The Cal-Poli's

San Francisco Treat

2010-07-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

Right in the middle of a summer swelter, San Fran and its moderate temps were just what we needed. On a bit of a whim a mini-vacation was planned to get away to the coast, and enjoy the city the way the locals do. While there we stayed a little motel on Lombard St., and enjoyed the many quaint stores within the area. Dogs definitely rule the roost around these parts. They are welcome in any store and treated like a member of the family. First night consisted of the wharf, Pier 39 and Rainforest Cafe. The kids enjoyed all the sights and sounds, especially the street performers. One who Spencer was sure was a robot. We ended the night with some sourdough turtles from Boudins. The next day was bit more relax with a stroll down Chestnut to Noah's Bagels, and then a good session at the local park. After that, it was off to the cable cars. Without a destination known, we hopped on and ended up in Union Square, where we changed our plans to eat at Lori's Diner, and it could not have been finer. After naps, we decided to continue our adventures on the MUNI and travel like the locals. It got a little crowded at times and the places we wanted to go to all ended up being closed, but the journey was fun nonetheless. Day three brought the Exploratorium and after 3.5 hours, we still didn't see it all, but our energy was fading, so we cut the visit short. Off to Lucca's Deli for some authentic Italian sandwiches and spaghetti, then to top it off, Susie Cakes cupcakes for dessert. All in all, it was a fantastic trip with no real agenda that we will be sure to do again next year to take in even more that San Fran has to offer.

Abigail's First Lost Tooth

2010-06-29T07:53:00.000-07:00

Our not-so-little Abigail is growing up so fast and seems to reach milestones too fast for our liking. the most recent, which was losing her first tooth. This tooth had hung on for a good while, but nothing was going to keep it from falling out this night. Abigail was excited, yet a little apprehensive about pulling it out. She was definitely against using any floss to yank it out. So she slowly loosened it to the point of no return and eventually removed it all by herself. We both screamed with excitement upon realizing that it actually came out, and as she ran to show mommy the excitement turned to fright, and she started to cry. The crying was short lived, and we quickly set on making the tooth envelope for placement under her pillow. The tooth fairy made her first official visit for Abigail, and the money has already been spent.

3rd Annual Neighborhood Camping Trip

2010-06-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

This was the third camping trip made my the neighborhood gang, second trip with everyone being able to attend. This year's location was the coast at a beautiful campsite called Costanoa. Although it was a wee bit chilly at times, it didn't take away from the fun-filled adventures everyone had. We arrived to the site on Father's Day and enjoyed a well planned night of food, drink and songs. The next day we all managed to make the hike to the beach where the kids explored and splashed in the waves. Tuesday was a two-fer, we were able to go see the redwoods on our nature hike, and go to Santa Cruz to enjoy the boardwalk and the beach. Each night we were able to all huddle in around the fire and enjoy each others company. We had many visitors throughout the trip including two skunks, many prairie dogs, one little resident kitty, and several raccoons who feasting on our food. All in all it was a great trips with great friends. Can't wait for our next camping installment.

Abigail's Hawaiian Rollercoaster

2010-06-16T11:14:00.000-07:00

Abigail completed her last performance for the spring dance season, and might I say, it was flawless. She was front and center with her friend Clarisa, and the two of them danced in perfect unison. We are all very proud of little ballerina in her last performance in ballet shoes. She has decided that she would like to try hip-hop or jazz next time. New and exciting moves are sure to come from that. Here is a picture of Abigail with her roses that Spencer gave to her after the concert. She made sure that we didn't forget her flowers with multiple reminders.

Outta Hiding

2010-06-15T14:48:00.001-07:00

Alright, so I thought I would give this whole blogging thing another whirl. Work is kind of slow, and I need something to keep my brain from physically dying. There has been so much that has happened since our last entry, and no amount of motivation would allow me to catch up, so with that said here is what I can remember in bullet format.

Spencer graduated from Phoenix Preschool.
Summer was upon us with swimming and more swimming.
Visited the great island of Newfoundland. Top notch visit.
Camping trip to Fallen Leaf Lake with the neighbors (rained on last day).
Andy and I milked a free white-water rafting trip. Booyah!!
Spencer started Kindergarten.
Abigail's Christmas Dance Concert.
Christmas in Cali this year. Loved the new fake tree.
Sledding in the Sierras.
Home floor reno official began, and is still in progress.
Bring on the 2010 Rocklin Pony baseball season.
Finally finished the front garden area. You're welcome neighbors.
Grandma and Grandpa Polischuk come for a visit.
Running Events: Davis Stampede, Run Rocklin, Parkway Half Marathon, and the World Famous Camp Pendleton Mud Run.
Spencer graduated Kindergarten.
Abigail's Spring Dance Concert.

... and that about bring you up to date. I know it must have been tough all those months wondering what was going on, and for that, I apologize. Here's to a bigger and better effort this time around.

The Cal-Poli's

Jelly Belly Heaven

2009-04-09T14:32:00.000-07:00

I was finally able to take a day off to accommodate a trip to the Jelly Belly Factory. Tours run all week, but on weekends there's no actual production, so it more interesting to go on a weekday. The place was hopping, and full of tasty things to eat. The tour went through the entire factory from pre-jelly belly materials, to creation, to boxing them up for shipment. Some free jelly belly's were enjoyed at the end of the tour, and we were lucky to go during Easter, as the Easter Bunny was paying a visit. All it was a great way to spend a rainy day.

