First Dentist Appointment for Adalei (3/14/09)

It was so fun to take Adalei to her first dental appointment when I went to my regular 6 month dental check-up. She was a little afraid at first and didn't want anything in her mouth that made noise but she was soon having fun with Marina and her wonderful dad. She was so excited to take home a little bag full of goodies.

We practiced opening her mouth and you can see she was doing a great job of that. She was so cute wanting to go first and then looking in my mouth when it was my turn!

Was this Grandma's Idea? (3/09)

I have heard some of my friends talk about taking their grandchildren to Chuck E. Cheese's. They say the kids just love it so I decided to give it a try. Misty and I went for lunch one Saturday while Nate was working.

Wow! Was that place busy! and noisy! and crowded!

Of course, Adalei and Brielle had a super fun time and would have liked to stay longer. After about an hour, Misty and I were ready to go. We left before we used up all the tokens so I need to visit Chuck E. Cheese's again in Roseville / Folsom or here in Vancouver to use the tickets and tokens left over from my first visit. Each ride was only 25 cents so the price was quite reasonable and the tickets stretch further than I expected.

I was really surprised that the girls weren't afraid of Chuck himself. I was very happy to be quick enough to get a picture! Chuck was very busy with the birthday parties!

The favorite ride for both girls was the red car with Chuck sitting in the front seat with them. They just wanted in that car time after time after time. They didn't want to get out and let anyone else take a turn. I lost track of how many times that rode that car - more than all the rest of the rides put together. Most of the other cars was just once.


Anyhow, it was a fun time and I'm just waiting to see which grandchildren are ready to go next!

Beautiful, Sunny San Diego (3/4/09-3/5/09)

For two days I was in San Diego at the Westin for training with the Institute of Internal Auditors for a course on Auditing Derivatives. It was a very interesting course and I also enjoyed being in San Diego. Usha, my co-worker and friend, also attended the training with me.

The first picture is from my hotel window. The other shots were taken on our walk to the bay after class in the evening. The sun was just setting and it was so beautiful.




You will notice our coats - it was quite breezy and chilly - similar to Portland weather but we did enjoy the sun very much.

When Casey had his internship with Deloitte in San Diego, he worked in one of the high-rises in the picture of downtown below. (Casey, which building is it? Please add it to the comment for this post! Thanks!)

The last picture is Usha! We had a wonderful and fun trip together! Thanks Usha!

My Favorite Ice Cream!

You probably weren't wondering but this is my favorite ice cream - Death by chocolate with nuts and chunks of chocolate! Yum!!!
It's Adalei's favorite too! It is delicious!!!

Valentine's Day 2009 in Northern California

Pretty little Paisley just woke up on Valentine's Day and waited patiently for her breakfast! Pretty and patient Paisley dressed in pink was Princess P. for the day!

Jenna's mom sent a darling Valentine's book to Weston and you can see by his undivided attention that he loved it very much!

Weston holding Paisley's birthday gift for her!

Weston doesn't need toys - he just loves to empty out the cupboards!
And, he is so fun to watch!!!

Weston has his favorite drawer and loves to play with this "clapper."

Jenna made our fancy meal for the weekend - coconut shrimp which everyone loved,
awesome salad, talapia which is awesome too, and ice cream. (How's my memory, Jenna? It's been a month so my brain's a little foggy. Please correct me as needed.)
We ate on their new dining room set which looked lovely with the festive napkins
and nice table settings. It was a special evening to all be together!
I loved Casey's new shirt!

I just had a great time watching Weston and Paisley playing together. Just like a set of twins. They don't push or fight. They just play together and enjoy each other's company. It is wonderful to watch. They don't even mind if one loses their balance and falls down on them, etc. They are great examples of tolerance.

Here's a picture of this very happy grandma on Valentine's day with two of her little valentines!

I loved this picture - Jenna, Casey, and Weston!
(I wish I had been so fortunate to get Charity, Jason, Ashley, and Paisley in a picture also but they each passed on the opportunity! Hopefully next time they will oblige!)

This picture captured a moment that was hilarious. Casey was packing to go back to San Francisco for work. Somehow Paisley found his wallet and started taking every thing out. Before long, little Weston was right there beside her getting in on the action. Credit cards and dollar bills were scattered all over the bedroom. There were so many other things they could have played with and how she even found his wallet is a mystery but they were captivated with the whole wallet experience! I hope the parents know what they are in for if these little ones are going after credit cards and money at 11 and 12 months old!

