Penny for Your Thoughts

Can it be? Is it me?

I guess maybe a monthly blog entry will be sufficient.  I have been totally addicted to Facebook and love the video posting.  But, I suppose where FB is failing is with the journaling that this outlet allows.

Our kids are FANTASTIC!  I just can't believe that they are so incredible.  Natalie is a sweetheart and is so smart and articulate.  She is talented and beautiful and we love her to death.  Danny is a cutie as well.  He is so big and has the best giggle.  His blond hair and big smile is so cute.

I suppose that I need to post more photos for those of you who do not participate in Facebook (but you should, I have many more photos and some videos).

Danny my Sleeping Rockstar (and Natalie too)

  The worst is behind us... for me, being a mom is great, the lack of sleep is not... in fact, I don't even mind the "wonderful" two's.

We are so lucky ot have such wonderful kids.  Danny is now on his 4th night in a row...sleeping through the night.

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Last weekend was beautiful again and we high tailed it to one of our favorite places, and I would argue Natalie's #1...the beach.  We also went to Karynne's 22nd birthday party.  Karynne is looking and doing well and I definitely realized hanging out with 22-year olds that I AM OLD. 

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Back to Danny.  He went to the doctor and we knew he was big but WOW 100% for height and 65% for weight... 24 lbs.  Natalie is 29lbs...

Jeff and I spent Valentines Day together, without the kids, (Thanks Jerry and Connie) and we painted our living room.  We went to dinner and were talking about how we wish we remembered Spanish.  Later that evening we were hanging out and Jeff got a song stuck in his head when he said "Song OUT Spanish IN"... he he he

Build a Better Mousetrap...

Natalie is wonderful.

after weeks of a nightly stalemate, we sit staring at each other with a "you're not getting down until you eat your dinner"... you know how it goes.  We fill her plate with what we expect her to eat and let her down when she eats about half... sometimes hours, yes hours, later.

So, this morning when Jeff asked Natalie if she was hungry she said "I'm just a little bit hungry; just a little bit of Oatmeal so I can get down".

I LOVE all of what makes Natalie, Natalie.  she's so cute.

Why we live in CA...

 Last weekend was beautiful!  Each day I wanted to just soak up the weather and smell of what felt like the end of spring... I drove with the windows down, the music up (without the kids in the car, of course) and lived it up...

We washed all of the cars (their quarterly wash) and parked Dirk in the garage since my car is back from the shop... like new.  We went to the park, rode the ponies and the train and had a great weekend! 

I wish I could have wrapped a bow around this weekend's weather and sent it to all of you freezing in the winter woes.

High 5.

Yes, Danny does a high 5.  And here's what else he can do...

We call him "Daniel Ocean...perpetual motion" because this boy never stops moving.  There is not much cuddling, it is mostly a wrestling match with a 23 lb+ baby.  And, last night Jeff was talking about how Danny slaps him in the face and it is so funny... until today. 

I went to rock wiggly Danny to sleep and he fights it and fights it and fights it until... slap... right accross the face, and again and again... with a smile on his face of course.  ouch.  THANKS JEFF.

Ahhhh! I can't believe it!

So all of you using Facebook already heard the news, but we almost had a new member of our family! 

I am so stoked that I recently found a way to upload all of my old blogs into a printed book.  And, when I was putting it together I came upon one that for some reason I reread... and it was me belly-achin' about being home alone with the dogs for the weekend without Jeff and how bored I would be.  

...and the Facebook Gods asked me to take a survey and I didn't delete this one.  One of the random questions was "Do you take a shower everyday?"  The funny thing is that I said yes stating the main reason not as hygiene, but to get a moment to myself.

Funny how things have come full circle.  What I wouldn't do to have a quiet weekend with just the dogs. 

Okay, now that you scrolled through all of this useless typing to come to an answer to "what the?" after dazing at the gorgeous Lamborghini, let me tell you the truth.  No, we didn't actually turn in the GMC for this sucker...even though I think it is a trade UP.  Our neighbor is an FBI agent/lawyer and he went on a government seize of stolen property and this beauty and many others were brought to his "office".  But the cover for this one was missing and he conveniently enough had room in his garage. It went back "home" yesterday and we are sad.  (I'm not sad however about the loud roar at 6am this morning that will not be repeated.)      

Jeff

everything is always about the kids, but Jeff and I finally have a nice picture of the both of us taken last weekend... thought I'd share.  What a hottie.

