Catching up Dec 06 til May-ish 07

Let's see how much time I get to write. I just gave the B and Daddy hair cuts, so they're off de-fuzzing..


I finally had a chance to sit down and go through this years pictures to see what I'd post. Some of the months got a little mushed this year; there was so much going on and for about a quarter of it I was really sick, (three months of strep throat that wouldn't die). So, many months were taken on the camera, and not knowing where some of the months started or ended per download, here's the year (starting from where I left off Nov 06):

In November we went on a Christmas walk through Glendale, and I noticed something I hadn't before:



I thought this was pretty cool. A little Germany close to home.

December started with Baldy going in for surgery on his arm. He came through like a champ and his recovery was much easier than expected. Then when his recovery ended, he was on to his next journey...more on that later.

Then Christmas prep. Spiderman cookies for Santa along with serial killer impressions by the B:

And then there was Christmas:


How is it that my parents get gifts for my kid that they would have never gotten me? I never woke up to a Mustang on Christmas morning.

A day or two before New Year's we ended up taking in a puppy our neighbor found. She was a complete spaz. Bouncing off the walls, just crazy, so we figured she'd fit right in with our family. She was half Pug and half Boston Terrier, we called her Maya.

Then we went to this New Year's party,

the B on karaoke

While at the party (which was outside) and right after midnight a family came by looking for their little black dog. Baldy and I were crushed. It wasn't a really good time to have to give up a puppy. See, if we hadn't miscarried in the July previous, we'd be expecting a new baby right after New Year's. It sucked, but at least a family got their puppy back. We only had her for a few days, but she was a character and we got attached.

I think it was in the February - March time frame I fell down this mountain. O.k., it's a really big, big hill, but it was really steep and I landed face first on the adjacent really big hill.
Stop laughing.

I was at Battle Assembly, a fancy shmancy term for what we used to call 'Drill' in the Army Reserves. Anyway, we were training, doing a little land navigation and were at the top of that hill above, where I had taken this picture:

Then, I had to move over to the next hill to find my point. I figured it would be a good idea to run down the hill to build momentum to get up the next hill. Really not one of my best ideas. My foot got stuck under a mass of brush at the bottom of the hill, and I smacked face first into the next hill. Fortunately I didn't rough up my high-speed new uniform. But, not the best way to test the strength of the fabric, which really, ahem, was my true intention.

Moving on...

Potty training. I give B all the credit here, he did most of this on his own. Here we see the B testing the new drawers Auntie J had just sent him in the mail:

Then my parents came in from the Windy City to visit. Here's the B with Grampa.

And my mom helped cook while she was here! I had to take a picture; the woman hasn't entered the kitchen since 1965, except of course to ask my dad when dinner's gonna be ready. She's my idol.

I love Spring in the desert. You could never have a naked 'baby' in a bucket of water outdoors before Easter in the Midwest.

Here's B flying a kite that the Bunny brought.

Meet my arch nemesis. This dove moved into our yard right after we moved in. She had like five litters (not the correct term?) of baby birds in a year or so and we kept her protected and safe throughout her pregnancies. There was even one night a cat launched off our patio table, tried to get to her and smacked into our bedroom window and then hung on the screen and attempted to climb up to her. I flew out of bed, ran outside an scared the cat away. How does she repay me? She stole all the baby mojo from the respective area by showing up and getting pregnant each time I wanted to. We haven't seen her in a while and just got the go ahead to start trying again. I hope she keeps her distance.

In May we took a trip to Chicago. I love it there. If it only had the same climate we do here...

We came into town to attend one of my bestfriend's weddings. Jimmy and I grew up down the block from one another. He married a beautiful, wonderful woman. He got really lucky. Kidding, they both did.

Our trip also gave us some time to hangout with friends:

and meet new family...

This is my great-nephew Little C. I wasn't able to hold him because I had pink eye (as far as health issues this year, we had plenty). I just wanted to moosh him he was so little and cute...

and some time to hit the Shedd Aquarium.

O.k., I've just been informed that I "have three more minutes on the computer and then it's time to wrestle," my kid swears our living room is the UFC ring. I'll catch up with the rest of the year soon.