The Aldridge Artifacts

A Trip to Dallas...

2011-01-03T18:41:00.000-08:00

means catching up with good friends...

getting pedicures (some of us were in desperate need of a pedicure)...

having dinner with college friends & their kiddos...

Maddie

Maggie

watching our kids play together...

taking lots of pictures with one another...

getting the boys involved...

taking a group shot of our kids...

taking a bubble bath with Cousin Aaron...

taking another trip to Toys R Us...
walking with Uncle Adam...
visting with more friends...

Preston & Brody

the boys reading in the car on the way to dinner...

Brody watching the fish & doing monster sounds... "Rarrrr"

more group shots...

Brody and Preston

We sure had fun with all of our friends...

We wish we had more time to visit with more of you...

...next time!!!

Oh Christmas Tree...

2010-12-17T19:15:00.001-08:00

It has been two years since I was able to decorate for Christmas. The tree is my favorite part of Christmas, it ties all of my decorations together. To make up for last year this year we have 9 trees around the house... :) I also get to pull out all of my Christmas ornaments, more on this later.

It only seems fair to show you how our tree made it's way back to our house...

on top of Matt's Prius. (A green tree on our "green" car!)

... in our drive way...

Matt and Dad bringing the tree into the house...

that's me making sure the tree is straight...

un-doing the netting...

smile Dad...

Trimming the tree is my favorite part of the tree. Here are some stats on our tree:

1200 little white lights

MANY sparkling ornaments

6 bows

3 berry garlands

1 tree topper

& ta-da we have our 2010 Christmas Tree

a view of all the presents, wrapped and ready to send to our nephews/cousins!!!

a view of the tree and its trimmings...

the garland and our very 1st "4 ft" tree

For those of you who drool over the Potterybarn Christmas catalogue, I got the inspiration for this garland from that magazine. The pre-lit pre-decorated garland that is $80 for 8ft. So instead of paying all that money, my mom and I made our own garland. We attached each ornament individually and made ribbon puffs to fill in the holes. I love it!! I love the colors and I love the ribbon!!!

This is the view as you walk into our house....

some close ups of the ornaments...

Matt started a tradition the very first christmas we spent together. We were living in a one bedroom apartment and it was the first year I did not celebrate Christmas with my family. Off to Target we went to get some Christmas cheer for our tiny apartment. We bought a 4 ft tree, some lights, a box of ornaments and a berry garland. We set the tree up on one of the end tables. It was so cute, just a little bare.

Christmas day, Matt's gives me ornaments from a little store called Potterybarn. I loved every single ornament he chose for our little tree. In the collage above look for the little pocket ornament, later that morning he directed me to look in the back of that ornament. There is a little pocket on the back of the pocket ornament and in it was an engagement ring. I then look at Matt and he proposed to me... another reason I love our Christmas tree ornaments. Every year I get to pull out that ornament and think of our first Christmas together... :)

the dining room table decorations that I made several years ago...

our fire place decorations...

the Christmas tree on the kitchen counter...

Our house is really festive this year!

(I will take some pictures of all nine trees around our house...)

Sitting on Santa's Lap

2010-12-12T01:51:00.001-08:00

Now that we have a full blown toddler on our hands mommy was a little worried about the Santa picture this year. Lately, whenever Brody is asked to smile for a picture/camera he refuses to cooperate (i.e. turns away, runs away, puts his head down or says No Picture, No Cheese, No Mama). Fun times...

Today went way better than I could ever hope for. There was no crying, whining or refusing to take a picture. When Santa asked Brody to come sit on his lap, Brody went right over to him and then began saying "Cheese"... as if to let me know he was ready for his picture to be taken. (That's my boy.... tear...)

After being such a ham for the camera, I asked Brody to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas. I was pleasantly surprised to hear Brody tell Santa he wanted "Cars Cars, Choo Choo, iPAD, Buzz".

Santa listening to Brody's Christmas Wish List...

All of that coaching sure paid off... ;)

Playing at the Beach

2010-06-16T18:09:00.001-07:00

Sunday, we drove to Santa Cruz to play at the beach. (It is only 40 minutes away!) We went with our friends, Heather & Garey. We have really enjoyed hanging out with them the last several months and getting to know them. :)

Family Picture...

a view of the beach...

The Boardwalk...

Heather & Garey...

playing in the sand...

after a long day in the sun and playing in the sand....

I could do this every weekend during the summer....

San Francisco Creamery Co.

2010-06-16T16:58:00.000-07:00

After we toured our soon to be new house, we drove up to Walnut Creek CA. We wanted to go eat at the San Francisco Creamery Co. We were introduced to this restaurant via the TV show "Man vs. Food". That guy is crazy, but the food sure looks good on TV(more on this later).

This place sure delivered....

Walnut Creek is beautiful. I do not even have the words to describe it, it is one of those places you just have to visit. SFCC is an old fashioned ice cream store nestled in this little town. You can eat dinner, eat desert or have both. (That is what we did!!)

I skipped right to the good pictures.... DESERT!

They have sundaes....

Waffle bowl Strawberry Shortcake Sundaes....

and the Grand-daddy sundae.... THE KITCHEN SINK!!!

(It is so much bigger in person!)

If you eat this sundae in 30 minutes or less you get it for free.

Here are some stats about this sundae:

6 bananas

3 gallons of ice cream (you choose the flavors)

4 Toppings (you choose the toppings)

a huge portion of Whipped Cream

1 cherry on top

Serves 8 people

Cost: $40

& you get your picture taken with the sundae as a souvenir.

Matt did not have any trouble taking down his sundae....

He chalked it up to training so he could one day finish the Kitchen Sink!

To end this post I will leave you with some video footage of Brody & Matt eating their sundaes... I hope that you enjoy!

Bob the Builder Exhibit

2010-06-14T15:13:00.001-07:00

Brody and I frequent the children's museum once or twice a week. Last week, the Bob the Builder exhibit opened. It is really great for toddlers. All the stations are at a perfect height for Brody. I really wanted him to wear a hard hat and a tool belt, but he refused to wear either (not even for a quick picture).

Views from Pier 39

2010-06-14T15:02:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we ended up in the city. Great weather, great people watching and great views of Pier 39. Here are some pictures that capture our day in the city.

The clouds hugged the bridge....

Mama was using her big girl lens to capture this great photo...

my boys...

they are slowly returning...

You can't see the bridge any more...

The clouds cleared and now you see across the bay...

there she is....

we love fire-trucks...

