Tag: Family

Christmas In Montana Part Five

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It had to happen, leaving that is. Our hotel room was emptied, the girls were packed up and now it was time to hit the road. First we had to stop at my parents house to pack up and give Abby some of the time we promised for her to play in the snow.





Abby has played in the snow before, but at that time the snow was melting away and could only be found in smaller patches. This time she was surrounded by that lovely white stuff. Abby was loving every minute she had in the snow and of course looked adorable all snuggled up in her snow gear. At first she touched it slowly but then began to dig in. Because it had been so cold, the snow was grainy and very difficult to pick up. I tried to help her make a snowball but to no avail. It was so cold that it would not stick together. It didn’t matter though, she was enjoying it. That us, until, she realized mommy and daddy had gone inside the house and left her out with Auntie Jillian and Grandpa.

During the trip Abby had become a bit needy of us, especially Shaun so when she discovered that we were no longer by her side, she was not a happy camper. I know that I shouldn’t giggle but the look on her face was priceless. Am I a bad mom for wanting to laugh and then take a picture of our little girls upset? I know, I am mean, but just look at that face! You have to get a picture for posterity. Trust me, one day I will use this along with many other pictures to embarrass her the first time she brings a boy home (which will be at age 40, just kidding).



After play time in the snow, packing the car and saying our goodbyes we were on the road again. I was definitely sad when we left, but I had to tell myself that we would see them soon. Our trip that day was a short one. Our stop that night would be in Pocatello, Idaho which would allow us some time to see Grandma Pat (Great Grandma Pat to the girls).

We stopped at her place for a few hours, visiting and catching up with her. She invited us for dinner, making sloppy joes for us. Abby loved them! After dinner we sat and talked, watching the girls play on the floor. Grandma Pat then offered Abby some ice cream, which we all know she couldn’t resist. Abby was even more thrilled to see that she got to eat it out of her very own cone! It was messy but Abby did well and I know enjoyed every minute of it.





After some pictures, snuggles and laughs it was time to go. We headed to the hotel for some much needed rest. In the morning we headed out on the road again, our destination… Las Vegas. We thought it would be nice to spend our last night of our vacation in a lovely room in a fun city. That night we stayed at the Lion’s House as Abby called it (the Signature at the MGM Grand). We had some very yummy room service which was worth every penny, watched some TV and Abby had the best bath ever. Our room had a huge jacuzzi tub and where there are jets, there are huge amounts of bubbles. Abby had a blast being surrounded by bubbles and on several occasions I thought I almost lost her in them.



Our stay in Vegas was the perfect ending to a perfect trip. My heart was still a little heavy but I had a lot of wonderful memories to look back on. Shaun could not have given me a better Christmas gift. I can honestly say that I am one very lucky person and blessed to have the family and husband that I do.

Christmas In Montana Part Four

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Happy New Year Everyone!

Well the New Year began yesterday, but I still had to say it! For the New Year my Aunt Diane, Uncle Barry and Grandma Prueter (Great Grandma Prueter to the girls) came over from Anaconda to enjoy a family tradition, Eggs Benedict. Eggs Benedict on New Years Day has been a tradition for as long as I can remember. Its been a few years since I have had the chance to be a part of this tradition, so I enjoyed it immensely and probably had more then I should have.

The rest of our day was spent visiting with family and enjoying each others company. I was so excited that we were there and my Grandma Prueter had the chance to meet her second great grandchild. Something I hope my Grandma Taylor will get the chance to do as well before she is in college. 🙂 At this point I knew our time in Montana was ticking away quickly, but I was trying very hard not to think about it. Instead my plan was to suck up every moment I possibly could.






Grandma Prueter, Aunt Diane and Uncle Barry had to leave in the early afternoon to ensure they would be home in good weather conditions. Abby was happy to spend time upstairs with her Auntie Jillian, watching movies and napping on the big air mattress Auntie had put up. Abby loves the air mattress. When Jillian came out to California with my parents to help me out just after Ellie’s birth, she stayed in our office on an air mattress. Abby loved playing on that mattress so Jillian, being the cool Aunt that she is, put their mattress up for Abby to play and nap on. At this point I am thinking that packing the toys that I did was a complete waste of time and space. Between the air mattress and Grandma’s holiday place mats, Abby was happy and content.

