Alex "Sonic" Lilly, Future Olympian

Alex has been obsessed with two things lately, Sonic the Hedgehog and pretending he's a track star. Apparently, Sonic is incredibly fast, and one day recently he saw some races on t.v. for the Olympic trials and it apparently made quite an impression. Those two things combined have prompted him to run all over the place as fast as he can. He says he's going to be in the Olympics one day. Not to brag, but he is pretty fast! He also likes to go to the high school track and run. One day Steph took him with her, she got him all outfitted before they left, he does look quite serious in these pictures. (I'm not sure what the glove is all about, I'm guessing Sonic probably wears gloves...)



This is his stance that he can often be seen in. He likes to pretend he's putting his feet against the starting blocks as he gets ready to start his race, just like the guys on t.v. do.
One day as we were leaving Target, a little boy was running down the sidewalk, so Alex takes off and starts running after him in a self-proclaimed race. Of course Alex won, although the other boy didn't realize he was even in a race.
If things pan out the way Alex plans, be watching for him in the 2028 Summer Olympics!



P.V.D.D.

 P.V.D.D. is short for Post Vacation Depression Disorder, a condition that I both invented and self-diagnosed myself with. When people ask, "How was your vacation?" and I reply, "Great!", you would think that is a good thing. However, when your vacation is too great, it can lead to P.V.D.D. Here are some of the causes of this disorder...

Go camping in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains and make memories with love ones...

Alex caught his first fish... with a Lightning McQueen fishing pole, no less!

Hike to a waterfall and jump in the "refreshing" (freezing) water.

No better way to celebrate the 4th of July than a trip to the beach...

then come home to a lovely homemade meal by Grandma.

Cool off in the summer heat by taking a dip in your sister's pool...

Leave your heart in San Francisco...

Make our traditional visit to Berkeley to the campus and then Blondie's Pizza.

With all those adventures aside, the very best part of vacation is just being at home. Nothing beats sitting in Grandma's lap for a story or teasing Grandpa with the sprinkler.

(Alex enjoying his morning cereal in Grandma and Grandpa's peaceful backyard)

 

 

 

 

  

There is such a feeling of peace, security, love, etc. when you are at the home you grew up in. I think that's partly why I have such a hard time leaving. It certainly doesn't help when you grew up in such a place as Napa, California. 

For example, one morning I woke up early to the familiar "whoooooshing" sound of a hot air balloon making it's descent in a nearby neighborhood. I looked out the window and counted six off in the distance. I threw on my clothes and went out for a run in the cool Napa in July morning air.

Another day, I hopped on my dad's bike and took a little ride. Traveling down a country road lined with vineyards, even seeing a deer along the way seems like something from a movie scene. I literally had a smile plastered on my face the entire time as I thought, "This is heaven!"

I've now been back for a good week and a half and am finally easing myself back into the "real world". The cure, I have found, for P.V.D.D. is immersing yourself into work, chores and good old fashioned responsibilities.... And I hope to do it all over again next summer.

Fifth Birthday

Can you believe this young man had the nerve to turn 5 years old? Does he not know that he is breaking his mother's heart? OK, a bit dramatic I know, but I just don't know where the time has gone.

Alex is very into Sonic these days, so "Sis" made this cake for him, what a nice sister.

Celebrating with some cousins.

My two June babies... now 5 and 20!

One of Alex's bday gifts, he calls this his "relaxing pool". With as hot as this summer has been, he should get lots of use out of it!