Taming the Ocean

Despite the HIGH RISK ADVISORY leading up to the days before it. Despite the warnings of STRONG RIP CURRENT and HIGH SURF. Despite the multiple SHARK SIGHTINGS in recent months off the coast. And despite the reports of SCHOOLS OF JELLYFISH stinging by the hundreds...Brian braved it all.

This past weekend Brian swam the 1/4 mile rough water swim portion of this year's Solana Beach Triathlon. He convinced two of his co-workers to take part in the biking and running portions- smart man.

On your mark...get set....

GO!!!

And...they're off! There he is, do you see him? He's the one in the wetsuit with the red swim cap...don't worry...we didn't either. He's out there somewhere.

There were like ants storming the beach...so I just kept taking pictures thinking that I would get lucky since you really couldn't tell one swimmer from another. I think I just missed him in this frame, but they were moving so fast that before I could focus he was...

right in front of me. Go Brian!!!!

He had been training for a few months and the distance was very manageable for him. He wasn't even afraid of the sharks or jellyfish! But who would have thought that the swimmers would have to run up a steep HILL to the transition area? Sand, yes (and there was plenty of that to run through), but a hill? In a wetsuit? After swimming your heart out? Wasn't there a reason he didn't sign up for (or train for) the 5k run?

But despite it all, he did GREAT. Brian finished his swim with the first set of "relay" swimmers to come in, and kept his competitive edge. Despite the hill. That's our Brian! Determined, courageous, competitive and athletic! Congratulations, Brian!

And if you've ever been to an organized competition like this, you already know that the excitement and adrenaline are enough to keep you wanting to do it again and again. The next competition? Forget a 5K...think BIGGER. How about a 1/2 marathon in November? Brian and I plan to run it together...I'm just hoping there isn't any swimming involved.

The Wilcox Family Staycation 2010

It's become our annual tradition (and only real family vacation). Every year Brian takes the first week in July off work (in between tax seasons) and we spend the time doing the fun family stuff here in San Diego that others fly across the country to do. I laugh now when I think about my hesitation to travel with one or two small children when we started this tradition a few years ago, thinking that was an impossible task. Now I realize that we should have traveled then, since two would be a piece of cake. It's all about perspective, isn't it? Besides, we pay a small fortune to live here, so we may as well enjoy it!

We kicked off the week celebrating the 4th of July. We had a great holiday and especially enjoyed seeing it through the eyes of the twins (who are almost two) and really teaching the older boys what Independence Day is really about. We decided to take the following day to recover from the late night before and stay close to home (which translates into more swimming) and a movie.

On Tuesday, we took advantage of the free admission for residents at the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. There is no doubt that this was the highlight for Chase, who is obsessed with dinosaurs (to put it mildly). He was fascinated by the life-size T-Rex, mesmerized by the Maisaurus, enchanted with the Pterodactyl...and scared to death of the dinosaur-clad person in costume who was walking around to greet the children. Go figure.

The whole museum was impressive, but mostly the twins enjoyed being able to walk it (tethered to us, of course). The boys really enjoy all things nature and with Aunt Renee in tow, it's hard not to get excited about it all. Afterward we stopped by the fountain to watch the waterworks (and the interesting people...).

Another attempt at a family picture. You have to give us credit for trying...one of these days we'll get a good one.

En route back to the car, we made a detour at the carousal (or pseudo-roller coaster, based on how fast it was spinning) where the boys got to tame dragons and tigers.

For living near the coast, we don't go to the beach much, so the boys were really looking forward to spending an afternoon there. It would have been the perfect day- prime parking...no crowd (except maybe a few tourists) and digging in the sand to their hearts' content- but for the record cold July San Diego day (which explains why it was just us and the tourists). Luckily, kids don't care about that stuff.

When I said no crowd, I meant no ONE.

Chase trying to work up the courage to swim with the big boys...but moving water just isn't his thing. Yet.

Ella looking for the perfect digging spot to look for treasures.

She found it.

And these were her treasures.

Garrett, the animal lover, had fun searching for sand crabs.

