Space and Rocketry camp, big rig riding, futbol with dad.  What a summer!

Our days have been full with something to occupy us even if it's just sitting out enjoying the day.  We've enjoyed this summer being together.

What can I say?  Life is good!

Back in CA.  We get back to the old routine...

A preview of our time in Maryland.  Yes, Tate is wearing creamed chip beef on his forehead.  But don't mess with him!

Out for a ride in Parasol.

Maryland was our last destination for our summer travels.  We spent a nice long weekend with my brother, Arin, and his daughter Antonia.  It made our time there extra special.

Stowaways!

Captain Bill

Enjoying the cruise

No, really - we're just checking the fuel tank on Grandad's new boat.  Everything's okay.

You talking to me! 

Bubbles are always entertaining

Arin relaxing

Tate and me kayaking about.

Our cousins from various places on the East Coast came out to play!

One day we were lucky to spend time with extended family.  Here the glow worms have come up from below the deck and the kids try to catch them.  Some of the kids already have them round their necks.  They loved this game!

Where did they go?

Antonia prepping the pool.

Milan learning the autoharp

Concert and snow cone in the park.

Ah, vacation!

It was one after the other.  In all we'd guess he caught 20 fish.  After the first day of fishing he couldn't get enough and would be right back out there the very next day. 

Granddad and I, fish caught = 0

No fish were injured in the shooting of these photos.  In fact Milan was quite gentle in handling them and learned to loosen them from the hook and placed them back into the water before releasing them, all the while minding where the bristling fins were.

While in MD we went to a fabulous Knight show, that even Tate sat through happily for two hours.  Milan has since reenacted it with Juan battling him in the back garden and he set Tate and I up on the deck steps as their audience with food  (just like at the event).

Water, water everyday is A-Okay!

blowing bubbles, previous life was a dog - not sure really...  He's just plain cute!

Our first stop on our travels was to Colombia.  The last few days there we got together with family in Bogota.  The cousins train -  Nico, Tate, Valentina, and Milan.  It amused us all!

Not enough to eat at lunch, Tate?

Off for a cruise around the lake.

The fishermen

Taking a break

Found these two landlubbers.  Beyond them is the idyllic little restaurant that served a fabulous meal!  Nausa we'll be back!

Ready to catch a fish, any fish... here fishy, fishy, fishy - where are you...?

Off to fish with tio Gabriel

Gabriel teaching Milan the ways of the warrior.

Nars and Big Foot

Tio Gabriel

My favorite miner.

Mi lindo peludo.

Near Nars' home are the salt mines of Zipaquira.  Notice the tour guide. 

Outside the salt mines Nars and Gabriel admiring photos.

Milan introduced our indoor picnics to Nars and Gabriel.  They are looking for the imaginary stars.  It was adorable!

When we first arrived to Colombia we stayed at a club two hours outside of Bogota.  Here it was hot and a welcome respite from the rain.  Our view from the balcony off our room.

en route to Anapoima in Colombia.

1 years old and with a monkey on his back...

local street urchins

Backyard camping - notice the modern convenience of the telephone.

Surprise!

Bedtime stories with the boys.

Some nights this summer were hot.

Que guapo!

Saturday morning futbol.

Possible shop crash on aisle 12.

Adjusting the bill.

Que hubo?

I'm so lucky to be his mom!

The graduates with Maestra.

Kinder graduation.

Sharing a drink.

I'm  beautiful bald!

- third time is the charm...  Daddy shaved him last weekend and if ever a head looked gorgeous bald Tate's is surely it.

Milan and his Jurassic Science display.

Sporting a mohawk for about three minutes as Daddy tries to get him to sit still to complete the shave.

Prepping the display board.

The volcanic duo

Perfecting the volcanic reaction.

Let the volcanos explode.  Milan prepares for the school Science Faire.

Milan as Maestro for the Open House at his school.  Kindergarten is almost over at he's learned so much.

You'll be going back in time here as it's been quite some time since I've posted and there are yet more that go back even further, but they're in the old computer (santa was good to me this year) and they're saved, but I haven't had a chance to play around with them yet. 

