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matt

American Idol Live! Jax! Nick Fradiani!

by Papa K on August 23, 2015

Tonight Maile and I went down to The Warfield to see American Idol Live, featuring Maile’s favorite Jax and the other top 5 contests including the winner, Nick Fradiani. I purchased the tickets for Maile’s birthday and we’d been counting down the days all summer. It was truly a night to remember…

First, we had to make sure we were properly dressed. Maile Girl picked out a great outfit for herself and Christine helped her put on some finishing touches. We spent A LOT of time deciding which necklaces and bracelets to wear.

Initially, I thought I’d pull my old sleeveless jean jacket out of retirement. But Maile had other ideas. When I put it in on, she told me in no uncertain terms that it “wasn’t very Nick Fradiani” and I “should change”. She let me keep my Bon Jovi t-shirt (that was cool enough), but instead put me in a darker color pair of jeans and a sport jacket. Judge for yourself, I think she was right…

Daddy's initial outfit for the concert...

... and the update after Maile's improvements!

Lauren didn't join us this time, but we'll get her to a concert soon enough...

After we were properly attired we headed out for the show. Here’s Maile describing what was about to happen…

Along the way we stopped for some rock star poses...

And there it is - outside Maile's first concert, American Idol Live at The Warfield!

First concert t-shirt - Jax! Never taking it off...

Daddy and Maile before the show started...

And then the show started – basically consisted of the top 5 contestants taking turns singing covers. We had pretty solid seats off to one side, but that allowed Maile to stand on the chair and dance around with me. We were also right in front of a gaggle of 15 or so screaming girls – Maile was almost as transfixed by them as she was by what was happening on stage…

Oh my god! Jax is RIGHT THERE!

Jax came down into the crowd and Maile ran over (and then got run over) with a bunch of the other teenage girls and Jax sang right to them. You can’t see much here, but posting anyways so when Maile checks this out later she can see how close she was to Jax…

We didn’t make it until the very end – around 9:30, Maile started to get really tired. She actually asked me to leave early. It doesn’t matter though – it was an amazing night. Perfect venue and small concert to get Maile started – just overwhelming enough to blow her mind, but still keep it mostly intact.

(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)

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Cape Cod Vacation, Part 3: Go Fly A Kite!

by Papa K on August 16, 2015

One last memory from our Cape Cod vacation before we move on. Maile and I went to a store in downtown Chatham and picked up a kite. I’ve mentioned this before, but I love kite flying. Our Cape Code kite flying was short-lived (apparently there are endangered birds that are scared of kites so it wasn’t allowed on the beach we were on), but we had fun while it lasted…

Getting things setup with my two little helpers...

Great success! We are airborne...

Just a little girl and a string to the sky...

A perfect picture.

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Cape Cod Vacation, Part 2: Family Fun!

by Papa K on August 10, 2015

The best part of our vacation to Cape Cod was that we were joined by Grandma Jill and Papa Mike for the first part of the week and Auntie Elyssa for the whole thing!

Only thing better than family time? Family time + ice cream!

And yes, plenty of time playing with Auntie's old dolls with Grandma Jill...

Swinging with Grandma Jill

All the ladies on the see saw...

Selfie time with Auntie Elyssa!

Family Picture (Maile 6, Lauren 2.5)

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PMC 2015 – A Great Welcome At the Finish Line!

by Papa K on August 5, 2015

(Apologies for the lack of posting this past week – we’ve been on the east coast for the PMC – see below – and vacationing on Cape Cod. Been spending good time away from the computer, but that has messed up my posting schedule!)

This past weekend I rode in my 5th Pan Mass Challenge. Last year, Maile joined me in Boston for the PMC while Mommy and Lauren stayed home. Maile, Grandma and Papa Boston met me in Boston after I took the Ferry home from where the ride finishes in Provincetown. That was pretty awesome.

This year was even better! Christine and both girls, along with Grandma and Papa Boston AND Auntie Elyssa all came down the Cape and were actually there at the finish line when I completed the 192 mile ride. I had never had anyone waiting for me at the finish and it was everything I hoped it could be. I’m truly thankful that everyone trekked all the way out to the very tip of the Cape.

We had a great ride and it was an awesome weekend once again – and even better, this year, we rented a house out in Chatham and have been enjoying some vacation time this week (more on that to follow)…

Knowing I was able to see this crew at the finish got me through the last miles!

Maile and Lauren got a kick out of all my riding gear...

One more - because it was that great 🙂

I ride every year with my best friend, Ryan - and I wouldn't be doing it at all if it wasn't for the guy on the left, Papa Mike!

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A Saturday Ride Across the Golden Gate

by Papa K on July 19, 2015

I’m in the home stretch of my training for my annual Pan-Mass Challenge ride (I’d love your support if you’d care to donate!). On Saturday, I decided to step up my training and bring the girls along, Rocky IV-style. We rented bikes and rode up over the Golden Gate Bridge and down into Sausalito. It was a beautiful day and actually Christine’s first time biking with me over the bridge as well. We had a blast and it was definitely a good work out – needless to say, I will not be bringing that trailer on all 192 miles of the PMC!