Today was our last full day in Bozeman. Even though I tried not to think about it, I did. Leaving my parents and sister is always a hard thing to do and sometimes putting it out of my head just isn’t possible. I did, however, enjoy the time we did have. After spending some time over at the house we all decided to take a drive. I wanted to enjoy one last treat before heading home; a cinnamon roll from Wheat Montana. The best ever! We decided to take a longer drive to get their, following my parents. We took frontage roads, driving along the Gallatin River. We stopped at one point to that the frigid weather had created an ice jam where the river had become frozen over. It was pretty impressive to see, especially since the water had backed up and flooded quite a bit only to freeze over on its own. The other nice thing about stopping to see this jam was the sunset. It was spectacular that night. Very appropriate for our last night in Montana.



After our lovely drive, we finally came to Wheat Montana where we enjoyed a very yummy snack. I was good though and shared the cinnamon roll with my mom. Abby was completely taken by all of the honey containers being sold in their gift shop. They were the typical homey containers shaped like bears. She was very sad that mommy and daddy wouldn’t buy one, even though we already have one at home.

After our stop, we hit the road and headed back to my parents house. After what was a lovely dinner and a movie we packed up and headed to the hotel. We will head back in the morning to get all of our items that we left at the house and say goodbye before hitting the road. Abby will also have the chance to play in the snow like she has wanted to do since we arrived. Tomorrow should be a great deal warmer and much more conducive for playing in the snow.

Christmas In Montana Part Three

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After what was an extremely restful night of sleep, we woke up to frigid temperatures but very blue skies. It was one of those mornings that was just a tad deceiving. The clear blue sky and sun shining down made it look like it was warm, but when we stepped out of the hotel room… it was far from it. The temperature in Gardiner that morning was around -3 degrees and we knew that climbing into the park it wouldn’t be any warmer.

After packing up the car and having a lovely breakfast, we decided to take one last drive through the park before heading back to my parents house. I was sad to go but very excited to see the girls again. The morning was perfect and as we made the turn back towards the gate a large group of cow bison and their yearlings started to make their way from a small field outside of the gate through the historical arch. I think the only thing that defines Yellowstone more then this, is a bison standing in front of Old Faithful as it erupts. Needless to say, it was picture perfect.


On the drive up to Mammoth it was apparent that it had snowed again the night before. The roads were snow packed but it didn’t seem as icy as it had been the day before. Mammoth looked gorgeous in the morning sun. The steam from the thermal areas could be seen from Gardiner. After stopping a brief moment for some pictures we continued on back out to Lamar Valley in search of wolves and to enjoy Yellowstone in Winter.


The drive to Lamar was quiet in regards to animals, mostly bison off in the distance and people stopped along the roadsides waiting for the wolves to appear. Aside from the crazy drivers rushing to and from Cook City, the roads were deserted which allowed us to stop and casually take pictures. Sometimes this meant stopping in the middle of the road, which generally is frowned upon during the peak season in the park.


As we turned off at the junction and headed out to Lamar we noticed a large group of people stopped at the Slough Creek campground entrance. Now, generally you see people stopped like this all of the time and they have spotting scopes set up but nothing is going on. This time people were intently watching something off in the distance along one of the many open areas of the mountain sides. One of the men offered us a look through the spotting scope he had set up. We could see a pack of about six to seven wolves playing and casually eying a small heard of bull elk. While it didnt look like it the pack was on the hunt and playing it cool, trying to lull the bull elk into a sense of false comfort. Because someone was so kind to let us watch through his scope we had to step away and move on.

We drove out to Lamar but once again did not see anything aside from your usual bison, elk and deer. We turned around at our usual spot and headed back to Mammoth. On the way back we were greeted with a large bull bison once again using the road to travel to his next location. This guy let us pass by slowly without a care in the world. As we passed by the Slough Creek area again, people still had their eyes trained on the mountainside. We did not stop but we could see things from where we were. It looked as though the wolf pack was now chasing and attempting to disrupt the bull elk. From what we could tell, the elk were able to seek refuge amoungst the lodge pole pine. I have seen a lot is Yellowstone and been only a few 100 yards from my favorite animal in the world, so the next thing I would love to see is a wolf pack take down their intended prey. I know to many that sounds odd and maybe a little demented to some, but the pack mentality and the ability to watch several wolves who are only about 180 pounds each take down a bison or bull elk who are 3 times their weight or more, fascinates me. I felt like we were close to seeing that, but unfortunately that was not the case.



Our drive back to Mammoth was once again a quiet one but I enjoyed it immensely. The sun was shining and even though the high for the day was -11 degrees, it was a gorgeous day. One last stop in Mammoth near the terraces had me intrigued by an elk cow who was busy eating. It was so cold that you could see her breath everytime she exhaled. The sun behind her lit everything up… the perfect photo opportunity.


