Halloween 2012

HERCULE POIROT
Since most kids didn't know who that was (a detective from the Agatha Christie books)
Luke told them he was a Belgian detective from the 1930s.

I had to post this picture as well because of the walking stick/cane. 



Samantha was a mixture of her favorite things: zebra stuff and especially the black top hat she got from Disneyland.

Luke's

Samantha's


HOPE YOU ALL HAD A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
 

Celebrating!

Reggie couldn't be happier!  In fact, we have quite the neighborhood of Giants fans, and so Reggie, Samantha & Luke are outside yelling with everybody else.  Now it's time to brace for the parade!

32,000 pictures

Our computer crashed and we lost alot of pictures. But we found alot on the back up/hard drive thing - or whatever it is called; not just our pictures but alot of Reggie's brother's too. Over 32,000 pictures. I just spent a good amount of time looking through them and here are some noteworthy ones!

 

 

Adorable, even when sad.

Cousins.  These 5 girls all ended up in Utah/Idaho as college students at the same time, and bonded even more.



Our red-heads

 

At age 4 Luke got ahold of the clippers and gave himself a bald spot.

Payback

When my sister's first grandchild was born I got to see him before she did.  I always felt kind of bad about that, and laughingly told her that I would make it up to her.  That one of my kids would have to some day live near her and have my granchild, and then she could see the baby before I did.  Who knew this would actually happen!  Julia and Lester live about 3 hours from my sister, and so she - along with her husband and son - are visiting our granddaughter right now!  My brother-in-law even texted Reggie to let him know that he was holding little Addy.  Funny how life works.  I'm really happy that they are there to give Julia and Lester and Addy some family love.

Thanks for the pictures Lester - keep them coming!

I can't stop looking at this picture!  I love seeing my baby hold her baby.  It brings back memories of when Julia was a junior in high school and taking a life management class. For one week each student was given a mechanical baby.  They had to take care of it as if it was really their's.  They had to take it with them everywhere.  One day we were in Costco and Julia felt self conscious because people were looking at her with surprise.  It really did look like a real baby.  The students also had to wake up with the baby when it would go off/cry in the middle of the night.  They had a set of keys with them at all times and when they inserted the correct key, according to what the baby needed, it would stop crying.  One key was for "I'm hungry" one for "I'm wet" etc.  I must have slept near Julia a couple of nights to offer moral support because I remember her waking up and with very shaky hands trying to figure out what her baby needed/which was the right key.  She did a great job and was very happy to turn the doll in at the end of the week.  Now she's an adult with her real, absolutely beautiful baby, that looks like a perfect fit in her arms.  I don't know if that experience prepared her at all (although I know the point of the experience was to convince teenagers that they weren't ready for parenthood at that time) but I know that she and Lester are prepared now.  Just the fact that that baby already recognizes their voices, which brings her comfort, makes them the most prepared people in the world.  And in talking with them on the phone I can tell that they 3 of them are completely in love with each other.  Every aspect of making a family is an absolute miracle.

Okay, here's a confession . . . .

When Reggie reserved my plane ticket for Oklahoma for the week of Thanksgiving I was feeling pretty guilty - leaving him and the kids and all, seeing the baby before he does.  But now - I can't wait to go!  I can't wait to hold that baby!  I can't wait to kiss her little chubby cheeks!  Hurry up November!

The skies are not the only ones tearing up today

As Julia is now in the hospital all I can think about today is her and Lester and our grandaughter.  I'm a mess!  I will be looking at my phone every 5 minutes for updates! 

This summer I made a CD for Julia and Lester of any baby songs I could think of - especially ones about mommys and daddys and baby girls.  I will be listening to that as I drive around today.  But I can't believe I forgot the best/most accurate song ever about parents and their brand new baby girl.  I remembered it as Julia blogged about it recently.  Here it is:  (Love you Julia, Lester and Baby!):

For Hillary

From a Halloween movie we watched tonight:

Bob Hope:  Maybe you know what a Zombie is?

Mr. Montoyo:  A Zombie has no will of his own.  You see them some times, walking around blindly, with dead eyes, following orders.  Not knowing what they do -  not caring.

