December 2009

Holiday Cookie Party

We hosted our 4th annual Holiday Cookie Party yesterday - 16 kids came over....they piled on the sprinkles, they shoveled in the frosting by the spoonful, and they ran around like crazy people til their highs wore off. That's when they quickly and not so gracefully exited! It was exactly how I pictured it, and lemme tell you - I LOVE every minute of it. It brings me back to growing up, and having so many wonderful traditions and holiday memories. I can't envision another holiday season without this cookie party. And Charlie had a BLAST. He started WELL before the party by helping himself to the cookies. He was all smiles & a bit giddy when the first guest arrived - and I am not sure that changed much til he twitched himself to sleep.

Morgan, Edward & Charlie

Thanksgiving 2009

Our Thanksgiving weekend began with a 12 hour stomach virus from Charlie...nothing like showing up to your friends house with a child COVERED in his own vomit HOPING it was just car sickness. Nope. That was proven wrong when I was quiet literally thrown up on while eating my dinner. Sure enough, it was gone as quickly as it came... luckily.

We spent Thanksgiving at the Smith's House in Pacifica. It was peaceful, and full of kid laughter, and wonderful friends. And that morning we ventured down to the Potischman's for donuts & bouncey castle goodness.

And of course, as the Leu tradition stands, we make our way down to the local tree lot to pick out our tree Thanksgiving weekend (Joel picks it out every year). Charlie wore his super hero cape & flew around in search of the perfect tree...and in awwww over the CHAINSAW!!!!









Our tree...


Lots to be thankful for...

a Goldfish Halloween

We went over to the Fishers for their annual Halloween party, and from there went trick-or-treating. My lil-goldfish was so into just walking up & down everyone's stairs and didn't quiet get that there was candy being given out. He did however LOVE discovering his tootsie pop sucker which lasted him the entire route and left him very sticky!









His first horseback ride...ALL BY HIMSELF!!! I took the kids down to Lemo's Farm in Half Moon Bay and induldged in train rides, pony rides, and all that pumpkin goodness.

First Official Hair Cut

So much debate over the whole topic for me. Do I take him to my hair dresser? Do I just take him down to the kid's place in the neighborhood? How do I have it cut? I finally woke with 'today is the day' and schlepped down to the neighborhood kid spot...and it was literally done in 5 minutes. A teeny bit too short for me in the front, but he has super fine hair so not much forgiveness. I think I need to invest in some baby product.







Fascinated by the construction cone.



Loving his raisins & a little down time.

Walk!??!...no, he RUNS!

In the last few weeks I have noticed that when we are out & about, Charlie RUNS. He doesn't stop to walk - he just takes off in a full on sprint.

He is verbally exploding. You say something and he repeats it immediately. His FAVORITE words right now are light, airplane, car, and more....of which most of it is in Spanish.


A few nights ago Maggie decided to pick out Charlie's pjs and found it perfectly acceptable for him to wear one of HERs. Charlie thought he looked fabulous, which I am sure was fueled by our sheer laughter over the whole thing. We both had a bad case of giggles over it the rest of the night, so of course I allowed him to sleep in them.







I pulled a book out called First 100 Machines and it left him giddy, concentrated & at times speechless. He spent a good 45 minutes flipping the pages and when he got to the cement truck there was squealing.



His first real piece of artwork. Joel called it a 'Chandelier.'

Trip to Fond du Lac

We just spent a week in Fond Du Lac visiting the Leu family. Angie Leu is about 5 months pregnant, and we are super excited to meet the new cousin - boy or girl??!! Always a treat to get time with Grandpa and Grandma Leu, and Gramma Gramma who is 98 years old. Grandpa Leu took the kids on a tour to a job site, and I am pretty certain it left Charlie speechless and in utter HEAVEN!!!







I think his days in a highchair are numbered...



We ended the trip with a visit with the Pfeiffers in Madison. Here is Charlie making is debut appearance at the 'big' kid table!

at 16 Months...

he is 30 lbs, wearing a size 8 shoe & fitting into 2T clothing. He is my godzilla - and a very sweet & gentle one at that!!!



Peek-a-boo (note truck in hand - ALWAYS)


At the Noe Farmer's Market, listening to music & sitting with Joel.


Eatting corn on the cob with 6 teeth...


Driving around.

First Cable Car Adventure

A sunny Sunday afternoon in San Francisco on a maiden voyage mission, and lucky us - we got 2 rides...and I am not sure which he enjoyed more!!!



Charley, Vivi & Lola came along for the adventure.

Charleston 2009

We just returned from our 6th annual Crowell family reunion at the beach, and this was year #2 for lil ole Charlie bear. Lots of play at the beach and running around with all his cousins!!!

It hasn't been until the last month or so that the 'truck gene' was turned on. It was as if one day he looked at a truck and it was instant love at first sight. He is now completely OBSESSED with them. So you can imagine the love for this Tonka truck. A little boy at the beach let him play with it. Sincerely, happiest lil man with that truck. Definitely see more Tonka entering our world!!!









All the cousins: Claire (8), Frederick (12), Olivia (10), Grace (6), Maggie (3), Charlie (1), Liam (5) & Haven (2).

Photo Shoot

I had a little photo shoot with Charlie bear in our backyard last week with our friend Hilary, and she really captured his happy & content little self!!!