Happy New Year 2008!

Whatever did I do without a built in table for my champange glass?

A Midwest Christmas

Playing in the snow with Uncle Alex..



Checking out the stockings at Mimi's house...



Patiently waiting to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus...



Mama teaching Charlie how to use his new violin...

Christmas Happenings....

They make it look so easy on all the cooking shows. First off our gingerbread house was broken....hmm maybe that's why I'm suppose to make it from scratch not just from a kit......so what to do? We just made a bridge and piles of icing and candy. More fun and probably better suited to a two year old's style of being creative!

All the more to eat this way!

Some shopping in the city sans Charlie....and yes, baby boy is getting bigger!

A little Christmas lunch at our house with friends Miles & Viola


And we're off to the midwest to celebrate Christmas with the Thomas & Merkel families! Merry Christmas to you!

Charlie's Christmas Tree

Since Christmas trees and 2 years olds don't mix well....We made Charlie his own little Frosty the Snowman Tree that he can touch and play with. He LOVES it and keeps saying...Thank you Mama, Thank you Mama! So sweet.

Let the Christmas fun begin!

We headed up to Ghiradelli Square in San Fran for the Christmas tree lighting.

It was a fun and festive evening.

A chocolate treat from Santa!

Charlie passed the cupcake store on the way and could hardly concentrate on the tree lighting for want of a cupcake. A boy after his Mama's heart. Of course he was finished with his cupcake after one bite....still some work to do on that sweet tooth!

This one Mama!

Happy Thanksgiving....

Amazing how each Thanksgiving has found us celebrating in such different ways and with such varied groups of people...the constant is how much there is to be thankful for in our lives each and every year. Tops of our list this year...being settled into a new 'life' where we are very happy & content, and the anticipation of our second son's birth.

Thanksgiving 2007 found us with a quiet morning of picnicing by the tv... watching the parade and Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.



We headed to our friends in the afternoon and joined up with their family for a big ol' feast. Of course no pictures of the gorgeous table for the adults....but here's a cute one of Reid, Riley & Charlie.

Big Boy Bed

In preparation of baby Merkel's arrival, we needed to have Charlie adjusted to his toddler bed. I have been hesitant to start as Charlie's such a great sleeper and I need my rest when he rests! Since the boys will share a room, we decieded to take down Charlie's crib. It was all or nothing with this adjustment....we're hoping in Feb when we put the crib back up, it can be 'baby's bed' and not Charlie's anymore.

Charlie was excited about his new airplane sheets and duvet like Mom and Dad's. He pretended to be asleep while Dad took his crib down.

After only a couple of minutes of protesting, Charlie was settled in and slept great his first night! We were so pleased....



But we did find him the next night in such a funny position...still very much getting the hang of it. Good thing he's such a solid sleeper! Gets that from his Dad....

Welcome to little Cody!

Charlie's newest cousin arrived Friday Nov 2nd. Cody James Thomas....
He was greeted by his big brothers Zach & Jaedon... Boys, boys, boys....Can't wait to see you all at Christmas!

Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat!!




In case you want to see my growing belly (monkey #2)

What makes a good mom and wife?

Weekends away with college friends!!! What a great weekend Ann & I had visiting Michelle in Denver. We slept in, laid around in jammies drinking coffee...no schedule, no demands. Leisure dinners and walks without strollers. Visit to the museum, boutique shopping...oh and yes, we did watch the Rockies play (out of the corner of our eye while visting!)

A Sunday Walk

After fighting the 'hurdle' of driving to the city for church on Sunday mornings (its only 30 minutes door to door), we are finding ourselves so happy at our new church. www.citychurchsf.org For the first time in so many years, we look forward to going on Sundays. One of the very best parts is simply getting ourselves into the city at least once a week. This Sunday after church we took a walk in the Marina District. Absolutely gorgeous. Although Charlie seems to think his cracker is much more fascinating than the boats, water....He already has a love for the Golden Gate Bridge and shouts....the bridge, the bridge!! whenever he gets a glimpse. Like Father, like son with popular landmarks....Jeff loves Big Ben, Charlie loves the Golden Gate Bridge.

In Training for October 31st

What a way to start off the Halloween festivites. The Burlingame Mothers Club members and kids met in the park for coffee, bagels...and photo opps. They had different stations set up for all those magical moments. Next year I'll have a little one who will hopefully still be posing for photos. Charlie was his normal ' too busy to pose, Mom!' self.

The kids paraded down our Ave to trick or treat at the shops. Charlie and his friend Miles VERY quickly got the hang of saying 'trick or treat' and holding out their bags. Yelling 'Thank You!' when they were done....very cute.


Now we just have to work on keeping the costume on longer than 5 minutes...

Man Tag....