Bob Hope:  You mean like Democrats?




HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Now please, realize, this joke would have worked just as well with the word "Republican" inserted instead of Democrat.  Come on, everybody, let's keep our sense of humor in these last weeks before the election!

(and just for the record - I usually vote Democrat, Reggie usually votes Republican, and we both vote that everybody stay calm!)

Advantages of being the 4th girl

Maybe, normally, wearing clothes that you "just found" is not a good thing - unless you "just found" them in your sisters' drawers in their abandoned bedroom.  Samantha has a little treasure trove downstairs and she is looking good!  Thanks girls!  (You did say she could "borrow" anything you left behind, right?) 

stuck on Fantasia

Well, with our Disney marathon we got stuck on Fantasia.  I appreciate the exposure it gives children to classical music, but it was hard to watch all at once, and so we took it in small intervals.  We got behind in our marathon, but are catching up with Dinosaur and Emporer's New Groove.  Dinosaur might be the only one on this list of 50 movies that none of us had ever seen before.  It was, eh, okay.  The Emporer's New Groove marks the last Disney movie we have on video - before we switched to that new technology called DVD.   

smiles

This week I found a pile of beanie babies in the house that I thought I had gotten rid of long ago.  We have saved a precious few to be played with by visiting little ones (and future grandchildren!), but needed to get rid of the rest.  So I took them to work and they found new life.  A couple of kids really took to them.  As I watched the kids play with them it brought back alot of memories; I could honestly see my little girls sitting there with these toys again.  And then tonight we pulled out all of the American Girl dolls and clothes to go through.  For a long time sewing doll clothes was my biggest hobby and challenge.  And our American Girl backyard plays kept us busy all summer - memorizing lines, painting scenery, etc.   I also found a bag of the smallest toys ever made - Polly Pockets.  When the girls wanted to play with these we would line them up on the table and they would take turns choosing which ones they wanted.  Dividing up the toys usually took as long as playing with the toys.

It's funny, because right now we are watching an episode of Supernanny - one of Samantha's favorite shows.  Those kids are having huge temper fits.  I know that my kids had huge temper fits.  But luckily the happy memories are the ones that are lasting and what makes me smile throughout the day.

a fun Friday night

After a very busy, frustrating week full of too much reality what I desperately needed was a Friday night with my kids.  ( A BIG thank you to the Porters for providing Luke a second home.  And by the way, this single mother thing is terrible !  Reggie is coming home from another business trip, today, and I don't think I could have survived last week without the Porters help.)  Thankfully, it was a GREAT friday night:

Going to Luke's flag football game, making brownies and watching Halloween movies, playing Haunted Mansion Clue, getting pictures developed online and watching those glow in the dark waves. 

After last night and last weekend it has occured to me that not only do I love living near the ocean, I also do enjoy living near the city.  I don't necessarily like driving in the city or going downtown, but there are a few spots that I really do love to visit:

 

We recently discovered Fort Point which I think is AMAZING!

 

I've always loved the old ships at Hyde St. Pier.  When family visited last July we went there and found all these signs sitting in front of the pier.  We didn't know if they were part of a history lesson or something currently going on, but the kids had fun with them:

 

 

 

And one of the funnest things I've ever done in the city is the Aquarium by the Bay on Pier 39, with Rocio and the kids.

 

 

And here is one more picture from last Saturday at the Palace of Fine Arts.  Since Reggie and I shared our anniversary celebration with the kids by going to Disneyland instead of going away together, I've been determined to take pictures of the 2 of us having fun together in our 25th year (wrinkles and all!)

 

 

And now it is time to stop blogging and have a productive Saturday. 

