[September 26, 2007 - From Oma]
Hi Ian,

I just looked over the photos from your cub scout camp last summer. It looks like you had a lot of fun! And you did so many things. Wow! Are you going next summer again?

Lots of love,

Oma

[July 27, 2007]
Today was Ian's last day at cub scout camp. His den did the closing flag ceremony and retired the colors. Ian was the narrator for the ceremony and gave the orders to the color guard.


[July 4, 2007]
Today Ian joined his cub scout pack in Novato's 4th-of-July parade and celebrations.


[June 19, 2007]
Lauryn, Ian, Mom and Dad just got back from a four-day family campout at Gumboot Lake in the Shasta-Trinity Forest -- bear country! We hiked, swam, and fished. Ian caught his very first fish ever -- a rainbox trout. He caught it with a worm. Mom and Dad also caught a fish each. Lauryn didn't catch one but she helped us eat the three we caught.

While we were hiking we found another smaller lake above Gumboot Lake. We saw bear sign, but no bears. Good thing; that would have been a bit frightful.


[May 23, 2007]
Today Miss Yates' class performed a skit called, "Three Billy Goats Gruff." Three billy goats live on one side of a stream. They look at the grass on the other side of the stream and decide that it is greener. The only way to cross the stream is over a bridge, under which lives a troll. Ian played the part of the large billy goat gruff.


[March 17, 2007]
Today was Opening Day of Little League season. Ian is on the Indians team. Ian's team rode in the parade (team manager (Dad) drove the truck) and later they played the Mariners. Ian played catcher and left field.



[January 30, 2007]
Ian's basketball team (the Bulls) played the Raptors this evening. Ian scored two points, which is rather rare, so we were all excited for him. Although scores are not officially kept in this league we estimate that his team has won about one in three games.


[October 31, 2006]
Today Ian's school had a costume party. Ian was a red ninja. Matthew was an Egyptian pharoah. Cole was a vampire. Spencer was Superman. And Miss Yates was Dorothy.


[June 25, 2006]
Today was a way-cool day. Nana bought Ian a new bike!


[June 14, 2006]
Ian graduated from Kindergarten today.



Pleasant Valley Elementary School
Kindergarten Class of 2006


Ian is in the red shirt in front of School Principle
Pam Conklin (back row, right). Ian's teacher,
Mrs. Saysette, is back row in olive shirt.

[May 27, 2006]
Ian went to Olivia Gonzalez' 6th birthday party today. He got to ride Chief.


[May 25, 2006]
Ian cooked dinner today. He served pot roast, mac & cheese, and peas.


[May 20, 2006]
Ian played his last Little League T-ball game today. What a difference a season makes. I remember the first game: when the ball was hit all nine boys ran to chase it down; a wrestling match pursued as each boy was determined to be the one to retrieve the ball; and the boys could hit off the tee most of the time. By the end of the season all players were somewhat familiar with their positions and were hitting the coaches' pitches.

[April 25, 2006]
For Spring break Mom took Ian and Lauryn to Pasadena to visit Aiden and Sean. Among other things they had an Easter egg hunt and went to Legoland and had a blast.

[April 23, 2006]
Today Ian and Daddy built a 5-foot snowman on the porch of the lodge where we stayed at Lake Tahoe. We were very sad when we had to leave it behind because we knew it would melt in a few days.


[July 18, 2005]
Ian toured Old Montreal on his way to Europe.

[2005]
Uncle Mark sent us a cool picture of his rock band in Switzerland.


[December 18, 2004]
Ian had another exciting day today. Grandma and Ian ran errands with Dad while Mom and Nana got their hair done in Napa. Then at 11:30 Ian had gymnastics, which is always fun. Then at 2 o'clock Ian went to James' party. Get this ... it was at a horse ranch ... and Ian and all his friends got to ride on horses and have a lot of fun. Today was a good day. Here are some photos of the party.


[November 20, 2004]
Ian went to gym class today and afterwards to Derrick's birthday party at Round Table Pizza. Derrick is a friend from All Saints Preschool. They had pizza and sodas and cake and played pin the nose on the clown. Then they all played in the fun room. It was a good day.

[October 30, 2004]
Saturdays at the gym.

For the past two years Ian has been working-out every Saturday at the Novato Gymnastics Center. He and a few buddies are Red Stars (4-year-olds) in the Tumble Star Preschool Program. We're excited about this program not just because Ian is developing his motor skills and strength but because he's learning great social skill there too. Check out these photos Dad took last Saturday:


[June 29, 2004]
Ian and family went to D.C. this week. Mommy had meetings while the rest of the family toured the city. This was Ian's 2nd trip to D.C.

