Nobody told me there'd be days like these...

This is just a little sample of the joyous boy I had on my hands today, and look folks he has MARSH MELLOWS in his little hands, MARSH MELLOWS I say! I don't know what was wrong, he woke up from his nap in the worst mood I have ever seen him in. I'm talking two full on almost throw up inducing tantrums. one lasting over 45 minutes. Aaron took the trash out in the middle of one and could here it from the dumpster (not the recyclables) the dumpster at the front of the building. OMG! Bedtime could not come early enough for me today and honestly I can't think of a day I have ever felt like that. Deep breathes......


I did this while Billy was sleeping, again using pictures i printed so long ago I can't remember printing them. I don't love it but it's done and put away, good deal. The Office was freakin' hilarious and awesome tonight. I didn't erase it so I can watch it again!

Who knew blogging could be guilt inspiring enough...

to have me sneak quietly out so not to wake the boys up, in my pajamas and bare feet, to go to the car parked on the street, sneak back in still trying to not wake up the above mentioned boys (especially Aaron because then I would have to explain to him why waking him up to take this picture was a must) and stealthily capture this amazing shot!

It doesn't have to be perfect, heck according to this photo you don't even have to see his face, but I am still on track. Billy, you will never ever not one time in your life say, "Parents, why did you not document my childhood? I would have liked to have a few pictures of myself to show my children who I was as a child. You have done me a grave disservice, it's as though I did not even exist."

PS I am also getting worried that that same 40 year old man will be commenting, "Underwear, who needs them anyway, they are so over rated. These new Cars patterned diapers are very hip and I never have to leave an important meeting to use the restroom. My review this quarter even commented on how committed I am to my work, never wandering off to take one of those annoying 'potty breaks'."

What no picture today?

Bad bad mommy! The camera is in the car and I am feeling pretty bad I may have to force myself to run downstairs and take a sleeping picture. I promised myself I was going to take a picture every day of Billy this year (starting in April) and I have every day since, so I guess it's off to the car I go. I wanted to get a picture of Billy and Auntie Mil today but Wilkie and Prosper were too big of a draw to him. He kissed her hello and goodbye and stalked Cynthia for jellybeans who's just about the nicest lady ever (and she has a BIG laugh like me so I love talking to her)

She went out to run some errands while we were there to visit Mil and I said (in my sweet voice) "oh, you're taking Billy with you right, here's the keys to our car, don't worry he'll show you how to buckle the seat." She laughed so hard then I got to laughing and Billy was going crazy in the mix. Even my sad ol' husband couldn't help laughing. What a nice day we had, next time I'm going to sit with my camera on my lap.

Lets Play Dress-Up

Every time I have turned around the last couple of days Billy has had some funny costume or something that he has turned into a costume. Is this a 3 year old thing I don't remember from preschool? It is a fun little treat to never know who you're going to run into when you walk into a room! My favorite so far is the Spider Halloween bag turned into Spider hat. He said he needed Aaron's glasses to be able to shine the light in his eyes without it hurting them. We have put together a couple of really nice future interview outfits for Aaron's future interviews and he wanted to wear a tie too. Call companies call!

Our very nice neighbor Anne, who works at Stanford, said she is going to keep her eyes open for job openings and took his resume in case something comes up at work, I guess a lot of men are getting their doctorates right now and their wives are leaving with them therefore leaving open positions available.

Oh, by the way, it sucks to have a 6 year old look in through your screen door and tell you your house is really messy.

Help Yourself

I gave myself a little challenge to use these pictures I printed so long ago I don't remember. Overall I think it turned out OK, the teeny tiny journaling says, "Your first show of independence, you wanted it, you got it. The pictures are from June of '07.

Making cake and little piggies

The before and after pictures of Aaron and Billy making cake for an afternoon project. You'll never believe it, Billy loves vanilla cake and chocolate frosting, unbelievable, I know!


Yesterday Billy and I made "mud glorious mud" (a Billy quote) A.K.A. homemade play dough. It calls for
1 cup of flour
1 package of chocolate pudding
1/2 cup of salt
1/2 cup of hot water

Then you kneed for 5 minutes

It smells really good, like chocolate pudding, and Aaron thought we were making something edible, so Billy calls out, "Daddy, come try our mud, glorious, mud, it's ready."

And before I know it Aaron takes a big ol' whoppin' bite and he yells, "OH, MY GOD THAT'S AWFUL! What did you do wrong." I was laughing so hard I was holding myself up with the counter. Billy was going wild licking it and yelling, "THAT'S TERRIBLE! THAT'S AWFUL" I even had a little bite because Billy wanted us ALL to join in the fun. Really it turned out to be some much needed relief from the tension in the house, the only sad part is that I didn't get any pictures of this crazy incident.