Coit Tower...

Bathtub Crayons

2010-06-03T21:19:00.000-07:00

As if Brody needed another excuse to stay in the "bubbles" any longer, I got him bathtub crayons. He just spent 40 minutes playing with his new crayons, squirt toys, letters and cups.

Blue, blue, blue....

still the only color his says out loud!

Brody loves playing in the "bubbles"!

& brushing his teeth!

He told Matt, "I brushed"!

A Love/ Hate Relationship

2010-06-03T18:24:00.000-07:00

Brody and Ryno have a love/hate relationship.

Brody LOVES Ryno.

Ryno HATES Brody.

I love you Ryno! I think that you need to wear a hat today ~ Brody

I hate you Brody, look how ridiculous I look!!!! ~ Ryno

I love you Ryno! I crack myself up!!!! ~ Brody

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

2010-06-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Brody and I went to Happy Hallow Park & Zoo in San Jose. This place is great for toddlers and anyone looking for a small intimate Zoo experience. The only complaint I had was with the weather, it was HOT! Other than that we loved it!

Entrance to the Park and Zoo...

Mommy & Brody

Keepin' Cool with my Cup....

The Zoo part of the park is very small but that is what was great for Brody to enjoy a little independence walking through the park. We saw monkies, mierkats, lemurs, a tortoise, parrots, bees, and a wallaby. All the exhibits allow for the kids to experience these animals up close and personal. (I did not take any pictures as I enjoyed experiencing the animals with Brody!)

Playing on the playground....

In one section of the park, there are rides for small children. They are included with the admission into the park. I of course was excited for Brody to experience a couple of these on his own as they were for toddlers only. The first was a car ride, with alternating fire truck and police cars to ride on. He really liked the car when I first put him in it....

then it started to move... and he might have freaked out a little. Hey they make for great action shots!!!

We then rode the Dragon Train. He thought he was going to have ride this one by himself, I only wanted a picture in the train.

These faces are priceless...

The park also features a petting zoo with goats, sheep, ponies and cows. Brody was pretty fearless when it came to the goats, I guess because we already have two horses at home (ha)!

Brody also rode the lady bug ride. This one he really liked and did not cry as much. You can see by his face how confident he is and this is only his second ride by himself ever. I wonder if he will like roller coasters when he is bigger?

We ended our visit to the park with a ride on the carousel. He really liked this ride.. maybe it was because of the music or because I was able to stand next to him. Either way it was a great way to finish our day at the park.

Big Boy

2010-05-30T17:22:00.000-07:00

Brody is getting be such a big boy.

We love how he can sit next to us in the booth.

We love how he can sit in a booster seat.

We love how he always has feet crossed.

We love that he thinks his spoon is a drumstick.

We love how he can feed himself.

We love that he can follow most directions.

We love how he likes to snuggle.

We love our little noodle!

Destination Drive-In

2010-05-30T16:55:00.001-07:00

Matt and I have not been to the movies since the summer of 2008, yes that would be the summer I was pregnant with Brody. We have been dying to go and see a movie. Well, Matt just wants to go to eat the movie popcorn (he he he). I was researching kid friendly activities to do on the internet and one idea that I found was to go to a drive in movie theatre. Brillant... Brody can sleep in the car and we can watch a movie the week it actually comes out! It is a win win for everyone!

So after giving Brody a quick bath and putting him into pajamas, we headed off to the drive in. The website suggested we get there early in order to secure a good parking spot.

right in the center of the screen...

While I was walking around taking pictures for the blog, I was reprimanded by the management. They said I was not allowed to take pictures on private property with out a Class C permit. I told them I was confused but these pictures were for my blog. (They had never heard of a blog.) I assured them that I was not going to record the movie and put it on the web because I do not know how to do that yet with my camera. The manager then directed me to the 8x10 poster hanging in the window advising against taking pictures (Yeah like that is going to stop me from taking pictures). So we are off to a good start at the theatre...

vintage... right?

The cashier....

Screen 4, Sex and the City 2

No movie theatre experience is complete with out treats and eats. Matt had his large popcorn.

Brody even tried popcorn and loved it!

On the way to the drive-in, we stopped to fill the car with gas and picked up some more treats and eats. I could not find any ding dongs... ;)

Yummy!

Family Photo at the movies!

Everyone had a great time at the movies!

It was nice to feel some what normal by going to the movies. Matt and I are already planning our next visit... :)

Patio Playdate

2010-05-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

We spent Friday afternoon playing on our patio. It was sunny and warm, a nice break from all the rain. I feel like Brody's cars are apart of the family because they go every where we go. Always in a line.... always facing the same direction....

The dogs even came outside to enjoy the nice weather.

Giving Ryno kisses...

the beast...

Rainy Day

2010-05-30T16:38:00.000-07:00

With all the rain that we have been getting...

It makes for great nap weather...

The Best Cream Puffs...

2010-05-24T20:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Heather W. for introducing me to the best cream puffs ever! You get them at Beard Papa's. They fill each puff to order. Let me tell you they are awesome! They also sell other desserts, but I think I will stick to the cream puffs...I am looking forward to the strawberry flavored!!!

filling each puff....

The puffs waiting to be filled...

the other desserts....

Yum-my!!!

Monterey CA May 2010

2010-05-24T20:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we drove down to Monterey to check out the new exhibit, Flamingos, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was the clearest, windiest, coldest day we have experienced in Monterey. Such a beautiful day...

AMGEN Tour of California 2010

2010-05-24T19:10:00.000-07:00

Last week, the AMGEN Tour of California was going on out here. This bicycle race has been compared to the Tour de France but takes place in the United States. There are different legs of the race, one of them starting in San Jose and ending in Modesto. This race helps to raise awareness for cancer, part of the LIVE STRONG campaign. Lance Armstrong raced in the fisrt part of the race until he crashed and had to exit the race.

I took Brody down to watch the start of the race. He loved watching the police cars, trucks and officiants before the race started. I had a good time snapping pictures, which you can see below in this video.

We are already looking forward to next years race!

- Sarah

Cal Ripken Jr.

2010-05-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday, the Tri-Star card show held its annual card show in San Francisco. The headliner for autographs was Cal Ripken Jr. We have been planning to attend this card show since we moved out here. Matt, the huge baseball fan that he is, was super excited to get Cal's autograph. It was also Brody's very first baseball card show. I am sure we have many more in our future.

Cow Palace the venue for the card show...

Daddy showing Brody around the card show...

