Daddy Workout

These pictures are from one of Gus' favorite activities: jumping on the yoga ball with Daddy.  Gus gives the count down and Daddy gets his work out for the day.  It isn't easy lifting 32 pounds into the air repeatedly.  Fortunately, Thor can use a little momentum from bouncing on the yoga ball (that is what Thor is sitting on)

3..2..1..

Higher Daddy!

Bonus picture: just pure cuteness

Visiting Grandma JuJu in Claremont

We spent the day with Judy in Claremont while she was enjoying a long weekend with Ross and Kristi Turner.  Gus mostly like spending time with Kristi's 8 year old grand daughter, Sage.   He also enjoyed playing with the antique toys that the Turner's have collected over the years.  It was great to see Grandma JuJu, even if it was just for the day.

Charlie cat was pretty tolerant of a snuggle little boy.  Gus really like how soft he was.

Family shot

Getting ready to go to bed

Throwing the ball in the pool for the dogs provided endless entertainment

Gus must of drove 3 miles in this T-Bird

Potty Training has Begun

We are from the new school of thought on potty training: basically we have no idea what we are doing!  So our strategy so far has been to just let him run around with no pants on.  He doesn't seem to complain and he even has made it to the toilet a couple of times.  Mostly, he likes peeing and pooping outside.  That is where he spends most of his time and after all, that is where Futura (our yellow lab) goes.  It makes perfect sense in a little boys mind.  Needless to say it has made for some really cute pictures.

Mommy says I can use the leaves to wipe, but I think she may be a little left of center.

Isn't it great?  I get to play naked all day!

What?  Doesn't everybody poop outside?

Nature calls: Rare sighting of the poop machine, the red slippers make him nearly impossible to catch

It helps when he grabs his coolie and I read to him

It is getting a little cooler in the mornings!

Little Drummer Boy

So Gus has been really into his drums lately.  He likes it best when Daddy plays with him.  They have been performing daily concerts for me.  Thanks Uncle Sam for the drum set!

Gus' new ride

Gus was given a balance bike by one of our friends from playgroup.  He thinks it is a motorcycle.  We call it his moto.  He is getting really fast on it and makes the noises like he is shifting from one gear to another as he races around the house. 

Look at that smile, he couldn't be happier!

He doesn't even like to take his helmet off when he eats. 

Silly September photos

The rest of September was pretty quiet.  Thor and Gus spent another weekend with the Senkbeil's before they headed back south and I got my lifeguard certification again.  I have not been certified since 2002, needless to say, I got my butt kicked, but passed with flying colors.  We are enjoying the beautiful sunny weather and the quiet of fall season.  These are just a few more silly pictures of Gus from September.

When we play hide and go seek in my office, this is one of Gus' favorite places to hide.

Papa Dean sent us a Swedish colored waste paper basket, Gus thought it made a great helmet.

When it is nap time, Gus will try to negotiate and say "ti ti nap" which means a tiny nap.  So when you ask him what a "ti ti nap" looks like, this is what he does.

Labor Day at Catalina Island

We went over to Catalina Island for Labor Day weekend.  Guided Discoveries (the company I work for) puts on a reunion every other year there for past and present employees and their families.  They throw a heck of a shindig!  We really went to spend time with Grandma Ju Ju, she is back working on the island.  We had great weather and got to see a lot of our old friends, as well as, Grandma.  Gus was pretty impressed with Grandma Ju Ju's island.  He pretty much thinks she owns the place.  All the boats are hers, all the trucks are hers, even the beach is Grandma's.  The icing on the cake was when the ferry was pulling away, Grandma Ju Ju jumped off the pier in all of her clothes.  This has been a long time tradition for the CIMI staff when the kid's boat leaves, the instructors will jump in the water, but this surprised all of us.  I do not have a picture, but I know quite a few were taken for proof.  We had a ball.  Thanks Ross and Kristi!

Eating an avocado in Grandma's loving arms, what else does a boy need?

Daddy, Gus and his new airplane at the airport in the sky.

Grandma Ju Ju's beach

The Sandman

Splash!

San Juan Capistrano

We started the month out by visiting San Juan Capistrano.  Thor's dear friend Eric Senkbeil, his wife Laura and son, Lucas were visiting from Mexico.  Lucas is 6 months older than Gus.  Eric's parents, Catalina and Ron as always, were incredibly hospitable.  We celebrated Catalina's retirement with them and their whole family.  They know how to throw a wonderful party.  We also got in some beach time.

Happy family tired from playing on the beach all day.

Cold water, Daddy!

No matter how old boys get, they still like to play in the sand with bulldozers!

Catalina and Gus at her retirement party.

Gus and Lucas sharing a hug over the play dough.

Monkey boy!

Jessica and Armando's wedding

This was one of the main reasons we went home this August, the wedding.  We also celebrated my parents 45th anniversary, my Aunt Syl's 70th surprise birthday and the baby shower for my cousin Jason and Holly's little baby boy, Bowen.  It was a full trip to say the least.  These pictures are just from the wedding, but keep scrolling down and you will see the rest of our trip.  Enjoy!

Gus enjoyed the hotel's pool

Gus also enjoyed the queen size bed, which he manged to use all of.

Natalie and Sarah came too.  They watched Gus so we could enjoy the wedding.

What a great looking couple, right?

These two were really the great looking couple!  They looked fantastic!  It was a beautiful wedding.

The Leone Women: (left to right) Aunt Mary Jo ( the bride's grandmother and my aunt), Ann (the bride's mother and my cousin), Jessica (the bride and my cousin, Me, and Rosalie (my mom)

At the Lake

We were very lucky to spend some time on the lake.  Here are just a few pictures.  Thank you Anne, Eddie and Dorothy for your hospitality.  We always enjoy visiting with you and the girls.

Oh Captain our Captain! Dad wouldn't let me drive the boat until I was 22.  I guess things are different when you are the only grandchild.

Cousin Dorothy let us borrow the kayaks for a little family outing.  Gus did great.  He almost fell asleep

The king of chillin'

It was a little chilly on the ride home, so we all snuggled.

Gus figured he had the hang of it, so he wanted to go solo.

Hanging out at the pool

The weather wasn't super great the whole time we were home, but we did get to spend a few days by the pool.  It is hard to believe that 4 years ago, Thor and I got married right there and now we have Gus to share this special place with.

A rare sighting of Nonna actually in the pool.  It is amazing what a grandson can make you do!

Papa Dean came to visit for a few days and Gus showed him how to blow bubbles.

The bubbles wands were a big hit.  Thanks Carrie Ann!

Gus wanted to "kiss" the water goodbye before he went for a nap.

Another rare sighting of my parents actually relaxing and not weeding, deadheading or any of the other million things they do to keep the lawn looking so beautiful.

Just looking cute as a button!