Guess Who's a California Driver...

love, kerry 

Scaredy Claus

Unlike almost every mall and commercial in America, I have resisted {somehow} the urge to post anything here related to christmas-trees-santa-claus-mistletoe-holiday-card-green-wreath-red-candy-cane-caroling-reindeer-snowman-stocking-present-gingerbread-glitter-lights-sledding-wrapping-paper-ornament-snow-globe-elves...until now. 

I'm so excited for Christmas.

It's such a magical time of year. People are happy. The music and decorations are fun. Lots of parties. 

I love Christmas.

ESPECIALLY now that we have Audrey...

Kids make holidays like Christmas AMAZING, don't they? 

I know, it's going to keep getting better too. 

So speaking of malls, they are amazing down here! They really go ALL OUT for the holidays too with beautiful decorations, the Winter Wonderland setting, the reindeer carousel, crafting stations for kids, a miniature snowy city with trains, and of course- 

the real Santa Claus! 

Naturally, we've already paid a visit. 

South Coast Plaza, Winter 2011

John and I thought it would be a great Saturday afternoon activity a few weeks ago...

And, I'll be honest- we {or just me} needed a good photo for our Sutherland-Family-Holiday-Card-2011! More details on that coming soon. 

We should have known better. 

We should have learned from recent experiences like this and this.

I suppose rational thought was lost at the sight of  fake snow-covered, sparkling Christmas trees en-masse, and smells of holiday spice and pine trees from the nearby candle shop. 

I thought even a photo with Audrey crying on Santa's lap would work...It would be kinda cute, right? 

Oh no, we literally won the worst parents of the year award that day. 

It was torture.

Horrible! 

Not even a little cute.

We couldn't get out of there fast enough! 

We apologized to the photographer. Not only did we waste his time, walk away without paying for a single print, but seriously the scene Audrey made probably scared every other child {and adult} in line behind us. 

Merry Christmas! 

See you next year....Or, when she's about 5. 

Needless to say, I didn't get that holiday card photo I {we} envisioned. 

I don't care though. We've got plenty of time to enjoy Santa. 

And until then, I'll keep this gem proudly on display {from way back when she was a good girl}:

Audrey's 1st Christmas, 2010

love, kerry

At Peace.

Even though this was not the holiday weekend I had hoped for, I feel thankful.

Thankful for the last few months, knowing that our time was limited, giving us the opportunity to talk about everything, reflect, laugh, prepare.

Thankful that the pain and stress has ended.

Thankful that you passed peacefully, surrounded by those who love you so much.

Thankful that you can be with Grandma and JR now.

I know how much you've missed those two.

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Still, I miss you Grandpa.

And I always will. 

love, kerry

DIY: Gobble! Gobble!

You'll need: 

white construction paper,

finger paints (5 colors),

dark and light brown construction paper for the body,

orange construction paper for the legs and nose,

red construction paper for the gizzard (?) dangly thing, 

a pair of googly eyes,

one glue stick, 

a bowl of water and paper towels to wash hands between colors,

graham crackers and/or other treats for good behavior. 

Happy Turkey Day! 

love, kerry 

Wave Bye-Bye

3 weeks old.

I've gotta write quick! 

I can't let Audrey see this one...

6 months old.

It's official!

11 months old.

It's been 7 days since Audrey's last bottle!!!!!

13 months old. 

Just when I thought it couldn't be done...We did it! 

Cold turkey!
{no pun intended}

And, it wasn't easy...Just look at that face!

Audrey begging Dada to make her a bottle...

But, it's over. 

Something to be thankful for this year. 

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.

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So, consider this your warning!

{Yes, Reno family I'm talking to you!}

If you have a bottle ANYWHERE in your house... Audrey will find it!!!!!!

I'm serious. 

And, we'll be starting this {super not fun} process all over again.

Please throw away any bottles you have at your house, or we will all be sorry.

Thank you kindly, and see you Thursday. 

love, kerry 

Just Because...

It's pure happiness. 

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So thankful for many blessings in my life, and praying for my Grandpa who started hospice yesterday, and all those affected by the horrific fires in Reno. 

love, kerry 

Every child is an artist.

You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this...