We chose to forgo the big amusement parks this year like the Wild Animal Park (which the boys recently visited), Sea World or Legoland in an effort to keep things simple (and affordable for a family of six). The rest of the time was spent building random things in the yard (a favorite past time, especially when Renee is in town), swimming, and don't forget the homemade pizza Brian likes to make from scratch. This is a healthy version (if there is such a thing).

A great vacation that was almost...relaxing. What a novel idea!

Chaosing the Control, I Mean...

If I've ever wondered if my family could function without me (and, I have)...now I know. The answer is....yes...kind of.

After spending a week away from home helping my mom recover from surgery I have come to a few other conclusions, too. For instance, despite the sassiness and selfishness that sometime come from Garrett, I was showered in loving compliments and favorite food offerings when I came home. It was reassuring to confirm that he still loves his mommy more than his Legos and junk food. And that Blake, the oldest, is and will probably always be the responsible, dependable one- making sure the twins are safe and pointing out to Garrett when he's breaking the rules. Speaking of rules...I get the sense they've come to appreciate at least some of them. Like going to bed at a decent hour...and possibly even chores (okay, that might be a stretch). Or maybe I'm just thinking of Brian who ended up doing most the household chores himself. And judging from how agreeable the boys were to going back to eating "normally", I think they secretly missed their fruits and vegetables.

As for the twins, they love their daddy, their grandma and grandpa, their cousins (and everyone else who chipped in to help), but no one can take the place of mommy. I got gigantic smiles, happy dances, huge kisses and extra tight hugs for the hours after I returned. With such innocent and pure expressions of love, it's hard to feel anything but love and gratitude. Despite the Crayola hieroglyphics on the wall. And, finally, my husband openly admitted that the family NEEDS me. He even did his best to catch up on laundry, clean the house and try to put things back together before I came home...now that's love!

On my end, I missed everyone terribly but somehow found comfort in still being a care-taker. I missed giving raspberries on Chase's chubby cheeks...Ella's quirkiness and wardrobe creations... Garrett's smile and silly sayings...and Blake's sweetness and endless curiosity. And of course Brian's loving support and reassuring hugs at the end of the day that keep me going. I have to admit, it was nice to actually a read a book cover to cover and sit down for a meal uninterrupted, but I came to miss the noise, the commotion and even the controlled chaos. Did I just say that out loud? Somehow sticky hands, diaper changes and belly laughs are still my preference.

Thanks to the family for working together in my absence and enduring the chaos while I was away. And...now we know. WE ALL NEED EACH OTHER.

Our Not So Lazy Days of Summer

It's been a busy summer so far. All one month of it. There was a week of VBS and a week of Cub Scouts Camp. There was the excitement of Garrett losing his first tooth, followed by a visit from the Tooth Fairy.

There have been some play dates with friends, the discovery of the boys' "Secret Stash of Fun" (the affectionate name Garrett has given the perfect climbing tree in our back yard),

some swimming, lots of lemonade and watermelon, and hours of reading. Blake and Garrett have already claimed their prizes from the library for reading 600 and 300 minutes+ respectively! And that was all before July!

July 4th was packed full of fun and firsts for the family. There was more swimming, lemonade and bbqing but the real highlight for the twins was learning to blow bubbles (and that soap doesn't taste very good), and the magic of watching them form...float away...and disappear. How fun to watch the wonder in those little blue eyes.

A new tradition we started this year is making homemade ice cream (in a ziplock bag) for dessert. It was fun, memorable and delicious!

It wouldn't be "independence day" without the twins taking full advantage of their freedom for the hour or two before fireworks. That included lots of dancing (turns out that Ella is quite the party animal) and running in any and every direction until they were tired enough to sit down for a few minutes and recharge while picking at the astroturf.

Ella getting her groove on.

Chase strutting his stuff.

Like aunt, like niece.

The holidays aren't the same without family. Blake and his cousin Hunter.

Another attempt at a family picture.

Remembering the real reason for fireworks and freedom.

The forecast for the rest July? More fun, lots of outings and maybe, just maybe a little bit of much needed rest.

(Don't you just wish you could be almost two again?)