Saturday, December 30, 2006

Cabo- El Segund Dia

Mira was her old self today and we are thankful! We had a wonderful breakfast outside and swam and swam and played ball and napped and mooed. Great dinner too. It's a bit chilly here though to be honest. And windy. All in all, still better than home. Mira took her very first shower tonight with Mommy. Very fun indeed!

LOTS of new sentances this week too! My Da Da car. I'll get it. Get me the ball. I have a ball...too funny!

Night night for now!

Friday, December 29, 2006

Cabo Vacation Follies




Here we are in beautiful Cabo! San Jose del Cabo for some and Cabo San Lucas to others. The 2 cities are about 40 minutes apart and between them lies a dotted line of hotels and time shares. Our hotel is about smack dab in between the 2 cites. Although close, vastly different if feel. San Jose is our favorite with its gallaries, old feel Mexico Town Square and wonderful eateries. Not as "clubby" as CSL.
After a pretty rocky start to the trip with Mira barfing about 9 times in the course of 5 hours starting when we landed, then at the rental car agency and ending at dinner. (See last post.)

She slept well in the room and had a pretty light breakfast and lunch. We swam a couple of times and played by the pool until about 2 today. Mira loved the pool and looking at the ocean.

Dinner went well and she actuallty felt about 99% "back" in our estimates. She felt so much better that she wanted to stay later in the square and dance around greeting passersby. She is in bed now and we are following shortly. We hope to have a 100% day tomorrow and get to the beach for some sand castle building! Buenos Noches.

Holiday Horrors and Other Stories

Well, let's see...where to begin. Once upon a time an entire family came to California for Christmas. One little boy was sick with a tummy virus and the whole family ended up either running to the bathroom or barfing for 3 days. The end. Seriously, the food was great and it was wonderful to have everyone in our home for Christmas. Mira loved seeeing her Nona and Aunties and Cousin Tabor. Loved her gifts too. Now, really the end. Sorry, no photo for this one. They wouldn't be pretty anyway.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Pop Pop, or George?


Yesterday Mira was opening a Hanukkah card from Bubbie and Pop Pop. She enjoyed getting into the envelope and pulling the card out. Once the card emerged from the envelope, a crisp one dollar bill came drifting out. Mira grabs the bill and studies it for a while. Then, like a light bulb clicked in her head, she looks at the bill and says sweetly "Pop Pop" Or Pa Pa as she calls him. Kevin and I became absolutely hysterical. So, there you have it. Pop Pop does indeed resemble George Washington. With his mildly receding white hairline and peaceful demeanor. Out of the mouths of babes...

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Reflection




This year we have made a donation to the Save Darfur Coalition. If you are not familiar with the genocide that is taking place in Sudan, please find out more by going to www.savedarfur.org. Darfur has been called the worst humanitarian crisis of the 21st century. Not since the Rwandan genocide of 1994 has the world seen such a calculated campaign of displacement, starvation, rape and mass slaughter. The ongoing devastation has killed an estimated 400,000 and displaced over 2.5 million Sudanese since February 2003.

Darfur is the century’s first genocide. Look beyond the headlines, understand that a genocide is occurring right now, look for how we can support a solution – and ways in which we may be contributing to the problem. These people need our help. As humans, we owe them our support and prayers. As Americans we owe them our courage and experience. We must do something to help those who suffer, and this time we can.

We have also "adopted" a family through the Santa Cruz Adopt a Family Program this year and the gifts left today. Our family is a single mom, Aimee with a 2 1/2 year old daughter, Willow. Willow will be receiving lots of books, a Dora doll, stuffed kitty and a great big activity pad with crayons, paints and paper dolls. Mom will be receiving a Barnes and Noble GC and another GC for Safeway to get some holiday goodies. They are currently homeless so please send your prayers their way.
As another way to help others we have given to the American Lung Association this year. In memory of my sweet Bubbie, Pop Pop, Co, (Kevin's Dad) and my Aunt Kandi who all passed away too early of lung related illnesses. We miss them every day.

