We had the pleasure of having BOTH BABYgrands this weekend (Friday).  Our first time every to watch the two littles at the same time.  We had a 9mo and a 2yo and guess what!  We survived!  With flying colors!

It took a good tandem team of me and my most patient hubby but both were delightful.

Our 2yo Nathan managed to steal the computer from me most of the day.  He doesn’t get on the computer at his home, so he learned how to control the mouse.  Thomas and Friends online kept him busy.

Alyssa is crawling and moving about with help from walls and ottomans and boxes.  She moves around.  A lot.

I managed another mini session with them after naptime.

Officially 9 months old

He was really into the chicken wing

On Saturday, we had a laid back day and I even managed to steal a most delish two hour nap.   I was so proud of myself!   At 4pm, we headed out and over to my in laws nearby for a weekend barbecue which was fun.  We had skipped our normal Sunday coffee and opted instead to get together for a Memorial weekend grill and chill.  Bedtime was early for us.  It was great knowing that we had an extra day to chillax.

Which is what we did today.  All except for a little trip to San Jose Cameras for me.  I had a little baby to pick up

We are getting ready for an event filled weekend ~ and the week will be quite busy for me.  I’ve been daydreaming ~ of the water and the ocean.  And home made chowder.  And T’s cooking.  And treefort moments.

Can I just click my heels  or wiggle my nose?

Last night, way past my bedtime,  I was processing some photographs that I had taken of my niece’s graduation, and working on putting a video together ~ and then my house SHOOK!  It was LOUD, kind of like a train ran over the rooftop.  I knew it was an earthquake and it’s scared me enough to jump under my desk.  At midnite.

I was also on Facebook and typed out  EARTHQUAKE!!!!!  And called my kids to check on them.  No one was awake.

Then my daughter called.  Didn’t feel anything.

My sister was on Facebook.  “What earthquake“?  She sent a photo of her doggie fast asleep.

What earthquake??

And then ~ another big aftershock (apparently BIG is subjective). This time, I ran to the doorway.  Freaked!

Nothing on the news.  I was sure this was at least a 5.0 on the Richter scale.

Twitter had a little buzz, so I checked earthquake center to discover that this HUGE shake I felt was a measly 3.0 but centered two miles from me.

Great.  I was sure it was doomsday.

But apparently I get to live another day.  So get this!  The earthquake  center was literally almost under our home.  It was a measly 3.0!  I never feel these little ones!

I’m NOT happy about this.  If a 5.0 ‘right under my house’ hits -  I will be very afraid.  This baby was way way loud and our house jiggled like jello.  My dog barked, my husband woke up (from me yelling ‘earthquake!!” ) He quickly went back to sleep.  Apparently, it’s no biggie in California.

So, I caused a commotion over nothing even though my heart was pounding and I was afraid.

California!  Of course we take these things for granted!  What was I thinking!!

I can’t describe how much fun it was having a very well behaved little man spend the weekend with us.  He just left about an hour ago and our house is quiet and missing him.

I picked him up on Saturday as I had promised him on Mother’s Day.  “I’ll come and pick you up when you return from Disneyland, okay?”.  That was my promise.  And since children can’t comprehend time at this young age, I felt the need (and the WANT) to fulfill my promise.   And he was excited.

On the way home we stopped by Toys R Us and picked out a train set.  He picked out Arthur and a magic copper mine set (from Thomas and Friends).  We used up three AA batteries as the train went on and on on Saturday and Sunday.  This morning included a visit to the Ghiradelli outlet and he chose his treats.  Mid afternoon we trekked over to Target to get another Thomas and Friends set.  I did some grocery shopping there too.

We played in the street and on the bed of the truck.  Newman was his shadow.

We’re collecting memories.  These children are growing up so fast.  I can’t wait for summer.  I’ll have TWO littles to keep me entertained! Bring it on!

To over love these little ones, impossible.  Unheard of.  But I do, and I like it.

If this is a preview of heaven, then I’m cool.

I know he’s happy.  This is his heaven.

