Click on those links and send Francie to college (oh wait, we live in Menlo Park... send Francie to Preschool!) I'll post the ticker for Google Ads revenue on the sidebar once we get some action :)
and don't worry... BabyHeff.com isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Baby Ann is officially a college graduate! The troops gathered in Nashville, Tennessee for a action-packed weekend (there are 5 days in the weekend right?) to celebrate. The Heffs, my parents, my brothers and their girlfriends, Uncle Jerry, Uncle John, our neighbors the Carters and our good friends the Skidmores and last-but-not-least my brother Jerry's friend who we expect at family events Gary Machado all flew in on Wednesday or Thursday to see Baby Ann walk in the Friday morning ceremony and attend the events, parties, dinners and tours she had planned for us. Francie did great on her first cross country trip, even if Southwest airlines won't pre-board infants anymore we still got "A's" and managed to board the plane right behind Al Gore (who Jan made me go say hi to since we were big pals once) and passed Francie around from isle to isle as we were all on the same flight home. It was a crazy weekend we will all remember... Congrats Baby Ann :)
We started the party Thursday night... Some of the crowd pre-partying at the Union Station Hotel bar
Sisters ready to hit the town with baby Francie in tow
Lots of moving around this weekend!
James and Em looking stylish as ever
Representing the nighborhood... Bethy and Georgia ready to party for Baby Ann
Baby Ann and God-mother Ann Skidmore
Me and Bethy! (If you check out the Picasa album, you'll see we were trying to get a hot "profile pic" for Bethy to finally join Facebook...right Beth!?)
Leaving the hotel Thursday night for Sushi dinner and dancing
The girls: Ann, Em, Bethy, Mare, Georgia, Ann, Jannie and Francie
Ann's boyfriend Matt (his family joined us for Sushi... hopefully they found a way to get a word in edge-wise)
Ann was right about the "Best Sushi Ever" they had a Playboy Roll that was soo good. heff with the Carters chowing down
Ann and Jan with the sleepy-doo
Dad and Matt's Dad Bob toasting the graduates and fighting to pay the bill
Matt's mom and grandmother
The Guncles! John and Jerry... ask them what time they went to bed every night. (hint: Bars stay open in Nashville until 4am and Burger joints even longer)
Francie taking a Sake-Bomb. JUST KIDDING, please. It's water in a "baby glass".
Round Two: Dancing at the Tin Roof! Ann went ahead of us and asked the bouncer if we could get in with a baby (oops, she forgot her ID) and he said "Like a 13 year old?!" Um no, a 7 month old. He said as long as she doesn't drink!
Watch it Baby Ann... that bouncer might see you tempting her! Francie says "Auntie Baby Ann... I'm not sure I like everyone around here giving all their attention to YOU. I'm not used to this."
The bar had great live music and an outdoor deck to see the lights of Nashville
Mare, Ann and Em out on the back deck (we won't call it a "smoking deck" seeing as we had a 7 month old there.)
The boys and their cigars
Dancing Queens Ann and Janet... these two met in Lamaze class when they were pregnant with my best friend Jen!
Jerry and Georgia Carter... after 20 years of carpooling and Sunday night Carter-Simo dinners, they were great to come all the way out to Nashville. They stopped first in Philly to celebrate their TRIPLET grandson's First Birthday!
Cutting up the dance floor with our baby girl... she loves to dance!
Ann and her brother-in-law with the Doodle (who looks like she is ready to go home:)
No wait... it's Uncle James who has had enough ;)
And she's spent.
Moving a crowd this big everywhere we went was no small feat! The valet guy at the hotel got to know us so well he asked if he could come to Thanksgiving Dinner.
******* Friday May 9 ~ The Graduation *********
Getting ready for the graduation ceremony at the hotel... we had to be there at 9am, grabbed breakfast at 8am so it was an EARLY morning for everyone :)
We found some seats on the side so we had a little grassy area to hang out when we weren't in our seats... seeing as how they graduated 1,500 students and 1,750 grad students we were there for awhile. It was a little overcast at first so Francie was sporting her favorite "JanKnits"
Daddy loking handsome in his sports jacket for the big event
The Heffs (yes, we are coordinated... only in the South, I promise.)
I couldn't resist this little J Crew "Crew Cuts" blouse and white jeans!
