Christmas in L.A.

We had our annual Christmas trip down to L.A. on Dec. 19 - 22 this year. We were all sick, but didn't want to miss out on celebrating with Ansell's family. We didn't have any trouble passing through the Grapevine (which can be snowy & icy), but there was snow all around for our viewing pleasure! The boys want to go to the snow, so maybe next year when we're not so sick. (We've had a hard time adjusting to flu season up north, as well as Cody starting pre-school!)

We had a really nice visit with Ansell's family.
Here is Tanner, Ansell's sister Lani, and our niece Carissa. Lani and Carissa are playing Mario Kart on the Wii. Tanner is making mental notes.

Hanging out with Grandma by the tree...where's Grandpa?

Like I mentioned before, we eat a LOT while we are in L.A.
Here is a platter of lobster noodles, filet mignon, sweet potatoes, sticky rice, fish, sauteed mushrooms...oh, and Carissa isn't drinking wine, it's sparkling grape juice!

One of the things Cody and Tanner's Uncle Terry (Ansell's brother) and Carissa gave the boys was Spike the Dinosaur! Cody was so happy, while Tanner was a little scared at first (this picture says it all!). Cody had told us he wanted it, but I took a look at the price and said, "Sorry, we could never afford that!" Cody claimed he could use the money in his piggy bank (which reads $2.54 right now!). Lucky for them they have Uncle Terry, who is also psychic because we never even mentioned that he wanted Spike! hah! Everyone was much too generous, and with all the good stuff they opened on "L.A. Christmas", I was worried that Santa might disappoint when we got back home! HAHAHA!

TMI

This may be TMI (too much information) for some of you, but a few of you know that I had to have a D & C done yesterday. Some of you don't know because before we could even share the good news with everyone, my doctor kind of knew that something wasn't quite right with my pregnancy. I kind of knew too, since I wasn't nauseous when I should have been, and I felt a little different than the other times.

Here's my roller coaster last month and a half...
Oct. 24 - took a pregnancy test, and then another- both positive!
Oct. 29 - had my yearly ob/gyn. appt. that turned into a prenatal visit.
Nov. 14th - ultrasound reveals an empty sac, and my doctor thinks it's not a viable pregnancy.
Nov. 20th - another ultrasound - kind of saw something, but not sure what. My doctor sends me to the main hospital for a stronger ultrasound on the 24th.
Nov. 24th - Ultrasound tech says she can't give up any info, I need to talk to my doctor. Later that night, my doctor calls and says they found a heartbeat, but it is slow.
Dec. 4th - Yet another ultrasound. We can't see a heartbeat, or much of anything else, and she thinks the fetus has started to dissolve. We schedule a D & C for Dec. 15th.
Dec. 10 - I start spotting.
Dec. 13 - I start bleeding.
Dec. 14 - I should've been 12 weeks, but I don't feel pregnant at all anymore.
Dec. 15 - Right before the D&C, I pass three huge clots. The last being quite large. She checks to see if I need to still have the procedure. I still have some sac tissue left. I opt to have the procedure anyway, to avoid coming back if it didn't pass naturally. Boy, did it HURT, but I am relieved that I had it done, since it had already started to pass naturally. My doctor says we can start trying again in 1 to 2 months. eek! TMI again!

Christmas Card Rejects

Here are some of our "Christmas Card Rejects" from years past...Keep in mind, there are at least 20 to 30 other rejects of each session! Thank goodness for digital cameras!

Cody in 2004 (7 months old)

Cody (19 mon.) and newly arrived Tanner (2 wks.) in 2005...

The screaming infant started hurting all of our ears...

2006 session (Cody, 2-1/2yrs. and Tanner 1 yr.)
Mommy's "great idea" of giving lollipops to keep them still...

still a 2006 session...
There are about 8 shots in a row of Cody in the very same position...what the heck?

STILL 2006, but one from this batch made the cut!

2007 (Cody 3-1/2 yrs. and Tanner 2 yrs.)
We envisioned a nice, warm enchanting photo by the tree...

Still 2007
No one was hurt during the filming of this photo. That's just Tanner throwing a fit! He likes to throw his legs up so he can slam them down for extra emphasis during a tantrum.