You don't really think I'd call my besties little piggies did you? No way! I just loved this shot of Billy's feet, it makes me think how fast time goes and before I know it he'll be bringing home stinky PE and sports socks and shoes and I'll wonder where did THIS litttle guy go? And last but not least, little Mr. Smarty Pants was TRACING for the first time, daddy showed him you follow the dots and it was like a whole new world opened up to him, so exciting to watch. I got a lot of pictures of him tracing in his activity book but this was my favorite, I love the concentration and the look of determination he has on his face.

And on a totally unrelated note, I am watching Friday Night Lights the movie and Coach Taylor's wife and Buddy Garrity are the same actors. There was a shot of a fan in the crowd and he plays Landry in the show, I know, boring to anyone but me who is so crazy over this TV show. I am about 30 pages away from finishing the book too. So now at least Aaron knows if I'm watching something in our room it will either be Friday Night Lights OR The Office. I can't wait for season 3 to come out, luckily it was bought through Amazon a couple of months before our current situation, it will be like Christmas!

I had to cancel my kit clubs, not a big deal in the scheme of things, because, you know, unfortunately I can't feed Billy scrapbook paper, embellishments and chipboard alphabets but I was a little sad, I felt bad because I'm sure the kit clubs are hurting now too. Aaron says that's why I'd never make a good Blackjack dealer, I'd feel bad for the guy who lost his money and give it back. Oh well, things will get better soon. I told Aaron, just think of all the places you have ever wanted to live in California and look for jobs there, the sky's the limit, right? I went on the computer tonight and in just a quick half hour search found 15 jobs he is more than qualified for. We need to get him a nice "interview outfit" sooner then later and keep our fingers crossed.

Billy, future interior designer

Besides a mailman, garbage man, forklift driver, big rig driver and singing mechanic. A busy busy man he will be.

He specifically asked for a golden and black polka dot train, where those colors came from I'm not sure but I am really pleasantly surprised with how cute it turned out. If we ever have a house to decorate I'll have to ask Billy's input. On the other hand he had me hang a "poster" by the light switch in our room that is the coloring page that people submit to the Thomas magazine, so he's kind of hit or miss. I guess you take your chances with a three year old!

I had to go back and add the above mentioned "art" mainly because it's 1:30 and I am so tired but not sleepy and I thought this would be funny to look back on. The fact that I am the only one who reads this blog and I do it to make myself laugh has a lot to do with it too. If I had a readership of 1000's I highly doubt I'd be posting my Thomas ripped out of a magazine photo but it's all in good fun and I do want to remember the little things. I wish I'd taken the time to write every day since Billy was born, there's so much that slips through, that at the time you think, "Oh, I'll remember that" or "How could I forget how funny he was or that he said this or that."

Now no stealing my ideas Sunset, I have the market cornered on magazine pages held up by packing tape and don't you forget it! I should get myself a watermark for my photos.

Happy Mothers Day to Me

Look what was waiting for me this morning! Aaron and Billy are quite the Artiste's! Love this so much it's going to be hung along the Billy wall!

Happy Mothers Day

The only mothers day gift I finished, life got in the way I guess. I'm halfway done with my mom's gift but it won't be ready by tomorrow morning for sure (let alone mailed and delivered!) The lovely surface behind the page is my paint splattered Goodwill purchase table that I love! I had fun making this one, it came together in my head and then like I had envisioned it, nice!, I love it when that happens. The paper reminded me of Gram and I think she will like all the cute details on it. The ribbon was from Aunt Jeanne when she gave me all the vintage trim and buttons and stuff, I love how it is fringed at the end and matched the rose and Gram's sweater almost perfectly.

I have been strongly hinted at that I will be receiving my very own scrapbooking page from my two guys, I am waiting with much anticipation! Aaron even said he had a lot of fun doing it. Maybe I have a new scrap friend! He wanted to know if I noticed if any of my cool paper was missing (I haven't) but I can't wait to see.

So Happy Together

Billy, Nate and Jadyn loved this swing without the pillows in it. So funny that the toys and all the kids stuff was nowhere near as fun as this chair!

Billy: Wakes up from nap and sit straight up clapping
Daddy: Are your hands asleep?
Billy: (shaking hands) Yes, they're snoring.

Billy has a little green thumb, he loves to dig and he loves water so I guess it's only natural for him to love to plant as well! Aaron's grandfather(Mary's dad) loved to garden, that was were you could find him after work and on the weekends. I hope Billy continues to love to grow stuff. When Aaron and I got married his friend Ted got us a plant, some kind of plant that was indestructible (a fern maybe?) Anyway a few months at Casa de Hamilton did him right in. I hope he ends up with this cool genetic trait of loving plants and having them thrive.