After that last moment it was time to leave. Shaun and I hit the road and headed back to Bozeman. I hated to leave but I know I will be back to Yellowstone soon. Now we had the chance to get back to my parents house and see the girls who I missed dearly. It was also New Years Eve, so I wanted to be home in time to enjoy the evening and ring in the New Year with family as well.

When we got back to the house, Abby and Ellie were very happy to see us. That feeling was extremely mutual. Nothing beats seeing that little face of Abby’s light up as we walk through the door and then of course our hearts melt as she screams “Mommy! Daddy!”. Ellie was also very happy; bouncing around in Grandpa Taylor’s arms when she saw us. It melts my heart to know that she recognizes us.

To celebrate the New Year, we had our usual Chinese Food and then hung around talking, playing games and watching movies that Abby picked out. Surprisingly, the girls stayed up long enough to ring in the New Year. It wasn’t pretty though. The picture to prove it is posted below.



Despite the near meltdown that occurred when mommy asked for a family picture, the night was great. Yet another wonderful memory for the books. Happy New Year everyone! Here is to a great 2011!

Christmas In Montana Part Two

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After a wonderful nights sleep, we woke up to clouds and temperatures barely passing zero degrees Fahrenheit. It was very chilly and the look of new snow concerned us regarding our trip into the park, but we thought we would give it a try anyway.

On our way through the historical gate, I saw something in the road that made my heart skip a beat. At first I thought the gray looking dog standing in the middle of the road was a wolf. There is a pack that roams close to the gate, so I thought it might be possible. It was not, but it was a lone coyote taking an easier path of travel in the middle of the road.



After watching the coyote, we came to the entrance. The ranger allowed us to go through, telling us that the roads were very snow packed and icy in spots. We had tire chains to help us if need be. The plow had recently headed out to Cook City so things were working in our favor. I couldn’t have been more excited. Being able to enter the park and travel the only road open in Yellowstone made me very happy. I can now say I have seen Yellowstone in all four seasons.

Within a few minutes of entering Yellowstone, we came across our second animal sighting of the day. A small group of male bighorn sheep were eating along the roadside. Most of the males were young and had small sets of horns, but it was clear they were being looked after by a rather large and impressive male. He kept a watchful eye on us as we snapped a few photos but went about his business like normal.


Winter in Yellowstone is the prime season for wolves. They thrive in the snowy conditions, relying on the fact that elk, deer and bison are beginning to weaken as food becomes scarce and the cold takes its toll. Their major predatory competitor, the Grizzly Bear, is hibernating until Spring which means little to no worries about compeition while hunting. Being that the wolf if my favorite animal, a near obsession, my eyes were open for any movement. On several occasions I thought I spotted a wolf, but instead it was a coyote.

For those of us from Los Angeles, coyotes are mainly just a nuisance; an animal that rummages through garbage cans and eats our pets. They generally look pretty mangy and ready to try and take anything down just to eat. In Yellowstone, far away from any major city, the Coyotes are beautiful. Even though they still fight for food, their coats are thick and beautiful and their eyes have a sparkle to them. I still enjoy seeing them in our travels and will jump at a chance to photograph them, even if they are walking away from me.


The storm that rolled through and chilled things also brought fresh snow. Fresh snow meant that movement of animals through the trees and open fields and valleys could easily be seen by way of fresh tracks. There had been a lot of movement from bison, elk and other animals. There were tracks close to the road that looked to be wolf tracks, but we could not see them nearby.

The beauty of Yellowstone in Winter isn’t just about the animals, but the landscape itself. The snow covered mountains and trees made some of my photographs appear as though they were shot in black and white. It was amazing to see places that I am so familiar with covered in layers of snow. It is amazing to see how the snow can change the landscape so drastically.

As we traveled we came across another animal not often seen in the park, a bull moose. He was spending his time down in a small valley, moving along an exposed creek eating whatever willow and shrubs he could fine. His antlers had fallen off already and through my lens you could see the little nubs where his antlers will grow back as spring approaches. He seemed not to worry about us and continued to eat.

As our travels continued we also came across several large bull bison using the road to travel from one place to another. Smart guys they are! Why trudge through snow several feet deep when you can use the conveniently plowed roadways? Some of the bison had snow covered faces which I found fascinating. The most likely reason for the snowy faces? Well, in the winter bison use their large and very strong heads and neck to move the snow away from patches of grass in the open valley areas. The bison below had probably finished munching on a fresh spot of grass and was moving on to the next place.

