Exploring the Exploritorium

I admit, I've been taking a break from blogging.  I'm off work this week, and I'm enjoying myself (now that I'm no longer puking my guts out - see the previous blog).

Yesterday we joined my high school friend Nicole and her son Griffin who are visiting from Hawaii for the holidays - in San Francisco for a good part of the day.  When it's a clear day in the city, it's an amazing experience.  So when we drove over the Bay Bridge and could see the Golden Gate Bridge - I knew it was going to be a perfect magical day in the City.

We got to the Exploritorium early (traffic the week after Christmas ROCKS!) and got to see the ducks floating in the water near the Palace of Fine Arts.  I also caught a few shots of Drew in front of the beautiful building.

And in front of a tree near the Exploritorium entrance.

Once inside we started jammin'

And Drew and Griffin tried making a tornado out of the smoke.

Drew, Griffin and Nicole were rolling wheels down the track. Can you believe science can be fun?!

And Drew and Griffin are playing in front of the color wall!  Sometimes you have to make sure the color shadow wall stays upright.

Other times its all about perspective...

It was a fantastic day in the City. And I have to say it was AWESOME to have a new GPS in the City (Dave's new Christmas present). It was fantastic to see Nicole again, and while we missed her husband Todd (who is deployed back East), we were thrilled the were able to make time for us during their brief stay in the Bay Area.

Plus to come to the Exploritiorium, which I think has been about 15+ years since I've been there (I'm sure it was a Physics field trip in High School)... talk about a blast from the past.  It's the same, yet different.

Surviving Christmas

How accurate this title is - we were a hot mess this past Christmas.  Starting Wednesday night, we went out to look at Christmas lights around town. 

 Seems like a good time right?  Well it was until Daddy tried to pull his new iPhone out of his pocket, but it caught on the side of his pants and hit the cement shattering the screen.  He quickly hands it to me and says fix it.  Uhh... yeah not possible sweetie.  Of course it was all karma that caused the phone to fall and not the fact he clipped the side of his pants and was actually an accident or anything....

Then, Thursday night (Christmas Eve, Eve) Drew came down with the "ickies".  He asked for something to eat, and in the time it took for me to get his snack and come back to him, he proceeded to puke all over my living room rug - all the MILK he drank.  Needless to say it was a smelly mess and meant our chances of going to Uncle Matt's for the Ugly Sweater party were slim.

He woke up from a late nap seeming ok, so we were considering going until we were all about to walk out the door and Drew got "ickies" again.  Alright, puking child a mama stay home.  Daddy did go to the party and had a good time.

Christmas Eve then Grammy, GrampC and GG came out to to our house for some appetizers and company.  We let Drew pick one gift and he could open it up.

So what did he pick?

Socks! 

Needless to say he wasn't thrilled about that one and tossed them aside and demanded to open something else.

We also left cookies out for Santa and set out the reindeer food around the outside of the house since it was so foggy - we wanted to make sure the reindeer knew to stop here.

Drew was doing ok all day, but then ended up getting sick overnight. Twice.  So we let him sleep with us since he was puking in his sleep.

Flash forward to the next day and things seem ok.  We opened presents that morning at home, and later at Grammy and GrampC's with all the family.

Santa did remember to leave a Mobigo for a VERY excited little boy.

Opening books sent from Cousin Jodi..

And presents from Aunt Brianna.

Plus we do have to get our annual hide-in-the-wrapping-paper shot.

Look at all the presents at Grammy and GrampC's house!

L-R: Adrina, Drew, Uncle Matt

Kady and Soon-to-be Uncle Jimmy

At the very end of the evening we were visited by the Ghost of Christmas Trash.

Oh but the story doesn't end here.  I'll just spare you the images of what was to come.  A few hours after this last photo, Daddy came down with Drew's stomach bug.  And the next morning it hit Mommy.  Of course Mommy had to get it worse than both Daddy and Drew!  UGH.  After a solid 24-36 hours I was finally feeling back to normal.  Only to hear that it had spread to both Adrina and GrampC.... oops.