We bought Brody some inexpensive cards to play with as we walked through the show. Matt was busy teaching Brody the ropes on how to handle cards... Brody just wanted to stack them.

Mommy: Brody what do you have?

Brody: a card... Look!

Brody this is how you hold the cards...

make sure they do not fall out...

make sure they do not get bent...

The main attraction Cal Ripken Jr.

We had to wait several hours to meet and get his autograph. It was worth it. Cal was very sincere and he really liked Brody.

Matt and his autographed baseball...

What a great picture...

aside from the fact that B-man is screaming his head off at Cal Ripken Jr.

Cal was trying to help us calm Brody down. He wanted to give him a baseball from his bag, but sadly (sniff sniff) he already gave them all away earlier. Oh well, at least we have these pictures and our very own autographed ball to remember this day!

a tired little noodle...

A New Park and Train Adventure

2010-05-14T15:22:00.001-07:00

I felt as though Brody was getting bored with the same park we always go to or maybe it was me. To cure our boredom, I searched online for suggested parks in the area. The "New" park I found is in Sunnyvale about 15 minutes from our apartment. It is really beautiful and big. There are walking trails, tennis/basketball courts, wide open areas, 2 play grounds, a water feature, a climbing wall, lots of picnic tables that can be rented and is nestled right next to an elementary school.

This is the bigger of the two playgrounds.

a look towards the foothills across the open area...

Through out the park there are huge evergreen trees and beautiful rose bushes. As Brody and I strolled through the park he was snacking.

Brody loves the water. I knew he would like this park because of the water feature. There are tubes that spray water (think 9 giant sprinklers). There was a button that helped the water move through the different zones. This button was right at Brody's height and it made a sound when he touched it. So that is where he spent most of his time. Brody also had to bring with him one of his cars on this new water adventure.

After an outfit change it was back into the car. I thought since we were so close to the Sunnyvale train station, Brody might want to watch the trains. After his nap, we walked to railroad crossing and waited for a train.

What I did not think about was:

1 how fast the trains are moving when you are that close

2 the loudness of the trains

3 the crossing alarms going off

4 how freaked out B-man would get

Well the first train came and went. Once Brody calmed down, he cried out to see another "choo choo". So we waited for another train to come. This time I moved the stroller a little further back next to some hedges (I just keep thinking what if one of these trains jumped their tracks). As we waited, this awesome airplane flew overhead on its way to Mofits Airforce base. Then we heard the train whistle. A train heading north.... then a second train heading south... yeah the second train caught us a little off guard... so loud... I was only able to capture one picture of Brody watching two trains, he chewing on his cup's straw with a bright red face. As we walked back to the car he keep calling out for the "choo choo".

oh my goodness two trains...

I think the new park and the train station were a big hit. I am sure we will be back to both places real soon!

Cinco de Mayo

2010-05-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

I know this post is a little late... but better late than never...

Last Wednesday, was Cinco de Mayo. To celebrate this festive holiday, I sent a text message to Matt inviting him to "Fajitas and Margaritas" and then it was off to On the Border (a familiar Tejano restaurant)!

On the Border was celebrating with cultural dancers in the center of the restaurant. Brody was a little taken back with the volume of the music but he couldn't keep his eyes off the dancers. I took him in for a closer look and he even started to dance. Well it is more of a combination of stomping and Elaine from Seinfield (come on we all know that one). Dinner was yummy. Matt and I even had an adult beverage (first time on months).

Family shot...

Brody had already eaten dinner before we went out so we were trying to entertain him while we were eating. We all know he is a big fan of the iPhone. Well he is an even bigger fan now that we can stream Caillou through the UTube app.

Mommy: What are you watching Noodle?

Brody: Caillou-ooooo

(if you look at his mouth you can hear him saying this... he he he)

Yummy!

This is what I do when I see a camera...

CHEESE!

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-10T23:21:00.000-07:00

To celebrate my 100th post I wanted to create something special. After several days of trying to figure out how to make this post special, I decided a movie would be the coolest thing to do.. because I have never done one before.

These pictures were taken yesterday for Mother's Day 2010. The movie was the best option because 1. there were too many pictures to upload 2. collages would have been to repetitious 3. Matt took some great sequence shots of Brody that would best appear in movie form. I hope that you guys enjoy the movie...

Please leave us some comments to let us know what you think...

Mini-Golf

2010-05-02T21:22:00.011-07:00

Yesterday it was a gorgeous day so Matt wanted to take Brody to go and play mini golf. We headed to Milpitas to play on course that we had seen from the highway.

Just like most of California, it is retro. You had to walk through the a huge arcade (retro) to get to the golf courses (modern). While waiting in line Brody was watching the other families playing mini-golf. I guess he was trying to figure out where we were and what it is that we were going to do.

At one point, he left the line to go take a closer look. He then proceeded to get on his hands and knees to climb under the fence so that he could go play.... so cute!

I wanna go play...

Matt waiting in line...

Then it was off to go and play mini-golf. Matt and I were so excited to play. We get pretty competitive with one another when it comes to mini golf. Brody had other plans. His mission was to 1. collect the golf balls 2. carry them around or 3. throw them into the hole. He was running back and forth on each hole trying to accomplish one of those three tasks. It was so funny to watch. I finally gave up trying to play... so I took pictures (duh!) and carried around all the stuff (I felt like a pack mule).

The first hole was the only one where Brody used his stick...

The only time he tried to set the ball up correctly...

he didn't even hit the ball,

he picked it back up and tried to go to a different hole...

Daddy hit the ball and Brody took off after it...

First swing lesson...

(if you look closely you can see that Brody's hat was in the way)

I am going to get the ball...

I see it...

I got it guys!

(imagine Brody running back with the ball time and time again... he he he)

Family Picture

Daddy and Brody retrieving a ball that has gone awry.

(look for Brody dropping the ball into the hole)

Looking back at the course, you can see the foothills....

I rock at playing golf!

Brody was having so much fun dropping the balls into the hole and then retrieving them. Then it came time for the 19th hole. You know the one where you return the ball... we did not know how Brody was going to react when he could not get the ball.

Matt lining up his final swing...

Where did it go?

trying to see where the ball went...

Taking Daddy to the Children's Museum...

2010-05-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

After taking Brody to the Children's museum, that is all I could talk about. So last Saturday, Brody and I took Daddy to the museum.

The Sand Table:

The Water Room:

Exploring the Ambulance:

Building with the blocks:

Exploring with Daddy:

Daddy was just as tired as Brody when we left...