Canadian Christmas 2008

2009-01-12T12:12:00.000-08:00

This year we decided to fly home and spend Xmas with the family in Saskatchewan. At first we were all gung ho, but then we were a little leery once we say some of the weather updates. We quickly got over it and were prepared for some fun, festivities and family. Spencer and Abigail were quite excited to go on vacation, and kept asking when we were going to wake-up super early to fly on the airplane. We had to leave the house at 4:30 am and our neighbour Andy was kind enough to drive us to the airport. The airplane/airport experience was relaxing and smooth. The kids enjoyed all the perks of flying, and had fun discovering all the plane had to offer. We arrived without a hitch and our vacation officially began. After a few short visits and errands, we were off to my hometown of La Ronge. A thermometer reading of -32 C greeted us once we arrived, but that didn't lower our enthusiasm for winter/snow fun. The very next day we were off and running. Clearing the ice rink at the Alicia and Mike's, and prepping the hill for sledding. It turned out to be a beautiful day, and the kids absolutely loved it. Neither Abigail nor Spencer had ever been on ice before, so this was pretty special. Abigail was trooper, even through all the slips and falls. Spencer preferred sledding, but also enjoyed the ice for awhile. Spencer and Abigail continued to play with their cousins Parker and Morgan every chance they got (especially on the swing in Grandma and Grandpa's basement), and we got to enjoy to child-free hours entertaining ourselves with cocktails, Wii, old friends and the odd puzzle. I was lucky enough to be invited a jam session with my bro that lasted a total of 6 hours. Many a good tune was played that evening. Finally, Christmas had arrived, and it was utter chaos with four young kids frantically ripping through anything in their path. It didn't take them long to demolish the pile of presents under the tree. Abigail kept opening every present and commenting that "I've been waiting for this." Even though we're pretty sure she didn't even know what she had before saying it. Later we got to enjoy a traditional Polischuk Xmas dinner consisting of lobster and crab, and afterwards enjoyed some Wii for a nightcap. The kids got to strap some skates on and try them on an official ice rink, which was pretty cool. Both did very well considering where they're from, and have shown a serious interest in skating and hockey ever since. They also got to take a ride on Uncle Mike's snowmobile, and if it were up to Spencer, we'd still be driving on it. They loved it. Unfortunately, our trip drew to a close and we had to say good-bye, but it turned out to be a great trip with lots of fond memories made.

More recital pics

2008-12-06T22:35:00.001-08:00

Abigail's Christmas dance recital

2008-12-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

Tonight we went to watch Abigail in her first ever dance recital. We were so unbelievably proud of our baby girl. She did such an amazing job and we loved watching her. Lauren also took part in the recital and did a wonderful job. Both girls looked so beautiful! Abigail loves dressing up like a "princess" She was very proud of the medal that she got to take home at the end of the night and was very excited about getting red roses from her Big Brother who sat so good through the entire concert. We love you so much Abigail!

More decorating

2008-12-03T21:17:00.001-08:00

Decorating 101

2008-12-03T21:01:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday we decorated our house for the holidays along with the neighbors. We all had a fun time despite it being a little chilly. All of the kids played great together as always and we all opted for pizza for dinner to finish off the night. Leslie took all of the kids on a "hike" to sing christmas carols and then showed off one of her hidden talents, making objects out of pipecleaners. The creations were endless. Another enjoyable evening on Magnolia!

Roseville Santa Parade

2008-12-03T20:49:00.000-08:00

O.K, so it's been a little while since our last post. On the 22nd of November we took the kids to the Roseville Santa Parade. It was great for the first hour but after the 3 or 4th 10 minute gap in floats we were tired and the kids were bored! It wasn't very well organized to see the least! If you're wondering why there are no pictures of Santa it's because we didn't even stay to see him!

Abigail on her way to "work"

2008-11-02T20:22:00.000-08:00

I had to work today and Mark took pictures of Abigail as she dressed up like Mommy right down to wanting the cup of coffee...not sure if this is a bad thing or not but it sure looks cute. She wanted to go to work. I wish I had the opportunity to wear these clothes to work...only scrubs for me! As you can see in the second picture, Spencer opted for the life of a pirate. In his words "Jack Sparrow with Mickey ears."

Date Night

2008-11-02T20:07:00.001-08:00

Last night we enjoyed a night out with our friends Leslie, Andy, Mike, and Christina. We were surprisingly able to arrange all of this is less than a week which was great considering we all needed babysitters and time off work etc. We had a great dinner at PF Changs and then on to Starbucks for coffee, ice cream, and Leslie's riveting game "10 fingers" . We were all on the edge of our seats as we learned more and more about one another. It was actually a ton of fun and the only bad part of the night was having it come to an end. We couldn't ask for better friends and we're looking forward to our next night out...love you guys!!

