Back to the Rat Race :-)

This week was one of those weeks where it doesn't really seem real that we are back to the school/volleyball routine...but by Wednesday...it was very real!!! School started Monday...Codi is the big leaguer at school starting 8th grade...and Carli has begun her sophomore year!! Does not seem possible :=( It is wonderful to have Carli come with me every day again this year...although most of the time, she is doing the driving since she has her permit!!! She is constantly wanting to drive...and marginally pouts if I tell her no!! Codi doesn't have to leave as early in the morning as we do...I hate leaving her every day....volleyball at her school will begin next week which she is very excited for!!! Centennial Volleyball started a week before school did this year which definitely has its advantages!! Carli and a handful of her closest friends made the Varsity team...which was very exciting for them. I have been a part of the CeHS program for 15 years....it is so weird to look over to the Varsity court during practice as see her there!! The competition for some playing time is very tough...I think she is up for the challenge :-) Once the awful guilt of making cuts were over...I was very excited about my new JV team also. They are top notch kids that have shown in a week that they are committed to get better :-)

Annual first day pic :-)

Craig is always very glad when we all have to get back into a routine....he hates being the only one to wake up so early!! Every once in a while he chills out and takes a break from the 'things I gotta get done' list....this is what happens :-)

LA/San Francisco :-)

The girls and I just wrapped up the summer vacation with such a fun trip to California!! We drove over to LA on Friday to meet up with the Kollen Family...I like to use the expression to get my Kollen fix :-) The Dbacks were playing the Dodgers so we went to watch 2 of the games there and joined them for a family bbq. On Sunday Caril, Codi, Kelsey, Addison, and myself flew to San Francisco to invade JJ's workation :-) I hadn't been to San Francisco since my college vball days. It is safe to say the we probably put some serious mileage in walking the Union Square area shopping. We made a trip to Fisherman's wharf before the game on Monday, and drove over to University of Cal-Berkley on Tuesday afternoon...the campus is gorgeous!

Carli carried Addison during some of the shopping adventures :-)

Union Square Area...good to see Codi smiling during shopping :-)

Driving down Lombardi street :-)

Typical tourist picture

I had to put this in....it was so windy down on the water...getting a picture was tough!

Kelsey, Me, and Addison--who was a perfect baby the entire trip!

View of SF from the pier

The best part of the Wharf...Clam Chowder :-)

The girls in front of Dodger Stadium--We had a great time there with some of Kelsey's family! Dodger Dogs were only $1!!

In front of AT &T park...It is a very nice park and has been sold out every game this season!

So....this kid has turned into a total baseball junkie!!! I don't know where she gets it from :-) She was a nervous wreck watching most of the time :-) Both games we were there the Dbacks won...making her nerves all worth it!!

After a dback win :-)

The end of a great night....clam chowder, a beer, a win, and a save!! :-)

Visiting the Cal campus...the Golden Gate Bridge is far off in the left of the photo :-)

We were looking for a college party to crash :-)

You can ride to the top of this tower to see out over the campus and town.

This was such a fun trip....the girls were very good---as a mother it is priceless to watch a huge smile on your kids' faces knowing they are loving and appreciating the experiences that they are so lucky to enjoy....they both love this little one too.. :-)