Happy Birthday Craig!

The kids love to help blow out the candles. From left: Andrew, Julia (hidden behind Andrew), Nathan, Maggie, Craig, Hannah.

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Andrew lookin' cute

Jeff bought the family a new toy. A digital piano! He's working on becoming a legendary jazz pianest in his spare time, and the kids are learning the ins and outs of pianos. Here's Andrew looking very mischevious!

And here is Andrew after a bath in his elephant towel, watching my Nano ipod onto which I downloaded some toddler entertainment. I can't believe I've already introduced my 2 year old to the ipod... there is something wrong with that, but I'll admit there are times that I really appreciate being able to capture and hold his attention for a few minutes with some easy entertainment. You can download audible books for kids, as well as PBS TV shows for free!

Happy Birthday To Me

Well, my pictures are finally off the camera and onto my computer. Last month I had a birthday, and couldn't have been happier than to celebrate it with my family. My mom threw me a party, and you can see me here in this picture blowing out the candles with Hannah, my neice, on my lap, and Andrew and Julia by my side. Happy Belated Birthday to me!

Happy Halloween

Boy did this cowboy have trouble lasooing Red Ranger and Cinderella for a picture!

The kids were flying high last night. I've never seen them so wound up! They had a marvelous time. We started out at a party in the nearby Willows neighborhood. Boy do they know how to party. The Willows has so many young families, and so much spirit. It's a great community (Andrea and Craig, take note!)

We did a bit of trick or treating in that neighborhood after the party, and then headed back to our neighborhood for more trick or treating with the neighbors. We have a spirited neighborhood too! I was impressed by the number of houses that really went all out with their Halloween display. We heard scary music, saw ghostly cemetaries complete with dry ice fog, saw caged skeletons banging their bars, an erie giant eye blinking from a window, a full-out haunted house in a neighbor's garage, and many more fun and spirited Halloween fun.

The aftermath is always a little less fun than the night, however. Andrew woke up crying with nightmares, and Julia is cranky in the extreme this morning. We've had fights over candy, some illegal candy eating before breakfast, etc.

On a nostalgic note, I wanted to honor the Halloween service of the bag shown below. Julia carried this bag trick or treating on her very first Halloween at one year old. It's survived all the Halloweens since, and Andrew carried it last night. It started ripping halfway through the night, and finally broke completely open late last night back at home. I don't think it'll make it to next year! But it served us well.

Happy Halloween everybody!

Halloween is coming!

Julia and Andrew are getting ready for Halloween and the excitement is building!

A few days ago Julia debated being a cowgirl (cute!) but ended up deciding she wanted to be Cinderella. At least I caught a picture of the cowgirl!

And here is Andrew in the pumpkin patch, a recent Tiny Treks outing that he went on with Wendy. I love this picture, what a great patch! Andrew looks so tiny. He's still just a little guy. Sometimes I forget that.

Happy Halloween!

Attended the Pacific International Quilt Festival

Yes, this is a quilt! I saw soooo mannnnny incredible quilts today at the Pacific International Quilt Festival in San Jose. I was awed and wowed. Many thanks to Cheri for suggesting that I tag along with her! More details on my quilting blog...

McCain: Women's Health (in quotes) is just a loophole?

I must have been multi-tasking too much during the debate because I don't remember seeing McCain say this bit last night. But watching this just floors me. Look at his tone and body language when he says Women's "health" (using his fingers to put quotes around health). What does he mean? Sounds like he doesn't care about women's health. I'm sure that's not true, but boy does this come off wrong... Yeiks.

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Pajaro Dunes Weekend

Can't beat the beach as a great setting for pictures. We spent a couple of nights at Pajaro Dunes the last weekend in September, and here are a few of my favorite pics. With the exception of the two dead elephant seals rotting on the beach right in front of our rented house (nature happens!), the weekend was a ton of fun with games taking the starring role for entertainment. Among the favorites for kids: Monster (Grandpa, are you recovered yet?), Preschool, Trains, Dress Up, and Chase; and for the adults: Carcassone, Ticket To Ride, Lost Cities. Great times!