Our little Ballerina

2008-11-01T10:58:00.000-07:00

We gave the kids a choice of a few things to do this fall. Spencer chose soccer again and Abigail chose Ballet. She goes every Thursday morning but if it was up to her we'd be there everyday. She loves it and we think she looks so cute in her little outfit. At class she always listens to her teacher, and is a natural dancer. Despite her size, she very flexible, and moves around with much grace. We love our little ballerina.

Halloween Party

2008-10-28T20:05:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday we were invited to a Halloween Party at the house of one of Spencer's daycare friends. The kids had a fantastic time decorating pumpkins, sifting to find "treasures", decorating bags, making magnets, and their favorite...wrapping daddy up like a mummy with toilet paper. Abigail looked adorable and loved the "pixie dust" that we sprayed in her hair. Spencer was very proud in his Peter Pan costume and especially loved spraying his hair red. There were lots of yummy treats and lots of friends to play with. Mark and I also got to dress up for the first time in years. I was very creative and went all out dressing up as a witch. Mark looked great as a member of the Blue Man Group.

Fun at Home

2008-10-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we enjoyed a lazy morning at home. Spencer wanted a tent like his friend Andrew's so after I made a satisfactory replica, they enjoyed cookies and tea from Abigail's Princess tea set. They had a great time and enjoyed some TV shows from "their house" I love times like these when they play so well together!

Bishop's Pumpkin Farm

2008-10-05T14:42:00.000-07:00

After I got off work yesterday we took a trip to Bishop's Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland with the Vanden Akkers. This has come to be a yearly ritual and Mark and I enjoy it just as much as Spencer and Abigail. The kids had a great time on the hay ride, looking for pumpkins, playing with the goats at the petting zoo, jumping in the hay pile, and of course their favorite was riding the train. They all loved their apple cider at the end and Leslie and I got some caramel apples "to go." We finished off another fun filled evening with our neighbors at Applebees for dinner. Fall is definitely my favorite time of year!!

Babysitting baby Allie

2008-09-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

It may have taken 4 months but I FINALLY got the opportunity to babysit Allie. Spencer and Abigail were so excited. Just before Leslie dropped her off they were fighting over whose blanket she was going to lie on. Abigail made it very clear to me that she was the babysitter. Allie had to wear her Dora socks and she read her stories. Abigail wasn't too happy though when I told her she couldn't pull Allie in the wagon, feed her strawberries, or push her on the swing. She did however help Mark change her diaper and did a very good job I might add. Spencer enjoyed Allie from a distance but later told me baby Allie is the only baby he likes and wondered why we couldn't keep her. When I asked him why he didn't like other babies he said very matter of factly "because they stink." We all had a great morning and look forward to taking care of her again, thanks Leslie!!

Our big girlie

2008-09-22T20:03:00.000-07:00

Abigail is constantly surprising us with new words, sentences, and phrases. She is growing up so fast and wants to do everything by herself now...including her hair. We were getting ready to go to the Veggie Tales Concert with our friends Friday night and she was taking an awful long time in the bathroom. When we went to check on her this is what we found. We couldn't help but laugh and of course get a picture. We love our little princess so much!

Neighborhood BBQ

2008-09-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

We decided to celebrate the end of summer with a block BBQ. We had tons of great food and I hope a good time was had by all. The kids kept busy in the pool while us adults had time to sit, relax, and chat. I was glad my sister Sonja was here to enjoy it with us and meet all of our friends and neighbors.

Auntie Sonja Visits

2008-09-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

We were so lucky to have Auntie Sonja visit us all the way from Newfoundland. We had such a great time and hated to see her leave. Spencer and Abigail loved waking up every morning knowing she was here and had so much fun visiting the Zoo, eating out at the Cheesecake Factory, playing games, and doing fun crafts. I especially had a great visit as it's been forever since we've had the time to sit down together. I loved our time hanging out and chatting. Of course all the shopping we did was fun also!! We truly wished she lived closer and still miss her terribly. Love you lots Auntie Sonja!!!!

The Neighborhood Gang

2008-09-18T20:42:00.001-07:00

Tonight as the kids were all playing on the street, Emma decided to run in and grab her camera. Meanwhile, the kids were all running around like monkeys trying to hide from Emma when she returned. Once Emma found them they were all running around again. Some time passed when Leslie noticed how everyone was standing so obediently for a picture by Emma. It was quite the sight to see all (and I mean all) the kids waiting so patiently for the picture. The picture was quite nice, so here it is for all to enjoy. Thanks Emma.

It's Showtime

2008-09-07T12:43:00.000-07:00

This is just one of the many shows Spencer and Abigail like to put on for us. I was the lucky sole recipient of this sold out show. The cowgirl was on the guitar, and Spencer of course of the lead singer. This time Spencer actually surprised me with his rendidtion of the Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah. He nailed it to a tee, and he's quite the demanding little lead singer. He made sure I announced their entrance just as instructed, and he kept telling the cowgirl to "hit it". Unfortunately, Abigail took the advice literally, and kept hitting her guitar. Oh well, it was still amusing.

