The Hutchings Headquarters

Birthday Bash #3!!

2011-01-18T16:52:00.000-08:00

"Hey Fireman"... no mom, i am a "Firefighter"
with all the passion a boy can muster, so i was compelled to do what ever it took to have a Fire Truck come to Crew's Fireman Birthday Party, I mean Crew's Firefighter Birthday Party. With a little bit of luck and a whole lot of work, it was a Huge Success! YAY

Being a mom is like being a superhero. It makes you do things you didn't know you could. It stretches your limits, your budget, and especially your heart. I wasn't planning on knocking doors for three days bugging everyone on my block to sign a petition, repeatedly calling (and annoying) the city public works office, and even trying to sweet talk the fire captain...but...the love for a child certainly gives you magical powers.

inspite of the children's intent wonder and joy, only half were brave enough to sit right on the massive truck

and so it begins...

off to the races. as quick as a fireman to rescue a burning building, the kiddos rushed their trucks to the little fire hydrants to receive a little treat and back to the starting line again.

next, we sang a fireman song to gather all the children and focus their attention on the next big activity...

hurry hurry, spray the water. put out the flames.

with the fire extinguisher full of water, everyone had a turn to spray the burning house to help save the day!!! they loved it! although, i had no idea the pressure the extinguisher had, after the first spray, we had to move the house far away as the water knocked it over. lol

it's my party and i can cry if i want to...(not to mention that is a good looking cake!)

make a wish sweetheart! happy birthday! we love you, and you can thank us when you are older, by not being a rebel teen!

can you tell, i am proud of the cake?

only 2 for 2 more weeks

2010-12-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

sitting at a booth eating dinner, crew naturally stands up, to look over the back of the bench at the passer-bys'. to one random man, crew said hi, the mad oddly only gave crew a friendly two fingers up, as if to say "peace" crew excitedly turned to me and j with a big smile on his proud face and said "mom, HE is TWO!" LOL...

this pic was taken a while back when crew had finally conquered the coordination ability to show his age. in the earlier part of his second year, when asked how old he is, he would show both his pointer fingers.

my sweet angel will be 3 soon. i love him so much. he is so cute and fun and funny and smart. i say that objectivly. wink! i seriously am in awe listening to him and watching him every single day grow into himself and adapt to this world. he knows and can identify all the abc's, and knows the sounds of almost all of them, knows his shapes (even recognizes the difference from a pentagon vs. and octogon), colors, his right and left, his address (the whole thing), his gender, his numbers thru 10 easily, 11+ is coming along right around the corner, he can spell his name and differenciate the first, middle and last name. he also knows a lot of biblical people and stories and religious beliefs. he loves fire trucks and every thing associated with them. he was asked at halloween if he was a fireman, and without hesitation he replied "no, i am a fireFIGHTER!" he loves to climb, jump, run, play trains, drink chocolate milk (at least 2 cups A day), swing at the park, play hide-n-seek, read books, and above all, play pretend...anything AND all the time. he is very aware of his surroundings (when i get lost driving (becoming less frequent) he asks me "are we going a different way?" vocalizing his feelings with gusto and charm is always my thrill and pride.

TERRIBLE TWOS
in my parental-denial-ship, i found myself assumming crew is too smart and ultimately above the so called "terrible twos". i told myself...becaue his level of understanding 'good vs. bad choices' and their consequences is so advanced, he is above any extraordinarily bad behavior and won't push the limits. boy oh boy...was i in for a treat!

with the three years of age mark quickly approaching, it is ACTUALLY, I, THE MOTHER who is learning the big lesson(s)...we didn't just wiz by his 'terrible twos'. no. they were merely LATE.

Now i am in a different kind of awe "listening and watching" my sweet little boy turn into a, shall we say less than angelic child. time and time again his DAILY mischievous blatant stunts and outlandish defiance is beyond my wildest imagination and any "hard parenting" cliches. UUUUUUGGGGG. (this might be a little embellished. but, crew, you know i love!)

happy thanksgiving!

