2 POSTS IN JULY?

This one is for you Paradise. Nathan, Joe and Angel came over the other night. Chris' sister also joined us. We had 9 big kids and 7 little kids playing, drinking and bar-b-que-ing. It was a lot of fun. It was so cool to see Alan. We eventually figured out that we had a 2 yr old, 3 yr old, 4 yr old, 5 yr old, 2-7 yr olds and of course Laci. They all played together nicely and didn't get to bed until after 10.... oops. Here are some pics of the event.

Sue and Thomas had a lovely wedding earlier this month and just got back from their honeymoon in Hawaii. Britten and Hailey did a great job with their roles but I don't have any digital pictures to share yet. Hopefully soon. Chris and I went Whitewater Rafting two weekends ago. It was so crazy and cool. If anyone will be around July 12-13 of next year, let us know so you can join us. It's an incredible experience.
Talk to everyone soon.
Happy Birthday to Ben and belated Birthday to Siven. If anyone talks to Psalms - I need her address and/or phone number.

HAPPY INDEPENDANCE DAY

Congratulations to Simon and Michelle on the birth of their son. I don't know his name yet but I'm sure it'll be a nice one. Can't wait to hear all about him and maybe even meet him and little Kyle one of these days.

We took the kids to the local 4th of July parade this morning. It was pretty cool but very hot. It was still over 100 degrees at 7 this evening. Jackson played in the kids' pool to keep cool.
Happy July and late June birthdays to Paradise, Austin, Amber, and Siven. Of course the new little guy will be right in there, 1/2 way between Austin and Amber - better give him an "a" name.

Susan and Thomas get married this weekend. How exciting. It's supposed to cool down by about 10 degrees so it ought to be perfect. Congratulations to them.

The first picture above is Hailey trying on shoes in my closet and the other is the kids and Jackson posing at the parade.

HAPPY SUMMER

Well Summer is finally here. We are thrilled to be able to experience it with air conditioning. I guess it's important to appreciate the luxeries in life. Our home is coming along slowly but surely. Chris paints every spare moment but there is still a lot of work to do. He needs a few more spare moments. The kids still can't figure out how to fall asleep before 9:30 PM. We really need to figure that one out. Jackson and the chickens are happy to be rolling around in the dust bowl that was once our back yard. We have to plant some more grass - everywhere.
The kids and Heidi went up to Sonora for Father's Day. Chris got some quality alone time. We saw all the Sonora kin folk and then met up with Heidi's high school friends. The kids got to play in a real creek!!! What a joy for them. Keri's boys built a dam and Britten and Hailey were able to undermine it's integrity. Oops. It was wonderful to see Karen and Keri again. It's so hard to believe that it's been 9 children and 16 years since graduation.
The picture above is the California cousins the morning after Aunt Michelle & Uncle Don's party. Very cool kids!

JUNE UPDATE

Well, in case you haven't heard, we have moved back into our house. We love it soooooo much. We had our first triple digit temperature of the year and now have AC to help us cope. Unfortunately, I'm not sure where we packed the cords for our cameras so we have no pictures of the house or Britten's birthday to share at this time. I have a feeling that Aunt Sue may spare a few for us though. Speaking of Britten, he turned 4 on Monday. We had a small party with Chris' family and the Taylors. Corn dogs and carrots for everyone followed by Mudd Pie Ice Cream Cake....Yummy. Paradise and Justin are coming to visit this weekend. We'll head up to Sonora for Father's Day. It should be very nice - but short. And maybe we'll have a new nephew any day now....hang in there Michelle. Talk to everyone soon.

In Memory of....

Many people I know spent Memorial Day Weekend celebrating summer, sun and remembering our Nation's fallen heros. I was lucky enough to spend the weekend with my incredible family celebrating Uncle Dean's legacy. I'll never be able to find the right words to adequately express the beauty and perfection of the services for Uncle Dean. He was such a unique man and truly deserved the service that Terri so wonderfully put together. I only wish that all of my siblings and Chris could have seen it first hand. My thanks to Terri for such an appropriate send off for Uncle Dean. My prayers go out to Deanna, Clayton and Terri.
I hope that everyone returned home safely from Florida. I came home a day early and surprised Chris, the kids and Chris' parents. It was so nice to see them. Florida was beautiful but I missed my family. The house still isn't ready but we're thinking we should be ready to move in this weekend. It's so beautiful. I can't wait to show it to everyone. Our yard could use a little love but it'll come with time.
Father's Day weekend will bring a mini-family reunion here in Northern California. Paradise is driving out and we're hoping to spend at least one day in Sonora. There may be a few Hawaii kids there too but that's not really set yet. We shall see.