Playroom Painting

2008-09-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

So after a long break from anything renovations, I got a spur of the moment motivation yesterday to finally finish the playroom. The kids were very eager to help, and I wasn't sure if I really wanted to but as a team we moved all of the toys and gear out of the room. Spencer then proceeded to remove all the plates on the plugs and switches. Abigail must have been tired from all the moving because she slipped away to play with her dollies. After some taping, it was time to paint. Donning their Phoenix Schools painting shirts, they were ready and willing. Some ground rules were discussed, and then we were off. They actually did a really good job following all the rules, and switching between the brush and roller. Once the paint was dry Spencer was bound and determined to get all the plates put back on. He even tried to skip out of supper early to get back to work. Must take after his daddy; all work, no play. All in all, it was a good experience for everyone.

The "Early" Xmas Presents

2008-09-05T22:04:00.001-07:00

I found a great deal on Craig's List...local buy and sell... and we bought these ride on toys initially to give to the kids for Christmas. Spencer however let out a great big "YEAH!" one day as he rounded the side of the house where they were being stored. We figured we couldn't really get out of that one and after a few weeks of telling them we were storing them for the neighbors Mark gave in and let them go to town. We weren't really sure how we were going to explain it Christmas morning anyway. Needless to say they love them and have tons of fun riding around the street with their friends in the neighborhood.

Donner Party of Nine

2008-08-23T15:47:00.000-07:00

After a 10 year hiatus for Mark and an estimated 14 year hiatus for Sheena, it was time to get back to our camping roots. The kids had never been, so it was all new to them. The Vandy's had invited us to join them up at Donner Memorial State Park, and it was welcome news to our ears seeing that the temp in the valley was bubbling around 105 F. The adventure started before we had even arrived as the car decided to overheat with about 30 minutes left of our drive After a couple of pit stops we arrived safe and sound with very hungry bellies. Leslie had the idea of picking up Subway for lunch before we even left town this morning and it turned out to be a great idea. Our site looked good from a distance besides the lack of full shade that was promised, but upon closer examination by the kids, it turned out to be one the dirtiest dirts we have ever seen. When all of us adults having trouble staying clean, we knew we didn't have a chance with the kids! But we were camping and it's all a part of roughing it, plus they had such a great time digging around in the dirt. After a quick set-up, it was off to the beach to cool down and clean off. Unfortunately the nice groomed beach that is visible from the highway was for members only, but fear not, we were allowed to share the public space along Dog Beach. Appropriately named by the way. It turned out to be a decent beach in the end, and the water was actually quite pleasant. Leslie might have a different view of it, seeing how she tried to hike a half mile to get to the beach from the other side with baby Allie in tow, only to find herself stranded and having to turn back. Nonetheless, the beach was a welcome break from the dirt. Back at the camp Spencer and Abigail roasted weiners and marshmallows for the first time. Spencer even liked eating the marshmallows burned. Unfortunately the gas stove had to brought out for the weiners as the ladies couldn't stomach the look of fire cooked wieners. After supper we all made our way up to the the nearby ampitheater for an unknown free event. The kids were so excited as they hiked along with their flashlights and lanterns certain that it was going to be the Wiggles! We were all surprised that we were about to be a part of a thrilling Camp version of Jeopardy! Leslie and I were kind enough to volunteer our hubbies as the team leaders. Long story short, the kids started to lose interest...we couldn't blame them, Leslie and I couldn't stop laughing, and by the time Final Jeopardy came we were all more than ready for bed! It was a nail biting final jeopardy as the Bats edged out the Chipmunks! Bedtime was now upon us, and so was a massive headache for Mark. After a shower to wash the filth off the kids they were asleep within minutes. Mark's headache got so bad it warranted a 3:00am trip to the gas station for Advil. Abigail's snotty nose routine made it difficult for any of us to catch many zzzzz'z, aside from Spencer who at one time was found sleeping between the tent and the mattress. The next morning we all had bacon and eggs for breakfast. Leslie and I then took the kids for a hike so they could say farewell to "Pip" the campsite chipmunk and the guys could pack everything up without too many "helping" hands. Then we were off.. All in all, it was a great time, and we look forward to our next adventure camping soon. We've included a quick video of one of the songs the kids loved singing with Leslie on their Diego adventure. Unfortunately we weren't able to capture Leslie's stunning performance of the Statue of Liberty with burning marshmallows.

Donner Party of Nine - More Pics

2008-08-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

Abigail and Luke, one of my favorite all time pictures, aren't they adorable!!

Sunny Sun Splash

2008-08-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

We decided to take the kids to Sun Splash today since they ask to go everytime we pass the park, and considering we bought season passes and only gone once before, it was time to get our money's worth! It didn't take long for Mark to be whistled at by the lifeguards as we found out that the kids can no longer wear their water wings and had to put on life jackets. After a little bit of getting used to the new floatation devices, they were swimming, sliding, and riding the waves in the wave pool. After some time, Abigail took to her California roots and thought it better to sit on the side and soak up some rays, while Spencer continued being the little fish he is, literally drinking it up. We capped it off with a couple of rounds around the lazy river, then headed home. We had a really fun morning and hope to get back for at least one more visit before the season ends.

