Monday, August 31, 2009

Jack At The Bat!

Saturday morning the Muckdogs took to the fields of Miramar to take on the Storm!
The Muckdogs played a great game!!!
Jack took the field ready to play hard and win!! He had a great game and made some awesome plays!!!
Like this one where he got the runner from 3rd heading home O-U-T!!!!! Nice play Jackers!!!
At the plate Jack was hitting hard and finished the 2nd inning strong for his team! Great job Jack!!!
You can see more pictures and video of Jack's game Saturday morning at www.dropshots.com/theandersonfamily
Until next time............
love from San Diego

Saturday, August 29, 2009

When the Thermometer Reads 100+ For Days........

San Diego is in the middle of a HUGE HEAT WAVE and it is HOT!!!
So, when the thermometer reads 100+ degrees for 4 days in a row with no end in sight and you have no central air -- what does a family do to keep cool?
Well, you go fight the crowds and buy one of these and put it in your window.
Then you close up you house and go outside with your boys to enjoy the pool and hope that the "new a/c" helps cool off your 90+ degree house!!!
Off to enjoy the pool with the boys............
Keeping my fingers crossed that my house is cooled off some by the time we come in!!!
Until next time....................
lots of love from VERY HOT San Diego

Friday, August 28, 2009

The Last Day of a Great Week

Today was the last day of Challenger British Soccer Camp!! There are so many things I can say about the week -- but Jack kind of summed it up today when he came off the field for the final time.
"Can we come back to soccer camp next summer?"
The boys had such a great week -- they both learned so much. Nick learned the fundamentals of the game, how to kick the ball with the inside of his foot, to "freeze" when the ball goes out of bounds and how to keep the ball "close" when moving down the field. It was so much fun to watch him and see him improve over the week. Jack got the most from camp and I have seen great improvement in his game. I'm so looking forward to the soccer season this fall to see him put all the great things he's learned to use. He learned to be more aggressive and go for the ball. His ball handling skills have really improved and you can just see how much he loves to play the game.
Here is Coach Frankie with her group playing their favorite game.....
"British Bulldog"
I think you can tell that all the kids really liked their coach and she was wonderful with them.
It was a SUPER HOT week at Miramar this week, with temps topping out at 104 for the last three days. But, I never once heard a complaint or an "I don't want to go". Every morning the boys were up and ready to go and played hard the entire time they were on the field. I'm just so proud of them and all their hard work. As Coach Frankie said in their evaluations today "well done boys!"
Here is Jack and Nick with Coach Frankie!!!

If you would like to see more of our pictures from our final day of camp you can always go to:
www.dropshots.com/theandersonfamily
Until next time............
love and BIG SOCCER KICKS from San Diego

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

CRAZY Wednesday!

Its been a SUPER CRAZY day!!!!
Until next time..............
love from San Diego

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

They Went 1 on 1 Today!

The boys had another WONDERFUL day at soccer camp!! Today the skill that they worked on the most was shooting the ball for a score!! They again played games and ran drills all focused on kicking the ball to score a goal.
Here are the boys working on kicking the ball to score a goal. As they went down the white line they had to shoot from farther back each time.
At the end of the "first session" (before Jack moves on to play with the older kids) the little guys had a scrimmage game. Nick was so excited to "play soccer like Jack." The boys were on opposite teams and even had a little 1 on 1 action!!!

They are having the best time at camp and are learning a lot and I'm really enjoying watching them!!! For more pictures from day 2 you can go to
www.dropshots.com/theandersonfamily.
Until next time.............
love and soccer kicks from San Diego

Monday, August 24, 2009

The Brits Call it Football

Today was the boys first day of Challenger British Soccer Camp at Miramar. The boys have been looking forward to this week all summer. Nick's excitement comes from being able to "play soccer just like Jack" and having his own cleats and shin guards to wear. Jack's excitement comes from his love of playing soccer. The boys will attend camp all week. Jack's camp time runs from 9 to 12 and Nick goes from 9 to 10:30!

Here are my little "football" players this morning -- all dressed and ready to go!!
The first part of the morning the boys are together on the field. They are running drills, playing games, learning the fundamentals, and good sportsmanship. After 10:30 when Nick is done, Jack goes and plays with the "big kids". He did really well today but he did say on the way home that the second half of camp was "harder then the first half because the big kids are tough!"


Here are the boys on the field!

Playing a game -- and having a great time!!!
Jack on the field with the big kids -- he did a great job "holding his own"!