It goes from most current with the boys shown here at the Chabot Observatory in Oakland which we went to last month then works it's way back in time to before Christmas.

We're having a blast.  We hope 2008 is as good to all of you!

The wonderment of it all...

The kindergartners went to the fire station to check out their digs and all the cool vehicles.  Tate and I are on one side and Milan is the handsome boy on other side in the white shirt.  While we were getting the photo taken they were showing off the waterworks on top of the truck.

Mexican brunch

Peace and a shower

Heya!

A big rib eater!

A Sunday morning before breakfast.  Juan and Tate enjoy each others company.

Swinging

My park playmate.

Rain in January - a typical northern CA day.

The great cookie heist! - I had gone around the corner to run a load of laundry while Tate meandered about in the kitchen.  When I returned he had discovered the cookie bin and was proceeding to wolf down a white chocolate glazed oatmeal cookie.  Needless to say he wasn't happy about giving up the goods.

Loves 'em a good baguette.

Green

I love, love this photo.  It's the same one I have on my phone.

Mid-January and Tate has another head shave.  The second of three.  Here are the boys in one of their favorite activities - Bathtime!

Milan is acting the big brother for sure in this photo.  It's alright though, Tate was never doused.

The art of ice cream sharing...

Since January Tate has been standing up wherever he can pull himself up.  He's made some steps, but is still very cautious.

Los ninos Galvis

New Years Day breakfast.

Just before xmas the lemons and oranges were fully ripe.  Here Tate puckered up to try a lemon.  And the result - *

Falling into line for the 40 minute walk to the local pumpkin patch. Tate's carriage is geared up and Milan and friends wait about for the long walk. I was very impressed at how well they all did given the longevity of the walk. That was 40 minutes both ways!

Here comes trouble through the mouth of the vampire as Milan makes his way back round to go through the haunted house again.

Milan and classmates atop the hay mountain.

The procession of people took up a good block and this was just two of the classrooms.

All dressed up! Milan is the handsome knight in the middle. They'd just finished doing some spooky Halloween activities and put their costumes on and are getting ready to read a good book.

A good Halloween story for the class.

Milan's class photo for Halloween.

The school Halloween parade.

Later that day, we headed over to a friend's for a potluck halloween bash. Tate's the little love letter in Sara's arms. It was nice to get a second use out of that costume after Milan had worn it four years ago. We're all watching the wee ones line up for photo time.

Sir Milan and his brood of otherbeings prepare to take on the neighborhood for Halloween. Trick-o-Treat!

Here's looking at you!

Since school started Milan has really taken an interest in writing. Here he's practicing his letters.

Ka-chau!

Milan is a Kindergartner now! He started classes at the end of August and has been enjoying it. He's in a Dual Immersion program to learn Spanish, so most of the curriculum is taught in Spanish with the exception of his English language class and Science (which is taught in English). It's amazing how quickly he's picked up writing sentences in Spanish. He's already made many new friends and participates in the weekly futbol pick-ups after school on Thursdays in which a father who's a futbol coach by career coaches the kids.

In September, Nars came to visit us again to see how much the boys have grown.

Milan no longer requires chopstick holders to help him. He's officially ready for a trip to Asia! Here we are at our favorite Japanese noodle house.

Milan and Juan walking about in SF.

Beautiful!

The boys can swing in tandem and Milan enjoys pulling Tate along so that he gets a nice swing, too. Good for me, because I get to sit back and just watch them enjoying it together.

Hanging out in back of the house.

The boys building (or eating) a castle for the knights to defend. Tate enjoys sitting alongside Milan as he goes about his creative playtime and can be entertained by Milan for a very long time.

Juan took a Masters course through Stanford's Business school and had a room. He never actually stayed overnight there, but we did go and hang out during the day. Milan has already told us that he'll be going there some day ; )

Milan entertaining Tate at the market. They really have a lot of fun together and laugh often. We're enjoying seeing them grow up together.