2010-11-28T15:06:00.000-08:00

when you count your blessings, you realize, your blessings are countless. -t

Fall Fun with Feathers...
... more craft probing (inspired by crew)
project place

one little indian made his drum, headband and his first turkey. i tried to get a smile, but indian bravery prevailed

cooking it up in the kitchen. last year, i made a new thanksgiving feast goal. each year, i will practice making a couple new thanksgiving dishes throughout the year. that way, one day when the children are older, and i HAVE TO cook, i might be able to prepare a yummy feast!

starting with dessert, naturally!

going in for more.

ANY excuse to make more home-made buttercream frosting. YUM

pocahantas pushing crew and toby, she is ready for turkey day

little buddies

the NON-domestic Stay-At-Home-Mom!

2010-11-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

this is me exploring my potential crafty/project side, or seeing if i even have one. i tried once before, bought all the supplies to crapbook, and i think i did one page, maybe. so this will be a test of my endurance if i don't find it very appealing once i start. however, i will say to my credit, that i did start gardening a few months ago (remember i live in cali), so that's kind of working (for now). well, it might not be fair to say i am gardenING... i bought the plants, and j planted them for me. thx babe.
inspired by one of my friend's "project" blog, http://fromthetortoiseandthehare.blogspot.com/
taking the leap...

in the time it would take most women to make these cute cuppe-cakes, it took me 3x's as long. yes. it took me three days. lol. i made the the cupcakes on a sunday, after they were baked, i was exhausted. so naturally monday was a resting day. on tuesday, i mentally prepared myself to make homemade buttercream frosting for the first time in my life it was the best ever, definitely worth the the hard work. and it was hard work. now i know why so many people have a kitchen-aid. lastly i cut the templates out and TA-DAAAA!!

STORY: "the sweet potato cupcake series of unfortunate events"

first of all, i don't like cooking, as most of you know. but i wanted to make a special treat with a thank you card for our neighbors who generously borrowed their beach-cruisers (bikes) to us for a couple months. we loved them, had so much fun riding alongside the beach, taking picnics, riding to shops, and cruising from pier to pier. it was great, all the while taking extra care of the bikes.
when j came home from work we gathered the bikes, cup-cakes, and crew and walked next door. they have a fence in front yard, so i opened the fence to let myself in and there began the events.

their big dog came-a-runnin. it's a good dog, but BIG and he wanted my plate full of cupcakes. AAAAhhhhh.
he only got one cupcake to go flying off the plate. but it landed smack on the front door with all the frosting.
you can imagine my emotional state after all the hard work i put into baking. in contrast to most of you, i didn't remain calm. to make matters worse, i started yelling at my sweet and innocent husband "can't you put the bike down and help ME???"
j dropped the bike and came running to my rescue. but just when he opened the gate the dog ran out. this is the kind of dog that runs away when a gate opens. by now i have knocked the front door.
so what do i do? i panic and start quietly yelling at j again to catch the dog. that part was not dramatic. he caught the dog and walked him back into the yard and just as he was closing the fence behind him, our neighbors pull into their driveway....where the bike had been left. it's day-light-savings now, so it was dark and the bike was all black.....
everyone started to scream wildly and wave arms frantically as she drove directly over their bike, not once, but twice. she thought she had only hit the curb, so she gunned it, and the big bulky expedition mercylessly barrelred over a second time. with one more set of agonizing screams, the damage was done.
it was awful, embarassing, and devastating.
i was trying to maintain as much composer as possible, but the tears came-a-flowin.
at this point, i felt ridiculous handing over a silly-ol' plate of cupcakes to my friend.

if there is any consolation to this tragedy, it's that hopefully they enjoyed the cupcakes half as much as i did... maybe we could still be friends!

before the despair...

can you find the black bike?

even crew cried when he HEARD THE CRUNCH that awful night

Lots of Tricks Even more Treats

2010-11-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

THE BIGGEST TRICK...

