Evening at the grandparents

After breakfast, we packed up and headed for Rio Vista to visit the grandparents. The bottom pic is my parents and all of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We had a good dinner and enjoyed fun company.

Christmas Day 2008

We had a wonderful day beginning with presents at 5:30 a.m., a great homemade breakfast, and lots more presents.  Gaby really got into the gift receiving today and kept looking under our tree to see if more presents arrived. She made out like a bandit so I think in the next few days Rob and I will go through some of her old toys and donate them to charity. Her favorite toys ended up being Natalia's toys like the bouncy pony that grandma bought her and all the dolls Nati received from family and friends. 

I really feel blessed to have so many wonderful people in my life. We were in great company today and shared lots of fun and laughs.

Christmas Eve

I'm not having the best of luck posting photos on blogger so make do with the tiny pics of Natalia and Gaby opening up some of their gifts on Christmas Eve. More pictures to come.

Christmas with good friends

Last weekend, Raquel and Noelene came up to have lunch and visit the girls and I. Both women were good friends of mine in high school and we've managed to stay in touch this long. The visit was great and I'm so happy to have these positive people in my life.

House on Devonshire!

Every year, we make an effort to drive to Novato and see the decorated house on Devonshire. This house is packed with Christmas stuff. Gaby wouldn't go down the hallway where "?Elfvis" was so we pushed her down like last year. Here are a few of the pics.

Teddy Bear Tea at the SheratonN

Last Sunday, we attended the Teddy Bear Tea at the Petaluma Sheraton. Lots of noise and chaos. The most important thing was that the girls had fun.

More pictures from the academy of sciences

California Academy of Sciences

I failed to post this one last week. Rob, Grandpa and I took the kids including Kendelle to the CSA. It was absolutely beautiful but an extremely cold day to take them. The pictures did not come out so sharp but here are some of them. I just love the one where there appears to be amazement in their eyes.

The alligator pit had the same sea horses surrounding it as the old one did. We appreciated that very much since it brought a little of the old back to this very modern building.

work out girl

Gaby works out with daddy.

Nealon Photo with Santa

Our second attempt to get both girls to visit Santa turned out to be a family portrait with Santa. If we had known we'd also be in the photo, Rob and I would have dressed for the occasion. I'm so proud of my girls for actually smiling in the photo.

Can I get this dong stuck in your head?

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Nealon Family Ho-Down

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Play-doh does come out of hair!

Just in case you wanted to know, play-doh does come out of hair. Gaby decided to press pink play-doh into her bangs (sorry no photo). It took me a little while to comb the big chunks out, but shampoo took out the rest. She claimed that her creation was a "pink flower."

A few more favorites

Gaby and Natalia test our a possible Christmas present before committing to adding it to their wish list. Natalia takes a snooze before daddy has to leave to take Gaby to school.

A few of my favorites!

Gaby sent off a letter to Santa. She listed off all of her favorites while sitting in a large, red chair.  Polly Pockets are big on her list.

Pre-school picture

Gaby got her first opportunity to take pictures with her pre-school class last month. I was unable to attend her photo shoot, but arrived on the viewing day to purchase and pick up her photos.  While waiting in line, other mommies were viewing pictures of their little ones. Each little kid had a darling smile.  But when I received Gaby's picture, I wasn't surprised that she wasn't smiling....I'd be more surprised if she was! So here it is. I present to you, Gaby's first pre-school picture.

(Photo did not download. Will add later.)

Visiting Santa

We made it up to Santa Rosa mall to do a little Christmas shopping and visit to Santa. Gaby was very excited and proceeded to tell us on the elevator ride down what she was going to ask Santa for.  Barbies, markers, play-doh, dollies (Polly Pockets) all made the list this year. Unfortunately, it  took one look at Santa close up and it was over. As we approached Santa, she became stuck like glue to daddy. We had hope in Natalia to lead the way as she was smiling ear to ear with Santa. But once upon his lap, Natalia also took a turn for the worse, and she began to cry. At least she made it to Santa's lap.

