Penny for Your Thoughts

Natalie without training wheels!

 
 
  Proud parents, grinning from ear to ear.  Yes, Natalie is officially a bike rider.  It's awesome!  After getting her a balance bike a few months ago, it was a smooth transition and she did it right away.   Danny is just the cutest.  Both kids are sleeping through the night...regularly. We have many nicknames for Danny, but the latest is "Repeat" "Copy"... He repeats everything Natalie says and does and Natalie is pretty patient considering. He is so smart and is ALL BOY.  The kid is ALL BOY.

Jeff and I are spending more and more time in the home office.  The home office at our house means in the trailer in the backyard that is now hooked to our home power and internet and has AC, a kitchen and heat.  It is really nice with a cross-breeze and so close to the house.  It has saved us a ton in gas and lunches.  this great idea came to us sitting at a Starbucks, working across from each other realizing that we smell like coffee and can't hear our cell phones over the blenders.  It was pretty funny.

Work is stressful and interesting.  Many layoffs, terminations and all in a really tough market for selling.  It's tough.  I was talking to my boss the other day about where I want to go and what I want to do next.  I just wonder if it will ever make a difference.

Jeff has done a great job with the new website for his job.  www.medical-ins.com  It's not done yet but looks a lot more professional than it was.  He worked hard on it and it really into social media marketing, linkedin, facebook, twitter, google this and google that... he has far surpassed the realm of what I will ever understand but he is totally energized by the opportunities.  In fact, he may be recognized by salesforce.com for the development of the features and database system he envisioned and made a reality.  Yay for Jeff!

Side Yard Project Take 1

We have our travel trailer on the side of the yard.  It parks on a dirt spot that is a former planter we removed when we first moved in.  After having to spend $700 on new tires last year, we realized that we would have to "fix" the problem or be ready to ante up for tires again.

So, just before Christmas we bartered my old car and a bit more to have concrete strips, a "future" shed pad and rock, pavers and electric conduit put in.  After some demo and on Christmas eve, we got ready for the big pour, scheduled for the day after Christmas.  When we woke up Christmas am, we had a small lake from an irrigation mishap and Jeff and Jerry scooped, wet vac'd and shoveled so that we could pour the next day.  Natalie insisted on helping and it was a beautiful day.

 

Long Beach Aquarium

Turns out that with two kids Disneyland is quite an undertaking.  So, we joined the aquarium.  Some great shots of the kids.  We have a blast and go maybe once a month or so.  These photos are from a trip in January.  We found "Dorey", "squishies" and we got to pet "Mr Rey" and feed the birds nectar.

Worth Remembering

I know when we are having a moment "worth remembering".  One that if I didn't write down, I might forget a year from now... so I will tell you some great trinkets of joy.

Jeff cleaned out the old Escort that we sold and emptied the ash tray full of coins.  I found them on the counter and was super excited because the kids LOVE putting them in the 5 gallon glass Sparklets water jar.  We ran over, the kids put the coins in and then I said to Natalie:

 "what are we going to do with all this money?"

N- "Give it to Jesus"

Me- What will Jesus do with all this money?"

N- "Put it in his jar."

Moment #2: Whhaaaat?

Sometimes I say to Natalie "Whhaat?" when she is being silly.  At dinner the other night I asked Danny to start eating and he looked at me and said, "Whhaat?"

Moment #3: Batteries

We were in Natalie's bathroom and one of the vanity lights went out.  She looked at me, pointed to the fixture and said "Needs new batteries". 

After Christmas Fun- Irvine Park

Christmas 2009- the BEST EVER!!!

A few days before Christmas, we got Connie and natalie tickets to see "the Glory of Christmas" at the Crystal Cathedral.  They looked so happy and beautiful as they left.

I just couldn't have imagined it being any better! Christmas eve we had my grandparents, dad and Jeff's folks over.  I cooked chicken pot pies, stuffing, corn sufle, apple tarts and pumpkin pie... it was yummy! 
 

