Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

Hi Mom! Happy Birthday!!!

We hope you and Mike are having a ball on vacation, and that you're relaxing and enjoying your special day! I'm sure you've got lots of fun planned! Can't wait to hear all about it. 

I've got a big day myself, and am hoping your birthday luck applies to me as your daughter. ;)

love, 

kerry, john and audrey

Happy Birthday, Grandma Jean!!!

Hi Grandma Jean!!!! Happy Birthday!!!!

We are REALLY looking forward to our trip next month. It's going to be an amazing visit, I'm so glad everyone will be there, and you'll just L-O-V-E meeting Audrey for the 1st time. 

Trust me, she's pretty perfect. You'll love her.

I hope you're kicking butt at bridge with the girls, enjoying the garden and kitties, and having a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!!!

See you soon!

love, kerry, john and audrey

Family Portraits

We're always coloring, painting, sticker-ing, stamping, marker-ing at home (although, not always on paper or mommy-approved materials), and it makes me really happy to know that it's still a big part of Audrey's day at school.

She brings us home at least two art projects a day! 

Isn't that wonderful?

Although, most of the time (at least at home) there's no direction or instruction. 

It's just- go to town baby girl! Be inspired and create! 

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Well, let's be honest. I'm making us sound like better parents than we really are here because it actually comes from a place of- I'm sooooo tired, stressed, overworked, crazy right now baby girl- pretty please sit and color nicely by yourself so that we can just finish this one five items on the list. 

Still, her work is beautiful and I love it. 

But, for the first time ever, I wondered what she'd do differently (if anything) if I gave her a few, simple instructions to follow. 

"Audrey, draw Daddy here...."

Followed by 

Mommy

and Audrey 

and finally Jesse........

She's amazing. 

And, follows direction well. 

Audrey's First Family Drawing, 22 Months

love, kerry

On My Love List: THE Penny Sale

If you've ever been to my house, then you've seen first-hand my obsession with framed photos and personal art. (But if you haven't, you're welcome take a virtual tour here.)

I'd just SOOOOOOO much rather decorate clutter my walls with images of people and places that I love, and general "framable" tokens that mean something special. More personal, more fun. I truly enjoy looking at them, and reflecting on that moment EVERY SINGLE DAY. 

Side note: This is FOR SURE the best gift you could buy a new Mom... An all-time favorite of mine.  

However, I'll be honest, my love affair with frames and custom mattes can come between me and my organized family budget. 

But {John} it's ok, there's a solution... THE Aaron Brothers Annual Penny Sale!

I look forward to this shopping event more than Black Friday, more than Cyber Monday, and more {maybe} than even the holiday shopping season! Buy one frame, ANY ONE YOU'D LIKE, and get a second for just one cent! 

Makes cents to me. ;)

So, every July I take an inventory of items/photos I've filed for framing, make a list and hit the sale!

Today was the big day and although, to be honest, it wasn't the best (Audrey was more than a handful, the staff was less than friendly, they cut my custom matte incorrectly making me return to the store, etc) I'm still really excited about my new additions to this historical collection of framed amazingness...

Father's Day, 2012

From left to right:
Audrey's first-ever work of art. Learn more about it here.
A special note Audrey and I received last month from the bride-to-be, Amy. Learn more about it here. 

Now, where can I buy more wall space? 

love, kerry

Our day in texts...

Kerry, 9:47am: Just got here!

John: How fun!!!

Kerry, 10:00am: Just hanging out at Minnie's house.

John: Is she having fun? 

Kerry: Yay! She loved Minnie's House... Mickey's house was too scary. 

John, 12:33pm: Are you still there? 

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Kerry, 1:29pm: Sorry! We were in the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show. I'm eating lunch now, and Audrey...

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Kerry, 3:45pm: Best Disney meal to date. Audrey loves it!

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Kerry: But, the ice cream parlor wasn't as fun as you'd think. Melt down... In every sense of the phrase. 

