Aloha from the Big Island

This may shock you, but Mom and Dad sometimes experience something they call "stress" -- I guess it's like how you feel when your Snuggle Puppy and your passy are both missing for more than 5 seconds. Anyway, they came up with a plan to deal with it. We flew in (yet another) airplane to this big Island they call "The Big Island", and went to a place called the Mauna Lani, were Mom and Dad claim to have gotten married. All we've been doing is playing on the beach (video), swimming in the ocean, lounging by various pools, and eating yummy food. If this is what happens when Mom and Dad have stress, I say, "Bring on the stress!" Keegan and I are having a blast. He tends to eat sand, though. I'm more of a pineapple-cocnut smoothie man myself. I've gotten very brave, and I can go in the deep water with Daddy to play "the dipping game," or jump off the wall into Mommy's arms saying "Humpty Dumpty!" We got to see lots of fish, some sharks, and even some green sea turtles that we got to touch (very gently, under the watchful eyes of their caretakers. Darn, I wanted to ride one.)

One night this great woman named Bonnie came over with a whole suitcase full of toys, and Keegie and I got to play with her while Mom and Dad went off to do some boring grown-up stuff like eat dinner at Merriman's ( which they said was fabulous). Bonnie liked us so much, she came back another day to play with us while Mom and Dad went diving to look at giant manta rays under the water. Didn't they SEE that suitcase full of toys???

So we leave tomorrow, but I hope we get to come back to this place. It's been terrific for me and Keegan, and Mom and Dad don't seem to have any of that stress stuff left. I think they left it with the manta rays.

Jet-setting is fun!

Wow - we have been flying on a lot of airplanes! I love airplanes! I like all the noise and the "moving" and the clouds! First we flew to Philadelphia to go to the Jersey Shore to be with all mom's cousins and all my cousins! Dad called it Cousinpalooza. We went to the boardwalk, played forever on the beach and had lots of cousin photo shoots! I'll admit it's kind of hot and sandy and the waves are pretty cold and rough, But I did love being with all the people I love!

Then a friend of mommy's had us all over for dinner for a mini Covad legal reunion! I really liked playing with all the other kids - mom did too, so she forgot to take that many pictures!

Then we flew to Chicago where Daddy grew up and Mommy lived for awhile. We stayed at a "special house" which Mommy and Daddy called a "hotel," right next to the Hancock building. I couldn't believe how tall that was. Susan took us to see all the butterflies at the Nature Museum in Lincoln Park - a must if you haven't been!. Then we hung out and ate (my favorite!) with Daddy's friends the Ochals and the Jaskowiak/Heinerfelds. Then we went to the Children's Museum at Navy Pier with Mommy's friends Mary and BJ. We got to play with Funny Uncle Rob, Martha, Loretta (quite a cutie) and Joe at the Lincoln Park Zoo -we got to ride the train!. We saw all the planes buzzing around for the Air Show and Keegie loved the waterworks(see video), while I preferred the Bean, Then we went to see the Bellons who knew daddy when he was my size. Then we saw Uncle Ja and Aunt Lisa. Aunt Lisa lives in the country so we got see cows and tractors and all sorts of fun stuff! I even got to play with frogs!

And when we're not jet setting around -we're hanging out at Happy Hollow Park in San Jose which has some really cool rides. You can actually see Keegie walking in the video and I am riding the Merry Go Round we GLEE -another new development (worth checking out!) Or the usual giggling at the table and taking baths!

We're writing this from Hawaii - so stay tuned for more fun!!

I'm 2 and have a "new house"!

Aunt Lisa came to visit us just before we moved. She is loads of fun and I miss her bunches! She has 4 boys just like Keegie and me so she knew all sorts of games and songs.

Moving is really exciting: you make boxes, put stuff in them and then guys come in a big truck and take it all away. Then it just shows up in the new house and you get to play with the boxes some more. Mommy and Daddy called me the "undoing gremlin" - I think that means I was a big help! It also has a big bath tub so Keegie and I can take a bath together. Also it has a big grass yard and a slide I can slide down. Plus we drive by this dancing man out in front of an auto store - I always ask Daddy to go back so we can watch him more - but he says -"we'll see him next time!"

