Kindergarten graduate

On June 9, 2009 Big Z graduated from Kindergarten. All of the kindergartens sang and danced for the parents. It was precious. Grandpa C. and aunt Theresa came to watch him. Kindergarten was a good year for Big Z as he adjusted to a world bigger than mom and dad. His teacher Ms. Hynes was absolutely wonderful for him. He enjoyed talking to her and really respected her for how she listened to him. She showed up to one of his hockey game and was he proud. He even scored a goal. Big Z is excited to go to 1st grade but also timid about going without Ms. Hynes.

Big Z hits Albuquerque Hard

We went to Albuquerque New Mexico for the Spring Nationals. On the way we stopped at Grand Canyon so Big Z could see "the big hole".

While in Albuquerque, Big Z raced some good races. He placed 3rd and 5Th on Saturday. On Sunday, he took the 1st in mixed open and 3rd in class. Also that weekend, he earned his Open Award jacket. This award is given to the rider who makes 7 mains in the mixed open class. It's a hard thing to do so he was very proud of that thing.

On the way home we visited my mom. big Z enjoyed being spoiled by my mom. He gave her one of his trophies.

We now have a READER on our hands

This last Saturday, Feb 28 we were at favorite store and Big Z picked up a book and started to read. He has been studying his "sight words" in class all year. Until then he had no real interest in reading but I guess it all clicked. He has been reading everything he can get a hold of since Saturday.

Way to go Big Z

Hair cut for Big Z

Big Z got a hair cut. This is the1st really short hair cut. A older kid at school was teasing him and calling him a girl. So he came home and wanted to cut his hair. We told him to wait 2 weeks and see if he still wanted to cut his hair. We were trying to teach a life lesson here- not to let people's mean words direct your path. He waited and he still wanted to cut his hair. I think he looks very mischievous .

A good Hockey day

Friday was a

good Hockey day for Big Z.

He scored TWO Goals

during his game. This was witnessed by his dad, Jonny, Tommy, Grandpa and his teacher Ms. Hynes. He was floating on Cloud 9 . This makes his career goal total to 3.

You rock! Big Z

Zeke's Favorite Movie Quote

Zeke has a favorite movie quote I wanted to share with you.

"BMX is what I do -

B a MeXican is what I am"

He told that to Uncle Danny shortly before he passed and it made Danny laugh even if it hurt for him to laugh.

BMX Recap

Here is a picture of some of the trophies Big Z has won this last 6 months. We stopped collecting the 2nd and 3rd place trophies due to lack of space. Big Z got a new race bike (a VRP frame) for Christmas so his is adjusting to that. Our plans for his racing are:
Feb. - Lake Perris
March - Phoenix
April:
May: New Mexico
He will still play Hockey because it helps with his leg strenght.

Same Birthday

On Dec 9, Big Z turned 6 years old. It amazes me as to how fast these 6 years went.
Big Z plays roller hockey on Friday nights and he played on the Hot Wheels . The coach's
son, shown here with Big Z, shares his birthday. In talking with the coach's wife we discovered that they were both born :
at the SAME HOSPITAL - Hoag Hospital
on the SAME DAY
had the SAME DOCTOR
and born within 4 hours of each other.
Who knows, they could have laid next to each other in the nursery.
Wow! I find that to be a small world kind of thing!
I told them - they need to be life long friends

A star is born!

Big Z has been chosen to sing a solo at his Christmas play this year. He will be singing Little Drummer boy. Big Z loves to sing and dance so this something fun for him.

BUT does anyone remember The Christmas play of 2006!

During one of the songs they were singing Big Z and D.G were standing next to each other ( 1st mistake). During the song DG turned and put his hands around Big Z's neck and was pretending to choke him. If that was not all, what did Big Z do ? He turned around and licked DG down the face. It had the audiences laughing so loud. Wish we caught that on video.

SO I will keep you updated on his perform ace. Only Big Z knows what he will do on stage.