While we were there 2 of the plants blossomed, WOW! To me it was pretty amazing!

And the most funny part was when he went to Target with Pop II he was a hurricane, throwing random plants in the basket (one of them being ground cover) and neither of them knew exactly what they had purchased until they were home and unloading in the back yard.

What a stud

Just love this little face! Billy got a haircut (well actually all of them cut) and it is SHORT!!! When I take some pictures I'll post them, he's at Noni nad Papa's right now, luck boy.

Ok, one more while baby is occupied

So much fun at the beach.....

He had no fear of the water, loved the sand, wanted to be one of the big kids, loved seeing the train, the ducks, the moter homes, the bikes, the boogie board.

He slept better then ever, all the way through the night a couple nights but was a little overwhelmed by the SIZE of it all.

Waiting for the train

Aaron found this great spot to wait for the train and I loved this shot!

We just got back from carp, good times and being ill, bad times (haha) and are looking forward to the rest of summer!

HE DID IT!

He swam, and swam, and swam!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe it, I am so proud!

He kicked his little feet and moved his little hands and hs did it!

Woot! New Camera!!!

SOooooooo excited to have this new camera, love the quality of pictures and the size. Thank yOu Mary!!!!!!

Not to much going on here, we went to the Discovery Museum (childrens museum) on Tuesday, it was soooo cool!
They have a place called the wonder cabinet that was put together by First 5 of Califonia, lots of sensory stuff, loads of fun.
http://www.cdm.org/viewPage.asp?mlid=189 check it out!

We went to Happy Hollow and Billy ran with the goats, sort of like running with the bulls but less dangerous and for little kids haha. No pictures yet, but I'll post some when I pick up the disk from Mary. Good times!

Arrrghhh!

When I went to meet Dan's maybe baby downtown, my camera fell out of my diaper bag and it's gone. I am so bummed out. So, once again I am cameraless. I still have Mary's from the last time, so while I'm saving up for a new one I can take pics of the boy.

So, Billy, Mary and I met Pat and Carole down at Child Services to have a visit with Larissa (who'll be known as Nicole Marie if she is adopted by Pat and Carole) . They still don't have the paternity test results so I was a little aprehensive to go down there but I must say she is such a sweet girl, Dan's or not. She was "passed around like a cheep doobie at a Grateful Dead concert" like Aaron is so famous for saying and not a peep. The visit was an hour long and she was so good. She weighs just 6 pound and is a tiny little thing, but is only feeding twice at night! WOW lucky foster mom! She is being really well taken care of and that's what's most impertant to me!

Here's a picture of her and Pat, she doesn't look like Dan so much now but she really looks like Alicia. She's gotten much darker and her cheeks have filled out.

Oh yeah, I was suprised Billy was totallyuninterested in her! I thought he would be really into the baby but even when I held him next to her and pointed her out he didn't notice. He DID have fun playing with the legos and the Barbi Jeep though!

the day after easter

I can't believe I'm admitting this but I did not get one easter picture, not one! No pictures of billy with the easter bunny, no pictures of billy with his easter basket, no pictures of billy on an easter egg hunt. Hell, I didn't even get him an OUTFIT to take a picture of him in.

This being sick is the pits I tall ya, next year will have to do.

We went to picture people this morning, my bright idea, thinking everyone had taken their spring photos. Nope, the place was packed, unbelievable! The couldn't squeeze us in. It's probably better, billy has a drippy nose and a bonk on the head, might not make for the best picture.

OK I'm gonna try this again!

At our favorite fountain on Friday, I got a couple quick shots. A lady was there with her baby girl and asked how old Billy was. I told her 16 months and she said, "THE WORLD IS SUCH AN EXCITING PLACE WHEN YOU'RE 16 MONTHS OLD." And that it is.

I totally lost that contest, was outed in the first round! I knew it, it wasn;t really "funky" enough.

Want to be totally addicted to a new site well here you go

http://www.oceangram.com/


and the most exciting news of all

http://scrapsville.com/

Woot Woot check it! Nick is getting it up and running. Too freaken' excited over here!

This was done for a contest. You could only write journaling on the photo. Not totally crazy about it. There are like 450 people participating, the winner gets like TONS of scrap supplies, I saw a lot of the entries yesterday and don;t think I'll even make the first cut. Oh well, it was fun!

Baby Einstein rocks!

Did a couple yesterday about Billy's first favorite toy, the baby einstein play yard! Not much going on here, getting ready to go to Kimi's wedding this weekend.

This father...