After a few speeches, a few awards, a trip to "Five Guys Burgers & Fries" and back in time to hear her name read (cum laude, nice work pisser) we are ready for some champagne!
"Let the parties begin"
"Humm... maybe I better take a campus tour first or talk to that Chancellor guy. I might want to go to Vandebilt one day."
"Nevermind... I'm walking outta here, come on Mom."
Fun with a cardboard box (and the best way to avoid grass-stains on baby's white jeans)
PROOF.
Heff snuck up to pole position (no pun intended) to snap some shots of Baby Ann walking
We are proud of you Pissy-Sissy!
Francie is holding on tight!
Family shots:
With her favorite sister, brother-in-law and neice!
James, Ann and Em
With her Uncles
The fam who stayed AFTER they read her name to see Ann... hoping to hit the Champagne and Strawberries reception (don't you love private schools?)
Dad and Mom with Baby Ann
All done!
Baby Ann and her God-father Uncle John
"I don't want to graduate yet!"
******* After Graduation at The Tri-Delt House *********
Back at the Tri-delt house, Ann and her roommates: Killian, Ann, Christine and Susie
Tri-Delta. Everyone Else Has. :)
Southern Vandy Girls
Ann and her freshman/Sophomore year roommate Kate Dinan
Naptime on Dad
******* Friday May 9 ~ The Graduation BBQ PARTY! *********
Ann's and her roommates families hosted a BBQ party at a park near their apartment. John brought Croatian Kabaitza from home and got 70 pounds of Tri-tip at Costco when he got there (along with 400 zip-lock bags, aluminum foil, 40 gallon cooler, etc:) to throw his famous John Simo BBQ
Francie lounging with Georgia, Beth and Emily in her watermelon bubble suit Baby Ann bought online at Saks and sent out the first week she was born specifically to be worn at her Graduation:)
Snoozing on the grass in a pashmina and her Sophie while Carolyn watches her (Ann's roommate Christine's sister who LOVES babies and loves our blog!)
Mom and Dad without the baby!
Playing some bean bag game the boys were all really into. I scored zero points when I tried (did that count as a ball sport Heff?)
"But I wanna go on the swings!"
Dad keeping the Doo happy
Beth, Ann, Em and Mare
Carolyn helped us take Francie to the park and took this picture of Jannie, Francie and I on the tire swing (right before Jannie flipped it and almost ended up on her rear end:)
Carolyn and Francie-pants
******* Friday Night ~ Round Three of Parties *********
Back to the hotel for naps, sleeping off the beer and then rallying to the hotel bar for drinks and bar-service from the restaurant (I played waitress and took orders... the bartenders knew us all by name but LOVED Uncle John and Uncle Jerry who had closed down the bar the night before)
Beth and Ann
******* Saturday May 10 ~ NashTrash Morning Tour *********
Jannie and Ann made us reservations on the "NashTrash Tour" of Nashville at 10am. No one under 13 years old is allowed (I'll tell you why in a minute!) so Francie stayed back at the hotel with Grandpa and Jannie while the whole crowd made our way out the the pink bus tour. Francie is wondering if she can use this key thing to crawl back up to her hotel room and leave this bow up there with her "Buy Me Stuff" sparkle shirt she wore in honor of Baby Ann :) My dad sent ANn a birthday card from Francie along the same lines that had a "hunskie" in it and said "Baby Ann, You can have this one. Grandpa gives me one everyday." She didn't think it was all that funny :)
The NashTrash tour with BrendaKay and SherriLynn!
These Jugg sisters are HILARIOUS. Jan told us this was funny, but we all laughed so hard as they ripped on every person on the bus! Ann's friend's Mom was on the tour too and when she said her son knew Ann the sisters said "Oh he 'KNOWS' her huh? SO are you a hoe Ann?!" and ripped her to shreads the whole tour... when we passes a strip joint they said "Ann, you want us to stop so you can pick up your paycheck?"
SherriLynn had a HUGE CRUSH on Uncle Jerry! She would say "In case of emergency... Me and Uncle Jerry get off this bus first" and "Forget Save a Horse Ride a Cowboy... Save a Horse Ride Uncle Jerry!" Even in the air conditioning he was beat red :)
Jerry and his favorite snack as they say "In keeping with traditional Southern-fried hospitality, the Juggs offer their Fancy Cheese Hors D'Oeuvres for your gastronomic pleasure" Jer was the only one on the bus who snacked on Ritz Crackers and Squeeze Cheese the entire tour
They even stopped at the Country Music Hall of Fame for beers and Lynchburg Lemonades! Needless to say our kidneys are still crying.