The pictures above are: Britten and Hailey playing together on their bike; The cousins and their grandparents at Uncle Dean's service; The girl cousins after the funeral.

This one is for you Paradise

Here's a picture of Baby Kyle Lutz that Ben and Nitu sent out yesterday. It's such a beautiful picture I felt obligated to share it with everyone else. Uncle Ben - Britten thinks you need a haircut. Maybe a buzz cut like Austin? Also, a picture of Hailey in a birthday outfit from Aunt Angel & family.
It's all good here. The weather is gorgeous. Chris is laying floor, the kids are napping. The Warriors won. The A's won. Happy Birthday Laci!

Upcoming events: Susie & Dick's b-days; Dolly's b-day; Joe's B-day; Mother's Day;

HAPPY MAY

Well, it's May. That means my half-birthday is approaching. More importantly, Little Laci will soon be Sweet Sixteen. How amazing is that? The crazy thing is that Chris and I saw each other for the first time when she was a little infant swinging in her swing. Happy Birthday Laci. I hope you have a wonderful day and that we're able to spend at least a portion of it with you.
There's not too much new to report on over here. Susan and Thomas' wedding is only 2 months away. How exciting for them. It's going to be very beautiful. The house has stalled once again but what else is new. Our cabinets have been installed but still need the countertop, fixtures and all the other stuff to make the place habitable. The kids are terrific and amaze me every day with their humor, compassion, love, fun and innocence. I just love them. Happy cinco de mayo to all.

BRITTEN'S HAIRCUT

As promised, here's the picture of Britten after his first professional haircut. Of course I'm a little biased, but I think you're looking at one handsome boy. That's all for now. Hasta.

HAPPY APRIL

Happy April, Easter and Birthday to one and all. It's been a busy month. Grandma Cathi and Uncle Simon and his family were out here last week. We finally got to meet Rayann!! What a wonderful family get together. Six of the many cousins were together. It doesn't happen often enough.
Hailey turned 2 on Easter Sunday. She is so thankful for all of her beautiful outfits, stickers and purses. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts.
Britten had his first 'real' haircut today with Grandma and Grandpa at the barber. He looks so different without his locks but very cute. He wanted to look like Cousin Austin but we didn't go that far. I'll try to get a picture.
There is progress on the house but still no real date to move in. The kitchen cabinets came in today. They're supposed to be installed tomorrow. The downstairs floor will hopefully be done this weekend with Uncle Joe's help. Then there's still a bunch of plumbing, electrical and finish work...plus a lot that I probably don't know about. It's definitely getting close though.
Peace out.

HOUSE STATUS

We have no pictures to speak of. Only words to read of. We finally ordered our cabinets for the kichen. We expect them to be delivered April 11. Today the interior doors and window and door trim were placed. Chris has the entire house primed now it just needs to be painted. We need to work on the floor, finish the interior trim and then start unpacking. It won't be long now - hopefully.
The kids are doing well. I think we all finally kicked that cold/flu thing that was bouncing back and forth. Hailey has been going to Britten's pre-school room for a time each day so that she can adjust when she turns 2 and goes to that room for good. Britten holds her hand and doesn't let her out of his sight. I wonder if my big brother ever did that. He's picking her friends and everything. I think my big brother did something along those lines....
Well Spring is in the air in Northern California. We're going to go to a St Patricks festival tomorrow and hopefully we'll all get pinched. No, really. I don't think we're going to wear green. We'll see. Looking forward to the big 2nd birthday party on Easter Sunday. It should be a hoot.

AAAHHHH PROGRESS

Yes, that is our house. For all those who have forgotten what it looked like before...join the club. But these pics are fresh off the camera and prove that there has been activity these past few months. Not only has Hailey turned into a little girl, but our home has doubled in size. We still have some work to do but we should be in within the next few weeks. Hopefully Joe will be down to help out with the floor. Chris is going to paint the interior and Heidi is going to stay out of the way with the kids.