Make a Smilebox postcard

Nationals in Lancaster 10/3-4

Big Z raced his his first Nationals this last weekend in Lancaster, CA.
We went there not expecting much since he has only been racing for 3 months. On Friday, they have a "Pre-Race"race, Zeke took 1st in his qualifier then 1st in the main. He got a 3' trophy for that win. Mike and I were amazed and overwhelmed at the number of people who attended.
So on Saturday morning, Zeke took 1st in his qualifier. The weather was really bad, it was so cold and rainy. The track was so muddy and many of the riders were falling. We just told Big Z to hold on tight and pedal. Big Z went on to finish 1st place. Wow! we were so excited. We never thought that would happen.
On Sunday, Big Z got to ride in his "Lap of Champions", He was so proud of himself. Now that he has 7- 1st place wins he moved to Intermediate class. Now he will have some more advanced riders to race agaisnt.
It's all good - winning and losing

One thing I wanted to comment on that I saw too much of over the weekend- parents putting way too pressure on their kids to win. We saw parents lose control and really yell and treat their children badly. Both Mike and I felt bad for those kids and promised that we will throw a rock at each other if we lose it and do the things we witnessed.

State Finals On Saturday

Saturday Sept. 13 was a very exciting day for Big Z. They held the State Finals at the Orange Y for BMX riders from all over Southern California.

Big Z raced in the 5and under novice class with 31 other boys and girls. He have to pour it on and made it into the semifinals placing 4th. The main event only has 8 racers .

Try to visualize this in your head. I was sitting next to the finish line ans close to a turn called the tower turn. Big Z didn't get his best start so he was in 7th place. The racer in 1st place is going around the tower turn and falls. Rider 2 falls over rider 1. Rider 3 comes around and falls over them. This happens with riders 4,5,6 and you guessed it and Big Z. I was in the stands yelling "Big Z slow down, slow down, go around, go around." Mike helps Big Z at the start line so he missed it all. Now back to the story. ABA rules states that the racers can not get any help getting up. So here's this pile and 4 and 5 years olds on the track all crying and here comes the only rider left standing to pedal right over the finish line. Well they decide to rerun the race for the 2nd- 8th place awards . This time Big Z placed 4th but was awarded the 5th place. Big Z was sad and disappointed about his finish. BUT over all, he did great and has to remember he just started racing 9 weeks ago.

Sorry no pictures - it was way too confusing.

Big Z is ready for Kindergarten

Big Z will be starting Kindergarten this week. He is ready and excited. I ,on the other hand , am feeling a little sad that my baby is going to school. I am going to miss him. I had to explain to him what was a principle was and that it isn't a good thing to get send to her office. So a new chapter will begin for him.

Thru Big Z's eyes!

For Christmas, Big Z got "a top of the line camera" from Fisher Price.

On Saturday, July 26 Mike took Big Z to the Huntington Beach Pier for the surf contest to watch the finals. They also have BMX , skateboarding, Motor X events. Both had a great time. Big Z had to bring his camera to the contest to take some pictures. Mike didn't help him at all and we were surprised to see the good pictures he took. So enjoy them.

Zeke' Graduation

Yesterday, Zeke graduated from Pre-K . They had a ceremony that you would see at a high school. He had a cap and gown which he immediately took off and tossed . They even got a yearbook- which when Zeke asked "what's a yearbook" kind of spoiled the fun.

I cant believe he's going to Kindergarten next September. He already told me he doesn't want to go , he would rather stay home with me.

Could be worst?

While walking down Main Street in Huntington Beach, we stopped in front of the statue of Duke. For those of you who might not know who Duke is, let me tell you.

Duke Kahanamoku, a genuine Hawaiian hero known as the father of surfing and the 1st Hawaiian to win a gold medal in swimming and a great person. He had a great big statue on Waikiki Beach and a smaller one here in Huntington. Most visitors stopped and take a some pictures and a few leave flowers.

So we stop to let Zeke climb on Duke for a while. Zeke tells Mike, " When I die , I want to be a statue, Daddy". How funny is that!

Whose afraid of a teenager

While we were in our community swimming pool last summer, we saw some teenagers causing some trouble. Since then Zeke has been afraid of teenagers. If we are at the pool and he sees the school bus come and let out teenagers at bus stop, he wants to go home. Another time, Zeke saw some kids misbehaving he asked if they are teenagers. We have tried to explain that not all teenagers are bad and have even taken him to the teen room at church to show him "good teenagers".
The other night, Zeke says to Mike " Daddy, will you be afraid of me when I'm a teenager".