Stacie's Wedding

A couple of weekends ago one of my very best friends Stacie got married in Sacramento.  Ollie, Max and I headed up there Friday morning.  Friday evening we (all Stacie's girlfriends) went out to dinner.  I picked Jason up from the train station afterward.  Saturday was a very busy but fun day.  We had our family pictures taken, which I will post when we get them.  I really hope we got some cute ones.  Stacie's wedding was that afternoon and her reception that evening.  It was a beautiful wedding and we are so happy for Stacie.  I have been so lame at taking pictures lately.  I stole all these from my friend Brendi.  I'll try to be better.

All the ladies at dinner.

Me, Stacie and Brendi.

Megan, Evelyn, me and Brendi

Haha...some totally random and not posed pictures Jason took.

Having a great time together.

Sometimes you just have to stop and smell the roses.

Waiting outside the temple for the bride and groom.

Stacie and Drew with all of Stacie's closest friends.

Our favorite things

The other day when Gin burst into song, "...these are a few of my favorite things" (apparently Oprah was doing a Sound of Music special on her show), it got me thinking what are some of my favorite things? Not my real favorites like family, triathlons, etc. but the more fickle things that I love, drum roll please....

# 1. Crock pot liners - Crock pot cooking is great, the only downside is trying to scrub food off the inside of the unwieldy thing, especially after its baked on for 8+ hours. Leave it up to Reynolds to save the day with crock pot liners. Just slip the liner over the crockpot then throw it away afterward, the only cleanup is washing the lid of the cockpot. These are #1 on the list for a reason, they would be a steal at twice the price.

#2: Automotive trash bags - Anyone who knows me also knows I am kind of a neat freak about my cars. So I went on a search to find the best car trash can. Unfortunately they have been discontinued by Thule but I scoured the internet to find the last 12 of these on the planet to give as gifts to all our family members. I love it because I no longer have to curse Gin for leaving wrappers, kleenex, papers, etc. in the car.

#3 Parchment Paper - You would think Reynolds was paying me because their parchment paper is another awesome invention. Throw it on cookie sheets and no PAM, no mess, and no need to wash the cookie sheet.

#4 The Presto Letter Opener - I know what your thinking, "really you are putting a letter opener as one of your favorite things?" If you own one you know what I'm talking about, if you don't and your related to us just wait until christmas and you might find one in your stocking.

#5 Bay Area Weather - I know the Bay Area/California has some serious issues, bankruptcy, high taxes, traffic jams, corrupt politicians and I won't even go into how I will never own a home in this area, but one of the many WONDERFUL things about it, is the weather.  From November to August it never disappoints.  And I know, we all love fall leaves, drinking hot chocolate in the winter, and blah, blah, blah... but I would take this weather over trudging through snow any day of the week.  So while you may not want to live here permanently, you are welcome to come visit :)

A weather forecast in the winter (November shown)

A weather forecast in the summer (August shown)

#6 Free HDTV - We aren't big TV watchers so we certainly aren't willing to spend $70+/month on TV. Turns that if you live with-in 80 miles of a major city you can get free HDTV by simply putting up an antenna. We only get the major channels (ABC,NBC,FOX,CW,etc) but combine an antenna with a Tivo DVR and we have what seems like unlimited viewing options, from Thomas the Train to ANTM.

HD Antenna

Plus Tivo

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Now for our least favorite things:

#1 Multilevel marketing - Seriously what is up with us Mormons and these scams? I think Utah is the capital of the world for this stuff. While in Provo and we were invited to try more exotic berry drinks, exclusive shopping opportunities, amazing supplements, and fuel additives than you could ever imagine. When it comes to drugs or multilevel marketing, I learned to just say no.

#2 Paying for Parking - I don't know what it is but I have a real problem paying for parking. I would rather walk 3 blocks than fork over 10 dollars for prime parking. I also don't get the notion of trolling around a parking lot for 10 minutes looking for the closest possible parking spot, do we really abhor walking that much?

#3 Traffic - Like I mentioned traffic in the bay area can suck during commute time. Jason hates traffic so much that we can't live more than 10 miles from his work so he can bike to work everyday. In fact I think sitting in traffic is the only thing that really upsets Jason, kind of random.