Play Date with the Neighbors

2008-08-10T15:22:00.001-07:00

Last Thursday we had our neighbors over for a playdate. All of the kiddos got to play while the mommies had some grown up conversation time! All of the kids were playing quitely and when we went to see what they were doing this is what we stumbled upon. Apparantly everything in the play room had been moved into Abigail's bedroom. Spencer had been acting as Santa Clause and he was handing out toys to the other kids. I had to get a picture of this one...can you spot Luke!! Leslie then orchestrated a massive clean up plan. All of the kids were eager to put everything back in its place and then surprise me. We feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends and neighbors!

Vacation Bible School

2008-07-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

Spencer spent last week attending a vacation bible school with a few of his neighborhood friends. He had a great time doing all of the activities and crafts although his favorite part of everyday was practicing his songs and the actions that went along with them. He's becoming quite the little performer, singing his heart out in the evenings for myself and Mark. The best part of all of this was that they got to perform their songs at Church last Sunday on the big stage. Spencer was extra excited about this part the entire week! That excitement ended when Sunday finally rolled around and it was time to line up to go on stage. We thought after MUCH persuasion that it was a hopeless situation and there was no way we were getting him to go. Thanks to our good friend Andy, Spencer ended up on stage and we were able to get some great video and pictures of him with his friends. We were so proud of him. At the end of church on Sunday he said he had a great time...Thanks Andy!

Lauren, Spencer, and Andrew

Spencer's Super Powers

2008-07-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

So as many of you are aware Spencer is having to wear a heart monitor for 1 month that can transmit via phone any irregular heart activity that he may have. After an echocardiogram, 2 EKG's, lab work, and a visit to the pediatic cardiologist this was what was recommended for him. He's been a tropper through all of it. He wasn't however too excited to put on the monitor so Mark and I told him to pretend it was a device that gave him superpowers. He decided that he was a power ranger and could "freeze" people with his monitor. He's very cute. We're so proud to have such a brave little man. Please keep Spencer in your thoughts and prayers, we're staying positive and are sure everything will be just fine!

Abigail's 3rd Birthday Party

2008-07-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Wow, where does time go?! We can't believe our baby girl is turning 3 already. We celebrated her birthday with friends yesterday and had a wonderful time! She wanted a princess party and because we were having it outside we incorporated a beach theme also. We love watching all of the kids playing together and having so much fun! She received lots of wonderful presents and today our house looks like Christmas morning because they have to play with all of them at the same time. Abigail especially loved her tea set and spent the morning having a tea party with her dolls...her new Belle and Sleeping Beauty. We let her have water in the tea pot and thigs got a little wet to say the least when all was said and done but she had such a great time serving everone "tea". Besides being able to celebrate our little girls third birthday it also made us realize that we have the best friends in the whole world and are so lucky to know each and every one of them!

Our Brave Little Man

2008-07-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

Spencer has been complaining about his belly hurting for awhile now, so we finally asked him to show us where. When he pointed it was actually closer to his chest than his belly. So this concerned us a little, but he usually was unaffected by it, so we didn't give it much thought. Then the other day he just wasn't himself, and was complaing about his belly again, and then he mentioned that his chest was beeping. Sheena was quite concerned at this point and took him straight to the ER. The doctors and nurses were very good with Spencer, and he was a perfect little patient. They ran some tests on him, and all was well other than having a irregular heartbeat. It was more peace of mind than anything. In the end the doctor advised Spencer to lay off the cigarettes and alcohol, to which he responded, "Why?" Spencer was quite proud of how brave he was and wanted to keep all the stickers on to show everyone, so here is his picture.

Red, White and Blue

2008-07-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

Today was the first of hopefully many 4th of July parades in our neighbourhood. All the kids decorated their bikes to the nines and were very excited to start the official parade loop around the block. Leslie, the parade organizer, had the map all drafted up and the plan set in motion. Andy, the parade leader, positioned himself "comfortably" in the front on his cruiser, while all the kids from around the block, and there were probably close to 25, obediently followed behind. It was quite the show with the sea of red, white, and blue waving, flickering and flashing in the sunlight. The kids had a blast, even to the point that Abigail cried when it was over. The food that awaited quickly eased her tears as it was a full spread. Pancakes, berries, fresh fruit, pound cake, and special red, white and blue gumballs. Special thanks must go out the VandenAkkers for hosting a great parade/brunch, and if my calculations are correct it would appear that I actually beat Leslie to the blog. Ha!!

Big Girl, and a Little Man

2008-06-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

It was a big day/night in the Polischuk household yesterday. The day had finally come for Abigail to finally give up the pacifiers (or as she calls them, babies). The plan was set in motion, we would wrap them up and deliver them to the new baby girl across the street, baby Allie. Abigail has been infatuated with her ever since she was still in Leslie's belly. So this was a perfect opportunity to take advantage of a good situation. So off to the store to buy some gift wrap, and a special treat for being such a big girl. She opted for another baby doll, which she of course named, baby Allie. She is very motherly with her dolls, and she took extra special care of this new one. Baby Allie (the doll) even got her own special doll crib to sleep in, which at one point Abigail thought it would be a good a idea to check the weight limit on. Needless to say, she exceeded the limit. Anyway, before bed, we were off to see the real baby Allie for the official delivery. Allie's brothers quickly opened her present for her, and they all placed the babies neatly on her lap. After that it was off to bed, and I must say it went off without a hitch. Abigail did very well, and we are quite proud of our big girl.

