October and November fun

Halloween was easy this year with borrowed costumes. I was ready to get creative and crafty, but neither of them cared worth a darn this year! For the life of me, I couldn't get Max excited to dress up, but you can bet he was ready for the trick-or-treating. I almost couldn't get him to wear a costume this year at all! Ironically, about 2 days ago he was sitting on the stairs (his thinking spot) and asked me, "Mom, is Halloween going to come again?" I told him yes and he said, "I think I want to be spiderman next time!" A little late buddy!





On Halloween night we had the Sorensens and the Droubays over and we went up and down our street which took a whole oh, half hour, and then all the kids were done! NICE! It was quite the crowd. This picture doesn't show the Droubays, but it was 7 kids all under age 6. They were in heaven. Oh yeah, Allie was so funny because she would get right up in the front of the group and try to walk inside all of the houses. She thought it was open house style Halloween.





October and November consisted of more soccer. This is the infamous Isaac with Max.




For Allie's birthday in November we took her to In-n-out burger. The Droubays came with us and we celebrated with hamburgers and french fries-Allie's favorite! Actually, all food is her favorite...this girl can put food away! She wakes up in the morning HUNGRY! The first thing she says every morning is, "mommy, can I have dinner?" ( I must say, she has an appetite like her mamma!)

Later in the month we had Nancy and Nelson and the Kawalskis over for cake and ice cream. Allie was in heaven being the birthday girl! She is such a sweet 2 year old!

Pumpkin fun

During October my dad came up to visit and on one of the days he was here, we went to the tide pools and Lemos Farms with him and Nancy and Nelson. The kids loved it and it was beautiful weather (of course!) Alex and I joke with each other because EVERY time we look at the temperature outside is says 63 degrees. We aren't complaining!



It was fun to get into the fall holiday mood and take some cute pictures. Why do I love pumpkins in my pictures?





Sorry Nancy and Nelson, but I had to put this picture up because it makes me laugh every time I look at it!

crappy post and my crappy week

This first picture I meant to post about 6 days ago and thought it was funny. I went in to check on her before I went to bed and she had gotten herself a diaper and the wipes like she was going to change herself. She had pooped before she went to sleep and it looks like she was actually contemplating changing herself! Ha..ha... ha... (I should have seen this as an omen of things to come)



Not so funny anymore.
This picture I took 2 days ago during her "nap time". I went in to check on her and this is what I found...

She had taken off her diaper, wiped herself and put new clothes on.

No, that is not mud on the floor. Next to her are the contents from her dresser drawer as she was trying to find the perfect outfit. She has no diaper on under her TWO skirts.

This is my first experience with cleaning this stuff off the floor because Max would have gagged himself if he ever did this.

I always hoped this chapter of motherhood would never happen to me.



Lets look at the bright side:

1. She matched her clothes!
2. She put her dirty diaper in the garbage and I later saw that she actually kept a majority of the poop in that diaper. (I am quick to admit that this experience could have been a whole lot worse.)
3. Spot Shot really works!
4. I am thankful we don't have a dog.

On the other hand:

1. No more granola for Allie for breakfast.
2. I still can't find the pants she was wearing before the incident.
3. When she is quiet, I am panicking.

I should have seen this coming! She had given me all of the warnings that a 23 month old can!
(I wanted to say that the writing was on the wall but I didn't want to jinx myself!)

Now for the rest of my "crappy" week...
1. Max had his first Number 2 accident.
2. The other day after Alex left for work, Allie and I were cuddling on the couch and I left to use the restroom. While I was in the bathroom, Allie stayed on the couch and I could hear her chanting. "Poop it out! Poop it out!" This is the chant I sing for her during her feeble attempts to use the bathroom. Then when I flushed she cheered, "Yay! Mommy!" I would have never guessed that I would have my own cheerleading squad.

So, we definitely had a theme at our house this week. Hope yours was a little better!

PS I have resorted to taping up her diaper because she has continued this lovely habbit. Any suggestions?

Some of the things we love...

Grandpa Johnson! Alex has a wonderful family.



My dad! I love him so much. I could really go on and on, but I'll save that for another post. He came up to visit for 2 weeks and we loved EVERY MINUTE! He spoiled us by cooking for us, and taking us out to eat, and cleaning my kitchen. It was like a vacation for me in my own house! This is is brother Nelson, my uncle that lives close by in Fremont. Don't they look alike? I also love him and his wife Nancy. We would be very sad without them here!



Max's first basketball/soccer team. It was purely for my own entertainment and boy was it entertaining! Every Wednesday night for 6 weeks, us parents were rolling on the floor in laughter. The poor 2 teenage boy coaches could not keep Max and Isaac (one of his best buddies here) under control.
Notice they are all standing on "dots". Max would move his dot to be right next to Isaac every time.
Yesterday they let them play an actual soccer game and Isaac kept scoring. Max wanted a turn, but had a better idea...He just tackled Isaac every time Isaac got the ball. Poor Isaac! Maybe we should try football for Max next time.





