our friend jade sent us on a secret date on saturday. we had no idea what was up his sleeve. all he said was we need to have a babysitter from 1-4 on saturday afternoon. we dropped woobie off with moppa and jim @ the balboa bay cub. then jade drove us down to the balboa fun zone and handed us a platter of sushi and a bottle of wine and told us to go check in at the balboa boat company. he rented us a duffy boat for an hour!!!! how sweet is that? seriously! once Lo and i got on the boat we were both thinking how much our little woobie would enjoy it. so we boated our little duffy over to the balboa bay club to pick up woobie & moppa. Lo and i pulled up to the dock and woobie was SO excited to see us. we just putted around out front for a few minutes, milo was loving it. then we dropped them off and putted our way around the rest of the harbor. what a perfect perfect treat. to make it even more fun and wonderful the day was sunny and the sky was totally bright blue. it was also pretty cool to see all the boats from the boat parade in the light of day. Lo and i had actually gone to the boat parade the night before so we recognized a lot of the boats...... it's fun to see what mansion they're docking at.

santa is a tranquilizer............ who knew?


i thought we were going to have a screamer but milo was quite the opposite when he met santa last night. when daddy and milo got to the front of the line milo was reaching out for santa and saying, "santa santa santa." he was so excited to see the jolly bearded man. then when santa's helper put milo on santa's lap milo went totally calm and trance like. he seriously could have stayed on santa's lap all night. it was like he didn't even realized all of the commotion going on around, it was just him and santa and he was chillin. when his turn was up santa gave him a big candy cane and he really enjoyed eating it.

Winter Fantasy @ the Sawdust.....

We went to the tree lighting ceremony at the sawdust winter show w/ Pop & Glam. It was the PERFECT way to start the season.

We were spending lots of time at the park before it got super cold. I have to keep Woobie away from the duck pond because he wants to go in.

Here is the 2nd choice for our Christmas Card. As you can see, Milo really enjoyed being confined to my lap. :)

this is a 1st! i've looked forward to the day that my Milo would fall asleep while eating. classic!

Hi! I've already got a ton of December photos that I am going to share in a snapfish album. Here's a video from Balboa Island. We went for a walk on the Island one morning last week and had lots of fun. Milo was really into the Christmas decorations and really into the boats & docks.

how bout a little HOWDY... for the holidays!

truckin along and having SO much fun with this little man. he's got so many words i can't keep up with the whole list. if you get a chance to see him say DOOOOOOO, you will be truly blessed because it's hilarious. we've been going to parks a lot lately and lorin and i have been so impressed with his courage and willingness to try almost anything. it's so fun to watch him play and explore and interact with children on the playground. love our little 16 month old.

xoxo

we had a great Thanksgiving. lots to be thankful for!

just wanted to share a little story about how milo bent down and smeared his hand in a smashed snail yesterday. it was totally disgusting. i screamed and threw up in my mouth a little bit. lovely huh? oh the joys boys!

we were part of this...... by accident. :) oh happy day!

an angel sent me this last year. i'm finding it useful these days..........


Deseradata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.


Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; Many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.

Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the council of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here. and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding exactly as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful - Strive to be happy.

Slide Hair

slides really bring out the dandelion in him!



make a wish!

this is what our children are supposed to look like!


What do you think about my little new baby #2?
MakeMeBabies.com - What will your baby look like?

little gardener.......
(please excuse my annoying shrieking..... he was spraying me and it made him laugh when i screamed...... what can i say)

hi!



i need to go to the grocery store. milo keeps pointing at our empty fruit basket and saying, "banana"........ it's pretty funny. going to the store with the monkey. wish me luck!

just wanted to share these amazing pictures of milo's daddy

this picture is off of the newport surf shotswebsite. milo's daddy was the hot shot of the day. :) i would like to emphasize the HOT part.


taken at our friends beautiful wedding last month. milo's daddy was one of the 30 person wedding party. to see more pictures from the wedding check out adam novaks photography (go to clients and type in bell). these are by far the most amazing beach wedding pictures i've ever seen. perfecto!



mooney.......... you're cute!