Spencer also had a big night. After a month or so of dry pull-ups, we decided to try and go without one last night. When he awoke dry this morning, he simply thought we had forgot to put one on, but little did he know we knew exactly what we were doing. I told him he's growing so fast that he's not even a boy anymore, he's a man. Of course this went to his head and he responded, "Yah, I'm a man, I don't even need your help to get things from the high cupboards anymore, I can do it myself." Later on he informed Sheena that I told him that he could do it himself. Oh how they love to hear things the way they want. We are also very proud of our big boy, or little man, as he would prefer.

Anti-Exhibitionists Beware

2008-06-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

I would love to be able to provide you with all the details, however, at the time when Andy and I ventured indoors to check on the b-ball score, the children were playing nicely... fully clothed. As we returned to the ladies outside, we were treated with a display of youthful, carefree freedom. Oh to be a kid again.

Luke and Abigail showing their best side.

Picnic in the Park

2008-06-05T19:29:00.000-07:00

A beautiful day was upon us, so plans were made to join the neighbors on a trek to one of the local parks and maybe splash around in the water. Afterwards we enjoyed a little picnic and played once more. The kids all had a good time pretending to be pirates and "walking the plank" otherwise known as sliding. Of course I was the only good pirate, and I encountered numberous attacks from the bad ones, but came out fairly unscathed.

Green Green Grass of Home

2008-05-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

It's done, it's done, it's finally done. The grass is down, and setting its roots as I write. The misting system was installed last week, and we are patiently waiting some warmer weather to try it out. I'm willing to wait a little longer though. It won't be long now before we're all in the backyard enjoying some soft grass (not bermuda) between the toes with the smell of fresh bark, not stale doggie do-do. It all started on somewhat of a whim, but we all saw it through and we couldn't be happier with the results. Thank you to all the neighbors who helped along the way.

Mother's Day Kitty

2008-05-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know I am waaaaay behind, and I have no excuses, so you won't hear any. Anyway, way back on Mother's Day, we saddled up the kids and decided to go for a walk in the new stroller. We had a couple stops in mind, one being the pet store for some more kitty chow. Part of the tradition of going to the pet store is to visit with the new kitties. Sheena immediately became attached to one cat in particular. After a short one-on-one visit, she was determined to leave with another kitty. One thing led to another and we officially now have 4 kitties. The shelter had given the name "Biscuit" to our newest addition, but that didn't quite fit with the other names. So, we have changed here name to "Bridget", as we felt this was pretty close to the last name she may or may not have gotten used to. Bridget has one distinguishing feature in that she doesn't have a tail. It had to be amputated when she was rescued. Ralph and Sophie have adjusted well, but our resident bully Simon is still putting up an aggressive front. Only time will tell if they become best of friends.

Mickey Ears, and Princess Tiaras

2008-05-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

Disney has come and gone, but the memories will last forever. We first tried a trip with Spencer when he was only 1 year old, and I must say that I think he enjoyed it more this time around. The build up to the trip seemed to take forever, but when the day came the excitement was at its highest level. We decided to go a day early to get a jump on all the rides and fun. The first few rides didn't go quite as planned. Note to self, no more rides that involve tunnels. After that lesson we were onto bigger and better rides. Dumbo was hit, and so were the merry-go-rounds. Surprisingly, the adults rides seemed to be the biggest hit with the kids. Astro Blasters, and Star Tours were a couple of the favorites. After a long day, we stopped for a bite at the Rainforest Cafe, which once again, didn't go as planned. The thunder, lightning, and moving animals were a little much to handle. Nonetheless, it was a good first day.

We were all looking forward to the next morning though, as we had a reserved breakfast with Minnie and all her friends. The kids had a great time fooling around with all the characters, and we enjoyed the delicious food. Hands down, the best french toast I have ever tasted. After breakfast, we headed over to California Adventure Park, and straight to a Bugs Land. It was pretty empty, so we had the run of the place. Kids loved it, especially the oversized garden hose that sprayed everywhere. I forgot to mention it was a sweltering few days. Afterwards, we continued on to tour the rest of the park, hit up a few more rides, and at the last second decided to book lunch with Ariel, and the other princesses. Abigail was very excited to see Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, and Pocahontas, but was a little disappointed not to see Sleeping Beauty. We decided to stick around until the fireworks show and then headed back to the hotel.

We all took the next day off and rested for awhile. After lengthy days in the hot sun, we all were in need of some down time. We spent some of the time down by the pool where Spencer was fearless, and diving like certified expert. Abigail preferred splashing around in the shallow end and catching some rays. For dinner, we headed back to Downtown Disney and grabbed a bite to eat, and a few souvenirs.

On our last day, the temp hit an all time high, and we were ready to pack it in early, but we sucked it up, doused ourselves with water, and trudged along. We visited a few new rides such as the Pirates (which Spencer braved), Finding Nemo (definitely a favorite), and Winnie the Pooh's Neighborhood. It turned out to be a great day as we watched the parade, and at long last, saw Sleeping Beauty. She was on the final float, and put the last check on our list. The trip was officially over, and an overall success. Exhausting, but a success.

