... so many people in so little time... WOW!

Our family went to California for my cousin - Jennifer (Ranchez) & Rob's wedding. The kids were excited to get out of school 5 days early!! The best part about this trip is that we were able to visit and enjoy time with family & friends...

Friday - May 30th, 2008
Malibu, California for Rob & Jenny's wedding rehearsal by the beach!


the happy couple - Jennifer (Ranchez) & Rob Perez



parents of the bride - Uncle Danny & Auntie Ruth Ranchez


Ceirin & Daniella were both flowergirls for Auntie Jenny



the little cousins reunited!

Pastor & Mrs. Barizo



Rehearsal Lunch

... kids hung out while the Mom's shopped the outlets


Saturday - May 31st, 2008 -
Eagle Rock SDA in Glendale, CA

It's hard to believe that we lost contact with Tammy (Boemke)... and almost 13 years later we find ourselves at the same little Cradle Roll for the kids! What a GREAT surprise! Tammy's twin boys Deacon & Derek with their little cousin & Aunt.

VISITING THE SAVALA FAMILY...
L to R: Cassandra, GLADYS, Isabella, JESS & Julia Savala!





DECENA Cousins - Dot.Gigi.Gladys.Imee

2nd Cousins - Julia.Isabella.Mia.Megan.Dani & Ceirin

My cousin - Irene (Pan) & her fiance - Rick... we were able to see them BRIEFLY at our hotel!

Sunday - June 1st, 2008

Jenny was a BEAUTIFUL Bride!



Len . Steve . Mia & Dot

Dale . Mia . Dot . Morgan . Meechai . Daphne & their 3 kids . Auntie Grace

my mom's siblings w/ their spouse with the Bride & Groom

Dale . Dot . Jess . Gladys & Imee

Ryan & Daniella were so excited to be in Rob & Jenny's beach wedding!

Monday - June 2nd, 2008

Beautiful SANTA BARBARA, California!

the INN at East Beach

... the kids are growing up so fast!

We enjoyed our day in Santa Barbara playing at the beach, swimming in the pool and walking around in the shopping area... the weather was PERFECT & absolutely gorgeous!

Tuesday - June 3rd, 2008 -

SANTA BARBARA ZOO with Helen (Kim) Zeeb & her two little ones - Elle & Ollie! What cuties!

... our friends from Sicily, Italy also met us at the zoo

Bink & Gigi Burnette with their little guy - Rod!

... the kids LOVED sliding down this hill...

Mia greeting & waving to Rod


Daniella & Elle became fast friends!

Gigi Burnette . DOT . Helen (Kim) Zeeb

Dale & Bink

Dani . Ryan . Elle

Morgan & Rod

... sweet little Oliver shared his toy with Mia

Later in the evening - we drove down to Dale's sisters place in Los Angeles. Jake & Evelyn's backyard is filled with fruit bearing trees... my kids LOVE picking the lemon's every time they visit and make fresh squeezed lemonade! They also have an orange tree, an avocado tree and Grapes!


Jake & Evelyn's little girl - Arielle "Ari". The kids first & only FIRST COUSIN!

... enjoying the PINKBERRY experience... Yummmmm! Even Mia enjoyed it!

Mia LOVED getting kisses from her cousin ARI

Wednesday - June 4th, 2008

Evelyn took the day off to come hang out with us!

... the kids played... we ate lunch and got to visit with Tammy, our long-lost friend!

BIG BIG HUGS for Ms. Tammy! Thanks for having us over for lunch!

Later that day, we drove to Redlands and enjoyed watching the kids at XRTainment Zone. We met up with one of my (Dot's) friends - Kim (Medina) Knowlton! The kids LOVED all the interactive games and Wii systems & eye-toys. A great work out while still playing!

One of the local news companies were there filming and so I'm not sure if Morgan will actually be in that segment!

Friends came out to visit while we were at XRTainment... like Lily (Chung) and Ruthie (Feralino).

Dinner with the Knowltons at Gourmet Pizza

We spent the night (& did laundry - thanks guys) at Shani & Byron & Matthew's house in Redlands!

Their little cousin Matthew LOVES Golf, B-Ball & Thomas the Train!!!

Pool . Tennis court . Jump Castle . Basketball . Golf! The kids were having such a blast - they didn't want to leave!

Byron is now a Orthodontist... and brought us to his office to see the beautiful JUNGLE Theme!

Thursday - June 5th - San Diego, CA!

Thanks Arnel for getting everyone together for Dinner at Panda Inn!

I haven't seen my old roomie & friend - "Esmy" in over 15 years! She came out to eat with us and I got to see her 6 month pregnant as well as her gorgeous condo in Downtown San Diego!

Friday - June 6th, 2008 - San Diego, CA - Children's Museum

We met up with Marvin & Rhea Pantangco & family... here is Marvin begging Rhea to have ONE more baby!!!

... lunch at the Pantangco's was a GREAT idea - so the kids could play and run around and have fun!


Sheri Villanueva Reikvam . DOT . Lani (Santiago) Barnes & Rhea Pantangco!

Ryan . Bradyn . Morgan

Olivia . Bradyn . Daniella

Thanks for lunch and a GREAT visit!

A SAN DIEGO REUNION @ Todd & Meha Ewing's home

in Loma Linda, California.

This was definitely PARTY CENTRAL! The kids had so much fun in their backyard swimming, basketball, hot tub, fire pit! There was TONS and TONS of food (thanks Boom, Gemma & Jojo & eveyone that helped cook)... Thanks Meha & Todd for opening up your home for us!

Mia with her Uncle Jojo!

San Diego "brutha's"

Darena . Mel . Dot . Boom . Gemma . Cheryl . Megan

It was a treat to be able to see Kim & Corey once again... thanks for stopping by and "eating" with us before your next party! ha!

Dale & friends - all went to San Diego Academy!

Finally... our last stop was a quick visit with my Auntie Lily (Pan) Diehl on our way out of Loma Linda... and on to the airport to fly home. Auntie Lily was even able to give our kids a little piano lesson with instruction and tips!

... It was definitely a WONDERFUL trip... full of family & friends and fun! So glad that we were able to enjoy our time together as a family!