An early Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to everyone. Please take some time to reflect on how blessed we all are. Let's not forget the real meaning of this time of year.
I was deeply saddened by the loss of a local San Francisco father this week, James Kim. While returning to the area with his family (wife Kati and daughters Penelope (4) and Sabine (7 months) they became lost in snowy forests of southern Oregon after taking a wrong turn. After several days, James left his family and headed out to look for help. Kati and his children were later rescued but he perished. This tragic story reminds us all how life can change in an instant. Hug your loved ones close as often as possible.
Give thanks for each other every day. Hugs to all.

Monday, November 27, 2006

It's... Potty Time! Oh, and other happenings







Well, lot's happening over the long holiday weekend! Mira had been somewhat interested in the potty and what WE were doing on the potty for quite some time. Daddy bought her a couple of seats early last week and so the story goes...a poopie and another and another. Yes, only you parents can really understand the joy at seeing your little one on the potty. AND actually using it! When sitting she likes the rest of the family to join her in the bathroom. Ma Ma, DOWN (I am to sit down), Da Da, DOWN, (Da Da is to sit down...)It's hysterical. And that concludes my potty overview. Rest assured, all continues to go well!

We spent Thanksgiving just the 3 of us at our house. A quiet evening. Kevin unfortunately made one of those turkey "roasts", not a good choice. His description, "It tasted like a turkey TV dinner." Bright spots: good old fashioned green bean casserole and mashed potatoes. Yummy!

The rest of the weekend was kind of quiet. Mira decided to not nap too well and wake up at 4:30 pretty much every morning, but other than that a great time to enjoy each other's company, decorating the house for Christmas AND Hanukkah, feeding the ducks at Bubbie and Pop Pop's doing some dancing around the house, working on "please" and "thank you" which you would hear as "peeese" and "dad-doo". We're getting there!. It was hard to say bye bye this morning for sure as Daddy and Peanut left for work and day care.

This weekend our wonderful Aunt Nee Nee and Uncle Joe are coming to town. We have a whole lot of nothing planned which is fine with all of us, I think. We will be taking them out for Joe's 70th on Friday and that should be fun. Sans Peanut. She'll be happier with Bubbie at home.

We are getting pretty excited for Cabo next month and think that Mira will be hard to pull from the water. She continues to excel at her swim lessons and we let her skip the really hard stuff if she likes. It's so crazy for us to listen to some of the other parents really push their kids to climb out or do other things on command. Comments like "why are you being such a baby?" blow our minds. And we wonder why our kids are so sqrewed up later in life. Let them be babies! They ARE babies!

So, another month slowly slips by and we gear up for the busy holiday season. Almost done shopping, only a gift or 2 left to buy so that feels good. Cheers for now.












Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches we reflect on our lives and those close to us. Kevin, Mira and I are thankful for so much and are so very blessed. We have our health, each other, wonderful jobs and amazing family and friends. What else could we need?

We are most grateful for the heart warming joy that Mira brings us every day and the new found patience we have acquired over the last 20 months.

Laughter and love fills our home every day. Today, this week, this month and this year, we give thanks for all of life's blessings.

Monday, November 20, 2006

November Update







Hi everyone!
Well, Nov. has been a crazy month! Mommy has been traveling to Kansas City, KS for a team meeting and also to Atlanta, GA for a Train The Trainer. 3 Timezones in 3 weeks! Whew! Daddy and Peanut had a great time reading books, going for walks, eating yummy dinners and visiting with Bubbie. Truly a super-dad.

Although being away was hard and exhausting, Mommy made it through.

Mommy and Daddy spent the 18th and 19th in Monterey for the ORHP holiday party. Every year it is in some wonderful location over a weekend. The weather was terrific, in the upper 60s (by the coast no less!) and we shopped, ate a great lunch and enjoyed the party Sat. evening.