After a good, slow drive we made it out to Lamar Valley where wolf sightings are generally at a high. What a different sight during the winter. At times it was hard to tell where the road was because it was so snow packed. We had a few white knuckle moments but I still enjoyed the drive and wouldnt have missed it for the world. Shaun and I stopped at one of the large pullouts to eat lunch and then decided to turn around head back. A drive that usually takes about an hour and a half without major stops took nearly two hours one way because of the snow and ice. The days are very short so we knew that the daylight would be fading fast and didnt want to be in certain areas after dark.

On our way back, we came across a large group of cars that were stopped. In Yellowstone, when you see this there is generally something worth stopping to look at. We discovered that there was a pack of about five to six wolves out on one of the bluffs in the distance. You needed a spotting scope to see them, so there was no way I could capture them with my camera.

As we were stopped though, a coyote started getting curious about all of the stopped cars. He checked out the car in front of us, sniffing its tires and watching its occupants photograph him. Once he was done he started to trot down the road, right by our car. It was a sight to see! He was certainly curious about all of these people.


As we sat there the sun began to fade. The sunset was amazing and gave me yet another reason to love Yellowstone. After that we didn’t have anymore encounters with wildlife and continued on. Shaun and I stopped in Mammoth and decided to have dinner at the Mammoth Lodge dining room. We had to wait for a bit but boy was it worth the wait. Buffalo Ravioli…. wow! It was an amazing dinner and worth the half hour wait. I also had an amazing cup of hot apple cider which made me very happy and warm. I needed it too as the temperature dipped well below zero and the wind blew hard. The short walk from the lodge to the car left me feeling out of breath and very frosty, that’s how cold it was. We discovered once we got back to Gardiner that the temperature in Mammoth was about minus two degrees, and with windchill it was about ten degrees cooler. Yikes! No complaints though… we had an amazing night and my hope was that the weather would hold out just one more day before we headed back to Bozeman.

Christmas In Montana Part One

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Well after a day of wanting to throw my washing machine out of the window, shopping, packing and cleaning we made it out of the door bright and early on Monday morning. The girls, still snuggled in their jammies, were packed into the car and we were on our way before the sun was even up.

The drive was pretty uneventful and the girls were real troopers. I feel very lucky to have two little girls that can behave so well and travel long distances in the car and our first day of travel was a long day. We drove from Los Angeles to Brigham City Utah just north of Salt Lake City. We made pretty decent time with two kids in the car and even had the chance to listen to the Kings game!

After a nights sleep, we woke up a little on the late side and made the last stretch to Bozeman. The weather was good to us on our second day of travel, hitting only a few issues north of Idaho Falls with some icy roads. The rest was smooth sailing! When we arrived in Bozeman we quickly checked into the hotel and then headed to my parents house. After we settled in and caught up with one another, we had a belated Christmas together as a family. My mom sent some gifts out to us to open on Christmas Day, just to keep the secret going, but the rest she saved for our arrival.

Abby and Ellie had a blast. I think Abby is beginning to get the idea that presents happen all the time! I guess thats not quite the idea we want her to have. The girls got puzzles, toys and clothes and Shaun and I were given a collectors print for the Glacier National Park Centennial that was framed and matted. Its a beautiful print and I cannot wait to get it up on our wall at home.




We decided to have the girls stay with Grandma and Grandpa Taylor that night so we could get some much needed rest. I don’t think Abby was too thrilled at first, but in the end she was more then ok. Ellie fell asleep with Grandpa before we could even get her crib set up! What a precious moment.


The following morning we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to check on the girls before we left. As part of my present, Shaun decided to take 2 days away for just the two of us while my mom, dad and sister watched the girls for us. We were scheduled to stay in Gardiner, Montana just outside the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. If the weather held up and the road conditions stayed favorable, we would travel through the parks only open road to wheeled traffic. There were several big storms heading our way with frigid temperatures, but we kept our fingers crossed and hoped for the best.

After running a few errands and making sure we had our proper tire chains, we took off for Gardiner. The highways were decent, mostly blowing slow. Luckily, on our way from Livingston to Gardiner through Paradise Valley, we followed the snow plow and de-icing truck through Yankee Jims canyon which can get pretty icy. On our way through the canyon we happened to catch five to six Bald Eagles flying in a row. It was a pretty amazing site and just gave me a reminder why I love this place so much. The scenery along the Yellowstone River was spectacular despite the storm rolling in.




