Bodie Takes Charge

Santa brought Bodie a new bicycle a few months ago, which he took to like a fish does water. Over the last couple of months, Bo has asked me several times to take the training wheels off of his "Lightning" bike, but I've always told him that I wanted to wait until I knew he was ready. He kept insisting that he was ready.

While at the park with Grandma Sheila today, Bo asked his friend, Devon, if he could try to ride his bike(smaller than Bo's, but no training wheels). I'm told he hopped on, smiled crookedly, and took off...with Grandma in chase.

Tonight, after dinner, and after he told me about his bike riding escapades at the park, he asked me to take the training wheels off his bike...again. We went out into the garage, and I began lecturing/whimpering to him, "Bo, this bike is bigger than what you rode today...you're going to crash...and probably get hurt...and there might be blood...and I'm not sure this is a good idea...and I don't know if you're ready yet." He looked at me as if I was completely insane, and calmly and confidently said, " Daddy, go get your tools over there, and take these wheels off." Results below:
For the record: a certain someone from Seattle(Chris, I got the message) said Bo was ready to go a few months ago. Also for the record: Bo is 3 years, 9 months old.

Zeke's Worst Day Ever(otherwise known as Family Bike Ride Day)

Mack, Bodie, Andrea, and I decided to drag Zeke around Simi Valley on a family bike ride. Zeke does not feel like exercise activities fit into his busy schedule of video game playing, TV watching, and avoiding chores. Anyway, we rode up to our favorite rocky playground, then to coyote park, Grandma's and Grandpa's house(they weren't home), and Jamba Juice. Couple of pics below.

Mack and Bo were thrilled to be out, playing on the rocks.

Zeke was not. Look at that scowl...
Zeke...too cool for us and still not happy.

Those bike shorts used to be Mack's. Bo and Mack climbed all over these rocks.

The coyotes don't seem pleased. Zeke is almost smiling...

Lang Ranch Loop with Mack

Mack and I took a quick ride up into Lang Ranch. We were both a little under the weather, so it was a short one. Mack rolling through the gate at the beginning.

Mack dropping into the "Chute" off of "Little Moab." Unfortunately, when he tried to turn his wheel(half-way down), a loose head-set cause his wheel to go in a different direction than intended resulting in a...CRASH! He wiped himself off, we fixed his bike, and continued up the hill.

Nice, short, rocky descent. No problem for Mack(apparently he can do it with his eyes closed).

At the lip of the "half-pipe." and rolling through.

Climbing out of the basin heading towards our last downhill...all the way home.

Mack is carving the "S"uperman S-curve on our way home.

Skateboard Action

Mack cracked his board in half doing a "triple-twisting, Gnar-Gnar, soy milk, half-caff, McFly butt buster" or something like that, so we had to get a new one and try it out. The damage done as well as the new one.


This is called an Ollie. I'm not sure why it's called that, but Mack seems to enjoy them. Sweet, huh?

Stuck the landing.

What the hell?

One day, not too long ago, Bodie got up and dressed himself. Let's take inventory:

Pajamas...check.
Witches hat...check.
Bodyglove wet suit...check.
Hockey glove...check.
Knee guard...check.
His dignity was no where to be found.

The Crocodile Hunter

He was all smiles at first, but soon, he would have to jump into action and capture a rogue crocodile.

There he is in the water below...jump on him.

Nice hang time.

Coming in for the landing...Got him!

Mack and Zeke wanted in on the action jump shots...Mack showing his grace.

Zeke doing his best "Air Jordan."

Unfortunately, he hyper-extended his spleen on the landing.

A few of our favorite pics...

In no particular order:

"Boyz in da Hoodz", one of our all time favorites.

Mack and Bo are great looking kids, but the Z-man has the best girl skills.

So cute!

Mack looked like a blue collar boy when he was a youngster.

Now, he's a stud-football player on Saturdays in the Fall.

Halloween a few years back. Bo is wondering how many beatings he is going to take while canvasing the neighborhood for goodies dressed as a dork, and Zeke is Spiderman, dammit.


Da-na-na-na-na-naaa-naaa, Fatman!

This is from Halloween 2006. Bodie hit the streets as a ghost/klansmen.

Bo and Daddy when he was less than a week old.
More to follow...

Long Canyon/Lang Ranch Trails

I took a ride in the hills behind our house on Sunday.

Mack named this section "S"uperman's curves. He and I often ride this trail looking for snakes and lizards.



This has been my trusty steed for the last six years. Tough for non-bikers to appreciate, but she's a beautiful beast.



The Caves of Insanity.
Mack and I believe that coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, Chumash Indians, and possibly, Yetis have all lived in these caves over the years.



Alligator Lizards in the air...(with apologies to America). This little guy measured 11-12 inches long. We often see snakes - rattle, king, and gopher varieties, roadrunners, occasional coyotes, a few bobcats, and tons of lizards.



The view towards home after the short, steep climb. One of my favorites...



View towards Simi Valley, our town, a long way down.



Fossil Rock
Mack, Zeke, and Bo always make us stop here to check out the shell fossils. Pretty cool, huh?


Just wanted to give you all a quick tour of our backyard.