Construction Progress - Day 2

Bob the Builder and his crew really got a lot done in the first two days! We can actually see the shape of the room now.

The walls are framed in and the floor is down.

Here's where the window is going to be.

Wes has been eager to help and is putting his tools to good use!

The First Day of Fall

Friday, September 23rd was the first day of fall!!! And since fall (leading to Thanksgiving) is my absolute favorite time of year, we did the only appropriate thing to do on such a wonderful day...we headed to Trader Joe's to buy a pumpkin!

We always go to the pumpkin patch later on to take some pictures and wander around, but at $2.99, you can't beat Trader's for a great porch pumpkin! Bring on the pumpkin pie!!

"Apple" Picking in Oak Glen

We went on our annual apple picking trip this year on Tuesday, September 20th and we headed back up to Oak Glen since we had so much fun there last year. Unfortunately we weren't quite as successful with the apple picking as last year, since none of the farms allowed apple picking during the week!! Apparently the farms all had small apple crops due to the weather this year, so they only have apple picking on the weekends. (Something I wish their websites had mentioned!) Last year there were tons of apples, but I'm sure I also called ahead since it was our first time going to Oak Glen. Oh well, we still had lots of fun picking pears, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries!

It was tough to fill up our basket since just about every other raspberry went into Wes' mouth!

Wes kept taking handfuls of raspberries out of the basket as we were trying to take this picture. Like I said, it took us a while to fill our basket.

Hunting for blackberries

All the big pears were high up in the trees, but Wes did a great job of getting them down.

Searching for juicy strawberries.

Here's the lone apple we "illegally" picked. Michael reached out the car window and grabbed it off a tree as we were heading out of one of the farms!

We had lunch at Apple Annies again...

...then headed to Snow Line orchards for their delicious apple cider doughnuts. The lady made a fresh hot batch just for us!

They douse them in cinnamon and sugar making them such a yummy treat!

And here we are with our purchased bag of apples :)

These are called Pink Pearl apples because they are actually pink inside. They are tart and really delicious, so we didn't feel quite as bad having to buy them.

Here's a picture of some of the berries we picked...

...and here's the real reason I go apple picking every year: the Apple Pie! We brought ours home this time and enjoyed it after Wes went to bed :) Hopefully next years apple crop is better, and we've been missing Julian (and their pumpkin apple pie!) so that's what's on our calendar for next season!

Apple picking 2009

Apple picking 2010, part 1 and part 2

Construction Progress

When I came home last night I was so impressed with the progress made on day 1 of construction! Michael is a jack of all trades and it's always hard for him to pay someone when he can handle most home improvement projects himself. His handiwork is all over our house and I absolutely love all the improvements he's made and knowing he can fix just about anything that breaks. That's a very important skill to possess when you have a two year old, because it seems like things break a lot around here! But we knew this project was best suited for a professional contractor (since our child will be living in there after all!) and we know it will be money well spent.

The framing for the floor is in.

Bob the builder said the electrician is coming today (they have to move lots of wires and also a gas line) and they are planning on getting the floor down. Looking forward to seeing what things look like tonight.

So It Begins

I'm writing this post from Grammy's house while Wes is napping, because today we started construction on a little loft over our entry way that will be Cora's room. The decision to build this loft has been a tough one, since, because our house is so small, we really wanted to move. Which is why we're starting construction when I'm 31 weeks pregnant. But an answer to prayer is still an answer even if it's not the one you want. Why is it so hard to remember that?? But we feel so blessed just to have a home and we will wait for the Lord's timing to move. So here are the before pictures of our entry way, and I'm looking forward to getting home tonight to see the progress on Day 1.

Wes is actually pretty excited about this project since our contractor's name is Bob, so now he thinks Bob the Builder is working on his house! (we may have had something to do with that!)

It's hard to picture, but this "box" is dead space and will open up into the loft. It's going to be small, but Cora will be too!

The railing will be partially gone and they will extend the flooring to the landing.

I will post more pictures of the construction as it progresses!

First Day of CBS!

We are so excited to be starting CBS (Community Bible Study) in Huntington Beach again! The first day was September 15th. I'm in the new mom's group this year where all the girls either have little babies with them or are pregnant. I'm really excited to be studying Philippians and can't believe I will be bringing Cora with me too in just a couple of months!

This year Wesley is a White Lamb.

And I realized I never posted any pictures from CBS last year, so here we are on the first day last September.

31 Cent Blessing

When Michael came back from New York, I had a list of things we needed to discuss waiting for him at home. (O joy!) His flight landed at noon, so by the time we picked him and his bags up and were headed out of the airport, it was way past lunch time. Daddy had a craving for Del Taco so as we were heading there, Wes was getting a little antsy for food and some Daddy time! But since Michael and I hadn't had more than a three minute conversation in 12 days, we were chatting away much to the irritation of Wesley. So Daddy suggested we put on one of his CD's...and here's where the list comes in. I figured now, in this blissful reunion/its so wonderful to be home with my wife and kid state that he was in, was the best time to drop this little bomb.

Wesley loves to play in my car and he loves to play with the coins that are in the ash tray and we always find them in the most random spots. He pushes them down the seats, or puts them up on the dash board and a couple of months ago we discovered two quarters in the drivers side air conditioning vent (yes they are still there). Anyway, one day while Michael was gone (and it was toward the end of his trip and I was getting very tired of being a single parent) Wes wanted to play in my car. So of course I let him and was able to get laundry folded and a couple of bills paid! But the next day when we were headed over to Grammy's house, I noticed about five or six coins resting in the slot of the CD player. He was obviously using his unattended time for some serious mischief! As soon as we got home, I grabbed some tweasers and attempted to get them out, but unfortunately a nickle slid down into the player. UGHHHH! I knew I/we were in trouble since Michael has been telling me for many months to get rid of the loose change in my car to avoid just such a problem. And so, obviously, the CD player stopped working.

