The Gratitude Pumpkin

A few years back we adopted a new family tradition we learned from my Brother and Sister in Law, Scott and Cynthia.  It is the Gratitude Pumpkin.  I'm not sure if that is what they call it or not, but that is what it has become to be known as in our hale.  Gratitude is an important part of my life philosophy.  Without it I believe I would have a miserable existence.  I've been blessed with grateful parents and hope in turn to instill the importance of gratitude in my children, Leah and Dax.  I think they are responding wonderfully.  Last year, our gratitude pumpkin was filled with words of things that Leah and Dax could see around them as they ate dinner.  The pumpkin was more of an "I Spy" documentation than a gratitude pumpkin and that is okay.  I think they're learning to appreciate everything around them.  Afterall, all good things come from God.  No blade of grass should be ignored as the blessing it is.  

Here is our Gratitude Pumpkin.  This year we did it in sections.  

Daddy-O

The Mother of my Children, Gratitude, My Business, Money (Means), Grandma Leslie, In-Laws, Trials, Leah, Dax, Pops, Bacon, Christ's Atonement, Seasons, Music, Trees, The Laughter of My Kids, The Beach, My Hammock, My Brothers, The Orchard Hills Ward, Freedom, Trials, Photos, Journals, Medicine, Camping, Ocean, Water, Sarah's Back Scratches, Sarah's Kisses, Sarah's Birthday Videos and Mix Tapes, Veterans, Grandpa Bud, Time Spent with My Family, The End of the 2018 USC Football Season, Colors, Sight, Daddy Daughter Cookie Day, Daddy Daxy Date, Sarah's Patience, Examples Around Me, Soda, Home, My Smart and Funny Kids, My Mission, Family that Treat Each Other with Respect and Kindness, Grandmama and Caitlin.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Mommy

The Father of Her Children, Home, Temples, My Job, Her Kids, Extended Family, Her Car, Memories, Adoption, Chocolate, Neighbors, Nature, Art, Health, Thinking Pants, Sunshine, Vacations, Food, Stars, Our Trailer, The Priesthood, Trees, Getting Flowers from Me, Her Bed, Missionaries, Angels, Siblings, Warmth, My BBQ and Cooking, Goodly Parents, Cherry Coke, Books, Indoor Plumbing, Bleach, Love, Fruit, Vegetables, Soap, Teachers, Heavenly Father's Plan of Salvation, Animals and Her Calling.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Leah Loo

Grandpa Bud, Her Family, Life, Her Dog Marley, Food, Dax, Friends, Karate, Focus, Technology, Candy, Ruby Bridges, Broadway Musicals, School, Heavenly Father, Potatoes, Freedom, TV, Money, Galaxy, The Holy Ghost, Video Games, NASA, Ms. Childs, Cheesecake, Her Mother, USC, Music, Neighbors, The Sharing Place, Trust, Water, The Police (Cops, not the band, though I'm sure she likes the band too), Roof Over Head, Her Mom, Her Dad, Math, The Scriptures, Her Tutor, Caitlin, Kaydian, Military, Leonardo DaVinci, Clothing, Toys, Thanksgiving, Shoes, Grandma Leslie.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Daxy Doo

His Birthday, The X Box, The Temple, Soup, His Mom, Love, Leah, His Dad, Himself, Burritos, Friends, Cops, Marley, Thanksgiving, Jesus, Dragonflies, Toys, Dinosaurs, Santa, The Easter Bunny, Police Dogs, Family, Cats, Games, The Moon, Grandpa Bud, Suavecito, School, Tyranosaurus Rex, Fossils, Christmas, Heaven, The Resurrection, Nature, His Friend Jordan, Cheesecake, Ms. Mahan, Church, Books, The Beach, Blood, Broccoli, Lights, Learning, Chores, Artings (Art Work), His Body, Seatbelts, Snacks, Fruit, Treats and Monster Trucks.

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Dax is learning to read and write and is constantly reading and writing.  He
wrote this on the bottom of the pumpkin all by himself.  He left out the "e" in
"Monster Truck", but otherwise spelled it correctly.  He's a smart boy.  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL.  MAY THE SPIRIT OF GRATITUDE REMAIN WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAYS AND YOUR LIFE!

A Trip To Sun Dog...America's Finest City

San Diego.  Discovered by the Germans in 1904, they named it San Diego, which means....

This June, our family took a trip to my old stomping grounds in Southern California.  We visited family in Chino and spent a few days in San Diego...aka America's Finest City...aka The City In Motion...aka Silicon Beach...aka Sun Dog!  We had a blast!

This be a salty crew for sure!  You gotta' love Dax's pirate face
 and hook hand.  

If you ever get to San Diego, take a couple hours from your stay there and hit the Maritime Museum. It boasts 17 different ships and some of them are quite significant.  The cost to tour all the vessels is not much for a whole family and well worth the price of admission.  

Here's Sarah aiming for her kill at the water's edge.

Dax chillin' in the Steam Ferry USS Berkeley

Aboard the USS Californian

This poor pirate has TWO hooks for hands!

 

On our way into the USS Dolphin.  The deepest diving
submarine in history.

In the crews quarters of the HMS Surprise, a fully working replica of a
British Frigate that was used in the movie, "Master and Commander: The
Far Side of the World".  

Resting on the Star of India that circumnavigated the globe 21 times

Inside the Soviet Era B-39 Submarine that was actually part of the
Cuban Missile Crisis.

On to Old Towne San Diego.  We had one goal, good Mexican food.  We found it at Casa Del Reyes.  This place has it all, great outdoor dining, live music, good food and great chips and salsa.   

In this pic, my second thought is how cute Sarah and Leah are.  My first
thought is realizing how badly I wish I had a basket of those chips right now.

