Sean's New Game

As some of you may know, Sean loves to play ball. He has one little bouncy baseball that fits ever so nicely in his sweet little palm. He really loves his baseball and yesterday he decided to try and elevate it to the esteemed level of Christmas Tree Ornament. So...he threw the ball at the tree, presumably hoping it would rest gently on the branch like all the other ornaments. Instead a couple other ornaments fell off! He had no idea he could invent such a fabulous game! He proceeded to throw that ball at the tree as many times as possible while I sprinted across the room. Fortunately, no one or thing was hurt. Oh, the joys of Christmas! Sorry no pics or video of this new game, I was caught off guard without a camera.

Random pics

Here is Connor in his reindeer crown after his Christmas performance at preschool.

Connor painted in his new Rudolph painting book. Thanks Grammy and Grampy.


Sean and Daddy at bathtime...photo by Connor.

Not Hot

Here is a list of things Sean blows on to cool off:
ice cream
orange slices
peach slices
chicken
corn
Cheerios with milk
Christmas tree lights
Thankfully he does not try to eat Christmas tree lights, he is simply telling me that they are hot, which they are not. I think the whole confusion about the meaning of hot stems from the Christmas lights because we told him not to touch them because they are hot, which they are not. In a related story, we re-decorate the lower half of the tree daily. Merry Christmas!

Now please enjoy a good laugh at an initial attempt at a Christmas card photo. These were 4 of the worst, but there were so many awful ones it was hard to choose. You will all be receiving a slightly less bad one, so SMILE!

Christmas is Coming!

Today the boys got all dressed up in their Christmas clothes as you can see... Handsome Connor by our tree holding his favorite dino "Topsy"

Here is Handsome Sean and "Doggie" by the tree.

Here they are doing one of their famous "Shows" on the fireplace, which is ready for Christmas.

Little Sean showing off his fancy black shoes and crooked Santa hat.

Wondering why they were so dressed up today? For Santa, of course!

Motma's Home!

Here she is after being home only 1 day with "the best medicine" (aka Connor and Sean).

After having to try different bottle drinking posts, Sean has resumed his favorite spot for drinking milk.

Motma Lois is Coming Home

I just got word that Lolo will be ready to be picked up around noon today! She sounds great on the phone and is happy to be feeling bettter! The prayers worked. Thanks!

Motma Lois

I usually reserve this blog for happy goings on around our house, but today I am using it as a broadcasting system. Lois has been under the weather for the past month or so due to sinus infection, out of whack medicine regimes, and low potassium and B12 levels. Last night about 8pm, we had to call for an ambulance to transport her to the nearest ER. She was becoming extremely dehydrated due to nausea,etc. that we now know was a side effect of the powerful antibiotic she had been given by the doctor about 9 days ago. After a 2 hour wait in the ER, the care was top notch and she was feeling better in no time. Her EKGs "changed" over the course of the electrolyte replacement, which resulted in the doctor's decision to transfer her to our nearest Kaiser facility about 35 minutes from home.
Please feel free to pray or let anyone else who knows our Lois know that she is a bit fragile right now. Sorry to use the blog this way, but the thought of calling everyone made me fall apart. Thanks for your love and support.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Here are a few scenes from the weekend. We loved having Uncle Matt at our home! We miss you already. Here is Connor with Uncle Matt...

Sean and his Godfather

Daddy, Elmo, and Sean

Sean drove the little car he is holding around his vegetables. If you look closely you can see spaces that form roads --Boop boop!

Connor snuggles with Uncle Matt as Sean struggles with the backpack we have packed for church.

The Family Band

Sorry for all the posts, but our internet was down for a few days, then iphoto was acting weird...Anyway about the family band. Connor loves the fireplace in our new house because it has a small spotlight over it that is meant to shed light on whatever picure is hanging over the fireplace. For Connor it is his stage and spotlight, so he is constantly inviting us to see his "routines," "shows" or "performances." Recently, I have been trying to provide him with some props and get everyone involved, so I gave him the bin of rhythm instruments, made him band leader, and here is what happened...


Connor on keyboard

Motma on drums

Daddy and Sean on bells and ladybug insturment

Let me say that everyone reading this should be very pleased there is no sound to accompany the pictures.

Sean is 15 Months

Sean is doing great and is a very happy little toddler. He loves to eat peas, corn, carrots, green beans, and lima beans with his 12 teeth (including 4 molars--ouch)! He had been consuming close to 3 bananas a day for a few weeks in October, and we could hardly get him to eat anything else. Now he rarely eats banana, and seems to be on a vegetable kick. Luckily he also likes cheese, graham crackers, canteloupe melon, yogurt and cheerios with milk (to name a few favorites). He enjoys shaking his head "no" to my questions and is thrilled when I understand and respond to his signal. He loves to spin when he dances, we call that his signature move. He is also still a climber as the pictures show. I entered the kitchen on wednesday to find him SITTING on a chair. I quickly put graham crackers on the table to keep him occupied while I reached for my camera. You see, usually I find him STANDING on his tip toes on a kitchen chair leaning precariously over the table hoping to find a crumb or two. There will be no pictures of that as it is far too dangerous. Needless to say he climbs at the speed of light!