potty training at its best. this bus was the catalyst for crew to pee. he was only allowed to look at the bus every time he sat on the toilet. once he finally went potty in the bowl, he could have it! (he finally peed, earned the bus, and hasn't gone ever since. it's been over a week. oh-well, i am not getting another bus, it will just have to be up to him) ;)

in full-fledged costume, crew decides to potty train, asking, begging, pleading to wear the new underwear, i apprehensively agreed. of all the days to wear underwear for the first time, it has to be in a new costume at preschool, with so much halloween distraction. my focus changed immediately from the yummy potluck and games to... "AC-CI-DENTSSSSS" i couldn't count how many times i asked crew "do you need to go to the potty?" to my son's great accomplishment and my astounding joy and surprise, we were successful. the cuttest little underwear were still dry after all the chaos.

potty update: i think crew worked so hard to stay dry that day, he is currently taking a potty training break.

~as for the TREATS!!!

HALLOWEEN was so special this year, with crew understanding more how the candy-functionality works. the feelings of excitment were rampant.

and no doubt the fire truck was not left behind. i tried to suggest leaving it, but he was determined. this shiny fire truck was going to gain some mileage!

and it went to every door step! (you should know we only went to six houses)

the fear of knocking doors, seeing ghosts and goblins run wild, saying "trick-or-trick" dissolved with ever more candy filling his bucket. it was adorable!

then back home to eat some traditional Happy Hallo-Weenies, aka bloody mummies! YUM

no family themed costumes this year due to crew's opposing plans... and not having anything to match the fireman we resorted to...
the mean witchy mommy, and SUPERDADDY flying to crew's rescue (whom forgot to wear the mask for the pic. grr)

~Previous FUN. our neighbors do an annual halloween party. all the kidos! a lil' overwhelming for c.

trick-or-treating at jonz's work.

and at preschool. with his good friend toby. two cute firefighters!

house to house.

very excited about carving his first pumpkin (and yes i put a bobby-pin in his hair, don't judge me, it was falling in the pumpkin. yuck)

OOOOooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOooooooo. GO UTES!

~btw. it was easy for us to deviate from our family costume theme. crew's passion exceeds all...

rescuing mom from cooking hazards (although i wish he was rescuing me from cooking. period.)

had to stop in the middle of a road trip to see this

crew and toby fighting fires

fireman sweeping the station

fireman playing cars

A Flu Conspiracy

2010-10-22T14:23:00.000-07:00

my sis read the blog. laughed. said she never got the flu. this is the first year she was convinced by a friend to get the shot... GOT THE FLU (see previous blog post.) leaving me questioning... back to square-one, second-guessing myself. do i get the flu shot?? ps, my dad said he never gets the shot, and he never gets the flu. undecided...

GET YOUR FLU SHOTS!

2010-10-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

FEELING YUCK!!!
i don't remember ever having the flu shot, that's how long it's been. i never get the flu, so why get the shot, right? jonz has had the shot for the past six years, and even still he comes down with the flu. (all the more reason i don't get the shot).
i'm no longer "flu proof" (you know what i mean) my first clue should have been one year ago, when i got the SWINE-FLU. one month ago i debated in my mind to get the shots or not. to my dismay, i gambled the odds. i lost, and it sucked!!
it was very contagious too, my sister and i shared one toilet, jonz had his own toilet, while crew used a bowl, the bed, three jammies, the car seat, and everything else...poor little thing...bad mommy.
this is my little way of making it right...telling you to get your shot! i will be...

Questionnaire for you....

2010-10-12T08:33:00.000-07:00

Two Part Disscussion Board.

Adorable. Sandy. Feet. Need for a new and improved VACUUM!!

If you like your vacuum, if you don't... what do you use, what is the strengths and weeknesses pros & cons??? What have you heard from your friends? i really need your input and/or suggestions to make a decision of a cleaners life-time! include pricing too if you have a ballpark idea. my biggest requirement is the efficiency on hard wood floors! Thanks so much

Next.

