Happy Easter!

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The "Easter Eggcitement" at the Johnet's didn't disappoint! We had all the relatives, Em's family, Mark & Sarah and her brother Jacob and Aunt Kat all here for an afternoon of Egg-tivities and of course lots of good food. Everybody passed Francie around and stole her away from unsuspecting cousins whenever possible. It was great to see everybody and John and Jannie threw a great party as usual.

"I'm really related to ALL of these crazy loud people I guess... they keep showing up."

Grandpa John setting up the bar

The girls (who quickly disappeared upstairs to go through the latest "Ann-me-downs")

Gantie Mimi with a snoozing baby

The big contest was the Egg Drop... we had 16 creations to try and keep a raw egg alive after a drop from the third floor balcony. Here is Jannie recording the entries and documenting their assembly methods.

Uncle James, very proud of his rocket egg launch, be-dazzled by Em of course!

Mare, Emmy and Francie

Claire Elise dropping Aunt Kaky's carwash sponges and balloons Egg drop

It worked! (Aunt Kaky looking like a movie star!)

Drew's egg made it too

Cousin James' egg box mid drop

Baby Ann's egg survived too (we started to wonder if anybody could create a contraption that would BREAK an egg on impact!) Ann's was in a stuffed duck with a diaper on it (to account for the mis-hap that can happen when you drop a chicken three stories!) Ann let us know this was the first time she had ever put a diaper on anything... wow, and she's a child development major.

Emmy and Claire proved you CAN creak an egg!

Uncle Andy... really?

That's what we thought.

You think this one hatched or something?

Francie, no hickeys on Auntie Em!

The thumb works much better

Jerry and Allison's entry after a last minute trip to Walgreen's

The Heff's entry worked too!

And the finale... James used his rocketeering skills

We surprised Baby Ann with a great Easter present... a new swing set! (Haha, she was NOT amused)

The other contest was the "Best Decorated Egg" Contest... a few of the standouts hand crystal-ed by Em and Marle!! Oh my... and yes, they won.

Love the eggs Em and Marla (Joe and little Marla too!) Em did her phone, I'm so jealous.

Drewby with the Doodle

Jerry didn't have an egg in this one, but spent a few days building it anyway! (none of the labor intensive rockets were recovered:)

Happy Easter!!!

Easter Saturday

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Saturday we walked to the Easter Egg Hunt at Burgess Park in the morning with Icie, Paige, Chris and the babies. It was a nice sunny day and we had fun watching the big kids rush each other for eggs and jump in the bounce houses.

Chris, Paige and Wesley... with that lip out and ready to cry :)

Estelle in her sunglasses

Happy Wes

Francie pants in her watermelon bubble suit with Mommy

Did the dads switch hats on the babies... or did they switch the babies?!

"You guys didn't tell us the Easter Bunny was a creepy guy with make-up sweating off his face."

Moms and babies

We stopeed at the swings of course on our walk home and Auntie Baby Ann and Jannie stopped by to see Francie.

"Is that my Auntie with BANGS?!"

She looks so different!

Jannie and I having a swing-off while Ann plays with her favorite neice

We got home just in time to change and head to the Mariani triple birthday party for the boys! My Godson James and his cousin Joe both turned 4 and little brother Wil turned 2. Their kids are all so cute (7 under four years and 2 on the way between 4 sisters!)

Wil, Sofia and Whitney jumping away

Francie loving Molly's bling and Erick's sunglasses!

cute kids after the easter egg dying!

Happy Birthday Boys!

How gorgeous is Whitney!?

Heff with sleeping Francie and Nancy with new baby Maddie

Tracy and Wil in his USC Trojan gear

The girls are ready for the Easter Bunny tomorrow!

Didn't last too long for Francie :)

Francie's First Day of Spring!

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Francie and I had a busy Friday...

