A Blurrr of Activities

The last day of School and the weekend that followed was a blurrrr of activities.  The official kickoff to summer was Tristan's 5th Grade Promotion from Mayflower Elementary.   

Tristan and his friend Steven were to be the leaders in their lines for the walk down to the ceremony.

The ability to take good pictures was to fail me this day, so this was the only picture I got of Tristan waiting to get his promotion certificates from the line of Teachers that awaited him.

He did get his certificates, but I seriously need some practice with this type of thing.  I feel like I didn't capture the moments like I wanted to.  "Note to self" for middle school and high school graduations in the future - "Open the folder so we can actually see those certificates with that beautiful smile."

The one moment I did capture was like a snapshot in time.  Tristan with his buddies that he's known since pre-school.

Colin, Spence, Tristan

Nathan showing some brotherly love to his big bro on this special day.

Three of my favorite guys!

Tristan with his 5th Grade teachers, Mr. Gibba and Mrs. Gibba. It was an extra emotional promotion for them because it was their last promotion ceremony at Mayflower. They will be moving to Idaho this summer. We wish them tons of luck on their new adventure, but we are really going to miss them!

We are so exteremly proud of Tristan.  He works so hard at school and makes it easy on us, as his parents.  He's got a very bright future ahead of him!

After Tristan's 5th Grade promotion we headed up to Big Bear for the Big Bear Shoot Out #2.  What a weekend!  Three families stayed at our good friends cabin in Arrowhead.   It was nice for Nathan to have his friends' support!

Before we got to see Nathan start, our friend Doug got his start.  Sean was so, so proud of Doug....and secretly a little jealous that he wasn't racing too.  Doug is Tristan's good friend, Lowden's Dad and we love that family!!!!

Then Nate Doggie gets to line up.  Tom, the guy who runs the show, gives them all a little pep talk before every race. 

On this particular day, it was the 7th birthday celebration of Pablo Castelaz, the little boy that Nathan rides in honor of and whom the Pablove Foundation is named for.  I've written before about how butterflys (particularly black and yellow ones) remind me of Pablo.  Well, there was a black and yellow butterfly flying above the kids heads as they were about to start their race.  I took it as a good sign that Nathan would be watched over as he raced this 13 mile race through the wilderness.

My heart literally skips a beat at the start of every race.

I remember yelling "Dig deep Nate Doggie", just has he went up and around the corner.

And I wasn't to see him again for exactly, 1:16:46.81.

Our friend Kiat was further up the course and he got these great pics of Nathan.  And he was "digging deep!"

He had blue shirt in his sights.

He's gaining on him!

He's gonna catch him!

This was the first and only good shot I got of him as he came into the finish.  My picture taking skills were to fail me again.  I was so thankful that I had Kiat there as back up!  He got all the remaining shots I'm going to share with you here,  Thank you Kiat!!

Coming into the finish line, my little Nate Doggie fell around this turn.  He's on the ground behind these two riders.

He's getting up.

He's back in the saddle.

He crossed the finish line.

And rides right into the arms of his loving Daddy.

And supportive friends.

He worked so hard for this and it was hard!

But so worth it! 

He took first place and the overall first place spot in his category this season.  It's hard not to be proud of my boy, who is currently ranked #2 in the Jr. category, in the State and #2 in the Nation of 9-10 year olds.

After the race we celebrated at the awards ceremony with friends and family!

Cousins Taylor and Riley with Nathan and Tristan

Kiat, Nathan's #1 Sponsor!

Nathan with Jordan Romero, the 13 year old who just scaled Mt. Everest in May and holds the record for the youngest person to summit that mountain.  He climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro when he was 9 and only has 1 more peak to go and he'll have done all 7.  Now that is an amazing kid!!!

Nathan races and raises money for the Pablove Foundation.  He is raising money one Mountain Bike Race at a time with his campaign, Mountain Biking for Pablove.  He's currently training for the state championships to be held in Big Bear on July 18th.  It's the big one and we want to hit the big $1,000 for Pablove by then and end on a tremendous note!  Please help Nathan fight childhood cancer with love and click HERE to help him reach his goal!  If you've already donated, THANK YOU SO MUCH FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS. 

If you can't donate at this time, but still want to help, you can help out tremendously by voting for the Pablove Foundation in the Chase Community Giving campaign.  All it takes is 2 clicks of the mouse to VOTE!  Chase is awarding a $250k Grant to the worthy charity that wins this campaign.  With your help, that could be the Pablove Foundation.  Please click HERE to vote and join us in fighting childhood cancer with love. 

