Thursday, November 11, 2010

Private Blog

After considerable discussion, dialogue, and debate, we have decided to turn our blog private. This is in no way a snub to our friends and family, nor in any way meant to punish anyone we know. Rather, it is out of a concern for our children's safety. With so many of our pictures being taken with iphones that geotag where the photo was taken, the number of online predators, and the ease with which the web is able to collect data, we decided it was time to be a bit more secure. It doesn't help that I work for a cyber security company and am constantly reminded of just how easy identity theft, data gathering, etc. is in today's computer age. We hope you understand our desire to protect those that we love.

Farm Art Friday

September 3, 2010Grandpa Sugar Lou headed for home so to break up the sadness that was stirring in the house Emma and I did a really cool art project. It was a printable from Wondertime it has a ton of cute printables, projects and games all from Disney. So we chose the farm.

What is super great about this project is it just didn't teach Emma cutting skills or putting things together, it let her imagination go crazy with pretend play time.



She played for hours after we finished the project and it became the center piece of our dinning table for the remainder of the summer.

Grandpa Sugar Lou Comes for A Visit

September 3, 2010
My Dad came for a visit, just a short visit, but a fun visit. He just missed all the excitement of Donald's birthday, but still took us out for a wonderful dinner to help celebrate another wonderful year of Donald's life. He was also thrilled to get to see my new iMac which he had so generously donated too. Donald lovingly refers to my dad as a patron of the arts.

I kept my dad very busy with tons of little jobs that needed to be done around the house. Since we have moved in we have been so busy that there was a list of things that we just haven't had a chance to get to. So my dad helped me clean up the back garden, fix Emma's bathroom faucet, clean out vents,

oh and play with Emma
The two of them were inseparable!
Emma loved getting to help her Grandpa Sugar Lou any time he had to load or unload items from his truck.
Not sure if my dad really thought her super helpfulness was super helpful but he loved the time with her just the same.
But most of the time was spent giggling!
And playing with his two favorite little grand kids.
and no, we are not telling my dad he has a bald spot on top of his head, just over look that for him :)
My Dad and his first and only grandson.

Daddy's Birthday

August 29, 2010

Daddy's birthday was just as special as always. Since we live so close to Donald's mom and dad, Donald decided that he wanted to make a full Scottish breakfast for everyone at our house. So off to the British store we went, picked up the bangers, potato scones, blood sausage, and beans, then stewed up some tomatoes, and toasted some bread and we were set. Donald's mom, dad, sister and brother in law all joined us in an early morning celebration.

Then we enjoyed a day of relaxation and fun with our friends Holly and Dave. Emma and I made a cake too! Emma really wanted too so I let her pick out a chocolate cake and white frosting with Charger's blue frosting for decorations and candles.

Emma was really proud of her cake, and we set that thing on fire!
but one mighty puff and it was out!
Dave got to enjoy some cuddles from our Snuggle Man.
and Oh to be 7 again, Holly and Dave sent Donald back to his childhood instantly with a super cool Star Wars lunch box and sandwich cutters.
It was a wonderful day Emma, Ewan and I surprised daddy with pictures of Emma and Ewan for his desk and a promise to purchase the new Apple TV for Daddy as soon as it was available, which we did and he LOVES it!! Let me just say that the new Apple TV rocks!!

Now sitting on Daddy's Desk at work

Emma
Ewan

Daddy

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Pool Time

August 2010

We seemed to have an amazingly cool summer, but it finally got hot enough that cooling off in the pool sounded like a wonderful idea. So on the weekends we took the kids to the pool. Ewan enjoyed naps poolside while Emma and Daddy happily splashed around.
Of course they still had to play "I'm gonna get ya" pool style.
and what could be better than a big wet hug!

After one trip to the pool, Donald was convinced that he and Emma both needed super cool swim goggles. And don't they both look amazing in their new eye ware?

