Oahu Trip

Well, we did have lots of pictures to select from for November. But that is mostly due to the trip to Oahu Hawaii

I organized an archery event with Troop 2001 and got Max to go with me. Unfortuantely, we didn't pay enough attention to the distance of the target. So even though he had made really good improvement and become pretty good shooter, we were shooting at 10 yard intsead of 15 yard. But with his record on this day, it will just be a matter of finding another opportunity.

It is picture like this reminding us that Renee is growing into a young adult.

When on the trip, Renee and Max always stay together and hang out.

Here is what they look like when standing next to each other.

We were at a temple and they learned to feed the birds off their hands.

Max even stood up and have birds flying in and out of his hand.

In the evening, Renee went to the beach and took her "tick-tock" pictures. She is not really on those social networks, except Snapchat.

In one evening, Renee went to the swimming pool and chilled out with some drinks.

We also discovered electric sooter and went out for a few rides.

Renee as Eagle Scout!

We don't have nearly as many pictures this month. But we have big news!

Renee made it to the Eagle Rank! This is the day when she submitted the application for Eagle Board of Review. The Eagle Board of Review is mostly no major issues as long as you treat it seriously. But since it is the end of a long journey, it is hard not to stress out a bit. Renee handled it pretty well, though, including in the end they were pretending to ask her to wait until she is older.

Max did another Kungfu performance. This time they had a dragon to play with.

Kungfu Tournament and Hetch Hetchy Backpacking

The month went by fast! I actually don't have as many pictures as usual. But each picture is with a big event.

As mentioned last month, Max has been preparing for a Kungfu Tournament with his team. These are his teammates. Their team performance scored really high. It turned out that there were no other teams competing for this category so either way they won the gold medal.

The team also went to a community performance. This is when they are setting up the stage.

In the meanwhile, Renee and I went on a backpacking trip at Hetch Hetchy in Yosemite.

These are the four scouts who came to the trip. I actually have another picture with much better background but unfortunately Renee's eyes were closed.

Renee's Eagle Project and Max' Preparation for Kungfu Tournament

Picture-wise, August would look like a slow month. But this is because we have been focused on Renee's Eagle project and Max' Kungfu tournament.

With a series of preparation work, leading three group working sessions, and a series of touch-up effort, Renee successfully finished her Eagle project!  This is a model demonstrating the benefit of marsh to the environment.  It is roughly modeled after Lake Del Vale.

Renee went to deliver the model to the ranger. He was super supportive and excited to sign off on it.

Max has been going to as many Kungfu classes as he could preparing for the September tournament. The week after the tournament is a demonstration. Here he is practicing the form with the dragon.

This is Max with his best friend Ben and his siblings.

Outing, Dancing, Swimming

Month of July was pretty quiet, actually, other than Max' swimming team training and competition.

I picked up Renee from her two-week trip of Wente staffing. It was her first "working" away from home. We are all very proud of her and he really enjoyed it. I have another picture where Renee was siging her name underneath a bridge, a tradition to all staff on the camp.

Even though July 4th is the only opportunity for them to play with fireworks, we have been doing this consistently such that they are enjoying it a lot more as the years go by. I was surprised to learn that some other kids are still scared of them.

Renee and her mom went to volunteer at the Alameda County Fair. One of the perks is to walk around and check out other stuff when on a break.

Max has stayed with swimming training and competition. He has really got stronger through this program. He does not stand out much though. We stil think that if he gets into the mindset of trying harder, he can do well.

Renee went to a dance tournament and won first place in the overal category!

 

Renee and I went to a 10-mile hike around Lake Chabot. It turned out to be over 12 miles.

Summer Camp, again but with a twist

June is the summer camp for the family. This year, we had a twist, which is that Renee went to summer camp, Wente, as a counselor in training. She worked five hours a day and for two weeks. Since I was not there I didn't take any pictures. But rest assured that she greatly enjoyed being independnt and with a job to perform.

We picked a good weekend to do some cherry picking. Max is still just a little shorter than I am. I keep on wondering about the day when he is as tall as I am.

Max has started his swimming training again. I bought some nurf gun for him as a prize when he beats his old records.

Max also attended the black belt test event in the Kungfu school.

Max has finally earned his black belt! He still has some more training to do, but he has grown a lot many thanks to the masters in the school.

Renee uses the summer opportunity to do more dance training.

We took them out to Sunol and enjoyed a short hike to little Yosemite.

Celebrating birthday with Max. Renee had one too.

We drove Max to Wolfboro for summer camp.

I organized a Golden Gate Bridge 10-mile hike and Renee came for the event.

Seemingly Slower Month

There don't appear to have a lot of pictures.  Renee and Max have been busy but mostly on their own.

Technically I was there during this camporee event for Twin Valley District. But I was staffing at the archery range so didn't really have any opportunity to take good pictures. I did get a shot of this ceremory where Renee was offered to join the Order of Arrow (OA). Renee was on staff for this event, which is much harder than attending it. The scout staff team worked for weeks with many zoom meetings and dry-runs to prepare for this event.

Max almost never practice at home but he does get up early twice a week to practice at school. He is actually getting decent at it.

Max went with his Troop 805 scouts to the Yosemite camping. After the Big Sur backpacking, we are all pretty comfortable with him preparing for himself and going on his own.

Renee supported one of the scouts in her troop 998G for this neat Eagle Project.

We went to the wind-and-art feastival. Renee and Max built and flew the kite.

Big Sur, Mount Diablo, Hiking, Camping, Busy Month

It certainly has been a busy month!

Renee had a dance recital and got a chance to perform a solo.

Renee continues enjoying dancing. As I am writing this post, she has signed up to be on the "Song Team" in the high school. It is actually a team that teaches them to dance.

As mentioned in the last post, we have been preparing for this backpacking trip in Big Sur. This is on the second day and we got to this awesome spot for a group picture.

I chose this one more beacuse of the ocean view in the background. On the first day, we were going along the shorline, to the right of this picture, and climbing up. It was really cool to climb with an ocean view.

As part of my volunteer work at Troop 998G, I am in charge of the monthly hiking program. For April, we went up to the Mount Diablo. This is the Eagle Peak that we climbed first before reaching the summit

This is the top of Mount Diablo.

Max had his fair share of scouting program too. He went to the District Camporee where different troops from the district meet and compete. Renee is in Girl Troop from another District, so theirs is coming up. I really they can allow brothers and sisters to join the same troop and go out to the same set of events.

Renee also had a piano recital. She was also the Master of Ceremony during this event.

During the Spring Break, Max also went with his best buddy to the Monterey Bay Acquarium

Preparing for Big Sur

 Not much this month, probably mostly preparing for the backpacking in Big Sur during the Spring Break.

Max needed more volunteer hours for his scouting advancement. I took him to my favorite option: Foodbank.

Renee had a full day this weekend attending dance competition and ErHu practice. She took a break in the middle of the day and visited Emeryville Marina Park.

Renee and her friends in the dance class got the award from the dance competition.

I got a chance to take Max again on a Backpacking training trip. Max does not mind staying home all day, acutally. But everytime we get a chance to go out, he also enjoys himself walking around and does not feel tired.