Bruin Cade

Grandma and I caught the tail end of Cade's basketball game this morning. His team, the Bruins, won and they are now in the finals! It was very fun to see, and so "professional." There is a referee, electronic score board, bleachers for the parents...

Here's a couple of pictures, but it was hard to snap them fast enough - those boys MOVE.

Gretchen!!!

First, I want to share this picture of Gretchen's new obsession. Dishwasher:



Now for the rest of the news...

Gretchen has learned how to climb on the top of the kitchen table. First she hauls herself on top of the chair, hoisting her little belly with very un-babylike grunts. From there she can easily crawl on the table. When at last atop the table she does a little dance. It would be so cute if it weren't terrifying for her poor mother.

Gretchen has learned how to climb on top of the toilet. And put all the toothbrushes in her mouth. (No, we don't keep the toothbrushes on the toiled. Gross. They're in a storage shelf/basket thingee hung above the commode.) One more reason to keep the bathroom door shut. Also, she like to go in & get TP to blow her nose with. And that's why there's little shredded pieces of TP all over the house. Awesome, right?

Gretchen has learned how to "Rocking Chair Surf". Directions: Climb on top of rocking chair using lower support bar too boost baby belly onto seat. Stand. Rock back and forth with arms held out. Fall, but only backwards.

Gretchen has learned how to crawl into Ella's booster seat/highchair. And then stand on it. And then laugh. Mom found a new gray hair yesterday.

Gretchen has learned how to climb down the stairs. Phew. That one, at least, is progress toward a "safe" behavior. Not the slightly suicidal things she attempts every other 5 minutes...



Ella's Message To Her Cousins: I love my cousins. When I go to California again I want to play with them and I want to have fun. I will play nicely. That's all that I want to say.
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Ella Won!

We're well back in the swing of things, and 99% recovered from our whirlwind holiday extravaganzas. Back in our routine, including Library Story Time on Tuesdays (Ella & peeps like to take over the "dress up" section).



Ella won a medal at gym class. Well, really all the kids did. But it's nice to see our gym-class tuition going to more jewelry...

Here's Miss Katy handing out medals & her class lining up.



I WON I WON I WON!



SEE? I WON!



The fun didn't end there, last Saturday Auntie Amber & Auntie Krista took the girls on an outing. Yay Pet Store & Book Store!



The girls had matching pig tails for approx. 2.8 seconds (till Gretchen pulled hers out).



And we gave Gretchen spaghetti for dinner. And then a bath.



Ella likes to take pictures of her baby sister with my camera. My favorite part of this photo is Ella's little feet with her toes curled.



Gretchen gives Ella all her best smiles. Look at how cute that baby is. You'd never guess she's been whining for the past 20 minutes!



The End!

Family History

Mike, Mom, Autumn and I went to Grandma Liz's yesterday for her 88th birthday. I decided to take my laptop and our 4-in-1, for the scanner, to Grandma's so that I could start scanning in all the old pictures she has. I always wanted the old pictures, and I'm sure I'm not the only one, so now we can all have copies, if we so desire. I haven't really photoshopped anything yet (and I'm not the most skilled at it - not like Aaron and Apryl), but I thought you might enjoy seeing these. We got 45 scanned in, with a LOT more to go. A good reason to go back and spend more time with Grandma (not that you need a reason to see Grandma)...

Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Emmanuel and his 2nd wife at Knott's Berry Farm:

Grandma Liz at Knott's:

Grandma Liz in her saddle shoes:


The Grandpa Fred we all knew and loved:


Grandma Liz and her brother, Alma. I asked Grandma if her mom cut her hair and she said, "Most likely." Mom thinks a bowl may have been involved:


Aunt Pat came over. We enjoyed a nice lunch together. Mom made two trays of Manicotti, one from the family party Friday night for my birthday (thanks, Family!) and one for grandma's house. Autumn and Mike enjoyed Bernadette's leftover stew. And green jello for dessert - yum! Jaimee came by in the afternoon and visited, Mike taught Autumn how to throw her tomahawk in Grandma's backyard, and Mike spent a lot of time reading Grandma's signed copy of Bruce R. McConkie's "Mormon Doctrine" book. We had a nice day together and then Grandma was on her way to Aunt Pat's for a nice leg of lamb dinner made by Uncle Jim, Autumn was on her way to her friend's bbq and we headed home...

