Sebastian is checking out the squirrel action in the back yard.

Maya is modeling an early Christmas present from Mayela to me. Please note, that the hat fit her as well as it did her father. I do not know what this means, but it cannot be good.

My sister Mayela and husband Stephen have come for a brief visit with canine children Jake (seen here stealing a kiss) and Sebastian. These children are quite remarkable. They rarely talk back, they clean up after themselves and anyone else who has dropped food on the floor, they eat everything you put on their plates and would rather run around outside than watch TV or play video games. Our kids could learn a thing or two from these guys.

Maya entertains Uncle Stephen with a bedtime story. We have him to thank for improving Maya’s reading skills. When Maya pronounce “Dick” as “duck” Stephen suggested she need only change the “u” to an “i”. Maya continued with the story of “Dyke and Jane”.

The surf was up and I was able to catch some of the action.

During my recent business trip to California, I had a brief opportunity to visit the Pacific Ocean at Newport Beach.

Today was another exciting day on the soccer field. Kyle’s team fell to a 2-0 deficit before coming from behind to win 3-2. It was not one of Kyle’s better games but he started a nice passing sequence which resulted in the go ahead goal. Jeanine seen here as we packed up to leave the field. Have you ever seen anyone who looks so nice in hats? I was out of action today with a pulled groin muscle which I suffered in a scrimmage match on Labor day. Tomorrow I head to California for a three day trip and will probably not post again until Thursday.

Larry, Jeanine’s father, arrived this afternoon after driving out from Indiana. First to greet him were his two girls.

This evening was the first (hopefully annual) Mattison neighborhood family block party. Activities for the children included pony rides, a huge inflatable moon-walk with slide, volleyball/nukem, a bicycle parade, face painting, and an open ice cream bar.

Maya is dressing herself this year. Today, she came down for breakfast adorned in this scarf and macrame choker.

Nico is relaxing before his first full day at school, where he is pleased to be in a class with a number of his friends. There is already talk of soccer and volleyball during recreation period and this has Nicolai very excited.

Just like “Goldilocks”, Maya had to sample every bed.

This evening, Jeanine and I took Maya out to shop for bedroom furniture. Although she did not quite fit in the strollers, she was quite content to be chauffeured about the store with her legs dangling out.

Father and daughter snuggling on the couch before her first day of school as photographed by Nicolai.