The Pumpkin Patch

Happy Halloween everyone! Getting ready for the big holiday, we have been very busy. Lots of places to go, things to do, and people to see. Sorry for the delay in my posts but I plan to make up for lost time right here and now.

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On Thursday we visited the local pumpkin patch here in Seal Beach. It looks really impressive from the outside (and to your average 2 year old) until you get inside. Instead of "pumpkin", everything was spelled "pumkin" and I don't think that was intentional. And I want you to notice the seat belt on the car Ryan rode in for one of the rides. But Ryan and Charlie never noticed the "cheesiness". I will have to say that Charlie was a little apprehensive to be around all of these very large curious orange things (as you can see in the picture I tried to get of her and Ryan in the middle of the pumpkins). She finally loosened up if mommy or daddy was holding her.

Maybe an athlete after all

Ryan and daddy had some fun throwing around the football. Maybe our little tot has some "skillz" afterall. Ha-Ha! You can decide...

Look who thinks she's ready for a big girl bed now!

Charlie is starting to get more and more comfortable in "her" room. And... she thinks that now that she is an old lady at one years old, she should get to sleep in a big girl bed too. Sorry Charlie! You're gonna have to wait a bit on that one!

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The Approach...

The Climb...

The Head Bury (for leverage)...

Success...

Tuckered Out?...
No, someone is justing wanting to be just like her big sister.

Just in case...

Just in case you didn't get enough of the party in the last post, here are a few more pics for you all. Enjoy.

Thanks again for being part of Charlie's special day. She loved every minute of it.

USC and Little Charlie...

...Oh, what a pair!! It really did turn out to be a great pairing, both winners. USC won the game and Charlie won out on a great birthday party with friends and family. Thanks everyone for helping us celebrate Charlie's first birthday. I think yesterday her favorite part was the cake - hands down, no brainer! But today... it's the presents. She has been sitting in the living room going through all of her "loot". I even get the impression that she understands that it is all for her. You were all very, very generous. Thank you so much. Here's a few pics to capture the day...

Happy Birthday Charlie Girl!!

Oh boy, how you've grown "Charla" (Ryan's new name for Charlie)! Happy Birthday to our little Miss Charlotte Sandra Grace.
Here is small look at her first year as part of this wonderful world...

In the hospital... October 5, 2005

December 2005

February 2006

April 2006


June 2006

September 2006

The girls in their jerseys

Saturday was Aidan's jersey themed 1st birthday party. The girls wore matching pink Raider jerseys with the number "00" on them. I know, I know... that the same number of wins they have had this season. Ha-ha! Trying to stay loyal to my team. You can see in the pic that Carson is wearing a Chargers jersey and daddy is wearing a Derek Jeter "jersey". Hey, it's better than the Faconnable "jersey" he was going to wear. Big party, lots of people, and Gigi and Papa even watched Ryan for a few hours that evening so that we could stay and watch the USC game. Thanks Gigi and Papa!

Charlie's "Box Car"

These pictures kind of speak for themselves. Mommy carted Charlie all over the house in her very own "box car". She just giggled and giggled the whole time.

Ryan's first "Out-of-the-Circle" Party

Ryan got invited to her classmate, Rocco's, birthday party. It was the first party we have been invited to that wasn't one of our close friends or family. It was interesting to be at a "true" kids' birthday party where the only adults were the parents of the kids who were there. I met some of the moms in Ryan's class. (Another one of which named her newborn daughter Ryan!) They were very nice.

here is Ryan waiting patiently in line to get her hand painted. She looked a little nervous in the middle of all those big kids but she was brave and kept her place in line all by herself.

Ryan was not scared at all of the funny man with the yellow shirt. (I think I was a little afraid for her.)

Ryan watching the magic show. It was so cute watching her try to be like the bigger kids. She'd laugh when they laughed. She'd clap when they clapped. And she kept turning around to make sure she was doing the right thing. My little girl is getting all grown up.

Time to Party

For you blog readers, you're the first to know...Game time has been set!! Yippie! Game starts at 12:30. The party will begin at 12:00 so that everyone can sign into up in the pool to win some fabulous prizes during the game! Look for your invitation in the mail tomorrow.
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Last night, Charlie was trying to be a good little helper for her big day. She is no help at all. She is literally running away from me with party favors in hand. This repeated itself several times before I finally had to barracade the room from little toddling feet.

Kite Sights

Today we enjoyed the Seal Beach Kite Festival. We had told Ryan several days ago about it and she remembered! That child simply amazes me sometimes. It was a ton of fun and really beautiful to see so many kites in the sky at one time.

From the pier you could watch kite "masters" make their kites dance to music. One did a batman theme and one had 7 kites in the air at once all in unison. It was amazing. There were others but Ryan was really, really, really wanting to get down to the sand where all the excitement was. Buggy was content right where she was at. I think she especially enjoyed seeing the spectacular colors of the kites.

Ryan even got to make her own kite. She did a great job keeping it in the air too.

Charlie's Birthday Party

We just wanted to let our friends and family know that there is still no word on what time the USC vs. Washington game is going to start for Charlie's birthday party on the 7th! We are so sorry to keep you all hanging like this. If I had any idea it would take this long... ugh! so frustrating! Well, I am checking the website daily (actually more like hourly now) and as soon as we know, we'll let you know. Steve seems to think it will be a 3:00 or 5:00 game and we wanted to start the party an hour before gametime so tentatively you can plan on an afternoon party time. Again, we're so sorry for the inconvenience. Thanks for being so patient.

Ryan's First Day at Preschool

Okay... let's try this post again. Blogger seems to be working again. Ryan started preschool last Friday. Steve took off work a little early so that we could both take her together. She was such a trooper. No tears. And she said things like, " I can do it by myself." And, "No, mommy this is my school." She even had no trouble going up to another little boy who was early to school and asked him to play. His name was Rocco. Such a cutie. Steve already gave him the evil eye. I tell you, that man is so nervous about his girls growing up and dating that he is instilling the fear now in every little boy that crosses their path.

It's official... her name is on the class list on the door.

Adalyn (Addy) is the only other 2 year old from Ryan's daycare program that got into preschool this fall. This works out great for us because these two are already great friends. I think seeing Addy there helped out with the first day jitters a little.

Here is Ryan eyeing all the equipment on the playground.

Mommy was able to sneak the camera into the doorway of her classroom just as class was beginning. Can you tell in the picture which student is already doing the talking and has the captive audience of all her classmates?

Charlie's First Day at Daycare

Charlie had her first day at daycare yesterday. Here she is playing with the toys from the moment we got there. It was weird to drop off Charlie but not Ryan. It seemed so backwards. It took Charlie 20 minutes to realize that I had left and of course, she lost it. Today she cried from the moment we pulled up to the house. What a quick learner. At least today, she had her sister there with her for support.

Can you tell? Charlie is standing all on her own. She is walking too. Such proud parents:-) I saved these shoes called "Robeez" from Ryan. She didn't get much use out of them because she was still at home (on carpet back then) when she was learning to walk but for Charlie they are perfect. I don't have to worry about her slipping on the hardwood and they have leather soles so they allow the baby's feet to act as if they were barefoot. I guess now I'll have to get these in every color (just like bathing suits and dance outfits). Ha-ha