Soon we will be indulging everyone, in celebration.  In the meantime, the girlies are getting ready for the festivities.  My daughter and her girlfriends were pretty busy last night.  They’re scrapbookers when they manage to find some time to devote into their hobby (hard to now that they have growing kids).  But still, they made this ~ lots of it.

I never want flowers again.  These ones will last forever.

Peace and ciao.

I’ve been staying up way too late these days editing a new project and working on logos till my brain is fried.  So today, I took a day off to spend leisurely with the kids, hubby and the growing child known as babyGRAND number two. On their recent vacation in Disneyland, here’s the little one striking her first pose for the Mouseketeers ~

I haven’t said anything embarrassing lately but I’d call this a juicy foot in mouth photo. Don’t you agree?  However, that was the little miss last week in the Happiest Place on Earth.  Today, she was demure and a girlie girl.

We are almost nine months old.  Wow.  And she doesn’t mind posing for the camera.

I get the little boy this weekend.  Cross my fingers.  First, this grammie needs to run out and get a venti soy peppermint mocha because I had 3 hours of good sleep.  Not enough.  Need caffeine.

We have a new grad in our family!  Congratulations, Stretch !!  What an amazing achievement.  I swear (really!) that it was just yesterday when you were visiting the boy with the collapsed lung.  And now, lookit!  You’re accomplished!

Our Woman of Troy!

Well, it’s great to have you home.  At last! I’m sure you won’t miss the commute.  I’m looking forward to summer and some fun filled activities and outings.  Way to go! Champ!  What did you do?   You went to Disneyland!!

If you’re like most people, you’re pretty upset about the oil spill in our gulf coast and the problem they’re having containing it.  I, myself, feel helpless and I don’t live in the area.  Can you imagine those who make a living off the water?  It’s hard to imagine.

The other evening while we were watching the Sharks game on the telly (yes, we believe in the television!) ~ I saw the commercial for Dawn ~ the dish detergent that I’ve been using for a long time.

Well, at 12midnight a little bit ago, I just finished a round of dishes that have been piling up over the weekend.  I thought our cleaning lady was coming tomorrow but alas, not till Thursday.  I relented and did chores in between waiting for my oh-so-wonderful  web developer to switch themes on a project.

And while I was waiting for a reply ~ I went to the Dawn WEBSITE and donated $1.00 from the code on my bottle of detergent!  They are trying to raise $500,000 and are getting close!

I’m NOT paid to promote this but I thought it was a good cause and perhaps you could pass this message around.  Kind of like a Pay It Forward  thing, no?   And did you notice the picture above?  Yup, I’m watching my DVR show.  It’s GLEE!!  I can only watch it alone.  It’s totally banned around the husband   Doogie Houser ain’t bad as a singer!  WooOOt!!

And yes,  that is my pal Jack Bauer whose season ending / series ending finale will be next Monday.

On the home front, all my kiddies and the kiddiepies are back from Disneyland.  My son’s sweet GF graduated from college and is home. No more commutes to So Cal.  I got all my lovies close to me.

And guess what.  I got the little boy on Sabaday!!  Call me Happy!

It’s a quiet homey weekend for us.  The kids are in Disneyland galavanting with Mickey and Minnie Mouseketeers.  Alyssa got her first ‘ears’. See?

We ~ on the other hand ~ ventured out for a light lunch at a brewery where we enjoyed a bowl of homemade clam chowder.  We also ordered a pub special pastrami sandwich but we were too full after the soup so it was our mid afternoon snack.

Practicing ~ thinking of our vacation

In the afternoon I had to run a quick errand all the way down in the South Bay for my daughter.  On the way back up, I stopped by Nordstrom’s to pick up a couple pairs of shorts.  Yup, summertime!  I came home just in time to watch the Preakness Race.

Rest of the afternoon is a secret!  I’m working with some friends on something special!  Very creative and fun ~ but mum’s the word for now.  Oh, and excited is the other word.

My head is spinning.  I’ll need intervention tonight because my mind is on overdrive.  WoooOOt!!

