OUR FIRST EGG!

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Sunday night we had our neighbors Ben, Sandra and Alexa over for dinner and found our first egg in the chicken coup! Alexa and Francie were playing in the playpit while Ben and I were checking out the chickens (Sandra and Ben were the first chicken sitters when they were baby chicks and had the unfortunate timing to have to "brown bag" the sixth chicken who bit the dust) Ben looked in and said "Oh you have eggs now?" and I was surprised to see a little brown egg in their hutch! They are supposed to lay eggs at six months, but these guys are only 4.5 months so one of them in a little early to the party... we've had one egg a day since then so we'll have to catch it in the act to figure out if its Red Neck, Trailer Trash, Daisy, Duke or Queenie laying the golden early egg!

"What? You didn't tell me those chickies lay EGGS!"

Cute Alexa

Crazy girl Francie pants

Willows Parents Party Too :)

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Saturday night Heff went out with the "Willows Dads" for their annual Pub Crawl in downtown Palo Alto. These guys are pretty serious about their monthly Dad's Nights Out and the Pub Crawl... so serious they had t-shirts made up this year! One of the Dad's designed a logo for the Willows Dads and then the guys could order whatever size/color/cut they wanted on Zazzle. They only looked slightly gay in their matching shirts riding their bikes together :) They all had some good stories floating around the neighborhood the next morning (do we live in a college dorm? Sometimes it is almost as fun!) and I'm sure we didn't even get to hear the good ones :) All I know is I'd never heard the Old Pro turned people away from riding the bull because they were too drunk to write their own name until the Pub Crawl was over!

Before the Pub Crawl on Saturday afternoon we went to a birthday party down the street for our friend Bart Draper who I went to 6th-8th grade with and we just recently ran into each other on the sidewalk when he bought the house a block away! He has a two year old girl and Francie had fun running around with the big kids :)

And not to let the DADS steal all the glory... Last Saturday night we had an impromptu "Moms Night Out" at the Old Pro in Palo Alto with a few of my mom friends who live nearby, Icie, Ressa and Paige. I was already in my Juicy's on the couch when they texted me to go out but I rallied (you can tell since my hair is curly :) We had fun and stirred up our own trouble!

Paige asked this guy how his basketball team did at the Olympics and how he got back from Bejing so fast. He was not amused but did agree to take a picture with her

Walking Home. A little earlier than we used to :)

Francie at The Fair

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Saturday we went to the San Mateo County Fair with the Johnets and the Carters. It was not the Red Bluff fair (vendors were a little more Oriental Trading Company than Red Bluff Round Up) but it was fun and we were surprised how many 4H kids there are in San Mateo County (Heff and I were BOTH 4H kids even if he was a little more 'hard core' than I was... I mean just because her raised 250 pound hogs and 1250 pound cows and I just had a dumb turkey (Gonna' B. Eaten), a lamb (chops) and of course vaulted he thinks he trumps me:) But Francie thoroughly enjoyed the animals and the sights while we feasted on every kind of fried food we could get our hands on. It reminded us of our last trip to the County Fair in Red Bluff when she was 9 days old!

Eating BBQ and beans with Jannie

Francie asking for "more, more!"

Waiting in line for the carousel ride with her Dad (she had to try these out before she rode the REAL THING!)

Not so sure about this at first...

Deep in conversation with her Dad

"You sure this thing is secure Dad? It looks a little rickety up there."

Despite the worried look on her face, she did have fun!

Back to Mom to walk around and check out the other rides (we considered putting her on the "swings" that go around in a circle but were glad we didn't when we saw them going around super fast with the kids flying around in the oversized swingseats!)

The tractors in the Kids Barnyard Babies exhibit were a hit for Francie... she called them all "cah"s (aka cars)

Her favorite though were the animals... she got to feed this mutant goat with no ears

and watched the "Hog Wild" pig races from Dad's shoulders

The Johnets and the Carters at the pig racing stands

The Heff's with our favorite little Doo!

But the BEST part of the day was the pony ride! Francie is a pony riding pro thanks to the Flynn girls so she got to ride "Lincoln" the pony all by herself at the fair! (Dad walking around inside just in case :)

"Does this guy know what he's doing? Where is Madeline when I need her?"

"You better get that belt nice and tight buddy."

"DAD don't embarrass me, I'm a big girl you know"

"Hummm... this pony sure likes to stop a lot."

Francie posing for her pony ride photo-op

Now she's into it... "Ride um cowgirl!"

Looking for Jannie around the bend

Laughing at Mom and Jannie!

