The Christmas Season

I know, I'm really lame. For all 3 people out there who read our blog, please accept my apologies. Here's a quick recap of our last couple months:

Celebrating Thanksgiving in Oak Harbor, Washington.My latest project - potty training! I think it's safe to say we have a ways to go. Don't worry, Grandparents...I edited the picture. We celebrated Christmas early with the Hartmans. Not even 2 and Emma really gets the concept of gifts - and as the only grandchild/neice there were a bunch for her to open!We celebrated Christmas Eve and Christmas with my family in Thousand Oaks and Palm Desert. Emma barely fit into her 24 month Christmas dress...good thing Christmas wasn't any later or we'd be back to the store to buy another one.Andrew snapped one last picture of me and Dylanne, the dog I picked out in 1995. Chances are good this will be that last picture of her - she's headed to doggy heaven soon. Love you Dylanne!

Candy?

It's so fun watching a 20 month old figure out Halloween. First, we dressed Emma up like a butterfly ("fuh-fly" as she says). Then, we tell her to ring the door of total strangers and ask them for candy. She caught on pretty quick, especially after the first couple houses.

We had a little block party, complete with "spooky" deviled eggs.

My baby girl all dressed up. She was such a ham.

She loved pointing to her wings and saying "Fuh-fly"!

Thanks to Granny for some amazing shots!

The three of us before we took Emma trick or treating. She would stop at every house and point, saying "Candy?" She's a quick study.

I love this picture. It looks like it should be in a magazine.

New York, New York

So last week Andrew and I went to New York city for our 5 year anniversary while Emma stayed home with Mimi and Papa. We missed her a ton!...but were so thankful for the time away.

Central Park was incredible, especially as the days we spent there were so mild.

We went to the Top of the Rock at sunset. The view was breathtaking (and we enjoyed it with about 500 other people, most of whom didn't speak english).

We went to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Andrew found his family that immigrated through Ellis Island in 1904. Well, he didn't actually find them...we found their immigration papers.

Brunch at the Boathouse in Central Park. We needed a break from strolling museums.

See a pattern here? Andrew had never been to New York before so I just HAD to show him all classic NYC places. We saw a show, ate incredible meals, stayed out late, walked all over town, road the subway, made an appearance on TODAY, bought food from street carts...if we ever win the lottery we may just consider a second home in the city.

The OC Fair

We took Emma to the OC Fair this month while Mimi and Papa were visiting.
Emma loved the gazillion animals in the petting zoo and we enjoyed the people watching and a frozen lemonade on a hot day.

Here's Emma posing at the front entrance.

I'm not kidding...these steers were taller than Andrew. Only at the county fair.

We found a petting zoo with tons of baby animals.

Apparently Emma didn't read the sign...she's such a rulebreaker.

Our Little Patriot

Celebrations

I pinch myself sometimes when I think about the incredible community we have around us.

Celebrating Father's Day in Laguna Beach.Celebrating the birth of Baby Carson.
Celebrating Matt's Birthday.

Book Club

So last year I joined an amazing group of Mamas who love to read and talk about life and raising kids and the spiritual journey of being a parent. I'm sure there are a bunch of different things we could call our group - I choose to call us a book club...it makes me feel like a sophisticated and hip Mama...
We get together every week over coffee, after the kiddos are in bed, and by the time I get home Andrew is fast asleep. But I love these women and feel blessed to walk through life with them.
This weekend we met rather spontaneously at the bluffs at Corona Del Mar for a little wine and cheese picnic with our families. It was fun and totally chaotic, but we had a blast.