Voting in the Hutchings household is at odds.
Long surffer-boy hair-do vs. a fresh clean-cut

this is crew with a PONY-TAIL. jonz says that means it's definitely time for a big hair CUT!! me? i say, what's the rush, it's gorgeous? wink!

A Few Cute Pics

2010-10-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Our good friends came in town for a little vacation, playing, beaching, eating, and a quick photo-op for their little one and we were also lucky recipients from his photographic talants.

And this is why you don't ask passer-byes to capture your family photo...

Happy to say we are back to the blogging world...from our long trip to real life!!

2010-10-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

Take me out to the ball game...

(even if it's only for the cute water bottle)

Take me out to the crowd...

(great day for ball)

Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks...

(we ate until we were sick, the dodgers dogs and garlic fries were incredible)

I don't care if i never get back...

(overstatement for crew. he got a little bored)

Let me root, root, root for the home team...

(first row seats. resting our arms on top of the dougout was really cool)

If they don't win, it's a shame...

(it was a shame, sadly. But we can't complain b/c Crew caught a ball, what more could you ask for?? BIG highlight)

For it's one, two, three strikes you're OUT

(three musketeers)

At the old ball game!!!

(GO DODGERS)

Great times with some of our good friends, thanks for making the trip. miss ya'll already!

it's not all work!!

2010-04-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

date night to the famous Pantages Theatre in Hollywood to see the production of Cats. it was amazing (not the show especially, but the whole night) the pantages theatre hosted the annual Academy Awards Ceramonies back in the day, it was beautiful, i felt so cool being there.

then we headed to the Grauman's Chinese Theatre, where the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame is, with all the celebrities signitures, handprints and footprints, and the sidewalk stars!! it was super cool, especially when we saw a famous person get chased down by the poparotsy, it was so exciting, but i don't know who the person was, darn!

nicole kidman

meryl streep

jonz at the Lakers Vs. Clippers game!

look closely under cobe's armpit, there's my man!

a huge motown dance party put on one of my personal and renowned mentors the one and only Dr. Laura. we had some serious fun. the band was amazing, and i actually got to dance with her for about 30 seconds. it was really neat! she is even cooler in real life. (this is not to say that i agree with all her philosophies, just to note)

Easter Bunny was Even Funner than Santa this year!!

2010-04-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

funnest holiday thus far of crew's short life! crew was thirlled looking for eggs, he made the cuttest noises of anticipation with each eggie he found, it went something like this "hu hu hu hu,MMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM" SO CUTE! and his gleefull smile.....well, it was indescribably cute (you'll just have to trust me on that b/c he revolts against the camera) ;>

a library Easter egg hunt!!

making Easter basket with daddy

dessert time with his good friend deacan.

crew feels the same toward the Easter bunny as he does about Santa (bad mom trying to make him sit there for a pic. wink wink)

chocolate egg time

decorating eggs

big boy in dad's shirt

happy Easter
crew's basket

dads basket

dad loved his dodgers attire for the fam!

caution: my voice fluctuates to a very high shrill of excitment causing some discomfort. anyhow, i was having so much fun with crew amazment find all 40 eggs and then opening them to discover treats and new cars inside. it was wonderful. to condclude our Easter experience, i am proud to say that i made devilled eggs, a tradition that my blessed mother passed on to me!! we love and miss you all, and wished we could have been home to have a Easter feast. (instead i made speghetti, uuhh. a Easter dish i plan to NOT repeat as i have a new goal for next year to make an authentic middle eastern dinner - a simple one of course) a cool idea i got from a friend!

the end

St. Patties Day Parade

2010-04-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

this was a good day!
with a little music, a fire truck, cool cars, flying candy, and a whole lot of green, a two year old can be swept off his feet...

the restaurants on the pier were decked out!

this hat was actually really cool b/c it was doing 360's -it was on top of a tractor

official: "the mom's club" join it!

aaaahhhh, little pony came to say hi

check this out... the DeLorean club, there was about ten of these "back to the future cars. i don't think you would see this back home (wink wink)?? -a show i have actually never seen, but my husband will be so proud of me for posting them!!

and a big "thank you" to all of our service men and women!

