Austin here we come!!!!

My wonderful husband gave me a surprise trip to Austin Texas for my 30th Birthday. We are headed out the day after tomorrow to see some great friends of ours and celebrate my old age. I am so excited... is he the best or what?

Many great posts from the Loan Star State when we return. But in the mean time here Peanut!

i should have known better

So things are pretty scary here in SF - {as they are in most of the country} After the first round of Layoffs at William Sonoma last week, I am changing my spending habits! Yep, I know it's hard to believe. I thought I better start with baby steps...like the grocery store. I did a great job spending only $40 for a weeks worth of food. Seeing as my favorite food is a quesidilla how hard could this be right? Well - I should have known better - like it wasn't enough that I was planning to eat quesidillas, cereal & tomato soup for a week - I actually bought safeway brand medium Cheddar cheese!!!! What the hell was I thinking - didn't I learn anything from my parents?


{I'm so sorry I betrayed you Tilamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese}

Fall in San Diego

Yesterday Dusty, Taylor and I went to the Pumpkin Patch. It was wonderful, it actually felt like fall. We took over 60 pictures. I know a little excessive but it is Taylor's first Halloween. We took her on the marry-go-round, the bouncy slide, and to the petting park. There will be more pictures posted later in the week.

Riding the mechanical Rocket with Daddy

Picking a Pumpkin with Mommy

First trip Down the BIG Bouncy Slide. Her eyes almost popped out of her head, and she looked like she messed her diaper but wanted to go again. A dare devil like her Daddy

Mother the Goat

Petting a bunny

Wait... What?

I'm so sad. For some reason the condos in front of our house cut down all of there trees today. Like 20 of them... trust me California... this world...needs all of the trees we can get.

That green truck has spent the day cutting and hauling them off. The tall trees are now gone too. I wonder why they did that.

Look what I can do!

Our little lady started clapping today. It's hard to get her to stay in one place for for more than a second so there isn't much to see. She is a silly little peanut.

Not a Critical Need???????

So I came home from work today and went for a 4 mile run. The whole time I was running I was thinking about how excited I was to get home, get in a hot shower and watch project runway. Well...I came home to find that we had NO WATER!!!! Only to then call the water department and find out there had been a break in the main line. What next you ask? The break effecting my house is only effecting a 5 block radius - therefore...not a critical need!!!! {they antisipate our service will be restored in 8-10 hours} What do you mean...not a critical need? What are people supposted to do without water...I need to shower, drink water, eat dinner and poo {all of which require water} Please help me!!!!

Don't worry I know that to the city of San Francisco bathing the homeless is a more crital need than my water.

Guess Who is 7 Months Old Today

I took this picture this morning.... what a Ham!

Monday Night Football

Dusty took me to Monday Night Football this week... and we had box seats!!!!!! It was amazing. The only thing I like more than watching the Chargers is going to see them in person. This was my first game this season and it was sweet.

Our seats were right next to the visiting owners box. We were right next to Hank Azara ( I don't know how to spell his name)... from Mad About You and the Bird Cage... yes the one in the thong. It was funny.

Another wedding

Dusty and I had the opportunity to attend a wedding of two very dear friends of ours last Saturday. It was absolutely beautiful...she was beautiful. Perhaps the best part of the night was when the new couple stood up to toast there parents both of which have been married for over 35 years. Amazing, and sadly so rare these days, it gave me chills. Here are some pics

Bummed Bangles Fans

Let's Put it to a Vote!

I'm trying to pick between 3 Halloween Costumes for Taylor. I looked for a peanut but these are the costumes that Dusty and I really like.

Monkey

Chicken Little

Bee

Which one would you pick? I need to pick one this week so cast your vote!

What Happened?

Well I guess there is a first time for everything. I love to cook and I take great pride in making sure that Dusty has a fabulous dinner when he gets home from work. ( I know, how very 50's housewife of me) I also love to try new recipes and cooking techniques: for example, on Monday I made homemade mini meatballs and fresh balsamic and mushroom tomato sauce for an amazing baked zitti.... first time I made this and it was wonderful.

Well last night I made chicken and chili casserole from the http://www.fortheloveofcooking.blogspot.com/ I have made quite a few things from this site and they have been outstanding! I followed the recipe to the letter. I even double checked last night and this morning. It says to cook the casserole for 25 minutes so when Dusty called and said he had just left the office ( at 7:00) I turned the oven on. Well to make a long story short, at 8:30pm and the chicken was still not cooked through Dusty went to pick up McDonald's. As he left he said ( with a silly little grin) "This is the first time you haven't come through on dinner"

So I've been obsessing about it all day. I finished cooking the casserole last night. It look about 1 hour and 45 minutes and I had it for lunch. It was great, delicious really... but I still can't get over that I dropped the ball.

P.S I'm remaking it this weekend to work out the kinks... I know this would be a recipe that my mom would love!

Wedded Bliss

So last weekend my dear friend and former roommate got married. Her parents have an amazing ranch in Auburn {which her mom has single handedly turned into an amazing family retreat} The ranch has a huge barn, a small lake, 2 ponds, a garden house and a mandarin orchard. I wish I would have remembered to take some pictures before it got dark {bummer}. But none the less here are a couple shots from the evening.

Justin,Lindsay, Me& Brad

A shot of the food tent all decorated with lights {she had a little bluegrass band playing up there - it was really fun!}

Adult Crack

What is it about Costco??? You go there for one 5 dollar rotisserie chicken and leave spending 150 dollars on a gallon of pretzels, toilet paper, a dog bed and some books and forget the freaking chicken. Yet you still shop there.

Baby Crack

Typically Baby Einstein really freaks me out. I have a lot of friends who's babies watch these videos religiously throughout the day. I typically think it can be parenting by television... but that is neither here nor there.