Excuse me while I let it out! Woooohooooo! Wheeeeeeee!!  We FINALLY decided on a destination.  To us it felt like forever to make up our minds.  All our family is booked for their trips.  One set will be trekking the Grand Canyon.  Another set will be visiting Israel.  I believe another set will be in Beaver Creek, CO.  We took our time since we are fickle like that.  We’re going to be by the water, a necessary requirement for rest and relaxation.  We are doing a repeat vacation and headed o’er there.  Where we can watch sunsets every night. And maybe, if we’re lucky ~ another moon rise.

Hello Flight Reservation!

In the meantime, I’m going to be extremely busy because I’ve got a fun project with talented contributors for a blog magazine already with reader base waiting and people ready to sponsor.  We are AMPED.  Super excited. My grammie blog may (I said may) take a bit of a back seat while I run the logistics of our new endeavor.  All this is coming to a cool YAY today.  Including the trip.

I can already imagine the loves who will be our hosts getting the kegerator ready with Sierra Nevada; my mango margarita with Patron Campo Azul and a bunch of healthy snackins!

Healthy Snackins

Middle of the night dip into the water

Ok, I’m ready.  Oh my ~ I need to get some color in these darn winter white legs of mine.  Shorts, where art thou!!   Sigh ~  I think that’s enough excitement for the day.  Back to reality.  Snap out of the day dreaming!

Mirror Post:  The Original is in Better In Bulk

We’ve got a super exciting edition of Give Me Your Best Shot today. Not only am I co-hosting PhotoStory Friday with My Chaos, My Bliss again this week, but I’ve got the most awesome guest poster to help me out! I’d love to introduce you to my good friend and author of the Grammie Diaries. The text on her header always makes me smile: “A boomer Grandmom’s journey to becoming Grand. My life as a reformed tie-dyed, bead wearing flower child, and what life taught me about peace, love, and understanding. The real world (really!) and the fine print (read before you sign!).” I can only dream of being so cool when I’ve got two grandkids (and I can only hope that they’ll be as adorable as hers!).

I am so happy to have been asked to do a guest post for Better In Bulk.  Lolli’s blog carnivals are always fun to participate in and when she asked me to write for today, it took me one second to say yes.

There is nothing better than shooting in natural light.  At 9:30AM and a couple hours before the sun is set to call it a day, I find the best opportunities for outdoor photography.  Shooting at ISO 100 and a myriad of apertures to capture bokeh or full crystal clear landscape photos gives any amateur photographer a natural high, and the gumption to keep learning.  And experimenting.
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to babysit my 8 month old little bundle of Grand.  After a nice nap, she was in an excellent mood to play.  It was about 2PM, not the best time for a mini shoot. So we looked for a tree ~ and shade.  I gave her a tennis ball and set her down on the grass.  My photographs are taken in RAW format and for these I’ve used some Presets from Pretty Presets which I first came to discover from Lolli’s blog, and a little bit more tweaking.

With the wind in her face

Looking up and discovering a new world

I’m pretty sure you’ll agree that outdoor photography in the best light is ideal.  To encourage you to share your favorite outdoor photos, I’m throwing in a prize.  Share your photos with us here today.  Then in the comment section, vote for your favorite picture (yes, it’s ok to vote for your own picture!).  Get your friends to vote for your photo too, if you wish.  The winner will receive this MobileEdge USB 2.0 Card Reader/Writer which I found really useful on a recent out of town trip and took a laptop with me.  This handy gadget reads ALL types of media cards for cameras, PDAs and more.

Voting is open till next Thursday, May 5/20 at midnight, and a winner will be announced on next week’s Give Me Your Best Shot post.  All votes on all three blogs (Better in Bulk, Grammie Diaries, and My Chaos My Bliss) will be tallied.

So what are you waiting for!  If the sun is out, you’ve got a challenge and a cool prize to boot!

Read to find out more about Give Me Your Best Shot….And come back to leave the link to your best shot below (please link to your actual Give Me Your Best Shot post). And Grab my button(s) here and link to me so that we can get more people to stop by!

