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.