2008 Presidential Election

It's another election year. What an amazing election to follow.

I admit, I am really tired of this election and I am really looking forward to the end. But the more I think of our candidates, I really think it is amazing how far our country has come. We could have a black man or a female headed to the White House. That is just incredible.

This is the first time in my life I have ever voted for a President. Four years ago, Erik and I were in Mexico (with the DeGarmo's), and I wasn't "Vote By Mail" yet. So I missed it. While vacationing in luxury, we found out President George W. Bush was going in for a second term.

Before that, I was never registered to vote. I was able, I just didn't do it. Now I am, I did, and am proudly wearing my sticker reading , "I VOTED!"

We really are lucky to be able to live in a country that enables us to have different views. And we get to voice them. This election is making history. And regardless of who you are voting for, you are making history too.

Get out and VOTE!

Why I blog

I've thought posting why I blog a few times before so I thought I'd take this perfect opportunity to explain to my (oh so many) readers why this blog exists. It's for my family. It's really that simple. It's my family journal. It's not supposed to entertain anyone for any reason other than you get to be updated on what is going on with our family. Right now, our entire life is about Max. It's ALL about him, as is this blog.

About a month or so ago our computer crashed. We. Lost. Everything. The more I think of what was stored on our computer the more upset I become. Then I think... it's on our blog! So I can't be thankful enough that I started this crazy e-journal. I still have a few videos of Max, a few shots from his birth, and a couple pictures of each new and fun stage in his life.

Max has relatives that live far far away. They get to check in on him through our blog. They live on other countries and they can "see" Max every day if they want. How cool is that?

I know you can turn your blogs into books but I don't have the sites to do that- can someone give me the websites?

Anyway, I'm going to write a little about our tiny election going on too (next). I'd like to look back in 25 or 50 years and see what was going on with our newly started family. These are our memories and you are welcome to read.

My life will go on whether "you" think it's interesting or not.

Please note that "you" is none of you. "You" decided to publicly humiliate me and my blog via facebook.... Um, duh! I can do that on my own thank you very much! And P.S. He's a total loser that just keeps coming back for more. Bored much?

The costumes...

Trick-or-treating was a success! We had 12 kids total and covered a lot of ground. I have never seen so many kids out on Halloween night. The streets were PACKED!!! Here's a few pictures from the festivities...

The pirate ship complete with cannon's, a plank, anchor's, a sail and a pirate flag. Now, where's my pirate?

Riley, the strawberry, and her pirate cousin, Max.

Kirra taking a break from In-n-Out.

Here is Max in his prate ship saying "Arrrrrrgh". My sweet little pirate, after growing his beard.

Making his "car noise" all night long. He does it when he spots anything with wheels.

Here are all the kids, except Jaydn. Max, Kirra, Andrew, Teagan, Payten, Carter, Clay, Jordan, Carson, and Tristan holding Riley.

It was a really fun night for adults and kids. See you next year!

Spiders on Halloween? Go figure.

I put Max in his most "Halloweenie" outfit. Nicole made this jumper for her kids and now Max is cruisin' in it. Later he will be dressed as pirate and his stroller will be transformed into a pirate ship. Above is Max when I told him to say "Cheese!". Below he's checking out his Halloween books

Now...onto the real post...

I wake up on Halloween morning and everything is going smoothly. Max isn't fussy, Erik gets off to school okay, I'm actually able to empty the dishwasher before noon. In fact, it's not even 9 am and my kitchen is CLEAN! After breakfast and a diaper change (for Max, not me) I go around the house to open the blinds and curtains.

I see my cute little grapevine pumpkin near the front window..... and this on top of it: My sister Kelly just posted abut finding spiders in her house and much like her, I HATE SPIDERS!!! I can handle bugs and other crawlies and insects. But spiders really gross me out. They are sneaky and fast and they bite! (sort of like kids, but creepier!).

Erik likes to catch unusual spiders and find out what kind they are so, being the nice wife that I am, I tried to catch it. But he disappeared...into my cute little pumpkin. So I grabbed the BBQ tongs and took the adorable fall decoration outside to spray the living daylights out of it and get that spider!

I found some Lysol. Ready....aim....fire... The little bugger came crawling out for air. He surrendered. As I was catching him, his partner in crime came flying out of nowhere (remember we are outside...in the rain) to rescue him. So now I have a stupid white spider (with wings?) messing up my morning as well.

The white spider got away. But it's outside and I don't care. The black spider (which I learned is a BLACK WIDOW) is curled up in a dead ball of spider mess. But he is in a container, as my trophy. Outside.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN !!!

Holiday!

Last Sunday The Mrazek's celebrated (the 90th!!) Czech Independence Day at Lubor and Ariane's house in Emeryville. They live right on the water and we took a walk with all the kids to the pier. We played games and ate delicious food prepared by Lubor and Ariane. A quick game of Simon Says with Christian, Roxy and Julianne...

