The Doran Family

Spanish 101

2012-02-07T17:18:00.000-08:00

Some parents buy bilingual toys for their little ones to expose them to Spanish words- "rojo, azul, verde, hola, adios." Some parents speak Spanish to teach their children to teach them new words- "uno, dos, tres, por favor, gracias."

Not us, we start with words like "linda, todo bien, un beso, guapo, que tal..."

Why, you ask?

Well, mommy bought Spanish conversation hearts.

Where, oh where has my little girl gone?

2012-02-01T11:24:00.000-08:00

Where, oh where can she be?

one of the happiest places on earth...

2012-01-29T20:21:00.000-08:00

... is at Auntie Jill's, Uncle Mike's, Dane's {and Tierney's}.

In the backyard, I can feed the fish (and the turtle when he's not hibernating); hop from one side of the stream to the other on a stone bridge; swing on their hammock swings.

Then, at the bottom of their street is Victoria Beach. That evening, we not only saw dolphins and a beautiful sunset,

but also a big cliff in the sand that the waves made. Uncle Mike and Auntie Jill went up and down the cliff with me....again and again and again.

Not only is their house one of the happiest places on earth, but they make me the happiest girl on earth when I'm with them!

{lack of } warmth.

2012-01-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

Here what we look like when our heater isn't working and ....

the temp

inside the house

barely breaks 60.

Today was 59.

Rain, rain {don't} go away...

2012-01-24T13:41:00.001-08:00

... we've been having too much fun.

casting spells.

2012-01-22T14:51:00.000-08:00

I couldn't quite hear what she was "casting" upon us, but amongst her soft mumbling of spells I heard the word "magic." Looking forward to some magic around here.

Doran Family Photos 2011

2012-01-20T15:20:00.001-08:00

Some of our favorites from this year.

And, thank you to Shannon, the most incredibly creative, talented and down-to-earth photographer!

a new hobby.

2012-01-16T14:46:00.000-08:00

Happy Water Coloring!

Uncle Timmy.

2012-01-14T14:13:00.000-08:00

There is no one outside of our immediate family that Avery talks about more than Uncle Timmy.

She sings about him even when he not around. (Cue "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" tune) "Uncle Timmy, where are you? Uncle Timmy, where are you? Uncle Timmy, where are you?......" Those are the only lyrics.

When I tell her we are going to _______'s house to play, usually her next question is, "Will Uncle Timmy be there?"

When she didn't crawl out of her crib one day at nap, I told her that Daddy would be so proud and asked if she wanted to call him and tell him. She asked, "Call Uncle Timmy?"

Every time Uncle Timmy walks into the room, Avery breaks into a little dance and jumps up and down.

When Uncle Timmy is sitting on the couch, Avery is usually right next to him, getting ready to jump on him or playing a game.

Thank you, Uncle Timmy for loving Avery so much!

saying nigh-night.

2012-01-08T11:12:00.000-08:00

There are so many perks to being married to a firefighter and then there are those things we have to make the best of. One of those things we have to make the best of is not always getting to say good night in person and getting a nigh-night kiss. For a long time our "nigh-nights" were on speaker phone, but lately we have been able to see daddy on the phone when we say good night. It was so sweet to watch the other night. I just had to capture and share.

It starts out with a recap of the day.

And ends with good-night hugs and kisses...

It's a toss up who's more excited for this- Sean or Avery.

Mary.

2012-01-03T15:01:00.001-08:00

Ok, so those of you who read this know that Avery loved playing with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus in our nativity. She pushed them in strollers, brought them on errands, pushed them down her slide and jumped with them on her trampoline. She even put her beloved "green blanket" over her head numerous times and said, "I'm Mary."

I was worried about the goodbye when the new year rolled around, but she seemed ok. She has asked for them a couple of times and I just explained that Christmas time is over, so we had to put those decorations away.

Well, "Mary" made an appearance at the grocery store today. We were walking in the produce department and I hear Avery saying something about Mary. She said it again, "Mommy, I see Mary." I respond with, "Yes, honey" only half paying attention. "Mommy, there's Mary. I see her." Finally, I look over to my left and there she was, walking towards us ... a middle eastern woman wearing a head scarf.

I smiled really big at the woman as I responded to Avery, "Yes, honey. I see her. Now, let's pick out some avocados together. Be mommy's big helper."

Oh, how I love the innocence of a child!

Christmas time {in a nutshell}

2011-12-30T13:38:00.000-08:00

THE EVE

Making oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for Santa.

Santa called when we were at Mimi and Papa's...

Setting out cookies for Santa. You like how Santa's magic is already coming down the chimney?

THE DAY OF

Christmas Dinner {with more presents} at Uncle Bob's and Auntie Sheryl's

Getting help from Auntie Sheryl

with Tim

with Uncle Bob

THE DAY AFTER or "Merry Aftermath" as Grandma says...

Uncle Chris playing and singing like Jack Johnson while Avers danced.

Sara, Scooter and Avery

Grandma and Avers

It was another perfect Christmas.

our little princess...

2011-12-22T13:33:00.000-08:00

... complete with jammies and bedhead.

not your ordinary neighborhood walk.

2011-12-19T15:24:00.000-08:00

Our neighborhood walks are-

drum poundin'

tricycle ridin'

Stanley walkin'

stair climbin'

did I say drum poundin'?

tricycle pushin'

movin' and shakin'

kind of walks.

candy cane lane. part one

2011-12-15T14:23:00.000-08:00

After a delicious dinner next to the Christmas tree at my parent's house, we all filled up our to-go mugs with hot chocolate and headed over to a lighted wonderland nearby called Candy Cane Lane. Each year this little neighborhood decorates every nook and cranny of their front yards complete with a singing and dancing santas, moving reindeer and miniature trains.

We parked at the end of the cul-de-sac and strolled through admiring the Griswald-style decor. Between houses Avery showed her excitement by marching and chanting at the top of her lungs. She greeted people passing by with a confident "hello." It was fun to watch her enthusiasm.

Headed to Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills with Grandma and Grandpa next week.

Visit to Santa. Check.

2011-12-14T13:52:00.000-08:00

Another festive activity checked off our list.