Halloween 2010

We have had lots of fun Halloween festivities this year.  It started last weekend when our friends threw a totally wicked (haha) halloween party.  It was fun to dress up, and to see all our friends dressed up.  We also watched the Giants game, which is a REALLY big deal here, obviously.  I found I really like watching baseball if I only watch the last inning and the World Series is at stake.  Since I took Ollie to my pumpkin patch at home where he got to go on the hayride and ride the train, we didn't bother taking him to the big pumpkin patch that we normally go to in this area.  Instead we took him to a little pumpkin patch near our house.  He of course had a blast running around and picking out a pumpkin.

It is nearly impossible to get a front view picture of this kid, especially at the pumpkin patch since he didn't stop running the whole time we were there.

Me and Max staying warm.

Ollie's pumpkin.

 This weekend Jason and some friends participated in the Warrior Dash in Casa de Frutas.  It was a 5k run that included obstacles along the way.  They had to climb over cars and haybales, scale cargo nets, go through a tunnel, slid down a big slip-n'-slide, jump over flaming logs and crawl through a huge mud pit.  They had a lot of fun doing it and I enjoyed watching with the kids.  I thought I would be too out of shape to do it , but now I'm wishing I would have done it too.  Oh well, next year.

Jason, Ben and Geoff nearing the finish line.

Amy crawling through the mud.  There is barbed wire across the mud so you have to get down and crawl to avoid it.  This is where I was parked and it was a good place to be.  Very entertaining.  

After the race.

After being hosed off.

Our friends Austin and Ashley also did the race (in fact Austin is the one who told us about it).  They actually dove into the mud, hence the mud all over their hair.  

 Our cute little warriors.

I put the following picture up on facebook, but here it is again.  Jason and I were Juno and Bleeker for halloween.  Jason won Creepiest costume at our church party.  I guess most people don't enjoy seeing Jason in short shorts as much as I do...haha.

 Saturday night we headed to our church for a trunk-or-treat, where people decorate their trunks and hand out candy.  It was a lot of fun.

Max as a peapod, 6 weeks old.  The costume was like a sleeping bag, he was so comfy.

This is Ollie as a peapod his first halloween.  He was  3 months old. 

Ollie got his face painted.  I was surprised at how well he sat for it.

Ollie was the cutest monkey you have ever seen.  He kept trying to take the banana out of his pocket but it was sewn in.  He loved getting candy, of course, but we were surprised that every time he had the option he chose milkduds.  What a funny boy.

Smiles

Max started smiling around 5 weeks and I just LOVE it!!  It is the cutest thing.  Here are some pictures I took yesterday (on his 6 week birthday).

This is the first documented picture of Ollie smiling around 6 weeks.  You can totally tell they are brothers.

Weekend in Lincoln

We had a really fun, busy last weekend.  A friend of mine is getting married in a few weeks and her bridal shower was in my home town (Lincoln).  We left Thursday afternoon to drop Jason's boss off at the SF airport and then headed to the Presidio where Jason was invited by Chevy to test drive the pre production plug-in electric Chevy Volt.  After that we headed to Lincoln.  Friday Jason worked from home while the kids and I ran some errands.  Later that afternoon we met up with my mom and friend Brendi and her kids and went to the pumpkin patch that I grew up going to.  It was not an ideal day for the pumpkin patch.  It was 93 degrees and just so hot, but we had a good time.  That evening was the bridal shower.  It was so fun to see friends and celebrate my awesome friend Stacie.  Saturday we just hung out, visited my grandparents and then I went to dinner with my friends and did some shopping, sans children.  It was awesome.  Sunday was great too.  I love going to church and we had dinner with both our families.  While we were gone Max slept in his own room, so now that we are home he is in his own room and it has been going very well.  I am now sleeping much better between feedings.  Once he is on more of a schedule we will be moving him in with Ollie.  Here are some pictures from the last couple weeks and our weekend.

Ollie loves pushing his lawn mower with daddy.

Speaking of being like daddy, lately Ollie will come over to me and say "kiss mommy", give me a kiss and then go outside get on his bike and say "going to work now".  Just like his daddy does, so cute.

Seriously...how adorable is he??

Jason and the volt (what a nerd) :-)

This was Ollie at the end of our day at the pumpkin patch.  Really red from running around when it was so hot, and dirty, oh and carrying two sticks of course.

Checking out the goats.

Playing in the hay.

All of us on the hay ride.

Me trying to get Ollie to look at the camera while we rode the train.

Deacon showing us that he can pick up Ollie.

The kids playing in the pumpkin.

The whole gang.

Me, Tam, Stacie and Brendi at Stacie's shower.

Before dinner on Saturday night.