She started the day swinging on her horsey watching the kids walk to school

Then Jannie and Francie and I headed up to San Francisco for Tea at Loejoys with the Coogan girls. Francie was SO entertained by little Hannah!

and loves her honorary Auntie Sarah (especially her pinkie finger apparently)

Francie is officially a thumb sucker, she hardly ever uses a binky anymore and switches back and forth between her right and left thumb

Showing off her teething toys to Anne

"Come here mom, gimme the camera nice and slow... I'm sick a' these pictures."

Then we went back to Jannie's for some fun in the backyard and to SWING!

And Auntie Baby Ann arrived home Friday night! She hadn't seen Francie-pants since Christmas vacation. Francie showed her how she eats real food sometimes now.

"Yeah, they make me do this... I don't get it"

"Banana's are tasting a little bit better in this yogurt stuff I guess"

"WHAT!? You fed me this hippie stuff?"

Auntie Baby ANn took this picture of her tiny toes

We had a girl's Easter Egg dying party too! Heff came home to have dinner with us then went back to the office for awhile to set up his new desk that finally arrived. We tried doing eggs with a "secret" technique for the "Best Decorated Easter Egg" contest (one of a few contests) on Sunday. I can't give ours away yet but here are the solids we did for the hunt.

The girls and lots of eggs (we haven't seen Baby Ann's "extreme" new bangs yet...)

Time to head home with a sleeping baby

Francie's New Swing Set!

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Grandpa and Jannie went all out on a new swing set for Francie-pants! Jannie bought a little Fisher-Price plastic baby swing to hang up in the backyard and when Grandpa saw it he was worried it wouldn't be safe enough for Francie (oh that Grandpa and his "safety first" rules, Opa would agree huh Claire!) So the next day he hauled Jannie down to San Jose to the swing set store and picked this HUGE swing set for Francie! He wanted it installed so he could see her swinging when he is BBQ'ing too. It reminded me of MY Grandpa when he was talking to my Grandma Marmar about how excited they were to have their first Granddaughter (I was the lucky first just like Francie and Heff too :) and she said "Jim, aren't you going to love it when one day little Mary says 'Grandpa, will you buy me an ice cream?'" His reply to Marmar was... "and I'll say 'Honey, I'll buy you the whole store.'" I think Grandpa John feels the same way about his grandbaby girl :) Thanks Mom and Dad!

Swinging with Jannie... Francie reaches back to the swing and makes funny noises if you take her off and walk away, she loves it! It was supposed to be an Easter surprise but Francie and I came over right when the guys were finishing putting it up. Cousin Emmy and I liked it too had some chicken fights on the monkey bars, I won. Take that Em. :)

So of course the installation of the new swing set was an excuse for a pizza oven party! What a good Grandpa :)

The Bacolini/O'Connell girls all came over to help make some pizzas!

And Goody was in town to entertain us all!

Dad with Francie and her "Sophie" the giraffe

Sure makes Jannie's Sophie the dog jealous! (pouting inside on "her" couch)

Sorry Soph, you and Auntie Baby Ann can commiserate about not being the babies anymore when she comes home tomorrow :)

Francie's Rockin' the 80's Playdate

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We had a fun playdate today at Jordie and Josie's house! The theme was "The 80's" so we decked the babies out (and moms too) in some classic 1980's gear. Jordie had a great 80's playlist going and made Apple Martini's for the moms. We lined them all up on the couch for a group picture of course... they are all getting to be so much bigger!

The babies are starting to reach for each other (pulling hair, gumming toes, scratching eyes :)

Leo in his pink polo, sweater around the shoulders, and shades looking very dapper

Estelle looking adorable as always in her rainbow baby legs and onesie

Asher's big blues

Posing the babies for pictures

Isaac, Aliza, Estelle, Josie, Natalie, Francie and Carson rockin the pink shirt (Leo and Asher were yet to arrive:)

Francie's girlfriends

Isaac looking tough

Francie loves hanging out with her friends

and Mommies do too!

