Takes a Village

Strawberries and Inflatable Pools

2005-05-30T00:24:00.000-07:00

We've been happily growing... As people and as a family. Take a peek!

Are we almost there?

Ahhh... FINALLY! We're there!

Too Cute!

Daddy and His Girls

Fun at the Pool!!!

It's beginning to feel a lot like Summer!

Disney - Evil and Wonderful

2005-04-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

Yet another visit to The Evil Empire... Those folks at Disney really know how to host a good time. 'Course it does come with a hefty price tag. Ahhhhh, still. Worth every penny.

Just prior to snapping the pic, Minnie was literally mobbed by the masses. The girls were just standing, staring. Lil' Mrs. Mouse stepped over and put her arms around them for the photo. It pays to be *good* girls. Let that be a lesson.

A few starring the biggest characters of all - The Little Ones.

By the day's end, they had both been beaten with the Disney stick.

And loved every Mickey lovin' minute of it.

Sunset in the LBC

2005-02-27T00:47:00.000-08:00

Whale Watching

2005-02-26T23:40:00.000-08:00

Sophia and Emily

2005-02-26T23:38:00.000-08:00

Poem For Kitty

2005-01-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

Found this card that Miranda made. I am flabbergasted. She's barely 6 years old. I will translate what she has written:

Dear Kitten,
Your head is like a flower of pedals I'd like to hold and together we may grow; for the love I've given to you, I will always be with you.

Oh my! My daughter is a poet! Yipeeeeeeeeeeee!

Julie, interrupted

Happy Easter

2004-12-26T22:45:00.000-08:00

It went almost forgotten, however I suppose this one deserves a stand alone post anyway. The creative one, Miranda, who looks at any object, including this empty toilet paper roll and exclaims, "I can make something with that." (I don't mean take away Sophia's creative mind, she's just the little one for now.) Anyhoo, the following is perhaps the most prized gift to the family. Miranda made it and wrapped it without anyone knowing. It appeared under the tree and was the last present opened. Unseen in the picture is sticker that says, "Happy Easter." Then, as pictured, "Love Santa" completes the gift. Yeah, pretty fantastic right? We think so too. Thanks to our secret little Santa Bunny.

Happy Holidays from the Cliffs of Insanity

2004-12-26T11:06:00.000-08:00

The girls did the decorating themselves.

Nice work!

First round of loot.

Looks like something pink for the girlie-girl of the family.

Miranda's Cousin, Jenna is on her left, as is a present... "Miranda, quick! Grab that one before they give it to someone else!"

I wonder if Daddy could look like more of a dork?

Wake up! Santa came! He left presents... Hope some of 'em are for me.

It looks like they were good girls this year.

And finally, Christmas 2004 wouldn't have been complete without a kitty.

Welcome the newest addition to the Gang of Four, uh Five?

Emily D!

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

Disney Birthday Celebration!

2004-11-09T23:48:00.000-08:00

On Friday November 5th we celebrated Miranda's 6th Birthday at Disneyland and California Adventure! Yes we all played hookey from work and school, but you only turn 6 once!!!!!

We started our day at California Adventure. It was our first visit. Strange place. All of the best of California ala Disney facade. So if you are from outta state and you go to California Adventure you need not bother with the rest of the state. Who needs to see the real Golden Gate or Pacific Ocean, when you have Disney's version! Yeah, sure.

Waterfalls and Hollywood movie sets. The finest things Cali has to offer....

Sophia is crabby by mid-day! Like mother, like daughter...

We celebrated Miranda's b-day dinner at the obnoxious, oh I mean fun, Rainforest Cafe. Here she is all embarrassed and stuff the staff serenaded her a happy tune.

After dinner we went to Disneyland. The pic on the left is on the teacups-- Sophia is diiizzzzzy!
On the right the girls pose in front of Small World. has anyone else noticed that that ride is sorta offensive? moving right along....

Here we all are posing with Mickey Mouse! It was a great day full of family fun and strange reverie for the fake magic that makes it the happiest place on earth...

This is Halloween!

2004-11-08T23:40:00.000-08:00

Here they are! Our little bat and parrot growling for the camera on Halloween night!

The above pics were taken on October 29th at Miranda's school. Oh the magic of elementary school Halloween parades! How cute they all are!

Back to Halloween night and the children are trick or treating, while mommy is crooning away to Morrissey. Darek, you rule! I explained to the girls that Morrissey was playing and I couldn't go with them aand they said, "Yeah mommy, we know...it's Morrissey!" Ahhhh, to be so understood by your loved ones. :)

Boo!

2004-10-24T23:23:00.000-07:00

Cool pumkins, eh? The girls were so excited to get these today! Guess who picked the dragon...

Miranda and Max

2004-10-24T21:23:00.000-07:00

Here's our cuddly little snake, Max. Miranda loves it when he wraps himself around her neck, much to her mother's dismay.

Sophia's Light Reading

2004-10-24T21:21:00.001-07:00

Here's Sophia enjoying some light feminist theory. She needs all the help she can get considering she is obessed with gender roles. Don't worry kiddo, it sometimes puts mommy to sleep as well.

Soccer Picture Day!

2004-09-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning at Heritage Park...getting Miranda to hug her sister is no small feat!

2004-09-27T16:52:00.000-07:00

Be careful Sophia, you don't want to fall in that water again now, do you?

2004-09-27T16:48:00.000-07:00

Introducing...the Little Dragons!

2004-09-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Is that a fake smile, Miranda?

