Why we live in Southern California....85 degrees in January

As the rest of the United States huddles under blankets and cranks their heat up......San Diego hits 85 degree's in January. Don't get me wrong, I love cold weather.....curling up in front of the fire, reading a good book....sipping tea! Let's be real, when you have a toddler in the house, this will never happen. Finn gets cabin fever after an afternoon of rain....let alone days of snow. So, another reason to love California.

Up early Saturday morning to fly Todd's Air Hog Remote Control Airplane(Christmas gift from Santa).....

First Launch

Pilot and Co-Pilot

Mommy and Finn

Finn actually at the controls flying

Amazing!!!

Samson....loved it!

It's official...our little monkey is a monkey..he scaled a 7' fence in less than a minute.

102 degree TEMPERATURE and a LAMP!!!

Even the tough sucumb.....Todd picked Finn up from school today and noticed he looked a little pale and lethargic. Once home, temperature taken....101.5 and climbing.

You know your little one is sick when they ask to go to sleep. Temperature hit 102, and Motrin was administered. Off to bed for Little Finn at 6pm. Todd and I looked at each other and didn't know what to do with ourselves, 6pm and the house was quiet....lonely. What did we ever do before Finn.

Two hours later, Finn came running out of the room, big smile on face....talking about his new lamp from Grandma Cher. What would we do without Motrin and Grandma's. Check out Finn's new lamp and big smile. Thank you Grandma Cher!!! A perfect day to bring home a new lamp.

Dinner at DISNEYLAND

One of the many cool things about living in Carlsbad.....

Disneyland is only 45-50 minutes away via carpool lane on I-5

Season passes......PRICELESS!!!!

So when Devon called and said, Let's go meet Donna at Disneyland after work with the boys, off we go!!! What better way to spend a Tuesday night, I can't think of one.

Tiago, Aunt Devon, Finn

Train Station - Main St

Tiago and Aunt Devon

Finn and Tiago around the Lampost
(Decorated for Valentine's Day)

Finn climbing the Lampost
Finn, Aunt Devon, Tiago
(Outside Candy Store)

Finn and Mommy on train

Dinner at Rain Forest Cafe

Finn with ketchup face
Ride home

Boys sleeping......ahhhhh!!

So sweet!

Finn and Motorcycles

In deep sorrow and sadness,

I must confess to all.....my son LOVES motorcyles!!! It scares me speechless (unbelievable I know) I can already imagine all the horrendous accidents, broken bones, stiches, need I say more. Why not hoola hoops? Or better yet...blocks. You know, standard toddler toys, but no.....FINN LOVES MOTORCYLE'S.

So, when we headed to Mary's house (BFF), I thought we were going to experience a nice evening with children (she has two, Madeline 10, Will 7) wine, cheese...adult conversation while the children played. I never even imagined the evening would have Finn on a motorcyle. Lucky for Finn, Will was a good boy last year and Santa brought him his very own motorcyle. I think it even hits 20mph on the open road. Needless to say, Finn was beyond exited! Will being the nice boy he is, even allowed Finn to sit astride the bike. Pictures below. Please pray for me that Finn will leave motorcyles behind and pick up jump rope instead.

Will Henry Hauri (7)

(Next Pro-BMX Rider)

Finn

(I guess I should be thankful he put on a helmut)

Thank you Mary, Madeline and Will. We had a wonderful evening, we didn't want to leave.

Sunday Lunch at Oceanside Airport

Sunday afternoon, what better way to spend the day, especially with the rain clouds fastly receeding than at the Oceanside Municpal Airport. A big plus, absolutely free. Today we brought lunch and were a family of four, Grandpa Robert met us there.

