Halloween 2009

Trick-or-Treating around the neighborhood in my dragon/dinosaur we-still-haven't- decided-which costume.

Lemos Farms Pumpkin Patch

We headed out Halloween morning for our last chance to visit a pumpkin patch for the season. We headed for the coast to Lemos Farms Pumpkin Patch in Half Moon Bay where I got to ride a pony and a mini-train on wheels thru a "haunted" village.

Tubtime Tat

Sportin' my cool Halloween tat from Khai that Mommy put on backwards. Silly Mommy.

3-year Stats

Went in for my 3-yr check-up. Dr. Tuch gave me a clean bill of health. She said I'm doing just fine, no worries, no questions, especially when she heard I can recognize my letters & numbers and can count to 20. My weight and height have evened out. I'm coming in just under 80th percentile for both - I'm 39 inches tall (79%) and weigh 34.5 lbs (77%). Mommy, Daddy, and I all got our flu shot and I also got the H1N1 nasal mist vaccine. I didn't get a sticker this time, but I got a lollipop instead. :-)

Zachary's 3rd Birthday Bonanza

Thursday Morning - Zach excitedly hops aboard his birthday present...

...and takes it for a spin around the block.


Thursday Evening - Three cream puffs for our three year old.


Friday Morning - Decorating cupcakes with Mommy.


Friday Afternoon - Zach's daycare birthday celebration



Saturday Afternoon - Zach's official 3rd Birthday Party

Birthday balloons from Aunt Terry & Uncle Bill.


Saturday Evening - Birthday dinner at Chevy's

Happy Birthday to My Best Boy

You came to our room at 4:30AM, much to early for you to crawl into our bed, so you slept on the little bedroll we had set up for you on the floor. Then promptly at 6AM, with barely a glint of sunlight shining in the sky, you tried to sneak back into our bed again. This time, I couldn't resist letting you in and snuggling close. Soon you drifted back to sleep. It's times like these that my heart swells with so much love for you. I never thought I could love someone as much as I love you, and every day I love you even more. I feel so privileged to be your Mother, to be the one to kiss away the tears and fix the boo boo's, the one who gets to answer all your why's, how come's, and how do they make that's, the one that gets to hug & kiss you every day, the one who gets to watch you grow. In three short years, you have gone from adorable drooling little baby to wonderful, handsome, smart, inquisitive, energetic, and considerate little boy. Right before my eyes, you've turned into a little boy who loves to climb anything he can from trees to monkey bars, who jumps off steps and stones over obstacles on one foot or two, who competes with the older boys by peddling faster or climbing over the highest rung, who knows his letters and can count to 20, who is sounding out his first words, who loves to help whether making cupcakes or dinner in the kitchen or making repairs in the garage. I know I won't always be the first thing you ask for when you wake (with TV a close 2nd) nor will I always be greeted with flying hugs & kisses when I come home nor treated to showers of kisses at bedtime and requests for more cuddles. So, I cherish every single moment that I get to be your Mom.

Roaring Camp's Beach Train

Today we got an earlier start and headed up the Santa Cruz Mtns to Roaring Camp Railroads for another great family outing. We pulled in just in time to catch to 10:30 Beach Train to Santa Cruz. We didn't even have time to purchase tickets before boarding. (In fact, we didn't buy tickets from the conductor until our return trip.) We rode an open car through the redwood forest, over bridges, through tunnels, and down the hillside to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk on the Pacific Ocean. We had an hour to ride the Sky Glider high above the boardwalk, play skee ball, eat pretzels, and get our feet wet in the ocean before rushing to catch the train back to the mountains. I crashed out on mommy's lap for most of the trip back. I even slept as we debarked from the train and still didn't stir when my daddy placed me on a picnic table. But as soon as my daddy left to get my stroller from the car, my eyes popped open and I spied the toy tractors surrounding a hay mountain. I had to go explore. I easily spent the next hour there. We stopped by the gift shop on our way out looking for the pop guns I'd seen some of the other kids with. Mysteriously, I couldn't find them, but my mommy did point out a pack of gummy fruit that she suspicously let me have. I stayed awake from most of the ride home, finally falling asleep within minutes of pulling into our driveway. I ended up napping with mommy for a couple hours. When we woke up, we went out for BBQ at Armadillo Willy's.

Vasona Park

Today we had a great family outing to Vasona Park. We rode the kiddie train, ate hot dogs and popsicles for lunch, rode the carousel, tromped in the river with the ducks, and collected HUGE leaves.

My Annual Haircut

Mommy finally caved under all the pressure of people mistaking me for a girl, so we met up for lunch at a new children's salon called Snip-its to get my 3rd official haircut. Mommy didn't want it cut too short. The stylist said she'd give me a "surfer" cut, but we're thinking I looked more surfer-like beforehand. C'est la vie, this cut is probably better for my active lifestyle anyway. I got a cool Galaxy Grabber for being so good at the salon. I even braved the blow dryer without complaint.

July Birthdays

More summertime birthdays . . .

Kevin's 5-1/2th Birthday at Las Palmas Park.

Jaiden's 1st Birthday at Coyote Point.

Lullabies

Whenever Mommy tucks me into bed, she'll read 2-3 books then sing the following songs in random order.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
You Are My Sunshine (chorus only)
Puff the Magic Dragon (chorus only)
Rock-A-Bye, Baby
Hush-A-Bye, Baby-Bye
Hush Little Baby

I'm usually out before she's sung them all (like tonight), but sometimes she needs to repeat my two favorite "Hush" ones a couple times.

Me & My Scooter

Kickin' it up on my new scooter I got from Jacob & Joshua. Yeah, those are flowers on my helmet. So, what? I like flowers. What's it to you?

Las Madres 2009 Family Camping Trip

Mommy helped organize a great camping trip to Big Basin this past weekend for her Las Madres Working Moms mommy group. There were 13 families with 22 kids. I had a blast playing with all my friends. I got filthy every night. Dad made a campfire at our camp the first night, and everyone came over to roast marshmallows and make s'mores. The next morning we had a yummy group breakfast of pancakes and sausage. Afterwards, we went on a hike along the Redwood Loop. We had lunch with Drake and his parents at one of the picnic areas near the trailhead, then we went back to camp for a short nap. Everyone got together for a group dinner of hamburgers/hot dogs and cheese ravioli, then we headed to Headquarters for the Campfire Program. We got to roast marshmallows on big sticks and sing songs. We left during the park presentation. I was getting sleeping and Mom & Dad were getting bored. The next morning, everyone packed up at their own pace. We got home in time for lunch which consisted of the leftover hot dogs from the previous night and dinner was the leftover ravioli and a meat sauce made from the leftover hamburger.