For the last couple weeks, we have had numerous conversations about Santa- who he is, what he looks like, what he does, when he will come to our house, what he may bring, etc., etc. The only objection she voiced was, "Santa not laugh (i.e. ho, ho, ho)." We told her that he won't laugh if she asked him not to. Well, let's just say that despite all the prep and conversations, Avery was not too pleased to be sitting on Santa's lap this year.

She looked intently as Santa came into view. As we moved closer, she said, "Mommy, go that way," pointing in the opposite direction.

It was instant.

Poor baby girl.

Once we left Santa's house, it was business as usual. A happy little girl who was happy-

Exploring the koi pond.

Riding on Daddy's shoulders.

Watching the fountains.

Climbing on giant presents under the giant Christmas tree.

Walking on the planters.

Heading home.

Hope you're having fun this holiday season.

a different kind of "to-do list."

2011-12-11T15:02:00.000-08:00

We love this time of year and wanted to make sure we fit in everything while keeping with the holiday spirit (that is, not being rushed). In order to do that, we made a list of all the fun and festive things we would like to do this season. I must say, we've done a pretty good job of crossing things off our list!

We love Roger's Gardens. Not only is it beautiful in the day with their creative and colorful displays, but also in the nighttime during the Christmas season. The twinkling lights, the Christmas trees and the opportunity to visit Santa makes it a perfectly free and festive place to visit.

Couldn't get Aver's to take a family photo.

Little Miss Independent

Mimi and Papa

This year I thought it would be fun to start a tradition of decorating gingerbread houses, so we invited some friends & cousins over and let the fun begin. It was so much fun and a lot easier than I thought it would be.

A definite holiday tradition is heading to Laguna Beach for the Winter Fantasy Sawdust Festival with Uncle Mike, Auntie Jill and Dane. They've got it all to make it the most magical place: twinkling lights, Christmas trees, a sweet Santa, wooden play houses, kid's crafts, small petting zoo, delicious greek food (and other types of food and snacks), unique art, glass blowers, awesome live music, carollers, and wine and beer :)

Ready to browse the booths with a reindeer.

Tomorrow on the agenda is a visit to Santa and Candy Cane Lane.

it's been a wild ride...

2011-12-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

... for these three and it's only been 8 days.

It's pretty safe to say that at any given moment Avery has one of these three in her hand or near by.

Baby Jesus takin' a nap.

Eatin' pudding with Baby Jesus.

Going' shopping.

A stroller ride for Joseph.

Mary and Joseph visit the garage.

I can already tell it's gonna be a hard "good-bye."

We are fam-i-ly....

2011-12-08T14:16:00.000-08:00

Some precious moments from Thanksgiving weekend that I forgot to post.

Family shot 2011

Siena & Avery. This probably would have made a better video than blurry photo. Oh well, the cute moment was still captured.

Observing from the outskirts.

Aunt Virginia and Avery. I normally don't disclose ages, but Aunt Virgina makes 88 looks beautiful. She is one of the sharpest women I know.

Spending some time with Uncle Chris.

We definitely love our family!

gettin' a tree.

2011-12-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

It was a blustery day at Peltzer Pines Christmas Tree Farm, so we all bundled up to search for the perfect tree.

Avery loved scampering amongst the trees and balancing on the tiny tree stumps.

She loved squeezing between the trees to try and catch mommy.

She was having so much fun until she noticed the ....

wire fence and orange cones in the parking lot.

Well, it would all be fine, but we hadn't found our perfect tree yet. How was mommy going to lure her back into the trees? The good ol' technique of acting over excited to change her mind did not work. The plain old words of reason did not work. Then, I remembered I still had a lollipop in my purse from earlier in the week! Yes!

So the law was laid down, "You need to stay with mommy and daddy to keep your lollipop." We had a very compliant toddler.

Alas, we found our perfect tree!

As if she wasn't in heaven already with her lollipop. The nice man behind the desk gave her her first candy cane.

It was a fun {and successful} trip to the tree farm.

Happy Decorating.

in hiding.

2011-11-29T19:55:00.000-08:00

No, this is not an exciting game of hide-and-seek. Nope, Avery is terrified of these toys, so we have them hidden.

Mom and Dad's side of the story-

This summer, we were in Hilton Head for my BFF's wedding. The hotel lobby had several different stuffed animals that laughed when they detected movement. Every single day Avery wanted to "go see piggy laugh." She would stand there smiling, sometimes laughing. At the end of our trip as a little surprise, daddy went and bought the piggy and gave it to Avery when we got home. Well, when the piggy laughed in our own house, she fearfully clung to our legs with her dimply, white knuckles. "No piggy laugh! No piggy laugh!" Ever since piggy has been in the closet.

I thought she would LOVE the FurReal bear for her birthday because she loves animals... nope, she completely freaked out.

The baby doll has a cry that sends Avery into a panic, so that's why she is hidden.

The sweet, little, tan bear says nursery rhymes in a gentle (little bit creepy) voice. Avery loved it at first and then one day when it came out, she flipped.

I know she definitely won't be getting a Baby Alive for Christmas this year. I got a fair warning when we were strolling down the toy aisle. She saw them and said in an anxious tone, "No, mommy. No, mommy."

That's one way our baby girl is always keeping us on our toes.

Just a little note to say...

2011-11-26T14:35:00.000-08:00

we hope you had

a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Sending hugs

and kisses.

Love,
The Doran's

Monkey See. Monkey Do.

2011-11-23T10:49:00.000-08:00

making pumpkin pancakes.

2011-11-22T09:48:00.000-08:00

Step 1- Dump

Step 2- Pour

Step 3- Stir

Step 4- Flood

Step 5- Devour

Bon Appetit!

distressing...

2011-11-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

a wooden shelf.

... being at the top of a ferris wheel {for me}.

a couple more firsts.

2011-11-11T15:21:00.000-08:00

first sign (not counting the inadvertent 'hang loose' on the left).

courtesy of the nice lady at Trader Joe's

stay tuned...

some recent favorites.