Bethy wore her teeth out again
Laughing so hard our cheeks hurt getting off the bus :)
"Would everyone please stop talking about Baby Ann! I"M THE BABY AROUND HERE!!"
********* Saturday Lunch Downtown Nashville *****
Gary, Allison and Jerry eating ribs and coleslaw
Everyone was a little slow today
Francie likes these ribs too
***** Saturday Night Dinner @ Jim Kelly's Steakhouse *****
Cowgirl Up Francie... This party never ends
"I'm happy, I got my Sophie"
Everybody got all dolled up in their cowboy best for a night out on the town Saturday Night! We pre-partied in the Carter Suite. Bethy and the Doodle.
Someone feed that child
Happy Doodle
It never gets old
James and Em ready to rock and roll
The Ladies
We had dinner at Jim Kelly's Steak House in Nashville. They set us up in our own room upstairs and we had plenty of room to "roast" Baby Ann, let Dad sing "God Bless America" and let Francie sleep on the floor under the table while we ate :)
First she got passed around.... Baby Ann quickly learns Francie is fast!
"Arg... they moved the damn plate."
The Heffs with our "Doo in the headlights"
(I think Ann and Francie look alike!) here with Matt...
Thanks for treating all of us to a great weekend Dad! (A drop in the bucket compared to four years of Vanderbilt tuition and Ann's Neiman Marcus bills huh:)
I'm taking bets in the "Comments section" on how long I have until Beth, James or Em email me begging me to take this picture off the blog. In ten, nine, eight....
Trying to take a family picture... Why do Jan and Baby Ann think making sad faces at Francie will make her want to go to them? :)
I'd love it if I remembered what my Dad was saying here that required Baby Ann to do this:
And finally a decent shot of the crowd
Lounging back at the hotel...
Our little night owl (hey, at least she has her PJ's on)
How do you know you've all had enough wine for the night?
Oh these Californian's trying to fit in...
They could pass for Cowboys...
But not for Bad-ass-brother/uncle-protectors :)
And we're done.
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My crazy Uncles are both coming out to Nashville for Baby Ann's Big Graduation Celebration... they have been preparing themselves for their "Why We Love Baby Ann Speeches" and in true Aunt Kaky fashion are exercising their poetic license... here is the email train from yesterday. Nashville here we come! (PS... the blog title "Edebody Loves Baby Ann" was her favorite line when she was three. Yes Ann, we do :)
******************
Uncle Jerry starts the ball rolling...
Dear Grannie Jannie and Guncle Johnny,
Get ready!
It's no time to be bashful
We are all going to Nashville
It's Baby Ann we are going to see
Accepting her well earned Vanderbilt degree
I love these Simo parties
Should I bring a bag of Smarties
Thanks to Johnny, I'll be flying First Class
I hope your smaller coach seats don't squeeze your ass
Well heck, I'm at work and I've got to run
But looking forward to some wonderful family FUN!
Jerry Arnerich
******************
Uncle John (aka UJ, Guncle John) Retaliates...
I know that Jannie Cakes is as excited as can be
Her baby brothers are coming to Nashville, Tennessee
Guncle Jerry may be flying 1st Class in the Sky
But Guncle John has Francie to make the trip fly by!
I hope the champagne is chillin'
'cause this party is gonna be thrillin'!
Bring all the cash that you can afford
But never fear because you won't get bored
And never forget, as the festivities fly by so fast
It's all about our Baby Ann - from the first to the last!
*****************
And Jannie puts in her two cents!
Holy Moly... I never knew
My baby brothers, that wonderful two,
Could both write such ditties
Of what we are about to do!
How lucky am I
That they are such fun
They are flying to Nashville
Cuz it's too far to run.
Baby Ann is excited
She can hardly wait
To show off this twosome
She thinks is so great.
We all will be together
Just as it should be
When her hat flys in the air
We'll jump up in glee!
