Oh Cha-Chellyyyyyyy...

Since Cha-Chelly is in Rome, we have been having some fun in her room...hmmm, we like your hats, wrist bands and scarves... oh we are learning our Italian Verb Drills and also love napping on your bed. AHHHHHH!

What's going on...

hi everyone! I wanted to give ya'll an update on MP's progress as she continues to become herself. Okay... she has 2 prominent teeth on the bottom, and looks like two on the top are going to be poking through soon. She has been pulling herself up, crawling and coasting now since middle November. But her new thing this month is letting go of what she's holding and standing on her own for 30 seconds to a minute (yes, I time it.) She responds to you by talking with some jibberish and can say Mama (for me) MUM-MUM for food and Dadadadada for Papa. She also says "YAAAAY!!" at appropriate times and eats some table food and solids. MP loves taking a bath and crawling around on the grass. Her hair seems to be getting thicker, but not longer. Soon, she will have a bowl haircut. LOL!

Pics of this weekend...

Ahhhhh pics

Chargers, and this weekend...

The BIG Chargers game is about to begin. Everyone in town is fired up... people on the streets wearing jerseys, setting up lemonade stands and just in general- a real hootananny. Little bit of hoot and a whole lot of nanny. Anyway, I am not posting pictures until tomorrow... we went to Sea World yesterday and MP loved, loved loved this giant walrus and the sea lions, and the dolphins and the penguins. We thought of Cha-Chelly when we went there, and told the penguins she would be back in June. I just got the invites for Chamina's Shower, writing them up tomorrow and then sending them off, hopefully by Wednesday! Hopefully all is well with everyone, update a long nice one tomorrow!

Seeya in June Tia Chelly!!

YAYAY!  My Tia Chelly is going to Rome on Tuesday for a semester.  We are all very proud of my lovely "cha-Chelly" because she fell in love with Italian and now speaks it fluently! Can't wait to see what it will be like when she comes back after being with all those Italians!  And even though I'm gonna miss her, we can't even imagine the kinds of adventures she is going to have.  Take care Cha-Chelly, we'll be here waiting for lots of pictures and stories... and NO I won't forget you while your gone!  

My Island

1. Ewan McGregor, the first choice... everyone after this is not in order. =)

2. Jamie Oliver

3. Christopher Meloni

4. Jeff Corwin

5. Johnny Depp

6. Matt Damon

7. Adam Corrolla

8. Steve Carrell

9. Jack White

10. John Lennon

Let's all sing like the Birdies sing... CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!

It's our decision this year to be frugal.  That is our new year's resolution.  Mini Peaves and I are keeping track this first month of our spending habits and then come February we will be as stingy, and cheap as anyone you have ever met.  Easier said than actually done- especially if it's not in your nature to be a cheapskate.  But writing it all down helps you realize, after adding it up at the end of the day how muc money we waste on just plain crap.  For instance, last Friday I did what we normally did... got some cash out of a convenient ATM (1.50 charge), bought some gas at the nearest gas station by our house (35.50), bought a Grande White Chocolate Mocha at Starbucks (3.85), dropped off MP at my dad's, went to work and bought the day parking pass (6.00) days total 40.85.  Don't laugh, but: I made 40.00 at my work that day (not counting taxes).  So, not even thinking of what Uncle Sam took out... I was in the red .85 cents that day... what did I do to remedy this the next week?  (deep breath, real fast- no pauses...)  After dropping off Papa I got gas by his work where it happens to be .03 cents cheaper... so my total was 34.89 (.61 savings) I also got cash out of one of our banks (1.50 savings) skipped the Starbucks that day and brought coffee from home (3.85 savings) I also bought a limited use monthly pass which made my parking pass four dollars (2.00 savings) making my grand total for the day...32.89 making it 7.96 cheaper for the day.  So it was improvement.  I'm a firm believer in getting what you pay for... so I still try to avoid the freaks at our local Wal-Mart and still shop at Target for stuff, but I now buy generic brands for most things and try to skip eating out and eat what we have at home.  It will be a long road ahead because I love my Starbucks... In the altruistic words of Grandpa Joe, "When a loaf of bread looks like a banquet...I have no right buying tobacco."  LOL!

Merry Christmas!!

The pics you see are on Christmas morning.  We know MP was too young this year to truly enjoy it but we weren't!  My New Year's Resolution is to be even MORE frugal than we already are, and so, knowing both sets of Grandparents were going to blatantly ignore my request for "things MP needs" I wrapped up cans of formula and packs of diapers and filled her stocking with those "Puffs" and Biter Biscuits.  We got her one toy, the FIsher Price Safari Train which she loves.  But that morning, instead of having to drive to three different houses that day we had Lolo, Lola, tia Chelly, Uncle Ben, Grammy & Poppy all come over for Papa's once a year waffles.  I will tell you about once a year waffles when I know Papa isn't reading because he is very sensitive about them.