Francie's First St Patty's Day

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Francie and I continued out lenten resolution and walked to work Monday morning (yeah, I gave up driving for lent which just means my husband has to pick me up everywhere and sometimes it just isn't that convenient so I haven't been very good at my resolution, we gave up TV too though and have only watched two episodes of Reno 911 one night when we just wanted to veg and didn't have any movies) So Francie-pants and I stopped at the Park to swing after we stopped in at the doctors office to make her 6 month appointment.

We went in to the office for awhile to get some bills out and had lunch with daddy. Then we all headed over to Sacred Heart to help John BBQ for the Men's Club annual Golf Tournament. We do it every year, but since we were out of town last year this is the first year John go to show off his new tow-behind BBQ! It was fun to see lots of SHP families and serve tons and tons of tri-tip.

The BBQ team

Dad and his girl

Francie-pants looked like a boy in her green t-shirt and Levi's so I put a pink bow on her head :) even she thinks this is silly with all that hair she has (but the clip stays in!)

We got the clip (and sunglasses... just you wait a few pics) today when we walked down to see our friends at "Le Cirque de infants" a baby boutique a block from Academic Trainers. They have the cutest baby stuff and two girls I know own/run it. After lunch with Dad when I told him I was going to walk around downtown and enjoy the sun he knew exactly where I was going and said "Ok, can I have your wallet?" Hehe, I can't resist those cute baby things!

"Silly Mom"

Like father like daughter....

Those serious faces reading the latest on the Crack-berry

and both styling in their shades!

"Get this paparazzi outta here Dad"

Jannie, Francie and our good friend Cookie!

Serving steak to the golfers

My Dad living up St Patty's Day and loving the necessary BBQ accessory cigars

Jannie and Jer who came to help too... what a family affair :)

John and Kermit (my freshman english teacher!)... the famous BBQ'ers just missig our friend Jack Fleming who died last year, they had a great tribute to him at the BBQ and he was missed

Francie loving her silly uncle Jerry

Francie Loves Her Dad!

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Francie spent lots of quality time with her Dad today. We all had a great Sunday around the house today but I was busy baking and organizing stuff so Heff kept Francie entertained... and vice versa! She went with him to the hardware stores this morning (three of them before they found what the needed of course!) to get red paint to re-paint our front door the dogs had scratched up a bit. They went for a run together and Heff took Francie to church since I didn't time my baking very well, but she had a little meltdown at mass and had to come home early... at least she got her palm :) We had Sunday night dinner at the Johnet's with Corned Beef & Cabbage and all things green for St Patty's Day of course!

"Hi."
Francie has started SORT OF waving! I don't think she really means it, but it's pretty cute.

Looking cute in her little bubble-suit Jen brought from Barney's New York... spoiled little Francie-pants!

This is what I did today... Chocolate, Mint Chip and Bailey's Irish Cream cupcake batches (trying to make my SIL Kat proud :)

Trying to transport cupcakes to Sunday night dinner was not easy

But most of them made it there! You may wonder why I am obsessively taking pictures of cupcakes? One of the blogs I am addicted to (Google Reader makes it way too easy) is a cupcake blog that posts cute pictures of cupcakes from bakeries and ones people do themselves... I'm secretly hoping they'll post mine if I send them in :) I'll keep you posted.

Uncle Jerry and Francie

Who pulls off the "What are they doing to me now" look better?.... Francie or Sophie?

Flying "up in the air like a flight attendant" with Uncle James

Showing off her walking skills to her Uncles

Francie trying to give me a kiss!

Sleepy girl on Jannie

James and Em (nice shirt Uncle James)

Gary, Allison and Jerry

The Johnets, K-Bac, Ann & Earl

A Pink Room and Red Cupcakes

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I have finally decided Francie's room needs a little PINK-ing up! I really did think she was going to be a boy so it is all blue... time for some girlie in there. Jannie and I found some new bedding and changing table covers on Friday, so it's on my to-do list to repaint the room this week (Heff hates painting more than anything so I have to do it during the week when he doesn't a) feel bad for not helping b) help out anyway because he is such a good husband but hate every minute of it enough that I feel bad! So we put the new crib bedding together this weekend and did a bunch of stuff around the house. I was on a baking rampage and made some red velvet cupcakes (like our wedding cake) and never left the house all day (my favorite kind of day :) Francie went on a run with Dad and walked to the store with him for groceries. Heff got some ribs out for dinner Saturday night and did a great marinade w brown sugar and paprika... we had some friends and neighbors over at the last minute and it turned out to be a great evening!

