The Holiday Season and End of 2010

We had a great Halloween. Maddie was Tinker Bell. She was so cute. I thought she might get scared going up to the houses, but she didn’t. She walked up and knocked on the doors and said trick or treat all by herself. She wanted to do it all by herself the entire time. It was very cute. I walked around with lily in my arms. Only 5 days old. Her and I were very tired the next day.

In November we went to Yo Gabba Gabba concert. Maddie was star struck. She got her picture with all the characters. Again I thought she might be scared of the large characters, but she wasn’t. She walked up to each one of them and shook their hand and said nice to meet you.

We quickly left the concert and caught a plane to Arizona. We flew out to meet Rob and Josh in Arizona to watch them do the Phoenix Ironman. We were there from Thursday evening to Monday evening. The event was on Sunday. It was cold for Arizona. It rained and we didn’t see the sun. It felt like we were back at home with a typical winter. We walked around from point to point to catch a look at Rob and Josh as they passed by. It is tough being the support team. LOL. 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run might be a little harder. It’s up for debate.

Traveling with two kids was not as hard as a thought it might be. It was actually really smooth. With Lily being so small, it was really easy to just put her in the wrap on my chest and walk around with her. She slept or ate most of the time. Maddie was the harder one. She wants to do everything herself and when you don’t have time to walk at her pace and you have to put her in the stroller or carry her, it makes for a very crabby girl. She had Owen and Lily (Josh and Kelly’s kids) to play with. She loved Lily. All the kids did really well being up at 6am and not going home until 11ish that night. At least I got Maddie to take two naps while we were out. It is hard with a double stroller for the older one to take a nap in the stroller. The front seat doesn’t lay down flat, so I held her along as my arms would let me. We had a great time.

We had family portraits taken. We got a really good picture this time.

Maddie helped me decorate the Christmas tree. Then we spent the next few weeks until I took the tree down redecorating the bottom three feet of the tree. She liked to take them off and move them around. After she discovered that there were presents under the tree she started to take them out and give them to people or start to open them. For the most part she left them alone. It really all started after her birthday. She wanted more presents so she went to the tree for them. Funny, how smart she is. I forget that she just turned two. She talks so well and so smart. She acts like she is 7 or 8 not 2. She talks and behaves better than some of the 7 and 8 year olds I know.

We had a birthday party at our house for Maddie’s second birthday. It was a fun time. We did a Yo Gabba Gabba theme. Joe ordered decorations and one of the decorations was a life-size Muno. It was in the hallway at the top of the stairs, so when you walked out of the kitchen he stared you in the face. It made Joe jump a few times thinking that there was a one eyed thing in the hallway. It was funny. Now it is in Maddie’s room. It doesn’t bother me, but I think some people are still startled by it when they come in her room. It makes me laugh. She loves it.

One week after her birthday party was Christmas. We hosted Christmas at our house this year. It was fun. It was all the family. Even Jeni and Shawn came. Although they didn’t stay more than an hour, it was good to have everyone under one roof. It is rare that that happens. We had a good time. There was so many gifts for the kids that presents were all under the tree in the dining room and down the hall. Thank god Joe, Dad and the girls opened all of our gifts before everyone showed up otherwise, I think the gifts would have spilled even further down the hall. All the girls (since that is all we have is girls in our family) made out. They got so much stuff. Well, Lily didn’t directly get much, but being so small and not needing any clothes it is hard to buy for her. She got some things, but Sissy got so much stuff. Which will all be Lily’s soon enough. So really Lily got a lot too.

Lily had her two month check up. She is 12lbs and 23 inches long. She is getting so big so fast. She weighs half as much as Maddie. My little skinny girl. Lily is already trying to roll over. She didn't it a few times the other day. She talks to us all the time and falls her sister around the room. I can't believe how fast she is growing. You don't realize the speed of their growth when you have your first. You are so excited for them to get to the next stage of the progress you don't realize how special every moment is with them. With Lily I see how fast she has changed in the last 11 weeks and I want to slow down time so that I can enjoy every moment with her longer. Next thing I know she is going to be a year then 20 and off to college. I swear it happens that fast.

New Years was rung in with a sick house. Joe, Maddie and Lily were all sick with the Croup. It really sucks when a 2 month old can’t breathe.

