Beach 2007_randys camera 341Originally uploaded by drakesplace.

At this point in our summer vacation, with the two weeks winding down to a matter of mere days…I am constantly reminded of how much joy our children bring to our lives. It is a special summer with Jessie on the path to her new life in college and both boys growing so quickly. This video is a montage of our captured kid moments during this trip so far. I decided to set it to Tom Petty’s “Free Falling” song…why you ask? This is a song that I used to dance/rock Jessie back to sleep when she was a small baby. It seemed the only combination that would do it. Years later…as I was driving in the middle of the Jersey night to join Teresa in the hospital for the birth of Jack…this very same song came on the radio and greeted me as I turned into the Hospital parking lot. Three years later, after having just been at the birth of Joshua in Portland, OR I headed out to the car to drive home and catch a quick shower. As soon as I turned on the car, yes, this very same song started playing on the radio.

Fate? Who knows…but what I do know is that whenever I hear this song, it brings back a flood of happy emotions about my children, with whom I’m so in love!

Enjoy!  (just click on the link below)
http://www.drakesplace.com/children.html

Beach 2007_randys camera 287Originally uploaded by drakesplace.

Greetings!

Well…being an HTML newbie….I am going to try and post just a link to a file that will hopefully give you a little video taste of the Beach Summer of 2007 Drake vacation. Here you go!

When the file loads just hit the play/pause button and enjoy!

http://www.drakesplace.com/vacation/vacation.html

 

A proud moment!

Originally uploaded by drakesplace.

What a glorious evening! Jessie was radient and we are all so proud of her accomplishments. Drove the family to Modesto yesterday and spent some great time beforehand at the Firehouse, the coffee shop that Dan and Nancy own, and got the chance to meet many of Jessie’s friends as well. Jessie received an amazing acoustic guitar as one of her gifts so we all are looking forward to singing around the campfire at the beach.

Will write more about this later but wanted to honor her by getting up the first photo!

WestmontCollege1hOriginally uploaded by drakesplace.

Had one of those amazing days out of the blue yesterday. I found myself in Burbank California and the meeting I was flying to in Portland was canceled at the last minute. As I was getting ready to head to the airport to go back to the Bay Area I realized I was only a short drive away from Santa Barbara, which is where Jessie will start College this Fall.

Having not yet seen Westmont College I decided to throw the job to the wind, jump in a car and head north! What a treat as I’ve never been to the Santa Barbara area and had only heard of how amazing it was.

I arrived on campus on a misty and somewhat chilly May morning and I can honestly say it was one of the most peaceful settings I’ve ever experienced.   The quiet shuffling of students along the grass paths, the constant singing of all the birds and even the soft roar of the Pacific in the distant background.   It is a small school with slightly under 1,200 total students enrolled and it just has the best feel.  It is no surprise that Jessie has fallen in love with such a place.  www.westmont.edu

It is a strange time when you stand facing your first child heading off into the great wide world…but the reality is I can’t wait until we are meeting her first roommate, seeing her excitment in finding new friends and all the great new times that will come with being the parent of a college student.   Very proud times.

Back to the realities and pressures of work this morning but feeling strangely….peaceful

 

IMG_0029

Originally uploaded by drakesplace.

Well…it was a stil cool morning in May when fate shined upon this moment captured in time. Jack, 8 years old, meeting our very first pool. If this somehow doesn’t define what it is to be young, and free and so full of joy, I simply don’t know what would.

I actually think this will be a picture I come across 20 years from now and instantly will be transported back to the “moment” it was snapped. It is great to be alive and to have my family.

This is a look at the Drake family back in 2003 when we lived just outside of Issaquah WA.

IMG_0525Originally uploaded by drakesplace.

Here is a look at our favorite place on earth!!