Happy Birthday Doug!

Happy Birthday Doug! We love you!

Love Ally and Zach

We're Going to Disneyland!

I will be posting some pictures this week. We are heading to Orange County this weekend and will be stopping by the Magic Kingdom on Sunday.

Have a wonderful Labor Day Holiday Weekend!

Torneo Bocce

(delayed post from earlier in August)

Torneo Bocce

August 2008
Hermosa Beach, CA

For the second year in a row we attended the Bocce Torneo in Hermosa Beach, CA. We were invited to this beach event by the Kartalis Family. Last year Doug and Luke were both rookies to the game but due to their unquestionable athletic abilities they quickly figured things out and finished with a 2nd place performance.

Doug is demonstrating the Back in Effect signature wrist flip underhand lob.

(Luke is in orange, Jason in the Don Mattingly jersey)

We had high expectations for the "Back 'n Effect Team" this year. I was invited to play this year too and of course with my own athletic prowess had high expectations as well. My partner and I took the reigning champions to 9-10 finish, but unfortunately couldn't pull it out. The Back N Effect Team also ended their run sooner than expected. Even without the win (and cash prize) we had a good time.

Team Uncle Rico; me and my partner Rebo

Zach loved the beach (as usual). And really loved his new "shark" tent. This was the purchase of the year, as it kept him out of the sun, entertained and it only cost $12 at Target!

The Shark Tent!

For those of you who aren't as familiar with Bocce here is a video of the Back N Effect Team in Action. For those of you who go to beach often, BUY A BOCCE SET! It is a great beach activity. I played often in college and is a fun way to spend a day at the beach.

Zachary also tried to take off for the ocean through out the day. He still isn't a big fan of waves, but I predict that will chage as he gets older.

Countdown to Heart Walk

I am very quickly approaching Heart Walk Season. What at one time felt like months away is now only a matter of weeks. As part of the Tri-Counties (Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo), we have four walks to prepare. I am personally running the Start! Ventura Heart Walk. The event is on October 18, 2008.

The event goal is $180,000. I don't know if I am going to get there, but I am going to do everything in my power to get close.

Here's to raising money in the fight against heart disease and stroke.

Below is my personal fundraising page:

http://heartwalk.kintera.org/venturacountyca/walker08

Here is the Event Page:
www.venturaheartwalk.org

Thank you Doug!

Doug did the dishes tonight and I love him for it.

Thank you honey! I love you.

Where did my baby go?

I don't know if it was the haircut or something else but all of a sudden Zachary went from being my baby boy to my little boy. Instead of banging blocks together for the heck of it, he bangs them together for the sound and because that is part of the game. I am proud of him for his ability to learn and interact yet part of me misses the baby qualities he used to have.

So, this is where I need to start appreciating every moment a little more than I already do! Sometimes I think I have a time machine stuck on fast forward sitting in front of me in the shape of my son!

Zach's 1st Official Haircut

This is Zachary's beach look

Zachary had his first official hair cut this morning. We didn't intend to cut his hair but after a few weeks of his "disheveled" look. I thought it might be time to even things out. he did pretty well with the process. The distraction tools and hair dryer on cold blast kept him entertained and less interested in what those sharp scissors were doing.



"What do you think you are going to do with those things?"



"Are you sure you still wanna go through with this?"

He may alternate with short and shaggy hair but lucky for him he looks good with most styles. Below is the final product.

TA-DA! Here is the final product!

Bye, Bye Bottles and Formula!

We have used our last canister of Enfamil Lipil Formula. Thankfully it has been an easy transition to milk. While I know our monthly formula costs (roughly $65.00 per month) will now be transferred to something else, I am excited that my Costco bill won't automatically start at $65.00 on each visit. I prefer to gradually build up on my shopping totals!

We have also transistioned away from bottles to Straw cups. We are going to be donating all of our bottles for another family to use, if you know anyone who might need them, please don't hesitate to let me know. I am thrilled to get some counter space back. We tried the sippy cups but Zach wasn't crazy about them (accept for throwing, dropping or chewing them). He his a boy of discerning taste and prefers his liquid in a straw!

I think it's gentic.

Everytime I run the vacuum Zachary breaks down in tears. For weeks I have assumed that it must be the noise, but then today as I started to think about it and decided that is must be a male genetic trait.

Speaking of vacuum's we are in need of a new one. I am thinking about buying the Dyson, but would love to hear your opinion if you have one you really like. Feel free to email me suggestions as well.

The Kartalis baby bump!

Dori is now 22 weeks pregnant and finally starting to have a bump! They just found out they are having a little boy. We are very excited for Zachary to have a new buddy.

Look Mom, a new room to mess up!

Zachary has discovered the kitchen cabinets and all the fun gear kept inside. Interestingly, the other man in the house still hasn't located the pots and pans "hidden" inside the cabinets.

SeaWorld (part 1)

We had three treats this weekend.
1. Aunt Erin (Rin) came to visit us and spend some time with Zachary.
2. We were able to visit Luke and Dori in San Diego (and got to see Dori's growing baby bump!)
3. We all went to Sea World as a belated birthday treat for Zach.

I am working on adding some more Sea World pictures and stories but I hope this is a good start.








(Don't forget about me behind the camera!)











Shamu Splash! But don't worry you won't need a $6.00 poncho if you are sitting in the 13th row. If don't believe me and still want to get one, you can borrow ours!






Meet Penny and Pete. Pete isn't so sure about all this as he has never seen a penguin in sunglasses.

SeaWorld Seal Show

Please be warned. There is a seal in this video that is a little funny looking, some may even call him names. It's what on the inside that counts, all the blubber on the inside that counts!

And yes, Zach's shirt says "Accountants Rock" (thanks Erin).

Gone Fishin'

In the official prize fishing contest held at the Sea World, San Diego this weekend we had a clear winner.

Please look below at our top three finalists. I should also note that "If Erin wasn't playing, Luke would have won."














Luke, Erin and Doug

Bahl, Bahl, Ball!

While Zachary has been a little chatterbox for a while he is starting to vocalize in a language we all understand. He has said mama, dada and some other words but hasn't necesarily associated them with me and Doug. The word he does associate with an object is BALL!

BALL!

Mmmmm.....Ball.

BALL!