San Diego Auto Show

We got to visit the San Diego International Auto Show on New Year's Day, courtesy of Scripps Healthcare. Our family tradition is to try to find cars that match the kids' personalities.

Here's Lauren with the Mercedes Benz CL 500 Coupe. This car is a 400 HP, 5400 CC V8 beast that goes zero to sixty in about 5 seconds - not bad for a car that weighs 2 1/2 tons. And all that for only $107K! Look how she just belongs behind the wheel of this luxury cruiser. One drawback - she's not a fan of the "wood paneling".










Gratuitous photo of the CL 550 coupe. I had to add this as you can't see much of the car in the photo above.











Brooke at the helm of a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta. It's a cute and sensible car for Brooke. This is actually not the car that Brooke looked best in, but we didn't want to wait in line for thirty minutes to get a shot of her in the BMW 650i convertible.












This is two straight years Riley hasn't been able to come with us. Last year it was basketball practice, this year it was work. So in honor of his dedication to his job and saving for his mission, here's the cars he was hanging around with.












Alicia behind the wheel of the 2009 Mazda MX-5 Miata. This is two years in a row that this little two-seater has fit just perfectly with her attitude - must be destiny.













Tanner got to sit behind the wheel of a Mustang Shelby GT500KR. This is an $80K, 540 HP road rocket that had quite a crowd of folks around it (all guys). Tanner got a big laugh from the crowd when he stepped out of the car and proclaimed "it's ok". Too many people were around to get a good photo.





Natalie is definitely a Mini girl in my opinion. And this is the exact model for her - the John Cooper S Works in red with the black and white checked roof. It's the perfect combination of sporty, sassy, and cool, just like Natalie.

Of course all this may change next year...

Area Champs!

Tanner is at it again. Last weekend and today were the AYSO area 11R playoffs (most of San Diego County). Tanner's team did well enough to make it to the semifinals as the 4th seed, and this morning beat the first seed 2-0, who they lost to last week, also 2-0. This afternoon they beat the second seed 3-1 to win the championship. Next comes the section playoffs, which covers L.A., Orange, and San Diego counties. Congratulations Tanner!

Tanner before the game - it was windy and rainy throughout.

Right after the game.

With the new medal.

Tanner played well and had several steals in the two games. Congratulations Lightning! Next game may be somewhere near you...

Christmas Pictures

Field Hockey, Cont.

We had the pleasure of going to Alicia's field hockey banquet last Thursday night, and got to meet other parents and see how much fun the girls all had together. The coach had some nice things to say about Alicia, who started many games on defense this year.

He mentioned that she is very aggressive on defense and her attitude is that she may not get the ball, but the offensive player won't either even if it means knocking them to the ground (which is fine with the coach). He also loved her team spirit and noted that after a disappointing loss in strokes (like a shootout in soccer), she was the first to run over and cheer and console the goalkeeper.

Congratulations, Alicia!

I did want to note that though Alicia and her teammates didn't notice Riley and his friends storming the field after the last game, the coach did, and mentioned it at the banquet. He called it the best storming of the field he had seen at San Marcos High.

Field Hockey

Alicia's last field hockey game of the season was Tuesday night. They won in overtime, and Riley and his friends stormed the field after the game. Too bad the girls didn't notice, as they were huddled in a victory circle.

Deja Vu

Today were the semifinal and championship games for the boys under 14 division of AYSO region 127. Tanner's team (the Lightning) had an unspectacular season, but since all teams go to the playoffs, they were in. They were fortunate to be put in the weaker of the two pools to start playoffs, but were beaten 4-1 in their opening game by the second place team. They came back in the second game to win and get enough points to make it to this morning's semifinal. In that game, they started very slow but woke up in the second half and ended up scoring four goals to take the win and move to the championship game this afternoon, which would pit them against the number one seed and undefeated Quakes. Riding the emotion of the semifinal victory, they scored two quick goals in the first quarter and added a third at the start of the second quarter. The Quakes answered with a goal at the end of the second, but were unable to put any further pressure on goal in the second half, and Tanner's Lightning pulled out a 3-1 victory to claim the championship. Sadly, Tanner was unable to play due to his recent surgery, but was there to cheer on his teammates. This is his second championship in a row, both with the same coach.

The team banner.

Before the first game of the season on Palomar College's beautiful astroturf field.

Getting the coach's instructions at halftime.

Tanner joining his teammates on the field after the championship.

Tanner receives his medal from his coach, who announced to all gathered that "This game was dedicated to Tanner who has worked hard all year but was unable to play today because he just had surgery." Coach Cesar has been wonderful to Tanner and always talks about how much he loves him because he listens and works hard. His teammates encourage and protect him as well.

I'm number one!

The Lightning with their first place medals. Congratulations!

Post-Op

Here's some high-resolution views of the pain and agony that is Tanner's appendectomy.

Sunday night: He rated his pain level at a 9 here. It might have been a 10 but he kept it down because Jordan in the next bed had an inflamed femur, and isn't that the worst pain? Or was that a broken femur...

This is how he rolls (these days). Tanner on his way to get a CAT scan.

CAT scan: I'm gonna freak if you say my body is going through that little hole.

The pain medicine kicks in.

Monday morning: Tanner checks the I.V. pump just before surgery.

Scored some cool stuff: bubble tape, scented pencil, soccer pillow.

The family came and hung out with Tan for Family Night. He was pleasant and we had some fun though we couldn't make him laugh very much. Obviously still in a bit of pain - coming up on his next round of meds.

Tanner's doing very well. The nurse said his incisions look great tonight. He's made a couple of trips down to the activity room to play air hockey, and can move himself around pretty well. He is hurting but being a real trooper, and was very happy to hear of all the well wishes and those that are praying for him. Thank you all!