Visit to San Jose

In order to get to Monterey for ACSA this week, I flew in and out of San Jose, rented a car, and drove down to Monterey. Bryan, Melissa, and Aiden are living in San Jose, so I decided to extend my stay. I arrived at their home early Friday afternoon and stayed through dinner on Saturday. It's amazing how fast Aiden is growing up. He's such a little boy now! Thanks guys! I had a lot of fun!

Monterey

No, I did not take this picture, but this was basically the "partial beach view" out the window of my room on the 9th floor (top floor) of the Marriott in Monterey this week. The weather was clear and 70 degrees all week. I was there for the annual ACSA (Association of California School Administrators) conference that highlights special education and student issues. It was basically a week of wining, dining, and marketing for work...but, not a bad place to do that! It was nice to have a change of pace for work; although, it would have been nice to enjoy the beach in this weather, too!

Star Sighting

I've lived in LA for over 2 years now. In general, I find that I wouldn't recognize a star in a crowd and that, in comparison to the entertainment junkies in my office, I shop, eat, and work out in the wrong places to have a star sighting. But, yesterday provided me some fodder for Monday's legal staff meeting...

Yep...that's right...Robert Pattinson...at the Arclight in Hollywood on December 31, 2008...he was handing his ticket to the ticket taker as I was headed out...

Christmas Highlights...

Jared, Cindy, and Jack are living in Modesto right now. Bryan, Melissa, and Aiden drove to Modesto from San Jose on Friday, December 19th. After the Las Vegas Bowl, Eric and I drove to Modesto for Christmas on Sunday, December 21. And, Sheree and Tyler flew in from Las Vegas on Tuesday, December 23. This was our year to have everyone home on Christmas day.

Our cousin Ben Rowe lives in Modesto. And, our cousin Caroline, her husband Jason, and their new baby Annie came to Modesto from Orem, Utah for Christmas.

Our cousins Melissa and Sarah Stevenson also flew in from Washington, D.C.

Here are some photos of the fun. (Disclaimer: Mom and Dad are currently building a new home and are living at Grandma Rowe's. So, the decor in some of these photos is a little crazy.)

Aiden meets cousin Annie...

Aiden and Uncle Eric...

Wii tournaments, contests, and ego-boosting high scores...
Eric...

Dad...

Jack...

Christmas Eve dinner and ornament exchange with the Rowes...
Ben, me, Mom, Dad....

Jason, Caroline, Cindy, Jack...

Papa and Tyler...

The fun of trying to get a photo of all of the Rowe grandkids...believe it or not, this is one of the best ones. Aiden, Annie, Jack, and Tyler (ages 3 months to 20 months)....

Mom with her ornament from the ornament exchange...

Christmas morning with three little boys was a lot of fun. Santa, Papa, Nana, and Aunt Jen got a little out of control with presents. Aiden even had to take a nap half way through.

Tyler with his Santa presents...

Aiden with his Santa presents...

Jack with his Santa presents (note the Thomas the Tank Engine theme)...


Jack and Aunt Jen (the Thomas pjs went on as soon as they came out of the box and he was enticed to open more packages to see if there was a "choo choo" or "chocolate" inside)...

Mom and the famous Christmas morning cinnamon rolls...a family tradition after opening gifts...

Aunt Jen gave the boys 2 different matching shirts and Nana came through with the pants. However, the photo taking experience proved to be difficult.
Aiden and Jack...

Feel the love...Aiden, Tyler, and Jack...

With all of the presents unwrapped, the tree was much more accessible for Aiden and Jack..."oohhh lights..."

And, "lights..."

Nana celebrates her 60th birthday on January 1st; so, we celebrated with chicken enchiladas and Sheree's triple tremendous cupcakes... (I don't know why this is now underlined and showing up as a link.)

All three boys playing with some of the new toys...Aiden, Tyler, and Jack...

Grandma celebrated her 91st birthday on December 27th...

Las Vegas Bowl

This year the Las Vegas Bowl was early enough before Christmas that I decided to make the trek to Las Vegas (5 1/2 hour drive from L.A.) to join my brother Eric, his wife Sheree, and Sheree's family for the game. BYU played Arizona...Arizona came prepared to play BYU...BYU did come prepared to play Arizona and apparently didn't learn anything about how to play them as the game was played...BYU lost 31-21. It was a frustrating game to watch, but we had fun nonetheless.

A rare winter snow in the high desert mountains of California between LA and Vegas.

The team comes on to the field.

The team warms up with the haka.

Me, Eric & Sheree at the game.

Eric cheering on the team.

Setting up for yet another failed attempt at scoring.

Here's to a better year next year for the Courgars!

Coming of Age

So, after years of assisting my father with his 2% annual Costco rebate (like he and my mom need any help reaching the maximum rebate), I finally opened my own account. I know, it's a silly thing to blog about; but, I figure at almost 37, it's about time to carry a card that's really mine.

Thanksgiving Vacation

On Tuesday night, Bryan, Melissa & Aiden picked me up at the Oakland Airport after I dropped off my rental car after a day of work in the Bay Area and we headed to Modesto. I spent Wednesday through Saturday at "home" with Dad & Mom, Jared, Cindy & Jack, and Bryan, Melissa & Aiden. Here are a few photos from the trip...

With Aiden on the way to Thanksgiving dinner at Uncle Drew & Aunt Holly's.

While Dad, Jared & Bryan went to the gun range, Jack and Aiden went to Costco with "the girls."
The wonder of small children as they encounter possibly the largest stuffed dog in the world. I'm sure people in Costco were shaking their heads as we barked together.

"Toot, toot!" Jack and the Thomas the Tank Engine sing-a-long. "Toot, toot!"

Like father, like son. I think we should be worried about the things that Jared is teaching to this little guy! ;)