...got on the train going the wrong way tonite.
...gets up with his son in the middle of the night
...sings songs all the time but never the dame one twice, it's hard to remember what you made up the night before!
...gives his son a bath
...rocks the birk's and socks
...tells his son how truely special he is at least once a day, usually more
...won't let his son "just cry it out."
...makes us laugh each and every day
...plays a mean kazoo!
...isn't told enough how much we appriciate him
...will be embarrassed when he sees this!
...wants his son to love music like he does
...tries to teach his son how to crawl (but doesn't get frustrated when Billy has other ideas)
...thinks he is a very lucky man
...was born to be a dad
...is our hero everyday!

WE LOVE YOU

Sweet darlin'

I just started reading this, about 50 pages into it. Loving it! I just finished this last night, it was so good check it out!



Trying to be good and go backward scrapping the "old" stuff! haha I LOVED this outfit, what a PITA to get him into though!

This went backward, I thought it would start with the page but oh well. I hurt my neck somehow, have a Dr. appt. at 4. Uhhh, it stinks, really hard to lug the 21 pound baby around!

Santa Cruz

Love taking the baby there on Fridays!

We saw Nana Aunt Mil and Aunt Bonnie yesterday! So much fun. We went out to lunch at the San Leandro Marina and Billy was perfect, of course haha. Not much new goin gon just trying to stay cool.

FEELIN" HOT HOT HOT!

Maybe this will cool ya down! It is over 100 here today, billy is taking his nap in the living room and it's too hot for me to sit in the bedroom do I'm a prisoner, trying to be as stealthy and quiet as possible!

We go to Billy's first Babies and Books class at the library tonite. Can't wait, I think Aaron is going to the first one with him then I will go to the next.

We're BAAA--AAACK!

Quick one I did of Billy this morning, I tweaked it a little after I photographed it but battery in camera is charging.

This is from Santa Cruz on Friday, we went to see Eddie Money (said like Eddie Mun-EEEEEE) at their free concert series. It was PACKED we got there a couple hours before the first set and the first two parking lots were sold out already. We got to sit in our normal spot but had to share the table with some crazy stoned ladies. OK we didn't HAVE to but Aaron was in the bathroom and I was too chicken to tell them no!

S is for showers, they're good enogh for me!

Good times at Noni's. Our new place doesn't have this kind of faucet, looks like we'll be heading to Osh!

S is for showers, they're good enogh for me!

Good times at Noni's. Our new place doesn't have this kind of faucet, looks like we'll be heading to Osh!

Time flies when you're having fun!

Baby is 6 months, UNBELIEVABLE!

He has a weird rash or something on his mouth, we took him to the Dr. but of course it was gone once we got there, so I don't know what it is.

Can't wait to see Aaron, it's been about a week and a half, too long for me! I'm sure he's enjoying restful nights!

in v-town

We are in Valencia right now, not much to to update, but having a good time and switching off taking care of the baby at night. Score! Saaw Jen and got to scrap with her at the scrap store on Lyons, good times! Baby's crying got to go....

Big Boy

Look at that sweet face, LOVE IT!

Little Ducky

Another one from the crop, I love this photo!

calm

Notice a theme running through our photos SLEEP! haha This is one I did at the crop last weekend, the last one of the night, it was the most simple but took me the longert I was tired by the end!

Baby slept until 3:30 last might woot-woot! Unfortunately I was SO exhausted I went to bed at 7:30 and woke up at 11:00 then I couldn't go back to sleep!

perfect

accidentally printed an extra of this so I decided to use it. I love this photo!

NSD

There was a challenge to take this layout and scraplift to your own and below is what I came up with, a lot less "artsy" but I still like how it turned out.
This was a dare to scrap which smell you like the most, I picked Lake Tahoe, I love the pine trees and the fresh air! I also could have said my LEAST favorite smell was old casino bathrooms! That is for another day I guess!



Yep yesterday was National Scrapbooking Day! I got a few things done, not much cause baby is getting his "toofers" and pretty stinkin' misrable even with tylonal. Aaron went to the city to see Drive By Truckers with Tommy-boy so I was on my own. I did get a few thing done, wish I hadn't stayed up (like 10:20 is staying "up") because the baby woke up every hour and was up from 4-6. We have started the no cry sleep solution so there is no talking, that's a lot of time together with no talking! 2 nights ago when I waled back in the room from getting the bottle Aaron ws playing with the baby and no kidding I emphatically said, "THERE"S NO TALKING!!!!!!" He was very surprised but didn't say another word. So, without further ado here are the layouts from NSD

Things we love

Just playing around with my stash. These are photos mary took when she was watching the baby when I was sick.

Dear lord

these bananas really stink, if you could see to it that she doesn't buy them again I will be eternally grateful. We put them in cereal this morning with much better luck! I figured it was the texture.