Rollin W/ the Homies.........


Blake took the babes on a cruzzzzzzzzz! Milo loved being the front seat passenger and took to it like a natural.


Uh oh! Can't you just see these 2 in 16 years!!!!!!! Riley & Milo...... or should I say RiLo

a visit to Pop & Glam's!

we stopped by to sprinkle a little Yoda Joy on Halloween!

favorite spot in the whole house is on top of their coffee table with a silver bell in his mouth!


He just HAD to stick his toes in the freezing pool!

here's a tiny bit more Halloween fun!


Yoda @ Music Together! Can I just say how much WE LOVE THIS CLASS!!!!! The 1st class was a doozy..... because I didn't realize how uninhibited I would have to be....... but now we BOTH have a BLAST! I have noticed so much development in Milo just from this class. Milo has learned so much and it's amazing to see his energy harnessed in such a positive and enriching way. This class is also great for my stomach muscles because I'm laughing so hard the whole time...... wanna see my six pack?



Halloween with the cousins. Calvin is a "choo choo Train" & Ada is a "Seahorse, Kitty Mermaid"....... love it!


Christina made these cute little capes and guess who loved em?!

some new things that milo is doing......

when he's getting into something that he's not supposed to be getting into and i say,"milo.... no no no"...... he looks at me and shakes his pointer finger and says, "no no no"........ it's pretty cute. i have to work really hard at not smiling at him.

he's been calling socks...... shooooooes. just yesterday he started calling them "ocks".

we took him furniture shopping yesterday. WHAT were we thinking? he was a wild man. it was a very good work out for lorin and i as we dashed between milo and breakable things. we saw lots of dog statues and milo kept say "doggie" and kissing them.

he climbs up anything and everything. when he gets to the top of a narrow and dangerous object (like a stool) he dances and sings.

he pointed out his nose for the 1st time! we were pretty proud of him.

he's totally excited when he sees the moon since it's out at 4pm :) he points and does the moon sign and says "mooooon"

something that's not so cute......... when he's really mad about not getting his way.... he tries to hit. now i know i should only share the TRULY adorable things. but this is part of his development as well. getting flustered about not getting what he wants is something he'll have to get used to . we're working on it. :)


WORDS: ucky(yucky), ummy (yummy), owie (when he gets hurt or if we hurt ourselves), moooooon, MOPPA, ANYA, LALA, ADA, cheeeeeese, car, keys, fishy, turkey......... i could be forgetting some because he's been a little mocking bird lately. also we confirmed that he actually does say DINOSAUR...lol!

I was tagged!
1. Where is your cell phone? on the desk
2. Where is your significant other? watching the Lakers
3. Your hair color? light brownish
4. Your mother's name? Sheri
5. Your father's name? Patrick
6. Your favorite thing, not person? ........ Mixie
7. Your dream last night? can't remember
8. Your dream goal? to be calm
9. The room you're in? home office
10. Your hobby? crafting
11. Your fear? news flashes
12. Where do you want to be in six years? here with my family....
13. Where were you last night? snug bug in bed...
14. What you’re not? pretentious
15. One of your wish list items? new comfy couch
16. Where you grew up? OC
17. The last thing you did? working on something to say at Papa's funeral tomorrow.
18. What are you wearing? jeans and a cute Mixie wrap top
19. Your TV? In the living room
20. Your pet? under the covers of OUR bed
21. Your computer? brain drain
22. Your mood? Sleepy
23. Missing someone? Not terribly
24. Your car? Beluga
25. Something you’re not wearing? socks
27. Your summer? a few perfect beach days with Milo
28. Love someone? lots
29. Your favorite color? Green, Orange, Yellow, Brown, Blue & sometimes Lavender
30. When is the last time you laughed? tonight.... laying in the hallway with lorin while milo ran a muck around us and bling bling was rasseling my hair. milo bending down and kissing us. also talking to auntie anya on the phone and Milo saying "aaanYA"....... too cute!
31. Last time you cried? the news that my Papa passed away last week..... has made me cry on and off since.

