Where is everybody?

There was a bit less fanfare for this take off (and landing) but we were there (small black dots near the hangar)! And very excited that a fully outfitted Dreamliner has hit the skies.

Manager Trainee

This was really a tough one but its been on the list for a while now and with the new backyard experience...it was needed. I'm sick of dancing with a sprinkler trying to avoid watering the concrete! So this year we finally have irrigation AND flower basket drip lines. OH the money I've spent on hanging baskets I've killed should easily pay for this project. So we dug out the credit card (Schwab 2% cash back on everything no minimum no exceptions - have you heard) and paid someone else to do it! Three days later and some insprirational words from the peanut gallary - and its done!

Torch in Gaol

We "busted her out" as JR likes to say - he called scuola and explained she was sick -eh, eh - and she wouldn't be in today. As he hung up he turned and said to Olivia..."that's how its done"...hmmmm not sure we need to teach this skill set. But whatever we headed to Vancouver to see the Olympics.

Sweet Dreams

She's a great sleeper...I'm not sure what she's dreaming about...but I'm not interested in changing it! She can sleep through the burr of an airplane, the garbage man, recycle man, and compost man - but you walk into that room and she hears the click of the door - WATCH OUT! Those arms hit the air faster than you can squeeze yourself through the door crack and the bookshelf. Its amazing, how does she know. I swear she's half asleep - but you ain't gettin' outta there so just pick her up and settle into the rocker. We've learned from experience. No one in this house is allowed to 'check the child'. We don't want to see her till morning anyway. No news is good news and you can hear her snoreing thats good enough.

We've settled into a routine of nice afternoon snoozes (enough for a movie on a Sunday afternoon..have you seen Extrack?), nighty-nighty time starts about 8pm and lasts basically until 8am. It works out to be perfectly enough time to do the dinner dishes, pick up the toys and throw yourself on the couch for some terrible national broadcast television (I wish Frontline was on everynight). Now if I can just get her to be totally asleep in time to hit the couch for Survivor - my one and only TV indulgence outside of DIY.

It took a daddy and a grandpa to get this hotrod back on the road and I do mean the road...

I guess that is one way to get jogging into your daily routine.

One going on...

I guess going on one - when exactly do your kids take over every aspect of your life? Olivia continues to be 100% excited by any electrical or audio visual device. The remote, blackberry, iPhone you name it. She pants and gets very excited when she finally gets her hands on one of these little slices of baby gold. We are now accustomed to thanking her for finding the device since we can't remember where we last placed it to "hide" it from her.

What a difference a year makes

No need to brave the long lines at the mall for this! We unexpectedly bumped into Santa while shopping for a birthday hat. Thats not surprise and excitment on her face...

She was lucky in one way - she got to play toys with Santa for a bit and that seemed to be a-okay but don't get too close...

Mrs. Robinson

Officially a graduate, the oldest in the class and it shows. Her next best friend is 6 days younger, then it drops off fast to several months. She and Dec 25th really have command of the room. They've explored every nook and cranny. I typically take part in 'school' sitting on the play kitchen or sky box stairs trying to coral my little mover and shaker. While the other babies try to roll over or sit up, Olivia is in and OUT of the ball pit 2 or 3 times. She made quite a splash in the ball pit recently - stopping the conversation with a belly flop - a shock for all.

Evergreen State - Sold Out

It might be Olivia's second xmas, but its our FIRST xmas tree (second ucut location attempt). After we cut it down I did the math and it will take 6 years to pay for a fake tree vs. going through this every year. And the storage oh the storage - we've got nothing left - so real tree it is.


Olivia is a holiday or two behind. She's more interested in the leftover Halloween candy than the xmas tree. I wonder...how many licks does it take to get to the center of the tootsie-pop when you start from the wrapper?

Smiles and Slobber

Its my dress and I'll slobber on it if I want too or cry which ever gets me picked up. Olivia wasn't digging picture day today. I'm very worried what professional picture day is going to be like. We've got the wardrobe, just need a willing model - she's very demanding!

Birthday Month!

Miss December is ready to party! She got out her sequins and is ready for a fantastic birthday month - not to be confused with xmas of course.

Seeing Red

Halloween is over, thanksgiving is behind us, time to put the orange and brown away and get out the RED! The stroller got an update for the season. All she needs is an integrated iPod for me to take credit for pimping her ride - all the other cars have it...

Swimming in December

I'm considering switching up the holidays. Birthdays near xmas totally suck and as the saying goes "xmas in July". I'm thinking that might not be such a bad idea!

Good lookin' bird

The most work on Tday we planned was figuring out which drive-thru to hit...but something got the best of me and I found myself at the grocery store and all these thanksgiving ingredients found their way into my cart. Very happy they did because this bird is perhaps my best yet. I've steamed a turkey I didn't give enough time to thaw, burnt one and must have undercooked one - but this time I finally got the perfectly browned skin figured out. I believe the secret to my success was room temp, right size and olive oil. Also, PBS and America's Test Kitchen. Olivia enjoyed Turkey the most, tolerated yams and basically liked green beans. She thought pumpkin pie and whip cream were worth the messy hands and took a bite or two. My favorite accomplishment this week is the use of a straw!! YAHOOO. I hate the sippy cups we live with they drip drip drip - but a straw - oh the possibilities. I might actually take her to a drive thru.

Jail Bird

We finally got the baby gate, resistance was futile. The result is sooo nice. I sat on the couch about 5 seconds after it was installed and watched her crawl around the corner out of sight. Suddenly a sense of relief (instead of dread) passed over me as I remembered I could just stay put...she's in lock down. Ahhhh...but relief is short lived. A baby gate is great but it seems you can't do this....

'cause she'll do this....

Ins and Outs

Just learning the ins and outs of pit ball...errr I mean the ball pit. This little contraption (who am I kidding - this ain't little) has been a real hit. We've all enjoyed it from time to time. Currently we are getting most of the laughs as we watch a swan dive into and out of 'the pool'. She's learning to stand unassisted - its the throwing herself over an object I'm concerned about. The crib rails were promptly lowered.

In addition to squirming in the balls, Olivia is quite adept at 'palming' a ball. Here's little Michelle Jordon at it now.

Pictures are worth a thousand words....but video can be used to embarrass you forever!

Happy Halloween

From Yoda, Luke and Leia.

bummer

The guy on the street got this picture perfectly - exactly what we wanted - to highlight the sign. Thank you very much streetwalker, next time I'll put a twenty in your box at the stoplight.

Sleep Wars

Our latest strategy to induce fuss-free bedtime is Triptophan. Olivia will eat - anything basically - chicken specifically is a favorite. Tonight we added turkey and laughed about the hopeful side-effect! Apparently Olivia has already devised her counter-attack. She taught us that kitcat also likes turkey - as she dropped pieces to a waiting dinner guest... We've NEVER fed this cat table food so this is all new and all Olivia. I guess at least we don't need to get a dog.