The Children's Museum with Mommy...

2010-05-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

After we dropped Grandma and Grandpa off at the airport, Brody and I dropped Matt off at work. We then went back to our apartment so Brody could take a short morning nap. Then we headed out to the Children's Museum in San Jose. The museum is about 10 minutes away and only costs $10 per person. When we arrived there were tons of kids on a field trip running around with their chaperones... he he.

Brody and I started to explore up stairs first with the "Wonder Cabinet" area. This area is for crawlers and toddlers. All of the activities are at their height and everything is interactive. For a mommy it is cool to see Brody experience all this for the first time and as a teacher I love how it encourages curiosity.

I love throwing the balls into this...

This little wall is so neat...

you stick a black/white ball into the opening and it sucks it up.

Then you can watch it roll through the maze.

a view outside...

Another area within the Wonder Cabinet is a small sand table. Provided at the table are scoops, funnels, containers, and different scales. Kids are provided the opportunity to explore their curiosity about sand.

scooping the sand...

sharing with the other kids...

What can I do with this funnel?

Then we went down the hall where they have this old car for kids to explore. Brody loves cars so he loved being able to climb into car and drive it....

Then it was off the explore the main floor of the museum. We went to the bubble room. We ate lunch. Then we found the water room. The cashier advised me to save this room for last because well most kids leave soaking wet. The museum provides smocks for the kids to wear as they investigate water. Brody liked to pick all the balls up from the ground, splash in the water and throw the balls.

Trying to carry as many balls as I can hold...

If only I could get one more....

Throwing the yellow ball....

All the tables are at the kids height....

In the main pool, there are these metal railings that allow you to roll the balls down. Then the ball encounters a stream of water that launches it into the air. The ball will either stay floating on top of the water, be placed into a plastic container or fall down. Following are a series of pictures illustrating the process...

put the ball here...

Give it a little push...

wait for it to hit the stream water...

watch the water launch it into the air....

SO COOL!

There is a smaller section of the water room only for toddlers. They have a funnel set up for the kids to explore... It encourages the kids to watch the little balls get sucked into the funnel.

Put the ball into the water...

and watch it get sucked down....

Brody and Mommy...

After we left the water room we investigated circles. Wheels, compasses, orbits and arches.... oh my! On display was this big truck tire. I really wanted Brody to get into the tire so I could get a picture... not in the cards for today. But you can see how wet he was from the water room.

I am drenched!

Luckily I packed a spare outfit. So when we went back to car new dry diaper, dry clothes and fuzzy blanket.

I am so tired....

Soon after this picture was taken..... ZZZZzzzzzz's!

Grandma and Grandpa visit...

2010-05-01T20:17:00.001-07:00

**I have had these pictures ready to be placed on the blog for a week and half but I could not figure out how to get them from Picasa. I figured it out tonight.. sorry Grandma and Grandpa. I will email you some of these pictures shortly. ***

Two weeks ago, Grandma and Grandpa Aldridge came to visit. They had a long weekend visit planned and it was so nice to see them. We picked them up and took them to breakfast at Amelia's (Thanks Gary and Heather for introducing us to this place). A vintage restaurant from the road but very modern on the inside with the best pancakes!

From here we headed to the city. We were going to the Zoo to see the Seasame Street characters, but little B-man decided to take a nap so we took a scenic road trip instead. We ended up at Ghiradelli Square to have a hot fudge sundae. All I can say is yummy!

Grandpa, Brody & Grandma...

Matt with his parents and mini-me son...

our order number...

Grandma showing Brody how the chocolate is made...

Our Yummy sundaes...

Brody seeing the sundaes for the first time...

enjoying the sundaes...

After stuffing ourselves with ice cream we went for a short walk because it was so clear outside. There is a park to the north of the square with access to a small beach. We went down for a closer look...

looking at the boats.... and all the people....

looking back towards Ghiradelli Square...

looking at the waves...

Look boats...

walking with Grandma and Grandpa...

(you can see the boats in the background)

For dinner we went to Tomatina's. Brody loves the garlic knots and we love the pizza. It was yummy!

The next morning we wanted to show Matt's parents the city of Patterson (we might have found a great house we love and can afford.)

Grandma reading to Brody before we left...

While waiting to see the house we played on the playground in Patterson. We also were able to tour some open houses to get a good idea of what other homes are selling for in the area.

Twins...

I don't want to leave....

No I really don't want to leave....

3 generations...

I guess they are making me leave...

On Monday, Mat had to go to work so the rest of us just hung out around the apartment listening to the fire alarms all day. Yeah, so much fun... NOT!

reading Elmo with Grandma...

Playing with my new toys...

Grandma and Grandpa bought me a airplane and helicopter

(from the Chuck the Truck series, and we are a Chuck loving family)....

Tuesday was an early morning trip to the airport... sniff...sniff... Grandma and Grandpa have to go back to Texas....

Grandma, Brody & Grandpa

We had such a fun time with Grandma and Grandpa. We are looking forward to seeing them soon...

We love you Grandma and Grandpa....

My Not-So-Brilliant Idea....

2010-04-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

Well it has taken me three weeks to actually publish this post....

Matt and I drove out to Patterson, CA to look at houses (more on that later) and to drive around the town to get a feel for it. If one were to look on a map to find Patterson it is directly East of San Jose. But between the two cities there are mountains or foothills... so my brilliant idea was to drive back through the mountains to San Jose to see if was any faster, mind you I did this spur of the moment without researching on the web first.... BIG MISTAKE! I now look at the map at look at the winding roads and cringe a little and I am good car rider. Friends you know I will drive a good distance to get something or go to eat some where. Think somewhere past Grapevine all of my Texas friends... ;)

The beginning of this two lane road seemed so pretty with its winding roads following a meandering little creek and offering a great scenic view. There were places to go 4 wheeling, fishing, and hiking all along the way. An hour and half into this trip we had only gone 20 miles... you have to take into account altitude because we were winding up these mountains... and we could not turn around. We could not turn around, we had to keep pressing on...

We were not even to the worse part of the trip...

The Worst part of the trip came at the very end of the trip as we approached/winded/climbed Mt. Hamiliton (you can see the top of this horrific Mt. from anywhere in silicon valley because there is an observatory on top so it serves as a constant reminder of this trip.) As we started to climb this mountain the road became curvier and curvier. We eventually ended up in the cloud bank in almost white conditions next to a cliff. It. Was. Terrifying. Really. As we reached the summit there was a school zone (I know random...) and I was shaking because I just envisioned us driving off the cliff and plummeting to our death. At this point I would of paid anything for a helicopter to come and get me to take me home, and I like driving in the car remember. Now we had to go down the Mt.. It was just as bad going down as it was going up.