So get yourselves ready
For good Southern fun
From eatin and drinkin and singing along
We're going to Nashville to write our own song!!!!
love you both....Jan
***********************
Watch out "real world"... here comes Baby Ann. (oh wait, she still has a year of grad school)
Paige and Icie came over Wednesday afternoon with Estelle and Wesley to help me plan outfits for Francie and I for our big Nashville trip for Auntie Baby Ann's graduation. Ann has sent a very detailed itinerary with 3-4 events per day and wardrobe suggestions (did you expect any less?) She also told my mom to make sure I didn't dress like a "frumpy mom" in front of her friends. Oh Baby Ann :) This called for some shopping... wouldn't want to embarrass my little sister. Francie and I have done some shopping the past few days and needed reinforcements to go through our options. Paige and Icie walked over for some wine and a mini fashion show and helped to narrow the possibilities...
Estelle helping plan Francie's wardrobe
Paige and Wesley in his new BOB stroller... they just moved 2 blocks away, yay!
Estelle amongst the clothes and shoes
Cute Wes hiding behind his giraffe lovey and long lashes
Francie getting ready to give Wes some lovin'
"Hi hi hi hi"
"It's OK Wes. I know we have crazy mothers... we'll get them back someday."
Francie got her bow back... tearing up the hardwood floors before dinner with mom and dad and Aunt Kat came over too!
and climbing on the beasts
at least somebody likes these dogs!
Tuesday night the Matthews family was in town and spent the afternoon at our house helping to ceremoniously move the chickens to their outdoor coup and to start building the new shed in our backyard. Uncle Mark came over to help too. I felt like we were Amish. The men were building raising the walls of the barn and the women and children were tending the chickens... barefoot none-the-less :) Ellie and Kate are adorable and since they are chicken experts (they have 7 hens at their house in Utah!) they were very helpful in moving the chicks.
The boys raising the barn
How many professionals does it take to build a barn? ...at least 1 engineer, 1 doctor, 1 lawyer and 1 five-year-old.
Aunt Maureen kept the Dooodle busy while we moved chicks (she is due with baby number three on Francie's birthday!)
Uncle Mark in the chicken coup!
We tried to let Francie entertain herself on her blanket with her favorite climbing block from Oma but she had other plans...
She wanted to go in the coup with her cousins... they all LOVE silly Uncle Mark
The girls with the chicks
Chickens at 5 weeks old... doesn't take long for a cute little baby chick to get big and ugly huh! (Oh and they do have names: Red Neck and Trailer Trash (the red ones), Daisy and Duke (the blonde ones) and Queenie (the black one). Oprah, the other black one died.
"Dasiy" flying away from Kate
Ellie was a huge help. She told me, "Aunt Mary... the trick will be, we need to make sure that when we transport the chicks, we don't let them get loose or Ollie will get them. And that will be the end of the chickens." Ellie got IN the coup to catch the little buggers, put them in their tempoary home in a cooler, then moved them one-by-one into their new home. (One of my old polo mallets for a roosting place and serving a better use than collecting dust in the garage)
Thank goodness Ellie was here!
Ollie pacing around the new chicken coup and roosting house... I hope this isn't the end of the chickens Ellie!
Emmy helped me pack up and postage the second half of my eBay sales this afternoon... I looked like an idiot trying to stuff these all in the mail slots at the post office. This is as close to recycling as we get in our house... Baby clothes go out in USPS boxes and new baby clothes from eBay will now start flowing in with my PayPal slush fund :)
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When we were in Red Bluff we went a little crazy at the Tractor Supply store on some authentic die-cast metal John Deere tractors and a ride-on John Deere ATV (yup, we know we had a girl but the boy toys are too much fun and Francie loves them!) They are going to go in the new "playpen" outdoor area that is still in the works, but we opened most of them tonight and let the Doodle roll them all around the house. She loves the little ride on ATV and even though her feet don't touch the ground she uses them to push the sound buttons (those won't last long) and tries to stand up on the seat while she holds on the handlebars. The ATV sings "Mud and dirt are no match for me, cause I'm a rough and rugged John Deere SUV!" We love tractors:)
Dad helping Francie open her tractors (after he built qa wall with the boxes to keep her from crawling out of the living room)
Pushing her new toys all around the house
And when her toys get old there are cupboards, walls, wine coolers...
Using her toes to play with the John Deere ATV buttons
Thanks Daddy!