After checking into the hotel Shaun and I headed out to dinner and to the local Food Farm in town. We decided that since we had a fridge in the room we would pick up some supplies and assuming we could travel through Yellowstone over the next few days, we could make sandwiches and have snacks in the car. After that we went to one of the few places open, Outlaw Pizza and Pasta, for dinner and then headed back to the room for some much needed sleep. So far this trip couldn’t be anymore perfect, although I do miss the girls already!

Christmas with The Whartons in 2010

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Christmas is a busy time for the Wharton Family, as I am sure it is for many families. We are still making our own family traditions, but there are a few that we already have. For our family, everything starts in full force on Christmas Eve.

Abby was primping and getting ready for the festivities of the night.

For the last several years, on Christmas Eve, we would head on over to The Oliver home for some Christmas festivities and then head over to Grandpa and Nana’s house for the remainder of the evening. This year we were unable to attend the festivities at the Oliver home, but we still had the chance to spend the evening with Grandpa, Nana, Auntie Brittany and Uncle James for some dinner, presents and of course a lot of laughs.

The girls had a lot of fun opening presents. Ellie made out like a bandit with some adorable outfits from everyone. She also got a sleeping bag with a matching pillow just like Abby’s. Now she has something to snuggle into when she is at Grandpa and Nana’s house. Abby also came home with a few new outfits but the two hits were her Cash Register and her Art Easel. Abby just had to open the cash register right away and play with it. Between that and all of the ripped up wrapping paper to roll around in, Abby kept herself very busy.




After a fun evening we headed home so that the girls could go to bed and sleep. Abby knew about Santa but at this point she still doesn’t understand the whole concept. This made it very easy to get her to bed on Christmas Eve. I know that will change by next year. Once they were in bed and sound asleep, Shaun and I brought out all of our presents and decorated the tree. Yes, the tree stood there completely bare until Christmas Eve. I knew Abby would be all over the ornaments so I left it alone until Christmas Eve. I was kind of nice to have everything completely decorated as a surprise for the morning, so much that I thought about making it a tradition. But then I realized that meant going through most of the Christmas season without a decorated tree and I didn’t like that idea.


The next morning everyone was up bright and early and very excited to see the tree and all of the presents that Santa brought. Abby was amazed at the tree and kept saying “Oh Christmas!” and “Presents!”. That sparkle in her eye as she stared at the tree with all of its ornaments and the presents underneath was priceless. I love Christmas for all of the wonders that it brings, but now to see it through my daughters eyes, I have a whole new love for it.

This year Abby was pretty good about opening presents. She would get distracted from time to time by the ornaments on the tree but for the most part she was excited to open things. Santa brought her quite a bit from clothes, to movies, toys and a few dolls. Ellie also did a great job too. If I tore a little piece to start she would grab it right away and pull hard. Although once unwrapped, Ellie’s toys were secondary to the crinkling and rustling of wrapping paper.





Generally I would not talk about the Christmas gifts I received, but this year was different. Shaun once again out did himself. Through out all of the holiday craziness, I was getting things together for trip out of town after Christmas. We had decided to take a trip up to Mammoth for a few days and then over to San Francisco. It was going to be a much needed getaway.

When it came time to open my present I found a very cute scarf, gloves and a book that after first glance was an itinerary that was approved by Shaun, Santa and some of the North Pole staff. It was extremely cute and clever. Then I had to look through it again and realized that the itinerary wasn’t for our supposed trip to Mammoth and San Francisco, it was for something else. Shaun had tricked me and had quite a few people in on it as well. Instead we were heading to Montana to spend time with my parents and sister! It was the best surprise I could have asked for and made my Christmas. No present would have been better! I do have video of by reaction, but I refuse to post it in a public forum. Sorry! After this surprise I was floating on cloud nine and I couldn’t stop thinking about everything I needed to do. We are leaving for Montana in a day and a half!

In the afternoon, Grandma Zoe came over to open presents and have dinner with us. She brought lots of goodies for all of us and boy were we lucky! Shaun and I loved watching Abby open everything from new clothes, most of which would be very useful in the snow up in Montana, to toys. Grandma Zoe got Abby a cute Monkey backpack for traveling. Better yet was a cleaning set that included a mop, broom, bucket, vacuum and caddy. Now Abby can help mommy clean up her messes around the house! Grandma also got Abby a tricycle, bike helmet and pads. While she doesn’t quite know how to use it , Abby was very excited just to sit on it and ring the bike bell. I know she will be zooming around outside on it in no time!




After dinner it was time to make an appearance at a friends house for a Christmas party and then it was off to bed. We had a lot to do in one day to get ready for our trip!

Thanksgiving 2010

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Happy Thanksgiving!

