Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Keller Laughing



Keller's laugh is hilarious. He doesn't laugh often, but when he does he sounds like he is laughing so hard that it actually comes out as a gurgle. This is not individual to his laugh, when he cries, it takes a second for an actual cry to come out. Before that he just makes these throaty little sounds like he is struggling to not howl. Either that or his lip quivers for a good 10 seconds before any sound exits.

Of all the people in Keller's life, Vera is the one that makes him laugh the most. He giggles when she spins around, laughs when she jumps, and gets the gurgle going when she throws toys around. He loves his big sister.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

We've got that Christmas spirit!


My sister knits, knits and knits some more. We love getting her homemade creations and the compliments roll in whenever we wear something that she has made. Here we have our matching Christmas hats, which we adore. Thanks sis!!

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Pre-Christmas Dinner and our Tree

Pre-Christmas dinner at our house...good times! J cooked up a ham and everyone brought a dish, yummy food, good wine, and great friendship, all you need. We have come a long way since being the Thursday night crew.



I went with a themed Christmas tree this year. Every ornament and decoration (okay, except for the lights) is made out of paper. Vera and I made the chain and white snow flakes. She helped by opening them up once they were folded. My sister taught me how to fold the cranes and balls. Then, we were at a friend's birthday party for her son and the craft project was to decorate different ornaments. Vera decorated a dozen wreaths, ornaments, and stars so that she could put them on the tree. She is a crafting machine.

Holiday Cheer - Santa Claus Part II






We had a chance to see Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Dasher, and Vixon. Vera straight refused to sit on Santa's lap this time. Keller was loving the man, Santa wasn't quite as taken with Keller. It might have been the fact that when I grabbed Keller off his lap, a handful of Santa's beard was grasped in his little mitt. Mrs. Clause was laughing though.

Interesting side note, both male and female reindeer have antlers.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Ellwood Butterfly Grove



J and I have lived in Santa Barbara just about 7 years now. Every year the butterflies come and go and we miss our opportunity to see them. This year, my awesome friend was keeping track of time and asked us to go. My reply, "They are here already!?" This is why we miss them every year, for some reason I thought they came through in spring, but turns out they cluster here in winter.

It is pretty wild, you walk through a forest of eucalyptus trees looking up you see what look like bunches of dried leaves all over the place. Then, flashes of orange start to appear as they butterflies open and close their wings. The pictures really don't do them justice. It was only the kids and I who went, so I am thinking that we will drag daddy out soon to see them.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Letter to Santa

Hello Santa,

Daddy stayed home today.
Mommy stayed home today.

I broked a conyata today at my friend's birthday party.

I want...
-kumbrella
-conyata for my birthday
-double doll stroller

I catched a starfish.
I love your reindeer.
It's Baby Doll's birthday and she breaks a conyata.

Thanks,
Vera

Friday, December 12, 2008

Swing Time



Oh. I'm sorry, did you want to see multiple videos of my children swinging? Be careful of motion sickness.

Favorite People


When we visit San Fran we get to visit Nana and Papa, two of our favorite people. I used to joke that if J and I were ever to divorce (which won't happen) I would take his grandparents in the settlement. When saying good-bye to me Papa gives me a hug and then says "love you." His acceptance of me, Nana's joy in sharing one of Vera's passions...the collection of dolls, and their caring nature are just a few of the many reasons why they are such special people.

I feel very fortunate that the kids have opportunities to bond with their great grandparents.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Butterfly Beach



My favorite photo!
An afternoon on Butterfly Beach turned into a decent little photo shoot of our family.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Vera's View




When Vera gets in a picture taking mode any and every subject is up for grabs. Keller is always a favorite and she loves to turn the camera around for a self-portrait. Or, she takes pictures of me and my kids...that is us in the last picture. Yep, my family consists of both Baby Keller and Baby Emma. Heaven forbid I want to take a picture without Baby Emma. It might hurt her feelings.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Sandwich Store

J was recently stuck in the car with the kids while Nonni and I bought sandwiches at Subway. This is what happens when he is left alone entertaining Vera. :)

Monday, December 1, 2008

Maverick's





On the Friday after Thanksgiving, the Mazzetta clan headed out to Half Moon Bay to chop down our own Christmas tree. Jay and Jan led the way with our crew of four following close behind. Before stopping to look for trees, we wanted a little adventure and went to Maverick's beach to watch the surfers and to see some cool sea creatures in the tide pools. Surfers there were many, but high tide pretty much stripped our chances of catching sight of anemones or starfish.

