Logan's First Haircut

Last week was finally time for Logan's first haircut. He had this amazingly cute little curly que on the back of his neck which I was going to leave for a while longer, but Logan is at that "I like to put food in my hair as styling gel" point in his life. I was always pulling chunks of food out of his hair. Yulk.

Well, he did not take it like a man at all. He cried and carried on through the entire three minute haircut. He even had his pacifier quivering while it was in his mouth. I really wish I could have video taped it, but I ended up having to hold him while they finished.

We went to the same place that I had taken Alexis and I got a little certificate with a picture of him crying (so cute), the date, his name and a lock of his hair so I can put it in his baby book (which I really should start some day).

But it is all over and he looks quite handsome. Here are some pictures from his ordeal.

Doesn't he look cute? He wouldn't sit still in the little car or on the dinosaur.

They tried blowing bubbles and handing him toys to distract him, but nothing worked.

Post ordeal sitting in his stroller. Isn't he handsome?

All that haircutting really wiped him out and he crashed on the four minute drive home.

Birthday Party

Yesterday we had a little birthday party / BBQ for Alexis and Logan.

Nothing big, but it was just a little something to mark the occasion. Bob and I used it as an excuse to visit with our neighbors and some family that we don't get to see a lot of.

We had burgers (they don't cook too fast in winter on the outside BBQ so Bob was whining that he didn't have as nice a BBQ as my brother - who owns a Viking), chips, fruit, veggies, cupcakes (decorated by Katya and her friend) and some marionberry pie with ice cream. Nothing fancy, but nobody went hungry.

We had cleaned up the "Art Room" and Bob had reassembled the pieces to the Foos Ball table so there was much activity in that room. We also had a movie going in the "Lounge" but the weather was so nice the kids ended up outside and on our neighbors trampoline. When you get used to the weather, 40 degrees feels warm.

The kids got lots of nice gifts from everyone, which was very sweet. Books, slippers, a toyshop thing (that had a blowdryer that made noise and Alexis kept trying to blow dry my hair with it), cars, Blue's Clue's socks and some dress up clothes. Alexis even got a handmade leather purse from my neighbor, Maya, who makes them as her business. Talk about fancy!! Katya is jealous.

Then we all had dessert and the kids watched "Monsters Inc" for a while before everyone had to head home to get ready for today. Logan LOVED his chocolate cupcake and Alexis warmed up to hers after we told her that the candle was not edible. She had taken a big chomp off the corner.

The kids crashed hard at bedtime and I must say it was fun. I missed all my other family who couldn't be there, but I hope you enjoy my little blog about it.

Happy B-Day Alexis!

Alexis turns 2 today!

This is the beginning of a journey into lots of new words, refusals for no reason, new skills and a whole lot of fun. I hope I have the energy to keep up with her and Logan both.

Alexis was my little miracle baby. Bob and I had tried for two years to get pregnant and instead had two miscarraiges. I was beginning to give up hope of ever giving Katya a sibling. I switched to a fertility Ob/Gyn who did every test she could and she gave me the green light. Then it happened! I got pregnant and the tests began. My pregnancy with her was a day to day thing since my levels of hormones weren't high enough. I did progesterone for three months and didn't tell more than about five people I was even pregnant. I was getting weekly ultrasounds to make sure that she was growing from a speck to a little bean. Then at week 12 the doctor said that I could actually be happy and tell people I was pregnant. It just so happened that I was getting ready to move to Bend at this time so I thought all was well.

No such luck. I ended up spotting the entire two day trip from San Diego to Bend and I was terrified that I would lose her on the road. Luckily, she stayed put. My doctor up here did tests and she looked fine. Then at five months I started to have premature effacing and I was told to stop working out and just take it easy. Up until the seventh month, Alexis kept her legs crossed during ultrasounds and because of this last one we finally knew she was a girl. The last two months involved tons of Braxton Hicks that hurt so bad I couldn't move, so I was in bed a lot.

Then delivery day came! I had her induced a week early like I did Kayta. I am prone to making big babies so I wanted her out early so she didn't get too big (she still managed 8 pounds). The delivery was uneventful. It was painful, long, tiring and involved some full-on screaming at the end, but she came out perfect!

Never was there a more anticipated or wanted baby on the planet. We tried so hard to have her and she was almost taken from us so many times.

You would never know it now from her being the energetic, feisty, funny, shoe loving, opinionated little firecracker that runs around our house, stores toys that she doesn't want Logan touching zipped up in her pajamas, puts everything on her head like a hat and who totally owns Bob.

