Category Archives: Holidays

Easter 2011 (it’s not too late, right?)

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Playgroup Easter Party

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Playgroup Easter Party

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Easter Egg Hunt at Irvine Park Railroad

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Easter Egg Hunt at Irvine Park Railroad (playgroup)

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Easter Egg Hunt at Irvine Park Railroad (Aerowyn, Kate, Layla)

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Easter Egg Hunt at Irvine Park Railroad

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Easter Egg Hunt at Irvine Park Railroad

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Easter Bunny 2011 - Kate and Clare

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Kate left carrots for the EB

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Look what the EB left for Kate!

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We even saw his little footprints

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Easter 2011 at the Dunst's

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Easter 2011 at the Dunst's

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Easter 2011 at the Dunst's - check out the loot!

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Easter 2011 at the Dunst's

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Easter 2011 at the Dunst's

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Easter 2011 at the Dunst's

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Easter 2011 at the Dunst's - Papa Tony

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Easter 2011 at the Dunst's - Aunt Cherise and Uncle Anthony

Catch up

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I really wish that I could post more often.  I love how they do it over at Gomez Rocks.  Fun pictures, straight-forward commentary.  I aspire to be more like that.  However, I have an over-abundance of words that need to get out.  The sad thing is that I don’t even really like what I write since I heavily edit it for the benefit of the readers of this blog (and who’s kidding, it is all my family).  Anyway, in homage to the Gomez Fam here are some pictures to catch you up on the last two months.

Clare 7-months

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Fun with playgroup friends

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Camping in San Clemente for New Year

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Washing dishes with (great) Gramps

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Christmas Day

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Christmas Eve

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Fat Santa

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Bugs and growing babies

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I never realized how busy Halloween can be when you have littles!  On Saturday the 30th, we had our playgroup family Halloween party and later that evening, Brett and I were able to have some adult-fun at the annual DreamHost Halloween party.  Trick-or-Treating topped off the weekend.  But, before we get to that, guess who is 4-months old! (I realize this is a tad late since Clare will be 5-months next week, but what are you going to do?)

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Stats:

Weight – 13.11 lbs, 50%

Height – 24 3/4″, 70%

Head circumference – 42″

At 4-months, Kate was 14.14 lbs and 24 3/4″!  You can see my 4-month post on her here.  Wow, they really do look a lot alike. I am wondering if Kate weighed more because she was formula-fed and Clare is breastfed.  Clare is also enjoying the same exersaucer and is an avid communicator.  She only needs to make eye contact with you to smile and she constantly is making little squeals and grunts.  A total cuddle-bug and another thumb-sucker.

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I had a couple of bugs around here for Halloween.

A ladybug…IMG 5596 e1289889744655 333x500 Bugs and growing babies

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…and a butterfly to be exact.

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Clare’s costume wasn’t very functional so at our playgroup party she wore a fun onsie that said Pumpkin Princess with an adorable custom tutu and headband that my friend, Lynn, made for her.

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Brett and I had an amazing time at the DreamHost Halloween party.  Last year, we went with a group of friends as renaissance people and won the group prize.  This year, we all went as geishas and samurais and won the group award again!  Our friend Jason spent months hand making an awesome samurai warrior costume so we decided to have that be the theme for the group.  Unfortunately I didn’t get a pic of him alone but you can see him peeking out behind the group of Asian lovelies.

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Brett was the “sensei master” and my costume was called “jade princess” but I’m not sure what that means.  All I know is that all the girls succeeded in looking like Asian hookers!

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The party was at the most amazing venue called the Edison.  I hope they have it there again.  I pretty much wanted to move in to the place.  It gave me the idea for our group to dress in steampunk for next year.

I am lucky that my brother Anthony and his fiancee Cherise (yep my baby bro is engaged!!!!) also go with us to this party.  It is always fun having them around!

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We had some of Kate’s friends over on Halloween, along with their parentals, to do trick or treating around our neighborhood. I was happy to discover that we have a great treat giving street!  We only made it down our street and half of the one below us before the kids pooped out.  I want to make it a tradition to have the kids and parents over every Halloween for trick or treating and hot apple cider and sweets after.  It reminds me of the amazing Halloween memories I have growing up on LeRoy.