This year was Ellie’s first Thanksgiving and while it was important because it was her first, it was also a quiet and low key weekend. This year Shaun and I decided not to cook the traditional Turkey Dinner and instead opted for a BBQ dinner from Famous Dave’s. While I am sure we missed the turkey dinner we normally have, I cant say I was disappointed with their brisket. I did keep a little tradition and cooked two pies, pumpkin and apple, which were both a hit with the family.


Grandma Zoe came over on Thanksgiving day to enjoy dinner with us. Afterward we hung out, letting all of that yummy BBQ settle and watched a movie of Abby’s choice… Toy Story 3. It was an excellent movie for Thanksgiving! The rest of the weekend was spent enjoying the four days that Shaun had off. We visited with Grandpa Pat, Nana Fiona, Uncles James and Aunt Brittany. We also tried to hit some of the sales on Black Friday. We did find some great deals and took advantage of them as best we cook. Merry early Christmas to Shaun who found a few new shirts and a couple other items that he was in need of.


The Thanksgiving holiday was a great weekend and I hated to see it end. I feel spoiled when I have Shaun home for more then just the weekend. It was hard to let him go back to work but I know we have another big holiday coming up and more time off to spend together!

Mice, Pumpkins and Monsters… Oh My!

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Well Halloween has come to an end and boy was it a crazy but fun day. We did all that we had set out to do. Harrison’s Halloween Party…Check. Visit with Grandma Zoe…Check. Visit with Grandpa, Nana, Uncle James and Aunt Brittany…Check. We did it all within a span of 8 hours and we have survived!

Harrison’s Halloween Party was a big success and I know for a fact Abby had a great time. Harrison and Abby have become good friends and as we walked up to their building I we could hear Harrison asking for Abby. That absolutely melted my heart. Our time was spent eating yummy snacks, talking about the kids and of course the Kings, and watching Monsters Inc. In all actuality, Monsters Inc was meant for the kids but they disappeared to play in Harrison’s room, leaving the adults to enjoy the movie, and we did. Abby and Harrison played and ran and played some more. When it came time to leave we literally had to pick Abby up and tear her away from what they were doing. I hated having to do something like that as playtime with other children is so crucial, but we had family to visit with. So after many tears and a bit of a tantrum we were on our way.



Our next stop was Grandma Zoe’s house. We stayed for an hour or two showing off Abby’s Minnie Mouse costume and of course Ellie, looking adorable as a pumpkin. Grandma had a few snacks and surprises for Abby to eat and to take home. Mommy also attempted to take a picture with her two cuties, but as well all know… its tough taking pictures with children under the age of three. We did manage one good one, but at the same time… neither girl was looking at the camera.



Soon we were heading out the door and on our way to Grandpa and Nana’s house. We got there just in time to show Grandpa, Nana, Uncle James and Aunt Brittany our cute Minnie Mouse and Adorable Pumpkin before they were sick and tired of being in costume. Abby and Ellie got some Halloween treats as well and Abby enjoyed a bit of candy too. Boy was she a lucky girl. On a normal day she never gets candy and when she has had it, its never been consumed too close to bedtime. Tonight was the exception, but by this point she had barely napped so we knew bedtime would be easy even with sugar coursing through her veins.


Halloween was great and fun was had by all! Until next year!

Our First Vacation as a Family of Four…

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Our first vacation as a family was a relaxing one. Uncle Tom and Aunt Mary were kind enough to let us use their condo for the weekend, so we headed up to Mammoth. Much of our plan was to plan nothing and that is pretty much what we did.

We hit the road on Thursday night after Shaun came home from work. The girls were all ready for the car ride and dressed in their jammies. We traveled under a bright moon and listened to the radio as the girls slept. We didn’t pull up to the condo until after 2am, but it was a fun drive. Once we had unpacked the car it was off to bed for us.

The next morning we were up late but to a beautiful day in Mammoth. Shaun made us a yummy breakfast and then we were off to explore. We decided to head up to Yosemite National Park to see if the leaves were turning colors up in Tuolumne Meadows. The drive up was beautiful. The moutain sides had patches on red, orange, yellow and green from the groves of Aspens and Dogwoods turning colors. It was beautiful. Unfortunately the trees up in Toulumne had not started to turn yet but we still enjoyed the drive. We even spotted a coyote on our way through. If there had been enough time we would have driven down to the Valley, but it was getting late and we wanted to head home. That night we ate a wonderful dinner and slept well. Must have been that mountain air!

View from the condo.