CONGRATS you made it through a 1/3 of your life!!!

2010-03-19T15:38:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 30TH BABE, YOU FINALLY LOOK LIKE A 20 YEAR OLD! YAY! hehe

getting ready for the BIG SURPRISE!

tHE DOOR OPENS...

cELEBRATIONS!

Happy Birthday to you...

Cheers to a wonderful birthday weekend. we celebrated the next few days going to the beach with us girls soaking us the sun, while the boys played ball and splashed in the ocean, and grandma and grandpa enjoyed the view with crew...KELLEN, you better get those cute pics to me ;> ... the trip to hollywood (of course), and promenading down the santa monica boulevard! super fun times.

we love you all so much and can't thank you enough for coming to visit, it meant the world to us. and to everyone who tried to make it out. we miss you all and can't wait to see everyone again.

jeremy, i love you so much, had fun celebrating with you, and look forward to spending our thirties together!

honey, you def don't look 30 in this pic. lol ;>

quote dedicated especially for you...
"everything i know now, i learned before i turned thirty" -jonz's wife

MY NEW HOME FRONT!

2010-02-08T16:01:00.000-08:00

SHOPPING WITH THE CELEBS!!
for our 6th year anniversary jeremy spoiled me by taking me shopping on rodeo drive to buy one thing from each store!!!
JK, $$$$$$ we only window shopped, didn't even get out of the car, actually he he!! but it was still way cool! ;> AND A BIG CONGRATS TO US!!! love ya sexy!

just a few of my favs!!!

This is a NEW convertable bentley! wowie

lets get updated!!

2010-02-04T15:55:00.000-08:00

**HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS**

IT WAS A GREAT TRIP!

drove home with a full car load...drove with my good friend from the college days and her two cute kiddies! three carseets in the back, lots of luggage, and a dog! very thrilling...

FOUR-WHEELING WITH PAPA

PLAY'N IN THER SNOW WITH MOM

SLEDDING WITH DAD

ZOO LIGHTS WITH THE COUSINS (never doing that again, too cold, 16 degrees that night)

SHOVELING WITH HARLEY

AND PLAYING WITH NEW CARS!!!

home for the holidays is so wonderful...we loved seeing you all and miss you again so much. we also were grateful to be home while my grandma was passing, spent a lot of time with her and then celebrated a bitter sweet funeral. we will miss her and remember her inspiring message to "stay positive no matter what" (she preached and lived it her whole life) it won't be the same with out her.

cant' wait to see you all again!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-25T15:21:00.000-08:00

THIS IS THE BEST FIRE WORK SHOW WE HAVE EVER SEEN, PLUS WE ARE SITTING ON THE BEACH (ON THE SAND) WITH THE WAVES CRASHING AND LISTENING TO CHRISTMAS MUSIC RING THROUGHOUT THE CROWD!! IT WAS UNBELIEVALBE AND SO MANY PEOPLE COME FOR THIS TRADITION, IT'S HUGE, IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE NEW'YEARS EVE IN NEW YORK. ENJOY ;>

The Toddler is In!!

2009-12-16T14:06:00.000-08:00

last saturday, my baby turned TWO!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BIG BOY!! (we love you so much birthday boy)

to our friends and family, we miss you all today, especially. and wished you were all at the party to celebrate with us!! but, at least we have these cool pics to share our joys and hope you feel the love!

here's how the morning started

he calls horsie's "see sees". love to hear crew get on, and rock back & forth saying "goooo see see gooooo see see" really funny! this toy horse is almost exactly like the one i had when i was his age, cool huh?? (but that's not why i bought it...see halloween post below to prove why i bought it.) however, this horsie is new and improved, it even makes some eating noises when you feed him a carrot (stupid gimic to raise the prices ;/grr.) BUT crew loves feeding him, lol!!

one cool thing about moving, is receiving a package in the mail, thanks mimi for these gifts!!

