Still down, but out to Seattle

My internet access is still quite limited, but hoping to get it all worked out this week. In the meantime, the kids and I took a sidetrip to Washington! A few weeks ago we received an invitation from John D. to fly to Seattle and stay with Rachel and the kids while he would be away on business for several days. We had SUCH a great time visiting them as well as the Keith Klan who just happen to live 3 houses down the street. Andrew is such a big boy now and so funny saying things like, “Why him crying?” or “Her likes that!” and finishing nearly every meal by saying “Wow, that was a good dinner Mom.” And R definitely seemed to take a shine to little Sierra—several times he crawled over to her and gently “kissed” her face with his—she’s such a sweetheart, how can you blame him? And how I loved seeing the Keiths after saying goodbye more than 2 years ago! I will say it’s a bit chillier up there, and although Mt. Rainier is practically in their back yard it was foggy most of the time and so we only caught a glimpse of the snow-covered base of the enormous mountain. But since we were more interested in just enjoying each other’s company, the trip was a definite success. Thanks Rach for your wonderful hospitality, (and I put all these pics and more on a cd in the mail to you today! :)

Here's R, not afraid to be picking on the big boys.

Can you believe how cute she is at only 6 months old?
R playing the flute, er, Lincoln Log, in an attempt to win Sierra's heart? It doesn't look like she's too impressed!
2 Sheldons, 2 D's, and 3 Keiths

Andrew and S on the viewing box at Northwest Trek animal park-a very cool place near the D's. I think they were looking at a mountain lion here.

S saw this guy in the gift shop and kept saying, "teddy bear" over and over while she gave it hugs.

Drew smiled for the camera even though he wasn't feeling good this day.

S's turn.

Buddies--and yes, Andrew is wearing S's pink gloves :)

In other news, we now have a "walker." R took 3 steps Sunday morning after we got home, then 6 more in the afternoon. He's not attempting his new trick very frequently yet, but it won't be long I'm sure!

Internet Down

Our internet hasn't been working on the laptop, so my ability to do much of anything with the Web has been quite limited. So here are some pics to catch up:

A beautiful though quite windy day outside--R loved pushing his walker thing around all the open space outside on the patio.

"Forget the walker, here's my old friend the mop bucket" And yes, we're serious about our mop buckets around here--no pansy little plastic sandpails for us, we've got the industrial mopper. With a ground floor that's all tile, we couldn't be wasting our time with anything else!
Mommy and S share loveys

This is a (blurry) shot of S on the trampoline at the local gymnastics club where our community Mothers' Club had a playdate.

This is R getting his first eye exam--it is a nationwide free service through the InfantSEE program. He got a clean bill of eyeball health :) It was also the day of the Buckeyes' Bowl Game--guess our school spirit wasn't quite enough to pull out a win :(

P's "Gospel Choir Leader" Debut

Christmas 2007 was our first at Grace Fellowship, and after discovering that 3 sisters in the youth group at church had a history of producing videos of themselves lip-synching to songs, we had the bright idea to get some of the kids together and make a Christmas music video to show after church--a little gift from the youth group to the congregation. Silly and fun, and P's arms were sore the next day from all the "conducting."

The Sheldon Christmas Card-A Retrospective

After moving to California from Ohio (arriving December 31, 2001) we decided it would be a real kick to send out a 2002 photo Christmas card that depicted us as having willingly succumbed to a California beach bum stereotype. The card was so well received (particularly by our friends and families shivering back in the Midwest) that we felt compelled to repeat the theme in the following years. Therefore each year we tried to come up with a creative depiction of various California stereotypes or characterizations. So here's the infamous Card Collection:

2008 In-N-Out Burger, a California institution--
who wouldn't eat Christmas dinner here, given the chance?

2007 We moved from Southern California
(good-bye to surfboards and our Mickey Mouse ears)
to Northern (kind of) California (hello hippie clothes and flower power.)
(I'm about 5 1/2 months pregnant here)

2006 Building a California Snowman
out of tumbleweeds with our first child.

2005 Ok, so not everyone "got" this one:

A California Winter Sport = Tree-hugging!

(I'm 4 months pregnant here)
2004 We rented a convertible for the day for this picture--doesn't everyone in California pick up their Christmas tree in a fast car with the top down?

We sent out 2 versions of the 2004 card--
here's the second--same idea,

but now we're busy cutting deals on our cellphones too.

2003 The Sheldon card- A Hollywood Classic

2002 California Beach Bums-

The card that started it all!

Teeth Nubs

Granna & Papa arrived New Year's Eve for a short visit on their way to Papa's business meetings in Southern CA. Here they are Sunday morning with the kids

(p.s. thanks to Great-Gramma Mary for another cute dress for S.)

R cut 7 teeth in a short period of time, and the top 4 are all descending at about the same rate, which has him looking a bit goofy when he smiles his big grin:

R's First Christmas

R's first Christmas was a smashing success for everyone concerned--including S who enjoyed his toys as much as her own. He was almost 10 months at Christmas time, so he was old enough to get into pulling on the wrapping/tissue paper a little bit.

"Here R, let me show you how this works."

"Let ME show you how this works."
"Thanks, Mom, for the yummy, cinnamony, monkey bread for Christmas breakfast."
"Merry 1st Christmas to me."

The kiddos, with S's new chair from Ikea.

Just checking to make sure this chair is cozy enough for S.

December 26th,

Happy Birthday Dad!

Out on the trail for letterboxes.

Hurry up, Giggles.