So, Happy Birthday little Lady!! It is going to be a fun year!!

It Was A Merry Christmas

I am finally sitting down to write about our Christmas. (Things have and still are a bit crazy around here and Logan has learned about the power button on the computer.)


Although we missed family and friends in San Diego something fierce, it was a good Christmas here in Bend. And it was a "White Christmas" because it dumped beautiful, fluffy snow on us all day.

I was lucky enough to have two of my bestest best girlfriends in the world come and share it with us. Michelle, her daughter Rese and Desiree and her daughter, Alia. Michelle and I lived only about a mile from each other in Poway and we pinch-hit parented for each other when we had crazy times at work. Not seeing her almost every day is still weird. I met Desiree through Michelle and I have found her to be one of the nicest, most genuine, caring, complex individuals I have ever met. Being friends with them has been a priviledge.

Anyway, everyone showed up on December 22nd (after we battled another round of stomach flu the week before) and the house was full. The addition of the lounge made things really nice though. People had some space to go to when they needed it. December 23rd was Katya's birthday and the girls all headed out to do some last minute shopping, endless window shopping, catch a movie and lunch while us moms relaxed and caught up. Sunday night was a big family pizza and ice cream cake party at our house.

Christmas Eve was spent with Desiree and the girls at Mt. Bachelor doing some snowboarding while Michelle helped me chop endless veggies for spaghetti sauce for our dinner that night. We had some extra guests come over for dinner and we all had a heated game of Taboo. Way fun.


Christmas morning brought with it a gluttony of gifts and a huge breakfast. It was a lot of fun watching Alexis really get the hang of the gift opening this year. Thank you so much to everyone that gave us or the kids a gift, it was much appreciated! We felt really spoiled by family far and near with letters, cards, homemade ornaments and phone calls.

That evening we had more guests and we all merged at Debbie K's house for a feast of Honey Baked Ham, turkey, stuffing, pies, baked potatos, asparagus, yummy rolls, Ginger's homemade cheese ball and tons of other assorted munchies. Michelle and Rese got a Wii this Christmas so most people spent the evening trying their hand at it. It was a lot of fun and it felt good to be surrounded by what family we had in Bend as well as some great friends.

Christmas is all about sharing your love with others. I got the best gift of all by having my girlfriends come up with their daughters. Throw gifts into the mix with some other great friends, family who you love endlessly and great food - it was a great time. Next year, I will be in San Diego for Christmas to be with the rest of my family .... fer sure, dude!

Happy Belated Birthday, Katya

Things were so crazy with guests coming into town, I neglected my blog and in turn - neglected to shine the spotlight on my eldest child. My beautiful, smart, creative, funny, athletic, not so little girl.

She turned 14!

Katya was my surprise baby. I was 23 and was kind of floating through life without a real sense of direction. I look back now and realize how much of a little kid I really was. Having Katya was absolutely the best thing that ever happened to me. I kind of felt that it was just the two of us through life since her father and I split when she was just over a year old. I was always her mother, but there was nobody that I would rather go on a trip with or spend the day with.

We have gone through a lot together. I did the single parent gig for many, many years and she was a good sport about not being able to do soccer or so many other after school activities because I didn't get home until 6pm. We went from sharing a bedroom in my brother's condo to buying a townhome together to forming a new family with Bob and moving to Oregon. Throw two little siblings into that and you have some serious change for her over the last three years.

I think we have weathered the storms well and came out of them closer than before. She continues to amaze me with how wonderful she is. She is smart and has continually kept up her straight-A's. She is an avid reader and we often share books. When she picks out a book for me I always love it. She has unleashed her inner athlete and blossomed with volleyball, basketball, lacrosse, track & field and snowboarding. She likes to cook and when she does go in the kitchen makes yummy stuff like home made fish sticks or lasagna. She is creative and that shows in her drawings, overly dramatic essays for school (tissues please), earrings that she makes, and random poetry that just pops out of her from time to time. She loves music, the arts and museums. She loves to learn and finds life to be a grand adventure. She banters with my mother about mythology and historical landmarks. Her sense of humor is very dry with a dash of sarcasm thrown in. Kind of like my mother. She is a great traveler making the most of wherever she is and not complaining about the discomfort that usually is involved to get there. She is a great big sister and has been known to change a diaper or two. She seems to be a good friend and is always willing to lend a shoulder to cry on.