All of the sudden we came across this hill and we could see Silicon Valley. It was a sigh of relief that we were almost home, 3 and a half hours to drive the 40 miles from Patterson to San Jose. I can put money down that I will never be on that road ever again in my lifetime. It definitely was not my most brilliant idea....

A sight for sore eyes... Silicon Valley...

Looking back at the hill....

Opening Day

2010-04-05T16:47:00.001-07:00

Well it is official, "Summer" Matt is back. 2010 MLB season has officially started. Yesterday Matt had a countdown going until the first game and his fantasy baseball draft.

I don't know if Matt is more excited for baseball to start or to have an iPAD.

Brody and Matt waiting for the opening pitch...

Daddy kisses...

Fantasy baseball has been apart of lives for about 5 years. It consumes a lot of Matt's free time. Last night, he had his draft to pick the players that are going to impact my life for the next several months. The good news is that he was able to get Chase Utley, his favorite player.

Seconds before the draft started...

at this point all members of the league were tied...

Happy Opening Day to All!

The Phillies have already won their first game! Only a 185 more to go... maybe I should put a counter on the blog until the season is over, HA!

Happy Easter!

2010-04-05T16:04:00.000-07:00

We had a great Easter! This year was fun because Brody was a lot more involved. The bunny brought a big chocolate bunny, cars and toys to play in the sand.

Here is a picture of the basket pre-Brody...

Turning the corner to see the basket.....

a closer look...

Wow this is for me!

I love that he looks a little sleepy here...

lining up my new cars....

The chocolate bunny....

After playing with all his new toys, we went out to lunch. Claim Jumpers is a great restaurant with huge portions. It was yummy!

The waiter took this picture of the three of us....

When we got home it was time to Skype our families. Up first was Texas. We wanted the grandparents to see Brody open the baskets that they had sent. We were also able to see our nephews, Aunts and Uncles. We really miss them!

Brody opening his basket...

if you look closely you can see Aunt Sarah, Aunt Katie, Cousin Austin and Grandma

Brody loves the eggs with coins...

He loves to shake them....

Uncle John, Cousin Austin and Cousin Aaron

After Brody's nap he ate his first marshmallow Peep. Yummy!

Then it was time to Skype Ohio. With Grandma and Grandpa looking on Brody opened his basket.

Ooooh a musical card!

This is so much fun for Mommy and Daddy!

Grandma sent a Make your own candy necklace kit. This was a big hit. Brody and I made a necklace. Before we could start making the necklace Brody helped himself to some of the candy. Yummy!

Brody and Mommy building a necklace...

OOOOhhhhh the bunny is on the necklace....

Mommy kisses!

enjoying the necklace....

sticky sticky mess...

Well since we were on a roll with the sweets, we let Brody eat some of his chocolate bunny. This was so much fun....

Cheese!

I hope that everyone had a fabulous Easter and enjoyed spending time with their loved ones!

Happy Easter!

Matt gets his iPAD

2010-04-05T15:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, April 3rd the iPAD was released. After we had the oil changed in our car we headed up to the mall to "look" at the iPAD. I think that this was just Matt's cleaver ploy to get me to the mall so that he could purchase one.

The Apple store at this mall is always packed. I mean wall to wall people buying and fixing Apple products. Well Matt zipped into lined and was pleasantly surprised to find out that there were iPADs available to purchase without a reservation. So.... Matt gets his iPad.

Matt picking out his case for the iPAD....

Look how HAPPY he looks....

I had to give Brody my iPHONE to play with while we were waiting for Matt to check out...

Tired Baby....

Can you find Matt in this picture?

Me and my iPAD...

Brody was so tired. As soon as we got him into the car he was asleep. This is what he looked like in his car seat....

Catching flies.....

Matt loves his iPAD.

I think he wants to start sleeping with it under his pillow... he he he!

Dinosuars... Rarrr!

2010-04-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

Last week, a box arrived from Ohio from my mom and dad (a.k.a. Grandma and Grandpa). Now for those of you who know my mom it was not a small box. It was quite large, HEAVY, and had lots of tape to keep the contents sealed. In it were lots of books and toys for Brody as well as his Easter basket. Also included was my college diploma, this was the first time I have laid eyes on it (10 years later) but better late than never.

Brody, as many of you know, loves the Chuck the Truck series. Included in the box was the construction truck "mini" fleet. He loves them. The first thing he did with them was to line them up on the ottoman.

mini- Chuck... we have all sizes of Chuck!

Grandma found some dinosaurs that are the perfect size for Brody. She also found a book with almost all of the dinosaurs within. Brody loves them! He loves the book!

I love the T-Rex!

Brody reading his new book!

This is what my son does for hours....

It just amazes me that as soon as Brody saw the Dinosaurs he knew exactly what to do with them. He held them high above his head and ran around the living room screaming "Rarrrrrrrrrr!" How does he know to do that?

These toys have seen a lot of action the last week....

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!

Mu-aw!

Little Green Bin

2010-04-05T15:00:00.001-07:00

Our living room reminds me of a day care. With all of the books, toys, cars, balls, dinosaurs and all of the containers that are needed to organize these items it could be considered a day care. To help organize all of books (for right now) I have found these green bins. One day last week, Brody took out all of the books in one bin and was playing with it. He put cars in it. He put dragons in it. He even put him self in it. To get my attention he started laughing... the big HA HA HA laugh.

Climbing out...

Climbing in....

Eating a snack...

Later that night, and on his own, he put the bin back. He even put some of the books back into the little green bin.

An Over-sized Hat

2010-03-26T17:48:00.000-07:00

I am so glad I bought my new 49ers hat. Why you ask... Joe Montana and Jerry Rice will be in San Francisco in May. I am so excited! So now all I have to do is get a new shirt for all the photos I will get. Well.... I was showing my parents my new hat and then Brody got a hold of it....

Where is Brody?

Brody is that kid....

...you know the one who likes to do anything for a laugh!

I was cracking up as I took these pictures.... so funny!

Spring has Sprung

2010-03-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon, after our Doctor visits, I wanted to get some "Spring" pictures of Brody. We went to Palo Alto to the outside mall. The flowers were gorgeous. Lots of color... it was so pretty. However, it was not a very warm spring day... it was quite chilly (and I don't get cold very easy!) I just snapped a few pictures and then we were off the warm car.