Backyard Rehab

2008-04-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

To sum it up, I think I would of rather had a blank slate than the mess the former owners left behind. I pretty sure I have about 5 different species of grass growing back there, none of which are the intended kind. The dogs have left it pitted and smelling fresh as a baby's bottom after a number two. Needless to say, something had to be done. So "Project Backyard Rehab" was put into action. We started out with building a nice little garden in the dog run, and cleaned it up little to make the area somewhat serene. Then we took to removing all the ugly attempts at landscaping around the perimeter. After that, the rocks, the oh so many rocks were attacked. Our backs took a kicking from those rocks. At this point our backyard wasn't so sticky anymore, and the work was starting to pay off. The next task was to kill the lawn and kill it good. Something must have been wrong with my sprayer, as it should have been good for at least 3000 sqft, and I only got through a third of my 1000 sqft lawn. So off to the store to get some more. Fast forward to the present, and we now have a beautiful lush yellow lawn just waiting to get ripped up. Still waiting on that Home Depot truck to able to pick up the sod cutter. One small step at a time and before we know it, we'll be enjoying a nice, new, enjoyable backyard. I'll keep you updated on the progress as it happens.

Kids were loving the worms during the digging.

Soccer Saturday

2008-04-12T14:41:00.000-07:00

Well it's official, we have entered the realm of organized sports. The world's most played sport... soccer. Spencer was very excited to start learning, although we was a little confused because he "already knows how to play soccer". Nonetheless, getting out of the house and to the park was a little difficult as Spencer concentration was on playing soccer, not getting dressed.

Abigail was ready to bring her chair and be his number one fan. Spencer would be playing with his best friend Andrew from across the street, so the dynamic duo has already begun. You could see the excitement in his eyes once practice began. He listened very well to Coach Mike's instructions, and in my eyes is a natural. The next Beckham has been found. After soccer is off to the park for some more playtime. Looks like Saturdays are gonna be booked from here on in. We're very proud of our little man, and his number one fan.

Wiggly Time

2008-03-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again, or at least this year they came back again. The Wiggles that is. Spencer and Abigail were quite excited to get their wiggle on. Abigail even showed true emotion when she wouldn't budge this morning until I asked her who we were going to see, at which point she nearly jumped straight up with her answer. Once at the concert, I realized that I did better than I thought with seat selection. We were just two rows up from the main floor, which actually worked better for the kid's height disadvantage. Murray Wiggle walked right in front of us at one point. Even I got a little starstruck. Once the show started, I don't think Spencer sat down the entire time. There were a few new songs, but it didn't deter him from trying his best to keep up. Abigail was a little tired, so she sat on our laps and enjoyed the view from there. There were many fun and funny moments throughout the show, but the best for us was watching the kid's reactions to the show. Well worth the cost of the overpriced arena soda alone.

P.S. No picture were taken, as our camera is MIA right now.

Easter Weekend

2008-03-24T14:46:00.000-07:00

Easter weekend was a very busy, but very enjoyable weekend. It actually started early for Spencer and Abigail as their school had an egg hunt planned for them, and this was very exciting to them. The amazement didn't cease as they opened up consecutive eggs with the same candy in them. Saturday started with plans put in motion to begin the construction of the small garden. The kids were quite eager to "help" me in the process of breaking ground. However, they were quickly summoned over to the neighbors house for playtime, thus leaving me to finish the project alone. Abigail returned shortly after and helped place the big rocks in the wheelbarrow, but mostly just wanted to dig the dirt I had broken up. Spencer eventually followed and was determined to try and use every tool I was using. He's becoming quite the little helper and handyman. In the end we have the beginnings of a very cute little garden. Needless to say, my hands still took quite a pounding. Later that afternoon the Easter Bunny paid another visit for the kids in the neighborhood. It was very convenient of him to have organized such an event. All the kids were given there instructions and I had coached Spencer and Abigail in the art of running after the eggs, so everything was in place. Spencer took off early and quickly filled his basket, while Abigail was content in getting just enough to quit early and sneak some candy. Later they enjoyed some ice cream with all the toppings, and continued playing into the night. Afterwards, we realized that they had replaced their supper with candy and ice cream. Oh well, I guess that's allowed during Easter. Finally on Sunday we were invited, once again, to the neighbors for some brunch. IHOP doesn't have anything on what we enjoyed that morning. The food was excellent. The kids had fun digging in the dirt and chasing more Easter eggs that Mike was throwing off the fence. I think they thought it was the Easter Bunny again. After naps, we were asked to join the neighbors at their parents house for some pizza and swim time. Kudos to Andy for eating more pizza than the rest of us combined. The kids were very eager to get to swimming, and when the time came, Abigail bailed. Spencer on the other hand enjoyed himself in the heated spa, and learned to blow bubbles under the water for the first time thanks to his buddy Andrew. They love to play together, and are quite imaginative. All in all, it was a great weekend with the only downside being that time went too fast.