Preschool Feast

The Tuesday before TG, Connor's class performed some songs and helped prepare a "feast" for their families. Connor is a pilgrim (the PreK were Indians). Here they are before the song...

After the song...(BTW Connor was the only pilgrim to do the hand motions and turn around during the "ACTION" song).

The crowd goes wild! Sean was thrilled to pieces and clapped enthusiastically for his big brother! Daddy took the morning off to witness this grand event. You should have seen Connor's face when he spotted Daddy in the crowd!

Sean's First Haircut

Today Sean got his first haircut. His little blonde locks were getting in his eyes, so Motma took action. I was ill prepared (no little first curl box) since Connor's hair grew in between 18 and 24 months, but I saved the hair and took pictures! Motma cut the front little wisps, too, but I hadn't thought about the camera at that point. So here are some of the back.


Who is that handsome baby?

Conversations with Connor

Yesterday in the car:
ME: Connor, you may not color on the carpet.
C: But it didn't make a mark.
ME: You were lucky that time, but carpets are expensive and you should help me keep them nice.
C: Well I still want to color on the carpet!
ME: Well if I have to keep replacing the carpet I will not be able to pay for you to go to college.
C: (astonished, gasping) College costs money?!?!?!?!?
ME: Yes, college costs money.

The other day while watching the fire news:
C: Mom, The "copter" part of the helicopter is the blades, and the "heli" part is the body of it.
ME: Oh, really.

Happy Halloween!

Connor held his ax valiently as he wore his firefighter costume!


A monkey costume is all too appropriate for little Sean!


I even dressed up (not sure what I was) for the party...

Firefighter Connor and Little Monkey Sean had a grand time at a Halloween Party on Saturday night!

What a Difference a Day Makes!

Yesterday we had the most delightful housewarming party at our new house. The weather could not have been more beautiful. No wind, nice in the shade, warm in the sun. We were enjoying the backyard and the company of our wonderful friends!
Here is my sister-in-law to be, Mitzi, and her mom, Miriam, enjoying the shade of the umbrella on the patio.

My good friend, Kim, and her baby girl, Paige.

Lena, Sandy, and Tyler frolicking in the grassy picnic area.

Cian and Fiona playing on the playstructure.

Then, about midnight the winds started, we heard lots of strange noises. We found out our front doors sound like a vibrating cell phone when the Santa Ana's are blowing. By 3 am, the winds were so strong I felt like the house would blow away! We woke up to two overturned umbrellas, one completely shattered glass round patio table, two smashed terra cotta jack-o-latern planters, and debris everywhere. All morning and even as I write this we are watching the news covering the flames near Pepperdine in Malibu, which is next to where Chris works. We could see Chris's workplace amidst all the smoke, but it seems to have escaped damage. The gusts of wind have reached as high as 108mph today. There are several fires in our area, including one in Porter Ranch, Moorpark, and several other areas close enough to us that it looks like it is about 7pm instead of 3:45pm. The air is filled with smoke all around us and the winds are not letting up. Tomorrow and the rest of the week, the temperature is supposed to be in the 90s around here. The winds are not expected to diminish until 3pm Tuesday. This picture was taken at 3pm today thru our living room window. There is no going outside today, that is for sure! (The table in the top two pictures of this post is the one that shattered overnight when the wind blew it over).

All roads leading to where Chris works remain closed so he will not be there tomorrow...

Pumpkin Patch 2007!

Today Connor's preschool class went to a local pumpkin patch for a field trip. The petting zoo was the main attraction. Connor hardly noticed the pumpkins, but for Sean the strange orange "balls" were surprisingly heavy and impossible to throw.
Here is Connor and a goat getting better acquainted.

Sean was eager to befriend the ducks and he kept signing "duck" as if they would understand and flock to him. They did let him get closer to them than they did any of the preschoolers.

One of Connor's teachers, Miss Patty, held a baby bird for the children to pet. Connor loved that!

Don't mess with me, I am looking for ducks! (He also kept signing "dog" whenever a sheep walked by him).

I think this is Sean's first experience with pumpkins. He kept signing "ball" . I don't even know the sign for pumpkin so I let it go. I did keep calling them pumkins, though.

Tahoe at the End of Summer

A high school friend of my mom let us use her darling cabin in the woods near Lake Tahoe... We had a great time! The first night after a long day of travel the boys needed some family room action/play to expend all their energy! Sean's smile exudes his happiness at being out of airplanes and cars.

Connor put his dad's socks on and climbed onto his shoulders. Chris quickly got Sean in place for a photo!

Sean seems to be relaxing (finally) on my lap with Motma nearby.

Connor and Sean just being brothers.