August in Avalon

Fisher is such a ham. He picked up this to-go container then glanced around to see who was looking. Out came the camera phones!

We had quite a crowd join us for our last trip to Catalina. On board were Buff & Pam Brown, owners of an air conditioning company in Palm Desert and their two older sons. Mike's Uncle Fahmy, his family and good friends rented a house in town and joined us for daytime fun on the boat. Fisher trys hard to skip naps when there's anything fun going on. He slept in his car seat during our golf cart caravan tour around town. Thanks friends for such a good time!

Uncle Fahmy's Cabin

We were invited to spend a weekend with Mike's Uncle Fahmy and his family at their beautiful cabin in Big Bear. Grandma Sohair and George joined us too.








At the Alpine Zoo we discovered there is an animal from Canada called the fast and ferocious Fisher. Mike and Fisher took a ski lift up a mountain then rode a luge down. Fisher loved going fast. The faster they went, the louder he giggled.

August Activities

It's so hot outside we've been home a lot. So, why not introduce the potty?

Everytime I put a squirt of foaming handsoap in Fisher's hand he giggles then wipes it on his cheeks. He must think he's spreading on shave cream like Daddy.

Grandpa is going Fisher a lesson on how to hammer nails. Grandma did not approve of him using a real hammer, but he wasn't about to let go! We were watching Grandpa clean up a bookcase he made for Jill as a child. He cleaned, repaired, sanded and painted it for Fisher's new room.

Fisher and his friend Thacker. Thacker's parents joined us for Sushi Night at home to enjoy Mike's fresh-caught albacore. Thacker had a baby brother, Oliver, born in August. These two boys, only one month apart, will both have baby brothers soon.

While preparing for dinner I set out the dipping bowls and soy sauce on the kitchen island then turned away to pull more supplies from the refrigerator. While my back was turned Fisher scurried up into a barstool and carefully filled the dipping bowls with soy sauce. How did he know to do that? He was quite proud of himself and eager to eat with chop sticks like the adults.

Island Rendezvous

Later in July we joined fellow Mikelson owners for a rendezvous at Two Harbors in Catalina. Our friend Guy, a cameraman on "24" ran his inflatable boat out from Long Beach for a visit. Jill's dad and Guy enjoyed free diving in secluded coves during the afternoons.

Fisher and Bo ready for their first fishing tournament. There was an actual shotgun start for a dinghy fishing tournament we participated in. We lined up at the start, raced out after the gun fired, got a few photos, no fish, then headed back early for breakfast on the boat.

Fisher loved playing in the sand and rocks on the beach at Two Harbors. Jill's parents sat at the beach for hours watching him play while spending some time on solid ground. Later that evening when we returned to shore for a special dinner Fisher walked straight into the water fully clothed.

Our group held a special dinner with entertainment in a tent on the beach. This photo was taken BEFORE Fisher dropped handfuls of sand on his head and went swimming fully clothed. After that he laid down and rolled around in the sand for fun.

Grandpa and Fisher rolled an ice cream ball around during our cruise home. It was a birthday present for Mike from Jill's sister Janeen. Fisher wore his life jacket for extra padding and protection from the ball that must have weighed 40 pounds when loaded with cream, sugar, ice and salt. The ice cream was delicious, butter pecan. This is a tradition I'd like to continue :).

Fun Filled Fourth

Many friends escaped the desert heat to join us for our annual 4th of July celebration.

We decorated the dinghy, dressed up and joined in the dinghy parade. Next year we'll take the bubble machine along with us!

The afternoon was spent napping (adults only, of course), grilling and enjoying Big Sticks on the back deck. The kids had fun with a bubble machine and splash pool on the back deck.

That weekend Fisher and Mommy went along on Mike's first albacore trip of the year on Persistence. Mike, give us some details...

July Birthdays

We celebrated Mike's birthday and Fisher's half-birthday on July 3 aboard Persistence.

All grandparents were in attendance along with our friends the Beaches.

For lunch we ate sail boat stuffed peppers.

Baby Kasey was a special gift Fisher latched onto right away. He enjoys practicing being "big brother" by giving baby a bottle and covering him with a blanket.

It's getting hard to keep him down!