"WHAT are you guys doing to my room now?"

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese frosting...

Yummm

Francie thinks that other baby is HYSTERICAL in the mirror

Toys galore... Francie loves her block of fun Oma!

This girl loves her Daddy

I was "practicing" with my new cake decorating kit... I should have done a "1/2" cake for Francie's 6 month birthday this week!

What Would We Do Without Jannie!?

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We are so lucky to have Jannie!

I need to post a dedication and thanks to Jannie. Today was just a typical day, but for example this is why we love you Jannie... I called you at 8:45am (which everyone knows is early for you!) to tell you I forgot I had a dentist appointment and to ask if you could come to watch Francie while I got my teeth cleaned. You were showered and had your hair half way dried in record time to come along with me and help out (and show Francie off around the dentsit's office :) Then this afternoon you called us to see what we were doing and when I said I was trying to get a few things done at the office and Heff was working away you drove over to spend some time with Francie only to find the little "Doo" had fallen fast asleep! You weren't the least bit put out and just said, "Oh ok, I'll go back home then" and didn't even mind.

Jannie LOOOVES Francie and Francie LOOOVES Jannie!

We really appreciate all you do for us Jannie! We love our lunch dates and walks and mani-pedis and dinners and all the "over-the-top" things you do (and knit!) for Francie and for Heff and I on a daily basis. Francie is so lucky to have you and it will be fun to see your relationship grow. You are very respectful to Heff and I as parents, trusting our decisions and always asking us what we want you to do/say/help with Francie. She gets so excited when she sees you and loves your kisses, hugs and all the love. I know your Grandparents lived down the street from you growing up too and I hope you guys are just as close to Francie (except we all get in on the Palm Springs trips okay?:) (We LOVE and are very thankful for Grandpa, Oma and Opa too... what a lucky girl to have four fantastic grandparents she gets to see so often!!)

Jannie sure is a lot of fun! Tuesday night she went to the Keith Urban/Carrie Underwood concert with Kathy Bacolini and they called me at least three times yelling over the crowd "You hear this one Mare?!" and I heard reports she was text messaging her college age friends and nieces to meet up during intermission... apparently she had an entourage of twenty-somethings :)

Wednesday night Francie got to hang out at Jannie's for THREE HOURS all by herself! She entertained the troops but I also heard reports (and was sent camera phone messages from an un-named source) that JANNIE let Francie-pants teeth on marinated frozen chicken breasts in plastic bags! Humm... interesting tactic Jannie... we still love you:)

Jannie and Heff are experts at getting Francie to go right to sleep on their shoulder (Francie knows I have a little more to offer:)

And Jannie has been there almost everyday since day one

We had a fun first few weeks (months!) letting Jannie take good care of us all

Francie is spoiled with a nursery full of fun toys and "vintage" baby stuff!

THANKS JANNIE!

We love you and Grandpa too!!!

A Whole Francie Day

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Tuesday was Francie Day :) No work or anything to do except play with the little Francie-doodle! We had fun at home playing with her toys, walked to downtown Palo Alto for lunch with Jannie, met Dad at home with the landscaper to plan out our backyard, Francie and I made dinner for dad who came home early to hang a new "horsey" swing on the front porch and we both went to the park with Francie to play on the swings and the slides! Francie is a good sport to hang out with me at work some days... so it's really nice to have some nothing-but-Francie days too!

Her new favorite position, standing up on anything!

A new toy... very exciting

Her first ride on the swing...

"I am one lucky girl!"