Cessna 172


Beautiful L-17 Navion

Mommy and Captain Finn

(Bonanza foregroud)

Captain Finn, Daddy and Grandpa Robert

Captain Finn explaining his flightplan

Captain Finn and Grandpa

It happened...from Soccer to Softball

The family has a new sport to participate in, thanks to Kayla. One of Kayla's closest friend's (Samantha) is an All-Star Softball player and has passed the bug onto to Kayla. Try-Outs were Saturday morning, she had new cleats (Todd & Tiff), Helmut & Glove (grandma & grandpa) and a ball from Samantha. She was ready to go. I was so proud of her, she didn't seem nervous at all. Next time I am nervous or apprehensive about starting something new, I will use Kayla as my guiding light. I also give her Mother credit for allowing her to try a new sport without any prior involvment. It is a big commitment of the parents and extended family getting them to games and practices as well as volunteering.

Angie, Uncle Todd and Kayla

(love the pink helmut)

Unlce Todd, Kayla and Aunt Tiffiney

So proud we are of her!!!

All Aboard!!! Tiago's 2nd Birthday October 2008

Toot...Toot......

All aboard for Tiago's 2nd Thomas the Train birthday party. You couldn't have asked for a more beautiful setting, Bates Nut Farm in the fall.....atta girl Dev. We also celebrated Granpa Robert's birthday, which actually fell on the day of the party, October 18th.

History of Bates Nut Farm.......east from Carlsbad, in Valley Center. For us SOCAL beach dwellers it is the country. Large oak trees, fall foliage, pumpkins growing from the ground instead of at the supermarket. They grow nuts, pumpkins, corn.....anything that they can get to grow. Always open for picnics, parties, craft fairs and of course they are famous for their Halloween Pumpkin Patch and Hay Rides.

Tiago was adorable and infatuated with anything Thomas the Train. Much fun to be had by all, hay rides pulled by a John Deere tractor, pumpkin hunting, pinata's, geese and goats....need I say more?

And the party begins....enough Hay Bales to make horses start to salivate

Cake designed and prepared by Grandma Cher

Carley and Luke...nice to see teenagers at a Thomas the Train party.

Brother and Sister......Guarding the cake, keeping the bees at bay, didn't you know bees love chocolate cake!!!

Anneliese and Cayley

Patty, Uncle Ted and Caitlin

The presents start to pile up....of course Tiago, Finn and Lucas had to play with them as opened, smart, make sure they work.

Great Grandma Edna, Rachelle and Aunt Grace

Fleece Hat......funny part, it was actually almost 100 degrees at Bates Nut Farm that day.

Finn learning that not all gifts are for him, has to start some time. Imaginarium blocks from Aunt Kara and Uncle Mark.

Pinata fun begins.....duck quick! Tiago is at bat.

Finn with Pinata, did his mother dress him in perfect color coordination.

Time for the Hay Ride, a full ride around the property being pulled by an actual John Deere tractor.
Mommy and Finn

Every good day must come to an end, but what better way than hand in hand with cousins.

(Todd, Finn, Cayley, Caleb)

OCTOBERFEST 2008

October would not be complete without the Rotary's Annual Octoberfest at Holiday Park. Conveniently located within walking distance from Vi & Gus's home. Love that!

Dad (Robert) is too kind, and every year always provides all our close friends and family with free tickets for entrance an authentic German dinner. THANK YOU DAD!!!!!

Mark-Kara-Finn-Tiff-Todd-Violet

Finn bouncing in time to Polka!

Finn - Violet - Todd

Kara's Baby Shower.....October 2008

What a baby shower!!!! A sight to behold for sure, Kara was surrounded by family, friends and students. Mark's sisters Judy and Yvette were paramount in creating a pink wonderland .

Flowers

Tiered Diaper Cakes

(Created by Judy, Carly and Jamie)

Presents

Cake

Food by Judy & Derek (Jamie in photo)

The Beaming Grandmothers!!!

(Cherryl & Barbara)

And of course..........the beautiful mother to be!
Kara Lynn Chavez

Yvette, Jamie, Judy, Devon and Kara

Guests......

Playing Games

More Guests