So on our way to Del Taco, I tell Michael the story and he laughs and agrees that it was the best time to deliver bad news (though I have to admit that I'm very thankful that was all the bad news I had to deliver!). A couple days later, Mike took my car to the dealership and after attempting to dislodge the coin they tell us they have to send out the CD player for repair to the tune of $400! Now I was in big trouble :) But, and here comes the blessing part, when Michael went to pick up my car (we were told it would be radio-less for about a week), there it was installed! The technician told us he decided to try one last thing and voila, out came the coins. Yes coins, not just the nickle but a quarter, a nickle and a penny. The $150 price tag was much easier to swallow and we were so thankful! The next day, all the loose coins were safely placed in a coin purse in the latched center console where little hands can't find them!

Wesley Says: Keeping Us in Stitches

Wes has just been cracking us up recently. It simply amazes me how little minds work. On the one hand, Wes can hear a phrase once or twice and then use it completely appropriately in some other context. Then on the other hand, he'll repeat something that I obviously say way too often at just the right moment! Here are a couple of things he's said recently that had me laughing out loud:

We were sitting at our dining table having dinner when Wes looked over at the wall by our china cabinet and pointed out the letter "M" on the wall.

Wes: "That's a 'M'"

Me: "Yes, what is that "M" for?"

Wes just stared at me.

Me: "What is our last name?"

Again he just stared at me.

Me: (trying to prompt him) "Wesley Alan ..........?"

Wes: (without hesitation) "Stinker Pants!"

I was crying from laughing so hard when I realized that my child thinks his name is Wesley Alan Stinker-Pants! Must remember to pick another term of endearment when he's being a little stinker.

No picture for this one, but while Daddy was gone and we were taking care of our neighbors plants, we had a conversation that went like this:

Me: "Wes, please keep the hose in the planter"

Wes: "Need to water here"

Me: "No, we don't water the sidewalk, that's wasting water. Please put the hose back in the planter."

Wes: (moving the hose back to the planter) "now we cookn' wit gas"

Me: (cracking up) "Did you just say "now we're cooking with gas'? Where did you hear that!?!"

When we came back inside, I had to text my mom because I figured that could only be a Grammy saying. And she replied that she's probably only said that once or maybe twice to him (it was something her dad used to say!). It's so amazing how he can hear a phrase once and turn around and use it in context. So funny!

Then just the other day, Wes was running outside when he tripped and fell. While laying on the ground, he immediately said, "Man Down."

I was in the garage and Mike was near Wes and we both laughed so hard we couldn't catch our breaths. Just that morning Wes had tripped in our room and Mike had to explain to him why he said "man down." It's pretty funny when an adult says it, but hearing it come out of a two year old's mouth is hilarious! Such a funny child we have, love him to bits!

Chocolate Milkshake Day

The day Daddy come home from New York just happened to be Chocolate Milkshake as well! So after we picked Daddy up from the airport, Wesley and Daddy both took a much needed nap and I headed to the store to pick up some stuff for dinner and also some vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce and whip cream!

Wes helping scoop the ice cream

While daddy was doing the blending, Wes was taking care of the ice cream left on the lid.

Homemade chocolate milkshakes are the best! I think Mike and I might have got a sip or two!

Welcome Home Daddy!

On Monday, September 12th, Michael came home from New York after he and the rest of the guys from the Ride For 9-11 finished their 3308.46 mile ride from Los Angeles to New York City and honored the 343 fire fighters and 3,000 citizens who lost their lives on September 11th 2001. The "trip of a life time" was all he could say about the experience.

Wes with his NYPD tow truck that Daddy brought him as a souvenir.

We are so glad you're home Daddy!

Once the pictures come in from the ride, I'm hoping to organize them and do a couple posts of this amazing experience. Thanks to everyone who supported Mike and Wes and I while he was gone!

Labor Day Potluck

On Saturday of Labor Day weekend, we joined some of our friends at the lagoon in Woodbridge for a yummy potluck dinner and some just some nice time together. Mike was bummed to miss out (he had left for Pittsburgh a couple days earlier) since the dads were going to be there and when we get together it's either just the girls and kids for a play date in the middle of the work day, or we've left the kids with the men so we can have some mommy breakfast time! There aren't any pictures of the hubbies here but they enjoyed their time bonding over the fantasy football draft and getting the BBQ started with some older charcoal.

The kids had fun swimming, sliding, and eating, of course!

Wes and Jayne and Sarah.

Having a little snack with Mattie.

I love this picture of most of the kids playing together despite the age gaps. Logan is almost 6, Sylvie and Mattie are 4 and Wes is 2. I guess age doesn't matter when there are monster trucks involved!

Happy Labor Day weekend! We miss you Daddy!

My Two Year Old Sponge

Two year olds are just these amazing little sponges that soak up everything you say and ask questions night and day regardless of the question having already been answered 10 times! I love that so many questions of Wesley's focus on geography. As a former Geography major and current (ish) flight attendant, I have a great interest in maps and places and traveling and I'm hoping Wes will too. I just love that when I mention somewhere that Wes hasn't heard of he asks, "Where is that place?" And we always go get out the map or atlas so I can show him where that place is. Here are a few videos of him and some of his early geography skills :)

Never Forget

On September 11, Daddy was in New York city attending memorials for the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. Wesley and I were at home and we went to church and prayed for the families of all the victims. It's hard to believe it's been 10 years since that day and while we are thankful that time has started the healing process, we know that our nation and our lives will be forever changed.

We will never forget and will continue to pray for the safety of our nation.