Pregnant women are compelled with the most random projects during the "nesting" period. I'd say I'm pretty much a perma-nester, but the hormones last year gave me an excuse to be extra crazy and pursue my organizing, filing, cleaning, categorizing, improvement, touch-up compulsions. 

I. am. an. addict. 

One prego-project that weighed heavy on my mind during the third trimester was an art box. Don't know why, but I seriously needed to organize an art box for Audrey before her big arrival. I didn't really care to be logical. Never considered how old a child is before they care about markers, construction paper, glitter or jagged-edge scissors. I just knew that John and I would bring our perfect bundle of joy home for the first time to a sanitized house with fresh crib sheets and shampooed carpet, a dresser overflowing with footie-PJs, diapers and wipes, and of course- a crayon-smelling, new, organized art box.

I also knew my personal collection of art supplies {even materials from my own childhood}were all over the house- stuffed in the back of junk drawers, tucked away in the spare bedroom closet, and even boxed up in the garage. 

So disrespectful. 

It kept me up at night. 

Something had to be done. 

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.

For the last 14+ months, Audrey's magnificent mommy-made art box has been neatly tucked away, just waiting...

I've tried, trust me, SEVERAL times to bring it out and play...But, she just never showed much interest in anything besides eating crayons, or construction paper, or both at the same time. 

Today though, I watched my pretty girl come over to my desk, steal my pen and a piece of paper {from the trash} sit on the floor and start to draw....all by herself.

A prodigy? 

Perhaps. 

Thank goodness I was ready! 

I jumped to my feet, and presented her with an art box full of creative possibilities, that was made with love, just for her!

You name it- you've got it baby girl! 

I've been waiting for this...

And, it was soooooooooo worth the wait.

She was adorable, and colored quietly and happily for LITERALLY two hours. I had to stop her so she could eat something, and she must have been beyond exhausted from her artistic expressions because {also} for the first-time ever- she fell asleep in her highchair, in the middle of lunch. 

I know!

Before we packed away the art box for the day, I helped her put the finishing touches on her perfect masterpiece, and proudly posted it on the sliding glass door- right next to our front door. 
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love, kerry

Good Thoughts...

love, kerry

Work has been crazy.

LOTS going on, stressed and staying very busy. Apologies for my lack of thoughtful posts lately.

I'm really looking forward to a fun and relaxing holiday weekend next week, and Mom and Mike's trip to HB! Thanksgiving will be great, I'm planning on the HB Turkey Trot, and YES...excited for another day at the happiest place on earth NEXT FRIDAY!

love, kerry 

Good Thoughts

Today you are You, 

that is truer than true.

There is no one alive

who is Youer than You.

                               -Dr. Seuss

love, kerry

Post 100

I really love my blog.

I enjoy sharing my thoughts about the day, our family photos and videos, my favorite things, songs, crafts, decorating projects and more.


It's hard for me to believe that this is 
my 100th post. 

Wow!

It all started here. 

I created this blog as another way to keep in touch with our family and friends right before we moved to Huntington Beach. My last post from Reno can be read here, and my first post from Huntington Beach can be read here.


I started "love, kerry" without much of a plan.
So not me. 
But, thought I would just blog when an idea came to me...

I think it worked, at first, but I learned quickly that I needed to be better organized.
Just for my own sanity.

So, I created a few "love, kerry" themes {which I've since expanded}. My first three were:


1. Happy Birthday!!!- for the family only. Read them all  here.
2. On My Love List- think "Oprah's Favorite Things" but love, kerry. Read them all here.
3. Good Thoughts- my time saver, let's be honest. Read them all here.

If I need inspiration, on any day, I can always blog along the lines of one of my {now} many themes.
Writer's block? Problem solved. 

So, I was thinking...
Now that I'm a big-girl blogger, which posts have been my favorite to date?

......

The internet is an amazing thing, and every click you make can be tracked. So, I checked my own blog's analytics, and learned that this was my most popular blog post of all time: click here.

Uh, interesting.

Then, I had to ask John...
What has been your favorite post on my blog? 

If he had to pick, it'd either be this post here, or this post here.
Wow! Really? 