PS–be sure to check out this post to find out about winning an amazing Ergo Baby Carrier!!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Life certainly affords you some perks after you do it due diligence.  Today, I am enjoying one of them as I have the little one here while her dad runs some errands. We went for a nice walk with the pooch and even played in the grass.  It’s wonderfully sunny outside after a good rain a couple days ago.  After a few minutes of playing, she put herself to sleep in her kiddie koop.

While I field calls and write this quick post.

She is growing up so fast.  In a few months, she’ll be all of a whole year old.  It has gone by so quickly.  They don’t stay little very long.  I really wish they would because they’re delicious little baby dolls!

As most grands will tell you ~ it’s never enough.  They are gifts from God.

UPDATE:  We afforded ourselves a mini photo shoot in the shade today. Such a joy to spend three blissful hours with this child.

Can anything be more delightful than times like these?

Today a whole lot of my friends,  family and I have been glued to news of the election results in the Philippines, the country where I spent much of my formative years.  Our childhood friends and the circle of families I grew up with are and were very active in this current election ~ in a bid to put an honest person at the top of an always corrupt government.  We followed the campaign on Facebook.  We are nervous with them.   And hopeful.

My Facebook account has never been more interesting ~ except, of course, for the day Aly was born and I used the medium to update the whole world.

Today they elected the son of a martyr and former president.  It’s quite nerve wracking to watch the count for another office / position. Biting our fingernails.

All this tells me that although I’ve spent most of my life in America,  my roots will always be where I was planted.  I had this long discussion with an online girlfriend I got to know (am getting to know) very well.  I shared many stories which came to my mind like it was just yesterday.   We also had a great discussion about life inside elected office as seen up close and personal by my mom and documented in gobs of albums.

I did have a charmed life.   If I didn’t appreciate it then,  I do now.

What did I know in 1966? Not much. This was just another birthday party at the Palace.

And I need to document all my stories and anecdotes.   Cuz there are lots.  Precious stories.   From my own memory and from photographs.  In the meantime,

while this one takes her first steps crawl to independence

and the big little boy practices how to be her bodyguard and best friend ~

My thoughts and prayers are for my many many friends and classmates who are hoping for new direction.  In a beautiful country so rich in natural resources but so badly plundered by countless regimes of crooks and cronies.

In the meantime, I’m watching with keen interest.  Someday, it would be nice to go back and say hello.

PS:  Manny Pacquiao is now a Congressman.  Jeepers.  Only in the ‘pines!

Hope you had a fantastic Mother’s Day today.  I did, we ALL did!!  All Four Generations.  This is half of us but it was enough to make us all feel the heartfelt love and appreciation for strong family ties.   This is our very tightly knit crew.  I’m a lucky one.

Thanks, mom

Say hello to my purebreed rose.  Not mixed with any artificial anything, but just pure rose.  What the diff?  This one SMELLS like a rose from a mile away.  LIngering.  My husband brought it in from the yard for me.  I used to be weirded out  by roses in my youth since our family had owned a funeral home and as children we played inside the Cadillac hearse (not knowing what it was all about, it was just a big car).   We also had a seamstress who sewed the satin pillows, which as a child I didn’t care much about either. A pillow, so waht.   Sometime in those early years,  I equated flowers and funerals.  So it wasn’t my favorite flower.

Till I started growing my own.  Now I’m picky about them.  I like to find the ones that are fragrant and they’re not very easy to find anymore.  These ones turn completely yellow when they reach it’s prime.  This is the parent plant.  There are offspring in other areas in our yard.

Last night, I purchased some amazing Presets that were recommended by Lolli at BetterInBulk a week or so ago.  I used it last night for a LONG while, developing pictures from a photo shoot I had done earlier in the week.  Here’s our rose; before and after a slight one button tweak.

SOOC

Bronzer (Preset)

The new LightRoom presets I got were from Pretty Presets.   I have to tell you, I got hooked on the choices I was given.  I didn’t stop playing with photographs  and Collections I, II and III till about 1:00AM.    So far, I am really loving the Bronzer and Bright Light a whole lot.