Autumn Leaves, Gull Lake , October 2010


The next morning we woke up to a yummy pancake breakfast and then headed out to explore again. The day was pretty but cloudy. A big storm was starting to making its way over the moutains. Shaun and I certainly were not complaining. We drove around the lakes, stopping to take pictures and enjoy the scenery. From there we drove up to June and Gull Lakes. We stopped at the Gull Lake Marina where Abby and I took a walk down the boat ramp area. She wanted to see all of the birds swimming out on the lake. As we watched a mama duck came swimming up to us. It was obvious she was hoping to get a hand out or two. She quickly jumped out of the water and onto the ramp. Abby was as happy as a clam and excited to be so close to a duck. Mommy was having fun too, although she was doing her best to keep Abby from getting too close. From there we decided to head back to Mammoth. We drove up to the Canyon Lodge, the Minarets overlook and Reds Lake. After that we headed back for another yummy dinner at the condo and to enjoy a cozy evening. We even had a nice rain storm blow through.

Ducky Kisses


The following morning we woke up and headed home. It was hard to leave but we had to. On our way out we drove up to Convict Lake. It was gloomy but pretty and a nice end to our trip to Mammoth. The drive home gave us some rain and pretty landscapes. All I know is that I hope we are back very soon!

Party Like Its Abby’s 2nd Birthday

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What a wonderful birthday for our little girl. Today Abby celebrated her birthday with family and a few friends. Shaun and I decided that instead of having a huge party for her we would do something small and take her to Disneyland the next day.

Abby had a great time hanging out with Grandpa and Nana and her Grandma Zoe as well as her Uncle James and his girlfriend Sammy. The Guerreros joined us as well and Abby had a fun time playing with Harrison. Harrison on the other hand was smitten with Sammy and wouldn’t leave her side. He was heart broken when it was time to go home. I hated to see him so sad but his crush on Sammy was very cute.

Stealing from Harrison’s plate… Im not sure that Harrison knew what to do with this aggressive little girl.

The food was yummy, and the cake even yummier! I made it myself and it was certainly fun trying to do that. I have learned a thing or two for next time but I think in the end her cake turned out great. Her plates and decorations matched it… kind of. This year Abby had a great time blowing out candles and laughed hysterically as people sang Happy Birthday to her. She loved the attention understood it a little bit more. On her first birthday she seemed a little creeped out by the fact that everyone was standing around her, staring and singing. What a difference a year makes! Although her process of consuming her cake was pretty similar to last year. What a messy little girl.

Abby’s Birthday Cake made by yours truly… No she is not 4 I just wanted Abby to have fun blowing out candles.

MMMMMM… CAKE! Not much has changed in a year has it?

Grandma and Grandpa Taylor and her Auntie J had the chance to watch her blow out her candles via web cam, which I know made their day. Even though they are not close to us they still had the chance to be a part of Abby’s special day.

After cake, Abby opened up her birthday presents. She opened her cards, kind of and then tore through her gifts. The clothing she received was given an “OHHH CUTE!” as she opened them and of course her attention was lost on toys, wrapping paper, boxes and more. Abby is a very lucky girl and will be well dressed for that matter. What a great birthday!

Being a good girl and opening her cards first… kind of.

Surrounded by wrapping paper and the remnants of some great birthday presents, now strewn about our deck.

Relaxing the Weekend Away

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This past weekend was busy but relaxing. You might be thinking to yourself, “Is that even possible?” Well it is, at least I think so. The 9th of September was grandpa Patrick’s birthday, so on Saturday we went over to their house for a birthday dinner and some time to hang out. We had a great time! Abby had the chance to play with Uncles James and his girlfriend Sammy, Shaun and I got a break while grandpa snuggled and held Ellie and we all had a great time just talking and watching Abby play. Fiona even has me addicted to the Bubble Burst game on my phone now. Don’t worry everyone, I haven’t touched my phone to play that game since yesterday afternoon. I don’t need an addiction help group yet. Stay tuned on that though! I was finally able to snap a picture of Ellie that didn’t involve her sleeping in her stroller/carrier or her bouncer. Yay!

Beautiful Ellie

Uncle James and Abby, and Grandpa Patrick and Ellie just hanging out in the back yard.

Grandpa Pat’s birthday cake from Porto’s. Yummy!!

Abby couldn’t resist putting her finger in the cake… it was too yummy looking and she couldnt wait for her own piece to taste it!

Abby finally gets a piece of her own… and boy did she love it!

