Seasonal Clean-up

This was my Father's Day gift - M & J transformed into pop-art iconography.
Michael entered 2nd grade this week - more on this exciting school development later. Right now, I already know how much I'll miss this period of their lives. M & J have created their own little world as our children, so I wonder if memberships in outside, discrete groups will drive a subtle wedge; between them and us, and each other.

This summer we discovered the vast world of day camps. Michael did art camp for two weeks, while Jack did preschool.

We blindly rolled into Legoland the week Orange County began school, ie EMPTY park! No lines. A merciful park - not too big and geared towards the wee set.
We really enjoyed ourselves, especially the hotel pool scene afterwards during this heat wave, which sure beat getting on the 5 - Angelenos place an article ("the") before the highway - for 2.5 hours home.
After years of being away, I'm renewing my hometown loyalty to the men in blue; viewing the Dodgers hit a grand slam and beat the Cubs, as we consumed loads of junk with Jeff, just back from a Minneapolis, summer internship. Jack is geared towards baseball - studied the players and refused to take off his jersey for days, saying, "I want to be a 'Dodgerman.'"

Also, finally entered Hollywood, taking in G Force at the El Capitain, one of the grand ol' movie houses, complete with a gold-leaf, Wurlitzer organ rising through the stage floor.
The entire event, including lunch at Musso & Frank's, was planned by Uncle Tom who, from out-of-state (Oregon), has more desire to experience iconic LA.

However, music practice knows no summer. Jack is improving, too - not nearly so screechy now.We also celebrated Kai (Japanese for "ocean") Tokuda - a second cousin? - turn 1. Among only relatives among a community of friends (mostly Japanese), we remembered the Hawaiian wedding where we met most of these folks. Kai has another set of cousins also named Michael & Jack.

Michael, Jack; Jack, Michael