random pictures and glimpses of our life

Clare asked me to help her tie this ribbon around her neck "like Grandma Linda" who wore a pretty scarf while she was here! I just love Clare. She is so observant and so feminine!
Whenever we are getting ready to go, Tressel is there. What do I mean by "there"? I mean he is under my feet and/or sitting by the door and not missing a thing as we load the car, get shoes on, pack snacks and get ready to go! Then, he is usually the first in the car.
Here he is in the car, ready to go, with car-mate and room-mate Clare.
Most days I let him go w/ me to drop off Calvin at school and often we'll go someplace fun (for him) after like a park or playground or the best of all -- dog beach!



This particular day we were actually going to dog beach. The girls were getting over a bad bad cold and too sick to play w/ friends but well enough to go out and get some sunshine. Notice how well the sand sticks to the snot.



Aren't the kids cute?!! On this day we were off to school for Calvin and Clare had a mini Children's Chorus performance for "the Grandmas and Grandpas" at and old folks home. And Alexey was wearing the cutest outfit ever thanks to Pete and Jessica! When we got home from the chorus performance and a couple of errands on the way home I was changing Clare out of her chorus clothes and noticed she was burning up. (She ran a temp of 104 for 2 days). I felt TERRIBLe for dragging her out so sick and for exposing so many people to her illness. We did purell before going in and I hope that it was enough not to get anyone sick.






Clare is in the middle wearing red pants. She didn't sing hardly at all == probably 'cuz she felt so sick.

titty tat

This picture is a couple of months old but I thought it was worth posting anyway. Our friends got a kitty for Christmas and we went over to see it. Alexey LOVES dogs and cats. If we didn't have a dog I would get a cat. (quick side story: the other day when Clare asked for a cat I said, "no, we can't because we already have a dog. She said, "well how about when Tressel dies, then can we get a cat?" I didn't really answer but I don't think she realizes how sad it will be when Tressel dies).

Anyway, Alexey loved this little kitty. She calls it "titty tat." When our time holding the kitty was over and I told alexey it was time to go she said "okay" and picked up the kitty and started walking out the door and waving bye to everyone. She thought she would just take it home!

One of our friends got a teacup yorkie -- currently 1 pound, going to be 3 lbs full grown -- and we are super excited to go visit it this week too!

Happy Birthday dear Alexey!

Alexey is 2 today!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday, sweet Alexey!
Happy Birthday
to you!





Alexey really enjoyed having us sing the birthday song to her. She was smiling super big as we did so! (And I just noticed as I was looking at the pics that Clare really enjoyed sneaking bites of her cupcake!)

We went to the park to celebrate Alexey's birthday. It was a fun activity for her as she really loves playing at the park. Often when we drive by a playground she will say "play!" and cry if we do not stop.

My Dad got Lex a dress that she calls "rella" (cindrella) and she thinks it is her princess dress. She was soooo adorable -- when we got home from the park I let her try it on and as soon as she had it on she started singing "I know you I walked with you once upon a dream...." and dancing. Dave picked her up and danced with her. She is such a funny little girl.


Alexey also knows a couple of other songs. She sings "tomorrow" from Annie quite often. She knows "so what" by Pink. She knows all of Calvin's childrens chorus songs (w/ hand movements) from Christmas.

She understands everything now and talks quite a bit. I think more than the other kids at 2 but it could just be that I don't remember. Some of the things she says really make me smile: "Mom, watch" "I love you" "no no no no no" "here kitty kitty kitty" "movie" "sorry" "happened?"

just to make you smile

the girls were super excited to dress alike yesterday. Clare really wanted to go to the mall to have their picture taken together (don't you just love her?) but we opted for a quick one at home since lex is getting over a cold. They really wanted to stand in front of my 16 year old car instead of the trees and bushes!

Clare and Alexey have been inseparable lately. Alexey protests in a major way anytime she has to be split up from Clare and is super sad when Clare goes to dance or singing class w/o her! Lex recently started calling Clare "bear bear" (Clare bear). She used to call her "Clare". All day she runs around the house following her and if she is not near yells for her. Lex wants two of everything, one for her and one for bear bear. It is such a delight to see.

great-grandparents

A couple of weeks ago my grandparents - Grandpa Calvin and Grandma Joyce - had a long layover in LA so we met 1/2 in orange county for lunch. It was great to see them for a few hours. The kids warmed up to them very fast, which was fun to see.












we found a nearby playground in a beautiful area of Orange county in Dana Point area. It is so beautiful (tracy, it was different than the one you recommended but thanks for doing that anyway).



Alexey's hair is finally growing and going crazy with those darling curls. I don't really know what to do with them so they are always flying wild! She will be 2 next week. It is amazing how fast the time goes by!


big shout out to my aunt and uncle Shauna and al who drove them down to meet us!