Spring Cleaning

2008-03-16T18:49:00.000-07:00

The weather was nice and we have had to deal with the dog odor rocks for almost a year now. So, without much further explaining, I was off the the local Lowes store to buy some supplies. With my helpful sidekick Spencer, we left the store with rake, shovels, wheelbarrow, and gloves inhand. Once home, the kids were very eager to get to work. It's kind of sad that there shovels actually cost more than mine, but what do you do. It's the novelty of have smaller shovels I guess. Shoveling rocks must be hard work, because after a few shovels full, the kids were pretty much done, and it was up to me to finish the work. I set to work on the nasty dog run on the side of the home and had to lock myself in to prevent the kidders from getting hurt. I set to removing the almost decayed piece of plywood, and then performed a thorough trimming of the overgrown tree. It's a much nicer place for the cats to relax on those hots days now. If you look closely at the picture, it almost looks like I am forcing the kids to shovel, and you can see the fear in Abigail's eyes. In reality though, they are always willing to help, even when it's not really helpful.

Easter Egg Time

2008-03-16T18:32:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again, and we were all geared up for the egg decorating time again. We have bought our supplies, and only the best would do. Nothing was spared as we spent a total of $5 on supplies. The kids were very excited, and it showed with Abigail as she spilled one of the cups of dye. It's to be expected by now. Both were very careful making sure all of the egg was covered, and they were quite surprised to see the shrink wraps melt around the eggs so nicely. However, the expensive dye tended to come off in the boiling water, so we had to revise the steps after that.Here are some pictures of Abigail and Spencer adding their own personal touches with the wax crayons. Fun was had by all, and they can't wait for the "real" bunny to arrive. Speaking of which, Abigail almost sat on the bunny's lap this year. She got even closer than she had to Santa. It's all about baby steps.

Camp Whitney

2008-03-01T13:42:00.000-08:00

A new park recently opened up in Rocklin for the kidders. They call it Camp Whitney, although I'm not really sure why. Nonetheless, it's easy to remember, and Spencer always want to know the names of things. Our friends across the street invited us to a picnic in the park, and we all decided to go check it out. The kids loved it and I can definitely see ourselves spending a lot of time at this new park.

It is a little overwhelming at first, but the park is set up so that the kids can't just take off. Spencer had a blast climbing around all the ladders, ropes, and rock walls, and Abigail tried her best to keep up to her bigger brother. Spencer also got some baseball practice in before lunch. He's quite the lil'slugger, and he's a lefty. We might just see him in the majors someday. There was more food then you knew what to do with, and it was great spending the day with all the friends from our block. The kids didn't want to leave and they can't wait to go back. Next time we're bringing the kite.

Crafty Easter Eggs

2008-03-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

For crafts on Saturday morning, we decided to decorate some paper eggs for Easter. Sorry grandparents, now you know what you're getting for Easter. Just don't look too closely at the picture if you want to be surprised. Spencer meticulously peeled each sticker and placed them very carefully, and Abigail just wanted to use glue and glitter. Well actually, as long as it included glue, she was okay with it. At one point she was gluing the little fuzzy balls onto her egg and spilled most of the pack. This caused Spencer to react, and it went something like this.

Spencer: "Hey Abigail, you can't use all the balls. I want some balls too."

Abigail: "I'm using the balls."

Spencer: "But I don't have any balls, and I want some."

Abigail: "You can't have my balls."

And you can see how this could continue on and on. Needless to say, it provided the morning humour and entertainment. Easter eggs will soon be arriving in a mailbox near you.

Cookie Challenge

2008-02-25T21:58:00.001-08:00

My workplace decided to put on a cookie challenge, and I decided to throw my chef cap into the ring. Needless to say, the equipment I have on hand is far from chef quality, thus the reason I had to step up my baking skills. I decided upon a recipe called "Big Soft Ginger Snaps". The recipe calls for 15 min of prep, 10 min of cook time and cookies ready in about 50 minutes. After numerous callbacks to the kid's rooms, and an unforeseen change in directions, I was already 2 hours into the process. No laughing though, because although I followed the directions to a tee, the mixture was too gooey to handle. First batch came out looking great, but stuck to the pan big time, which meant the next two pans were destined to the same outcome. I then decided to use Pam on the following batches, which only made the cookies spread too far and overcook the edges. Live and learn I guess. Overall, they tasted good enough for the challenge, and I used some easter cookie cutters on the overspread cookies for some extra flair. Now bring on the judges.

Update: Stayed home to care for the sick wife, so the cookies didn't even get a chance to win. Oh well, more for me.

Abigail's Bedroom Upgrade

2008-02-25T10:22:00.000-08:00

Although Abigail was quite content with her current arrangement of mattresses on the floor, and empty diaper box for a nightstand, improvements were imminent. By chance, Sheena was purusing through Craiglist and came upon a steal of a deal, which could not be passed up. We told Abigail that she was getting a new bedroom set, and immediately she kept wanting to go and see her new bed in her room. She hasn't quite grasped the concept of time yet. Fortunately the pictures online kept her happy until the real thing arrived. After picking up the items, I was welcomed home by two very eager and excited helpers. Abigail thought it would be helpful to close the garage door onto the car, but luckily no harm was done. Once everything was unloaded, they quickly set to vacuuming and washing. Upon completion of setup, the true test was passed, which of course is the jumping test. Both Spencer and Abigail approved.

Here is the before picture, and as you can see she is very happy, but something was missing. Oh ya, the furniture.

Finally the furniture being enjoyed by the kitties.