Even though the new house is cool - we really miss "ria", "ranza" and "veva". Ria says she will come visit us soon - I can't wait!

My birthday was way cool - I got all sorts of neat presents and I got to help Daddy bake my cake. It was yummy and even Keegie ate it! I got some really cool new red sneakers from "ria" - here I am showing them off as I dance!

Happy Father's Day Everyone!

We have been really busy packing and trying to spend time with people before we move. We went to Tilden Farm with Sammy & Michele and fed the cows - very fun!

We also hung out with Dad's friends Rick and Eric and their families at a very fun park! I got to fly an Elmo kite!

And my personal favorite was our going away party where I got a huge Elmo balloon and a birthday cake!

We all went and got our pictures taken - I must say we are a pretty photogenic family if I do say so myself!

And really the most exciting thing - no pictures - was that 6 fire trucks came out to our house yesterday! Mom and Dad had stained the back steps and Dad threw all the rags in the trash can. Aunt Lisa - who is visiting - smelled smoke and we called the fire dept - 6 trucks cames and about 20 firemen with full gear including chain saws, picks, axes and all sorts of stuff ran int o the garage. Mom said it looked like the circus clowns trying to fit into the VW bug. Anyway the rags had started burning in the trash can = they said we were lucky. I was very sad when all the firemen left! Till next time!

Brotherly love!

Keegie is getting more interesting every day! I love playing with him and I got to take a bath with him today(video)! I can even make him laugh! Mom calls him a pyramid - he's is very hefty!

We went to Dad's work as it was his last week before he gets to hang out with us for the next couple of years! So many kids! Also - Grammy retired - Hooray Grammy!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

We took Mommy to the zoo today for Mother's Day! She said her best present was me saying Happy Mother's Day to her - is that easy or what? She took some good photos of the two of us - I really am just hugging Keegie in some of them - not trying to maul him. Keegie is now sitting up really well - look at him in the bath. I personally have taken up the harmonica since we last chatted - I base my moves on the old blues guys! Plus I still really love "Elmo Monster Builder App" on the Ipad - I can't stop giggling! Here are some beach photos from last weekend - gotta love SF!

We got an Ipad!

Wow - Mom says it's hers but she got me all sorts of cool apps. I can play "Itsy Bitsy Spider", "Wheels on the Bus", a real piano, draw letters and have two little pencils applaud me, find fish in the coral reef, do animal flash cards - the list is endless. Plus I can read books and watch streaming movies from Netflix - caught a little of Thomas and the Train this evening!

When I woke up from my nap today I helped Mommy edit some pictures of Keegan - I kept waving at him and saying "Hi" - but he never waved back. Mommy said it was his 6 month photo shoot (I apparently had one when I was 6 months). Now I know what they do while I am napping!

My new favorites this week are going to the Alemany Farmer's Market (I talk about it all week because there is lots of free food and everyone says how cute Keggie and I are) and eating imaginary food or seeing horses or monkeys in the trees that are "hiding" from Mommy and Daddy. Keegie's favorites this week are eating (big surprise) he can pack away the sweet potatoes and rasberries - which he often does while he eats showering Mommy and Daddy. I am still the messiest though! Til next time...

Easter, Cousins Galore and Keegie's gaining on me...

We had so much fun visiting D.C. to see Aunt Liz, Uncle Peter, Lindsey & Natalie(can't get enough of these girls - I say their names constantly -like a mantra!). The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and the petals snowed all over us for our Easter Egg Hunt! (film at 11) Uncle Boyd, Aunt Megan, Mack, Bridget, Jeb & Hill ( and yes I remember all their names!) came by to visit as well on their way home from Lancaster! I love all my cousins and hanging out with Grammy and Poppy and we got photos of Mommy and Daddy because Aunt Liz takes pictures constantly!! We got some great family photo shoots - you may see these in upcoming Christmas cards! Aunt Jane stopped by and we saw Great Aunt Jo as well but Mommy hasn't gotten those pictures yet! My favorite was flying on the plane (first class with all the cookies and milk I could drink on the way out!)