Gaby did made an effort to speak to the big man from a distance, repeating what I said while keeping a sharp eye on the man with the red suit. Once he offered her a candy cane, we were in good shape and she skipped away reciting her list once more. 

She never did make it to Santa's lap. Maybe we'll try again in the weeks to come before Christmas.

Disney On Ice

In true Disney lover tradition, we took Gaby to see her second Disney on Ice show. We dressed her in her princess costume; however, many kids for this show were not dressed up as usual. Maybe their costumes were dirty from the previous Halloween night festivities. Anyway, the rain did not stop us from driving up to Arco arena in Sacramento and watching the show. Natalia had a great time with grandma and grandpa in Rio Vista.

Daddy spoiled his wonderful daughter with a glowing light wand thing and I blew through $40 in a blink on ice cream and load knows what else.

Harajuku perfume rocks!

If you are anything like me, you probably loved the smell of Hawaiian tropic Sun tan oil and sometimes used it as perfume. I know...a little too much, but I loved the smell. I just found the most wonderful perfume that smells very similar. Gwen Stefani's Harajuku girl perfume has that smell and comes with a cute little doll cap so your 2 1/2  year old can play with it. A gift that gives and gives! The "G" doll (which is Gwen) is the perfume I refer to although she has others that are worth trying out too.

Halloween 2008

Gaby was loving Halloween this year. We stuck to trick or treating with neighbors and then heading over to where the full size candy bars are over near Aunt Julie's house. The Lannert and the Nealons joined forces that night to raid the area of all their candy. We made it only around one block.

Halloween 2008

Snow White in da hooowwwsse!

Finally, in all my teaching career, I am allowed to dress for Halloween. None of the other schools I taught at celebrated Halloween so I  am loving the fact that McDowell is enjoying the festivities of the day. Being a Kindergarten teacher, I could not do anything scary so I went with what the girls love the best - a Disney princess. Gaby was very surprised to see that mommy had her own princess dress like her. I had a great day with my students.

Last Visit To The Pumpkin Patch Before Halloween

Today, Rob suggested that we head over to the pumpkin patch for a little family time and some pumpkins.  Nati was dressed in the traditional pumpkin and Gaby was Tinkerbell. Our closet is filled with costumes so they did not spoil their Halloween costumes. We did enjoy putting Natalia in the box off pumpkins and letting Gaby jump in the very expensive jump house. It was all worth it. Afterwards, we treated ourselves out to a shaved ice and cotton which is sold right there (along with kettle corn which I really had to talk myself out of buying.)

Family Photos

Until we learn to travel with friends,  our family photos are usual done separated. Oh well!

Natalia walking at 9 months

Natalia watches her sister and cousin and you can see in her eyes that she wants to be a big girl. One of the things she likes to do it cruise around the furniture; however, with the help of her walker, she began walking. We think she will be an early walker like her sister. Gaby starting walking at the end of 10 months.

Talia's Dahlias

Off of Old Adobe Rd., there is a farm we pass on our way to Costco that sells freshly cut Dahlias. I  always thought it would be a great idea to buy some, but I never knew what occasions. So, the morning of Natalia's baptism, I bought 10 gorgeous Dahlia's for the centerpiece. Then I thought about how cute, Talia (which is what Gaby calls Natalia) Dahlia's sounded. Anyway, the place is called Aztec Dahlia's and they can be found on the web at www.aztecdahlias.com .

Natalia's Baptism

This Sunday was Natalia's baptism. She is officially catholic now. Tammy, my sister, and Dave, my brother-in-law, were the Godparents. Fr. Gary, the priest who married Rob and I 3 years ago and performed Gaby's baptism, conducted Natalia's ceremony. She did very well during the ceremony and did not cry. Two other babies were baptized with her. Afterwards, we held a reception at our house with family and friends. Despite all the people, we still had way too much food.