Surfin's up... fishin's down...

Well... we got a few nibbles but I guess the cold front didn't do what everyone thought it would do for the fish. (The surfers were loving it, though, with good waves for the first time in several months!) So... we fished for a while... and then we played on the beach for a while ;-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All in all it was just another fun and beautiful day at the beach!

Busy day!

A bright and early start to the day with a 5k run... at 7am it was already 83 degrees and blowing almost 20mph... not optimal running conditions, but she did great (I think she got 2nd in 19 &U but we didn't stick around to see) and as always had a blast...

More shut-outs!

... and thirty minutes after her 5k she played soccer for an hour and a half... leading her team to an 8-0 victory with four goals (here shooting number two)!

Her brother's team (sorry, no pictures) shut them out as well 15-0.

Now Kees is off to a party and three hours later Kiersten has one... a busy, busy day!

Exclamation Point!

OK... what, my last five posts have had an exclamation point in the title? I'll work on that ;-) 

Whale shark!

Check this fish out... two guys spotted this thirty-something foot whale shark near the jetties where we fish on the weekends!

They dove in and swam with it and here's the video they took: Whaleshark

When the fishing is slow the kids like to get in and snorkel... even though they know it's harmless they're not so sure they want to do that anymore ;-)

Try-outs!

Well, tonight Kiersten tried out for a part in a play. She'd never done anything like this before so we really didn't know what to expect.

It was cool... just like in the movies... the director sat in the middle of the audience, in the dark, calling out numbers and instructions.

I've always known she had a great voice because we always sing in the car... like always... no... I really mean always... and her voice, right behind me, is incredible (and makes me and Kees sound terrible)! Of all the people trying out she was the only one that seemed to be on-key the entire time! My only criticism would be that she wasn't projecting very well. I think she's capable of singing louder and just doesn't realize how loud you have to sing in a theater.

There were some kids with very average voices but had that typical exaggerated, overly-dramatic stage persona (on and off the stage). That's probably great for the stage, but (I'm sorry to say this) that just rubs me the wrong way. Not just the kids, but with anyone. I was raised very European, very salt-of-the-earth, very real... no facades... what you see is what you get, and I'm proud that my kids are like that... they're secure, real and comfortable in their own skin.

So, Kiersten was out there singing it her way and I was proud of her!

I tried to talk Kees into trying out but he gave me a big "no thank you!" 

She definitely had the best moves... this white girl can dance (like Papa ;-)... even in flip flops! 

Overall I think it went well... many of the other girls were obviously experienced, and several had that overly-dramatic stage persona which Kiersten doesn't have (thank god), but she has the pipes so we'll just keep our fingers crossed! 

Shut out!

The boys were awesome, not allowing the other team near the goal and when they did our goalies shut them down! Kees was on fire with mad soccer skilz... scoring from the left, from the right... if he kicks it in the goal, it's in! Here, he spins around and celebrates as the ball shoots into the goal after the goalie dove after it and missed... it was a cool shot because he head-faked the goalie to the right and then shot to the left with his left foot!

Two shut-outs!

And the girls shut them out as well! Kiersten had been sick the last couple of days but went out and played hard. She didn't have any goals herself but assisted on every goal but one, outrunning the defenders and driving into the corner and then crossing to the center for her teammate Kathleen to score most of the goals.

Gone fishin'

We've been fishing a lot lately. The other weekend Kees hooked a HUGE bull red off the jetty. He called out to me and I looked over and saw his rod bent in an arc and heard his drag spooling out line. He's a big, strong kid and was reeling it in but the fish must have gone around a rock and gotten the line wedged between some rocks because he couldn't reel it in anymore. I tried as well and it was stuck. He was really bummed out!


You need to check this video out. It's of someone I know in Mexico landing a Roosterfish in the surf in Mazatlán (I believe) on the Mexican coast. 

Signing autographs

Decked out in her Velo Bella-Kona vest and displaying some of her national championship medals, Kiersten was signing pictures today at the sports expo... it was her and some of the ex Dallas Cowboys so she felt special ;-)