Still, the beach and time of day provided a cool photo opportunity. For Vera the fun was in collecting angel wing shells (mussel shells) with her nonni and putting her feet in the water. We are all in sweatshirts with knit hats on and my little pumpkin is running around with her pants pushed to her knees and soaked through to her undies.

After spending some time on the beach, our crew had a very WT moment in the parking lot of Rite Aid eating yummy pumpkin ice cream and BBQ Pringles...that is what happens when you forget to pack snack and water.

To finish up the day we searched through two lots, but it was unanimously decided that Home Depot might be a better place to purchase the tree. To appease Vera, who really wanted a Christmas tree, we let her take home a small tree branch. It is so easy to make an almost 3 year old happy at times.

Sunday, November 30, 2008

Home





After 8 hours of travel with a toddler and a baby we have made if home from our Thanksgiving holiday in the Bay Area. There were lots of good moments, about a million photos, and one case of hidden crab at a Chinese/Japanese buffet. Being allegeric to crab, that counted as my low moment.

Our trip started off wet on Tuesday night and that weather carried through to Wednesday. Great for California and a nice change from our constant sun...except we (Jan and Jay + our whole family) were supposed to meet my dad on Wednesday at the SF Zoo for him to meet Keller for the first time. Even large umbrellas borrowed from relatives could not convince our party to venture into the great outdoors to view the wild animals. Instead, we ventured into Stonestown...yep...a mall.

There we ate Subway sandwiches in the food court and had the first of many frozen yogurts of our trip. The two kiddos also got a chance to hang with Santa. Keller fell in love and Vera, as can be seen by her expression, was unsure about the man. Keller's first meeting with his Opa was a success, rain and all.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Rice Cereal...Hmmm...Good




At Keller's last appointment his doctor recommended some rice cereal at night. The hope is, fingers crossed, that he will sleep a little more at night. I don't know why, but I feel guilty about feeding the kid "food" before 6 months. But, we really do need to sleep more in this house. At almost 5 months our boy is still up 2 times on a good night and 3-4 on a yikes night. Most times he ends up in bed with J and I, curled up by my side after having nursed because I am too tired to put him back in his bassinet after eating. So...we are trying rice cereal.

First food shots are so funny, his little tongue just wasn't quite sure what to do with either the spoon or the rice cereal. I would say he ate a teaspoon of food, the rest ended up on his bib, the table, and everywhere in between. We shall see if he sleeps for a longer span tonight.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Yummy




He is so yummy I could eat him for breakfast. The sticker on the forehead is all the fault of our soccer loving neighbor!

Yuck Factor!



I fully admit that where bugs and other icky things are concerned, I pass. When I was in third grade I somehow managed to step on a slug. It was then stuck on my shoe and I spent ten minutes yelling for someone, anyone to remove the slimy body. Both at the time and even today when I look back on that moment...I think ick, gross, yuck. Would I be able to remove it myself today? Probably not. I would run screaming to Vera to help her mama out.

Vera has no fear. Our good neighbor claims that I am going to warp her because I am such a scaredy cat...no luck so far. She loves bugs and frogs. At the zoo it is just wasted breath when I ask her to please skip the reptile and insect house.

She found this snail outside of her daddy's work and brought it over so proud to show me. Disgusting, yes. Cool that she has no fear, totally.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Shake it!



Our little hula girl can shake it! Vera switches from a shy little muncher to a dancing queen. It is amazing to see the different aspects of her personality developing depending on who she is playing with or what we are doing. She has friends she adores and so will chatter away a mile a minute. At home, she tells stories revolving around friendly monsters, her baby dolls and their various career paths, and imaginary members of our family. Currently I have both a Baby Keller and an invisible Baby John. Baby John rides in the car with us, doesn't have teeth, and needs constant comforting.

Strangers, all the people who randomly want to talk to her during the day, bring out her shyness. It takes her quite a while to warm up to people and even longer to want to talk to them.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Paint


To keep Vera entertained at times, we have been letting her use Paint. She spends 10-15 minutes clicking on different colors to complete her masterpiece. Is it bad that our child is already a computer addict?

Monday, November 10, 2008