Then we got some really crazy news. Jeni is pregnant again. Yes, that is what I said. Jeni is pregnant again. She is 18 weeks along, is having another girl and is due 6/6/11. If you are counting that is four girls and yes, Casey Amber’s birthday is 6/8/10. That means Jeni is having Irish twins. Exactly 12 months apart if she times it just right, a newborn and one year old. It is actually perfect because now Casey won’t feel like the only child when Ali and Bri move out and go to college in the next 5-6 years. But boy was that a surprise.

Well those work friends I will be back on the 17th. See you in a week or so.

Go to Snapfish.com to see all the pictures of the family.

New Arrival

Lillian Jasmine Weiland arrived Tuesday, October 26th at 12:36pm at Sutter Memorial Hospital. She was 6lbs 9.8oz 18.1 inches long. She has reddish/blonde hair and looks just like her sister when she was born. She is perfect.

Maddie took to her really well. I thought she might have a hard time seeing us in the hosptial, but she didn't have any problem with it. She even sang twinkle twinkler to Lily. It is was very cute. She kissed her head about 50 times.

We got home on Thursday afternoon. Since then Maddie has been a great big sister. She wants to hold her, kiss her, and carry her. Of coarse she can't do anything but kiss her without our help, but she asks. It is very cute.

22 Month Update

Okay, okay, I am getting to this 9 months late. Wow how time has flown by. The older Maddie gets the less time I get to do anything.

So a lot has happened since my last update. I will start all the way back to where I last left off in January of this year. So Februray came and we found out I was pregnant again. Yep. We are due on October 30th, but have a scheduled c-section on October 26th at noon at Sutter Memorial Hospital. It is another girl. Her name is Lillian Jasmine Weiland aka Lily.

In March Joe did his first century ride in L.A. He was in for a treat. He didn't know what to expect. He did great. He made it 71 miles before, he couldn't go any further. Considering the wind, the number of bikers and the coarse, I was very proud of him. Since then he has done many 65 mile rides locally, such as the Chico and Lincoln rides. Next year we are going to go back and he is going to finish the ride in LA. There was a large group that rode together. All much more experienced riders. We had a good time.

In march we also went to a wedding in Forrest Hill for a co-worker. Maddie was the center of attention. She loved getting on the dance floor and shaking her butt.

Then it was easter time. Lots of kids and eggs at Aunt Tami and Uncle Kenny's house. She had fun finding eggs.

We spent a lot of the summer at Grandma's house swiming, and bouncing on her trapoline. I spent my time in the pool where it was cool and it took the weight of my belly off my back and legs.

In April Briana and Ali through Jeni a baby shower. Yes, Jeni was pregnant too. Remember back in October of last year when she thought she was sick with the flu, but found out it was morning sickness. The girls had fun planning the party and hosting the event.

In May we went to our recently accuired beach house in Bodega Bay. Well, it is not really ours, but a good friends house. So we like to think it is ours too. It is the best place in the world. No cell service, internet, tv or phone. Just the company of friends and family and the sound of the beach. The house is right on hwy 1 across from the School House beach. It couldn't be more perfect.

In June we spent more time swimming, and at the park swinging. June was also father's day. Maddie got daddy a Sponge Bob father's day card that had stickers in it. We also signed Maddie up for The Little Gym instead of Gymboree. There are actually kids that come to this place. Before Maddie was the only kid for many of the classes. It was not fun. She loves this class. In June Casey Amber was born. Adding a forth girl to Grandma's list of grand-daughters.

July it was Ebert's birthday and 4th of July. We went to the Eberts as we do every year to celebrate. Every year there are more and more kids. Maddie spent time in the pool and went under water several times while she was jumping in the pool. Daddy didn't like it much. She slept through the fireworks show. We celebrated several other birthdays too. Cousin Abbey turned a year.

In August we went camping at Union Valley at our "family's" private campground. I had not been their in 10 plus years. I realized how much I missed going there. Of coarse the night before we were leaving Maddie had her first bloody accident. She split her eye open on the table in my sewing room. Thank god Daddy was at the store or I think he would have rushed her to the emergency room. It was not too bad, but a lot of crying and blood at first. She has a little scar above her eyebrow that will fade with time. So she wore a Dora the Explorer bandaid all weekend to keep it clean while we were camping.