The boys had a great day and are looking forward to being on the field again tomorrow morning. If you want to see more of our pictures from soccer camp you can check us out at www.dropshots.com/theandersonfamily
Until next time...........
love and lots of soccer kicks from San Diego

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Little Fish!

I have always enjoyed the water and swimming in the summer and that is why I thought it was so important for the boys to learn how to swim. Its a life lesson that I think everybody should know how to do. So, back a few months ago when we first went to Murray Callan Swim School I was so excited for the boys to get into the water and learn to swim. But, in the 9 weeks that they have gone to classes with Jen I've been amazed at how far they have come. Jack has almost perfected the freestyle and Nick is so cute in the water doing his "alligator tail with his digs".

Swim lessons have been so much more for the boys then just learning to swim. They have learned to love the water and feel totally comfortable in it. I love Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when I can sit poolside and watch my boys doing something that they love.

I wanted to share some videos of the boys swimming. I hope you enjoy watching them!

My little fish!!!

Until next time.............love from San Diego

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Playing Just Like Pops!!

Last weekend at Jack's baseball game he finally got to play the position that he has been wanting to play since the start of the season.
What position did he want to play?
Well, he needed extra equipment...........
Yes, Jack wanted to be the catcher!
Why you ask?
Because that is what position Pops played!!! Of course!!!
Look at my little catcher out there doing his thing!!!
He did a great job and really enjoyed playing this position. He hopes to be able to play it again soon. If you want to see more pictures from Jack's game last weekend check them out here: www.dropshots.com/theandersonfamily
Until next time.............
love from San Diego

Monday, August 17, 2009

Why Are You Doing That Dad?

Jack and Nick coming tearing threw the back door screaming:
"Dad, come quick we found something!"
Kevin:
"What is it boys?"
Jack:
"It's the home of a woodland creature!"
Nick:
"Yes, a woodland creature!"
So, we all go outside to check things out.
Nick:
"Do you see the home of the woodland creature Dad?"
Kevin:
"Yes, Nick!"
This is what they found:
Great now we have something tearing up the backyard.
So, Kevin starts to fill the hole.
Nick:
"What are you doing Daddy?"
Kevin:
"Fillin' the hole buddy!"
Nick:
"So, the little woodland creature can't see us!!"

Oh my gosh, my boys make me laugh!!!
So, now I'm calling housing to come out and "get rid of" our "woodland creature"!!!!
Until next time..............
love and laughs from San Diego

Saturday, August 15, 2009

One Year Ago Today!

One year ago today we said goodbye to our beautiful European city home in Berlin and headed back to the USA.
Some days it feels like just yesterday that we were there and then other times it feels like a lifetime ago. We loved every minute of our time in Berlin and all the opportunities we had there. We made the most wonderful friends and there is not a day that goes by when we don't think of them.
Oh, how I miss this wonderful, beautiful, historical city but more then that I miss all my lovely dear sweet friends!!!
Until next time............
love from San Diego

Friday, August 14, 2009

A Very Sad Goodbye

Last night the view in my backyard looked like it always does with Uncle Nick and the boys running around having fun, playing ball and giggling the whole time. (A view I hold very close to my heart!)
But last night was so different.
Last night Uncle Nick was here with his brother and father for dinner. His family was in town to help Nick move home to Missouri. So, last night we gathered to say good bye to our Uncle Nick.


After 8 years, two deployments to Iraq, 3 MSG Dets and life in the fleet Marine Corps Nick is hanging up his uniform and going home..
I really can't put into words how much this man we call Uncle Nick means to us. He is not related to any of us other then threw the blood of the USMC but he is a part of this family and we are going to miss him terribly.

Nick came into our lives two years ago when we moved to Berlin. Nick was Kevin's "go to guy" always with the det in Berlin and their working relationship was always strong. But, over the year we formed a more personal bond with Nick. Then it was time for Nick to leave Germany and we thought that was hard. But, we were all thrilled when we learned that we would all be together in California.

For the last 12 months we have done everything together as a family. We have visited all the SoCal attractions -- Sea World, the SD Zoo, WAP, the beach, Legoland, and of course Disneyland. We have laughed so hard our sides hurt, we have cried, we have talked, we have played, we have celebrated, and now we say goodbye.

We are going to miss our Uncle Nick more then words can say. We will miss his big heart, his smile, his kindness, his voice, his hugs, his iPhone, his support, his stories, his big truck, his friendship, his love.
Simply put we will miss him!

Life here will be so different now that he is gone. But, because he is family we will see him again (he promised that last night when he left). However, it won't be on the regular basis that it has been for a year and we are all going to miss that very much.

Last night was so very hard, we cried, we said our goodbyes and now Uncle Nick has California in his rear view mirror.

