Crabbin'

We just got back from our second annual crabbing trip in Half Moon Bay.  Last year Matthew had so much fun crabbing, that he requested this be an annual trip.  For his birthday in November, Nana Bobbie got him a crab net so he could do some serious damage the next time we were out there.  He was thrilled when he got it and couldn't wait to try it out.  When we arrived in HMB on Thursday, the weather was beautiful and perfect for spending hours on a dock reeling in a crab net and reeling it back out.  Over and over.

See our friend?  He is a healthy eater.  Within five minutes of us placing two huge chicken thighs in the bottom of the crab net in the netting area for food, he had reached in and sucked both of them right out.  It was quite frightening to watch a rope being pulled away from the dock at such a quick speed.  It was kind of like that part in jaws where the shark bit the bait and then took the buoy with it for a nice swim.  That's what our friend here did...several times.  We had been on the dock no less than 20 minutes and he had already had a chicken and a half.  Luckily for us there were some nice fisherman there who gave us another trap to use to put the chicken in that so he would have a harder time getting it out again.  Luckily it worked.  Because as you can see in the pictures below, he was fairy confident that we were as dumb as we looked and that he was going to be eating like a king until we ran out of food.

At this point I felt like he was just begging.  He would stare at us and plead for us to send something down again.  I mean, let's be honest...he knew the rookies on the dock would falter again and he'd be rolling out to sea with a full stomach.

This is not a happy fisherman.  Sea Lion--3  Matthew--0

And of course.  The kid who basically just shows up to snack and hang out is the first one to snag a crab.  Not a keeper by any means, but the first crab.  And without a net.  I'll just say Matthew was NOT congratulating him.  And he looks super humble about the entire catch.

There was one thing very evident on this trip that I have either not paid attention to in the past, or maybe just ignored it hoping it would go away...but Ryan is a talker, and a stalker.  He will infiltrate himself into any situation where he is right in the middle of someone's family or area.  We would look up and there he would be talking to perfect strangers, telling them his "fishing stories" without a care in the world.  We had to continuously call him back and remind him that he should not be talking to just anyone and that people don't appreciate little kids just "hanging out".  He doesn't understand this.  He stalks them until they give up and just accept the fact that he won't go away and that he is listening to every word they say.  Apparently the "stranger danger" we went over time and time again when he was younger went in one ear and out the other.

The next morning was a little gloomy and colder.  But again, that is our hotel right there and the beauty of it being right there is that we could be back in the room in five minutes flat.  And when your son says that you being there is bad luck, you take that and run with it all the way back to a nice and warm hotel room.

 Finally....a keeper.

And no, I was not happy that it was a keeper. That meant I was now responsible for cooking it for Matthew to eat, because of course he wouldn't be a fisherman if he didn't eat his catch.

Just so we're clear.  I am not okay with this.  Placing anything alive in a pot of boiling water to watch it die is nothing I ever want to do again.  

He ate every bit of it.  I stayed long enough for a picture and then I left the room.  No bueno.

Basketball and Dad's birthday

Here are some pics from the end of two basketball seasons.  The Parks and Rec league ended with a second place finish, and CYO ended with an undefeated season and the championship again.  Just when I think we are done with one season, both boys just tried out for a AAU Stockton team and we will now be running around with those teams for the next four months.

 

Parks and Rec team

Somehow the shortest kid on the team ends up guarding the tallest kid on the opposing team.  Even in the air the other kid has at least five inches on him.

Sometimes this is what he is brought in for.

Last weekend was Rich's birthday.  What better way to spend it than at a Sharks game that's finally on a weekend and we don't mind what time we get home.  

Birthday dinner.

Because who can pick just one?

Birthday boy and his dudes.  Matt had just caught a puck from one of his favorite players.

And not to outdone, Ryan then got one too.

Next week is our two week spring break.  We basically have something going on every single day, which means I am going to need a vacation from my vacation.  Crab fishing, San Diego, first tournament for both boys....posts to come.

Basketball Matthew

Last weekend Matt had two league games, and three tournament games, along with Ryan's playoffs.  And the only thing I can take away from my experience is that whoever invented the bleacher seats that include a back...you are my hero.  Best. Investment. Ever.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.  Matt plays Monday night for the championship for Parks and Rec.  They played really well the other night, so I hope Monday is a good battle.

When you get pulled in off the bench, just to shoot free throws.  No pressure.  Oh, and you're the smallest kid on the court.

Seventh grade champs.

He's a good kid.  He has to live with a mother who yells, "Get in his face!" for most of the game.

Nope, it didn't go in.

Stay tuned for Monday night's game, win or lose I will share pics.

Basketball Maddness

We have been living at basketball gyms the last month or so.  We have games during the week and each weekend.  As my mom said this past weekend, "Is there any better place to be on a Saturday morning than watching basketball?"  No.  It's perfect.

Matt is currently playing on two teams. He is playing on Parks and Rec and CYO.  The CYO team he is playing with is basically the same time that he played with last year.  He is doing well, and gets playing time each game.  He is on a very competitive team and they are a very skilled team, and we like to think Matt's occasional hot hand beyond the 3-point line is why they love him when he is in.  He has not lost his love for the deep shot, and has gotten progressively better at it.  It is fun to watch when he is in the zone, and also fun to watch his teammates cheer and support him.  As he is not one of the better players on the team and does not get as much playing time as he would probably like, he still shows up and plays as hard as he can when he is in the game.  I will try and get pics of Matt and his Parks and Rec team this week and his CYO team next weekend when they play in a tournament here in town.

Ryan is playing CYO as well.  He, on the other hand, is one of the better players on his team and plays the duration of most games.  It's funny as parents how we share the reality of both situations.  For Matt, we live with the fact that we show up and know he won't get a lot of playing time and are okay with it.  For Ryan, we hope that parents don't talk about how much he plays and that he is rarely subbed out.  He is a third grader playing on a fourth grade team and having a blast.  He is a true competitor and hates to lose, personally and as a team.

99% of the time, his tongue is in his cheek.  I guess he just thinks better with it there.

When you are small, you need a little air to get the ball to the hoop.

Someone else loves him a three point line.

Lefty.

Okay people....this is two weeks in a row.  Who's impressed???  I will tackle Matt this week and next weekend and share some of those.

New Year's Resolutions

Okay, so the ONLY resolution I made this year was to make a monthly effort to do a blog entry.  I am lame, I know it's been hit and miss.  I have even gone as far as to put a reminder in my calendar for one Sunday a month to do it.  Hopefully, if all goes well, I'll remember.

I'll catch up with a bot of Christmas and then hopefully add some basketball pictures soon because we have been living in gyms each weekend and the boys are so busy.


Marini Christmas...the kids

Delva Christmas

 Two of their favorite gifts.  After taking many ukulele lessons in Hawaii, they each wanted one so badly.

Electric scooters

Okay, more pics and posts to come.  Promise!!!!