Tag five poeple.

Christina, Renee, Tely, Nicole & Sarah............... :)

the 31st!!!!!!


we made lot's of Halloweeny fun today! Music class, Pop & Glamma's, a trip around our neighborhood & a trunk or treat at the school down the street. poor poor lorin is sick and was laying in bed so sad that he wouldn't be able to join in. we made our trip out short and sweet so we could come home and care for him.

while the cat's away........




i love this picture of my boys on a diaper run. this was while i was gone in palm springs. auntie tely snapped this shot because she realized what a special moment it was. daddy and milo's 1st diaper run w/o mommy. lol! but my favorite part about this photo is that milo's shirt is on BACKWARDS! love it!

homemade Yoda......

cute..... it is....... :)

inspired by christina's amazing homemade costumes for ada and calvin, i decided to create milo's yoda costume myself. i had some help from my star wars lovin husband ........and this is what we made. i love love love the way milo looks as a little creature. i think he should wear a hood with ears everyday!

Hope is the anticipation that the outcome will be good.

Worry is the anticipation that the outcome will be bad.

Faith is the anticipation that whatever the outcome, it will be for our good.

I have a lot of faith.




life has been busy as usual. i'm still trying to run my little bitty business, raise my not so itty bitty baby, be a sweet and loving wifey & keep track of my priorities. keeping track of my priorities has been a major theme for me lately. with all of the panic about the economy and all the uncertainty with the upcoming election my priorities are more clear than ever. FAMILY(friends included). my family. SIMPLICITY. in all things. LOVE. the best i have to give. FAITH. good medicine. BREATHE. deep breath in....... all is well.

my papa passed away last friday night. it sits like a lump in my throat. with his passing brings lots of peace that he is not suffering anymore.... but also such an end of an era.

i just keep relishing in the last day i spent with him this summer. milo and i hitched a ride with pop & glamma to Papa and Diana's. we went to help with any last minute chores before Papa and Diana left for idaho for the rest of the summer. we also went to visit....... of course. i really wanted Papa & Diana to see what a little fun "Woobie" Milo had become. the previous visits we had during the holidays were not an accurate representation of milo. he was cranky and unhappy about all the passing around that was being forced on him. therefore Papa and Diana had not had a chance to experience his true fun nature..... although there is certainly some truth in the crankiness they had seen before...... but we won't get into that right now.

we spent the day just hanging out. Diana was finishing up her last bits of packing and we all sat around the kitchen table talking about whatever. it was so nice. then Pop, Papa & I went outside to clear the fruit trees. it was HOT HOT HOT out there but these are my treasurred last memories of Papa. Pop was climbing up the ladder and picking the grapefruit from the tops of trees and Papa and I were gathering them in bags to give away. there was some fruit throwing and joking and a lot of laughing. we had to keep telling Papa to stop helping..... Pop and I were supposed to be doing all the work but he couldn't help himself. Papa and i also had a lot of fun pointing out more fruit that was hidden at the top of the trees....... poor Pop had to climb back up the ladder and reach through the thorny tree to clear every last piece of fruit off. it seems like such a simple last memory. SIMPLE......... and perfect!

then we sat in the shade in the backyard for awhile. Pop took Milo in the pool and Papa & I watched them swim. i took lots of pictures...... not because i thought that this might be the last time i saw Papa. but because it just seemed so special. i had never been to that house as a mother and a wife. i didn't really give a ton of thought to it at the time..... but now i realize the specialness of my dad in the pool with my son as my grandfather and i watched........ we were doing absolutely nothing..... it was WONDERFUL.