2011-11-06T14:11:00.001-08:00

a new spin on swinging.

a visit from my BFF, Heather and Michael.

a halloween 2010 costume rediscovery.

a trip to the long beach aquarium.

a big helper- Avery took her role very seriously as a candy distributor, not so much the trick-or-treater. The door bell rang, she stopped what she was doing, grabbed the bowl of candy and ran to the door. She methodically dropped one piece of candy in each of the kids bags. We were all surprised that she never got spooked from some of the scary masks on the other side of the door. As each group wandered to the next house, she gave them a loud, "Happy Palloween" (not a typo- that's how she says it).

a pumpkin-gingersnap parfait with papa.

patches, parties and a princess....

2011-11-02T16:31:00.000-07:00

... that's what our halloween {season} was made of-

We hope you had a fun and safe Halloween!

I wasn't kidding...

2011-10-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

.... when I mentioned in an earlier post that my little munchkin is quite the gatherer when it comes to bedtime. If you don't remember see what I'm talking about here. This is what happened last night-

Daddy: "Ok, Avers. It's time to go nigh-night."

Avery:

Sweet dreams....

Look what I got!

2011-10-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

My very first

Pizza Port

tattoo

thanks to

mommy's friend,

Erica.

Here's to many more....

pedicure {daddy style}

2011-10-13T07:35:00.000-07:00

Shhhhh, don't say anything about those big, soft chairs that you sit in, the foot massage you get to enjoy and the pretty colors you can paint your toes.........yet.

a small peak into our fun-filled week....

2011-10-09T12:42:00.000-07:00

Parent and Me Preschool is still going well. The most valuable things Avery is learning right now is how to share and how to separate from mommy/daddy. She gets to do fun things, too, like use glue and sing and eat snacks.

Another trip to Zoomar's Petting Zoo. This time she got to hold a bunny on her lap. She was in heaven.... not sure about the bunny, although it never hopped off.

These days Avery is taking saying "cheese" very seriously in pictures. Not only do we get her cute "saying cheese" smile, but we often get a body tilt, too.

Train ride with her buddy, Luke.

The other day, she asked me to put this hat and apron on her (courtesy of Auntie Kelly). I love that we are starting the dress-up phase.

A stroll through Laguna Beach with our tummies filled with farmer's market samples and tired arms and legs from playing on the Main Beach playground.

Tonight it was a tomato and a bell pepper. Every night Avery gathers up items around the house after I announce that it's time for bed. Other nights it has been an Ariel, Belle or Cinderella doll, a mini pumpkin, her toothbrush, a play tea cup, a makeup brush, a toy egg, a book or two, etc. I have had to say no to diaper cream, thermometers, honey bear, her talking doll and night lights. The only constants are her blanket- "the green one" and "brown bunny."

Hope your week was a fun one!

actions speak louder than words.

2011-10-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

Looks like we've got ourselves a little helper...

celebrating...

2011-09-29T14:54:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday we celebrated mommy's 9th anniversary of turning 29. Although it was mommy's day, I got to benefit. Daddy tried to sneak balloons into the house the night before, but I saw... and gave the secret away.

I helped mommy open presents and then we took a trip to the dentist.

After we visited Dr. Mike, we headed to Laguna for a walk on the bluffs. Well, actually, it was more like an obstacle course for me....

with hanging....

stairs...

balancing...

and a few moments for "cheese."

We ate at the delicious Zinc Cafe for lunch.

After a good nap and bath, Mimi and Beau came over and mommy and daddy went to dinner and a movie. But before they left, daddy had a sweet surprise.

Another benefit for me.... and Beau.

Here's to another year of fun, healthy and happy year!

first day of {parent and me} preschool.

2011-09-23T13:58:00.000-07:00

Monday was the first day of parent and me preschool for Avery and me. It was a fun morning filled with crafts, puzzles, toys, outside playtime and snack time.

No, I didn't snap the picture during a blink.... on the way home, I turned around to check on my silent baby only to see her eating mangoes with her eyes closed.

We are looking forward to a lot of fun and learning at preschool!

perfecting the self-portrait...

2011-09-17T14:25:00.001-07:00

autumn.

2011-09-12T13:49:00.000-07:00

I call it "ready for Fall." Sean calls it "rushing summer." I have to admit that by the time Sept 1st rolls around, I am very ready for Fall. I'm not sure if it's because I'm ready for the cool down in weather or the change in decorations around our house or the feel-good holidays that are approaching. What I do know is that once Labor Day weekend has come and gone, you can bet there will be some autumn decorations around my home.

Mimi, Avery and I took a trip up to Roger's Gardens, one of my most favorite places to "get inspired." Looks like they are ready for Fall, too.

Ten more days until the official start of Fall!

How excited are you?!

beginning and end.

2011-09-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

What a day yesterday was! We started the day with "Elmo" being interrupted for a severe weather warning. I thought, yeah, right. An hour later, we had a spectacular (for Southern California) thunder, lightening and hail storm. It was so fun to sit with Avery under the covered patio and watch and talk about the storm. As she held the pea-sized hail, she said over and over, "This is exciting." When she heard thunder, she said, "Oooooo, under." It was a fun morning!

The end of the day was spent picking carrots from our garden. A few months ago, Archer and I planted carrot seeds. Yesterday, we pulled them up. It was a fun surprise to see all the shapes, sizes and colors of our carrots.

Someone else wanted in on the fun.

Only in Southern California....

the home stretch.

2011-09-10T14:03:00.000-07:00

Our summer went out with a bang.... here are some of the things we made sure to fit in before our summer ended!

We visited the OC fair with some dear friends. It was Avery's first time and as you can guess from the photos, she had so much fun!

Cruising around with her buddies, {two of} the Jennings' girls

Giddy up. Mom learned a lesson about pony rides at the fair. Don't ask your two year old if she wants to go on a pony ride before you ask how much it is... but I have to say her smile during the entire ride was definitely worth $10.

First fair ride- LOVED it!

Another ride...

An OC Fair must.... corn on the cob.

We also took a train ride down to Tommy Pastrami, San Diego. Mommy, Avery, Mimi, Auntie Kelly, Archer, Beau and the Davenport fam rode the Coaster to downtown San Diego to visit Papa and Uncle Timmy. What a fun way to travel... and you can't beat the ocean view for most of the hour long ride.

Could not get Beau and Avery to take their eyes off of Uncle Timmy...

Visited Mommy's BFF, Heather in Atlanta

Bride and Groom to be

After a fun visit in Atlanta, we loaded everyone in the car, including Roxy and headed to Hilton Head, SC for The Big Day.

