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.