Looking at the Frog Water Fountain....

I love this picture...

I think the bench really makes it!

Standing with all the spring flowers....

Brody & Daddy

I love these "up-side down" flowers....

So as were leaving the mall we passed by the Easter Bunny.... This did not end well! Brody hates these characters, we had a similar experience when we went to Chuck E. Cheese. He was really nervous about the character... I guess Disneyland is out of the picture for a few years. The only two pictures I got looked like the following...

Oh well... at least I have some good black mail photos for when he gets older!

New Shoes....

2010-03-25T21:42:00.001-07:00

I remember last August when we bought Brody his first pair of size 4 shoes. It seems as though it was just yesterday...

Now Brody is in size 6 shoes....

He is getting so big.

Phillies "FANatic"

2010-03-25T20:55:00.000-07:00

Matt bought Brody his first Phillies hat. It is an adult small hat that can be adjusted (yes my child still has a HUGE head.) Brody is doing a good job wearing the hat, even though the bill is a little long which makes it hard for him see sometimes. He He

Brody and Daddy wearing their matching hats....

Brody wearing Daddy's hat....

I wanted to play with new camera so I captured the following shots earlier this week... I think some of them are pretty good!

Brody loves to eat cheerios as most toddlers do... and they get everywhere, they are just a messy snack. To solve this problem, Brody and I put them on a string and then he was able to eat the Cheerios off the string.... Thanks Mom for the good idea! We are getting him ready for the candy-on-a-string necklace....

is it me or do you just want to Kiss Kiss Kiss those cheeks?

Brody put his hat on like this...

I swear it was him...

but I secretly love it!

So..... we have week and half until Baseball Season starts and "summer" Matt returns... boo! [Fever Pitch Reference] Those of you who have spouses that play in fantasy baseball leagues understand what I am throwing down. Maybe it is my husband who wants to have World Domination over his league and gets so consumed with these players that makes me look forward to the end of October when it is all said and done. Oh well at least we will be able to take Brody to some more baseball games this season and take some great pictures to add to the blog!

Waiting for Daddy in the Car

2010-03-18T20:57:00.000-07:00

This afternoon I was dropping off completed application packets for various school districts in the area. After dropping them all off, Brody and I waited for Matt in the parking lot. During this time I let Brody walk around the inside of the car, play with his toys and watch the airplanes taking off. Here are some pictures of our wait in the car....

C-H-E-E-S-E

What a wierd smile... but still cute!

Eating a cookie on the back seat...

mmmmm.... Yummy!

In the background, imagine the wonderful sounds of Barney and friends singing....

over and over and over and over again....

maybe next time I should just capture a quick video and learn how to up load it...

iBrody

2010-03-18T20:37:00.001-07:00

Last night we had to make a quick trip to the Apple store at the mall. I was trying to load new software on the computer from a mini-disk.... well the mini-disk got stuck or lost with in the computer. So.... the nice Apple dude took the computer into the back and removed the mini-disk. Apparently this happens quite a bit because he did not seem all that surprised.

While waiting for the computer, I looked over at Brody and Matt. Brody was playing a Barney game on the computer.

Bop, Bop, Bop

(a.k.a. Barney, Barney, Barney)

ahhhh my little computer nerd....

After the Apple store we took Brody to the play area. It is nice during the week because there are not so many kids and Brody can actually place on the play equipment.

I love this puzzle!

getting in the car...

driving the car...

I want off of this turtle...

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Firetruck

2010-03-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

Cutting through the parking lot, on our way to the park, Brody spotted a Firetruck. The Firetruck rode past us and pulled off to the side of the lot. We walked over for a closer look. The firemen were very nice. They gave Brody a Junior Fireman sticker, took pictures and tried to calm Brody down (he was scared of the Firemen) as he threw a fit.

Maybe next time, my son will not freak out and we can explore the Firetruck.

Mommy and Brody in front of the truck....

Sitting in the cab...

(throwing a fit!)

Maybe the next time we can try on the hats or sound the siren....

Power Wheels 4 Wheeler

2010-03-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

Everytime Brody saw his Power Wheels 4 wheeler, he would cry and hide.

Today, we took it out on our patio to see if he would ride it. He is really into his toy cars as well as real-sized cars. Maybe taking the 4 wheeler outside made it approachable, whatever the reason.. Brody rode the 4 wheeler for the first time without crying.

We had so much fun! Matt was even home early to be apart of the action....

Look I am not crying....

Woo-Hoo!

Brody push the button..

Look Daddy I can push the button...

Yes!

from behind....

Anyone else recalling scenes from Spaceballs with this behind photo?

I can't wait to watch Brody drive his 4 wheeler tomorrow! Yeah! He is such a big boy!

Morning Playtime....

2010-03-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

This morning, Brody woke up in a very sweet mood! We had lots of fun playing with his toys.

Lining up his cars on the window sill.

After playing with his cars, Brody found his helmet. This was the helmet (Matt insisted) we had to buy Brody when he plays on his Power Wheels 4 wheeler (he cries whenever he sees it, normally). He likes the helmet because it lights up. So we practiced wearing our helmet.

This is how I put on my helmet...

From behind...

From the Front...

(the helmet is for a head measuring 50-55 cm, YES his head is that BIG!)

some Burpie and Puppy Time....

Talking on the phone...

2010-03-15T20:58:00.001-07:00

This morning Brody found the house phone and was pretending to talk on the phone. My mom called it so he could have someone to talk too! The whole time she was watching him via Skype.

He loves to talk on the phone!

Sunday: More Pictures at the Park

2010-03-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we ran some errands and enjoyed the beautiful weather. Last week was rainy and very gloomy, so the sun was a welcomed change in our weather. It was sunny and 60 degrees. We stopped by the park, with every other parent and kid in the neighborhood, to let Brody burn off some his stored up energy. I also enjoyed taking pictures with the new camera.

Yes, I slid down the slide!

Touch Down!

YES!

Airplane Daddy! Airplane!

Daddy my shoe came un-tied!

I have posted a lot of pictures of Brody at the park, but that is our life right now. He loves it! Everyday we go he becomes more and more independent.

Happy 4th Anniversary...

2010-03-15T15:27:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that it has been four years since we tied the knot. Matt surprised me with a new camera. I love it! The pictures are awesome, I feel like such a professional photographer with this camera.