Needless to say, we survived Christmas, barely.

Christmas Message

Drew wishes to share his latest Sunday School memory verse - Isaiah 9:6

For those who couldn't make it out he said:
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Yes there us one line left out intentionally because of the age group.

Merry Christmas from all of us!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Work Perks

If I haven't said it on here before - I love my job.  Gone are the days of being a total stress case like was when I worked in TV news.  I can leave work and for the most part check-out.  No need to stay on top of everything that's going on the world.  I can go home to my cave and detach.

Working here, it's an awesome family friendly environment.  Don't get me wrong it's not all roses all the time.  I do actually have to work hard, but in comparison to my previous career, it's well, awesome!

Last week we had our annual company meetings.  All the guys who work remotely fly in and we have meetings, lunches and a lot of laughs.  This year was no exception.  On day one we surprised the boss with matching T-Shirts.

If you need glasses to read what our shirts say - it has "I've been Haberized" embroidered on them along with the number of stars/Haberizations you've had.  To let you in on the inside joke... our boss' last name is Haber, and one of my co-workers (the big tall guy in the back - who is wearing A LOT of stars) coined the term Haberized.

Haberized: Getting called out for not doing something right, saying something wrong, or just plain old being a moron.  Especially when you don't follow the boss' philosophy of "yes, yes, absolutely yes!"

We then had our annual dinner - this time at the Blackhawk Country Club.  For you out-of-towners, this is a very elite club and has a lot of wealthy connotations to it.  Growing up in Antioch, we looked at Blackhawk as the Beverly Hills of Northern California. 

Our group shot taken by the waiter was blurry, so you don't get to see how nice the surroundings were.  Let's just say it was a fantastic evening and I so greatly enjoyed the bottle of 2005 Opus One Cabernet we had with dinner.  Oh. My. Goodness.  I've never tasted wine that was so good.  Put my previous favorite to shame!

Then on Friday it was ladies day at the spa.  Talk about hard working conditions!

Of course I didn't get shots during our 60 minute body massage plus 30-minute foot massage.  I was otherwise engaged. 

The boys were supposed to go golfing, but Mother Nature had other idea.  Thankfully the spa is indoors!!

Oh and the real kicker... the boss created a vacation benefit package for us employees.  A company timeshare in Maui.  I'm first up on the travel circuit next year!! Maui here we come!!!

Is there any question why I love my job? 

This Little Piggy Went to Church

If you didn't get enough cuteness, performances or videos on yesterday's post... get ready for another dose! (If you're tired of them, well just suck it up... we're proud parents and can't help but show off our little piggy).

On Sunday night, it was the Children's Program at church, and Drew being in his first year of Sunday School was able to participate in it.  His class was dressed up as the animals that were seen in the stable where Jesus was born.  Our little animal.... an unhappy....

Yes our kid's a pig!  He was not happy to be put into costume.  It didn't help matters he was forced awake from a much needed nap about 30 minutes earlier than this photo.

Daddy was able to get a shot of this little piggy entering church.  There was only a slight hiccup when he didn't know where to go...



Once he got up front, he seemed to warm up a little bit.

 Here's a video of his first song (the older kids had a few things before him).



Here's a video of Drew's spoken part paired up with Away in a Manger. 



During the song Angels We Have Heard on High"  Drew was able to wave his stars around.  Luckily no eyes were poked out by any dancing stars.

Of course as we neared the end of the service, Drew stopped fidgeting, whining and fighting everything to ham it up for the congregation.

And he was good for a laugh all the way to the end, when this little runt... er.... piggy wanted to stop in the middle of the aisle.  Thankfully some of the other moms followed behind him (I on the other hand stayed out of the spotlight as much as possible and met him at the back of the church).

Drew was so happy that he had some familiar faces in the congregation.  Grammy and GrampC made another trip out toward us to see his first Sunday School performance.  What a lucky little boy.  His "icing on the cake" was to have nachos for dinner - there was a Mexican/chili dinner afterward.  That made this little piggy cry wee-wee-wee all the way home.