"Can you believe Dad AND Grampa are letting me ride this thing by myself Jannie!?"

"This horse is moving kinda fast now..."

"What!? They are taking kids OFF? Nobody told me this thing ends!"

Giving the horse a "Good Horsey" pet on the neck

and doing the "MORE" sign when she wants to keep going

High-5 to Jannie on the last go round

Good ridin' Cowgirl!

All Done

Delivered safely back to her dad

Francie's Family Dinner

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Last Thursday night we had dinner at my parent's house since Claire and Tom were in town to move Aunt Kat out of her place and up to Red Bluff (we'll miss you in Menlo Oaks Kat!) Mark and Sarah and Sarah's brother Jacob joined us and Kathy and Michelle Bacolini were here to join in the fun and as always were a big help with the pizza preparations. We hadn't had a dual-family-dinner in awhile and it was fun to get the pizza oven fired up for some new pizza concoctions and John's BloodyMary skirts steaks too. Thanks Johnets!

Francie loves this scarecrow in Jannie's garden, we call him "Funny Guy" and she always wants to go see him and wear his funny guy hat (she signs "hat" by patting the back of her head with both hands.. close enough:)

She gets pretty excited to see Funny Guy and has her own little conversations with him...

Francie AND Jannie in funny guy hats!

Looking like a farm girl in her JanKnit longies...

Jannie got our old wooden blocks back (ie, had to pry them out of cousin Drew's reluctant hands!) and bought Francie a new push wagon for them

Speaking of JanKnits... Jannie just finished a new white sweater for Francie in the same pattern as her cute pale pink one she wears all the time but is growing out of!

AGAIN she finds her Cherrios in the pantry when no one was looking! We're on to you now Francie-sneaky-pants

Michelle making pizzas...

Dad eating the pizzas!

Francie with BOTH sets of Grandparents (she calls Opa "Pah-Pah" and Grandpa "Am-Pah" but sometimes they sound like the same thing:) and her favorite Menlo Oaks family members

Just missed the airplanes! It was a pretty night...

Francie-Pants Playing Around

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Some pictures of Francie helping pick tomatoes in the garden and causing trouble with her sidekick Ollie! Sorry for the lack of blog postings last week... once I caught up on Black Butte posts I was worn out! We had a busy week working a little, hanging at at home a little and shopping with Emmy on Friday... thanks for sharing your day off with us Em, can't wait for your next soccer game!

Silly Girl

Hanging with her doggie

The Princess of her Playpit :)

BUSTED!!

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Francie has been a little "wild banshee" lately climbing on things, ALMOST walking on her own and getting into everything she can. The other day when I went in to check on her after her morning nap (hence the dirty-kneed-pj she is still wearing) I found her with quite a guilty look on her face and her DOG book in three pieces...

Then at Jannie's we realized she had crawled into into the other room and and we couldn't hear her anymore... never a good sign :) Jannie was running around outside and in the back porch searching for the little monster and finally found her in the pantry with yet another guilty look. She CLIMBED up the pizza oven stacker to reach her Puffs on the second shelf, opened the container and went to town snacking away :)

Summer Loving

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The other day we had Wes and Estelle over for an impromptu playdate in the backyard. It was HOT so the babies played naked in their very chic diapers and sported their sippy cups.

Francie stands on her own when she doesn't notice she is doing it :)

Estelle and her mom in a heart to heart over sippy cups

Wes says "Um. You're in my way."

Francie driving full speed ahead!

Estelle says "You taking pictures of my bum Francie's-Mom?"

"I know you did... you better not blog that picture!"

Look at those naked buns of steal working hard to help the girls stand up!

Wes is not happy with us at all... now Icie put a headband on him. poor guy :)

"Yeah enough. Get this thing off my head."

Estelle did you just eat dirt again??

Better Odds Than Vegas....

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Brian's cousin Kevin Heffernan is on the board for the Hemophilia Foundation of Oregon and on August 24 the organization is auctioning off a 2008 Black BMW M3 fully loaded.  They are selling a maximum of 2,000 tickets at $100 a pop which are pretty good odds to start with but Kevin mentioned in Black Butte they only had only sold a few hundred tickets and with the event coming right up the odds should be pretty darn good! 

If you want to buy a ticket you can email me at maryandheff@gmail.com or go directly to the HFO website HERE and click on the easy PayPal link. We bought a ticket... maybe if we win we can park it underneath Heff's F250. :)

Home Sweet Home

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Summer vacations are fun but it is good to be home catching up and settling in... we are HOME for the rest of the month of August to enjoy the lazy summer days before we jump into a marathon September-October with six long weekend trips, two weddings and somebody's FIRST BIRTHDAY!!

