Chess Club Awards...

Today was the last day of Success Chess School. There was a little party and AWARDS!
In the picture above, Coach Henry is presenting Jordan with the SECOND place trophy. The place standings are based on the "point gain" for the year. You get points for each match, wins/loses, computer homework etc. Jordan's friend Leo received the first place trophy. Leo participated in a tournament, you get a lot of points for tournaments. This was fantastic, since it was Leo's first year in SCS.

Here is Neil (in a very blurry picture...sigh, at least I remembered my camera...) with Coaches Henry and David.

Here are the boys with their loot. Jordan has three trophies because his "team" won a contest last week...and he got to bring home the trophy because he was team captain. Neil said it wasn't fair because Jordan didn't answer any of the questions.

Here is the whole group!

Kumihimo Garden Necklace

Here is the necklace that I made for the SACBC BAZAAR Silent Auction. Since this is our first Silent Auction, I decided to donate a bead that I bought from DACS.

The description for the necklace is below:

Necklace featuring a handmade lampwork bead by from Hawaii bead artist Alethia Donathan; embellished with assorted Swarovski Crystals, German and Czech glass and seed beads.

Kumihimo is a method of braiding silk threads developed in Japan which is traditionally performed on special wooden stands called Maru Dai and Takadai. The literal translation of kumihimo means the "coming together (kumi) of threads (himo)". Kumihimo braids were originally used as ties, cording and belts for clothing, and closures for Samurai armor. This method had been applied to modern jewelry making and is used in the “rope” of this necklace.

Lunch Buddies....like the old days...

...but only better because I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO BACK TO WORK! Yesterday, I had lunch with Danny, David and Edwin! We used to work together at EMCDocumentum....David and I worked the longest together...about 8 years or so...his first day was my first day after my maternity leave from Jordan...

I see Danny regularly during basketball since HE made the mistake of telling me that he was bored after work...so, I asked him to help with Jordan's basketball practice....that was quite a few years ago....

Edwin is my other buddy...he is the proud Grandpa of Jordan, aka JoJo....who started ballet this week, sigh, I remember when she was born...I can't believe JoJo is 2 1/2 years old already....but, once again, Grandpa flunks...no new pictures....

Edwin isn't the only one who flunks, I forgot to update my BLOG last night, because I was watching the Laker/Magic NBA finals...and working on the necklace for the Bazaar's Silent Auction. Hopefully, I can finish the necklace tonight and I can post TWO, yes, TWO entries today...that's if I finish by midnight....

Yippee!!! Venti and a Zipper!!!!

Hello! Those of you who see me going to the boys' school...know that I love my Starbuck's insulated cup...it doesn't always have coffee in it...actually, it is usually iced tea...but, I love this cup because it has a lid that screws on...and I can't spill! Unless I don't have the lid on straight...which sometimes happens...anyways...after searching and searching I found a VENTI sized cup! I went to the little Starbuck's kiosk at Safeway...and when I walked up....I SAW IT! As soon as I picked it up, the sweetest little old lady behind me said..."ah...you took the last one"....no, I wasn't mean....turns out the Starbuck's manager had one in the back...I think it was hers...and she sold it to the lady...good thing, I would have felt guilty walking out with mine...

One of my goals was to learn how to sew a zipper....yeah! I did it. I bought the pattern for the above purse...and I realized that I didn't like the pattern....it didn't have lining or fusible interfacing...so, I had to adjust the pattern....but, it did have a REALLY EASY zipper....I love it!

Back when the boys shared a room, I was going to make curtains for the boys...I never got around to it...lucky for Sage, my nephew! I made him a quillow with some red fleece...above it the "pillow" and below is the quilt. It's much easier and I think warmer to use fleece than to use batting...I love them! I have two more quillows to do for Christmas.

And there she goes.....

Hi! Well, I warned you that I wouldn't be posting anything this past weekend. As soon as the boys got home on Friday...we left for Fairfield...we had to be in Sonoma by 7 AM...John wanted to work on the tree before it got too hot...and for fear of sparks...yeah, and he wanted to know that I squirmed when Jeff told me about being in Sonoma by 7 am...of course we didn't tell John that we stayed in Fairfield.

Here is a group picture of the soon to be lumberjacks...Starting from the left to right...John's friend Coleman, John and Beth's son and daughter, Joe and Katie, John, Beth, Neil, Jordan and Jeff...Thank you Beth for a delicious breakfast!

And...here is the tree...yes, that is Jeff in the yellow shirt...hey, when did he change his shirt? I didn't even notice until just now....

Everyone working hard...did you see the news article about the husband who killed his wife with a chainsaw? Well, Beth and I did...actually, Beth sent it to John...and we decided to stay far away...and we each had cameras to document the event....just in case...

Coleman is up in the bucket cutting....I remember my father giving us rides in the backhoe when we were little....hmmm...no seat belts...I am amazed we survived our youth...and sorry John, "my Daddy's John Deere is bigger than yours!"

Down she goes!!! That was a big tree...the tree had died from the Sudden Oak Death syndrome. Inside one of the tree stumps was a burrow and a 5 inch salamander was living in it...sorry, freaked me out and I forgot to take a picture...and "No!" we didn't bring it home...although the boys asked...

That's all that is left....John and Beth are building a "barn" in the area in front of the tree....Beth would like to make the tree stump into the base for a table...sounds beautiful.

All in all, they got the tree down and cleared in about 2-3 hours...amazing! Just in time for a wonderful lunch....

Neil, Jordan and Joe in the John Deere Gator! The boys had a great time riding around with Joe....I think they liked the "big boy" aspect of it all!

more burb cloths....and "breakfast with the girls"

Yesterday was a very busy day...hence, my BLOG was not updated...I am so fired! But, since there aren't a bunch of people who want this job, I hired myself back...at DOUBLE the pay! HAH! Take that! Wait, nothing doubled is still nothing...sigh...

