Jenny from the block

Proud little artist

2010-09-13T09:53:00.001-07:00

Happy Fathers' Day

2010-09-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

June 20, 2010

Honest Abe

2010-09-04T15:20:00.000-07:00

June 8, 2010

Dominic's class had to do a project of a famous person. They had to write a report, make a poster, and present it to the class. They had the option to dress up like the person. Dominic choose Abraham Lincoln.

Look at me! I'm 3!

2010-09-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

May 18, 2010

Our baby boy is growing up. Too fast for me. We had a small cake for his actual birthday. Then that weekend, we headed over to my Mom's house for a family gathering.

Holy 1st communion

2010-08-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

May 9, 2010

Another year of baseball

2010-08-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

This year, Dominic played machine-pitch baseball. He did pretty well, but still has a lot of room to grow. Hopefully with age comes more patience to learn.

Go Mariners...

2010-08-27T15:09:00.001-07:00

April 16, 2010

It was Ken Griffrey, Jr. bobblehead night, so we waited in line since 3:30. The boys entertained themselves by playing video games. We brought along Dominic's new best friend, Trey. Vincent loves dancing to all the music.

We had pretty good seats along the 3rd base line. The boys really enjoyed themselves.

Easter 2010

2010-07-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

First thing in the morning, we gave the boys their Easter baskets. They are always excited to see what they get. Then we had 2 rounds of egg hunting. And then as always, we colored some eggs. It was a lovely Easter Sunday shared with friends and neighbors.

Many faces of Vincent

2010-07-25T08:44:00.001-07:00

Home Sweet Home

2010-04-09T15:56:00.001-07:00

On March 20, we finally moved out of our apartment and into a duplex. It was long overdue. As Vincent and Dominic got older, the apartment seemed smaller and smaller. It was also taking its toll on Mark. It's was getting hard to live where he works. He never felt like he was leaving work. Now we live in a duplex; the perfect size for the four of us. There are a lot of kids for the boys to play with and it's even in a cul-de-sac. We are so happy now.

Another visit to Seattle

2010-04-08T12:10:00.000-07:00

Mark's step-sister came to visit us from California in February. We spent one day in Seattle; at the Space Needle, Pike Place Market and by the waterfront. While enjoying our lunch, Dominic had a special visitor.

Another day, we headed to the Glass Museum in Tacoma.

He's on a roll

2010-04-08T09:10:00.000-07:00

Dominic's school had a 2 week skating session for PE in January. Parents were welcome to come and help the kids with putting on their equipment. Vince would come to watch and take pictures.

Christmas 2009, Part 3

2010-04-07T14:57:00.000-07:00

We were fortunate to make it out to Utah for a family reunion-like Christmas. It was the perfect first day there. It snowed most of the day. Vincent played in the snow, while my Dad and Dominic built a sledding track.

My brother and I devised a plan to surprise everyone with his presence. No one had any clue. It was nice have almost all the cousins, grandkids and great-grandkids there.

The boys had so much fun at Grandpa's house; playing with their aunts, uncles and cousins.

The boys received personalized messages from Santa. Dominic was speechless and smiled when he saw his. Vincent was super excited as you can see.

Our tradition for the night before Christmas is to read "Twas the night before Christmas." Mark cuddled up in bed with the boys and read the story to them. This is how they woke up the next morning.

Christmas day was a little chaotic, but so much fun.

Christmas 2009, part 2

2009-12-28T20:01:00.001-08:00

In the past few years, we have become great friends with our neighbors next door. On the weekend or few days before Christmas we get together. We have a large brunch and exchange gifts.

Dominic's Xmas program

2009-12-28T19:43:00.000-08:00

Each year at Dominic's school, they have a Christmas program. They sing some songs and have a bell performance.This year, we asked our friends to have an ice cream social afterwards. Dominic looks so grown up in this photo.

Christmas 2009, part 1

2009-12-28T19:42:00.001-08:00

Mark's dad came to visit at the begin of December. It was nice for him to spend some time with the boys.

Every year we get a cozy pair of PJs for the boys to wear for Christmas. We figured it was a present they could open at this time.

Oh Christmas tree...

2009-12-28T19:37:00.001-08:00

Every year, after Thanksgiving, we go pick out a Christmas tree and cut it down. We love the smell of a real tree in the house.

Halloween

2009-12-28T19:09:00.000-08:00

Since Dominic is really into "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," he wanted to be Captain Rex. Vincent was a little too young to pick a costume, so I put together a "Diego" costume since that is one of his favorite shows. I was lucky enough to find most of the items at thrift stores. All I had to do was sew a backpack. It turned out pretty good.

After Mark messed up on one of the pumpkins he was working on, the boys asked if they could "destroy" it. So they did and had fun doing it.

We were invited to go trick or treating in a friends' neighborhood. It was a bit chilly, but once we got going we all warmed up.

After we were done, the kids spread out their loot and traded with one another.

This is what happens when you eat too much candy.

Go Seahawks!

2009-12-28T16:39:00.000-08:00

Mark and I were able to get great seats for the Seahawks vs. the Cardinals game in October. We invited my step-sister and brother-in-law to join us. Even though they were not playing very well, I still have to cheer on the home team.

Happy Birthday, Dominic!

2009-12-28T13:19:00.000-08:00

For Dominic's birthday this year, we decided to have it at Chuck E. Cheese. We invited some friends from school and some from the neighborhood. Everyone had a great time. Dominic got more than he wished for.

Summer in a nutshell...