WE LOVE YOU UNCLE NICK and
WE WILL MISS YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!!

Until next time...............
love and lots of tears from San Diego

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Words Escape Me!

I walked into the kitchen tonight to find my little monkey doing this....................
I really don't know what to say except............
OH NICKY!!!!

Until next time...............love and craziness from San Diego

Thursday, August 6, 2009

The First Half of Our Summer!!!

Oh my gosh, this summer is flying by and I can't believe that it is already half over!!! In a little over a month Jack will be headed back to school. WOW!!! We have been super busy and having a blast. So, what have we been up to? Well, let me fill you in!!
The first few weeks school was out we spent our Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Murray Callen Swim School! The boys have loved swimming with their teacher Jen and it has amazed me how much they have learned. We are still taking swim lessons and I promise to have new pictures of the boys in the water soon!!!
The last day of June we packed our bags and headed East!! Yes, we went to Virginia to visit our family. We had a great time and our 10 days flew by. We celebrated the 4th of July in Pitman, NJ (my parents hometown) and had a great time being with our extended family!!! Here is a little glimpse of our time on the "other coast" through the lens of my camera!!!

My parents enjoying the annual Pitman 4th of July parade with their grandsons!!!
Four Generations of the Cuddy Family!!!
Jack and Aunt Steph celebrating the 4th of July!!
While we were home we got to visit with our friends from Germany!! It was so great to spend the day with Cristin and the girls!!! Oh how I miss my friend and her wonderful girls!!!
We took the boys to the Marine Corps Museum to see the bricks that we bought for Pops and Grandpa a few years ago for Christmas!!! The museum is great and we really enjoyed our day there!
We went to Aunt Steph's pool -- and had lots of fun splashing in the water!
And no trip to Virginia would be complete without a few trips to Carl's!!! This is by far the BEST ice cream!!!!
We had a wonderful vacation and enjoyed our time with our family and friends!!!

When we got home to California we decided it was time to move Nick out of his crib and into his big boy toddler bed. I was a little worried how he was going to do now that he could "move around freely" but he has done wonderful!!! From the very beginning he goes to bed at night and stays there. He is such a big boy!!!!
Look how proud he is of his new "big boy bed!!"

Grammy and Pops made their first visit to California this summer!! Oh my gosh we loved having them here and showing them all the things we love to do here in San Diego!!! Pops was here for a week and Grammy for two and again our time flew by. We missed them terribly when they returned home and can't wait for the next time they come to visit!!!
Here are Grammy and Pops with the boys at the San Diego Zoo!!!
Grammy and the boys on the beach in Coronado enjoying the Southern California sun and surf!!!
July 26th we celebrated Nick's 3rd birthday!!! Yes, our little boy is 3 years old now!!! Wow!!! We had a nice little family party here at home and Nick enjoyed his day!!!
Also this summer Jack got a new look!
That's right Jack lost tooth #2 and is sporting a new toothless grin!!

Jack is playing baseball at Miramar this summer and had his first practice last week. He is really excited and is looking forward to his first game this weekend. His team the "Muckdogs" will take the field at Miramar's new sports complex this Saturday at 10:30 so be looking for lots of pictures!!!
Here our player is at his first practice!!!


Finally that brings me to this week. We just returned from our vacation to Disneyland!!! We had a great time on our 3 day stay and enjoyed our time together!!!!

Now we are back in San Diego and back to "normal" life. We can be found in the swimming pool Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. Baseball practice on Monday and Wednesday nights and at our weekly games on Saturday mornings!!! And hopefully at the beach when we have nothing else to do!! :)
It has been super hot here in San Diego this summer so we also spend lots of time in our "backyard pool" just trying to keep cool. If you want to see more pictures from the 1st half of our summer you can go to our Dropshots page. (WARNING: I added 20 new albums today -- there are 100's of pictures!! It might be a little too much!! But, if you just can't help yourself and really want to look at all our pictures the link is on the right hand column of this blog under "my blog list". But don't say I didn't warn you!!! Enjoy!!!)
We have lots more going on this summer so stayed tuned for more adventures from us!!!
Until next time............
love from San Diego

Sunday, August 2, 2009

So Much To Share -- So Little Time!

I know that it has been forever since I posted anything about our summer adventures -- and I promise I will do so very soon. Because I do have a lot of stories and pictures to share. But, your going to have to wait just a tiny bit longer.

For the next 3 days we are going to being hanging out with this guy at his place.

I will write more when I'm back in San Diego!

So until next time........................

Lots of Love from Disneyland