Emma and Ewan

August 2010

Emma and Ewan are so very cute together. I love the relationship they are already building. Emma loves reading to her little brother and playing with him.

But the best part of their world is when Emma gets to hold "her baby".

Monday, November 08, 2010

Ewan's Photo Shoot

August 23, 2010

Finally feeling up to doing Ewan's birth announcements, so first up the photo shoot. I took a bright morning when I would get a lot of good natural light in through the windows. I propped Ewan up on my bed with a clean outfit on and started firing away with the camera. Emma was a great assistant with burp cloth in hand for wiping up any drool and keeping Ewan in a cheerful mood. I took over 100 pictures and I needed Ewan to be a happy baby while I clicked away. Then I was off to do a bit of digital dark room editing and found I had so many great photos in the end it made it near to impossible to pick the wining picture.
These are just a few of the images that I sorted through to find the winning one.
I really wasn't quite sure what kind of mood or personality I wanted to be on the announcement.
Over all Ewan is a very happy baby and was smiling very early so I really wanted to have something that showed his happier nature as apposed to a serious or very boy pose.
Still, I tried a few artistic shots but up the nose just didn't' really work for me, even though it showed off his wonderful eyelashes.
Of course that just made both of us giggle like mad.
But there were so many that were just precious it made it so hard in the end to pick the right one.
Emma of course had to get in a few "big sister" shots.
and I know that there may be some here that others would have rather seen on the birth announcement, but I made my choice on what I thought represented my little man the best.


and the winner is ......




This one!!

Now on with the task of designing, printing, creating and mailing out 100 announcements.

Nap Time

August 2010

Even Daddys need a rest some times...

Leave Ewan and Daddy alone for a minute and they are either passed out or watching a game. And always so handsome and cuddly...

Friday, November 05, 2010

La Jolla Cove

August 18, 2010

It was cool and that weekend we wanted to get out for a bit. Donald didn't want to go to the Zoo or Wild Animal Park as he knew they would be pack for the summer so we decided to give Ewan his first trip to the beach. We were so lucky because it was a cool cloudy summer day. We decided on La Jolla cove with a start at Starbucks on Prospect.Daddy all snuggled up with his little man. It was really misty and cold outside but it really wasn't that much warmer inside. We had left RB with full sun and in summer clothes only to find it over cast rainy and cold. So time for a bit of a warm up.

Emma was all to pleased with her breakfast sandwich but it didn't take long for her to want Daddy to warm her up as well. Good thing Daddy is a furnace when we need it.

Two of my loves


And they're off....Emma is in the lead closely followed by daddy. Wait he's gaining... oh no, he's going to get her!


Emma and Daddy checking out the situation before making their plan of attack.

Ewan at the Pacific Ocean.

Daddy getting in a big hug while he shows Ewan the ocean. I think Donald is laughing because I was quoting Monty Python at him.

Emma just couldn't stop talking and singing long enough for me to take one photo, but in the end these are my favorite because of the true happiness and joy she explodes with.

I just love my little man. For me he is too cute for words and super snugly. I think Donald and I got the cuddliest snugliest babies in the world.

Mommy getting in a little Emma time. She's my beautiful princess with Tinker Bell hair.

Emma and Daddy seem to have quite the conversations and it's so cute to watch them interact. Don't we all want to know what the two of them were discussing.

Daddy playing "I'm going to get you" while trying to take photos of our super happy girl.


Mommy, I found a friend! Emma spent some time talking to this squirrel before I realized that I should be taking pictures of the cuteness. Emma had quite a crowd forming because they all thought it was super cute how the two were becoming friends.

Love how Emma always seems to have such an UP look on life. She loves to sing songs she makes up and enjoys all the world around her.

I just adore seeing Emma and her daddy so happy and loving.
Emma always enjoys cuddles from her daddy and he always keep her warm and safe.

Always have loved quotes by Churchill. Know the role he had to play for the British people through an important time in history. I've always loved walking by this quote at the cove and finally had to take a picture.