Someone found some "princess shoes."

A Hilton Head sunset with Daddy.

A stroll with Mommy after eating at the famous Salty Dog Cafe

Lots and lots of pool time!

After Hilton Head, we drove to Orlando to visit Auntie Jennifer, Uncle Doug and Siena for a couple days.

Someone found the cool spot in the house- smart cookie!

Keepin' cool in the pool.

More play time for the cousins.

A little late and a little early....

We wrapped up summer time festivities with a visit to Grandma and Grandpa's for a Labor Day BBQ.

Avery is a Scooter loving little girl....

She rode the tricycle for the first time by herself.

Wearing big cousin, Conor's hat

Avers and Scooter relaxing on the hammock.

Can't forget the backyard fun...lots of buns... mommy's personal favorite.

We made a lot of fun memories this summer. We hope you did, too!

What on earth have you been doing?

2011-08-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

I know our family posts have been few and far between, but that doesn't mean that we've been up to nothing. We have actually been quite busy with some fun summer activities.

Merry-go-round ride with Daddy.

Train ride with Mommy

Mommy had a Girls' Weekend up in Paso Robles for Heather's Bachelorette Party.

On Heather's way out of town, she stopped by to say "hi" and .... I got another hostage in the trampoline.

Visiting Daddy at the station on my real birthday. He surprised me with a cupcake!!

Walking up Mimi and Papa's hill with Uncle Cooper and my cousins.

Riding around on my new plasma car in my birthday suit.

A trip down to Leucadia to see {great} Uncle Bob & {great} Auntie Sheryl.

It's been an action packed summer. Stay tuned for more.

a birthday post.

2011-08-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

Better late than never, right? On July 26th, our baby girl turned 2. My, how time flies. We have had the best time ever being her mommy and daddy! To ring in her second year, we had a bubble party in our backyard.

Bubble stations were set up for kids (and adults) to blow their own bubbles as bubble machines were pumping out their perfect little bubbles.

There were lots of different sizes and shapes of bubble wands. Some of the bubble wands were household products like strainers, funnels, cookie cutters, and slotted spoons.

A bubble pool to make big bubbles from the hula hoop.

Simple Centerpiece

Auntie Kelly made bubble cupcakes.

The trampoline was also a hit.

In action...

When the "Happy Birthday" song started, she got a little smirk on her face as she realized everyone was singing to her.

For a couple weeks leading up to her birthday, we asked her what she wanted for her birthday, she always answered, "Cupcake. Cupcake, please." Well, today was the day...

She waited for the "okay" and then dove in. Cupcake 1 of 3....

The After Party with the Family

Thank you everyone who celebrated with us. We had such a fun day! Happy Birthday, Babygirl!!

summertime injuries are no fun.

2011-07-18T21:19:00.000-07:00

The day started with swim lessons, swinging outside, running in the grass, pushing baby in the stroller and helping mommy and daddy in the garden.

And ended with a trip to Kid's Doc.

Avery was walking barefoot in the backyard on our pebble path. It was hot from the sun and burned her little feet.

She has 2nd degree burns on both feet. We have to keep them wrapped in gauze and prescription antibiotic cream until the blisters heal. Her 2nd birthday party is on Thursday so we are hoping for a speedy recovery.

She was such a trooper at the doctor- no crying. In fact, she kept saying, "Thank you, Doctor" as the doctor cleaned, wiped and wrapped her little feet.

"Sweet Yogurt" (aka Golden Spoon) made it a happy ending.

a spontaneous trip to the....

2011-07-12T14:16:00.000-07:00

Santa Ana Zoo

So, anyone who has tried taking cute photos of a two year old knows it can be a daunting task. Silly noises, silly faces, bribery, trying to milk the fact your toddler knows emotions- " Show me your happy face." Anything to get a good photo. All I wanted for this photo was Avery with the Santa Ana Zoo sign in the background. So, which method was used for this photo, you ask? Well, she was more interested in Beau's snacks than modeling for a photo. Thank goodness I was in good company with 3 other moms. After numerous attempts, I heard one say, "Avery, go take a picture for mommy then you could have a snack." So, this photo is Avery running towards me saying, "Cheese" right before her quick U-turn to get her reward- one of Beau's pretzels.

We saw camels...

and monkeys (never did find the monkey in this exhibit), but a pretty view nonetheless.

We took advantage of photo ops.

We took a train ride...

and a carousel ride. It was Avery's first time.

Avers mooched a little more from Beau.

We saw some rain forest frogs...

and more monkeys.

It was a fun day at the Santa Ana Zoo!

a festive fourth.

2011-07-07T21:40:00.001-07:00

It was a fun day of celebrating. We spent the afternoon and evening with dear friends eating, drinking and chatting. Thanks Chris and Brent for hosting another perfect party!

What would the Fourth of July be without wearing red, white and blue...

swimming {with an ocean view}...

eating yummy bbq with friends...

corn on the cob...

a firecracker popsicle...

watching fireworks...

Oh, and a visit from Troy who stopped by while protecting and serving. He was a hit with the kids!

Hope you had a happy Fourth!

Who needs an ocean view at lunch...

2011-07-05T07:53:00.000-07:00

...when you've got this view!

I love summertime lunches!

So far, summertime has brought....

2011-07-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

lots of trampoline time... sometimes with hostages.

goggle wearing... she would have slept with these on if I let her.

a trip to Toys R Us for a water table... we got our money's worth in a day.

Stay tuned for more summertime fun!

cousin hugs and an apple muffin.

2011-06-26T13:36:00.000-07:00

It was during a safety break at the water park and all that was said was, "Hey, Beau, can you give Avery a hug?"

Avery leans in with anticipation. This is how she "hugs" right now.

Beau stretches his arms and walks toward her. I'm pretty sure he was sneaking in a kiss, too.

I love how close in age these two are. It is so sweet to watch their "cousin relationship" blossom. They are learning together how the world works.

the ocean, a bbq and lots of dads...

2011-06-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

That's what our Father's Day was all about.

We started the day off with a venti caramel macchiato while daddy opened up his gifts.

After a low key morning and a recharged toddler, we headed to Laguna Beach where Sean's brother and family live.

We walked down to Victoria Beach for some fun in the sand.

