Each year, Santa visits our neighborhood along with Frosty, Rudolph, and an asortment of Christmas carolers and helpers. Last year, we froze our butts off for 2 hours waiting for the fat guy to show. This year, right on time. Here is another picture of Gabe screaming his head off with Santa. I really enjoyed this last year, and it was just as fun this year. Gabe definately had more fun than this picture indicates. Frosty gave him a candy cane and Gabe loved it. He also helped by yelling Ho! Ho! Ho! as Santa went on to spread cheer in another neighborhood. Merry Christmas.
Oh! LED Christmas Tree
Parents came down and helped us pick out a tree and decorate it. This year is all about the LED. I chinced out on the house lights, putting off replacing them until next year. However, I was at Target this morning and couldn't help myself and I bought new Christmas tree lights. I like them as they are much brighter than regular lights, they don't get loose, and will not burn out, ever.
A lot going on this weekend. We threw Gabe a big birthday party at March Airforce Base in Moreno Valley on Saturday. We had the party inside a C-131 which is basically a big cargo plane. Afterward, we got to walk through an airfield museum and airfield with retired aircraft including an SR-71 and a Cobra helicopter. Of course, Gabe's favorite part of the museum was a little train underneath a Christmas tree.
Another fun thing we did tonight was attempt to take a picture of Gabe and Sarah for our Christmas card. Here are the top runner-ups, Michelle will make the final decision this week:
Gabe's birtday is actually this Tuesday, December 12th. So if you want to wish him a happy birthday, post a comment here and I will make sure he gets it.
Things I did on my Vacation
Not the best picture, but it is proof that I have my Christmas lights up the weekend after Thanksgiving this year. A first for me. I took Thanksgiving week off from work and enjoyed the 9 days away from work. While I was at home, I had several projects that I wanted to tackle. While I didn't get to them all, I did manage to cross a few off my list.
Here is what I accomplished:
- Cleaned spare room (no easy task, let me tell you) and donated extra clothes to charity.
- Finished office filing including Michelle's CSR paperwork.
- Hung Christmas lights
- Removed dead ice plant from hill (75% done)
- Fixed hill sprinklers (50%, some new ones aren't working right)
Doesn't look like much, but every little bit counts. Trying to get as much done and the house looking good before the holidays. I want to slow down this year and enjoy the season with Gabe and Michelle. He's going to be a lot of fun this year.
A Day at the Zoo
Since it is Columbus day, I had the day off. Kind of a weird day to have off, but I am not complaining. Michelle and I were shopping at Costco on Sunday and found out you can buy discount tickets for theme parks and movies. We decided to take the Big Boy to the San Diego Wild Animal Park.
Gabe's favorite thing at the park was the petting zoo. For fifty cents, you could hand feed what look to me like deer but they were something else. Gabe really likes dogs, and when he is near one he watches them with great intent. He absolutely loved the deer especially when they would come up and eat from our hands. Gabe was able to touch some of the animals but unable to hold his hand out to feed them (mainly because when I put a pellet into his hand it went directly to his mouth).
Of course we spent a lot of time over at the gorillas, one of my favorites. I took a lot of pictures, but few came out very good. We also took the tram ride, however Gabe was more interested in the 15 months little girl behind us (and her him) than all the wildlife. I was impressed with the amount of rhinos we saw, and we even saw one of the lions and a cheetah which I am told is very rare. I put a lot of pictures in the photo album, some of today and others taken about a month ago. Make sure to check them out. He is getting so big and moving around a lot.
Saturday Night
Gabe had some friends come down and hangout during Saturday. Pictured here are his cousins (from left to right) Taylor, Victoria, and Ryan. You can see some more pictures in the 'Family' photo album. I made Chicken w/ Tomatilla Salsa for Michelle, Marissa, and Kim. It turned out pretty good.
Victoria and I went to Stater Bros to get the supplies. She drove in the car shopping cart. We managed to knock down a 'Caution Wet Floor' sign, side-swipe some cereal boxes, and then drafted behind a mom and her daughter while heading toward the checkout line. We made our move with 50 feet to go and ended up driving the other guys into the wall (a wall of Pepsi put out for the Superbowl).