Little Paisley was so happy to be running off with my toothbrush!
Her little expression is so cute too.

We went to Target and it was a very, very, very windy day! Paisley really had to
hold on to the cart but she was having a fun time! She made me laugh just watching
her get a thrill out of the whole experience!
I had a wonderful time celebrating Paisley's birthday and Valentine's Day
in the Sacramento area for 2009! I am so happy and so blessed!

Pretty Princess Paisley's First Birthday! (2/14/09)

What a beautifully decorated cake! Ashley did a great job with decorating the table, making the birthday cake and cupcakes, getting balloons, etc. It was beautiful. There were so many pictures I wanted to post but I managed to restrict this post so I didn't overwhelm you.

Paisley was having fun chewing on the ribbon of the helium balloon! She was really enjoying her party.



















Paisley wasn't sure what to think of her birthday candle or eating the cake. It took her awhile to start eating it. She was so dainty and not messy at all. She was just so cute.














































I love going to Tahoe Joe's for chicken nachos when I'm in town so they brought complimentary cake to celebrate Paisley's birthday with Tahoe Joe skiing down the cake! Kind of cute!



Cute Paisley with her gifts! She was pretty good at opening them. If she didn't open them quickly, her cousin Weston was right there helping her without hesitation. They were so cute together and Paisley didn't even seem to mind his help.

Paisley was carrying around the little duck bath tote!

Without a doubt the pink pony was her favorite gift. When she opened that gift, her face lit up and her eyes twinkled. She was so happy! Her mom and dad she knew the magic gift to make her happy!

What a fun birthday party to celebrate Paisley being one year old! The year sure did go fast! I am so grateful that I could be there to celebrate the special day! Happy Birthday Paisley!!!

My Creative Work

Last month, I designed, then created 30 of these invitations for a baby shower.

I was really pleased with how well they turned out and wanted to share the results of my work. I think I'm improving!

This is the extent of my artistic talent!

Sights of San Francisco (2/13/09)

While I was in San Francisco, we walked through the financial district, through shopping areas, near the piers, to Ghiradelli square, and in between. It brought back all my prior memories of being there and working there. After I added all my favorite pictures from my day in San Francisco to this posting, I realized that even my pictures demonstrated that more important than where I was and what I did, what mattered most was who I was with. My heart is full of sweet memories looking out the huge glass walls in Casey/Jenna's penthouse and walking the streets of the city. This is a great picture of Casey, Jenna, and Weston! It was taken right before we left San Francisco!
Casey bought me lunch in this delicious Boudin's restaurant. I thought the bread shaped like a crab was so cute, I had to take a picture. My sandwich was delicious!
Weston was so cute. I tried to get him to smile but he was more interested in looking just at the camera.
This picture was taken at a Cafe near Casey's office. We had the most delicious breakfast sandwiches and pastries. Next time I go I want an orange cranberry roll! Casey, thank you for a scrumptous breakfast! You were most generous in paying for mine also.
Guess who was the first one awake in the morning! He didn't cry - he just popped up his little head and started looking around. How could you be anything other than happy to wake up to this wonderful sight! Weston was so cute and he didn't waste any time waking up his dad!
My last meal in San Francisco! Casey bought me dinner! It was delicious!!!
Here's bread from Boudin's at lunch, shaped like a fish!
A turtle made of bread from Boudin's also....
This is the door in the high-rise where Casey works - He works up near the top - 30 something or 40 something floor. I didn't go up with him because I didn't want to embarrass him. He was very kind to pause long enough to let me take this picture.
One of my favorite stops in San Francisco - Ghiradelli Square! I love chocolate! It smells like chocolate also.
I had the one in the front left - Midnight Reverie - two scoops of chocolate ice cream, dark chocolate hot fudge, dark decadent chips, whipped cream and Intense Dark chocolate. I sure got my chocolate fix. I couldn't finish it but I came close! Jenna's is in the back - Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Sundae - vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and melted peanut butter throughout. Topped with whipped cream, roasted peanut halves, a cherry, and a Ghiradellis milk chocolate square. Jenna's was good too! She was better than me - she left some calories in the glass! (Jason, thanks for suggesting the Midnight Reverie. It was as good as it looked and the dark chocolate decreased the sweetness a bit.)


As you can see Weston doesn't need toys! He is completely entertained by shopping bags, toothbrushes, Kleenex, and anything else he could find in my purse or bags! He was very good at exploring!

I loved seeing him read his little book for Valentine's day!

What a handsome little boy!