It's the Cofer's Life

Block Party

We've been pretty busy around the neighborhood lately. We've had a couple of big get together s with the neighbors in the front yard and a street wide garage sale. Here a a few pictures of the kids at play. Here's Emma, Daria, Carson and Race at play.

Umigo

As we age things like Bachelor's Party's become less about debauchery and more about just having fun. My friend Stave Frazier (the big yellow banana) decided to have his bachelor party at Umigo Karting in Livermore. I did pretty well even though I had to change karts on e lap into the race due to severe steering issues. I was behind the leader at the end trading the spot back and forth. Unfortunately, I was also a lap down due to my kart change. It was still great fun. After the karting Race, Elizabeth and I ran by Hayward Ford for the introduction of the 2011 Mustang and then off to Pittsburg for a birthday party for one of Race's classmates. Just a typical busy weekend for the Cofer's
-Dean

Father's Day Program at School 5/14

Race sang in his final performance as a 2nd grader at school for the Father's Day Showcase. All the kids got to run out into the audience and give their Dads a framed picture of themselves.

Young Eagle 5/15/10

Today was a big day in aviation. Today we found out that our niece, Melinda, had been accepted to the Air Force Academy, and, today, Race joined the EAA (experimental aircraft association) Young Eagles and took his first ride in a 2-seat experimental aircraft. He took off from Buchanan Field and Daddy got to see him circle the plant in Bay Point before he returned for a perfect landing. He received his Young Eagles Logbook and the first entry reads, Aircraft: Lancair 235, Registration #:N19BJ, Route of Flight: Concord Local, Duration of Flight: 0.5 hours.

Race also got to fly a flight simulator. The EAA members were a little stumped when he asked for Missiles on his simulator, but one of the EAA members rescued them by explaining that he would have to be older and take a lot more flight lessons before he could have missiles. Another Young Eagle alertly pointed out that if he had missiles, and he crashed, he would blow up!

The coolest thing was that Grandpa Don had taken a flight to Columbia, CA in the same Lancair just last weekend.

Go Kart Driving School

Yes, Go Kart Driving School. For Race's birthday present this year we gave him a half day driving school at the Jim Russell International Karting Center located at Sears Point (Infineon) Raceway. There were only 6 kids in the class and the instructors were awesome. Once the kids were suited up the instructors took them on a track walk to teach them the racing line. After some safety instruction it the classroom the kids were assigned karts, the drivers position was adjusted to fit them and they were taught how to start the karts, brake and accelerate. Race spun on the first session and decided to sit out the second session and have the kart readjusted to fit him better. He got some individual instruction in the pits and then we went in for a debriefing before the third session. The instructors had a debrief after every session that detailed what the kids were doing right and wrong and offering them some more training. Race spun again in the third session on Kramer, a wacky off camber turn that caught every kid at least once. One of the girls went straight into a tire wall and bent the steering on her kart in this session. After another debrief Race and the rest of the kids (including the quickly repaired wrecked kart) went out for their fourth and final session. Race began hitting the line and his speed came way up through The Sweeper, Monaco, The Last Turn (yep, that's really it's name), and even the dreaded Kramer. He's ready to go back for another driving school. The instructor paid him a big compliment, saying that Race was the only driver who followed all of his instructions. Way to go Race.

I am putting together a movie of his driving. Unfortunately the helmet cam didn't work, but we have some good video and a bunch of pictures for the DVD. Email me if you want a copy when it's done.

Race's 8th Birthday

All right, I know it's been a while since I posted anything. Here are some pictures from Race's 8th Birthday party. Since the garage is still cleaned out having the floor re-poured, we decided to have his party there. Race chose a Lego theme and Elizabeth went all out and made a Lego cake, a Lego t-shirt (that all the guests signed), a Lego Pinata and Lego garlands. It was pretty awesome and all the kids had a great time.

Valentine's Day Chapel

The 2nd grade were the featured performers at today's All School Chapel. Dean was fortunate enough to be able to attend. Listening to them belt out Love Train was the highlight of the performance. Here's a few pictures of the performance, including Race dancing to Love Train with his classmate Paris.