ready or not

well to update, despite my hope that Ella was on the road to recovery, her fever resumed last night, and she's been laying down pretty much all day. I took her into the Dr, mostly because she said her left ear hurt, and since we're planning to fly to Oakland tomorrow....but no ear infection, though a suspected UTI. We're waiting to hear if that's the case before we start the antibiotics. Jane is starting to have some of the bug upset stomach symptons Ella had, but otherwise appears fine, so we'll see. We decided we're still going to begin our vacation tomorrow, (unless Jane or Ella gets a lot worse) and since our car is up in Oakland -we eventually have to go drive it back. Yeah, that swell plan not so swell I guess for this situation.

So aside from the boring health updates, we're excited to begin our road trip, we're also glad this trip will be mellow and near civilization which makes managing not so 100% kids more manageable. Plus Ella asks me about every 1/2 hour when we're leaving to Berkeley and how we need to get going so we can find Granddad. Speaking of, looks like Fr. Mike and him are speeding right along, and they will get to Monterey Thursday night (they're in Paicifica, CA tonight). So we're gonna try to get to Monterey on Thursday to catch 'em!

By the way, the girls have adopted the dogs, Charlie and Lucy. They've been cozy comfort friends, and a little less whiney than Ella and Jane. Great adopt a dog service on Talbot St.

Hope to post next from Northern California!

not so steady

well good news, we got the car fixed yesterday and Adam already arrived in Oakland with it. Amazing how fast one can travel without 2 kids needing to stop every hour , 1 1/2 hours at most. Adam stops twice and made it in 7 1/2 hours.
not so steady news: Turns out Eloise was feeling a little punky lately, and at about 1 am last night her temp rose to 102.8 and fought through a stomach bug. Not so fun she told me. I'd agree. We'd just gone to bed not long before that after packing up the car for our trip. A long night. But not long enough, the girls both got up around 6 and I've been trying to get Ella to rest all day. She broke her fever and is keeping food down again but she is tired and not 100%. So she didn't get to go to preschool today, which was a bummer to us all - doggies Charlie and Lucy spent the night fresh from a bath, and were all ready to debut at the preschool today for petweek. Jane would have been able to go to, and she loves to hang out at Ella's school. But instead we've been on the down low doing crafts, playing with the dogs, staying at home. Jane has lost her appetitie and I'm afriad she's next for the bug. Hopefully Adam and I (and Jane!) can remain healthy so we can still leave on Wed. Keep your fingers crossed. Thanks!

ready steady?

Wanted to note that I'll try not to post so much photos, just have so many over the year that I haven't done anything with.

We're supposed to be getting ready for our road trip but our car is not starting today...so that might delay us. Adam is going to try to take it in today, but it might not get worked on until tomorrow. Fun.
I'm still supposed to be packing the car up...

I think today everyone will try to nap, esp. Ella. She woke up at midnight and slept the rest of the night in our bed, I left and slept in the twin in Jane's room, there's just not enough room in a queen bed for Adam and I and a sprawling, kicking 3 year old. She rarely does this anymore, so at least it's not a common thing. Needless to say we're all got up too early and are tired today.

The girls are at sunday school right now, Adam takes them to Godly Play - that's the sunday school curriculum name. Jane got dressed herself this morning with shoes on, her diaper, her baby in sling (she loves that thing) and a winter jacket 1/2 way on. I was trying to get her dress on for church and she was refusing. So I let her play some more and I come back to find she has dressed herself -- she was standing at the door waiting to go.

Meanwhile Ella had shut the bathroom door and said she was cleaning it. I checked in on her and she had a cup of water which she filled from the sink with some hand soap mixed in and using a toothbrush to scrub the walls. Whatever she was busy. And getting her dressed for church was not a problem, she willingly said she needed to get out of her cleaning clothes.
Sometimes it's a circus here.

Finally, here's Jane ready to go with her backpack:

playtime and school time with friends

the big kids waiting to find eggs


Ella with Taylor and Sage, playgroup gals we met when Ella was 2 months old.


Eloise and Anneke, 2 peas in a pod. They've been jumping, screaming, arguing, and hugging since they we're little new walkers.


Since they go to different schools now, every Thursday Ella and Anneke get playtime to be silly together.


Lauren and Eloise, born 1 week apart. Celebrated their 3rd birthdays together. Good friends, pictured here at school last February...met in playgroup when they were 2 months old. Yes, serious playing happens at 2 months. :)


January, Chuck E. Cheese, Ella and Lauren


pink ladies with candy


preschool teachers - which she says are her friends because they talk to her a lot. I'd agree, good, understanding friends.


snacktime at Ella's school, she has to sit next to her friend Beckett, every time. the teachers cooperate and allow her to rearrange the chairs until Ella has them sitting at the head of the table..?..


snack friend Beckett


Ross, another good lad at school.

