Hello mudder, hello fadder we are off to camp...

Gramma Ila arrived last night and we are furiously packing up for 11 days on the road heading to Camp DeBenneville Pines. The camp is located in the San Bernardino Mountains at an elevation of 7000 ft. This is the camp where I came of age and had many of the most formative experiences of my youth. Gramma Ila brought us there in 1978 when I was 12 and Andy was 8 years old. Next week is Family Camp. Families from all over California and Arizona will be there and most will be the same "kids" that i played with almost 30 years ago. It will be a great reunion where we get to share the same spaces we haunted years ago and bring our own children together in a place that means so much to all of us. Gramma Ila and I are counselors running the craft table for the 8-10 year olds.

Little master builder

Silas has always been a focused pattern master, block builder, and Lego constructor. But over the last few months he has become a master builder with Lego sets of all sizes. For his birthday he got several complicated sets. He builds them completely on his own, following the detailed directions slowly and confidently. In fact if Jasper or I get too close or offer a hand he usually flips out, give the artist his space. The Lego airplane in the picture has over 400 pieces and took him 3 days. He diligently followed the 40 page instruction book.

Silas says: This was my favorite thing I built at my Dad's house. My plane it was so cool, it was better than my other plane because my other plane had a missing piece in the front. Front is my favorite place and on the other airplane I had big giant pieces, so i have two airplanes.



The bigger set of Lego in the picture above is an accumulation of almost 40 years. There are pieces my brother Andy and I played with as children, sets bought for the Crocker kids in Del Mar (George, Amy, and Ariel), and more recent acquisitions from thrifts stores, garage sales and sets for the Crocker Boys. HINT: dump out all the Lego on to a blanket, it is easier to find the pieces you are looking for and easy to pour back into the storage container.

Silas Turns 5 Years Old

Happy Birthday my little one. It feels like you have already been five for a few months. Try to find the secret hidden pattern that Silas created in the cake with M+Ms. Great party today at the boat park in Golden Gate Park, well atttended by our wonderful Sunset Coop and Outer Sunset crew.

A Little Left on July Fourth

Jasper says: I liked Mo's visit and the most special thing was when we went to the Mime Troupe with him. He is not our uncle but he is kind of our uncle. I have known him since I was zero years old. It was really fun to have him over for a visit. He is moving to Las Vegas. He is a clown in a circus this is what he does for a job.

Silas says: Nothing... thanks for coming to visit Mo.

Thanks for coming by Amos, we loved spending the evening and the whole Fourth of July with you. Great for DaDa to connect with a good old friend who has really been there for me. What ever you need Mo you know only to ask! It was an honor to attend the 48th Annual SF Mime Troupe play in Dolores Park (opening weekend) with a Mime Troupe collective member. Safe journey to Las Vegas, we will come visit soon. Thank Ben, Sue, and Tim for coming along too!

Wow 4 Pokemon EX cards, Mo can't believe it.

Silas showing off his collection.

CrockerBoys enjoy the show. The heat was a little much for us fog dwellers.

He Made Me Do It

Silas asked me to shave his head yesterday when I had mine done. I gave him several offers to not do it or just make it short but he really wanted it. I was nervous and when it was over it was so CUTE! Silas was quite excited, just see the smile. Bold little guy.

Silas says: I cut my hair because I wanted to be bald, because I wanted everyone to think that I was a different person, like Mollie did and Kira. And because I wanted to feel it all short.

Simon Says Play Ball

Thanks to Fred, Toby, and Max for inviting us to the Giants game today. It is Max's 9th birthday and he spent the afternoon with us. Sunny warm day at the Park. The Giants beat the pants off the Arizona Diamondbacks 13-0. It was an exciting game. After the game the kids and Fred went down the Coca Cola slide and then we got to run the bases and see themselves on the Jumbotron. Great day at the ball game.

Now we end the day with a sleep over with some of Silas' best friends in preparation for his turning 5 on Friday.


Our team takes the field



Silas, Max and Toby on the Jumbotron (yellow underline), Jasper ran too fast and right out of the frame.

Toby rushes home plate.

Silas finishes his run on the bases.

A Fair Time Was Had by All

Took the boys and the Horowitz clan (minus Joel) to the Marin County Fair today. Parked in the Auto desk parking lot and gave the kids a tour of my office. See the picture below of the five of them standing on my desk. The fair was great. For the price of the admission all the rides are free. We arrived early so there were no lines and the kids did one of the fun houses at least 20 times. Got to see some pig races, the Sippy Cups (they rock so hard), and eat plenty of ribs, snow cones, and cotton candy. And as if this was not enough we jetted out in time to meet Ben-O and family at the Balboa Theater to see the new Pixar movie Ratatouille. Great and long day. Read a little Inkheart and we all crashed early.


Silas says: when I was going on the slide it was really fun because I was going the fastest. I got two stuffed animals and one of them was a sea otter and one of them was a bear. That's all.


Jasper says: I liked the hang glider ride and the first ride that I went on, that roller coaster. I liked the Shrek Adventure because I went really fast on the slide and I bounced on the thing you get on the end of the slide. I really wanted to go on the upside down rides, but we didn't have time. That's all.



The kids on my desk in San Rafael


I want, I want some more, gimmie gimmie gimmie I want some more.


Taking a little lady for a drive.


How come the dark side is so attractive?