We were in Red Bluff this weekend for a Mercy High School benefit event at the Burnsini Winery Saturday evening that Claire helped sponsor. Craig, Andrea and Baby Isabel came up from LA, Aunt Kat rode up with us and the 96080 crowd were all there to host us. Francie and Isabel were so cute together... both crawling like crazy, although Isabel is still a little more "sure-footed" than Francie :) Ronan turns one next week and is holding his own with these tough girls! We had great meals and lots of time to hang out at Oma and Opa's house. The auction event at the winery was lots of fun with great weather and a relaxed, fun crowd to enjoy it with. This was a great way to cap off our 4 of 6 weekend-in-Red-Bluff streak!
Here they come, girls on the move...
"Hi guys. Just hanging out with my cousin Isabel."
Of all the nice, wooden child-friendly toys Oma has at her house... the girls both find the plastic gizmos to eat!
Fun in the playhouse...
Until Isabel says "Take that Cousin Francie... I've got you by 7 weeks and don't forget it."
And Francie fights back taking over the kitchen sink.
Oh the crocodile tears poor Isabel!
"What? Now I've got the place to myself."
Aunt Kat comes to play with Francie
These two are going to be good buddies
Daddy and Francie ready to go to go to the winery
(Handsome Daddy got a haircut yesterday!)
These brothers love their baby girls (all 6'5'' of Heff looks short next to his brothers:)
Burnsini Winery hosted a really nice event... wine tasting with five different kinds of red and the we choose our favorites for dinner
They had tables fanned out around a fire pit... yummy appetizers, Pacific Sun Olive Oil with french bread, salami, olives and cheese and then a New York Steak and potatoes dinner (oh yeah ,and cheesecake for dessert!)
Mom and her favorite baby girl (working on a heel of french bread)
Francie and Isabel were busy playing under our table on the grass while we all enjoyed our dinners... Heff gave up his sunglasses and the Crackberry to keep them entertained and even though it was on keylock mode, these little deviants managed to make an emergency call! Sorry 911 operators for the "Da-da-da-de" you might have heard between 7-8pm Saturday night.
Isabel always pretty in purple
Madeline took such good care of Francie all night... Heff's god-daughter is going to be the BEST babysitter! Here she is holding Francie-pants who is trying to decide if she likes her first try gumming away at a New York Steak
Isabel riding high on her Mom's shoulders with Daddy Craig watching out for his girls.
Jane Flynn, Aunt Cathleen and Margaret
Aunt Kat and Donald (Happy Birthday Donald!)
Eva and Spencer... the Flynn kids don't miss a social event in RB!
Heff throwing some love to Brendon (the gun wasn't enough?)
Aunt Kat and The Francie-Do
Cheers cowboys
Heff and Madeline
Here we are checking out the vineyards and letting Francie run around like a wild banshee
The Other Heffs (Isabel, Heff's youngest Brother Craig and his wife Andrea)
Big Boy Cal... he was born right after our wedding (almost 2 years ago) Look how big he is now!
Aunt Kat is starring in an Infomercial for "Leg Perfect" workout equipment this week, she was on a strict 7 day diet for maximum ''before and after" pictures results. I just want to broadcast across the internet airwaves... She did not eat any cheesecake. Or wine for that matter. ;)
Eva gets her turn with Francie
We love the Flynns! Spencer, Kristie and Ava.... Madeline hiding.
Let's get this party started. After a rockin' silent auction we bid up a few live auction items and Madeline was our designated bidder for the item we won... an SF Bay Cruise for 6 with drinks at Sam's dinner at Chez Panisse. She won the bidding war.
The "Cousin Babies" were the hit of the party! Chillin' on the swing.... Isabel (9 months) Francie (7 months) and Ronan (11 months)
And here with their Mommas: Mary, Margaret and Andrea
Time for PJ's!
The boys hiding out from their ladies when the band started rocking... Donald, Heff & Brendon
To sum up the evening... we all watched a lady need some help walking across the grass. Hey what did you expect? It's a winery.
The bust girls the next morning in matching outfits Oma bought them...
They must have a rule. Only one person look at the camera at a time. Good work girls.
And again...
These girls are moving and shaking
Opa and Oma with their baby grand-daughters
Dirt in the mouth... feet on the ledge. No more sitting back and relaxing around here.
"Haha. We're trouble."
"Come and get me Daddy."
"Look at me in the spa!!
Testing those swimming skills...
And she comes up smiling.
Isabel, your mommy must love you more... she got IN the spa.