loved the blocks

do you like the reversed picture show? thought i would mix things up a little!

off to PARTY at Chuckee Cheese

"sue sue" is the word for "choo choo" (if nothing else, i am sooooo glad that at least I am understand some of crew's words finally!! yay, a new chapter! he is really starting to speak english!! lol

trying to make new friends anywhere and every where ;>
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we were thrilled to peices that our new friends could go with us to celebrate the party. thanks guys! it was really special and fun!! crew loved the rides and jungle gym

happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday to crew-uu happy birthday to you!! make a wish!!

loved loved loved his cake!! every day since his b-day, he asks for "keek" (aka-cake)

cute new friends

crew calls her "keet" ("bye bye keet") thanks kate for coming, you made crew feel so special!

this pic earmarks a rare moment in time b/c crew is smiling in a family photo!

HOOOOO RAAAAY!!

2009-12-10T14:35:00.000-08:00

THE RING WAS MIRACULOUSLY FOUND! JONZ IS THE MAN!!!

After snooping around with a flashlight proved worthless, he unbolted the front seat, and our excitement quickly deflated as we still saw no sign of the ring. There are heating/cooling tubes under the carpet that transfer the air to the rear part of the vehichle; perhaps the ring slipped in there. Yet again despair sank in after disconnecting the tubes. We had already taken all the seats out from the back last weekend and our treasure hunt options were quickly narrowing. Call it inspiration or desperation, but he felt like he should look again down in the black hole…nothing. Then, it happened, the flighlight caught the glimmer of the diamond tucked 4 inches down, resting on the acutal metal chassis of the car. True love is the only reasonable explanation for this treasured recovery.

can you blelieve this??? i have my wedding ring nestled on my finger sound and safe!

Man's Best Friend!

2009-12-03T16:11:00.000-08:00

this is a funny story surprisingly. before we moved out here, i used to say how weird it is that crew doesn't seem very fond of dogs b/c he comes from a dog-lover family. he will pay a little attention to harley but for the most part, he's never been thrilled about her. he has seemed to be a little grossed out when he touches her. we, however, love our dog so much, she is more like a fur-child. she is our harley chick boxer that goes everywhere we go and waits in the car for us. we introduced them to eachother the day we brought crew home from the hospital, and they sit next to eachother in the car. but crew has never engaged in a relationship with her on his own. he's always played or climbed on her occasionaly and noticed her, but not with any real passion. UNTIL NOW!!! this is crew's new best friend. he loves her so much. it's like a 180 degree difference. he plays with her constantly, he lays on her, tries to feed the dog his binki, hugs her constantly, pets her, checks on her food/water bowls and notifies me when they are empty, talks about her continuously, calling her "hobby"...it's really cute. "hobby this and hobby that" and even when he talks to mimi or papa or anyone on the phone, he tells them about "hobby" the whole conversation. it's really adorable. i have concluded that he might be as lonely as i am out here and misses his friends so much that he has resorted to the dog! we love you harley/hobby!!

Happy Thankgiving!

2009-12-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

thankgiving was very different this year as you can imagine! but we were THANKFULLY not alone! my mom and steve came from salt lake to stay with us and it was so much fun! (too much fun, i balled my eyes out when they left). as for the big thanksgiving dinner, we went out to the Queen Mary Cruise Ship. it was a wonderful experience, with the best window table and view over looking the ocean and a special thanksgiving feast (although i wasn't thrilled about the food - which is why i need to learn how to cook and buy a turkey some day). anyway, the night was so romantic and the sunset was truly gorgeous. if you haven't heard much about the queen mary, she was being built while the titanic sank and was suppose to be the next bigger/better ship, she was magnificent, and then during wwII, she was actually used in the war be/c we had lost so many ships. cool history, you should read more about if you are interested at www.queenmary.com!
sadly, we forgot to take pics in the daylight of everything, we were just so anxious for the feast i guess (and the flash wouldn't work either be/c of the big spot lights that didn't help us). so, if you look closely, you can see crew with mimi and papa!! thanks for coming to visit!! we loved it!
mimi, crew, papa

