More kitties!

It seems we are now feeding 3 wild kitties in our backyard. I got some face photos of Bob and his friend, the black and white kitty. I say friend, but I had to break them up fighting last night. I shined a flashlight on them and they both looked at me with fur in their mouths. I had to laugh.

Now Bob is the "bravest" one of them all because he'll walk right by me after I put his food in his bowl. The other two are big fraidy cats and will run if you look at them. I couldn't even get a picture of the gray cat because he's so fast to get away.

"Bob"

We've been feeding a feral kitty who hangs out in our backyard for the last couple of weeks. He or she is really beautiful with a great big furry mane. I couldn't get him/her to look up at me, but I'll get one eventually. He/she looks like a bobcat, thus his/her name.

Mickey's Trick or Treat in Calilfornia Adventure

This is the first 'A' in California in front of the entrance.

Maddie's costume is appropriately entitled, "The Chaos Creator." I'm going to make a cape with the help of my friend's mother-in-law before Halloween, but this was just fine for our Disney trip. The circle has a thunder cloud with lightening coming out of it. I was looking for a tornado type picture, but I didn't see any that would work.

Sorry for the blurry picture, but all the lights were cool reflecting on the water.

Cool pic of the moon.

Maddie's favorite princess (for now anyway) is Ariel.

Stuff other than Disney trip:
Helping mom cook-or helping make a mess with flour.... I don't need much help making messes, I'm a professional!

My terrible photography....

There was a really BIG spider hanging outside our bedroom the other night and the moon was right behind it from my view point. I tried getting a cool, spooky picture, but failed. Here it is anyway. I really need LESSONS!!!

My little stamper!

So if you know me, you know that I enjoy stamping and scrapping. I like the card making probably more than the scrapping. I've begun to slowly get back into the groove with having some craft time with another mom, Holly, and her son, Christian. They've come over twice and Christian and Maddie play while the moms get to make some stuff! It's awesome!!! I've missed it so much. I feel very rusty, but it's coming back slowly.

Anyhoo, Maddie is showing an interest in being crafty as well. I think most kiddos like to draw and color so it's not like this is a revelation or anything... I've let her use a few stamps and an ink pad (washable of course) and she likes it! I'm so tickled! One day we'll be able to go to one of Ah-Amy's Stampin' Up! workshops TOGETHER. I must admit that by that time rolls around, she may be interested in something completely different, but that's o.k. I'll continue to have craft time with her until she can't stand it anymore.

Self Portraits ...... by Maddie

This is what happens when a 2 year old gets in possession of the digital camera:

Some birthday pictures

Maddie's favorite thing -- CUPCAKES! We had some help decorating them!

We had some friends over as well as Maddie's grandmother, aunt, and cousins from KY.

She got some nice gifts. We had to find a bigger Elmo jacket since she still wears the 12 month sized one and it's a "little" small. She loves the chalkboard. They have them at her doctor's office and she's always enjoyed writing on it. Daddy needed help putting together the trike.

Another one of Maddie's favorite things -- M & Ms. Can you tell who's on the shell?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADDIE!!!!

Well, it's the big 2 today! I can't believe it myself. Maddie's cousins, aunt, and grandma are here to celebrate. We're going to have cupcakes (Maddie's favorite things) and ice cream. Some of the neighbors are going to come over after dinner time and help us celebrate as well. I'll post some pictures later.

Earthquake

Just in case you heard about the earthquake near L.A., we're fine. We felt it somewhat, but nothing terrible.

Life experiences:

Live in California --- X

Experience earthquake ---- X

Never thought I would do either!

L.A. Zoo & Seaside Lagoon

We visited the Los Angeles Zoo on July 6th. Maddie really liked the flamingos. She has a picture of them in one of her word books and she's always liked looking at them.




The giraffes were awful cute. There were two babies and two adults.




These guys cracked us up! Both were lounging in the sun.





Maddie and I went to the "Seaside Lagoon" last week. "The Seaside Lagoon is a salt water facility. Water for seaside lagoon comes from the other side of the breakwater, at about 50 feet deep, travels to the near by steam generating plant where they use it to cool the turbines. The water then travels under the street in large pipes to the Seaside Lagoon where it is chlorinated when entering the lagoon and de-chlorinated when leaving the lagoon back into the harbor. The Seaside Lagoon has approximately 1.5 million gallons of water and has a flow through rate of approximately 200,000 gallons per hour." (this is from their website)

KY and CA

We visited KY this last month and Grammy also came back with us for a continuing visit. We got to see our cousins. We also learned that if you eat cupcakes with blue icing, it stays blue FOREVER. I don't just mean on your skin either.... lesson learned!












I didn't really take many pictures in KY as I should. Maddie had her first bought of strep throat while there. Every single time we go there she gets something. I hope that isn't foreshadowing for when we move back home!!!!!

We visited "Hollywood Forever" cemetery off of Santa Monica Blvd. This is our second visit. We also went in October of 2006. Grammy's favorite star, Tyrone Power, is buried there along with many other good ol' Hollywood stars.

This is Douglas Fairbanks (Sr. and Jr.) grave. You can tell how huge it is with Grammy standing in front of it. The pond that leads up to it sure needs some cleaning. The whole cemetery has some very beautiful monuments.

The mausoleum where Rudolf Valentino is buried is very ornate. Check out the statues of the Saints. Jason is 6'4" so you can imagine how completely overwhelming these were.

We're not sure who is in the grave in the middle of the pond, but it's so breathtaking. Maddie and Jason are sitting next to it to give some perspective.

This is where John Ramone is buried as well. This cemetery has been used in t.v. shows and movies. We saw an episode of "Supernatural" last season that was taped there. If you look in the distance you can see the Hollywood sign.





As many of you are sick of hearing me say, "I wish Maddie would let me put her hair up," you won't have to hear it anymore!!! It's not easy and I have to move really quick~thus the messiness of the do~but she's letting me put "pretties" in her hair. Thanks Dr. Nicole for the idea!





On Grammy's last full day here in sunny CA, we went to Hermosa Beach so she could put her feet in the Pacific ocean. It's quite cold, but the native Californians don't seem to mind. Maddie's favorite is the sand. It's everywhere, diaper, shoes, car seat, etc........