Eut's PW Taoeupl!
No, the title is not misspelled, it is steno for, "It's about time!" or something like that. About a week after Gabriel was born, I was on mail patrol. In the past, the only time I would get the mail was when Michelle was expecting her CSR test results. I came home from work and she asked me to check the mail. I said, "So soon? I didn't think you'd get them until next week." I went and got the mail. Walking back across the street I saw the envelope, the same envelope I've seen for the past 2 years. Before I opened it I decided if it was bad news, I'd stick it in my pocket and I'd tell Michelle after Christmas. I stood outside the front door and opened it. My eyes saw the words, 'Congratulations' and then they did a double take. I could not believe what I was seeing. Michelle passed the State exam and is now a Certified Shorthand Reporter.
The image is a copy of her certificate she received today that includes her CSR number. I cannot tell you how proud I am of her. She never gave up. Every time she didn't pass, she forced herself to get back to school and keep her speeds up. Then fill out the damn paperwork, send it in and wait for the test day. It was a viscous cycle. However, now all that is in the past and she can look forward to starting her new career. Congratulations babe!
Gabriel is here!
I decided to re-activate my account with typepad because I've been lazy and haven't created my own site yet. I wanted to be able to share our good news with family through a convenient medium. I put some new photos of Gabriel on the right hand side, be sure to check them out.
Today, December 12, 2004, my son Gabriel was born. He was born at 3:10 PM at Inland Valley Medical Center in Murrieta California. He weighed 6 lbs and 11 oz. and his length is 18.5 inches. Dr. Brian Byrne and RN Barbara delivered him. Another nurse named Michelle helped out. My parents were the first to arrive, and my mom stayed with us until right before the doctor came in to deliver the baby. She was great. Michelle did awesome. She stayed focused and breathed well. When in came time to push, she gave it everything she had. The baby was being stubborn and did not want to come out right away. Then, he turned and descended very quickly. The first thing I really noticed was his face. He came out facing me. As soon as his mouth cleared, he started to cry and before long, Michelle was holding him on her chest. I got to stay with them until 9:30 PM. Michelle and I changed him and she breastfeed him. At first, he was having some trouble, but a nurse named Lottie came in and helped Michelle. I already miss them.
These are the folks that came to the hospital to see Gabriel in order of appearance (at least when I saw them): Mom and Dad, Kim and Taylor, Pam, Linda, Jim and Ryan, Marrissa and Victoria, Kelly and Danny, Ann Marie, Haley, and Anthony, Craig and Gavin. Mark and Cindy came after everyone left and hung out with us for about an hour in the recovery room. Mark even held the baby after awhile. I spoke with Alan on the phone (he actually called me and asked if he caught me at a good time because he won $385 in poker the night before and had to tell me the good news). Bret also called me. I called Steve. And my brother Chris called me from Las Vegas.
Gavin's First Birthday
I'll let you decide on whether or not the ballons represent something else. Last Saturday, I went to my nephew Gavin's first birthday party. I saw several people that I haven't seen in a long time so that was good. Jim & Ryan, Robert, Steve, and I rode our bikes down to the party (now that is always good) and besides being 2 hours late, still had a good time at the party. I put some pictures in a photo album titled, "family". From time to time I'll update with new pictures. Next Friday is Linda's 30th birthday. We're celebrating over dinner in Newport. For those who can't make it, pictures are coming soon.
My Sister Kim
As a kid, having a big sister can be hazardous to one's health. I remember Friday mornings in the summer while my mom was away at her bowling league. I would harass my sister to the point where I had to lock myself in the bathroom because she was going to pound the shit out of me. I'd later sneek out and run down the street to my friend Colin's house (not before harassing her more on the way out).
As an adult, I could not hope for a better relationship with her. She is always there when I need her and she loves Michelle like a sister (I sometimes get jealous). We took this picture during Thanksgiving last year.