Love our new friends in California. The Sorensens are wonderful. They have Isaac who is Max's age and Eliza who is Allie's age. We love them!



Pig-tails!




The Johnson family coming to visit. I can't tell you how much I love this family. My kids adore their cousins. Its fun to see similarities between Syd and Allie, and Max and Zach. We would be lucky if our kids turned out as wonderful as these kids!



This is Max's cousin James. They are about 2 months apart and the best of buddies, as you can see!
These pictures were taken at Preston and Michele's wedding in August. It was such a fun time and we look forward to Camille's wedding in November!

Marriage!

What do you think about marriage?

Alex and I have had a lot of discussion around the importance of marriage and family during the past few months as we have volunteered time supporting Proposition 8 and the Coalition to Protect Traditional Marriage. Our Saturdays and free time have been spent making phone calls and walking door-to-door to let people know what Prop 8 is and how we feel about the importance of families.

For those of you outside of California, here is a little info on Proposition 8:

It is an amendment to the California state constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Back in 2000, over 61% of Californians passed a similar amendment to define marriage as stated above. Two months ago, four Supreme Court judges in San Francisco overturned the people's vote and made same-sex marriage legal in the state of California.

How sneaky! I didn't even know they could do that!

I know similar propositions are happening in Arizona and other states, so this really is an issue.

Here are a few of my feelings:

When I first heard that this was going to be in the elections this November, I knew I had to take an active part in making sure it passes. I had to do more than just vote. Alex and I spent several weeks studying Christ's teachings about the importance of family. I have not been politically involved in anything before, but for some reason, this is something that has become very important to me.

I really believe that children are entitled to be born to a mother and father who have committed themselves to each other through marriage. Men and women have unique parenting qualities that are important in rearing children. I know marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God.

Proposition 8 is about protecting the sanctity and importance of family. Family is central to our happiness and central to Gods plan for us here on earth. This issue is extremely important to me because the strength of our society relies on the strength of individual families.

If you would like more information regarding this issue, here are a couple of websites I recommend. The first is www.protectmarriage.com which explains the details of Proposition 8 and how you can support it.
The second is a document called The Family: A Proclamation to the World. It was released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to stress the importance of the Family. You can view it by clicking here.

Good luck AZ friends and family with your elections and prop 102!

A visit from Jen and Camille!

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Way back in July ( I know, its been a while ) Camille and Jen flew out to visit us. We had so much fun. We haven't seen Camille since before her mission. It was so great to see her and spend time with her. Max and Allie were so excited for their arrival.



And now you see one of the reasons Max and Allie were so excited. Auntie Jenny and Auntie Camille spoil them rotten!




Lets start with the most fun day of all...my birthday! They were here on my birthday and it was one of the most fun birthdays I have had! We did all of my favorite things. We went to San Francisco on the BART. Then we rode the trollies just for fun. I LOVE the trollies and can't get enough of them!



Next stop... Boudins! My favorite-clam chowder in a bread bowl. Another thing I can't get enough of .



Then we kept on celebrating by eating desert at Ghirardelli Square. Seriously, that dark chocolate hot fudge ice cream sundae is to die for. Thanks girls, for the best birthday ever!




While they were here we went to the Santa Cruz boardwalk and played at the beach. This was the first time Max and Allie have ever gotten to ride the rides somewhere. Max loved it, Allie did not.



I love this picture. It is Max holding Jenny's hand. Which is what he did pretty much the whole time she was here.



We spent another night in the city with Alex and HAD to go back for more ice cream!





We got a babysitter that night and rented tandem bikes and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge. That was so fun I can't describe how beautiful it was. The funniest part was when Jen and Camille fell off their bike. (Sorry girls, I am laughing so hard right now remembering I have tears in my eyes) It was dark, probably 8:00 at night, and they didn't see the curb. The noises they made and the sight of both of them at the end are indescribable. Let me just say that Camille's shoes flew off!
Love you guys!

More of our favorite things this summer...

This is Melanie Droubay and I at the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers Market. It is seriously the best farmers market in the world!



This is Delancey Street for all of you "Influencer" fans. We have eaten at the restaurant a couple of times now and love it. Influencer is a great, life changing book that you must read if you haven't already.



Max and his friend Morgan Tinling sportin the look on the BART into the city when the Tinlings came to visit



Max and dad surf-fishing at Half Moon Bay. Thanks Grandpa Nelson for the fun time fishing!



July 4th Fremont parade where our cute cousins Sara and Emily Kawalski were in the parade. Its so fun to already have family here to hang out with.




Allie's first time to the beach. Yup, she LOVES the waves, we couldn't keep her out of the water.



Muir Woods!