Speaking of the kids, they are doing wonderful. They're finally over that nasty cold/cough that everyone seemed to have. Above are two pics of Hailey that I had to share. One in her valentine's outfit from gram....the other from the other grandma next to one of the oak trees here. Britten's doing terrific. Just a perfect 3 yr old who is interested in everything and soaks it all in. Their capacity to learn, remember and process new information constantly amazes me.
Chris is staying busy with Geopolis Spatial Solutions - if anyone knows of anyone needing some GIS work, shop here first. We're the cheapest firm in town. Heidi starts her new position at work this week. It'll be a challenge but she's really looking forward to it. Jackson hasn't bloated up in a while so we're thrilled about that. Spring is only 22 days away! Can't wait.

Happy February

Just a quick note to say HI to all. We had a very cold January. But survived and have a had a beautiful February so far. The groundhog did not see his shadow so that means the weeds will be growing faster than last year...oh dear. We have a lot to do in our yard. The electrician, plumber and HVAC people were doing their thing at our house last week. Hoping for sheetrock in the next week or so. Still a lot of work but it's moving.
The kids are fighting colds and viruses. Britten had pink eye and an ear infection this week. Poor kid. Hailey has her eternal runny nose. But that's as bad as it got for her so no complaints there. Chris and Heidi are also fighting colds. Heidi was in St Louis a little while back....brrrr...talk about cold. Hailey has used the potty 3 times so far. She's a natural. Maybe she'll be potty trained by 2?? I couldn't find any big-girl undies to fit her at the store though. She's still in 12-18 month clothes. I'm sure we'll figure it out. Go Bears; Happy Valentine's Day; Happy B-day's to Nathan, Chris & Dian.

Here are some more Pics I've been meaning to share with the family. We played tourist in SF not too long ago and had a great day with the kids at Pier 39. We went to the aquarium and played in the recreational area on the waterfront. It was a beautiful California winter day. Much warmer than it has been lately. The one family picture is from a family hike in Briones and is intended to let everyone know that Jackson is thriving. Talk to everyone soon.

GO BEARS

How about those Bears.Wow. I was thinking of you Ben but I don't have your digits to get a hold of you.

The kids are doing well; the remodel is progressing - slowly. Plumbing is mostly complete; Heat and AC are scheduled for this week and then hopefully electrical work. No real schedule after that. One thing at a time.

In the pictures above, Hailey is celebrating New Years Eve, Britten is helping with dinner and the kids are reading the new books they got in the mail from Aunt Amanda and Uncle Nathan.

Happy January to everyone. It's absolutely freezing here but should hopefully begin warming up soon. Happy Birthday to Rayann and Alan.

Happy Holidays to everyone. The kids had a very memorable Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's. Santa arrived sometime last night (even with the fog) and filled their stockings with toys, clothes and all sorts of things. Hailey got a stroller and new potty chair; Britten got a trombone, and a cool semi truck. They took wonderful naps and are now sleeping soundly. The house hasn't had much progress in the last week or so. Windows, roof and door are complete - stucco is 1/2 way done. The electrician, AC man and plumber are supposed to start next week. Hopefully things will get moving in the new year. Arizona was great. The kids had a wonderful time with Grandma Cathi and Dolan and with Aunt Par and Uncle Justin. We have some great memories of that week. Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year. Happy Birthday Alan and congratulations to Michelle and Simon.

Happy December

Wow, I can't believe it's December all ready. Where do the days go? We had a great Thanksgiving. Uncle Don, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Jim, Aunt Judy, Grandma Cathi and lots of cousins made their way into town - along with the usual suspects - Grandma & Grandpa H, Uncle Joe and the Taylors. It's been down right cold in the Bay Area. Especially at night but pretty chilly during the days too. The kids and I are prepping for a road trip. We're going to drive out and see Justin and Par for a few days. It should be fun. We're leaving Chris here to take care of the house, cat, chickens, Jackson and all the bills.
Here are a select group of pictures from the past month. Talk to everyone soon. Go Bears.