We’re having a family picnic today and I’m already snapping photos and will be up late again tonite.  And tomorrow, I get the little bitties ~ and an extra  little dog too!

Happy Mom You!

Someone came to visit!  Ready to cheer on our San Jose Sharks!  One more game to go, woo hoo!!

I declared a weekend early after working since about 7AM today.  It’s going to be a fun Mother’s Day weekend for us.  My daughter will be celebrating her first mom’s day.  My mom, sister and nieces all in attendance.  Comfy cozy with good food, as always whenever we get together.

Go Sharks!

I’m done with my appointment to get my fingers and toes babied. I tipped good so I got a deep tissue massage in my hands and feet.   My home and yard were done yesterday.  The laundry fairy is still on strike but heck, it can’t ever be all perfect, right?  It’s beautiful outside.  The most perfect gorgeous afternoon.  I’m jealous, though.  My sister is in Sonoma by a pool and I’m not     There will be payback!

Have a fantastic weekend and don’t forget to give lots of love to all the moms around you.

Here’s my entry for this week’s feature on FOCUS on Better In Bulk’s Bloggography Challenge.  I’m so HAPPY that Lolli chose my entry ~ the photograph I took while we went on a mini vacation.  Thanks!!    You do KNOW that your challenges are one of my favorite ones!  So, for this week’s focus challenge, I’m including two little feeties that I’m currently madly in love with.  They’re eight months old and just about ready to discover this brand new world!  Enjoy!

And she’s off ! And discovering the world, not wanting to stay put.  Someone has discovered her means of transportation and can’t seem to understand the meaning of  “let’s rest for a little bit”.  We had a mini-photo shoot today kinda sorta.

I had to take a photo of her jellies ~ shoes of the day.  One of 2,999 pairs of footwear (feetwear?) that this child owns.  Yup ~ just taking after daddy!

Daisy love.  She likes to pick the flowers and gets a kick out of it.

I’m missing the boy.  I got my fill today ~ now I need a major fix.  I spent the afternoon with the kids and the DH at our favorite sushi joint then spent a little time with this little one who is laughing and smiling and just a little Miss Happy.  She has two teeth up and two below.  She’s now officially a weapon.

And she’s soooo baby soft and still smells like baby.  I can’t overdose on this kid.  I’ll never get enough of them.

I have tons more photos which I’m working on while my husband and I are watching the Sharks game.  I don’t know why I’m nervous!   That’s okay, I’ll unwind with GLEE tonite!   Au revoir!

Wow, May already.  Lusty?  Err…okay Guenevere, whatever, haha!  Where did all the months go?  I can feel summer.  In fact, maybe it’s going to be really summer-y tomorrow.

I almost could have had the little baby girl this weekend ‘cept that the kids wouldn’t let her ride in the front passenger side of my husband’s truck on Friday  (it’s not legal in California to have a child in the front).  Therefore ~ we lost out to the older sister.  I did call Nate this morning, though and told him I’d see him next week.  As soon as possible please!  I am missing my little ones. This has been a crazy busy week but I got to relax some today.

My BIL sent a text last week asking us what our vacation plans were.  Here we go again with ’5 hours East or 5 hours West’ back and forth can’t make up our minds.  I really miss them and would love to visit.  We’ve spent many fourth of July nights on the Connecticut side of Long Island and I really love it by the water.  I love watching my husband be happy by the water and holding a fishing pole and casting out to hopefully catch a fish that my sweet SIL won’t eat    One year we caught an eel, a shark and a big crab at night.  Spooky waters.

I captured s’more Spring goodness today as we walked our furry child.  There were little finches in this tree.  They must’ve just learned how to fly.  I had to grey out the uber blue sky so the little bird would be visible in the photo. It was as tiny as a hummingbird.

and the sibling finches were all hopping around his happy tree filled with blooms ~ and Spring.

May is a happy month.  It’s Mother’s Day and the last month of school.  It’s graduation.  It’s thoughts of summer vacation and lots of time with the kids and littles.  Time for flip flops and shorts and sunscreen. Nice.

Kinda cool