Taylor and I are starting to learn and use sign language and after quite a bit of research I found that most programs recommended watching the baby Einsteins signing video to begin. The first time we watched the video I was amazed. It is like baby crack she completely zoned out and all of that baby energy went god knows where. I sit with her on Friday afternoons so we can watch and practice the signs.

A half hour of TV a week can't do too much damage right???? I know that if a child watches TV before the age of two there is about a 1 million times greater chance that they will get A.D.D. but please a 1/2 hour together can't be that bad... or can it? Just watch how zoned she is!

Bouncing

From the time Taylor was born she has been lucky enough to spend time with at least one of her grandparents every month. Now that the summer is over it looks like it will be quite sometime before they get to see her, plus most of you have only seen her once or twice since she has been born. So I have decided to post more videos of the little Tot doing random things throughout the our day.... so you feel like you are here.

P.S. She also uses this seat as a laxative. Every time she sits in it she poops. You can tell by the grunting and turning red..... lovely

Why?

Why is apple so smart? and why am I falling for it!!!!! I know I have only had my pretty green ipod for less than a year - but I can't help falling in love with all these shinny & bright colors. I seem to want everything yellow lately {it's like they planned it- I swear!}

Lovin Matt

** Disclaimer. This is about politics, I'm sure some of you will not agree but I feel compelled to share. Please disregard if you choose.
I know that most of you are very aware that Dusty and I are very committed to Mr. Obama and his candidacy for the President. After watching the news last night Dusty and I were at a loss for words regarding Mrs. Palin and her supporters.
How on earth could people not see what we are seeing? Well Matt Damon shared his opinion regarding McCains pick for V.P.. Normally I could care less what "celebrities" think about politics but I really think he brought up some very important questions. Please watch his interview from the link below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6urw_PWHYk

Standing

Taylor has little interest in toys these days all she wants to do is stand. She crawls to the couch giggles... stands up... sits down.... giggles..... stands up .....sits down. Those of you who have been around Taylor recently know that her giggle is more like a deep cough. You can hear it on the video. This girl is really on the move!!

Teeth

It took me forever to get this picture. Look closely she has two little teeth.... and yes I'm still breastfeeding and no she doesn't bite.

Napping

Taylor has really turned the corner with her naps and night time sleeping. She sleeps through the night from 8:00pm to 6:30am and takes 2 2 hour naps during the day. When she wakes up she is as happy as a clam. This morning when she was finishing her nap I heard some giggling and this is what I found.

Reeves

I finally got my hands on some pictures from our time with Brad's family in San Diego. We went back to the place their family had vacationed for nearly 25 years. It was great to see them all together and hear their funny memories.

Brent(middle), Me, Brad(youngest), Kara(Bryan's wife), Bryan (oldest)

The Boys {right outside the door of their old summer condo}

Go CHARGERS!!!!!!!

Taylor watching Football with Daddy this morning. Please note Chargers Cheerleading Outfit.

Have you seen the Exorcist?

As most of you know, I am deathly allergic to Apple Sauce. Picture the little girl in the Exorcist when her head is spinning around and she projectile vomits all over everyone..... well it's a little worse than that.
Last week I made ( I know it's hard to believe) apple sauce for Taylor and this morning was the first time I gave it to her. I wish we could have had a camera to document the events. I took this with my phone ( you can tell that I was shaking). Picture this: I was dry heaving, holding my breath, shaking, and pleading for Dusty to feed her the whole time. He was laughing and Taylor loved it... she gobbled up every last bite.

Silly Little Monkey

Since Taylor is crawling and standing all over the place we have had an increasingly difficult time with naps and bed time. I'll put her in her crib and walk out the door and within 30 seconds she is standing and pitching a fit. It has been a really hard transition for all of us as nap time has become a battle that she hate loosing. It takes forever for her to fall asleep and when she does she ends up in the funniest positions. I took these last week with my cell phone. Poor girl put up a good fight and fell asleep clutching onto the bumper.

Welcome to the world Baby Dunaway

Taylor has a new perfect little cousin. Please welcome Jack Dunaway... Mr. cutie mccute. He is about 3 weeks old now. Little Man ( look at how dark his eyes are)
Big sister daddy and big brother. Perfect little family
Mommy and Jack

Congratulations!!!!

Makin' bread

Recently I became obsessed with making bread. After cleaning out the basement my parents decided to give me there bread maker... which by the way I gave to my mother for Christmas and she used maybe twice and than it collected dust for years. Well, I have made loaves of hot wonderful bread every day for over a week. I wrap up the yummy goodness and give them away to neighbors and friends. I made this dark chocolate cherry quick bread for Nana Lucy ( 0ur neighbor who babysits Taylor) Her husband stopped by this morning to ask for another loaf and said he would pay me for it and my time. Obviously I couldn't take payment since they watch Taylor for free. Perhaps I should go into the baking business.

Best Parents!!!!

I have the BEST parents! {Look what arrived in my mailbox today}

thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm filling it with rockin' music as we speak!

Vacation in San Francisco

After much deliberation we decided to stay in the city this weekend. After being out of town almost every weekend this summer we decided to stay home and check some San Francisco activities off our list.

Saturday we rode our bikes across the golden gate bridge and down to Sausalito. {it was beautiful} we had lunch, ate ice cream and soaked up some sun.




Sunday we met up with some of Brad's college buddies for breakfast and then hiked from baker beach to the golden gate bridge. We had been wanting to do this forever and it was awesome! {I have to admit some of the rock scaling was a little scary...plus we did it in bare feet}

Today we both slept until noon!!!! now we are off to have a picnic at the park and finish our weekend at the movies. Happy Labor Day!