Summer Visit to CALM

Ayden, Joseph & Michelyn decided to take a summer excursion to the California Living Museum (CALM)

Casa Romantica July 4th

San Clemente Family Time

Summer = San Clemente + Beach

Our clan decided to spend some time with my folks in beautiful San Clemente for the July4th weekend....first up....hitting the sand and surf!

Nicole, Aubrey & Garrett came too! What fun!

Swimming with the Fishes

We decided to start a new family hobby...an aquarium!
We found this 55 gallon tank (with the fish!) on Craig's List...

Here are our cichlids! I think people call this breed "oscar fish"

...and this is the "big guy"!! I don't actually know if it's male or female but it's the biggest and definitely rules the tank -- I've taken to calling him "Minion" after the fish sidekick in the movie Mega Mind -- and the orange one in the picture above I call Roxanne, from the same movie, he/she follows Minion around like they're two peas in a pod

My beginning reading on oscar fish shows that they are clever fish, can be very territorial, they have mega personalities and voracious appetites...so far, it all pans out! They like their fish pellets but since they also like insects and bugs, we've taken to throwing a few wandering spiders from the house into the tank and Minion just gulps them up in one fell swoop!

...and here are the others...two golden colored fish (not sure what they are) and a really pretty multicolored fish (maybe another type of cichlid?) who I think Joseph and Ayden call Joey

...not seen, but in the holes of the wood, are two sucker fish - they make appearances every now and then

...so far it's been a lot of fun for all!

Watch Out! There's a Teenager Afoot!

Dustin's now 13!!!

We had some fun at the park today to celebrate - a little windy and cold, but fun nonetheless!!!

On to the City Series

Dustin's Little League team won his playoffs and they are now team #2 to go to the City Series -- Yay!

Here is Dustin making a run for his team - he's the blur on the right with the blue shirt!!!