 John, 4:14pm: Coming home? I'm on my way. 

Kerry: Yes! 

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Kerry: Wait, caught a front row seat at the parade. 

Kerry: And, of course, it ends with new toys... On our way home! 

love, kerry

The 4th: Part Deux

So, as expected, the 4th of July just got crazier as the day went on... 

We attempted a family bike ride downtown after nap time, but after dodging one too many water balloons, one serious YELL at stupid drunk chick that ALMOST shot her hose at John/Audrey, and coming home to TWO of the biggest parties (yes, right next door and directly upstairs)- we got the hell out of town. Literally.

And, we couldn't have moved faster. In fact, John and Audrey just stayed in the garage, dropped the bikes, and waited in the car while I grabbed a quick diaper bag, sippy cup for the road and double-bolted our front door.

Where would we go? What would we do? Darn it, Reno-friends... We miss you!

Anyway, without really thinking about it, we ended up at Fashion Island in Newport. And, sure enough, it was packed with families just like us looking for something sober/semi-fun to do. Awesome! We just casually walked the mall, and ate a quick dinner at Yard House before deciding on something really exciting... Let's try a movie!

YAY!!! Audrey's 1st Movie Theater!!!

Oh, but wait. It gets better. Leave it to us to make Audrey's 1st cinema experience literally the BEST ever!!! Sorry honey, but it's only going to be downhill from here. 


Where do I even begin?

I know! How about $49 for two adults and a toddler WITH assigned seats!?!?!?!?!?!

We were too far "in", mentally committed to the idea of going to the movies to back out... Not to mention, it was too early to go home. We moved forward... through a beautiful cinema (theater just doesn't seem fancy enough) free of arcade music, squashed popcorn on the floor and teenage staff. It. was. beautiful.

Once we entered Madagascar 3 (of course, an assistant held the door open for us), we found our ticketed seats. And, those seats, were NOT your typical movie theater seats. They were HUGE, and leather, and comfortable. The wooden "arm rests" were really more like side tables. It was incredible.

Now, we get it... $50 bucks! Geez, some people just have too much money to burn.

Que hostess. 

Naturally, we had a hostess to see to our every need during the film such as meal orders, beverage service, and God knows what else...

We were in awe, or disbelief, or just REALLY REALLY hoping that Audrey liked the movie so we wouldn't have to leave 5 minutes later.

Fortunately, it was a HUGE success! She was a little nervous at first, but really seemed to like the movie and even stayed awake the entire time (which is a good sign considering it ended about 30 minutes after her bedtime). John and I had a good laugh- at our baby, mostly, but the movie wasn't bad either.

love, kerry

"Ha-ppy" 4th!

This time last year we were barely moved in... 

Carpets were still drying from THE-XTREME-deep-clean,

we were lounging on patio chairs in the living room discussing new furniture needs, 

and in fact, I wasn't even home yet from Emily and Matt's wedding in Denver.

I can't believe how fast our first year has gone.

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But today, like "real" locals, we're enjoying the true 4th of July experience.

It's a BIG deal in HB. Just trust me.

And, I realize the day's not even over yet, but since Audrey's napping now (and I have no clue how considering it's a noisy-ZOO-crazy-party-frat-boulevard at our complex), I thought I'd quickly post photos from our morning at the famous HB 4th of July Parade. 

It was a fun, "let freedom ring" kinda morning. Audrey really enjoyed the parade, the music, the BIG TRUCKS, the horses, the helicopters, the kids....

We're very lucky to live so close to the action downtown.

Or, are we?

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Not going to lie, at this very moment I'm considering a move to Orange. 

Or, Irvine. 

Or, some other quiet OC suburb. 

HB is nuts in the summer. 

Darn tourists. ;)

Anyway, wish us luck and hope you're enjoying Independence Day! 

love, kerry

Good Thoughts...

Happy Summer!

love, kerry