Odin: first day of school

I think I'm the most excited person in this little parade.

One last hug for the photographer.

Beanstalk Preschool on the Dry Creek campus.

Washing hands happens frequently.

Some wistfulness as the youngest child

takes his first step out of the nest.

Safe Routes to School: Day 1

North Natomas Transportation Management District generously invited me to attend the 4th annual national conference. Perfect, I'll ride my bike to downtown Sacramento.

Despite doing my ABCQuick Check and going for a test ride yesterday, I soon had a flat tire. Since I'm not a tire-changing whiz (like Dick), I took the bus and RT downtown to the Sheraton Grand on J St.

650 participants this year.

Bald Fade

You might already know the significance of this haircut.  Yup. School starts in a few days.

This haircut is a Bald Fade:

Thank goodness Dad was there to speak the language.

Antique Fair and whipped cream

Thais and I went to the Antique Faire, always on the second Sunday of the month on 21 St between W-X Streets, under the I-80 freeway.

Back at Thais' house, Sophia asked for a whipped cream nose.

Avery declined.

Sophia asked for seconds. 

Funny Business

Dick and I were having bagels and coffee at Town and Country Village the other day and spotted this truck nearby.

Lots of good ghost-deterrents on top.

Is there any significance in the phone number DPO-5041? (A question posed especially for Brother-in-law Tom the Movie Trivia Expert.)

At Justin's lately

There was a string of 30 burglaries in the greater Nicolaus area a while back. Neighbors worked together to assist the county sheriff's department by creating a communication network and organizing patrols. Home owners installed video surveillance, gates, home alarm systems, and photovoltaic lights on tall poles. Justin is in the bucket working on the wiring. The thieves were caught, by the way, in mid-July. Here's a link to the story if you want to know more:  http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/johnson-126449-county-brothers.html 

One afternoon as I was sewing, I heard a loud rumbling outside.

Jaime, one of Justin's neighbors was plowing the field.

Wedding at Rancho Cicada

Bride and groom, Stephanie and Patrick. Patrick and brother Andy were best friends of Mike and Greg as they all grew up in East Sacramento.  Andy was supposed to be the best man but didn't make it to the wedding due to the birth of his first son about 4 hours before the start of the ceremony. Mike is at far right.

Rancho Cicada is located on a branch of the Cosumnes River, about 6 miles from Plymouth, and down a scary dusty one-lane road with two-way traffic.

Once there, what a beautiful setting.

Dick with Gene, the groom's father.

Laura, Nicole (Greg's wife), Nicole (Mike's wife).

Greg, Mike, Luke.

Kathy (center, the groom's mother) visits with John and Marilyn.

Dick and Luke.