sadly, a very unthankful thing happened to me. on our way home from the queen mary feast, i lost my wedding ring. we were driving home, and i was twirling my ring around my finger and it fell off, i didn't think much about it as i "knew" it would be right by my foot...so i told my mom to remind me to get it before i got out of the car when we got home... we both remembered, to look right when we arrived, but mysteriously it was no where in sight. we searched with flashlights, we dug, cleaned out our clothes, purses, shoes, searched anywhere and everywhere it might have flipped. after looking for an hour, i started to feel anxious but it still didn't feel real. i figured we would find it in the morning when it was sunny, and then put it back on my finger, where it belongs and everything would be normal! then the next morning, we looked again like crazy people, then we took every seat out of the back of the vehicle and looked in every gidget, gadget, hole, nook, and cranny. :`<

on a happier note: the rest of the day we drove my parents around la to show them some cool sights, went to the pier and had lunch and see the beach! it was cool!

saturday, we went shopping at the swap meat in orange county, that we heard a lot about. it was cool. it was like a gigantic garage sale (and some of you that really know me, know how i am a garage sale junkie or i am also known as a "classifieds junkie. ssssssshhhhhhh). i loved it! it's not just for the shopping, but there is an added energy from all the funky people who want to sell their stuff and the crazies who will buy anything...but i think the highlight was my lunch! i had the best chili cheese fries and sausage-dog since i lived in texas. yum yum! it felt like a county fair but without the rides. although it was probably a one and done thing, it was worth the trip!

mimi crew & papa!

he loves them!!! well we miss you all so much, it's been so lonely!! can't wait for christmas! see you soon

behind the time again, nov. 20th and just now posting halloween!!

2009-11-20T13:16:00.000-08:00

does my post title make sense?? i have been so behind on everything sinse ..umm.. last spring! oh, and i still have blogged NOTHING from summer time. and i don't know when i will be on top of things again (hopefully after the holidays). AT LEAST i am consistant.

actually, i wanted to post a little "housewarming blog address" (if you will), but i first need to hurry and sneak this post in before i completely skipping over another big deal (halloween holiday festivities).

VISITORS FROM INDIA!!!

(imaginably, i feel like a "visitor from india" living out here in l.a. -a little asstranged and lost)

Anyway, halloween was fun, busy, and crazy this year, as we were getting ready to leave for our big move to l.a.

CREW as a 2nd yr. trick-or-treater: a bit skeptical, guared, and indulged. he wanted to leave the whole time. i was completely surprised by his strong reserve. so i held him in my arms the entire night and spoiled him with love and candy... he looked around observing all the other trick-or-treaters with a serious eye, but still eagerly held out his pumkin basket for more treats! he was also a little nervous around the witches and goblins (who wouldn't be?). it was so sweet and adorable! i love love love these new experiences with him, it's so wonderful!!

CARNIVAL TIME!!

Not a fan of the pirate ship.

bouncing/jumping is one of crew's biggest loves, infact santa was planning to bring him a trampoline for c-mas this year, until we moved to a new home with a 'lame excuse for a backyard' (not big enough unfortunately)

go faster dad....mom look at me and dad...can we come back tomorrow?? peeze peeze!

"AWEsommmme" (awesome-one of crew's new and favorite words, so cute how he accentuates the first half of the word with a high pich and enthusiastic voice). santa was not left empty handed when he tossed out the trampoline idea, this bouncey horsey will def be on the top of the list for this good big boy! he didn't care at all about the pinata, just wanted to bounce all day! aren't those big elephant ears so cute?

i'll keep a close eye on this candy for every one!
Happy Birthday Jackson, we miss you and Sawyer so much!

THIS IS IT...We Found Our New Home!