Dad made me and Francie a yummy dinner with our new cow :)

And then she gave us a good Funny Faces of Francie show :)

'"Cause Every Child Needs to Develop"

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 Auntie Baby Ann (ABA) is getting her Masters in Child Development at Vanderbilt this year... this was her major too so she can complete the masters program in just a year (and avoid getting into the real world for another 12 months... KIDDING Ann:) When we were in Nashville for her graduation weekend we went on this hilarious tour called "Nash Trash" where they show you the sights of Nashville and make fun of everyone on board their Big Pink Bus... they asked Ann what program she graduated with and when she told them Child Development they said "Oh good... 'cause every child needs to develop. You'll always have a job."  

So she is doing research on Child Literacy and had to make a PowerPoint presentation with a "Public Service" ad at the end (above) Francie AND Heff got to star in ABA's presentation.... I don't know if I can handle my husband and baby's newfound fame! :)

 

Quack, Quack... Bang, Bang

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Heff's hunting video came in the mail today! He went to Eastern Montana a few months ago with some hunting friends for a goose hunt that was going to be filmed by OLN (Outdoor Life Network) in a show called "Whistling Wings." We watched it tonight (after it took me 20 minutes to hook up our DVD player which has been sitting with the cords out for almost a year, you can tell we never watch movies... thank god for Tivo!) and Francie was FIXATED on the screen watching the geese fly, get shot and then the dog retrieving them. The thought briefly crossed my mind that it was kind of a sick scene when my 10-month old daughter was clapping watching the geese go down after her dad clearly shot them dead out of the sky... but the thought passed quickly and I just laughed at my little hunter-to-be.

Hunting out of the corn fields in o degree weather... look like fun?

In case you are as fascinated as Francie is by Heff shooting geese in Eastern Montana:

"Whistling Wings" starring Brian T. Heffernan from Menlo Park will be airing on the Outdoor Channel...

Thursday, September 4th @ 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM Eastern

Saturday, September 6th @ 1:00 AM Eastern

The Heffs Head Home

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Thursday after lunch we packed up to head home... Heff's truck was FULL with our at least 12 bags (I wasn't kidding), two huge coolers, Francie's Chariot stroller/bike thing, our bikes, Kate and Ellie's bikes, Uncle Mark's bike, Claire's bikes and Margaret/Rick's bike. We seriously looked like the Clampits... and we only have one kid! We broke up the drive home and stopped over in Red Bluff Thursday night to catch up with Greg Weber and Trish and to take a breather. Friday morning we stopped at the Flynn's to visit the horses and say hello to Kristie and the kids... Francie got a pony ride!

Madeline led her around the pasture three times, she is a very patient big God-sister :) The girls just got their haircut for LocksOfLove and looked so grown up with their cute short hair cuts!!

Eva and Cowgirl Francie on Stanley

Then we picked up half a cow at the butcher. In case you are wondering... that's what half a cow looks like after a trip to the butcher before it hits our freezer.

"Get me out of here!"

Heffernan Family Reunion ~ Wednesday

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Francie brought her new wheels to Black Butte. Apparently she's not a huge fan of riding in the middle... here it comes...

"Whhhhaaaaaa!"

Francie gave up her spot so Roman and Kate could take their ponies for a ride with Isabel and Ronan (yes we have Roman AND Ronan)

These two are only two months apart and were best buds this week)

What are you thinking about Francie-pants?

Francie riding the scooter and ringing the bell!

Oma with her Grand-baby-girls

Daddy swinging with his little Doodle... she became quiet a daddy's girl an uninterrupted week with her dad!

But she got some Mom-time in too :)

Francie says "I think... our moms might be a little nuts Izza-Bizza"

Uncle Bob reading Francie a Dog book she found

The 3-year olds gave us quiet a "show" from the stage/coffee table

Heffernan Family Reunion ~ Tuesday

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Ahh I love when vacation days all run together :) If you aren't a Heffernan (and even if you are!) you are probably sick of family reunion photos but gotta round out the week!.... Tuesday was more pool time, bike rides, games at the house (Word Yahtzee and some new ones) burgers with all the fixin's for dinner with Donald's signature beef and lots more fun!

"Dad look at these silly things mom puts on my feet!"

The girls pushing buttons in their matchinhg Splendid sundresses hanging out in the cabin after the pool

We went to Bob and Francy's for burgers and Francie was so excited to see deer in their backyard...

she started whole body convulsions saying "doo! doo!" (dogs, deers... they are all the same to her:)

She also found her left nostril on our trip. It-SNOT-so-cute.