Avery LOVED the waves. I wish I had a video of her squeals and laughter. It made us all smile!

We walked back to a house full of delicious food and great company.

It's so special that all the dads in both of our families can all be together on Father's Day.

Thanks Mike, Jill, Tierney and Dane for opening your home to all of us!!

Things that can happen when...

2011-05-22T13:09:00.000-07:00

... you rear your child with a dog.

1. Two for one entertainment.

2. Learning toughness and patience- when you get knocked down by a happy dog or whipped in the face by a happy tail.

3. Mommy gets commanded like the dog does, "Come, mommy."

4. More frequent trips to the park, so the dog can let off steam

5. Vocabulary building-
"Enough"
"I know, I know"
"To your bed"
"Good boy"
"Excuse me, please"
"Sit"
"Release"
"Move, please."

6. Ball throwing skills

7. Knowing how to pant and lap her water (not sure if this is good)

8. Learning to love every animal

9. Helping mommy at meal time

10. Building immunity

Thank you, Stanley for helping to make Avery a well-rounded little girl!

Mother's Day- Part 1

2011-05-13T16:09:00.001-07:00

We had a beautiful Mother's Day celebrating my mom. Sean was working, so the focus was MY mom. We started the morning with Sunday service at my parent's church. Then, we headed to Los Rios Street in San Juan Capistrano for a light breakfast and coffee at the Hidden House Cafe and strolled down the historic street.

It was a fun morning. I love you, Mom!

our mommy: celebrated and in action.

2011-05-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

The mommy in our family was celebrated on Monday with a delicious lunch at the Beachcomber and nice walk on Crystal Cove beach watching the waves go "up and down" as Avery would say.

We spent the rest of the day relaxing- no errands, no appointments. Then, Sean made a delicious Peruvian dinner. It was a beautiful day!

The next day, we took a drive down to San Diego and enjoyed a delightful "4x4" breakfast sandwich of egg, pastrami and cheese at my dad's restaurant, Tommy Pastrami. On the way back up, we stopped off in La Jolla to check out the seals. Avery was very excited to see them. She also loved the chipmunks on the bluffs.

That afternoon, Sean and Avery were bouncing on her new trampoline.

After one particular bounce, she buckled. I could've sworn I heard a pop. She started crying and had trouble putting pressure on her foot for the next few hours and wanted to be held, so off to the ER we went for some x-rays. She was such a good girl WAITING to be called back, lying on the table while the x-rays were taken, WAITING for the doctor, WAITING for the x-rays, WAITING for the results, then WAITING for the discharge paperwork.

The doctor reported there was no break, just a sprain. We are very thankful for this!!

Happy Mother's Day!

it was a happy easter afterall.

2011-05-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

We had a great time on Easter (note: the Easter Bunny was NOT there!)

The morning started with Avery going through her Easter basket filled with play-doh accessories, bubbles, and books.

After church (and a nap), we headed to Mimi and Papa's house for an Easter egg hunt and dinner with the whole family. It took some prompting to understand what an Easter egg hunt was all about....

"Look, here's an Easter egg. Pick it up."

"Here's your Easter basket. Put the Easter egg in the basket."

... but after a few prompts, Avery got the hang of it and spotted an egg by herself.

Slam dunk!

Hope you had a happy Easter, too!

spring has sprung.

2011-04-21T14:32:00.000-07:00

Along with the blooming flowers, newly planted veggie gardens and Easter decorations, here are some other things that are happening around here to show spring is in the air...

... "watering" Stanley's water dish with her new watering can

... and LOTS of backyard time of...

... giggling and squealing nudie cuties running through the sprinklers

... and lunch and reading books in Grandma and Grandpa's backyard...

... and walking on the path with Daddy in Mimi and Papa's backyard.

Happy Spring!

{a not so} happy Easter.

2011-04-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

a fun few days.

2011-04-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

Visiting daddy. The start of each visit goes something like this. We pull up to the station gate and Avery, in her lingo that only a mommy can understand, says, "Daddy station." We pull in and park. Mommy gets Avery unbuckled and out of the car. She runs at him full speed saying, "Daddy" and lands right into his open arms. It gets me every time! Avery is becoming really interested in the fire engines. She loves touching daddy's patch on his uniform and always grabs for his pens and pager. Although Avery would rather have daddy at home, visiting him at the station is always a highlight in her day.

It was such a hot Friday that we cut our park date short and went to Target for some fun water toys. At first Avery was a little skeptical, but in no time she wanted her shirt and shorts off and she was in heaven!

Mommy's BFF, Heather (aka "Ha-Ha") was in town for a visit and we had so much fun together. Avery particularly liked HaHa's iphone and a cat app that repeated whatever you said in a high pitched voice and purred when you rubbed its stomach.

A spontaneous trip to Zoomar's petting zoo with Robyn and Julia.

It was a fun few days.

It's been a busy week of...

2011-03-27T20:43:00.001-07:00

practicing somersaults.

feeding babies.

playing at the park.

visiting the dentist.

and... drumroll, please... sittin' on the pot.

Yes, Avery asked to sit on the toilet. Her face lit up with a huge smile. After a few minutes, mommy tried to lift her off. Well, she made it very clear that she wasn't ready to get down. That's when I got the camera.

So there you have it- Avery's week at a glance.

a bright future.

2011-03-19T22:31:00.000-07:00

Mimi, Papa, Mommy and Avery went to our favorite Mongolian BBQ restaurant for dinner tonight (Daddy was working). Avery loved her dinner AND the fortune cookie. It was her first fortune cookie.

I'm loving the 19 month old stage! She wore these most of the day- on our walk, in the car, around the house, into the bank....

{not} just another day in the park.

2011-03-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

Avery and Daddy got to spend the day with some very special people.

Uncle Chris

and Cousin Conor

and Grandpa

and Cousin Kaeleen

and Sara, Grandma, Auntie Jill, Cousin Tierney

It was a perfect way to spend the day!

19 months and counting.

2011-02-26T17:52:00.000-08:00

On July 26, 2009, our world got better...

... and every single day, it keeps getting better!

We love you, Avers!

There's a first time for everything.

2011-02-25T08:18:00.000-08:00

Avery LOVED sledding!