 

 

 

Glow in the dark waves

A co-worker of mine told me that she was heading to the beach after dark this weekend because she had heard that the waves were glowing in the dark.  (There is some scientific reason for this of course which she hadn't researched or anything.)  At about 9:45 tonight I remembered what she said and decided that we should go and see for ourselves.  We parked along the cliffs and sure enough, the waves breaking on the shore were glowing.  It looked like they had green glow-sticks going through them.  I don't know if we could get a good picture of it or how long it will be happening, but I hope we can see them tomorrow night as well.  Absolutely amazing!  Here is a picture I found online which is similar to what we saw:

My perspective on newborns

I have read some articles and various blogs lately by women who really struggled with their newborns.  I don't think that I ever experienced post-partum depression, but I do remember being scared of life those first few days and weeks after each baby was born.  As Julia and Lester are going to be having a newborn soon, I thought I would write some things down for them to consider; things that might help them through that time period.  If any of you have anything to add, please do.  Julia and Lester can read all of it and decifer for themselves what makes sense and what doesn't.


1.  The first night home is always the worst.  The baby has no time table and you will wonder "Is this how it's always going to be?  Am I never going to sleep again?"  And when the baby is sleeping and you are trying to sleep, every little sound she makes will keep you awake, as you are not used to those sounds.  You will wonder if it means she is waking up.  You will be constantly listening for her breathing.  This all calms down as time goes on.  You will get used to each other.  Things will get better/normal/stable.  Don't be alarmed after that first night - it is not an accurate reflection of how things will always be.

2.  As excited as you are about your baby, you will probably feel overwhelmed and scared.  It is the newest of newest situations and the biggest of big changes in your lives.  I suggest letting your mind think about other things/let your mind get off of your worries.  Sleep when she sleeps; get your rest when you can.  But when you have to be awake for nursing, etc. at all hours of the day and night, have an episode of a favorite show ready to watch; have a book ready to read or listen to.  Before you know it, things will feel normal/better/stable.

3.  This first 3 months are the hardest.  By the time month 4 rolls around you will realize that you and the baby are used to each other and your routines. You'll probably have the nursing thing mastered; the baby will start to be more awake during the day and sleep longer at night.  Life will feel normal/better/stable. 

4.  Each child has advantages and disadvantages because of their birth order.  You might feel this baby is at a disadvantage because you have never done this before; you are still figureing everything out.  But this baby will have the advantage of having your undivided attention.  Dont' feel guilty that you are new and inexperienced parents with this baby.  Don't feel guilty when she has sibilings that  need to share your time.  It's all good.  They are all lucky in their own way.

And here is an Anne Geddes picture, perfect for the season.  Good Luck!  It's going to be great!

Celebrating Luke's Birthday with a ___ ______ Cookie!

 

Okay, as you can see, Luke took my deal and we celebrated his birthday with a home made cookie for his cake. When I told him I would rather give him money than buy a Mrs. Field's giant cookie he went online, and in seeing how much they cost, he jumped at the deal. Guess how much the following 12 " Mrs. Field's cookie costs?

Well, $37.99.    I didn't anticipate the cost when I made the offer, but oh well. (He also said he didn't want much frosting on it.  I can't guarantee the home made one tastes like Mrs. Field's, but I think we are all happy with the decision.) 

 

Because Luke's actual birthday, Monday, is a very busy and practical day for us, we decided to celebrate today.  We went to the Exploratorium in the city.  It is a giant warehouse full of science experiments!  We all had alot of fun, and are planning on going back again and again with our annual family pass. 

 



Then we walked around the Palace of Fine Arts.  What a beautiful day in the city!

 

 

 

 

We're so glad that Luke joined our family 11 years ago so we could go and have a day like today. In fact, everyday for the past 11 years has been a good day because Luke joined our family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy October!

We really like October around here.  It starts the beginning of the Holidays.  It is nothing compared to Christmas, of course, but we love the fun that comes with pumpkins, funny decorations and scary movies.  And I must confess, I have become addicted to a new t.v. series that is perfect for the Halloween season:  Once Upon a Time.  We saw a preview for it in the theatres a few months ago and I thought it looked interesting.  When the first season became available on Netflix I watched it and got hooked.  Reggie is surprised; it isn't Jane Austen or Avonlea; it is a little creepy. Who knew Rumplestilsken could be more powerful than the Wicked Queen? I think that actor should receive an academy award. 

 

So anyway, Happy October!