HAPPY NOVEMBER

It's amazing to think that November is upon us. How time flies when you're having fun. The roof is now on our house. I can't find the camera with the pictures so you'll have to wait. We're trying to get Brother Joe down here to put the shingles on. I need to work that pretty fast so that we get it done before we get anymore rain.
We took the kids to the Cal-UCLA game last night. The Taylor family joined us. What fun. Jeff was rooting for UCLA but the rest of us were hard core CAL!! The Bears won. My Bears lost today but it was inevitable since they were playing Miami...ha ha. I thought of you Ben.
I still need your Thanksgiving reservations. You can call our old number - we check messages there or get a hold of us at Chris' parents. It's all good.
Here are a couple pics of the kids. Britten in his scary ghost costume on Halloween and Hailey helping Grandma doing some gardening. She loves dirt!! Have a good one everyone.

FALL BACK

I guess we should all call the Taylors and make sure they remembered to 'fall back' today. It's a phenomena that doesn't occur in Arizona and Hawaii. So, this will be their first chance to participate since moving back. The cool thing is that my Hawaii kin is only 2 hours different but the Arizona kin is now an hour different. We learn to get used to it I guess.
Well as you can see the house is progressing and the kids are growing. The house view you see is looking into our new bathroom and bedroom upstairs and looking into our new dining room and kitchen downstairs. The trusses for the roof are expected to arrive this week so hopefully there will be more progress to document shortly.
The kids are terrific. Hailey's vocabulary is finally starting to materialize. Words like juice, boots, books, ball, momma, dadda are quite obvious. Otherwords aren't quite decipherable. Britten's new favorite word is 'damn it'. We had a long talk about it today and he spent a long time in timeout. I told him horror stories of my mouth being washed out with soap as a girl. We'll see if it made any effect on him.
Happy end of October to all. We're looking forward to seeing any and all family members for Thanksgiving here in California. Please give your intent to Heidi as soon as possible so we can make sure there is enough pumpkin pie for everyone.

GO OAKLAND A'S

GO DETROIT TIGERS

Enough with the baseball commentary. Although, it was a terrific baseball day for those of us who love Oakland and detest the Yanks. That's all for now.
Well, in case it's not apparent, construction has resumed on our home. Well, it's a shell of a home. Ironically enough, our first rain of the season occurred on Day 1 of this demo work. But, it dried up and was no big deal. We're going to order our windows and doors tomorrow. I guess framing should take about 3 weeks depending on material availability and weather. That's when I could really use my family...hint, hint, hint.
The kids are terrific. Hailey will be 18 months on Sunday. She's kind of sort of saying words, but they are few and far between. She's so different than B. B's terrific. He just loves baseball...and football for that matter. We'll be at the Cal-Oregon game tomorrow. Should be a barn burner. GO BEARS. Yes, Uncle Dean, Bears - both the California Golden variety as well as the Chicago. Very good sports week indeed!

FALL HAS FALLEN

Fall has arrived in the Bay Area. Just in time to take the kids to the beach and enjoy the beautiful weather. We joined Paradise and Justin on Saturday with Britten and Hailey and went to Santa Cruz. It was absolutely perfect weather. We had warm weather, few crouds and just a relaxing peaceful day. The beach patrol never even bothered us about our alcoholic beverages. The kids just loved the sand. They took turns building and destroying sand structures. What a terrific day.
On Sunday, Paradise and Justin came to our place with the Taylors for a bar-b-que, swim party and competitive game of Kentucky Corn Hole. Justin won. It was a great time. All the cousins played together.
Monday was the topper. Chris and I dropped the ninos off at school and played hooky in Chinatown with Paradise and Justin. A couple bottles of Sake, Bloody Mary's at Red's Place and getting yelled at by the Muni Operators. Who could have asked for a better day. Thanks for all the memories Paradise and Justin. Sorry about all the traffic. We'll get some pictures in the mail to you. Can't wait to see you in your Geisha gear.
The house is starting to move again. More demo and then framing is scheduled to begin next week. Maybe we'll get it rainproof just in time...maybe not. And just to see if Dad ever reads this thing....I could use your help with some of the finish work and to help Joe with the roof... Love all of you. Take care and hope to see you soon. Go Bears.