...the game spectators....

...the games continue with Aara as "Simon"...

...then we moved down near the water. Christian, Julianne, Roxy and Vivian.

The girls posing for a sweet picture.

Lubor gave us a little history before cutting into the cake. It's hard to see in this picture, but the windows in the background look over the water. It's really beautiful.

Thank you Lubor and Ariane for a fun day!

Trip To San Diego

My Mom invited Max and I to go visit Addy for her 1st Birthday in San Diego. We packed up the car and crossed our fingers that Max would be okay during the long drive. He did surprisingly well. We had to make a couple stops and let him wiggle his body, but it went pretty well.

The first night we stopped in Placentia to visit my Aunt Patty and Uncle Scott. They take a square dancing class with my Aunt Jeannie and Uncle Ron so we went to check it out. It was so fun to watch. My cousin Jennifer also stopped by for a visit. Below is (l to r) Patty, Scott, Jeannie, and Ron. Patty and Ron are my Dad's siblings. Max had a good time playing with Uncle Scott, who had him giggling within moments of our arrival. The next day we were off to San Diego to see Addy, Melissa and Ryan. Max slept the whole way this time before he was able to terrorize his cousin. Overall, they were okay together. Max is very pushy...and just plain strong. Addy held her own though and by the time we left, she knew just how to keep him out of her way.
Uncle Ryan holding the babies. Addy is 6 weeks older than Max.


When Max disappears, he gets into things. He pops lids off with his teeth and goes crazy.

This was on Addy's actual birthday wearing her "I am 1" shirt. She learned to watch Max very closely as he got into mischief. I hope she didn't learn any of his nasty tricks.

I love this picture of Addy. It shows how pretty her eyes are. She makes the best faces too.

Addy getting ready for her party. Little princess.

This is what Max did during her party- snuck under people's chair's to steal their stuff. Lovely.

Max also got to fly for the first time. I was really nervous about it but it couldn't have gone smoother. Our flight wasn't full so we had the whole row to ourselves. He loved the air from the vent and watching the lights on the wings. As soon as we took off, he cuddled in my arms and fell asleep. He woke up as we got off. PERFECT! Erik met us by the baggage claim where there is a glass wall to look down from the upper level. As we walked to the elevator Max spotted his Daddy (and got the attention of several groups around him) and gave him probably the biggest smile I've ever seen from him. It was so sweet.

(Max at the airport watching all the moving vehicles from the window)

Thanks Mom for the fun trip. You are a great travel partner!

Pumpkin Patch

We took a trip to the pumpkin patch in Vacaville a couple weeks ago. We were not very impressed with the whole set-up (in a parking lot, right off the highway) but it was the only time we had to go so we made the best of it. Max loves pumpkins and we found these tiny ones that he got to choose from. It's hard to make a baby pose. He looks squished, but he was okay.

There was no way he was going to look at the camera when there are fun colored "balls" laying all around him.

Happy Halloween!

Max has been busy too!

Max learned to clap last weekend. If you know Max, you know how funny it is to see him clap because he has HUGE hands. It's like watching bear paws pat together.

We got Max a little walker and he loves it. Our house is small but he takes full advantage of his little space. Here is a little clip of him using it this morning.

And just a few Max bits for us to remember:

Notice the mirror leaning against the coffee table? BEST THING EVER! It's just a cheap wall mirror. Max talks to himself and giggles to himself in it. He gets really close and looks around the room looking for our reflections.

He really is a funny baby. He copies our noises and laughs with us. He "goes crazy" (flailing his arms and shaking his head) in the bath tub. He loves to grab my ears and give me kisses. He LOVES older kids and thinks he can do what they can do. Every time he plays with his tractors or cars he makes the motor sounds...boys just know. He screams at me at the top of his lungs (not a cry, just an opened mouth, high pitched SCREAM) when he wants something that he can't have. Erik thinks it's cute. I think I'm going to lose my hearing before he's one. Then he'll dance to music and make me forget all about it.

And now the little stinker, I mean charmer, is awake.

Here's to 60 more!

We've been a busy family lately. the blog has been pushed to the side a little, I'll try to be better to catch up. Last weekend we went to Redding to celebrate Grandma Gail's 60th birthday. Everyone was able to go for the weekend, which is sometimes hard to do. We had a great time. Good food, good company made for a good trip. Special cake made by the girls.
Max and MorMor walking together.
4 generations: Vivian, Nicole, MorMor (Dora) and Grandma (Gail).
The group.

Brian and Nicole, thanks for hosting a fun weekend!! Happy Birthday Gail!

Sanding away...

Do you know what this is?
I didn't know either until a few days ago. Sometimes garages produce little miracles and this happened to be one. My Mom and I figured out how to use it and quickly turned into pro's. Those baseboards sure look good in her kitchen! Maybe I'll be a carpenter in my next life.