1. Who is your man? Jeff
2. How long have you been married? 11 years Oct 5th...
3. How long dated? 3 yrs.
4. How old is your man? 33
5. Who eats more? so sad...I eat more sweets for sure....and can definitely hold my own otherwise:) let's just say b/c I'm pregnant!
6. Who said “I love you” first? Jeff...4th of July, watching fireworks.
7. Who is taller? Jeff
8. Who sings better? me...but Jeff was in show choir in high school:) I have the tapes if you ever want to see them...
9. Who is smarter? No question...Jeff. I'm along for the ride on this one!
10. Whose temper is worse? again, no question. MINE...I am a red head after all.
11. Who does the laundry? Me....not sure Jeff knows how...
12. Who takes out the garbage? Jeff...but I do have to remind him at times:)
13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I sleep on the right....does that mean something?
14. Who pays the bills? We share...
15. Who is better with the computer? Again, no question...Jeff.
16. Who mows the lawn? Gardener...
17. Who cooks dinner? Me...
18. Who drives when you are together? Jeff...except when I drop him off at work in the mornings...
19. Who pays when you go out? Jeff
20. Who is most stubborn? We are both very stubborn....
21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Me
22. Who kissed who first? hmm so long ago now...Maybe me?
23. Who asked who out? Jeff asked me to the Taylor Christmas Banquet...hot date!!
24. Who proposed? Jeff...on a carriage ride in snowy downtown Chicago...
25. Who is more sensitive? Jeff...but we are both pretty thick skinned.
26. Who has more friends? Me
27. Who has more siblings? Jeff, 2 brothers. Me, 1 brother
28. Who wears the pants in the family? Oh dear...not a shock to you I know but me.

I tag Jenny

Ice Cream, Pumpkins & Pigs!

Ardenwoods historic farm was a great adventure for Charlie and Lynsey. The farm was having their Harvest Festival whcih meant hand churned ice cream, real popcorn over the fire and fiddle music! Charlie & Lynsey were quite the team climbing the fences to check out the pigs and sheep.

An ottoman, a computer & a two year old

Equals.... a computer shoved on the floor.....

So I have been living with half a screen and unable to upload all our happenings.

We're going to join the Mac world. should be interesting but taking us awhile to find the right one. In the meantime here's a photo of the little monster (affectionately of course)....

Remembering....

Spent the day thinking....where was I six years ago this time. I think its living back in CA where we lived during 9/11 that has brought it more fresh to my mind this year. Jeff was at a work dinner this evening which left me alone on the couch watching the taped 'live' unfolding of events. Emotional at times remembering being alone six years ago on my couch watching the live events- Jeff across the ocean in Singapore and family across the country. I remember wishing at the time I had a tangible piece of Jeff with me. Poor Charlie will be restless tonight as his Mama checks on him many too many times. Its a day to hug our families, husbands and kids very tight.

February 29, 2008....Leap Year!

A new brother (or sister) for Charlie due to arrive in February! Given our extended family's track record with boys vs girls (total seven boys, no girls) we are assuming we'll have another son and so bought the 'boy' shirt.... Long live the Merkel name! We are thrilled...and Charlie just likes his new shirt.

Chillin Out Time

Ahhhh so relaxing...

Every boy needs a wagon....

Charlie has a big fan in his Great Grandpa Dennis.

The first time Great Grandpa met Charlie at the age of 3 weeks,

he said 'You are the beginning of a great man.'

They were off on a sweet relationship.

On our most recent visit in July Great Grandpa was reminiscing about his childhood and became tearful remembering how he was never able to have the wagon he wanted because they were too poor. Later in our visit Great Grandpa had a special gift for Charlie...money to buy his very own wagon.

Thank you Great Grandpa!!

Happy Birthday to Jeff!

What a fun day we had celebrating Jeff's birthday. Off to church in the city, then a yummy crepe lunch after... where fire trucks going up and down the street kept our little climbing monkey happy all lunch!

We caught Charlie mimicking his Daddy after lunch. What a way to relax with a full tummy!

The day was rounded off with some watching of the British Open and a swim at the pool down the street. Happy Birthday Jeff! Be sure to ask him how old he is....seems he can never get it right!

What a discovery!!!

Charlie probably thinks we were holding out on him. But after numerous attempts in life to introduce Charlie to ice cream we decided, strange as it may be, that he didn't like it. WELL...all it took were big cousins Zach & Jae eating it, and Charlie found a new love. We're happy about that. It wouldn't be a proper end to a Lakeside day without a trip to the ice cream shop.

Lakeside 'cousins'

The parents grew up together, the kids grow up together. Doesn't get much better in life than that! Sweet Olivia, Laine, Jaedon, Charlie & Zach...happy flag wavers they are.

A little boy in a big bed...

All week at Lakeside we battled Charlie to sleep in his pack-n-play. The tiny bedroom had his pack-n-play pushed up against this comfy double bed. Too tempting for a little boy who loves to climb! You can see who persevered and won by the end of the week. We're pleased to say he's still happily sleeping in his crib at home thank goodness. But I think our days are numbered....

Celebrating July 4th Lakeside style....

Lining up for the 4th of July parade....the big event at Lakeside!
Zach, Jaedon and Charlie are ready for the parade!! Such a cute trio....Charlie kept 'undecorating' his wagon...sigh. Charlie decided the wagon wasn't for him and he'd do a little 'street entertaining' instead.
Wouldn't be a 4th of July without croquet. Poor Jeff, not much competition this year.
Trying to do what the big boys do....Kept him busy all week!