We all got sick (except for Daddy) and poor Keegan has an ear infection. But he weighs 22 pounds 5 ounces and is 27 inches at 6 months! He is only one diaper size down and 6 months down in clothing - I better start eating my Wheaties! He also started eating rice cereal - I tried it - YUK!

My social calendar is full!

Wow - we have been having a lot of fun this month! I love all the people that have been coming to visit. First we went to the zoo with Sheila from Chicago! Then we went on an Easter Egg hunt with Sammy, Michele and Reuben at the zoo. I liked the bubbles and the bouncy ball - the actual egg hunt was a little bit of a let down as it was soooo crowded. Dad said it was like trying to get the last helicopter out of Saigon! Then Julia and Sophie came over for brunch followed by Eric, Anastasia, Zane and Blaze. I asked Mommy tonight when the people were coming but she said no one was coming tonight. Bummer. But Keegan is sleeping with me tonight - I can't wait (Mom and Dad said they can't wait too so they get their bedroom back!)

Here are a few pictures of Keegan sitting up and being adorable as well as swinging. Then of course some of me being adorable as well! Till next time!

Aunt Betsy Came to visit!

Aunt Betsy came to visit and she brought me some really cool books! She didn't stay long but we had fun!

Daddy took me to his friends Patty and Ian's to see some real live cats: Mull and Iona! Every time I wake up I ask to see the cats out the window - but I got to pet these! It was really fun.

My favorite thing is to be "gether" with Keegan (video) and then Mom & Dad. I really like Keegan to sit on my lap - though he doesn't always like it! And Keegan can almost sit up now. Finally, maybe I'll get some more lap time with Mommy now!

Oh - and I got my hair cut again - and yes I cried. But Mommy and Daddy took me out for Pho which I loved. Mommy has a video on her phone which she can't figure out how to get on here ... ask her to show it to you!

Today we went to the beach - it was beautiful!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Daddy and I brought Mommy some flowers this morning. She really liked them. Here's my Happy Valentine's Day wish to everyone!

Also, Keegan went to the Dr without me this week (everytime we get in the car I ask if that's where we are going since we go there so much and since I get stickers there). Mommy says he weighs 19.6 lbs and is 26.25 inches long - bigger than me at this age. I seem to want everything Keegan has - especially this ball! I really like sitting "gether" with Keegan. Also, Auntie Marija visits us lots! She calls me "cutie Kai" and says "Hiya!"

Also - if anyone wants to call me on Skype I'd love it! I try to call Aunt "iz" and Poppy every day!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

We had cake and blew out candles! How much fun. Mommy and I practiced singing all day. Plus I got to pet some goats (video). It was a very good day!

Also Mommy has been playing with her new lens - check out the Keegan close ups!

December Winds...

Well Mom has finally gotten her act together to get all the photos up for December. I have to keep after her! In the middle of the month we went to Tahoe with my friend Sam. We had so much fun. We went sledding (video) and built a snowman. I could barely move in all my snow clothes!

Then of course came Christmas! Esperanza gave me a really cool fire engine - Mom & Dad love the noises it makes. I got tons of presents (I got to open and play with all of Keegan's as well!). Santa brought me some really cool wheels to go to the playground. I am now the envy of all the other toddlers!

Then the best part was Grammy, Poppy, Aunt "Iz", "Indsey" and "Tatly" came to visit! We play and ate and hugged. When I napped they went off to see the seals at Ano Nuevo and ice skating. I can't wait till I'm old enough not to nap!

Also - Keegan's still growing! Mom did a 3 month photo shoot and he's moved into the big boy bath tub!

Well I hope you enjoy the pics - Mom (& Dad) are getting a new camera and lens for their combined birthdays and anniversary so look for sharper pics and better videos! I promise I'll keep after Mom to post. Happy New Year everyone!