Sunday we had a lovely breakfast in Monterey and did some Hanukkah shopping closer to home.

All in all a relaxing time. We were happy to get home of course.

This week is Thanksgiving and we will be staying in San Ramon. We decided to skip the holiday rush this year and relax a bit. So, Daddy is making a little turkey for he and Peanut and Mommy is having salmon I think. We'll do the same thing we do every night...eat dinner, head up for bath time and off to bed!

It will be difficult not being with our families but it will be OK.

Great Aunt Anita and Great Uncle Joe are coming to CA on the 30th for a few days and we CANNOT WAIT!! We plan on spending some really fun time together, laughing until our sides hurt.

Peanut is saying so many words and sentences these days, it's hard to keep up! Cow, moo, office, owl, bunny, flower, body, pee pee, poo poo, potty, da da, ma ma, up, sit down, my da da, dog, cat, car, Where'd it go, I'll get it, fall down, wa wa, cup, moon, bubbles, Elmo, book, rice, Bubba, Pa Pa, No No (Nona), Morrny (Morty, her Monkey), Mannie (bear)...and SO many more!

Swim and Gymboree are going great. We are all looking forward to Cabo next month. And of course, Nona, Cimber, Kat, Shawn, and Cousin Tabor coming to CA for Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

Happy Halloween!



Well, Halloween was a hit. Mira went to 3 houses this year. Fun, fun. She was the cutest darn fairy in the land. Even wore her petal hat. We let her have a small bite of a Reeses and she LOVED it. This is not a child that has ever had candy mind you. So, it was a pretty special bite!

We had about 40 kiddies this year. Not a bad number. Still have candy left. Peanut went to bed at 7:30 (the usual time) without a peep.

Happy Halloween to all and to all a good night! Photos are being posted to yahoo in the AM. Boo.

Blog Headache

Well, now that this has given me a giant headache, I think I have all of the settings correct! Anyone can post comments and the correct link has been sent out.

Looking forward to Halloween tonight! Will post more soon.

Monday, October 30, 2006

Let's Begin!


Hello family and friends!
Well, we have crossed over to the world of Blogdom!! A recent class I was teaching convinced me last week that we need to do this! So, here goes!

My intent is to post at least 2 times a month. The real reason for the Blog is to keep all of our dear ones close to us and all of the joy, sleepless nights and craziness of living with the Dahlstroms!

This weekend Mira's Nona, Linda came for a visit. The weather was in the upper 70s and fabulous! We went to Gymboree, swim lesson, out to lunch and to the park. (Bubbie and Pop Pop also joined us throughout the weekend. Mira sures loves her Nona. Or No-nie as she says.

We are gearing up for Halloween this week! It sure will be different than last year. Mira plans on being a Sugar Plum Fairy, decked out in purple organza and sparkles! We will let you know how the trick or treating goes!

Kevin is heading to Bartlesville, OK again this week. Joy, joy. I will have fun giving Bijou her Prozac in the mornings. Yes, Prozac. She has a lot of stress in her life.

Next week I will be off to Kansas City, MO for a team meeting. Kevin and Mira will be fending for themselves with frozen fish sticks and mac and cheese. Seriously though, I am married to possibly THE very best daddy.

We are looking forward to Great Aunt Anita and Uncle Joe's visit in Nov. just after Thanksgiving. It should be super fun. It will be the first time they will be at our home in San Ramon.

Other than that, the PVDD Christmas will be at our home this year. Linda, Cimber, Kat, Shawn and Tabor will be making the journey from Portland. I fear that we will be cooking for the entire time but we all love home cookin' as they say. It's a big leap for the Price-VanDeusen-Dahlstrom clan and we are grateful.

Mira is taking us to Cabo in December with her allowance. hee, hee. Leaving the 28th. Cannot wait to see her swimming in the infinity pool! Whoa!

Hugs to all. Don't forget to continue to check out our Yahoo photos site! We post new photos every week.http://photos.yahoo.com/k_dahlstrom
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