She is awesome. I love her. I adore her. I can't believe that I made her.

I look forward to watching her go through life. I want her to know that I will always be there in case she falls.

My love is unconditional and endless.

Happy Belated Birthday, Squirt

Christmas Photo Shoot

Yesterday afternoon was the annual trip to Sears for their Christmas pictures. We had tried another photo studio as a MOPS fundraiser, but they were awful and we only got one so so picture out of it. Thank goodness it was a $20 special, I would have thrown a fit if I had forked over their normal $200 sitting fee. Seriously, that is insane.

Anyway, I drug all three of my chitlins to Sears for our 4pm shoot. Katya decided that she just didn't have ANYTHING that would go with the two little ones outfits so she ran over to Macy's while we did some individual shots with Alexis and Logan. Or should I say - attempted - to get individual shots of the kids.

Thankfully my most wonderful sister in law, Debbie, showed up to lend a hand. She is always there for picture days and I couldn't do it without her.

Logan was a dream to photograph. He is kind of a serious little guy so he wasn't in the mood to smile, but he sat there and looked darn cute for the camera. No drama, no tears...just cuteness. This is one of his pics.

Alexis on the other hand was a little TERROR. I put her in this outfit to start with because it was a gift from a dear friend in Belgium and I wanted to send a professional picture to him to show how much I really appreciated his thoughtfullness. How my photographer got these shots through all the tantrums, falling on the floor, arching of the back (you get the picture) is beyond me. She was SOOOOOOOOOO good. The finished products are all cropped and centered and stuff.

I ordered a copy of this one (it is cropped and closer) because you can see what a little devil she was being.

Katya, of course, took fabulous pics. She just gets more beautiful every year.

Then there was the group shot of the three of them. This was the ONLY shot of them that worked. We got her to look up and laugh for a split second while she was having a tantrum.

Then Katya was taking some other shots for a birthday collage when Alexis (freshly changed back into her normal clothes) decided to be incredibly cute. She grabbed a little chair, pulled it next to Katya and really hammed it up.

I thought this was too cute so I got a pic for me too. I don't think that anyone will ever be able to say that Alexis is a pushover. She is too much like her big sister. And that is a very good thing.

Pumpkin Patch Time

Fall is my most favorite time of year and the annual trip to the pumpkin patch is my favorite outing of the season.

Picking your pumpkin, feeding the animals in the petting zoo, walking around the pumpkin patch to find "your" pumpkin. So cool.

We have been a bit pressed for time lately with Bob working every single day for the past two weeks and Katya's schedule - so we hit the last two hours of the pumpkin patch yesterday. I may go with the kids this week just for fun, but it would only be the three of us. The annual trip is a family affair.

Alexis was WAY more fun this year. She loved the animals. She wouldn't really touch them, but she liked talking to them. She had a great time just running off in different directions squealing in delight. Katya was being a teenager and it took a while for her to warm up. Those of you with teens understand.

We went and explored the pumpkin patch and after much searching and deliberating we each found the pumpkin of our dreams. Well, not our dreams but the one that called to us. 100 pounds of pumpkin baby!! Luckily, only $24. Alexis wasn't sure what to do with hers and she tried eating it like an apple.

After some kettle corn and fresh air we all trapsed home. Our pumpkins are patiently waiting on our front porch for carving day. Now I just need to decide what face I want to put on mine. Hmmmmmmmmm.

Pumpkins $24

Kettle Corn $5

Bottled Water $1

Spending time together as a family - PRICELESS

New Tricks

Yesterday was a day of new tricks for the kids. At least the youngest kids in the house.

Alexis was taking a nap so I had some time to visit with Logan. You know, some good one on one time. I realized that I hadn't taken very many pictures of him lately (bad mother) so I thought I'd have a litttle photo shoot with him. I set him on a toy mat for some tummy time and what did he do? He flipped over! I figured it must be a fluke so I went ahead and put him back on his stomach and got the camera ready. Well, he really didn't want to be on his tummy so he just flipped over again! I figured that since I had the camera ready, I'd get it on digital - and I did. Then he just got mad so we had to sit on the couch and cuddle because he was so exhausted from all that flipping over.

Later on last night Alexis and I were playing in the kitchen and I said something about the dogs being let in the house and what did she do? She looked at me and did the dog sign! We weren't even working on that sign. She learned it from watching her "Signing Time" videos. I was so tickled that I had to get that on video too.

I'm a sucker for my kids.