On my mind ...

Many of you have heard of Chelsea King. Her name is now known to everyone in my community and thousands in San Diego, CA and around the US.

Two weeks ago, Thursday Feb 25th, in the afternoon Chelsea went to the rancho bernardo community park for a jog on some trails that go around a lake. Her parents reported her missing that evening and then the search for her began. Posters of her went up all over poway and RB immediately. For days volunteers and police authorities searched for her, even in the pouring rain.


On Sunday evening a sex offender was arrested as a suspect in the case, for rape and murder. It was unknown what clues led to this conclusion but it was hartbreaking.

Five days after she went missing, Tuesday afternoon, her body was found, 1/2 a mile from her car, buried in the lake, 10 ft. from the shore. It was completely devestaing, however I was grateful that they did find her so fast so that the family could have closure.

I don't think there was a dry eye in all of San Diego as this news came out.

Chelsea was a really good girl. Straight A student at Poway High, 1st chair french horn, cross country all star. She (though it is always good to run with a partner) didn't do anything wrong and was in a safe place. The park she was abducted from is one that we go to at least twice a week. It is well used by runners, bikers, dog people and many others. There are baseball and soccer fields, a rec center, a dog park and a playground. This event has rattled this community where things are usually very quiet and where we all feel very safe. It has been inspiring to watch the volunteers and other members of the community rally around the King family and offer support.

There are blue ribbons tied around every tree in town in loving memory of Chelsea.

There is a second story - possibly tied to this one - Amber Dubois. Amber was abducted on her way to school about one year ago. Her remains were found just this week in a remote outskirt of San Diego county.

The man who raped and murdered her was a known sex-offender. "Chelsea King's accused killer, John Albert Gardner III, was described by a court-appointed psychiatrist as a "danger to the community," in a probation report filed a decade ago, and released Tuesday by the San Diego County Superior Court. Gardner pleaded guilty in 2000 to committing lewd and lascivious acts on a 13-year-old girl. He is now accused of attempting to rape a woman in December and of killing Chelsea. Gardner is also being investigated in the suspected slaying of Amber Dubois, a 14-year-old Escondido, Calif. girl whose skeletal remains were found Sunday in a remote area of northern San Diego County."

These things are not plesant at all and it makes me too sick and sad to read daily updates so I usually don't. But at the same time it is importnant to be reminded every once in a while that people like this exist and we need to be careful. (It honestly makes me scared to have my children grow up and be allowed to leave home w/o me).

Chelsea's parents are using this wave of media attention to try and start a movement to prevent this kind of thing from happeneing again. To make sure sex offenders are punished as they should be and not be allowed to wander the streets.

http://www.facebook.com/chelseaslight

Mormon Battalion

We have had Dave's mom in town this week. It has been a nice treat for the kids to have grandma here! I have done a terrible job of taking pictures but tonight we did get our picture taken at the newly remodeled Mormon Battalion Visitors center in Old Town San Diego. It was a really great place.

in case you are wondering

Calvin is not sleeping better yet. Yesterday up at 4am. today 3:15am. (didn't go back to sleep either day). He feels fine and I'd say he's mostly recovered. I am hoping his body can learn to adjust to a new sleep schedule. SOON!

thanks Pete and Jess, Glen and Sheri

Calvin is so happy about his get well gifts. He and Alexey have been playing M football all morning.


Do you see the thumbs down? That is from dave. He is not a fan of the kids being michigan fans!



Calvin is feeling pretty good and will go to school today. It is the short day at his school so he won't have a full day yet. Overall, the recovery hasn't been to bad. He has had a sore throat all week but it has been bearable.

Looks like Calvin is planning on taking the ball to school since he wrote his name and room # on it!

All is well.

Calvin's surgery went well yesterday. It was hard to go without food(after waking up at 4am) as we checked in and waited around. We had to be there at 6:30am but the surgery didn't start 'til 8:40. The surgery went well. The dr. said the tonsils and adenoids were pretty big so he thinks it'll make a difference for Calvin. He slept a couple of hours in the hospital recovery area and then we had to wake him up to get him to drink so they would let us go! He ate a lot and drank a lot yesterday which is really good. Yesterday he was SUPER groggy and tired and had a really sore throat. He slept on and off all day. I let him keep the mini-dvd player in his room and I get the feeling he was up half the night watching movies.... (maybe that was a mistake?)! We will see what today brings!

I have some pictures I will add later.

waiting for surgery

just woke up from surgery.....and then right back to sleep!

wide awake, snacking and ready to go home!

Calvin is a very easy and sweet patient. When he doesn't feel good he is tired, quiet and submissive and so sweet.

Today (tues, day after surgery) Calvin is feeling pretty well. He isn't taking any pain med and is doing just fine.