Love, Lisa

Riding in Honor of Pablo Castelaz

Butterflys remind me of Pablo Castelaz!  A little boy I never had the pleasure of meeting.  His story came into my family's life by way of a very much loved, but short-lived career at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.  His story, shared so lovingly by his father, Jeff Castelaz, on a blog he started writing soon after learning that his darling little boy had cancer.  http://getwellpablo.blogspot.com/ . 

As my family and I followed Pablo's couragous fight, we were literally moved into action.  That's how the writing of this loving father made you feel about the battle his son was going through. 

This Sunday, Pablo's family will be celebrating Pablo's 7th Birthday and Nathan will be riding a race in Big Bear in honor of Pablo, who lost his very couragous battle with cancer just six days after his 6th Birthday.

I can't let my brain wonder why my family was moved into action by the words of this father, whose son we never knew.  All I can do is follow my family's heart and let it's collective beating lead us to help the Pablove Foundation, fight childhood cancer with love.  My son rides, I write.  That's it.  OH!  Lightbulb moment!  I guess you could say, this is the effort of a mother and son following our hearts to do some good, in honor of a brave little boy we never knew, but loved anyway!

Kids get cancer too and they need a life outside of the cancer treatments.  The Pablove Foundation raises money for that purpose, as well as for research.  I urge you to learn more about the Pablove Foundation http://www.pablove.org/ and I ask you to help Nathan reach his goal as he raises money for the Pablove Foundation one mountain bike race at a time. https://www.giftberry.org/teampledges.php?wishlist_id=146138&pledgedrive_teams_id=227&view_type=i

Love, Lisa

Knotts Berry Farm and The Santa Barbara Bike Festival

June 2nd the Fifth Grade Class of Mayflower Elementary took a final field trip to Knotts Berry Farm! The last 5th grade field trip for our two beloved 5th Grade Teachers Mr. and Mrs. Gibba, who in just a couple of weeks are embarking on a new adventure as they move to Idaho! I've been Mrs. Gibba's Instructional Aide for the last two years and I was Mr. Gibba's Aide the year before that, so I, personally am going to miss them very much! They are two of the best and brightest and I'm sure they will be missed by the entire Mayflower family!

Some of 5th grade's coolest guys and gals.

Memorable adventures with the lunch lady and one of my dearest friends, Mrs. Montemayor!

The kids had so much fun riding rollercoasters.

Mr. Gibba leading some of the bravest off to Excelorator!

Screaming girls on rollercoasters......

..... it's not just the rollercoaster's that make the girls scream.......

.....and the boys love the girls!

We all had a great time hanging together - boys and girls!

What great memories for our kids!

June 6th took our family to the Santa Barbara Bike Festival and one of Nathan's mountain bike races.

Sean's sister Roxy and her husband Randy hosted us and came out to cheer Nathan on.  We love them tons and Nathan rides extra fast when his Aunt Roxy is cheering him on!

Tristan get'n a little love from his Aunt Roxy too!

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it....I get so nervous for my little Nate Dog!

And he looks so cute and relaxed!

Let the race begin!  He got a great start.  Blue shirt is in the 13-14 age group and Nathan was 1 minute behind him at the finish.....but who knew that was going to happen at this point.

This was all we were to see of Nathan until he crossed the finish line.....

And then 6 miles and 0:30:07.68 minutes later, he crossed the finish line in FIRST PLACE!!!!

He was so tired, but he was so happy!

Tristan does a great job of supporting his little brother at his sport!

Nate Dog getting some love from cousin Deanna after the race.  We love her tons too!

There he is in the first place spot!  We are so proud of him!  We're busy preparing for his next race in Big Bear this weekend.  Wish him luck! 

Don't forget that Nathan's riding his heart out to raise awareness and funds for the Pablove Foundation. http://www.pablove.org/  Please click on the Mountain Biking for Pablove link to the right and help him reach his goal. He's only got $195 more to go this season! With your help, I think he can do it, so thanks for helping Nathan fight childhood cancer with love!


Love, Lisa

Mountain Biking for Pablove

Nathan is busy training hard for his upcoming race this weekend in Santa Barbara.  He recently particpated in the Idyllwild Spring Challenge and came in first place.   He was happy to be wearing his new Pablove jersey that he got for his 9th Birthday.

We're so proud of our Nate Dog!  He's a special little guy in so many ways, but mostly because his heart is so huge!

Nathan is raising money for the Pablove Foundation - one mountain bike race at a time! Please help him reach his goal by clicking on the Mountain Biking for Pablove link to the right.