August 2014 – Rudy's Beat

Today marked the start of the 2014-2015 school year for our kids. We also said goodbye to Oma after her 2 week visit. It was a big day (especially for Livy and Rudy who started at new schools) with some mixed emotions (sad to see Oma go, Livy’s nerves over starting Jr. High) but we’re ending the day on a happy note…Rolf, Olivia and Max ran off to the beach to surf as soon as Rolf got home from work…a big hurricane swell came in (!), Wilson is having a rare quiet evening at home and Rudy is quietly playing with a basket of cars after a 2 1/2 hour nap!!! Ha Ha

The last few weeks have been so packed…right up to the end of the summer which made today feel like a crazy abrupt start to structured life again. I may not be ready for summer to be over but I’m super excited for the kids…it’s going to be a great year!

– Wilson is embracing his senior year with GREAT enthusiasm,

– Max is excited about playing hockey again this season and looking forward to a stellar sophomore year,

– Olivia has so many new experiences waiting to happen as a 7th grader – she’s going to LOVE the greater independence and responsibility that comes with being in Jr. High.

– And, Rudy? Well, he started at Mountainview Elementary today as a full-fledged Kindergartener in a split special ed/typical class. It’s a good placement for him and we expect the fun trajectory of progress he has been on lately will take flight in this new educational environment.

I anticipate there will be much to savor this school year!

Rudy had his routine appt with Dr. Harake (cardiologist) last week and his heart function looks as it did after the stent implantations in July…stable for Rudy so it looks like we’ll have a procedure-free fall. Yay! It would be great for him to have an uninterrupted season of school and therapy. Big stuff!! 🙂

‘Hoping your summer is wrapping up nicely. Happy Back-to-School Day to you and yours!

Pic with the big sibs!! — Pic with the big sibs too!!

Car window "Love notes" to Wilson by Olivia and Rolf. — Car window “Love notes” to Wilson by Olivia and Rolf.

Olivia and Dahlia giving us the 7th grade thumbs up!! — Olivia and good friend Dahlia giving us the 7th grade thumbs up!!

My oh my! Talk about taking advantage of EVERY minute of our little family summer vacation! We were blessed to go to two very special weddings two weekends in a row…one in the Bay Area and one in Malibu…so we turned it into a family road trip and filled our week on the road with a college visit for Wilson, a day at Knotts Berry Farm, a stop at the US Swimming Natl Championships in Irvine, a Angels/Red Sox game in Anaheim and visits with friends we haven’t seen in a long time…we were only gone for a week but we packed in a ton of fun experiences.

Sadly, once we got on the road, Rudy came down with the same fever bug Olivia battled the week before so our itinerary changed a bit along the way as needed but, all in all, he was a real trooper and managed to have a little fun too. His fever lingered between 102-104 degrees for 7 days! Because it was a viral infection, there wasn’t any medication we could get him to help fight the bug so we had to wait it out and tried to keep him comfortable. In a situation like this, our biggest concern is dehydration so keeping him well hydrated was our #1 priority. Like with Olivia, once his fever broke, he bounced back quickly and is definitely back to his perky, goofy self…especially now that we’re home.

Because our road trip was filled with significant life celebrations and opportunities to reconnect with dear, old friends, I’ve come away from it all grateful for life, grateful for where we’ve come from, grateful for how God has directed our steps along the way and so grateful for the people with whom we’ve shared the journey. This trip was a reminder of how rich we are in relationship and I don’t take it for granted one bit…here are some of the highlights:

We cleaned up pretty good for the first of two weddings we attended last week…Thank you Lynches for putting us up and for the fun visit!!! I can't believe we didn't get a picture with you guys!! — We cleaned up pretty good for the first of two weddings we attended last week…Thank you Lynches for putting us up and for the fun visit!!! I can’t believe we didn’t get a picture with you guys!!

We were so honored to share in the DiRado's big day. Maya is our god-daughter and her big sister, Sarah, married Chris O'Brien! Rolf and I have officially entered the stage in life where our friends' kids are getting married and it's so special!!! :) — We were so honored to share in the DiRado’s big day. Maya is our god-daughter and her big sister, Sarah, is the beautiful bride! (pictured with foxy mama Marit) Rolf and I have officially entered the stage in life where our friends’ kids are getting married and it’s so special…surreal but special!!! 🙂

The father of the bride was our best man…just a couple of years ago, right? — Father of the bride Ruben was our best man…just a couple of years ago, right guys?