 

Training Wheels meets Training Pants

To See Danny Photos Click Here

To See Mom's Trip to CA Photos Click Here

To See Sarah's 30th Birthday Photos Click Here 

To See Lake Arowhead Photos Click Here 

To See the Sledding Video Click Here  

Click on the links above.  they should work and link you to albums that I posted on Facebook.  There is also a great video! 

But, There are things I only share with the family and my closest friends... and that's for my blog.  I could only think of one caption that perfectly describes this photo... "Training Wheels meet Training Pants"...sorry Natalie, but I had to share this!

Facebook is slowly sucking me in!  I am addicted to the comments...

Potty Trained!

So, I started using Facebook and I love it... not a fan of myspace...

But, I need to get my family fix and post cute photos for my blog-world-friends. So I thought I'd share this photo of Natalie on the potty.  She is potty trained and I couldn't be happier. (I also had to bribe her with 2 jelly beans to get this shot...but it's a keeper.)

Frosty the Snowman

Natalie's favorite book is now Frosty the Snowman, and she will sing it too!  It's great!  We had a ton of rain a few weeks ago and the mountains were beautiful.  Jeff and I were set on getting Natalie to the mountains to go sledding before the winter was over.  Last weekend we went up to the local mountains and stayed with our friends and their parents and dog, Roxie, at their parents house. They were so wonderful for letting us stay!

So I thought I'd share the fun photos we took (Even though there were no comments on my last blog entry.)  :(

     

Nana

My mom was out last week and we really enjoyed having her.  We did lots of shopping and playing and even went to the park with the ponies and the train.  It was so nice having her out.  We will miss her.

 

Resolution

Resolutions for 2009:

1) DIET- So that I am the hot mom at the river come Memorial Day.  The way I will know I'm successful.  Nobody can tell that I am the one with kids...

2) VACATION AND ACTIVITIES- More time with the kids having fun with their activities.  On that on 1/1/09 marks Danny's first and Natalie's 3rd-ish trip to the San Diego Zoo.  We saw lots of animals and Natalie and Danny were so animated!  I don't know if I had more fun then they did...

Natalie and Danny are going to be in a few organized activities.  We're thinking to get them both back to the music class that natalie loved and maybe the baby gym and tot soccer.

3) DEBT DIET- In preparation for higher taxes... time to pull back and prepare for the worst...

4) ORGANIZE AND CLEAN- the house.  Bigger house, more junk.  But, Photos up on the walls would be nice.  I have this deer in the headlights reaction to the bare walls in this house.  So, one picture at a time... maybe I can work past this. But, I do need art... anyone have any ideas?   Aubry made this neat photo and I am thinking that less the "Natalie" on the bottom, that It may make a nice canvass photo for wall art.  

These are some of my favorites. 

Plagerism

I stole this from my friend's blog... because 1) It's funny and 2) He probably really did it.

"This is a short story that you may find useful. As has long been said, if you rob Peter to pay Paul, you can always depend on Paul's support.

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read 'Vote Obama, I need the money.' I chuckled.  Once in the restaurant my server had on an 'Obama 08' tie, again I chuckled -- just imagine the coincidence. 

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept.  I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone whom I deemed more in need -- the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight. I went outside, gave the homeless guy $5 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he (the homeless guy) needed the money more. The homeless guy was grateful. 

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn, even though the actual recipient needed the money more.  I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application. 

REDISTRIBUTION OF SOMEONE ELSE'S WEALTH, A GREAT IDEA..............or just a fool's game?"

Cracks me up. 

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In other news, I was feeling a bit sad when I used my valuable "free" time to post more pictures and nobody left a comment.... I love the comments, even the short and lame ones.  So, I was thinking that maybe I should hold my photos hostage, letting one "go" with every comment... (to which my mother says that I am crazy).

But first... a freebie. (I'm a softie, what can I say.)

 

Merry Christmas!

Christmas was great this year.  The gifts were promptly under the tree at 10pm and although Natalie's sleepy reaction wasn't what we thought it would be, she got into it and had a great day!  We did too!

I finally have started to figure out my camera (that I have had for two years).  It turns out that I know how a manual camera works, but can't get the digital ones to do what I'd like.  But after some Googling, I found a free photo editing website that has helped a bit... the photos will get better, but here are some I took Christmas Eve.  

Hope you had a great Christmas too!  Danny and Natalie were great and it was one of the best Christmases yet!