GRRRRRRR....EL Chupacabra!

Dia de los Muertos at Fiesta del Reyes.

We found this quaint old timey candy shop with a relaxing backyard.  

Sombreros For Everyone!

Dax found it fascinating that this frog had a hole where it's butt is.  Of course he would
realize this in a huge shop of all kinds of interesting and colorful things.  



We took the kids to Sea World.  It wasn't too crowded and the weather was perfect, as is often the case in San Diego.  We had a blast observing the sealife, watching the shows and riding the roller coasters.  Leah is fearless when it comes to roller coasters and even pushed Sarah to the point of calling "time out".  Hailey and Chris joined us which was super fun for us, especially the kids.  

This girl, four rows back, has no fear or hesitation.  It doesn't matter what the
ride is, she's game.  

Dax wasn't too bummed that he wasn't tall enough for most of the rides.  He and I had a fun
 palling around.  

Dax and I went on this Atlantis rollercoaster 3 times in a row.  Afterwards I
coaxed him to sit on this bench where I knew he would get wet.  You can see
the splash coming in from the left.  He was already soaked....

....and I needed to wash off his ice cream.  

Hailey and Chris were awesome to the kids.  Not only did they share their love and attention,
they also bought them Shamu ice creams!

Leah was so excited to sit in the Splash Zone of the Orca
show, but we never got even a drop of water our way.  

A family that Sea Worlds together stays together...and smells fishy!

For all the jokesters out there, let me beat you to the punch.  That isn't me doing a dive.  ;)

HAHA!  Dax had gotten so used to being measured at the rides
before entering that he automatically went and measured himself at
the show times sign as we entered the dolphin show.  

San Diego has a great seaport filled with commerce, history and military.  Sarah and I found a great groupon (thanks, Cynthia) that would send our whole family on a 2 hour cruise (Skipper wasn't the captain) around the harbor.  I thought the kids would love it.  They were bored within a half hour.  Oh well, Sarah and I enjoyed it.  

While we were waiting for our cruise ship, we found this
little joint on the water called Carnitas Snack Shack.  I don't
know what the rest of the food is like, but their carnitas fries
were the bomb!

Dax felt a little sea sick so he and I spent a few minutes in
the dining room resting.  

Leah and Dax watching the San Diego skyline get smaller as we departed.

In awe of the Del Coronado bridge leading to Island Del
Coronado...which isn't even an island. 

We got to watch the new Seal team recruits practice entering
the water from helicopter and ascending up the line.  

Dennis Connor's vessel, Stars and Stripes.  I remember the year I got to ride
upon the support yacht  for the Kiwi the year they beat Dennis Connor in the
America's Cup in San Diego.  The Kiwi boat was sponsored by Steinlager and
my connection in the restaurant business got me aboard.  It was fun if you like
sailing.  

Always, our favorite thing to do when we go home is visit my Brother, his amazing Wife and their super fun kiddos.  It's always a party.  Alexa is always playing music too loud with the kids changing the song request every 20 seconds.  The dancing, lip syncing and karaoke is always fun to watch.  Now that they have a pool, for us non-pool owners, that is always the center focus of our visits...that and eating good food.  Scott and Cynthia are always such amazing hosts are as the kids.

Lucas is Dax's best buddy and they get along so well.  Here they are sharing
their favorite dance moves.  

Leah, Grace and Jane all took a million photos and videos with our underwater camera.  Most
would give you a headache and motion sickness, but there were a few that turned out super fun.

Teaching Jane to float.

Grace the mermaid.

It's fun to sit in the water and have conversations with my Brother about
everything under the Sun.  I am blessed with two awesome brothers and I'm
grateful we are close.

Dax and Lucas riding on Shamu.

Leah's favorite pool activity is just about anything.  Here she is jumping off
of Dad's shoulders. 

Dax's favorite thing is to jump off the rocks.  

I'm so grateful our kids have cousins their age.  They love and value them
so much.  

Sarah, Leah and Dax taking the plunge from the high rocks.

I love this pic.  This was taken underwater (obviously) after he had jumped off the rocks.  

Again...fearless.  And a waterbug.

The day before we left to go home we went to the Big Chino Extravaganza Fireworks Show to celebrate Independence Day.  I haven't lived there since 1995, yet within 5 minutes of arriving, I run into people I know.  The show was great.  Chino really does it right.  

Within minutes of arriving I run into Rudy and Nora.  They lived behind us
until I was the age of 12.  For those who always marvel at how much I love
Filipino food, you can blame Nora.  She got me hooked at an early age.  Two
amazing and loving people.  

Leah and Grace played with capes.  I love this pic of Leah showing off her
girl power.  

Am I blessed or what?!

Luckily I got to run into Lily too.  She is Rudy and Nora's daughter.  I also got to run into
Michelle who was with her.  Facebook is nice because you still feel connected after so many
years.  Lily is as sweet as they come.  

Uncle Scott was working during the celebration so he couldn't hang with us,
but we got to watch him in action for a bit.  He was manning the high tech
drone to survey the area and keep us all safe.  

Dax got to hang with the firemen for a bit.  He was a bit
reluctant and did a good job at keeping his cool, but I know
he was really stoked on the inside.  

One final pic.  I got to go on a ride along with my little Bro.  As impressed as
I always am with him, he will always be my little Bro and I pray for his safety
 often.  It was fun to see him in action.  I can tell he is very respected by those
he works with and trains.  I'm proud of him.

So, Cali, you never disappoint...when we visit.  There's no way in hell I could go back to the current political and financial mess that you have become, but I will always love you and will always consider myself a So Cal boy.  Thanks for the memories....keep 'em coming!