List of the Day - Breakfast

I love breakfast. Going out or staying in, I love it all.
Here is a list of my favorite breakfasts (I favor the savory, more than the sweet):

1. Eggs Benedict with hash browns
2. spinach, cheddar, and bacon omelet
3. bacon, tater tots, and an egg over easy
4. The Bagel Cafe! or even just toasted bagel with cream cheese
5. chicken fried steak and country biscuits
6. bagel breakfast sandwich (toasted bagel, bacon, egg, tomato & cheese)
7. pancakes at home (bisquick) I never usually order them at a restaurant...
8. any kind of breakfast casserole
9. linguica and eggs (even though I might get a tummy ache)
10. a bowl of Life cereal with sourdough toast

And with all of these I like to have a big steaming cup of coffee (with a packet of cocoa mixed in) MMMMM!!! No wonder I'm overweight...

Tanner's Birthday

We had a small family gathering for Tanner's birthday. We know he's not ready for the big party (maybe next year). But Tanner finally wants to open gifts! It's been an issue in the past, but he finally rips open presents like a normal toddler! YaY! He did it with some coaxing, (well he mostly did it by himself), especially since Cody was SLEEPING! Cody refused to take a nap for three hours, and then passed out right as everyone came over! At least it gave Tanner a chance to take his time and enjoy the process.

Ice cream cake with Thomas on top, of course!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TANNER!

Tanner is 3 years old!!!

Tanner is 3 years old today! He was born at 8:10 am (via c-section) at UCLA Santa Monica. I guess Tanner was born in the "off season" because we ended up in a big suite with a couch, a rocking chair, and window seating! We had Cody at the same hospital the year before (in May), and we were squished in a tiny room. Poor Ansell had to sleep in a cruddy fold out chair!

I had gestational diabetes with Tanner. (Ugh, that was fun.) He had low blood sugar when he was born, so he was immediately given some sugar water. No wonder he has such a sweet tooth now! But at least he didn't have any jaundice like Cody!

Here's the little guy, looking for some candy...

Here's an exhausted Ansell snoozing on the rocker with his newborn son...

Kristeen the Scrapbook Queen

My cousin Kristeen is an avid scrapbooker. She makes the most wonderful creations out of photos from special events and memorable trips. But I think the most memorable scrapbook she has made, she made FOR ME! She surprised me with it for my birthday! She snuck on Picasa, ordered pictures from our public albums, and secretly put one together! We said if we had known, we would have made all of our albums public! HAHAHA!

I consider this one of the most thoughtful giftsI have ever received!

Fun Fun Fun!

We finally visited my cousin Blake, Shelley, Tyler and Bryce! They live about 2 hours away, so we had planned the visit about a month ago.
First off, we went to Tyler's soccer game. It was neat to see him in action! Cody now says he wants to play soccer!

We then had a nice lunch at Yeung City, a Chinese restaurant in town. It was so good! Tanner chowed down on chow fun, and Cody even tried some baby corn. Tyler and Bryce are such good influences!
From there, we headed on over to the Railroad Museum. I don't know which the boys liked better, the museum or just running wild with Tyler and Bryce! Tanner slept through the first part (again), but he woke up and enjoyed the second part of our tour. Tyler was so sweet by looking out for Tanner at the train table!

After the museum, we headed over to their house. We hadn't ever seen it yet, so it was nice to see their lovely home. We ate cookies and chatted while all the boys played. I could have stayed there all night long! Blake and Shelley (and the boys) are TERRIFIC HOSTS!
It was such a great day!

The Hives

So another event took place on Ansell's birthday...I broke out in HIVES! I thought I had a bite on my leg, then I felt another...and another, then I looked down and EEEK!!!

My niece Kylie said it reminded her of the gourd on the nearby table...lovely!

They subsided by the afternoon, but they flare up at night and in the morning. Each day there are less and less but still...ugh...so gross!

Ansell's 40th!!!

Last Friday was Ansell's 40th birthday! To kick it off, I made him a birthday breakfast sandwich! He usually has oatmeal with brown sugar, but I thought he could splurge a little on his special day! That was the extent of cooking I did. We picked up Buca di Beppo's for dinner!

His parents and brother came all the way up from L.A., and they brought SUSIE CAKES!!! YESSS! There were red velvet, pumpkin with cream cheese frosting, mint, peanut butter on chocolate, strawberry, lemon, coconut, and plain buttercream flavors! WOW! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANSELL!