Maile and Lauren ready to rock in their trailer!

Things work well on flat ground, the hills get a bit tougher...

Pausing for some pics in the middle of the Golden Gate...

Family shot - AAAAAAH!

Mommy and the girls at lunch...

... okay Lauren, now that's a better smile...

Mommy and Lauren had fun on the top of the Ferry, Maile and I stayed down below (she was too hot outside)

Lauren is a big fan of the ferry!

Hard work for the girls, they conked out on the ride back after the Ferry...

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#tbt – Finishing Birthday Week With A … Sparkle

by Papa K on July 16, 2015

Remember this one? I like to call it “The one where daddy learns that sparklers aren’t made for 2 year olds…”

(Click here for the video.)

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Chats with Maile

by Papa K on July 6, 2015

Last week while Maile was in Hawaii we would have little chats in the afternoon over Facetime. For some reason they felt different than our normal conversations. We talk all the time, of course, but when we are home there always seems to be something else competing for our attention – a toy, a game, a little sister. Getting 10 minutes just the two of us is pretty rare. Christine says Maile often blabbers to her on the way home from school, but by the time I get home from work, I don’t get quite as much detail. I guess since I was not there, I was privy to the “blabber” – and I loved it. It was really nice just talking with her, hearing about her day, telling her about mine. Goofing around a little bit. And yes, some tears too.

She also seemed older to me – made me realize how crazy it is that in just a few short days she will be 6 years old.

In any event, I really enjoyed it. Going to find some ways to make it a more regular occurrence even when we are both home in SF!

Sometimes we were happy...

... sometimes we were goofy ...

... and sometimes we were sad 🙁

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A Weekend in Point Reyes

by Papa K on June 21, 2015

A couple of Maile’s classmates were having a birthday party up in Point Reyes on Saturday. Its about an hour and half drive from the city, so I found a little cottage on Airbnb and we decided to make a weekend out of it. We drove up on Friday and came back Sunday AM. In between we had a fun visit to a part of the Bay Area that I’d never been to before.

The girls have been on a big Totoro kick lately so they were thrilled when we arrived at the cottage and it resembled the house in the story set way back in the woods as it was...

On Saturday morning we set off to find this abandoned boat that a friend had told us about. Clearly Maile thinks she has found it...

... and she was right! Doesn't this look like she is standing in front of a painting?

Family Picture (Maile nearly 6 and Lauren 2.5)

... and, of course, we had plenty of watermelon all weekend!

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The One Where Mommy Runs A Marathon

by Papa K on May 31, 2015

Today Christine completed the San Diego Rock N’ Roll Marathon – it was the culmination of countless hours of training and a goal (“run a marathon”) she has had for as long as I can remember. I brought the girls down to San Diego to watch. Now a marathon isn’t a super easy thing to watch, we caught her around the 10K mark and then again at the finish. Maile made a great sign all be herself and they both had fun yelling and cheering and watching Mommy run. They definitely didn’t totally understand how far Mommy ran (I tried a few different ways to convey it to Maile, but not sure it stuck).

For the girls, this is one of those accomplishments that will gain meaning over time. I couldn’t be happier that Christine is the role model they see day in and day out of what a mom, wife, friend and, most importantly, woman is all about. It doesn’t need to be a marathon. But the fact that Christine took the time to train for this, to raise money for Leukemia via a phenomenal Team In Training experience and that she pushed herself on the day of to go further than she ever had before — and that she did all of this while still doing all of the very many things she does for our family. Well, that’s the part I’m excited to tell the girls about. And that’s why I’m so very proud of Christine!

We first caught Mommy right around the 10K mark. Well, she techncially caught us. Things were a little slower than anticipated getting the girls in gear, so she ended up ahead of us, but she doubled back to say hello.

Maile and the sign she made for Christine all be herself...

Shockingly, we enjoyed cheering on the runners...

After the earlier 10K timing debacle, I might have gotten us to the finish line a little too early - so the girls had some time to kill...

And then all of a sudden, there Mommy was!

So happy to see Mommy at the finish!

Mommy and her girls - somehow they gave her 2 medals - lucky for us 🙂

All of us celebrating Mommy's first marathon!

(Click here for the video.)

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Maker Faire 2015 with Grandma and Papa Boston

by Papa K on May 17, 2015

Grandma and Papa Boston arrived on Saturday. Maile and I picked them up at the airport and took them right over to the Maker Faire. We had a great time last year and both Maile and I were excited to go back and also share the fun with Grandma and Papa.

This year Mommy and Lauren stayed home on account of Lauren’s nap schedule (not as easy to just get her to crash in the stroller these days). We missed them for sure! We explored much more of the fair ground this year taking in drones and robots and all types of strange, weird, cool things…