Berry pickin'

2011-02-21T20:13:00.001-08:00

A cuter photo would have been what Sean saw a couple days ago when Avery discovered the strawberry plants in the backyard. She had the strawberry in her mouth with the whole plant, including the root ball dangling down in front of her.

Today, she was bobbing for strawberries. I couldn't quite capture the moment with my camera, but I think you can get the idea.

We love our berry lovin' little girl!

Is this normal?!

2011-02-20T08:12:00.000-08:00

A few mornings ago (note the bed head) Avery walked up to me holding a pair of her pants, making the "uh- uh" noise like she needed help. I realized what she wanted, so I put the pants on her. She came up to me another time. I tried to reason with her that wearing two pairs of pants was enough. She had a meltdown, so another pair went on. The final count was four. Four pants.

She was satisfied.

Today, we are at two... so far.

E-I-E-I-O....

2011-02-16T21:35:00.000-08:00

And on his farm he had Bunnies and Guinea Pigs- E-I-E-I-O. We actually went to Zoomar's petting zoo.

These pictures were taken after a few teachable moments. After a short explanation that the veggies are for the animals, I handed Avery the basket of veggies to feed them, she took out a piece of broccoli and tried to eat it. Mom intercepted. She tried again with a carrot (another block), and then again with a piece of lettuce (another block). She eventually got it! I guess that's what happens when you bring your veggie-loving daughter to the petting zoo.

All-aboard!

Avery took her first train ride by herself.

Ready!

Set!

Go!

After a couple times around the circle, she was done. The nice man stopped the train and Avery got off.

Off to the cows she went...

Then she "drove" on over to ....

.... the goats. "Hey, Avery, what does a goat say?"

It was a fun-filled day at Zoomar's!

case in point.

2011-02-13T12:04:00.000-08:00

This morning, Avery grabbed Siena's picture off the fridge and brought it to the breakfast table. Avery loves "Nenna."

Long time, no blog

2011-02-05T10:50:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's been a long time! Let's catch you up on what we've been up to. We had a fantastic Christmas. We got to spend time with the Bonner side on Christmas Day this year.

Daddy made a duck by hand for Avery to push around.

For the first few days she just kissed the duck and quacked at it with her adorable "quacking" (insert gulping water sound).

The day after Christmas was spent with the Doran side. Special time was spent with Grandma

and reading Christmas books with Grandpa

and dancing on the hearth with Cousin Scooter

and spinning tops with Cousin Dane

My Gym classes have also been keeping us busy!

And, for the highlight of our January, we took a trip to Orlando and got to meet our new baby niece, Siena Lyle Doran or as Avery calls her "Nenna" and see "Gaga" (Uncle Doug) and "De" (Auntie Jen).

Oh wait, that's not Siena...

Introducing Siena Lyle Doran

There are no pictures of Auntie Kim with Siena because Avery was... let's just say a little jealous when mommy was holding Siena.

Avers and Gaga

Playing

We are counting down the days until we get to see "Nenna, Gaga, and De" again. Even though, Avers wasn't too happy about a cousin picture or her mommy holding Siena, she has not stopped talking about her auntie, uncle and cousin.

On Lake Eola in Orlando

That's all folks!

Merry Christmas, Mommy

2010-12-24T20:34:00.000-08:00

My Little Hand...

Come with me mommy,
I just want to show you one thing.
From balls to books to dolls,
to the doorbell I can't yet ring.

Will you lift me up,
to show me the photos of our family?
I love to give them all kisses,
from aunties to cousins and even Stanley.

Now let's go see my bedroom,
with the animals and flowers and all.
I will show you each bird and butterfly,
and even the little mouse I spy on the wall.

To the bathroom I think would be fun,
to see what is in each and every drawer.
I like to go through each one,
as I did the day before.

To the bedroom of Mommy and Daddy,
to pick out a necklace I think.
Would you please help me choose one,
to go with my pajamas of pink?

I think we are now ready,
to see what outside has in store.
May we please go for a walk,
so I can learn even more?

Out the front door,
and down our only step.
Will we play in the swing when we return?
You know the answer is... umm, yep.

I can open the gate all by myself,
just you watch and see.
I am growing very quickly,
I am becoming a bigger me.

With a few stops to make,
down the sidewalk we will go.
There will be a few dandelions,
that I must pick and blow.

We will walk and walk and walk,
forwards and even backwards is neat.
My little legs get so tired,
sometimes I need to take a seat.

I will look up in the sky,
to find my friend the moon.
Some evenings it is there,
other times it is just too soon.

On some special days there is a treat,
of which I am a big fan.
Along comes a great big ol' trash truck,
with a green arm that grabs our trashcan.

Maybe I will see a motorcycle,
and wait to hear you say vroom, vroom.
Or maybe it is a car playing loud music,
the kind that goes boom, boom.

It is always fun to spy a kopka,
I really like them- mmmuh, mmmuh.
Or perhaps we will see some crows.
Mommy, they are singing to us- cah, cah.

I could go on and on,
about all the neat stuff we see.
But, what I really want to tell you,
is I'm happiest when you are with me.

So, it may seem insignificant,
that finger of yours I once needed to even stand.
But, since I very first met Daddy and you, I've shown you my love...
By holding onto it tightly with my little hand.

Merry Christmas, Mommy. I sure do love you.

Love, Avery

Oh, the weather outside was frightful!

2010-12-24T07:31:00.000-08:00

As my Southern California peeps know, earlier this week we had some serious rain. It was fun and cozy but too much all at once for a lot of people/areas. Not for us.

For us, it meant cozy days playing by the crackling fire and lighted Christmas tree with my visiting BFF, aunties and cousins.

Piling in Auntie Kelly's minivan and looking at the Christmas lights.

Taking short walks in the {light} rain.

But in true Southern California fashion, by week's end the forecast is clear and sunny skies.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2010-12-10T20:51:00.000-08:00

We've been keeping very busy getting into the spirit of the season. A couple of the season's highlights have been...

...visiting Santa. Avery was very brave this year. She sat on Santa's lap for about 20 seconds before crying. I lifted her off his lap, moved her to the doorway and knelt down to explain in 16 month old terms that Santa is a nice man who gives kids gifts. Avery's response? She promptly pushed my back and grabbed my hand to lead me out the door. She was over it.