Jane and her friend - her baby. Her best friends include Eloise and Daddy and Mommy. And any dog or cat for that matter. Or grandparent. Okay and Auntie's and Uncle too! there.

fun & dland

Cookie dough ready. Ella decided to sit under the counter just like Frances does in our Frances books we read. (Yes an apron/underwear and socks is all she wanted to wear then...remember she changes clothes about every hour or at least for every activity.)


Ella and Jane have a hideout in the den room, set up most of the time for impromptu hiding.


ready to enter California Adventure.. we hit that one first....Dad just dropped us off he's parking the car located 20 miles away. jk.


My buddy! on tom sawyer island bridge


playing peekaboo with Dad


worth the little wait, these characters are a hit with the 3 year olds.


pluto pops in Minnie's house for a surprise visit with Jane. He then proceeded to lead her throughout the house. Jane did not look back. Pluto did though making sure I was coming too. :)

Overall a nice little day trip to Disneyland. Left around 9:30, got there by 11. Left a 8pm, home right at 9pm, girls finally fell asleep in the car, easy transfer to beds, day is done. Another good use of the disney passport. :)

we're gonna track 'em down

well we made it back from Disneyland. And Adam has since already packed another round trip on SW. He's back tonight, everyone's asleep, jane just stirred.....Jane,Ella and me were at Nana's house tonight with Tim, Jenny, Tom, Heather, Sarah and Sue and Mom/Nana. We also spent the day a gymnastics, playing with Anneke here, making/eating cookie dough (that's the goal, cooking it, doesn't always happen). And meals, cleaning, baths, nail cutting (a mommy/toddler olympic event) and counting slings to get ready for an inventory sale.

hmmmm, other interesting things...well we were planning to go to Yosemite May 8-12 but Adam will be in Houston that week for an important training class. So we are going to take a little family trip next week instead. We're pretty excited and have worked out a nifty road trip compromise: we're flying up to Oakland next Wed, and then driving back down the coast to SD taking our time staying along the way in SF, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Barbara....??? who knows we really don't have anything planned except we are going to track Granddad and Father Mike down! and have fun being on the road which we actually do pretty well with the girls. The only hard part will be the new hotel rooms each night.

The biking duo is expected to get in SF about the same time so we should be able to "catch" them as Ella puts it. She has already exclaimed to me: "I'm gonna bring my bike and find Granddad and ride right next to him!" So Dad, consider yourself forwarned.

Oh, the other nifty thing about this trip? We're driving our very own comfy van back to SD. How so you ask when flying up? Well our frequent traveler, Adam, has to be in SF,(or Phoenix, or Seattle) on Monday so he is driving the van up early Monday morning and then commuting to work (he doesn't know if that's in SF, Seattle or Phoenix yet) Regardless he's planning to fly home Tuesday night and then we will all leave Wed morning via plane to Oakland where our van will be waiting, packed already for us. Aren't we tricky? Hey, it was Adam's idea. :)Yes our plans and schedules are always this nuts.


little and big lubsens on Tom Sawyer island at Disneyland last Tues. An employee was bored and asked if we wanted our picture taken. I thought that was nice.

love all around

Jane is getting so independent. Lately she tells Adam and I " I do" " I do" meaning she wants to do it all by herself. This esp. happens when I try to buckle her up in her carseat. This morning she wanted to velco strap her shoes byherself - "I do, I do!" and then is so satisfied when she does. It's really neat to see her growing up right before my eyes. She is officially 1 1/2 years old tomorrow.

Ella still is so sweet to Jane, she loves her so much, which is so apparent right after Ella wakes up in the morning. She immediately goes into Jane's room to greet her (aka wake her, if not already) and then sheds her pj's off and picks out her clothes for the morning outfit shift. Ella is dressed and ready to begin the day before any of us. Esp. non-morning me who is still trying to get up from the prone postion on my soft bed.
Anyways Ella was singing to Jane this morning "Rock a bye baby sitter" real sweet and slow like she used to sing "Winkle, Winkle little star" when she was 2. Ella says baby sitter instead of baby sister. Hey it works. I just smile and tell her how wonderful she is to Jane. When Ella is sad (about every 5 minutes on a cranky day) she goes to Jane and asks (demands) a hug and kiss. Jane is so good and tolerant, and leans her head to one side walking towards Ella with her arms open wide to give Ella a big hug and then stand on her tippy toes to kiss her. That works too, Ella feels better. We all do. love to you too.

BTW tomorrow we're skipping town to DISNEYLAND - got our passes and trying to use them one more time before the summer (when the passes are blocked out) So we'll check back in with the Mickey report later.

easter moments

Easter Hunt 2005 (playgroup egg hunt)


Easter Saturday. Egg hunt in Plumosa Park, located at the end of our alley.