We celebrated our 4th Anniversary in the city. Our first stop of the day was the Zoo.

The zoo sits right on the coast....

Brody loves the sound of the new camera...

The Zoo has a great area for children. There are many fun animals for little kids to look at as well as petting zoo.

Dad I want to walk....

Brody tried to kiss the goat...

He almost got hit in the face by the horns...

just looking around and taking it all in

Nice goat...

Washing our hands after the petting zoo...

(I love this picture!)

This is Brody watching the train, yelling "CHOO- CHOO" and moving his arm up and down!

a great shot of the Cypress trees in the back of the Zoo...

nervous... are they going to make me ride the train again?

a close up of a Bald Eagle...

it was like the giraffe was posing for this picture...

After we left the Zoo we went to the one highest points in the city and captures these great pictures of Downtown San Francisco. I switch lenses to get close-ups... These are some of my favorite pictures... I love this view!

the Bay Bridge...

Downtown....

After that I wanted to go and take pictures of Golden Gate Bridge. So we meandered through the city until we came to the bridge...

I was hanging out of the car to get this great shot....

Of coarse we had to drive across it! So we ended up in Sausalito, which is right across the bridge. I wanted to take some pictures of the sail boats in the Marina and we ended up in a fun little restaurant where we celebrated our anniversary looking over the bay at sunset. It was such a great day!

a view of the sail boats....

I love Ketch-Up!

Our Family....

Just Like a Light Switch...

2010-03-09T21:35:00.000-08:00

One minute I am HAPPY.....

and the next minute I am SAD!

We Just Want to Lay....

2010-03-09T21:23:00.001-08:00

This is what happens to the dogs when they lay in one position too long.

Ryno is either a parking garage or car ramp.

Bentley is part of the new play ground equipment.

Brody just leave us alone... we just want to lay!

Point of View...

2010-03-09T21:03:00.000-08:00

Playing in the sand from Brody's point of view.....

Saturday in the City...

2010-03-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

After dropping our Texas friends off at the SFO airport, we headed back into the city to enjoy another gorgeous day in San Francisco. We had lunch at the Hard Rock cafe and then walked toward Ghirardelli Square. Matt has been wanting a hot fudge sundae from there so we thought since we are already down here we will have ice cream too. As we approached Ghirardelli Square I noticed a pier that extended way out into the bay, Hyde Pier. So we walked by the old bathe house and out to the end of the pier. Hyde pier offered great views of both the bay and the city. Then it was off to have ice cream. It was yummy.

This is how I roll in the city....

Someone's art on the beach...

Looking back at Coit Tower...

The White building next to water is the old bathe house....

I love the vintage Art Deco architecture...

Golden Gate Bridge...

There were so many sail boats out on the bay....

Brody loved chasing the pigeons....

Daddy look a boat.....

I found the water puddle... splash splash splash!

A look back at the city....

It was like this bird was posing for the picture!

City scape....

A view of Ghirardelli Square from close the water...

Look how excited Matt is.....

Waiting at the counter for our sundaes!

Yummy! The sundaes were so good!

Someone needs a nap....

Cranky Pants

Spring Tulips

A look at the Bay Bridge as we are leaving the city...

Brody finally getting his nap....

We had such a fun Saturday in the City...

A Nice Afternoon in San Fran

2010-03-05T17:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, Brody and I drove into San Fran to have lunch with some out of town friends. The weather in the city was awesome. It was clear, clear, clear! You could really see the city that normally likes to hide itself among the clouds. We had plans to meet them at Pier 39 to eat at Bubba Gump's restaurant. While waiting for our Texas friends, Brody & I were able to explore the pier and enjoy a nice afternoon in the city.

Anytime we go into the city we have to take an additional wardrobe. Today, we had to break out the fleece sweat shirts and hats. It was clear and very breezy.

Pier 39 is a huge tourist attraction in the city. Through out the pier there are spots designated as photo spots to catch awesome views of the city. The above photo is of the Bay Bridge going into Oakland.

Looking back at Russian Hill

A view of Russian Hill and Pier 39

Looking at Golden Gate Bridge

Alcatraz (aka The Rock)

We had a clear view of Coit Tower...

The landscaping through out the Bay area is amazing. I think Northern Californians are born with green thumbs because everything is so green and vibrant. Through out Pier 39 there are planters already blooming with spring flowers.

The sea lions, we are still waiting for all of them to return....

Having a snack while watching the sea lions...

At the restaurant, we had a fabulous view of the bay. We could see the Golden Gate bridge, Alcatraz, and the Bay Bridge. There we helicopters, airplanes, police men cruising around in their boat, tour boats going back and forth to Alcatraz and Huge Tankers. This was Brody's first time to see a boat. Man we had a great view of all these boats moving through out the bay.

Look Brody a boat!

Where did the boat go??

We ended the day by driving over the Golden Gate Bridge just as the sun was setting..... a nice afternoon in the city.

Being Silly

2010-03-05T15:51:00.000-08:00

Brody can be very silly... especially when I want him to smile. When I wanted him to smile he would, then as I was just about to take the picture he would cover his face and giggle.

ha ha Mommy... You didn't get me smiling!

Then he was just giggling so much I was able to capture my smiling pictures...

Ramp Fun

2010-03-03T11:35:00.001-08:00

Brody loves his Tonka trucks, especially those found in the Chuck the Truck series. Matt and I love them too. They are very durable and are very fast, too. Brody spends alot of his day moving his trucks around the apartment (one at a time), carrying them with him to the park and hiding them behind the pillows. At the park, Brody likes to push the cars down the slide (which launches them with some extreme force) and then go barreling down after them. Matt then started talking about getting Brody a ramp for his cars. While at Target last night, we found the ramp. It came with three little racer cars and Brody has been playing with it non- stop.

Mommy you push the button to make the car go!

VVvvvvrrrooooommmmm!

Wow so fast Mommy!

Crash!

Going up the ramp the wrong way!

I think these little cars are sooo cute!

While I was taking pictures of Brody with his toys, he stopped...

said "Cheese"...

and smiled!

Brody then wanted to play with camera...

so I let him push the button to snap this picture.

He then put "Pup Dawg" on the ramp and he snapped this picture as well.

Snails

2010-03-02T14:35:00.000-08:00

We have a snail colony living in the planter box that seems to come alive when ever it rains. Since it has been raining out here in California today, they have been really active. This morning we had one of the snails visiting our window. As Brody was playing with his cars near the window he saw the snail and became really excited. He wanted to look at it but at the same time he was a little scared. So what is a mommy to do... grab my camera and document!