Of course Audrey can't tell me her favorite post, but I'm going to guess that it's either about dogs, paper, or her favorite cousins. Or, all of the above. 
Sounds about right. 

I really love all my published {and unpublished} posts, and each for totally random but very special reasons...And, don't ask me why, but since I'm celebrating my first 100 blog posts, these are my own top 5 posts of all time {according to me, regardless of stats and/or input from others}...

1. Backpacking
2. I love us
3. A Sign???
4. The Big 3.
5. Looking for Local


Honorable Mentions: 


Dinner on the Beach: here.
Special projects here and here.
John being awesome, like when he's winning awards.
Audrey's new tricks (like this) also makes for great content.

I really love my blog. 


And, I hope you've enjoyed it too. Cheers to the next 100 posts! 


love, kerry

Fish Face!

We really make the most out of our weekends.

Free time is precious, so why not live it up!

Yesterday, we made the trip to Long Beach (about 20 minutes) to visit the Aquarium. 

Because they move slowly in the water and are easy to track, fish are really great for infants and toddlers (or so I have read). 

And, the colors are so amazing too...

Such a fun, new experience for Audrey!!!

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Despite a few scary moments....

Some of those fish are HUGE and 

gross,

slimy,

googly-eyed,

monster-esque,

scary looking!

And, the tunnels you walk through are so dark!!!!

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I thought Halloween was over? 

Ok baby, let's get outside!

Seals and sunshine!

Yes!

There's nothing to be afraid of outside!

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Or is there???

A Shark Petting Zoo????

NOOOooooo!!!!!

Oh, I mean...

no problem!

Were you scared???

Not me!

Oh, no! Not at all!

Who's afraid of sharks? 

I didn't even think of them eating my baby's hand...or anything...

Ha! No way!

Me? Touch the shark? No. I'll pass. 

I'm too busy....um....

taking pictures! Yup! Someone's gotta document Audrey touching her first shark! 

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BOO!

Spider Crab.  

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Now, this just looks bad...and mean.

But, I swear to G-O-D...She begged {pointed} me to take her to see the "dog"{seal}... 

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.

Yeah. 

He looked more fun from a distance. 

..............................

love, kerry

New Toys R Fun!

Let's get crazy!!!!!!

I just love it when John decides to dress Audrey for the day...

We kicked off the weekend right last night with Audrey's first-ever trip to Toys-R-Us!

After careful thought and consideration, we decided two toys would be enough...And, since it was difficult even for us agree, Daddy picked out one toy for Audrey...

And, my selection was this bubble-making machine...

More fun to come this weekend! Can't wait!

love, kerry 

We Wish You A...

Feels like Christmas around here today!!!!!!!

{Thank you hot chocolate!}

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But, that's not the ONLY reason!!!!

Today we booked our summer vacation to...

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Puerto Vallarta!!!!!!

Woo Hoo!!!!

So lucky that one of my most amazing best friends {Emily} invited us to join her, her husband, and some family on a trip to Mexico!!!! Her parents have a time share that they won't be using next year, so we're taking over and I can't wait! 

Yay! Audrey's First Passport!

So excited, I had to post!

Merry Christmas!!!

love, kerry

Zoo-tiful!!!

Poor Audrey. 

The last two days have been rough on her. Teething hasn't been bad in general, but we're thinking she's getting a molar because she's had a high fever, and just hasn't been her cheerful self.  

There's not too much we can do, just try to keep her comfortable and entertained. 

Snuggle up on the couch and watch Disney movies... Beauty and the Beast was her/our pick last night. 

All that and Tylenol. 

...

But yesterday, we visited the San Diego Zoo for the second time since our move. I really love having a membership because we don't feel like we have to kill ourselves to see everything, spend all day, and get the most out of our tickets. We got there when we could, and spent 2-3 hours in the afternoon. It was a beautiful day, and a great walk. Audrey seemed more interested in the bigger animals compared to our last trip, but she was pretty mellow in general {because of her teeth}...

Fall back has already been amazing, and today is perfect- cool, rainy, relaxing...
I'm working on a few projects, John's covering the laundry {as usual}, and I've got lots of Halloween decor to pack up and store for next year.

Happy Sunday everyone, and have a great week!


love, kerry 

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