On Sunday we decided just to take a drive and enjoy the day out. It was a beautiful but hot day. Luckily we didn’t have any plans of getting out of our nicely air conditioned car. Ellie definitely had a better time in the car. She didn’t cry much, if at all. We were literally down the street from our house when she started to scream and that was really because it was time to eat. Once she had been fed, life was better again. That is, as long as she is in someones arms.

Ever since the hospital its been impossible to put her down, but I have to. I have Abby and myself to care for as well as things that need to be done around the house. So most of the time she has to cry it out. Lately the crying fits have only lasted a few minutes and then she either falls asleep or calms down for a bit. All of that being held, snuggled and worried over at the hospital (and rightfully so) spoiled her a bit. I also think she hates laying down. I love her and dont want to rush this time along, but I cant wait until she is strong enough to sit in her Bumbo chair and see the world around her. I have a feeling that she will be a happier baby then. At least for now, my fingers are crossed.

Labor Day Weekend 2010

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Our Labor Day weekend was extremely mild. I think we were still trying to decompress and get back into a normal pattern. Rest and relaxation were the key words for the weekend. And we certainly did try to stick with it.

On Saturday we slept in and all snuggled in bed watching a movie. It was nice to just be there together as a family. Around 11 or so we decided to get up and out of the house… take a drive and get away. I think we really would have enjoyed taking Abby to the park again, but the 100 degree heat made that nearly impossible. Oh well, there are many other weekends.
We decided to drive out to Montrose, La Canada/Flintridge and then Pasadena. I got the chance to see where Shaun spent time as a kid with his dad and Fiona, before they moved into their house in Reseda. From there we drove through La Canada/Flintridge and into Pasadena admiring all of the beautiful homes along the way. Boy would I love to live in one of those homes! Maybe one day… although if I had that kind of money I would have a home in Santa Barbara or Montecito. When then visited with Grandpa and Nana for a bit and then headed home. Like I said, it was a quiet weekend.




On Sunday we decided to head up to Santa Barbara. We didn’t have much planned up there, but figured we could enjoy the drive up, stop by the zoo to renew our memberships and maybe hang out for a bit. However, before we headed up the coast I was able to stop by and visit my dear friend Allyson who had just given birth to her first baby… a handsome little boy!

Nathan Dean Vargas was born Saturday September 4th at 3:25am. He was 5 pounds 12 ounces and 18 inches long. Allyson did a great job and when I came to visit looked great! She was tired, as every mom who just went through labor would be, but there was definitely a glow to her. I could tell through the sleepiness that she was so excited and in love with her little boy. Andy was holding him when I came in and I could certainly tell he was a proud daddy. Such a cute family. Thank you Allyson for letting me come to visit! It meant so much!



The drive up to Santa Barbara after my visit with Allyson was eventful. It was Labor Day weekend and who could have a holiday weekend without traffic?! I knew there would be some, but good grief! Despite the frustration of traffic we made the best of it and enjoyed the drive up. When we finally made it up to Santa Barbara we headed straight for the zoo. We renewed our memberships and then spent the next hour and a half hitting up the favorite spots. When we asked Abby what she wanted to see, her immediate response was “Monkeys!” So we headed over to see the Gibbons first. From there we walked past the elephants, who can miss them, and over to see the Gorillas. Lucky for Abby one of them walked right past the glass! After the Gorillas we headed straight to the giraffes, Abby’s other favorite animal at the zoo. She loves watching them and really did not want to leave. That was made very clear by the near meltdown.





When we left we decided to go for a drive through Hope Ranch. This area was once owned by Fess Parker (Disney’s Davey Crockett) who just recently passed away. It now is a secluded area of homes that are beyond amazing… if only I was filthy rich. Its nice to look though. I had hoped to enjoy a cone of soft serve ice cream from a nearby Foster’s Freeze as we drove through, but it was gone. That place had been there since I was a kid and I am sure before that… and now its gone! I hate change… I really do.

We drove all over Santa Barbara and Montecito mostly to enjoy the scenery but also to get around traffic on our way home. Our drive home once we ran out of alternate routes was a mess. Traffic was a nightmare and Ellie was fussy beyond belief. She was great up until that point but then as we hit traffic and just wanted to get home, she turned up the volume. From Ventura to Westlake Village she screamed and howled. I tried to feed her but nothing. She just wanted to cry and cry and cry and… you get my point. By the time we got home we were exhausted and went to bed right away.

Because of the long ride home, Monday was completely uneventful. We literally did nothing all day. Had breakfast, slept, watched movies with Abby and Ellie, napped while the girls napped. Ran to Target to get some needed supplies and then got dinner on the way home.

Like I said… easy going holiday weekend =)