Ho Ho Ho

Tis the season for Christmas trees, visits with jolly old Saint Nick and hanging Christmas lights.

Now that she is 2, Ashley is taking all of the festivities in and enjoying them more. She understands that if she behaves Santa will bring her a Tutti doll (from Yo Gabba Gabba). If you mention Santa's name, she will tell you this quite concisely. She enjoys Christmas lights and asks to touch them as we drive down the street. She knows who the Grinch is and she can say "garland" very clearly.

We got our Christmas tree this past weekend. A lady at the Home Depot (yes, that is where Christmas trees come from) was kind enough to offer to take our pic with our fine catch.

We took a picture with a make shift, car show - Santa. He is a heck of a lot better than a mall Santa I assume since she went to him willingly and smiled for the photo. Maybe because he had the Mrs. with him he appeared less creepy.

While Ashley "napped" I decorated the tree. Once she woke and saw my Handy work Ashley offed to pose for the pic but would not sit still long enough for me to actually capture the image. She would run to the tree, sit down, yell "SMILE" and then run over to me and say "SEE IT?!" asking to see the picture I hadn't taken yet. Rusty on the other hand is a practiced poser and stood very still in front of the tree.

My favorite tree pose pic (and the only other tree pose pic I was able to take).

Before we can close the book on 2009 and we have to celebrate Christmas. Let the festivities begin!

Random Stuff

Here are a couple photos and 1 video of Ashley that always bring a smile to my face.

Ashley in Matt's banana costume from Halloween. She insisted she wear it even though her body could fit thru the head hole.

Bundled up in Chicago. Pa and Grammy B bought her the jacket and hat and we used them, it was cold in Illinois! Being that we live in California, I am not used to seeing her so layered.

Last, but not least. The Highchair Video. On her own, Ashley decided to crawl under the highchair and then run around the kitchen. She is out of control, I had to video it.

Halloween 2009

I am falling behind, but we have had a lot going on here recently so forgive me!

Now that Ashley is 2 she "understands" Halloween a bit more. She talked about being Minnie Mouse for weeks prior and she knows all about pumpkins. We did our first carving this year - when I say "we" I mean I carved it and Ashley played near by. She did pose for the photo op though.

We decided against trick or treating this year, we figured we have several years ahead of us to trick or treat, might as well enjoy one more year at home passing out candy to the dozens of trick-or-treaters that descend upon our neighborhood each year. Ashley had just as good if not a better time passing out candy to the "trick-or-treat kids" as she called them. She is still asking if the "trick or treat kids" are coming over today. She was also entertained by her buddy Arden who came over to join us. He came as a CHP officer, just like his dad!

We decided against themed family costumes and each went with our own independent choice. Ashley as Minnie Mouse, myself as Alice in Wonderland and Matt as a Banana.

What is Matt a banana? He told me I could pick his costume. Doubt I will get nominated for the job next year even though the costume was a hit at the party.

Rusty was a Bee, again.Ashley enjoyed her painted on black nose and whiskers. She was on the tail end (pun intended) of a cold so she was wiping her nose on the back of her hand most of the night which transferred most of the nose and whiskers to the back of her hand and smeared them all over her face. Here are they are up close prior to the swiping.My all time favorite pic. Matt won't be happy to see this, seriously though, this banana costume is amazing. I have a picture of Ashley wearing it that I will have to get up here soon.

Chi-Town 09

October has been packed full of activities and I am struggling to keep up with getting them all on the blog!

Back on October 10th we headed east to Chicago for the 2nd annual "Visit Pa and Grammie B Trip." They live in the beautiful city of Aurora, IL and were kind of enough to open their home to us for 4 days. I guess we didn't wear out our welcome last year when we stayed with them since they didn't mind having us back.

Last year we visited Chicago, took in the sights and had all kinds of activities planned. This year our goal was to relax, and we did just that. We only left the house a handful of times so I don't have may pictures to share. Ashley was getting over a bad cold when we arrived and Matt and I wanted nothing more than to escape the hectic hub-bub of everyday life.

We repeated a few of last years excursions such as the Du Page Children's Museum which is like a huge in door playground where kids rule. Below is Ashley and Matt in the giant bubble ring (she broke the bubble but was far more fascinated with pulling on the rope and watching the giant ring move up and down)

Ashley's favorite stop was the water table, it was very large, has water spouting from random spots and a strong current moving and endless supply of new toys in her direction.

We have vowed that if there is a Cracker Barrel restaurant in the said state we are visiting, we must eat at it. So for the 2nd year in a row we have feasted at the Cracker Barrel in Naperville. The front of the Cracker Barrel is lined with large and small rocking chairs in an assortment of colors. In 2008 Ashley was obsessed (that is putting it nicely) with chairs (it was the first real word she learned how to say) so when she pulled up the CB and she caught sighed of the 20+ rockers, she was awe struck. She naturally felt right and home as she wiggled her buns into one that was just her size.

Here she is in 2008

Now in 2009 a chair is just like anything else. Boring. I asked her to sit in one again for a photo op. As you can tell by the expression on her face she wasn't as keen on the idea this year as she was last year We spent most of our time bummin' around Dad & Barbara's house. Ashley enjoyed playing with Andrew (who is also 2). He is one of the kids Grammie B babysits during the week. Here are a couple pics of them playing together this past trip.

Here is a picture of them together back in 2008!Besides Ashley's vomiting on Matt and I during the flight home, it was a pleasant trip. We are looking forward to going back in 2010.

Coming soon:
Halloween 2009
Amazing High Chair Video

Mega Patch

Remember when Pumpkin Patches had, well, pumpkins?! Now they are like mini amusement parks with attractions such as petting zoos, bounce houses, pony rides, photo backdrops and more. The pumpkins take a back seat to all the action a modern Mega Patch offers. We enjoyed it all.

Possibly my favorite pumpkin patch pose:

There was a bucket of gourds Ashley rummaged thru, pumpkin poser

She force fed some goats straw off the floor. yum.

She rode the ponies

The grand finale was the Super Slide. Ashley got her Dad to ride along with her, twice.

La Fiesta!

My Alma mater, Our lady of Guadalupe School, has bought back their annual fiesta! To show our support, my mom, sisters, husband and Ashley spent the afternoon enjoying the festivities, complete with a Michael Jackson impersonator. Yes, you heard me right, no fiesta is complete with out a performance from MJ.
There were a couple highlights for Ashley, first was the candy bracelet she munched on for most of the afternoon. Once we explained to her it was OK to eat the bracelet, she didn't take it out of her mouth.She did take a break from her sugar addiction to ride the trail with Aunt Lauren (the only one who was willing to ride the rickety train around the bumpy field, thank goodness for Aunties.)We rounded out the day with our first face painting experience. We were unsure of how Ashley would handle it and if she would sit still long enough to get her masterpiece completed. She wowed us by sitting quite still the entire time. She and Dada watched the painting via mirror.And here is the lady bug, in all its glory! Ashley was to short for most of the rides (besides the train of course). Here is to hoping we gain a few inches before next year's La Fiesta!

Getting Into Character

For Halloween Ashley is going to be Mini Mouse, so we decided to do a little research. I think Ash will make a pretty good Mini.

Here is a pic of Ash post surgery (approx 1 week). Her eyes are looking so much straighter! We also recently got her glasses fixed so they don't slide down her nose like a little librarian.