That's right. I hang my baby up by her boot (err... I mean bathing suit) straps to play so I don't have to get wet. (Don't worry Dad, it wasn't as tight as it looks:)
Splish Splashing Away
These little sunbathing beauties did not want to get out
Portrait of MaryFrances
Portrait of Isabel Rose
Ready to play!
Cough, cough. Down the wrong pipe after a dunk.
I love my little Doodle-bug! We are very lucky to have such a fun bunch of family in Red Bluff and in Menlo Park... we get a little bit of the country in RB and have so much fun on our visits. See everybody in a few weeks for Mark and Sarah's big wedding weekend!!
Friday afternoon we had a playdate at Icie and Estelle's house. It was supposed to be a poolside fiesta "Dos de Mayo" since Cinco de Mayo is still a few days away. The weather was a little muggy so we played with the babies inside with Icie's original frozen-slushie Mango Margaritas. The babies are all getting so big, crawling and standing and really playing with each other... they are pretty cute to watch!
Francie and Estelle working their spoons
Moms and babies everywhere
Paige and Wesley
Girlfriends Francie and Josie
Estelle
Babies on the couch. L to R: Leo, Wes, Asher, Josie, Francie and Estelle
[Look how big they've gotten in 4 months! This was a playdate at Icie's on the same couch in December...]
L to R: Wes, Leo, Francie, Asher and Estelle
Yummmm. I gave Francie a few little bites of Meringue and then she crawled all the way over to snatch a big piece of the cookie so I let her go at it. She had STICKY fingers, toes, face and an hour after I washed her up I noticed her hair was sticking on end and she had crusted cookie on her ear :)
The true meaning of "Double Fisting" at Mommy group
Why do babies like to play with anything that ISN'T a baby toy? Francie and Josie playing tug-o-war with the wipes
Francie making faces at Paige
And the last moms standing... we tend to "overstay our welcome" at play dates :)
Paige and Wes, Me and Francie, Jordie and Joise, Icie and Estelle
My first time packing some cheerios to take out with us for the day. As Heff said last night when Francie showed off her Cheerio eating skills... "And here marks the first day of these little O's finding their way into every crevice of our lives for the next ten plus years."
PS... Uh-Oh. I just figured out I can blog from my Blackberry (hence the crappy picture) This means trouble.
Heff was reading Green Eggs & Ham to Francie tonight before bedtime... she was squealing like a banshee and crawling/climbing all over the place. We thought she was never going to go to sleep! I went to clean up the dinner mess and didn't hear either of them after about 5 minutes... I went in to check and they were both passed out in bed. I guess Dad wore her out. It's no surprise he fell asleep in no time, he came home a little early from a long day at work to build Francie's new "playground" area and my new tomato beds in the back yard AND he finished the foundation for the new shed last night! We've still got some work to do but it should all be done soon (and just in time for the neighborhood party) Here are some more pictures of Dad and the Doodle...
"Humm... is he skipping words?"
Francie loves the way dad reads her books
It's more fun to crawl on Dad's head than listen to the story tonight
The crazy girl trying to escape bedtime (note my favorite book on the pillow)
"Nope. I'm not sleeping yet!"
Francie is officially crawling! She did it first for her dad Monday morning while they were playing, showed it off for me and then when Emmy and Jannie were babysitting she zipped around like she knew what she was doing :) It's usually only a few paces before she takes a tummy-break, but she's getting further every time. I think this means it's time to baby proof the house. Here is a rough video from last night...
And while Francie was busy learning how to crawl, I was having a day at the salon getting hair and makeup done for a photoshoot. The place I always go for my hair (LaBelle) did a shoot for a new brochure or something and my hair guy (Raul, I love him :) asked me to be his model. It was fun and we had champagne and sushi all afternoon while the pampered us. I don't like my hair all curled and big like this and I'm kind of scared for where these pictures will end up (they do have some old ones in huge frames on the WALLS) but who could resist a free blow-out? My sister already made fun of me and asked me what Prom I thought I was going to...
Before and After:
Francie had a busy morning, she went to the "dirt store" at 7:30am with her Dad (not only does he get to spend quality time with his baby girl, he gets to take the carpool lane too:) She came back to fall right to sleep and didn't wake up until 11:15am... that's my girl. :) We hadn't been to the Stanford Moms Group in awhile so we headed out this morning for lunch and "group" to see the other babies and moms. Everyone is getting so big! We only have 2 more months until we graduate out of the Moms Group. Good thing we have our playdate friends to keep us entertained.