"Cuz, get your finger out of there."

Ladies Lunching

Donald and Heff man the grill (and there she goes with her finger in her nose again) Thanks for the beef Donald!

Ellie and Francie

Look at these cuties!

Posing by the waterfall... the favorite place to congregate all week

"You feel it first Izz and tell me if it's too cold..."

Showing off her teeth!

"It wasn't me." ... "Or me." ... "Or me."

Craig and Andrea doing double duty!

Back in the high chairs for brownies

Roman cracker snacking

And ending the night with game-time! Pass the Pigs and Banangrams (think solo speed scrabble)

Heffernan Family Reunion ~ Monday

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More pictures from our Heffernan Reunion week! Tuesday we spent most of the day at the pool and the snack bar. Aunt Kat and I got to visit the Spa and were treated to a massage/mani-pedi (I love vacation) and we had just enough time after the sun to turn around and head to dinner!

Francie Flower Pants in her Fancy Francie Sunhat poolside

"Why'd you leave this pool thing for a massage mom? Isn't it enough when I climb all over you?"

Doodle and Daddy

After the pool the girls got all dolled up in their new bubble suits Oma and Aunt Kat brought back from Bergdorfs on their NYC trip to walk to dinner at Bob and Francy's house.... they love double riding in the chariot!

The Trouble Makers... Oma and Opa's four girls Ellie, Katie, Isabel and Francie

Ellie, the leader of the pack

Kate, catching up with her big sister with her funny little cartoon voice

Isabel Rose, lots of personality and crazy to think we all lined up on these steps one year ago with a banner announcing her arrival into the world!

and Little Miss Francie-Pants holding her spot as the grand"baby" for another 6 weeks
"Huh? You mean there is another one coming?"

Adults around the snacks and wine... kids around the dirt and mud

Uncle Craig and Oma

Izza-Bizza not into her purple bow (somehow, much to Jannie's chagrin Francie doesn't mind her bows at all!)

Ashley helps put it right back in :)

They fooled her

Cute Ally (Alastair) on the bike

Bill (Ally's dad) taking a break from mixing drinks to make Francie cry :)

Awwwwww.

FFF!! (as Aunt Kat calls it... Forced Family Fun!)

Traffic jam

"LET US IN!" (I love those chubby legs!)

Heffernan Family Reunion ~ Sunday Funday

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The girls went for a ride in Heff's truck Sunday morning (in their matching Polka dots's of course!) for a hike with their Daddies and a whole crew of Heffernan hikers. I opted for some quiet pool time to read my book uninterrupted for a few hours :)

After a long hike Heff and Francie met me at the pool to cool off

Ellie and Francie were troopers, they hiked 5 miles in the hills! (It's hard to tell but Francie and I have matching sundresses :)

Francie LOVED the water features and was not afraid of crawling right in!

Trying to drink the water... :)

Ooops! Too much!

Aunt Kat, Oma, Francie, Heff, Anne and Alistair hanging out in the baby pool

Funny Francie Faces :)

Kat (Katherine Ann Heffernan), Katie (Katherine Ann Heffernan) with Colleen :)

Brian Thomas Heffernan and Ryan Thomas Heffernan with Francie :)

Newlyweds Mark and Sarah!

Francie (in her "jorts") doing vaulting moves on a scooter :)

Andrea and Isabel

"Oh no!" Katie had Francie-pants happy for awhile until...

GUEST PHOTOGRAPHER :) Ryan Heff had my camera for awhile to try his hand at family photos...

Sister Colleen doesn't want her brother taking her picture...

Until we remind her it could be a cute new Facebook Profile Pic!

Ryan came running out to me with and said "I LOVE cameras! I just got Craig's buttcrack!"

Aunt Kat and Mary

Dan and Jessica (due with Baby # 2!)

After Ryan finished taking pictures of everyone's feet (I will spare the blog those shots) he found Craig and Bill mixing the margaritas and mojitos

Mark, Tricia and Maureen... what did Ryan say to them to ilicit the SAME face on all of them in picture number 2?!

My cute husband

and crazy baby Francie pants! (her shirt says "Are These People REALLY My relatives?"

Ryan gave up the camera to reenact last years double-wear of the XXXXXXXL (that's a 7XL!) jacket he found in Bob and Francy's closet...

Last years effort! (2007)

Ryan pinched her.

Margaret and Ronan heading back for bedtime

I think someone else is ready for "Naw-nee" too!