When I am 80

This is the first of many post about the weeks Albert parents spent here in Colorado.

Albert's father, Al, grew up on the east coast and one of his fondest memories from childhood was ice skating on ponds. About a year ago he had the opportunity to try out his skills. As it turns out, he wasn't half bad considering he hadn't skated since the 1960's!! Now he wants to skate all the time. When we were planning his visit here, ALL he wanted to do was see Zack and ICE SKATE!!!!
Now, keep in mind, he will be celebrating his 80th birthday this April.
Since neither Albert or I have skated since the year we meet, and well, weren't even good then, (as you can see below) the closest I can hope for "when I am 80", is a hike aound the lake!!

Albert and my brother Brad skating about 9 years ago, note they are just inches from the wall, just in case.

Below are a few of the pictures Albert was able take from the sidelines of his Dad skating adventure at Evergreen lake.

Al in teal jacket with the beautiful Colorado day as a backdrop!

He started out kinda wobbly because this was the first time
Al had used "hockey skates"! (no toe pic)

Still got it!!

Big Boy Food!!

In the world of baby nutrition, the next thing after "milky's" is what they call first solids. It makes no sense to me since it is not really "solids" at all. You mix the chosen food, in our case, rice cereal with milky's. It is mostly milky cereal, until you venture into food that is basically pureed into liquids. I guess you gotta start somewhere, but it is defiantly not what I would call "solid".

However, this week Zack tried "real" solid food, opposed the food I take and turn into puree in food processor. I thought peas would be fun and easy enough to practice his "pincher" skills on.


Ummm, What are these little round, green things?



Ah, I can almost get one, nope, dropped it.



Darn,these things are hard to pick up...spoon was better!



GOT ONE!! Kinda funny feeling!



Takes me awhile to mash up with no teeth.



Not to sure about these, wait, give me a minute...


As usual with Z, any type of food gets the thumbs up!!

Sunday's with Dad

Sunday's around the Gallego house, like the previous three years, became all about Albert's fantasy football team. Early on we tried to keep Zack from watch TV, but the male instinct to watch football was too strong...


Watching New England Patriots' win 18th game this season.

Apparently the urge to drink beer with your buddies is just a natural...
Zack will have to settle for a sippy cup of water for at least a few years.

Tres generaciones

During my parent's recent trip to Colorado we managed to get a moment to sit still long enough to get this picture of the three generations of "Gallego men". I guess Shadow counts since he was trying to get into the picture too. Both of my parents had a lot of fun with Zack since he's so much more interactive. The last time they saw him in California, he was only 3 months old.

Here Zack is giving Papa Al a big hug


Zack is showing Al how the "Brightlings" works!

Dinner, Family Style

When Albert's parents were in town Al wanted to make us the Spaghetti dinner he used to make with Albert when he was little. While I helped Al, Bernice was given the task of feeding Zack. It had been years, (34 to be exact) and Bernice was out of practice...

Zack was faster at first...


But eventually Berncie got in to the grove of it...


And even though Zack ended up eating some food with Grandma,


He wanted some of Papa's yummy Spaghetti!!

Mommy and Daddy's bed

Zack has recently decided he really enjoys the occasional nap in the big bed...

He is so happy and cute, how can we say no?

Sunday Brunch play date

This past Sunday, Riley's mom, Emily and dad, Colm, had a few of the babies over for Sunday brunch. Albert and I used to enjoy the occasional Sunday breakfast out, but now, with Zack pretty much demanding that we be home by 6 pm, so he can be in his bed, brunch is about the best time to catch up with the babies! (Plus mommy's, and daddy's.)

Hostess's Riley and Emily

Landon, Zack, new friend Jack, and host Riley

Emily provided some great food, coffee (super important) and mimosa's (even more important), and Kari made some yummy eggs, that even I decided to try. (No eggs for me since they made me sick while I was prego.) They were really yummy.

We met a few new babies...One is literally new, just 6 weeks. She was so cute and is another Sophie. I think Zack is gonna think all girls are "Sofi's /Sophia's / Sophie's.


Zack of course playing with giant lady bug while Landon flirts with new Sophie


After Landon left, Zack scored a back massage from Riley, although, in reality, Riley is just learning to sit and Zack was the closest thing she could grab on to.

Baby Magician

Last week Zack and Landon had a play date with the triplet boys. http://gallegofamily.blogspot.com/2008/01/boys-team.html

The big hit was box that they keep some of their toys in!

Z and LT "playing together", even sharing!



Recently Landon aka, "The Luminous Leonardo Magician of Distinction"
(His magician name according to site that tells you your "magician name" http://www.scholastic.com/magic/magicname/magicianname.htm )

has been learning magic from his cousin, Nicholas, http://landon-t-c.blogspot.com/2008/01/cousin-brothers.html

and by the look on is face, below


I should have known he was up to something...


"Abracadabra, I will make Zack disappear"

Additional pics

http://landon-t-c.blogspot.com/2008/01/you-put-your-kid-in-box.html

Boys Team

On Friday, Kari, Landon, Zack and I supervised the Triplet's for the second time, all by ourselves. The boys, almost 11 months now, are expert crawlers and almost walking! I think Z and LT were taking notes on what is in store for them in the near future.

Liam showing off his standing skills


Casey & Gavin
"speed crawling"




It was fun getting all the boys together. They all played"together"!










Which means sitting near each other, fighting over a box, or stealing the toys (or cell phone) someone else has...










But they all had fun and Kari and I had a great time too!!



Boys' team members from left to right - Zack, Landon, Casey, Gavin and Liam

Usually, beside Dylan, the play dates always have the poor guys out numbered by the little girls. (Miake, Jossilyn, Mia, Sofi, Sophia, and Riley)


Casey had enough of the paparazzi!!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paparazzi





The last time we watched the triplets it was very different...told by Kari on LT's blog.

http://landon-t-c.blogspot.com/2007/11/shawn-and-kari-plus-five.html

Zack loves dog dogs

We've had the dogs a lot long before we had Zack, and we weren't sure for the first few months what he'd think of the dogs. Some kids get scared by our big dogs, but ever since Zack started to notice the world around him he's always gotten excited when they walk into the room. Shawn assures me that he gets just as excited to see the dogs as he does when he sees me. However I like to think that I rank higher than the dogs, but I'll let the video speak for itself.



This is Zack with Brian and Kari's dog Halie,
you can imagine what he's like with ours :)