Grandma turned 55 this year and we celebrated with a BBQ and cake at Grandma's. Maddie loves her Grandma. All the girls were there including Krissy and Abbey. It was good to have us all together and to actually get a picture of it.

At the end of August we moved to El Dorado Hills. Boy what a difference a house makes. Although we don't have a large yard, it is so much better for us and it saves me time on my commute every day. We only live 4 doors down from Maddie's nanny Davita. We love living here.

In September we celebrated Mike and Krissy's birthdays. Joe made Mike a special cake for his birthday. He was very proud of his handy work. Yes, his cake is exactly what you think it is......

This month (October) has just been preparing for Lily's arrival at the end of the month. I promise I will not take so long to update our family blog in the future.

On another note, if anyone knows anyone that would be interested in taking Tyson and/or Frank. We are looking for a new home for them. At least Tyson. He is having a hardtime being in a smaller yard. He is use to having the five acres to play and run. It is the hardest decision we have to make, but it will be better for Tyson if we can find a family to love him that has a bigger yard. Frank needs a family that has other dogs. He is so use to having another dog around I don't know what he would do if Tyson was gone. Tyson is 9 years old this year and Frank will be 6 in January. If you know anyone please call or email me.

January 2010

I have been late in getting this post out to you. It feels like we are super busy, but I can't for the life of me think of what we have been doing.

As you know we have taken up biking. It is a new obession. We try and get out at least one day during the weekend for a ride around Natomas Lake. Due to weather, we are not able to get out like we want. Joe totes Maddie around in her little burley trailer. She loves it. The first time she rode in it she sat straight up and held on. Now she kicks back in the seat. She loves it. We can make it all the way around the lake 12 miles or so without a fuss.

Maddie is getting so smart and bigger by the day. Well, maybe not much bigger. She is still very petite. She has no waste for your pants. Even the pants with the elastic adjustable tabs don't fit her on the smallest notch. I still have to fold them over. She now has 12 teeth. She is completely off bottles and drinks from sippy cups. She is not quite ready for regular cups. She drowns herself still with cups. She does pretty good feeding herself if the food sticks to the spoon as she often turns it upside down to get it in her mouth. Maddie is getting a little more hair, but not much more. It seems to be filling in and a few hairs are getting longer, but for the most part she is still bald.

She talking more and more. Repeating everything. I mean everything. I made the mistake of saying a bad word which I don't usually say and she was standing next to me. I said it in a sentences and of coarse that was the only word she picked out and repeated. Joe was happy it was me and not him. She is learning to sit on ner little potty. We are only introducing the concept. She is still too little yet. She goes when she gets up from her naps and is super excited about it. She thinks her potty is a toy. We caught her on her potty reading a road bike magazine. It was really cute. She is also getting timeouts now. She has been screaming at the top of her lungs for no reason other than to scream. She thinks that it is so funny. It is not. Everyday is something new she learns.

Oh, so exciting! She can read words in her word books from the Your Baby Can Read program. I told you it would work. How many 14 month olds can count to 10 and actually read. We are in so much trouble. She is already too smart for her own good. She already tells me what she wants. Milk, down, up, snacks, blanket, poopie, nigh-nigh. She puts herself to bed at 8:30pm nearly ever night. Well, not really by herself. She just walks into her room when I tell her it is time to go nigh-nigh.

We have been taking Maddie to Gymboree every Saturday. She loves to climb and slide. She is making new friends in class. It is really fun. She has a slide in her play room that she loves to play on. But her favorite toy is her pony that she got for christmas from her grandma. We know the song by heart now.









On the 17th of January, my grandparents celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary. They are working towards 75 years. I look forward to the 75th anniversary party in 2022. I look forward to the day when Joe and I can say we are celebrating our 75th wedding anniversary. Only 66 more years to go. When you put it like that, it seems like forever. I hope I make it, but that would make me 99 years old.

On the 16th, we had a reunion of some of my closests friends from grade school. For Christmas in 8th grade, I asked a select group of my girlfriends to come over for a sleep over. That group became known as PBTT. We continued to have sleepovers throughout our 8th grade year. And after 19 years from the inital party, we reunited on the 16th of January for lunch and continued our fun into dinner. Although one of us was missing and we wish she hadn't missed it, we had a great time. We already scheduled our next reunion for 2011. Check out this picture of us.