How tall this fall?

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I captured Kate’s height once again at our annual Mom’s group trip to the Irvine Park Railroad Pumpkin Patch.  Like a dumb dumb I forgot to get a pic of Clare next to the growth chart.  Typical second child neglect.  Oh well, my excuse is that it is only for children that are standing.  Yeah, that works.

October 2008

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October 2009

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October 2010

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I seriously had to take 552 shots to get 2 pictures of them both looking at the camera at the same time.  I am glad there were so many other mothers around when I was trying to do this or pumpkins would have been rolling.  But it was worth it, wasn’t it?

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Happy Father’s Day!

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Pretty much every day I think how lucky I am to have the amazing father that I do.  No one is perfect but it was clear and evident throughout my childhood that my dad’s #1 priority was his family.  Because of this I never felt that I wanted to for anything and I can honestly say that I had the best childhood and wouldn’t change a thing.  The main sentiments that I remember are fun, love and adventure.  My dad wanted this for my brother and I and, along with my mom, did everything he could to make it happen.  I am proud to have my dad as my father and I hope I can give my children the same memories he provided to me.

When you get married, you are thinking of your new husband as how he fits with you.  You can really have no concept of how they will be as a father.  Boy did I luck out!  Brett has been a hands-on dad since he slept every night in my room at the hospital when Kate was born.  He changes diapers, makes food, packs the diaper bag and a lot of the time makes me feel guilty for how much he does!  We definitely have different parenting styles but they compliment each other well.  Kate is so blessed to have an amazing dad like Brett.

Moreover, I am grateful to have so many wonderful men in my life from my Grandpa, my uncle and the great family I now have because of Brett – his dad, uncle and grandfather.  Here’s to all the men out there that take an active role in their childrens’ lives and are the strong role models we all need to become responsible parents ourselves!!  I love you guys!

Kate was 6-months old in this picture.

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A great picture of Brett, his dad Frank and grandpa Frank + Kate.

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I can’t find any pictures of me with my dad when I was little.  My mom has most of these.  Here is one that I love of my dad and Kate.

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Mother’s Day Pictures

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Once again, we had the moms over to our house for a Mother’s Day BBQ.  Brett grilled corn and chicken and I made orzo.  It was a lot of fun spending time with our parents, brothers, Gramps and Uncle Rick.  As you can see from the below pictures by the time we got to shots with Kate, me and my mom, Kate was pretty much done!

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IMG 0029 420x280 Mother’s Day PicturesKate painted birdhouses for the grandmas!

Happy Mother’s Day!

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A Newborn’s Conversation with God


A baby asked God, “They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?”

God said, “Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you.”

The child further inquired, “But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.”

God said, “Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel’s love and be very happy.”

Again the small child asked, “And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don’t know the language?”

God said, “Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.”

“And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?”

God said, “Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.”

“Who will protect me?”

God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.”

“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”

God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you.”

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, “God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel’s name.”

God said, You will simply call her, “Mom.”

Happy Easter!

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We are looking forward to having the whole family together at the Dunst’s for an egg hunt and yummy dinner. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

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Kate was very concerned.

Long time, no blog

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It really has been a long time since I have posted anything. Work has been so busy that it has prevented a timely update of this site. Also, something happened with blogger so Brett has now moved me to wordpress, which has also delayed the updates. I’ve decided to just start posting what I can and catch up with the past few months when I can. I won’t worry about the look of the blog and the links until I have time to do so.

The last few months in a nutshell? Kate turned 2! I also don’t think I made an official announcement on the site that I am pregnant with another girl! She is due June 29. Here are some pics. More to come later.

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Taken at thanksgiving when we announced the good news! Unfortunately, none of the family really got it so we had to ask them to read the shirt.

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Happy New Year! 23-months!

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24-months! Two years of monthly pictures in this chair!

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At Disneyland on Kate's 2nd Birthday

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Kate and "Mimmie". (her boyfriend is "Mickmie")

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Kate had so much fun with her friend's for a Play and Art Party at Gymboree!