Jane is sporting the same outfit Ella wore 2 years ago and Auntie Jenny wore 26 years ago too. Don't worry Jen, we're taking good care of it!








waiting for this hunt to begin, plotting her strategy.


later that day, egg dying with Grandma


jane finds a friend on a walk


Easter morning, Ella's new stroller, she's already packed it ready to go.


this is ella's favorite toy to place in her stroller.


Jane with her new car from EB. Equipped with beeper horn and secret eggs compartment.


finally at church, and reuniting with Granddad.

friday fun day

Friday's always been my favorite day of the week. Something about having to get some work done, while balancing it with the beginning of weekend fun, makes it a busy fun filled and efficient day, just the kind I like.
Yet, today wasn't that busy for us, Adam finished up his presentation early so that made Friday fun day more fun! I began my day getting us all ready to walk Ella and Jane down to Ella's 2.5 hour preschool which she goes to MWF. Jane fell asleep on the way home in the stroller, so I worked in the garage getting ready for a Peekaboo booth sale this Sunday. (I only do about 3 times a year, or less) After Jane and I picked up Ella, we met Adam already home to our suprise! So we had lunch and then we all went to the pool for some playtime under the warm SD sun. Ella practiced jumping to me and swimming with her face under and arms and feet doing their best to move. She's working on coming up for air. Jane found her water hanging spot along the handicap ramp railing and played there with Dad in her baby wetsuit that keeps her warm and the sun off. Later we met Nana at Chili's for happy hour. Always a treat. Afterwards we dropped of some slings in the mail and clothes for new baby Olivia Margaret. When we got home neighbor Will was trying out his new bike with training wheels, and Ella immediately went and got hers to join him. We followed them around the sunset filled streets. Jane running along, wanting to push her car rather than ride in it. We learned these neighbors who live down the corner from us, are also going to remodel extensively. It's pretty common around here. Hopefully our remodel will start next year, I try to work on the floor plans when I can. We have to finalize those before we move forward. It's exciting. Now, let me find some pics. I think I'm going to post some Easter ones. :) Goodnight.


only sporting her rash guard top and diaper here. Ella was in a swim lesson, Jane had to get in too.

ps -there's a pic of ella in the pool, under my original swimming post...

gymnastics

This morning we went to gymanstics. Jane prefers to hang through most of it. Jane and I take the Mommy & Me version while Ella is in a 3-5 old class, and does great being the youngest. Trampoline time is her favorite part. (She's been perfecting jumping since she was about 12 months.)





Ella blurry jumping into the foam pit, another highlight of gymnastics class. Jane tends to sink straight down when in there. She likes the bubbles and stamps on your feet at the end of the class.

a trip from last month

this is how we fly. Southwest special. Can we come see you?


ok, more realistically, later that same short 1 hour 20 minute flight. That's Jane on the airplane floor with the ultimate bribe: Dad's wallet. Eloise however, is probably still glued to the DVD. A great flyer. :)


so where did we go? We saw Uncle Paul at Berkeley!


Jane pointed out a weird looking sproul plaza dog to us.


Eloise arrives at our "Berkeley Home" - aka the City Club, (a beautiful building architected by Julia Morgan) She travels in style with her froggy rolling suitcase and Southwest ID necklace. She is very realxed and loves to travel. The best part about staying here is the gorgeous indoor pool.


This is the pool, but this picture is from a trip in January 2004.


Jane painting at Habitot, our favorite Berkeley kid spot to play, just a few blocks away from the hotel. While Dad's at work, we walk down there.


Ella is busy doing some extensive collage and lime paint creation.


Jane had a blast at the water area, and yes, that's Ella behind Jane missing her pants. I think the moment the first drop of water hit her they went off.


we also shopped a little while Jane took a nap in the stroller. Ella was just trying things on, only a book made it out with us. (She has 'cat whiskers' painted on her face from Habitot.


This is the view from our room. You can't tell, but it's looking East out into the San Fransico Bay, and on a clearer day (it was raining here) you can see the Golden Gate Bridge just to the right of Jane's head. Over by Adam's nose is the Bay Bridge. :)


Needless to say, we are always glad to be back home in San Diego. Ella just spotted Granddad pulling up to the airport curve to pick us up.

recreational reading

Ella is reading Green Eggs and Ham to me in the office with her "reading glasses" on. (Some mirrored sunglasses of mine, I mean hers.) Yes, that is a blow up of little Ella at 9 months on the office wall behind her. Somebody was showing Adam at a convention how big an HP printer can print. He claims it was the best picture he had with him. :)


Jane is hardly potty training, (not that we're even trying yet) she just likes to practice looking busy and multi-tasking like her big sis. Plus she loves to read this particular Eloise Wilken illustrated poetry book. The illustrations of the little babies and kids and animals is exactly the kind of stuff she digs right now.