2009-10-24T14:52:00.000-07:00

went to la to find a house, came home from la with out a house, flew back to la to find a home, come back from la with out a home, flew out to la to find a home, and FINALLY, came back with a home, very excited. we will be leaving in a week and a half, very anxious!

trying to live a normal life in between, not easy... trying to live MY life in some one else's home, also, not easy... (he he, i am still very thankful, mom) ;>

view from our hotel, very cool. had plans to play tennis, go swimming, play on the beach, packed for these events (including the tennis racquets)....NO TIME THOUGH...looked for a home from sun up to sun down, lot of work, very tiring, stressful, frustrating!

but, then you have this to look forward to!!!

Can you see the name of the restaurant??? meant to be that i move there, i guess!

happy harvest!

2009-10-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

pumpkin patches are so much fun, i love the fall anyway, so basiclly everything thrills me this time of year, the smells, the colors, the festivities! crew loved running aound the pumpkins to hide from me, and picking them from the big field and placing them in the wagon! it was a real treat! also, the tractor was a big hit for crew and one of his best buds! happy pumpkin picking!

i am finally BACK to blogging AND we have big news!!

2009-10-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

crew is looking to our new future with excitement and hope while reminiscing the wonderful times we will treasure.

YAY, i am back to the blogging world. so much to update.... a new life, really!

IT'S OFFICIAL.... WE ARE MOVING TO L.A.!! yikes %-)

as most of you know, we have been anticipating this news for a couple months and living in limbo, as our house rented within a week and a half. that part has been most chaotic, as you can imagine! moving out of our home with out a new home to go to, not knowing if this new job transition would even work out, we had two weeks notice to pack, move, and get the house ready for some one else to move in!! additionally, we had to move everything into storage, not knowing for how long, and then, trying to set up shop at my mom's, who was gracious enough to take our whole family in (thanks mom, love you ;>).

also, we want to publicly thank all our great great friends and family who helped us pack and move, it truly made our load so light!

much more to come soon, as i have an entire season worth of blogging to update!!! (hopefully, i will get to that this week)

as for moving, we are going this week to look for a new home and then ship out asap, per jeremy's wishes (not my own... :`( . i am so sad to leave our wonderful life here, i love our friends, i love our play groups, i love our four seasons, i love my tennis group whom i have played with at least once a week for the past four years now, i love our mountains, and so many more silly things like our pools, our zoo, our aqarium, our library (wee read), our restaurants, our stores, the "U" football, our co-ed softball team who we have played with for three years, and our community as a whole. i basically love where i live!!!

i am NOT saying that i won't find these awesome experiences in Marina Del Rey, at the beach, or disney land, etc. ;> , i am only saying that i have loved our time here and will cherish all the fond memories we've made with so many of you! and we thank you for those!!!! we will miss you all and DEFINITELY will be home to visit frequently!!

UP SIDES TO MOVING TO LA:

1. we are relocating to a place that you will want to come and visit us... ie, beach, disneyland, shopping, hollywood, and more! i am offering you all a place to stay and i am expecting to see you soon!

2. we aren't moving somewhere freezing cold (like 20 degrees below).

3. flights to LAX are better than most (i think?)

4. it's an easy drive home, only 10 hrs

5. and... welp... i will add to the list as i live there and discover my new home!!!

lastly, i want to speak to my incredible husband, who never ceases to amaze me... i am so proud of you, and what you have accomplished in your career thus far, i am in awe and inspired by you! thank you for working so hard for our family and caring for us in ways far beyond financially. we would move any where to be with you!

ps. mom i will miss you so much and will only be a short 1 1/2hr. flight away! i will be a dedicated blogger so you will feel included in crew's life almost as much as you are now (living 5 streets away, that has been really fun)! and although it doesn't seem possible for anyone to miss you more, i know crew will! he loves you so much and thanks for being an amazing mimi!

Aunt Charli, you better come to visit immediately, we'll have a room for you to come visit all the time.

MISS YOU ALL, AGAIN! and please stay in touch!

here are some pics to show the evolution of our house that we have spent the last few years making our home!

built in the 50's (make sure to look at the cars)

the 60's (again, check out the cars)

after all the work we did on the house...

good bye home! we'll miss you!