services will be held next week. i can hardly bear the thought of seeing Diana & Pop. i know Pop's doing ok and has a ton of support & good memories... but when i put myself in his shoes...... the thought of losing him is too unbearable to even ponder. i can only think about all of the love and respect i saw between the two of them. i've watched as both Pop & Glamma have tirelessly been of service to their ailing and aging parents and am inspired and amazed at how they do it. this could possibly bring me to my next point........ should i have 10 children?????....... cause i think you need lots of children to care for you in your old age. just a thought!............. I'M KIDDING!!!!!! don't freak out! :)

panama hat

milo spent his saturday with moppa & jim they took him to breakfast and shopping at fashion island. he picked out this hat!!!! how cute!

things to do in my twenties........

Last thing on the list......

"sleep inside a pink glittery discoball"

..... thanks Lorin!

now i'm throughly prepared to turn 30 tomorrow....... right? we just got back from a really fun trip up north to the Madonna Inn. we had so much fun trekking up the california coast with milo. we took tons of pictures that i will be adding later. right now i just wanted to show off the dazzling sparkly room we had. it was like being inside of a giant pink disco ball. it was truly amazing and such a surprise.

outta my comfort-zone.......

today milo and i started Music Together class. i had noooooo idea what i was in for!!! a week before class the teacher gave me a CD to listen to in the car with milo. It's a CD of the different songs that we will be singing in class......AND BOY DO WE SING THEM!!!!! so we go in this morning and when it started out i was trying to encourage milo by singing along softly and making his hands tap the bongo drum. the teacher told me to just let milo do his thing and for me to really let loose and get into it and by doing that it would encourage milo. SO I DID! laaaaaa laaaaaaa la la la la! lol! it really was the best thing. the look on his face when he saw the moms and teachers singing and clapping was priceless. milo was such a free little spirit getting into what we were doing and then also freely expressing himself anyway he chose. it was so cute. it was uncomfortable for me at first and a little embarrassing but the results were amazing. the teacher is our neighbor and she is so into child development and music and the benefits of teaching music to children. it's really cool that milo is already familiar with her from walking around our neighborhood. as awkward as it was i'm totally looking forward to class next week..... it was sooooo fun!

spinning.....

i watched the movie Parethood this weekend. it totally reminded me of this video of woobie.

dancing!

and the best part about going away........



..... coming home!!!!

rejuvenation vacation

mud masks, cucumber water, cheese & crackers, bellinis, massages, facials, singing at the top of our lungs, sushi, vision boards, steam rooms, thrift stores, lattes & waffle cones. in 1 week i'll be 30......... this is how i prepare :)

the color PUPLE.....

milo has been saying so many words the last few days. i was telling lorin that yesterday milo said PURPLE when he was coloring with the PURPLE crayon. lorin couldn't really believe me....... and sure enough this morning milo said, "PUPLE"...... very quietly while he was coloring with is purple crayon. lorin and i just looked at each other and laughed. it was so soft and cute..... "PUPLE".

more words....... some that i have not even heard myself but have been told he says.....

thank you

calvin

cracker

nana

dinosaur

and of course...... daddy (a lot of things are daddy), mama, hot, up & doggie.......

happy harvest!


we took a trip to the pumpkin patch. last year when we went he was just a little tiny baby. can't believe it's been a year. this trip was much different. we mainly followed him around and watched him..... discover a huge fuzzy caterpillar, pick a large green gourd instead of a pumpkin & slightly manhandle the farm animals. it was fun and hot but mostly just amazing to watch this fearless guy go.

leading the way....


the 1st pumpkin he picked had a big caterpillar hiding on it.


strolling to his next pick


a green gourd?


playing with daddy on the hay and pumpkin hill.


pondering the patch


"please take me into the petting zoo"


"seeee..... they like me"


goaty face?


let the manhandling begin! look who grabbed an ear!!!


huddle with the sheeps


teaching him how to pet gently


happy and satisfied! :)