Gilroy Gardens

The Kitagawa's came up from Arizona a while back, so we got together with them, the Hom's, and the Ushiba's over at Gilroy Gardens. It was our first time over there and we ended up buying season passes (as well as the giant cup with 99¢ refills!)!

The kids loved the play area...

Brandon and Ryan (Bryce and Derek are behind them).

James and Madi

Bryce

Madi hanging with the boys!
Ansell and Cody on the paddle boats.

Halloween 2008

Halloween was so much fun this year! It was a busy day!

Cody had a party at school. I decided to make a pot of chili for dinner at the last minute so I rushed to the store, picked up ingredients, and came home to throw it together. I picked Cody up, then we waited for Syd and Evie's costume parade. I took a cruddy picture, so I decided to use Ansell's pic from the front yard.

After the parade, they came home, ate lunch and I tried to get the boys down for a nap, but Tanner wouldn't go to sleep (after driving around for 45 minutes!) I kept driving because I didn't want him to fall asleep when it was time to go trick or treating! Then my sister Jamie came and said the high school was having trick or treating, so we rushed over for that (since I thought Tanner might fall asleep later!).

But he didn't fall asleep! He was such a trooper! We still had to force him into his costume (he was screaming and bucking the whole time), but we finally convinced him that he was going to get candy out of it! He got a little practice trick or treating at the high school, so he was an old pro by the time we went out for the real thing!

Yes, Cody was Thomas the Tank Engine AGAIN! I'm glad I didn't have to buy another costume!

My sister Tina had the great idea of pulling the kids in the wagon. What a lifesaver! The boys were beat before we made it around the block! Luckily, my mom kept an eye on the chili for me, started the rice and baked cornbread, so we had a nice hot bowl of chili when we got home!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

More Trains on the Brain

So after dim sum, we headed on to Travel Town, where there are lots of old trains to climb aboard. We've gone to a few birthday parties here that were held in old coaches, but Tanner wasn't even walking the last time we came. He had much more fun this time!

Grandma, Cody & Carissa (Tanner was sleeping!)

The boys kept asking where Thomas was, but when we finally convinced them that he wasn't there, they accepted it and enjoyed playing in and around the trains.

Look at how little Tanner is compared to that wheel!

Dim Sum

One of the things Ansell's family introduced me to when I moved down to L.A. was dim sum. YUM! It's one of my favorite things to do when we go back for a visit!

We usually go to Empress Pavilion in Chinatown. Here are the "cart ladies" who bring all the delicious little dishes to your table.

This one fries up pot stickers, turnip cake, or taro cake right next to your table!

Carissa, Terry, and my father-in-law enjoying the food and tea. Even the boys love it! Their favorite things are the spongy meatballs (bottom right) and the crispy noodles (haven't arrived yet). Mmmmm!

Volunteer Work

No, I'm not getting all Angelina Jolie (I wish!), but volunteer work in my world consists of working in Cody's classroom. Parents are required to "volunteer" for 3 hours a month or work out some other way to help out. Are "required" and "volunteer" allowed to be in the same sentence (unless it's court ordered!)? haha! Anyway, I have helped in the class twice now, and I LOVE IT!!! The students are so cute, and they do lots of kids' projects! YAY!!!

The Bagel Cafe!

About a decade ago, Kimi, Michelle, and I took a trip down to Santa Barbara to visit Dio while she was attending the university. Kimi had gone to school there as well, so she also knew the area. Dio was a terrific host, and we had such a great time hiking, shopping, and EATING! One of the places Dio & Kimi took us was called The Bagel Cafe. They served up different kinds of bagel delights, but Kimi and Dio recommended their favorite, which consists of bagel, cream cheese, tomato slices, lemon pepper, and cheddar cheese (in that order) broiled to perfection! YUM! Kimi is really good when it comes to asking about ingredients, and she always recreates the dishes at home. That is how I learned how to make it! Dio was shocked when I recently told her that I make it for my family, and we all call it Bagel Cafe!

P.S. If you try this at home, bake it for 8-10 minutes, until the cheese melts, then broil it and watch it like a hawk until the cheese gets a little crispy. Then let it cool a bit, because the tomato and cheese will be like hot lava pouring into your mouth!
P.P.S. Sorry so long, but wanted to give Dio and Kimi their props!!!