Sunday Jan, John, Heff and I hosted a wedding shower for Uncle Mark and Aunt(yet-to-be-official!) Sarah at my parents house. Mark and Sarah are getting married next month and planning a very small wedding with just immediate family members... which means 5 people for Sarah and 19 people for the Heffernans :) We are all looking forward to it, but wanted to celebrate beforehand with family and friends. Since Mark and Sarah live across the street from my parents... it worked out well and their friends from UC Davis actually rode their bikes over the night before, a mere 130 miles! It was a great crowd and a perfect day. Congrats and Best Wishes to Mark and Sarah!
The Heffs
Jannie working on some pizzas with fresh herbs
Kat and Claire
It was a hot day... although at least 20 degrees cooler than our backyard wedding day :)
Sophie cooling off next to Francie
Lots of babies under a year old to play with Francie and Ronan!
Yummm... paper plate. Francie with Vivienne (8 months) and Ronan (11 months)
Zyler and his baby sister Zania (7 weeks) came in on the left and Baby Moya (9 months) joined the party on the right
Francie assuring Ronan "That's right buddy, this crazy girl singing songs and keeping the attention of 4 babies for over 4 minutes is OUR God-mother!"
The boys with the Doodle... Donald, John and Heff
Francie with her mom, Oma and Jannie
and Grampa too!
Dad pouring the bubbly for a champagne toast
The Johnets!
Time to feed babies... Francie with her feet first
Ronan with a funny face
Get me out of the contraption.
James and Em came to say hello
Uncle James is always worried about his god-daughter's eyesight in the sun :)
Francie didn't like those Uncle James... how many times does she have to tell you she only likes the J&J shades!
The party quieted down after about 7 hours :)
Francie in her fancy-pants PJ's ;)
We love you Uncle Mark & Aunt Sarah!
Saturday April 26 was National Rebuilding Day for the organization where Heff serves on the Board. RBT refurbished 83 houses in ONE day with the help of 4,000 volunteers between 7am-7pm. It is always amazing to see how much can get done in a day. Francie and I went along for the ride for the first half of the day... she is a product of the organization since we met at their fundraiser!
Heff used to be a Construction or Site Captain every year and help with all the heavy lifting... this year we drove to visit all of the sites to talk to volunteers and family members. He got off way too easy and didn't even get his shirt dirty :)
Brightening up a Community Center
John, the President of the Board who took over for Heff, with a RBT family
Saturday afternoon was so hot I pulled out Francie's little Frog Pool to let her splash around in the front yard. Emma and Owen came over to see Francie and quickly ran home to change into their bathing suits to jump in too! Francie loves the water and Emma and Owen really make her laugh. The pool was perfect, it was the first time we used it and unfortunately the last... Ollie popped it as soon as Francie got out. Oh these dogs.
They even gave her a shampoo!
Francie now learned to pull herself up to sitting and then right on up to standing on whatever she can... namely her crib. The other night she woke up crying in the middle of the night and we let her "cry it out" (I love that parenting style when I am exhausted and barely awake to go get her anyway!) and after awhile she quieted down. Heff went to check on her in the morning and she was in a sitting position in the corner of the crib with her head face down on the corner of the bumper. She looked like one of the little chickens when they fall asleep mid-pecking! I guess she just wore herself out and zonked out :) Here is a video when we were playing around in her crib one afternoon:
I have been busy the past few days helping Heff re-do our backyard and organizing the house. I am on a de-clutter mission. So I have, for the first time in my life, resorted to selling stuff on eBay. Actually it is kind of fun and a good way to get rid of stuff you know you don't need but can't face giving/throwing away. So far I have sold almost $600 worth of crap. My goal is $2,000 in a month. So yes, our office looks like a tornado swept through but Heff is okay with that sine everything is on it's way OUT of the house. Francie has been a good sport helping me organize and take pictures and list things online... her new favorite activity is pulling herself up on the plastic bins I have things organized in and pulling everything out. She keeps me entertained :)
"Hehe, I know how to make more work for my mom."
"It wasn't me."
Launching herself in any direction she can... and she loves being upside down!
"I'll bid on that."
Life with our Four Marys! Raising Free Range Kids in Northern CA.