My sister found out she is having a girl. She is due at the end of May first of June. She is doing good, but you can tell that she is uncomfortable already. Her pelvic bone is separating as she gets bigger and bigger. I can't wait for the new baby. And she can't wait for her to come.

Hope you have a happy valentines day. Talk to you in about month.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

We spent christmas at our house with our family (Jeni, Shawn, Brianna, Macy, Krissy, Mike, Mom & Dad Weiland, Mom & Steve, my dad and us). Some of them came for breakfast and spent the day with us. Others came later for dinner. Joe and Steve deep fried a turkey and cooked a prime rib with all the fixings. It was good food with good people. It was a pretty quiet and laid back day. Maddie made out again. Although she just had a big bash for her birthday two weeks prior, she still got quite a few things.

Maddie helped me decorated the christmas tree. She just really took the ornaments off as I put them on and tangled up the garland, but it was fun watching her with all the lights and shiney ornaments.

She got a christmas dress from her Aunt Melissa. She had it one for about a hour before she got pissed because she couldn't crawl in it. At Christmas she had been crawling over to things to pull her self up when she would fall down when she was walking. Since the new year she has been able to get back up without using something to help her stand back up.

We saw Jeff, Amy and Abbey over the weekend and exchanged gifts with the girls. Maddie kept trying to kiss and hug Abbey. Maddie loves Abbey. She runs around the house saying Abbey, Abbey, Abbey.

For New Years, we stayed home. The Schrocks came over and had dinner with us and brought their family receipt for homemade taffy. It was fun to make but it needed to be cooked a little bit longer. It was too soft when they went to pull it as you can tell by their sticky fingers. But the girls loved licking their fingers clean. We stayed up until 12:05. Enough time to see the ball drop in time square and shut all the lights off and go to bed. Maddie was in bed by 9pm. She didn't get to stay up to ring in the new year.

She must be going through a growing spurt, because she has been really sleeply lately. We spent the first day of the new year laying around the house. We even all took a nap for three hours. For all of us that was a long time and very unusal. Let me tell you. It was the best day ever. I have not had a nap like that since before Maddie was born. Even then I don't think I got a 3 hour nap.

Joe and I made bets. Not new years resolutions, because those never work. We bet ourselves and each other that we couldn't workout everyday for one-year straight. The rules are: You have to "workout" or do something active other than work everyday. A minimum workout has to equal something equalivalant to 100. Such as 25 push ups and 75 sit ups. Or 100 sit ups. Easy right? Of coarse it is easy, that way we can accomplish our bets. I am not sure what we are actually betting for. We will decide that later, however, we don't think the other one can do it. We think that each other is going to be too tired one night to workout.

We started off the first night strong. We will see how it goes. I know we can do it. It is all about will power and the motivation to get going everyday.

Happy Birthday To Maddie

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to Madelyn, Maddie, Cheeto, Choncho, Happy Birthday toooooooo yooooooooou.

So we celebrated Maddie's birthday on December 13th. Despite the weeks events of no power and lots of snow, the power was turned on on Wednesday and the rain followed shortly to wash away the snow, we had a great turn out. There were 64 people at Maddie's party including Joe, Maddie and I and still we were missing a few. It was a packed house, but not too packed. We had soup, sandwiches and salad, plus chips and dips prior to lunch being served.

We had a great time and want to thank everyone for coming to support Maddie. I know that she won't really remember the day, but she had a great day. She didn't take a nap at all that day. She was just going and going. She finally crashed at 9pm that night. She didn't fuss and whine that she was tired either.

As you can see, the birthday theme was ladybugs. Joe got all the decorations about two months before the party. One day while surfing the web he went searching for party decorations for Maddie and found this great website. Check out her birthday sign.......

Her cousin Brianna made her birthday cakes. She had two ladybug cakes and a lot of cupcakes. Bri did a great job. Someday she is going to open up her own bakery just like the Cake Boss show on TLC.

Maddie got lots of gifts and $200 for her 529 college fund. The theme seemed to be cabbage patch kids and tea party sets. She got four of each. We kept one at home and one at daycare. The rest we exchanged for another toy. We opened up all her new toys that night and spread them throughout the theater. That night, despite, her exhaustion, she went from toy to toy to see what was new.

Thanks again everyone for coming to Maddie's party. It was great to see all of you. We had a great time and I know she did too.