[March 8, 2004]

Ian is holding up 4 fingers because he turned 4 today. He took a plate of cupcakes to preschool to share with all of his classmates.

He got a special phone call from Grandpa Gene who wished him a happy birthday and gave him a couple of nice spiderman outfits, including a spiderman pajamas and a spiderman mask, gloves, and flippers.

Today was a happy day.

[March 5, 2004]
Daddy and Ian went to San Francisco today to pick up some equipment Daddy bought on E-bay. We had lunch with Mary Peluso at McDonalds. Ian had a cheeseburger happy meal.

[March 3, 2004]
Ian went to the dentist today for his first filling. Yes, our baby, who turns 4 on Monday (March 8), has two cavities. Yikes!

I wasn't sure how Ian would handle the various probes, syringes, and drills that dentists use. As it turned out the dentist was brilliant and introduced Ian to each of the instruments one at a time. He even let him play with them for a few seconds.

Dr. Tiller called the probe a tooth counter and showed Ian how he could count his teeth with them. He called the drill a "whistle" and let Ian play with the whistle (sans bit) for awhile. The syringe ... well ... he kept the syringe out of sight.

Dr. Tiller started by giving Ian a topical anesthetic that smelled like cherries, which Ian liked. After his gums were slightly numb out came the syringe, which was carefully hidden from Ian's view. The doctor told Ian that he might feel his fingernail press against his gums a bit but that it would be okay. To my surprise Ian took the needle like a champion. Then came the "whistle" ... "Whiiiiiiiiiiiizzzzzzzzzzz." Again, I was pleasantly surprised that Ian took the drill like a champion.

During the drive home I asked Ian if Dr. Tiller hurt him at any point. He said, "no, he tickled me." I asked him if he wanted to go back again sometime, and he assured me he did. Good thing ... next week we come back for filling #2.

[February 26, 2004]
Ian's friend Patrick turned 4 today. His parents invited a dozen or more kids to join Patrick at Round Table pizza for fun and food. Kathryn and I both went and had fun meeting all the moms and dads.

[February 15, 2004]
Ian graduated to "Red Stars" in his gymnastics class. He's been doing gymnastics for over a year now. It's cute to see the little 3 and 4-year-olds learning their motor skills and having fun. After gymnastics we took a nap and then went to the park.

[February 11, 2004]
Ian's first visit to the dentist. TWO CAVITIES!!! Now Mommy and Daddy brush and floss his teeth every day and give him a floride tablet. Before now Ian was brushing his own teeth. Next week Ian will learn what a visit to the dentist is all about. He is getting his first filling. Oh no!

[February 9, 2004]

Today was a bad day!

We had an accident at school today. Ian was at chapel and had to "go." He announced the fact to the teacher, but she was not able to take him at the time. Needless to say he was very embarrased and upset. He hasn't had an accident in a very long time, especially in public. The teachers handled it nicely and had him in dry clothes within minutes. Soon this event will pass from his memory. Poor thing!

[February 2, 2004]
Ian surprised me today by reciting the days of the week, the months of the year, and all four seasons. Wow! I couldn't do that at age 3 (almost 4). He also invited all his buddies at Chevy's to his birthday party, which Mommy and Daddy knew nothing about. We were rather surprised when people came up to us to ask where the party was being held. Yikes!

[January 27, 2004]
We're going to the mall today. Yeah!

[January 26, 2004]
Mommy and Daddy try to teach Ian new vocabulary words from time to time. In the past few weeks he's learned melancholy, despondent, festivities, bestow and furious. Many of his new words come from the books we read to him. He's become very inquisitive and asks Why? at least 20 times a day.

[January 25, 2004]
"Nana bought Ian a scooter today. Nana, Ian and Mommy went to the park to try it out. Grandma didn't want to go so Daddy stayed home with Grandma and worked on the family website while Grandma took a nap.

Ian played on his new scooter for about 5 minutes, then went to the swings and slides. I guess the anticipation of owning a scooter was greater than the reality. : )

Ian has a birthday coming up in March. He'll be four. Nana says the scooter is an early b-day present.

[December 2, 2003]
Grandpa Jim (Davidson) bought Ian a cowboy vest last year when Grandpa and Daddy went to Wickenburg Arizona on a sight-seeing trip. A year later Ian still loves that vest and wears it often. In September Grandpa and Daddy went to Tombstone and other places in Arizona for more sight-seeing and Grandpa bought Ian a sheriff's badge which Ian pinned on the vest. Here are some pictures of Ian, taken last year, wearing the vest and riding Midnight.