Christmas Highlights

The Christmas Season started out with Gretchen's FIRST BIRTHDAY. (FYI - she likes cake)



We were very excited to have snow AND Britton & Matia the week before Christmas. We had lots of fun hanging out and playing.

Here's Matia & Uncle Shea trekking up the sledding hill, & Ella THRILLED to be a big girl that can go down by herself:



Gretchen didn't recognize her daddy & was very sad & cold. Krista took her to the car shortly after this (after a single tear slid down her cheek. Very pitiful. Poor baby).

Christmas Eve was spent making gingerbread cookies. (It's like we're in a freakin Norman Rockwell painting. We know.)



Don't worry, Ella & Matia made princesses. Phew! We thought someone would forget that ALL THINGS MUST BE PRINCESS.



Uncle Ian flew in Christmas Day. We celebrated by stealing the Massa's Wii & playing Guitar Hero (if the mic looks familiar, it's because it's from Ella's High School Musical Karaoke game. Sweet.)



Grandpa took the kids out for some wholesome activities (pelting small children with snow).





We did take a family picture (Tyler & Meghan will be photoshopped in later), but you'll have to ask Shea to post that. Till then, this should tide you over:


Then we said, "Forget the snow, we're going to the beach." And because we're awesome parents, we let Gretchen run around in her diaper. You can't see the other beachgoers in this pic, but they were all wearing winter coats & caps. Nerds!


Then we took our monkeys to see the Monkeys at the San Diego Zoo.



Ella braved the polar bear exhibit (she was really worried they'd be walking around & eating children. But they weren't.)



Then we rode a fancy sky basket across the zoo & spat upon the people below us.



Grethchen wasn't too impressed.



So we made her pose for this picture:



We had SO MUCH FUN staying at Uncle Aaron's house. Look at all the cool toys they have (she's a Princess Storm Trooper!) "Oh Darth, you're HILAROUS!"


Lets plan to take over the universe together! But first, a little quiet time...


We heart Auntie Autumn! Gretchen is saying, "Yay! Thanks for driving down to the OC (don't call it that) to see us!"



Poppa Randy & Nanna Joy made us brunch. (Dude, this is why we come visit. Free food.)



And fun in the playpen in the closet!



And really, words are not necessary for how awesome visiting family is:


And after that, we were tired:


So now we are home, the car is finally cleaned out, and we're ready to Rock 2009. Thanks for being awesome, dear family of ours!!!

Ella's special message: ftyuigvbncgttttttklmbvcxzaqwsedfrhgjkloiuughnhtygbvcxzgtg5hjjbggt6jkdfhjmnffdr5tyuilpo

Interpretation: All will be anyone knows that be in force will be nobody's answer.

Interpretation Of The Intrepretation: Ella likes to pretend to type.

PS - 10 points if you can find the Arrested Development reference.

What I Did On My Vacation

Snow Day! Snow Day!

We had a snow day in Reno! I know! Here's Gretchen gazing out on the freakin' freezing magical sight.



We bundled up & ventured outside.



Oh man, it's cold! Gretchen's super swank coat is not enough to make up for the frigid temp!



Gretchen bucked up & got used to the freeze. She got a little brave.



She's a big kid. She takes it in stride.





Then Ella & I scooped up snow & made a snowman. Colby called it a midget, but Ella said he was wrong. It's just a short guy snowman. I said that Colby needs to be more sensitive to what he teaches his kids. Ella said, "Yeah, it's not a midgelet. It's just a snowman." Also, my SoCal heritage (and lack of all winter skills including but not limited to - driving in the snow, scraping windshields, remembering gloves, and making snowmen) is on display in full force here.



Today is Gretchen's birthday. She is ONE YEAR OLD TODAY! So far she's spent the day going to church, eating oranges, following her sister & cousins around the house, and wearing bracelets. Tonight, after a lovely turkey dinner, she'll blow out candles (oh wait, we have candles, right? She might be blowing out a tea light...) open presents, and barking at the dog. It's a full day. We'll document & report back.