...going to the Sawdust Winter Fantasy

Caught in the act at the Zoomar's petting zoo area... mmmmuh!

... admiring all the lights and decorations has definitely been at the top of the list this year.

Merry Christmas from Stanley, too.

We have our own little Christmas elf that...

2010-12-06T14:06:00.000-08:00

... helped us deck the halls. She helped us pick out our Christmas tree...

...and decorate it with lights...

...and ornaments....

She even helped Daddy put up the Christmas lights on our house.

Fa-la-la-la-la

Mmmmmmuh!

2010-12-02T13:06:00.000-08:00

Our baby girl LOVES to kiss. She kisses mommy, daddy, Stanley (dog), Willy (cat), Miguel (cat), cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, dolls, stuffed animals, animals painted on her wall, her reflection on the mirror or window. Don't feel left out if you live far away, she also kisses pictures of people and animals. During lunch today, she kissed the Mickey Mouse on her fork. A few times I was in the other room and heard, "Mmmuh...mmmuh...mmmuh." When I walked in to see what she was kissing I saw her ....

... kissing Honey Bear

... kissing a photo magnet of one of our cats

... kissing a ghost pot holder

Sending kisses... mmmuh!

A List of Things To Do on a Cold, Rainy Day

2010-11-21T18:31:00.000-08:00

1. Watch the rain and hail under the patio cover in our cozy jammies

2. Get really cozy and fall fast asleep on a walk

3. Bundle up and play with my toys

Check. Check. Check.

We'll let the pictures do the talking....

2010-11-05T13:58:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Kari!

October Fun.

2010-11-02T12:51:00.000-07:00

We had a fun and busy month of October in the our home. First and foremost, Avery is a walker now. October 2nd to be exact. So that, in and of itself makes for a busier month. We love watching her proud smile as she walks from place to place. She is such a great sport about being knocked over by Stanley.

We visited the pumpkin patch a few times. Avery loved walking the rows of pumpkins, touching each one. She loved seeing the ducks, goats and pigs. She could have ridden on the 25 cent rides forever!

We went to a few Halloween parties where we got to dress up our little fairy.

Avery got her first haircut, which is a whole different post.

And thanks to Sean, it was a very happy Stach-tober!

Someone had her first bubble bath last night.

2010-10-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

Do you think she liked it?

Labs.

2010-10-14T11:24:00.000-07:00

If you can get past the lack of spatial awareness, the tail that whips around and either knocks over your coffee mug or swipes your toddler in the face, and chewing up of bath toys...

Then, they really are the most patient, loving and gentle doggies for kids.

This photo would probably make a better video. What really happened was Avery climbed on Stanley's back and bounced on him while patting his face.

We really do love you, Stanley.

Fall...

2010-10-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

... is my favorite season and Halloween is my favorite holiday. As you could imagine, I am in heaven right about now! Our house was decorated with colored leaves and apples on the first day of fall; Halloween decorations and pumpkins went up October 1st. We have already been through two batches of pumpkin pancakes with real maple syrup, a loaf of pumpkin bread and a couple pumpkin spice lattes. I've imposed my love for Fall and Halloween on poor Avery. Hopefully, she won't mind too much.

We are off to the pumpkin patch next week. Happy Halloween!

Silence doesn't always mean mischief....

2010-09-28T16:15:00.000-07:00

After playing in the family room for awhile, Avery crawled to her bedroom to play. She was making noise- babbling, opening and closing cabinets and drawers and playing with her musical toys, then the noise stopped. After a minute or so of no "noise," I went back to check on her. I peeked my head in her room and this is what I saw....

See Avery Play

2010-09-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

Avery loves to push Dolly in the stroller. Dolly loves to ride. Ride Dolly ride.

Avery loves to hug and kiss Dolly. (I'm sure) Dolly loves it, too. More Avery more.

Avery puts Dolly in the stroller all by herself. Dolly needs help. Help, Someone help.

The End.

Cruisin' on the boardwalk

2010-09-28T12:20:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful day, so we thought we'd take a little trip to Laguna Beach. Avery loved walking {us} up and down the board walk and really enjoyed the smiles and cheers from the people passing by.

Side note: The "Nemo" sticker on her shirt was from the dentist. Yep, Avery had her first trip to the dentist. She was such a good girl while Dr. Mike brushed her six teeth, but she did not enjoy it one bit!

Some people say gross....

2010-09-15T10:22:00.000-07:00

... to licking the swings at the park...

... to crawling on the sidewalk in downtown San Diego...

... to eating sand at the beach...

... I say she's just building immunity.

One bedhead and two smiles

2010-09-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

There are two awesome things about this picture.

1.) The Bedhead

2.) Avery's smile.
She had just woken up which means the pacifier was in, she was very mellow and a little groggy - in no mood for a picture. We had to get a pic of this bedhead. As Sean stood behind the camera ready to snap her picture, I popped out her pacifier and directed her attention to the camera. She cracked a short, little smile. We wanted another picture and she did it again. She cracked another smile...for the camera.

Land of Many Lakes

2010-09-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

So, Orange County isn't exactly the Land of 1,000 Lakes, but we sure have had fun visiting a few of the lakes nearby. We hit three lakes in three days.

On Tuesday, we had a fun time with the Jennings', Thralls', Karidis', Kolasinski's, and Anderson's at the lagoon in Irvine.

Ally and Avery hangin' on the shoreline

Busy with the boogie board (Meagan, Paige, Jessica & Avers)

On Wednesday, we hit the Rancho Santa Margarita Beach Club with Robyn, Julia, Cori & Luke. Although I couldn't snap a pic with all the little ones together, I was able to capture Avery's favorite activity... crawling in the water. She loved crawling back and forth along the shore.

On Thursday, we spent a relaxing afternoon at Lake Mission Viejo with the Gillespie's.

Drake and Avers

Having a blast in the water with Daddy

Needless to say, we have had a fun "list of things to do" during the last week of summer!

Maui- Week 2

2010-08-29T19:55:00.001-07:00

So, now we are officially relaxed and enter into our last week of our vacay. Here are some of the week's happenings....

We went on a date night! Thanks to my mom and sister who watched our little one. We walked the boardwalk in Wailea and hit a few hotels for appetizers and drinks. It was a fun way to try a bunch of restaurants in one night.