2009-09-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

We tried to do as much as we could this summer. It wasn't a lot, but at least we tried. When we had record breaking heat, we escaped to the Family Fun Center in Tukwila. It's like Chuck E. Cheese's on steroids.

Mark, Dominic and some family friends went camping at Lake Chelan.

Mark's sister Melissa and her daughter Lola came for a visit. We went to the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, a Tacoma Rainiers game, and the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium.

A day out with Thomas!

2009-07-28T10:32:00.000-07:00

On July 19, the boys and I went to see Thomas the Tank engine at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie, WA. This was our second time attending the event. The last time Dominic was 4 and Vincent was just a newborn.

King county fair

2009-07-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

On July 17, we headed out to Enumclaw for the King County Fair. It is smaller than the Puyallup Fair, but not as hectic. Dominic and Vince had a great time.

Here is Vince enjoying a corndog and fishing for duckies.

Vince was too short to ride so he just chased Dom.

The boys are ready to battle!

Gone fishing

2009-07-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

Mark took Dominic fishing for the first time on July 16. They went to Lake Tanawax near Eatonville, Wa. Mark caught one fish and Dominic caught two. The fish were to small so they had to throw them back.

Look who's 2!

2009-05-22T21:54:00.000-07:00

The boys and I went over to my mom's house to have Vincent's 2nd birthday celebration. It is easier for us to go there than for everyone else to come to us. Unforunately Mark had to work. I tried to decorate the best I could. You can't find 'Yo Gabba Gabba' decorations anywhere except online, and I decided too late on a theme to order. So luckily NickJr.com has a lot of printables to use. Vincent was very excited when he saw the cupcake cake with the Yo Gabba Gabba gang on top.

These are some left over cupcakes that I redid for Vincent on Monday. I got the idea from gabbafriends website. People post their party ideas and pictures to share. I actually got most of my ideas from there, with a few tweeks.

2,4,6,8.....

2009-04-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

who do we appreciate? The Sidewinders! Tee ball season is here. This is Dom's first year doing sports and he loves it. He probably could have started last year, but he didn't want to.

He practices alot at home, so he has become pretty good. I might be a little bias, though. He may be older than all of his teammates, but at least he is not building sand castles in the dirt.

Our new family addition

2009-04-27T09:57:00.000-07:00

Mark has a thing about making bets and getting pets. In 2005, he bet if the Steelers won the Super Bowl that I could get a dog. Welcome Maisy, our Westie terrier. This time, he did the same thing; if the Steelers won the Super Bowl, we would get a cat for Vince's birthday. Welcome Gabby (named after Yo Gabba Gabba.)

Lions & tigers & bears! Oh my!

2009-04-27T09:21:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, we drove up to visit my aunt and cousin in Bellevue. My cousin Craig has a 2 1/2 year old son, so Vincent had a playmate his own size. We went to the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

Vincent saw this peacock and ran straight for it. Of course, it was minding it's own business at the time. But when Vince approached him, he spread his feathers out. I had to get behind it so that Mark was able to get a picture from the front.

Bubbles, bubbles, my bubbles

2009-04-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

The boys received some bubbles for Easter. This was Vincent's first attempt to blow his own.

Easter

2009-04-15T16:11:00.001-07:00

Here are a few photos from Easter.

Talkie, talkie, talkie!

2009-03-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of Vincent trying to tell me what he sees on the TV. He has talking a lot lately. He also started doing some animal sounds, too! I'll try to get that on video.

A day in Seattle

2009-03-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

I know it has been awhile, but nothing exciting has been happening.

On Friday, Mark and Dominic had a day off. So, we decided to head to Seattle for the day. First, we went the Children's Museum.

Then we head to the fountain at Seattle center.

"WOW"

2009-02-21T17:43:00.000-08:00

So we decided to go out as a family on Friday. Mark and I picked up Dominic from school then went to Fun Kuts for Vince's 2nd haircut. He squirmed a little. He barely moved for the first one. After that we headed to Chuck E. Cheese. It was Vince's first time there. His reaction was priceless. He just keep saying "Wow!" Here he is sitting with his pal Barney.

After coming home and winding down a bit, the boys watch their favorite TV show before bedtime. Here is Vince all ready and waiting.

Mighty big shoes to fill

2009-01-21T18:50:00.000-08:00

As was his brother, Vincent loves trying on shoes. Here he is putting on Mark's.

I'm trying to do better at taking random pictures, not just during special events. Look for more to come.

Date night

2009-01-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

On Friday, we all headed to my mom's house for the weekend. We were having our carpets cleaned. My mom was nice enough to offer to watch the boys so that Mark & I could go out. We ate at Applebee's, which we hadn't done since we lived here back in '01. Then we went to see 'Paul Blart: Mall cop.' Any movie done by Happy Madison Productions I'll laugh at. When we got back around 9:15, the boys were still awake; hyped up on cookies and the Wii. Anything goes at Grandma's.

Happy Birthday to ME!

2009-01-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

Well, another year, another birthday. Yesterday was just like any other day; doing laundry, cleaning up around the house, playing with Vince, dishes, dinner, etc. We, as a family, went out last Friday since Mark had to work yesterday. We don't do it very often because the kids are usually restless. Anyway, thank you to all who send cards or e-greetings.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

Well, one of my New Year's resolutions is to keep my friends and family in the loop with what is going on in our lives. So, I decided to start a blog to do that. I'll try to update it at least once a week, if not more.

Here are some photos from Xmas and a special video of Vincent.