Spitting bubbles, her 'I'm having fun!' sign

My friend Leslie came over for dinner too... she lives in Philly now and was just visiting so it was fun to catch up and introduce her to Francie all cuddled in her PJ's

Francie's Sunny Sunday

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It was such a nice day Sunday we walked to church for 11:00 mass. We usually go to the 5pm mass when we go, but that can cut into afternoon cocktail hour. We got moving early, motivated by Bloody Mary's and beers at Mike's Cafe down the street for brunch since they just got their liquor license. They were worth it :) Francie spent some time outside on the grass checking out the daffodils dad planted that just bloomed. Then we went to our neighbors for the afternoon and to the Johnet's for Sunday night dinner.

"Take that daffodil"

Smiling girl

"Look Ma, two hands"

Francie and her Daddy at the neighbors house

Cute little Alexa peeling her orange she picked off the tree

Afternoon drinks outside with the neighbors

and the kids giving the dads a workout

Francie pants and Dad

Top Five Signs Francie is Getting to Be a Big Girl...

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5. Francie thinks she can drink from a real glass
and pesters Dad for sips of his water (no beer yet, don't worry)

"What? Don't give me that sippy cup."

4. Francie is eating real food
(even if it's only been a few times) and uses the spoon all by herself

"That's right. You see this spoon, I own it."

3. Francie has outgrown her little bathtub
"Seriously Mom, I'm way too big for this thing"

"Now this is more like it."

(*sidenote, YES I read the article that says the dirtiest place around is the kitchen sink... worse than shopping cart handles and airport bathroom stalls. I sanitized.)

Splashing about...

2. Francie is pushing 18 pounds
The little chubbette.

1. Francie sleeps in her crib all be herself now
She has been in the bassinet in our room until last week... the second night she slept from 9pm to 7am and (drumroll please) so did the dumb dogs!!

That's our big girl

The Pizza Oven is Back in Season!

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Finally spring weather is here... and hopefully sticks around. We had the Heffernan's over for a pizza oven party Friday night at the Johnets. We hadn't seen Oma and Opa in a few weeks so it was great to have them down for a visit. We had dinner at our house Thursday night, then Claire (Oma), Francie and I did some shopping Friday. We all met for the first of many pizza oven evenings, can't wait for summer!

Jannie, Francie, Opa and Grandpa

Oma and Francie Thursday night (how did I miss pictures of Oma on Friday?!)

Jannie being sill with Francie-pants

"Maybe if I kiss Jannie I can steal her glasses without her noticing..."

The Johnets

Michelle and Kathy Bacolini with Francie

"When do I get to try some of that pizza Grandpa?"

Francie's Playgroup

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Last Wednesday we went a playgroup at Moriah and Natalie's house. The theme was a "White Party" like P Diddy throws in the Hamptons :) Moriah had all white snacks and bubbly drinks and these little hats for with a onesie for all the babies! We dressed the babies all in white and the moms gave it their best effort too. Francie and I walked over and forgot our camera so Moriah just sent me some pics. Above, from left to right are: Hadley, Henry, Josie, Issac, Francie, Natalie and Leif.

Francie looking like a giant next to little Natalie (the "host")

"Mom, you know you are a little nuts right?"

Francie Gets To Try Food

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Since Francie-pants is quickly approaching the 6 month mark we decided to give "real food" a try! We tried avocado the first night (after we decided on a whim to "just try it already" and our little Willow Market didn't have rice cereal) which our pediatrician said is fine to try as a first food... she wasn't so sure about the taste or texture but at least got to practice with a spoon and something with consistency. Tonight we had the Heffernans over for dinner, Kat, Claire, Francie and I hit Safeway on the way home so Rice Cereal made it in the cart. She probably managed to get a little bit in her tummy, but had fun getting most of it all over herself! Sorry for all the annoying "baby with food all over their face" pictures but to commemorate the big event here are a few....

"What IS this stuff Mom?!"

Yeah, not so sure...

Francie wanted to try it with this spoon (and yes, I think she is teething)

Heffs cooking away

Say "Ahhh"

"This stuff isn't so bad!"

"My turn"

"Just give me that bowl too please"