Besides, my morning breakfast meeting and mailing off the burp cloths...I decided to trim the Rosemary "tree" in the front. (At Christmas time, the stores sell those cute Rosemary trees....just a warning...they grow into HUGE, not so cute trees...) The problem, I forgot to stop...the tree is now a shrub....tiny shrub...but, I know it will grow back....

Then, I moved into the backyard....I decided to "trim" the lemon bush....it now looks more like a tree. Since I wasn't planning on doing either of these tasks, there are no pictures....maybe I should fire myself again...I made more burp cloths for our friends in Sugarland TX. Isn't that a SWEET name? HAH, I crack myself up. Yes, this is the baby that Jeff said was a boy due in June....he was wrong, Sheridyn was born in late March. Yes, she is a girl! Yeah! I hope Sean and Adrienne bring her to the UCSD Reunion in August...if not, he will have some explaining to do, since he instigated this whole reunion!

Kathy, Michelle and I got together yesterday morning to work on the Girl's Trip. Actually, they worked on it, I just went to eat and provide my email services. Kath and Chelle were in charge of booking a show to see. I think we are seeing La Reve...a Cirque du Soliel show....I think it has something to do with water...I hope our seats are NOT in the splash zone...

The picture above is of Kathy's daughter Kristen, you may recognize her from the Build-A-Bear workshop outing....oh, and Princess Bear wanted her own picture also (below).

The picture below is of Michelle's daughter Makaela. She didn't want to get in the picture...I don't think she knew I snapped it. hee hee...

The boys finished their first Happy Fish (swim lessons) session. Jordan is ready for Silver and Neil (poor Neil) is still in the Red class....his "physical memory" is just not there...it took him quite a while to get in gear.....but, hopefully after next session he will be ready to move past red...(and then he will forget everything for next year!)

Of course, they were both TOO COOL, to take a picture with their ribbons...sigh....

Hopefully, I can update my blog this coming weekend...we are going to Sonoma to visit some friends. Jeff is helping "Sparky" cut down a tree...and he is bringing home some of the wood for his new smoker...that he hasn't built yet....

Catchup!

Did we have a three-day weekend? I don't remember...okay...so here is my "catch-up" blog post for Friday-Monday. :) I wasn't home much...so...you know...things don't happen...like gardening...(I still have a flower to plant)...laundry (still washing/drying)...etc....

On Friday, Jordan had his Choir Concert...it was sooo cute...and so depressing knowing that Ms. Chang and Mr. Aucoin will not be at Warwick teaching choir due to the budget cuts. They are both great and the boys really enjoy the singing...yes...even Jordan. (I was a "good Mom" and I remembered my camera with the telephoto lens...)

Saturday, was BATHROOM day...it is basically 99.5% completed. I still need to paint the trim/door and Jeff needs to nail in the baseboards...which means I will need to fill the holes and paint some more....

On Sunday, we went to Gilroy for Memorial Day Services. Each year, the Japanese-American community holds Memorial Day Services to honor those who have passed away. I don't know if this started after the war, due to the high casulty rate for the 442nd Infantry but, each year we honor those who have served and others who are no longer with us. Gilroy has a very large turnout, especially considering that not many "young" people from Gilroy attend...mostly "Out-of-towners"...I heard a woman saying she flew in from Chicago....WOW!

While in Gilroy, we went to Lowe's and bought the mirror for the bathroom...Jeff and I hung it up later that night...the boys went back to Salinas with my parents.

So, our schedule USED TO BE: Sunday, Gilroy @ 11 am ...eat lunch, go to San Jose cemetary ....then drive to Vacaville for a 4pm service (Jeff's side)...then eat dinner, hang out at the Great-Auntie's house then drive back to Fremont....then drive to Salinas for 11 am service. Since Jeff's father's ashes haven't been buried yet...don't ask...Jeff said that we can go to Gilroy / San Jose and not go to Vacaville...ok, his call. So, the boys went to Salinas, and Jeff and I went to Valley Fair after the San Jose cemetary.

I was able to talk Jeff into going to the Prolific Oven for dinner...of course he thinks he knows the woman who works there...turns out she is from Seaside...by Salinas! HAH!

After watching the NBA East Championship finals...we decided that we were too tired to go to a movie...sheesh, we are old...so, we made a late night taqueria run...and went to sleep.

Monday, we drove to Salinas and made it in time for service. I got to see a lot of people that I don't see very often...plus I was able to tell Rev. Shindo goodbye...he is moving down to the Gardena Buddhist Temple on Friday.

Tuesday night was OPEN HOUSE...
Here is a picture of Neil with his teacher Mrs. Crossman. Yes, this is the same Julie that I may refer to in prior posts...she is my new beading/sewing buddy. hee hee...when Jordan had her two years ago, he NEVER told me that she scraps/sews/beads/etc..."HELLO JORDAN, um, what does your mother like to do?"

This is Jordan's teacher...Mrs. Rubalcava. She has been very helpful with assisting with Jordan's schoolwork.

hee hee...okay, one frustration of the night is that JORDAN kept abandoning us...so....this is his classmate...in front of Jordan's Science Project...which received a Merit Award. Jordan did not know this because...WE COULDN'T FIND HIM!!!! AUGH!!!!! His classmate got a 3rd place award...his other friend Leo received 2nd. I think Jordan needed to WRITE more...big surprise, eh?

Now I am ALL CAUGHT UP! I'll be better ... for a while at least. I hope I can keep this up during the summer....I may need some prodding Julie!