A trip to Maui Brewing Company was a must. Cheers!

Getting a 104.5 temperature isn't supposed to happen in Paradise, but Avery was a good sport.

Hanging by the Maui Hill pool. We finally got a photo of Avery wearing her sunglasses.

Another way to keep cool....

Couldn't resist a bare bottom shot.

We are counting down the days until next year. We will miss you, Maui!

Maui- Week 1

2010-08-26T11:09:00.001-07:00

We had a fabulous time in Maui. It was so fun to show Avery so many new things.

First mango mojito of the trip at Five Palms in Kihei. We talk about this drink all year!

Having breakfast... hawaiian style

First time in the ocean

Lunch at our favorite place in Makawao

Maui Sunset

We visited the Surfing Goat Dairy farm in Kula.

... and a trip to the Ali'i Kula Lavender farm.

Guess who turned one in July?

2010-08-25T11:34:00.000-07:00

It is amazing how quickly this year flew by. My precious baby girl is one now, so we had to celebrate with two parties. We had a big birthday bash at Lake Mission Viejo where friends and family joined in the fun.... (those photos will be posted as soon as I download 'em from my sister's camera)

Her actual birthday was also filled with fun...

The day started with swim lessons.

Then, we had a fun playdate with Ella and Vivienne (and Meagan, Nikki, Eric & Kaelyn).

Listened to a birthday song from Grandma.

Got a little red wagon from mommy and daddy.

Wrapped up the day with a family dinner (& another cake) at Mimi & Papa's.

It was a great day!!

Things We Love About Camping {at Huntington Lake}

2010-07-22T10:36:00.001-07:00

Being together as a family with no distractions

Plenty of swim time= a happy, tired doggy

Cooking over the campfire

Hiking

We love camping

Avery had another first.

2010-07-08T20:38:00.000-07:00

She had her first pastrami sandwich from Tommy Pastrami and loved it!

Finishing off with a yummy dill pickle

We are so excited for my dad who is opening a Tommy Pastrami New York Deli, which will be in Downtown San Diego. So, the next time you catch a Padres game, visit the Gaslamp District, or even just pass through San Diego, check out Tommy Pastrami for THE BEST sandwiches ... and potato salad and homemade chili and homemade matzo ball soup. You won't be disappointed!

It was a perfect 4th of July complete with ...

2010-07-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

Family- Daddy had the day off work.

Friends- We went to the Thrall's house for a fun party!

Fun- There were so many "big" kids to watch. The Anderson's even brought their bounce house. I had so much fun sliding down the slide.

Fireworks- We walked up the street and watched the San Clemente Pier's fireworks. I loved watching and pointing at them! They were far enough away so they weren't too loud.

We hope everyone had a fabulous Fourth!

A New Spin on the Bedtime Routine

2010-07-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

Avery learned a new game last week and decided to incorporate it into our bedtime routine last night.

After we read Goodnight Moon, she flipped through the pages for a bit and then started a game of ...

... peek-a-boo.

We love watching her little personality shine!!

A couple little moments that put a huge smile on my face.

2010-06-30T10:36:00.000-07:00

Sean doing swim lessons with Avery.

Returning home to Avery wearing pigtails (Sean did 'em) in the backpack while Sean was vacuuming.

#1 Daddy and Husband!!!!

Happy Father's Day to the best Dad ever!!

2010-06-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

We started the morning off with coffee in the backyard while Daddy opened his gifts.

Auntie Jill and Uncle Mike started the best Father's Day tradition. The family is invited to their charming little cottage in Laguna Beach. The afternoon is spent at Victoria Beach down the street and the evening is spent in the backyard eating yummy appetizers, melt-in-your mouth smoked ribs and chicken, refreshing salad, crisp, juicy watermelon and decadent desserts!

Playing Catchup...

2010-06-24T13:49:00.001-07:00

Here are some snapshots of what we've been up to in the last month-

A quick little weekend in Vegas for a friend's wedding....

Heather visits for the weekend....

Uncle Chris graduates from UCSD....

Date Night at the Rooftop Lounge in Laguna. Thanks Auntie Jill for making it possible!

Someone would rather be standing than sitting....

Picnicking in Santa Monica

2010-05-27T11:12:00.000-07:00

Since it was such a beautiful day when we were in Santa Monica, we decided to get sandwiches from our favorite place, Bay Cities Deli, and have a little picnic on the bluffs. We thought it would be a great moment to capture on camera. The only problem was when Sean set the 10-second delay, Avery would lose interest in the blinking light and look back at her toy.

So, he set the 2-second delay, and this is what happened....

Which self-timer setting would you choose?

"A win-win"

2010-05-20T21:48:00.001-07:00

405+1 smart guy changing a tire in the carpool lane+4 cars slamming on their brakes (not fast enough) =

2010-05-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

...but we are all ok!!

Sibling rivalry has already begun....

2010-05-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

"Honey, I'm home..."

2010-04-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

When Sean gets off work in the morning, Avery is usually sitting in her highchair eating breakfast. Here is a replay of what happens-

Avery hears the door open and Daddy's voice, but can't see him yet.

Daddy peeks around the corner, which gets Avery squealing and kicking with delight.

Daddy comes in for a kiss. Notice Avery reciprocating (she just started doing this).

It is such a sweet moment.

"Cheese!"

2010-04-15T08:50:00.000-07:00

A "Digital Camera" Moment

2010-04-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

My sister, Kristi and her little guy, Max came over the other day and the cutest thing happened....

Max reached his arms out, leaned in and hugged Avery without being asked by anyone. Kristi and I looked at each other with a pleasantly surprised look and both said at the same time, "Awe, how sweet." Kristi said that was Max's first "real" hug that he has given. He did it again and again. Between Project 365 and this blog I have been obsessed with capturing real life moments in pictures. Needless to say, I ran to get my camera and here's what I captured....

Um, not what I was hoping for... didn't quite capture the tender moment.

Let The Fun Begin!

2010-04-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

Avery started swim lessons and she loves it! She loves the songs, being on her back (check out her smile), being swished in the water, and bouncing up and down. At the end of the last lesson, she even got to go down the water slide on her tummy.

It's a fun way to spend our Monday mornings!