CA Happenings

Helen is currently into everything and can reach as high as the kitchen table. Nothing is safe in this house. I wonder how shelves would look on the ceiling?
Miles is busy at school and has lost yet another tooth. This time it was one right on the top in the front. I still need to take the picture of it.
Tom and I are going to the theater on Friday and leaving Helen with a sitter for the very first time. This should be interesting since Helen has just entered the separation anxiety phase. I hope Stephanie can handle it.
As I am writing this Helen decided it was nap time and since Mommy is currently engaged on the phone, Daddy took Helen back to her bedroom, but not before he grabbed a heavy duty pair of ear muffs to drown out the screams.
Will post some photos on St Patty's Day.

3 Generations of Bad Hair

Unfortunately, one of them is a girl.

I'm a Girl!!!!!!!

Ok, so this past weekend we went to a gun show up in Santa Barbara and Helen was being carried around in the baby bjorn by Tom. It was Valentine's Day so I dressed Helen in a Valentine's outift which consisted of a pink sweat suit with white hearts all over the jacket and the pants. While Tom and I were walking around looking at the various tables, this older man says to Tom what a strapping young boy you have strapped to your chest.
I guess little boys are now wearing pink sweat suits with white hearts all over them.
If we had wanted people to think our beautiful daughter was a boy, I would have dressed her in blue.
I don't get older men, who can't tell the difference between the color pink and the color blue. The reason I say this, is only the day before the same thing happened to me at the car dealership where I was getting my oil. Not only was Helen wearing a pink jacket, but she was also wearing a dress, and still called a boy. I guess we will have to permanently mark her with I'm a girl dammit.

Week of firsts

Yeah, now I can really cut some teeth, says Helen.
Houston we have standing on our own.
Helen decides to make a new make up fashion statement by wearing her banana instead of eating it.

Hey isn 't banana good for your skin?

This past week Helen decided to give us a few more firsts. The first thing was eating a banana, or rather wearing it as part of the new spring collection. The second was to pull herself up to a full standing position while sitting in her crib. The same crib that Daddy just lowered the mattress on because she started sitting up. Guess what, we had to lower two more places. We can't keep up with this child.

San Diego Visit

See all my teeth?
Aunt Paulette shows us how to play paddle ball.
Helen's beautiful sweater from Aunt Paulette and Uncle Richard


Let's go racing boys! Zach, Logan and Miles race remote controlled cars for the championship.
Helen and Zoe playing with Helen's new ball popper.

Bath anyone?

Like brother like sister.
Miles helping Helen with her "bath" in the dishwasher


Helen decided she just had to have a bath, and thought the dishwasher would be a good place to get one. The funny thing is, her brother did the same thing when he was her age. I guess apples don't fall too far from the tree.

learning

I SEE A CAT AND A DOG.

Not much of a sentence, right? But Master Miles, only 6 years old, can read and understand the entire sentence. Pretty dang good for a kindergartner.

I originally typed the sentence on my computer as "I SAW A CAT AND A DOG". Miles didn't quite get it. 'Saw' was confusing him. So I retyped it as 'See' and he read the sentence word for word. So I asked him, "Miles, what does that sentence mean?"

He answered, "I saw a cat and a dog, daddy!"

Can't read tenses yet, but he sure knows them...



P.S. The total lack of postings for the last two weeks are in no way attributable to Tom. He has had nothing to do with the lack of commu***********EDIT. HE SURE DOES! IF HE WOULD GIVE ME A SPARE MOMENT I COULD TELL YOU ABOUT THE CRAWLING BABY AND THE*************** Dammit honey make your own post!

Hiking Part 1

These didn't post earlier. On New Year's Eve Helen decided to start sitting up by herself. No sudden tilts, crashes, or any bonks. Perfectly sitting up. This made her old enough for the backpack carrier, so off we went on our first hike and geocaching trip with Helen.

This was our target: Paradise Falls in Wildwood Park, Thousand Oaks.



A picnic spot on the way. The cloud cover was greatly appreciated.


There's a ton more places to explore in this park.


Early on the trip was fascinating.

Helen's first hike part 2

Along the way apparently, the hike was too much for Helen and she fell asleep.
Taking a break
Happy Hikers Daddy and Helen
Happy Miles and Helen at the end of our hike.

Helen hiked 2.77 miles round trip. Not bad for a kid who can't even crawl yet.

Happy New Year 2009

Partying with Uncle Joe
Look Ma, it's after midnight and I'm still ready to party
Helen says cheers and Happy New Year
We celebrated the New Year at Joe and Laurel's house

The last of Christmas morning

Helen was exhausted after opening all her gifts
Miles racing with his new slot car race track.

Christmas morning still

Happy Miles and one of his Santa gifts
Helen's gift to us was her belly crawling for the first time Xmas morning.
Hey, the wrapping paper tasted good, I bet this will too.
Yum, this tastes so good.
I wonder how good Santa gifts taste?

More Xmas morning

Helen opening her Santa present

Hey, big brother, can I play with you Army sets?
"Grammy" Janet and Helen
Helen and Daddy check out her gift from Grammy Janet and Grandpa John.
Our kids have several pairs of surrogate grandparents out here. John and Janet are just one pair of them.