OOOoooh look a snail!

Look how long the snail is....

This is Brody trying to give the snail a kiss!

I of course had to go outside to get some action shots of the snails on our patio...

Can you find the snail in this picture?

(I thought it would be a great picture to use to teach camouflage!)

Maybe when I get back into the classroom I will have a new snail colony to take with me....

Doctors, doctors, doctors

2010-02-25T15:18:00.000-08:00

18 Month Check-Up

This week Brody has been busy going to his doctors' appointments... just for check-ups! Our first doctor appointment this week was for his 18 month check-up. Brody is in the 50th percentile for his height (32 in) and weight (25 lbs). His head is in the 95th percentile... yes folks he still has his big noodle head. We all still have concerns about Brody's calcium intake or lack there of.... every time he eats just a serving of go-gurt he has a terrible diaper (you get what I am trying to say). So, we have scheduled an appointment to go and meet with a Pediatric GI doctor from Stanford next month. I will keep everyone up dated with the results of that appointment. Brody did receive his last shot and he was a trooper.

1st Dentist Appointment

Yesterday I took Brody to his first Dentist appointment. I did not have concerns about his teeth, I just wanted to him to start getting used to going to the dentist. He did great! The dentist office was straight out of the movie "Finding Nemo." The fish tank with the dental chair behind...yup it was there! They even had all of the same fish in the tank. The office was accessorized with plush fish on the benches and jelly-fish hanging from the ceiling.

Brody received a new penguin tooth brush, a picture, a sticker and a baseball to remember his trip to the dentist. The dentist told me to be expecting a book in the mail about taking care of teeth. In the book I will be able to put his picture and add his sticker. I can't wait to see this book! I was very impressed with Brody's new dentist. She was super nice and we are looking forward to seeing her in August!

While we waiting for the dentist, Brody showed the dentist how we brush his teeth. I then asked the dental assistant to help take pictures of Brody first trip to the dentist. The assistant took some great pictures and had no fear about putting the camera right into Brody's face.

Brody sat backwards on my lap and then we leaned him back so the dentist

could examine his teeth.

Brush... brush... brush...

Counting teeth... 1...2...3... 16!

You have 16 teeth!

Words can not express how much I love this picture....

I think his eyes say it all!

An afternoon at San Francisco Zoo

2010-02-25T14:54:00.000-08:00

The San Fransisco Zoo is a quaint little zoo nestled right next to the Pacific Ocean. The zoo itself feels vintage, almost like a walk back into the 1930's Art Deco time period. In the back of the park, there is a small steam engine "choo-choo" train. This was Brody's first train ride.

Getting a little nervous waiting to ride the train....

it is so loud and scary....

guys I don't know about this train thing....

This is a view of the back part of the park. The cypress trees are so cool.

Walking my Puppy...

2010-02-25T14:33:00.000-08:00

Brody loves dogs. Our two dogs, dogs we see at the park, his stuffed pup dog he sleeps with and this little plastic puppy with his red string.

He loves to place this pup all over the apartment. He also loves to walk the pup... oh I mean drag him around. So I captured a few pics of Brody "walking of the dog."

Come on puppy let's go this way.....

Wwwweeeee!

The poor puppy looks exhausted!

I Love my iPOD

2010-02-18T14:46:00.000-08:00

Brody loves everything technology. Well let's face it he sees Mommy and Daddy playing with lots of fun "techy" things.... it is only fitting that Brody would love these things too! So, I found my iPOD video and gave it to Brody. He loved clicking the button and watching the videos.

Then I handed him my ear-buds. He already knows to hold them to his ears to listen to the music. (The volume is turned down low as not to damage his his hearing.) Brody walks around the apartment carrying his iPOD with the ear-buds in tow. So CUTE!!!! He has been busy trying to plug the chord into the iPOD. I love watching his face while trying to do this because he looks so determined.... Enjoy the pics!

(Don't forget to leave a comment to let us know what you think....)

I Love the Slide.... weeeeeeee!

2010-02-18T14:18:00.001-08:00

Brody has become very independent at the park. He will climb up the stairs on his own and slide down the slide. He will sit on his bottom and scoot, scoot, scoot to lip of the slide (all while screaming weeeeeeee) and then he slides. I love that he feels safe enough to do these things on his own. He is so BIG!

Brody loves to walk across this bridge and stop in the middle. We then sing "Stomp your feet like a dinosaur.. stomp...stomp....stomp....stomp!"

Brody also really loves to play in sand. So we bring our sand pails, shovels and spoons to play in the sand. Moomy like when Brody uses the shovels and spoons so he can work on his fine motor skills. During this time the sand is flying and we both are very dirty.

Don't forget to leave us a note to let us know what you think about our adventures at the park....

Like Mommy.... Like Daddy.....

2010-01-28T15:57:00.000-08:00

I wanna be like Mommy....

I wanna be like Daddy.....

This Baby likes to Skype!

2010-01-28T15:09:00.001-08:00

Now that we have moved away further away from our families, the next best thing we can do to stay in touch with them is to Skype. Brody loves to Skype. In fact, when he hears the computer ring this kid drops everything and comes running to computer. He then goes and gets his Chuck the dump truck to show who ever we are talking to. He will constantly watch the screen to make sure that ALL eyes are on him.. he is a big cheese!

To all that Skype please Skype us!!!

Watching Jenny feed Andrew!

Brody chatting with Grandma and Aunt Sarah

Why isn't my remote working?

2010-01-27T22:19:00.001-08:00

Brody loves anything technology (just like mommy and daddy.) He really likes to play with the TV remote. I think because anytime you hit a button a red light appears and he knows it changes the picture on the TV. He has gotten so fast at getting the remote, that when he gets the remote, he runs with it while pressing as many buttons as he can all while giggling uncontrollably. So, we gave him a remote to VCR that does not work anymore. (he he he) I keep the remote close to his chair so he can copy us much as he wants. The only problem with this brillant plan is that Brody knows that his remote doesn't work.... he he he.

Hi Mommy!

Oooh look at all the buttons....

How fast can I push all the buttons?

I love this picture!

Me and my remote...

(look at my thumb)

maybe it will work if I push the buttons without looking...

I am going to make it work...

hmmmmm maybe this button...

Let's try it from my chair...

(a true Aldridge male)

I wonder what he is going to be like when he gets his first smart phone? He already knows how to use my iphone.....