Christmas morning Natalie came to the foot of our bed at 6:30 and I asked "Did Santa come?" and she said "No".  Then I asked her to check again and she came back and said "somebody put presents under my tree!".  So super cute! 

The kids are 3 1/2 and 19 months.  It was awesome.  Santa brought Natalie the unicorn lolipop" that she wanted. Vsmile Motion is a huge success as are the Tag and Tag Jr. pen/book sets.  Danny is very much into choo choos and got a little Thomas the train.  There were so many gifts to open (probably because I insist on wrapping every little thing)that the kiddos were worn out and we had 2 rounds of openings.  The sour cream waffles were yummy... 
 
 
(Jeff got his PS3 with Call of Duty and I got the camera lens I wanted and some home design software).  It was a great Christmas!  Enjoy the photos from my new lens!! 

SANTA STOP!

Santa is in the neighborhood, and comes on a firetruck.  In fact, I think Natalie would have you believe Santa doesn't use a sled at all.  Our town has "Santa stops" and the fire engine can be heard throughout the town.

 Present #1 from Jeff- my "fifty nifty" camera lens.  Here are my first two photos... I think I'm in love, again.  We are so excited, we finally sold my first car!  We bartered and will soon have a new concrete and rock area for the trailer!  So exciting!

Santa Claus

With work being, well less than perfect lately.  Don't know about you, but the pressure from the bad economy and missed targets has made me 1) really ready to win the lottery and 2) more committed than ever to be inspired by new ventures.  In fact, I have a book of 10 or so business ideas... all with the same underlying theme: giving back to the community in a "teach them to fish" fashion.

I have no clue how to make a website that will do all of the cool things that I have in mind, so I decided to get started in the framework of another blog.  check it out at http://beckrebeck.typepad.com/blueribbonexchange

I don't know how to make it so everyone can post to it, so just email me your posts at rlwe@chevron.com and I'll post them.  Photos and narrative are welcome.  I started with cookies, but all recipes are welcome.

Enjoy the photo of Santa and the kiddos.  I probably won't be sending it out this year since I already ordered the Christmas cards.

Surprise... I'm Back and Committed as a Chicken, aspiring to be a Pig

Since June... Danny's Baptism, Haloween and Thanksgiving... but why am I back to the blog? Well, turns out facebook doesn't create the Journal quite like I wanted.

Case and point...  We went to take the kids last weekend to get photos with Santa and while I was preparing Natalie "Santa will ask your name, ask you what you want for Christmas and then give you a candy cane", she looked up at me suriuosly and said "why would Santa ask my name?"  This is something worth remembering and recording. 

My appoligies if you are one of the few that even read this blog...but if you are, here are some photos for safe keeping.

  

Hot and Happy

Now that my big deal bombed, I have had a new interest in focusing on improving my efforts, learning from others and changing my process.  I will get better and hopefully not blunder the next one.

It's been hot here and I love it.  Much time in the pools and playing with the kiddos and I have been home with them a bit more now.  I love it.

Natalie just crackes me up.  Her words like "dewicious", delicious and "wewwo", yellow and Jeff's favorite "centrifigal", she is a crack up and I love her.  We are now working on saying "thank you" and not "I know" when she gets a complement.

Danny is a super cutie.  he is walking like a pro and I think he's starting to realize how big he is.  He is probably the same weight as Natalie now and has the biggest baby butt.  Baby got back.  Both of the kids love outdoors and the water and we often have breakdown moments around limiting these actiities a bit more than I'd like.

We are loving the summer.  We have started consolidating our stuff and got new storage units to put toys away.  The kids got new curtains and I am pretending I remember what I learned in Junior high and cheating by sewing pre-made curtains together (to create more blockage from the sun).  It is hillarious that I can't figure out the bobbin, so it is pink nd the main thread is white.  Looks great on Danny's Blue curtains.

So here are new updated photos.  I'm not sure anyone reads this blog anymore since I post on Facebook.  So let yourself be known (so I feel compelled to keep posting on this blog).

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.

    _________________________

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. 

_________________________

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.