We enjoyed a visit to Crossroads Community Church in Palo Alto the following day where we got to see our former associate pastor and his family & the boys shared a song for the offertory…I wish I had taken a video…they rocked it! :) — We enjoyed a visit to Crossroads Community Church in Palo Alto the following day where we got to see our former associate pastor and his family & the boys shared a song for the offertory…I wish I had taken a video…they rocked it! 🙂

Even a stop at our favorite "The Creamery" in Palo Alto couldn't help Rudy feel better! :( — Even a stop at our favorite “The Creamery” in Palo Alto didn’t make Rudy feel better! 😦

A quick stop in San Francisco on our way to Sacramento was a welcomed pit stop!

I (Trish) enjoyed a mini-reunion with some of my dear Sac State friends and their families…it doesn't feel like any time has passed at all until you see the families! ha ha — I enjoyed a mini-reunion with some of my dear Sac State friends and their families…it didn’t feel like any time had passed at all until I looked around at all the kids! ha ha

Thanks, Gator, for making my kids' first visit to Sacramento super fun and memorable! — Thanks, Gator, for making my kids’ first visit to Sacramento super fun and memorable!

Next stop? Knotts Berry Farm, of course! Our family's favorite!!! — Next stop? Knotts Berry Farm, of course! Our family’s favorite!!!

Rudy got a special lucky horseshoe from the town blacksmith! So sweet!…

…and he tried a few rides... — …and he tried a few rides…

…but he mostly had fun watching the big sibs and friends Austin and Kylie run circles around him! — …but he mostly had fun watching the big sibs and friends Austin and Kylie run circles around him…when they weren’t eating funnel cakes!

Thank you Kenyons for a super fun time in Irvine!

While we were down south, we had the joy of watching Maya compete at the National Championships…Maya advanced to the finals during the morning prelims... — While we were down south, we had the joy of watching Maya compete at the National Championships…Maya advanced to the finals during the morning prelims…

…a quick "hi" and a "hug" after the morning meet... — …a quick “hi” and a “hug” after the morning meet…

In between heats we made a stop at Max's favorite hockey complex…sponsored by the Ducks, of course! — In between the prelims and finals we made a stop at Max’s favorite hockey complex…sponsored by the Ducks, of course!…

…and squeezed in a sweet treat with Marit!

Maya placed a thrilling 2nd in the 400 IM…she's headed to Australia for the World Championship!!! — Maya placed a thrilling 2nd in the 400 IM (behind Olympian Elizabeth Beisel)…she’s headed to Australia for the Pan Pacific Championships!!!

Woo Hoo! So thrilled for her!!! — Woo Hoo! Congratulations Maya!!!

Sweet Maya gave sweet Olivia her podium bear!!!

Oh yeah, we got to see Lochte and Phelps compete too.

After Maya swam, we rushed off to Angels Stadium to see the Angels play against the Boston Red Sox (the tix were a bday gift for Wilson back in April). He's a big Sox fan after visiting Boston last summer…and they won!! Woo Hoo!!! — After Maya swam, we rushed off to Angels Stadium to see the Angels play against the Boston Red Sox (the tix were a bday gift for Wilson back in April). He’s a big Sox fan after visiting Boston last summer…they won!! Woo Hoo!!!

Last but not least, we cleaned up again for Amy and Andrea's wedding…everyone was all smiles and READY TO PARTY!!! — Last but not least, we cleaned up again for Amy and Andrea’s wedding…everyone was all smiles and READY TO PARTY!!!

We love these two and their extended families so much…it was a true blessing to share in their special day!

Rudy braved the dance floor and even got a turn with the bride!!

It didn't take long for all four to fall fast asleep on our final push for Santa Barbara at 1am…the mark of a well executed vacation! — It didn’t take long for all four to fall fast asleep on our final push for Santa Barbara at 1am…the mark of a well executed vacation!

With that our summer is nearly over. Wilson headed back to school on Monday for Marching Band Camp and we have some school shopping to do. School orientations/paperwork are next week. We’re finishing the summer on a high note, though, with a visit from Oma who arrives this evening! It’s hard to believe another school year will soon start but it’ll be exciting as Livy and Rudy start at new schools and fall sports start up again. This was a packed summer on many levels and not particularly restful but I’m grateful for what it all meant in the life of our family and praying for energy and God’s grace as we gear up for another year.