2004-09-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh!

2004-09-27T16:44:00.000-07:00

Nice hair ribbons...AYSO and all the team "moms" just had to figure out a way to make sure the girls indeed looked like "girls"...ok ok feminist commentary is finished. Miranda, you look amazing with or without the hair dodad!

Miranda Lost Her First Tooth!

2004-09-17T21:32:00.000-07:00

Oh, how they grow up so fast (wipe tear from side of eye)! At least she still believes in the tooth fairy...

2004-09-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

Say ahhhhhh...

2004-09-11T22:13:00.000-07:00

Do I look a little hot to you?

2004-09-11T22:10:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to "Bend it like Beckham"

First day on the School Bus

2004-09-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

Miranda has decided to take the bus this year...just one more small step toward her independence that we had to document. Although mommy did pick ouy that shirt!

First Day of the First Grade!

2004-09-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

Here she is in her new classroom...I wonder how many more years Miranda will let us follow her into class and take pictures? Don't answer that, just let us enjoy this while she still likes us.

2004-09-10T15:07:00.001-07:00

Daddy's smile hides his nerves...

2004-09-10T15:06:00.000-07:00

I think she's excited to be back!

Windy Huntington Beach!

2004-09-03T21:03:00.000-07:00

Where the girls are...in windy Huntington Beach today. The summer is coming to a quick close. These two never get enough of the sand and water.

2004-09-03T21:02:00.001-07:00

What exactly is she doing?

2004-09-03T21:02:00.000-07:00

Here is our little beach bunny (she is definitely her father's daughter in that regard)!

2004-09-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

Some day I'll be surfing those waves...

2004-09-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

Miranda will not be ignored!

2004-09-03T20:59:00.000-07:00

Once again the parents prove to be camera hogs!

Sophia's First Day at Pre-School

2004-08-31T22:33:00.000-07:00

The little wild one had her first day at pre-school today. She must of had a great day because she was too exhausted to talk about it (although we did learn that she poured her own milk without spilling). Way to go Sophie!

More Pictures From Knotts!

2004-08-24T11:57:00.000-07:00

Posing with Snoopy!

Howdy!

2004-08-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

Aren't I Cute!

2004-08-24T11:47:00.001-07:00

Where's my lunch?

2004-08-24T11:47:00.000-07:00

Scary T-Rex!

2004-08-24T11:42:00.000-07:00

In line for our favorite of the day...The Log Ride!

2004-08-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Sophia, Miranda, and the Peanuts Gang!

2004-08-24T11:39:00.000-07:00

Snoopy and Us!!!

2004-08-22T22:16:00.000-07:00

Partying at Knott's

2004-08-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

The Gang of four spent the day at Knott's Berry Farm... (excuse me, Knott's Theme Park) rode the log ride, twice; saw the kingdom of the dinosaurs, "did" camp snoopy, felt the heat, wandered about, made two very necessary purchases, and last, but in absolutely no way least, we witnessed the spectacle, "The World According to Snoopy". AKA: Snoopy on Ice. Quite an experience... I laughed out loud when I wasn't supposed to be laughing. When Snoopy, who has no voice, speaks, I quickly become very uncomfortable. When snoopy flies out onto stage in a black trench coat wearing black sun glasses to "Matrix-like" music, on ice skates, I can't contain uncontrollable nervous giggling. Overall, a great day. Can't wait to go back and see Snoopy on ice as the Grim Reaper.

D

Learning to Ride

2004-08-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

The sun slowly dissipates the cloud cover to shed light and warmth to the day... The stage, a baseball diamond that would be vacant if it weren't for a gleeful 5 year old and her patient, glowing father. Two eager participants embarking on a precious, memorable moment. "Daddy" is teaching his little girl how to ride a bike. He runs behind her assuring her confidence while gripping the back of the bike seat with the firm, careful grip only a father in this situation is capable of administering. He steadies her as she pushes down on the pedals and checks her steering. Running faster, daddy finds the perfect second to give her one solid thrust before he sends his baby headstrong into the opportunity to test her balance, skill, and her independence. He lets go excitedly screaming, "go baby, GO!" She finds her balance point as his run becomes a jog, then a walk. His eyes well up as he calls to her, "you did it baby, you did it!"

How it actually happened:

today i painfully dragged myself, my two daughters, one bike and one trike, two incredibly long blocks to a fenced in, run down little softball field. the three year old began complaining about 20 feet from the front door, and the five year old was excited to participate in one of life's lessons. i was equipped with the greatest intentions, and the expectations to match. what transpired was the antithesis of how this post began. i held her seat, instructed her to keep pedaling, ran beside her, gave her a push, and she went down; hard. i picked her up, dusted her off, and repeated the process... same result. and again... same result. "i don't care if you're hungry," i said to the three year old. "you need to try again," i exclaimed to the five year old. i sweat, collected dirt in my shoes, and watched my little girl's hands quickly become beet red. i tried, and i failed. i failed as a direct result of my expectations. i expected to patiently educate. i was fairly impatient. i expected my daughter to display the balance of a gymnast. she did not. i expected superior. i achieved average.

we actually acheived what should have been expected. we had fun, got bruised and dirty, and introduced my little girl to the challenges of learning how to ride a bike.

Awwwwww!

2004-08-20T18:23:00.000-07:00

Puss n Boots! We all agree that his "kitty face" was the high point of Shrek II. Who can resist the charms of such a sad face?

J

Greetings From Laguna Beach!

2004-08-20T18:19:00.000-07:00