Bring out the Rally Monkey!

Last night, our little family headed out to attend an Angels Game. I'm trying to make it a point that we attend at least one Angels game each season...I guess I would like it to become a tradition of sorts. Anyhow, Jason and I were a bit nervous about bringing Kamryn to a game. The last time we went, Kamryn was a year old and was pretty content to sit on our lap and look around. Plus, she didn't talk quite as much. So, we worried this night would be challenging...but I'm happy to report that she did great. And she was enthralled with all that was going on around her. I mean, just look at this happy face! :-)
















Kamryn is clinging to Jason in this picture. They let off some fireworks in the beginning of the game and obviously, the noise doesn't thrill her.















Kamryn got really happy by the end of the night when they brought out the RALLY MONKEY!!! She loved seeing the monkey on the big screen and watching everyone wave their own rally monkeys. She kept saying "Go Monkey!" (We had her saying "Go Angels" earlier, so she improvised).















Jason and I just enjoying a night out with our family. Oh, and we enjoyed watching the Angels come back from a 3 run deficit in the eighth inning to win the game, 7-5. GO ANGELS! (and go rally monkey....he works like a charm every time).

Two reasons why I loved the Olympics!

It couldn't have ended any better! Go Team USA!!! You make me proud to be an American. Until 2012 then.....

Finger lickin' good!

Aaron McCargo, Jr. of BIG DADDY'S HOUSE!!


Okay, I'm far from being a great cook. Probably far from being a good cook. However, last night I somehow turned into, at least, a great cook for one night. I'm a big fan of the show, "The Next Food Network star" and the winner now has a show called "Big Daddy's House." He makes some yummy food and makes it look easy. I have watched many a Food Network Chef make fried chicken, but I never once was inspired to try it myself until Big Daddy. He made it look easy. He didn't need his own deep fryer or a special oil thermometer. No, he just used a big frying pan and the back of a wooden spoon to tell the temperature and voila, fried chicken. So, I tried it and if I don't mind myself saying, it really was finger lickin' good. I attempted to take a picture, but my camera is suspiciously dead (kamryn) and sadly, I don't know how to charge it...or at least, I have no idea which cord, out of the 5 million we have, charge it. So you just have to trust me and Jason when we say it was good. (The chicken looked pretty similar to this but without all the pretty green stuff on the plate).



So thanks Big Daddy...for making me feel like a great cook for at least one night.

My Three Favorite Things of the Week!

1. Swimming- We have gone swimming quite a bit the last couple weeks. This week we went swimming two days in a row and Kamryn has made improvements. She's gone from clinging to Mommy and Daddy in the pool to now hanging out in a special "Fish flotation device" that she borrowed from our friends, the Livingstons. Now we just need to get her to try putting her head in the water and we're on our way to the Olympics.





























Just taking a break!
















2. Build-A-Bear- I have been wanting to go to this store for many years now, but always felt silly going for myself being a twenty-something adult. But thanks to Karissa and her son, Blake, turning two, we got to go to a Build-A-Bear Party with a bunch of our friends. This store is awesome and we had a great time with everyone and seeing how excited Kamryn was to build a...puppy. I hoped she might choose a bear (since she already has lots of puppies) but it wasn't to be. I can't believe how many outfits they have to choose for these stuffed animals. We tried to convince Kamryn that her puppy, named "Trusty" (greatest cartoon dog in movie history) should wear an "Anaheim Angels" outfit, but she refused to let puppy wear anything. So, we got her a stroller instead. !
















Her favorite thing was the "condo." She loved it so much she had to hold it in her car seat...and fell asleep with it basically on top of her. These are the moments I love! Happy Birthday Blake and thanks for the awesome party!
















3. Michael Phelps- Usually, I'm someone who likes to root for the underdog. I'm not one for those who dominate a sport and leave no room for others to thrive (ie....Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods and Tiger Woods). Okay, so obviously I'm not a big fan of Tiger Woods. Something about him rubs me the wrong way and yes, him winning the US Open was pretty amazing with a hurt knee and all (so dramatic) but I was rooting for Rocco to win his first major at over 40 years old. I like to see other athletes get a chance to be great. I make the exception with Michael Phelps. I enjoy seeing him crush the competition one race at a time. I love watching him make history. Reason I like him and not Tiger??? Hard to say, but it seems that Phelps is friendlier, a little goofy and he wears a little less. Go Michael! Way to get the 8 golds! Tiger Woods has nothing on you! :-)

August Happenings

So far, August has been a good month. There was the Concert in the Park, where our friends, the Hartmans, joined us. We had a great time and the music was awesome. "The Answer" never disappoints.

Kamryn is struggling to stay put for a picture.


I took Kamryn to the park last week, and she actually requested to get off the swing to go play on other toys. That's a rare happening for my little girl. Of course, she ended up right back on the swings to end the little excursion but at least she made some improvement.



Here's Jason and I waiting for Ron and Karissa. They were nice enough to invite us to go to The House of Blues to go see a U2 Tribute Band called "Under a Blood Red Sky." The band was awesome and I was extremely impressed. We wished we could have stayed longer, but they had an opening band, who did Pearl Jam covers, play for an hour and then a half hour break. So the U2 band didn't even get up there until 9:30. So, we could only stay for the first hour, where they played a bunch of songs from "War" and some other oldies. Our friends, the Livingstons, were letting Kamryn crash in their kids room while we were gone so we needed to get back. If anything, this concert just made me all the more determined that when the time comes, I will be at the next U2 concert no matter what.

Owen's Baby Blessing

Even though this happened a few weeks ago now, I still wanted to post the pictures we took. These aren't great shots of baby Owen, but I posted them anyway. It was nice that my brother was able to bless Owen at my sister's house. It was a very special moment for both my family and Mary's family.

Those who can...come join us tomorrow night!

Our little family plans on going to the Concert in the Park in Claremont tomorrow night to listen to "The Answer." They are a great classic rock band and are one of the most popular bands to come see at these concerts. So I'm inviting anyone to come join us. It really is a good time to hang out, chat, and listen to good music. Hope to see some familiar faces tomorrow night.

My own little Picasso

Here is Kamryn's first time water painting. Very exciting. :-)