Our Christmas Star

Drew is our very own Christmas Star!  You know as in a holiday performer - otherwise known as the Christmas Star performers for his preschool. His Bunny class joined the older kids (Bears and Frogs) for a few songs on stage.

Drew is the first boy in the second row...

 

Here's a video of him performing "Twinkle Twinkle Christmas Star" (my apologies for our photographer.  Have no fear, they weren't paid for their services).

They sang three songs total.  Again, he's in the second row, first one on the left.

Another few videos... the first of Drew singing "Happy Birthday Baby Jesus"



And the other is a bit longer, "Little Baby Jesus" and all the kids singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". Pay attention around 1:13 into the video, at our little ham.



Yes, that would be our child blowing kisses and then thanking everyone for applauding... him.

He was of course hamming it up for everyone in the audience, including a chocolate covered cousin Kady

And Auntie Lisa, Grammy, GrampC and Daddy.

  Our little Star.

And fellow star and best friend Troy - His mom used to watch Drew (they're 9 months apart).

And then Troy's older brother Mason had to make an appearance (he was in the Angel Band - aka older kids)

And Kady had to give Drew a congrats for a job well done - her Christmas performance was the night before.

OK she's really saying goodbye here, but it sounds so much cuter to have her congratulating him!

Birthday Party for Jesus

At preschool yesterday the kids had a Birthday party for Jesus. Cake, hats, balloons - the works!  And part of the party was a book exchange - each child was to bring a wrapped book $5 in value or less.  On the tag, their name was supposed to be in the from section, so they wouldn't get the book they brought.

What did Drew get - the book we brought!

It appears other parents were trying to find a book under $5 at Target as well!  I think it's hilarious.  We could've avoided wrapping the preset haha.  Can't wait to read this book tonight!

Wish List

When I was dropping Drew off at school yesterday I saw some new artwork of his on the wall.



His wish list. It says:

• A Mobigo for playing games
• A new Wiggles puzzle pieces
• Lots of toys
• A yoyo
• A birthday cake

Um I'm not sure where the yoyo request came from! I had no idea he even knew what one was.

So Sweet, For A Minute

So sweet for a minute. Reading his books and then in a flash it changes.

And then he gets in a little bathroom reading.





Thankfully the book was covering his - shall we say, exposed areas.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Christmas with the Kids

For the past three years we've had Christmas with the kids and the families of our friends - my college roommate Lisa and her family, and her cousin Brian and his family (his wife Stephanie used to watch Drew).  Sunday was another such event - the six kids and the six adults enjoying a tasty dinner, dessert, drinks and watching the kids open presents.

Of course the latter is the highlight for the kiddos.  It's crazy watching them open gifts in about 10-seconds flat.

L-R: Trevor, Emily, Drew, Troy, Mason (mostly hidden by Troy).  Ms. Stephanie is in the blue playing "Santa".

Drew was so excited to see what he got from Trevor and Emily (my friend Lisa's kids).

The following  picture is blurry,  but you can't mistake the excited little boy holding that new toy - Chuck the talking Truck. (He recently discovered the cartoon on the new kids network called Hub).

The older kids were perfectly happy to play with their new toys - DS games.
L-R: Trevor, Mason, Emily

Later that night Drew and his BFF Troy were giving each other hugs....

Which would just lead to them knocking each other over on top of each other...

They had a blast doing that and then wrestling Stephanie's brother.  Needless to say Drew had so much fun he conked out less than halfway home.

Christmas PJ Party

Saturday night we had a good old fashioned family night.  It kicked off by all three of us getting in our new Christmas PJs.

Then we started a Christmas Movie Marathon!  Frosty, The Grinch, Charlie Brown Christmas - the works!  I'd laid down a sleeping bag so we could all lay on it to watch the movies and Dave made the popcorn.  Oh and in between movies there was even a little bit of "I'm gonna bust you up" - which is Drew speak for he wants to wrestle.  Yes - there was a three way wrestling match.  The 3-year old won.  He had more energy.

All in all - a wonderful quality family night!  I hope we can make this an annual tradition.