Christmas!

This Christmas was very fun! Kyle loved opening his presents and visiting with his cousins. We spent Christmas Eve and my Uncle Tim and Aunt Lupe's house and it was a very special holiday with all the babies being so big and making Christmas magical again :-) Erika is due in one month from today and is having another baby girl, Lillian! We can't wait to meet her.

On Christas Day we really had nothing to do. I read a book using my new Sony Reader that Robert got me for Christmas. I L-O-V-E books and thought I would miss feeling the paper between my hands and the wonderful smell of a new book, but I'm actually okay. I mean, don't get me wrong, there is nothing like a new book but at least now, with my Reader, I can just download any book I want and start reading right then and there! It was especially helpful when I had a book club meeting a few days after Christmas and I still hadn't bought the book. (It is a super good book by the way-The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I highly recommend!) Anyway, on Christmas Day evening we decided to go on a little family drive into San Francisco. There were a LOT of people out and about that day! We just thought we'd drive around until we thought of something to do. We went past Pier 39 and saw the gigantic Christmas Tree with tons of people swarmed around it. We drove down Fisherman's Wharf where there were also lots of people lined up outside of restaurants to have their Christmas dinners. We turned and started into North Beach where we went down Lombard Street with all the other tourists that day and then headed up to Coit Tower to take a look at the view on that cold night. Many other people had the same idea because every single parking spot was taken! It was a really different but nice way to spend the day together. :-) We can't wait until next Christmas when Kyle starts talking about, looking forward to, and believing in Santa!

Christmas treee

We got our Xmas tree yesterday! I wanted a short, skinny tree, a la Charlie Brown, as Robert says. We don't have a lot of space for a tree so we thought if we purposely got a teeny, skinny one and made it look vintage, it would work! But there were no skinny trees! So, we settled on a short and fat one. It still has a skinny top so it looks pretty cute and we are really happy with it! I also made our stockings this year. I had a ton of canvas fabric, so I cut out the shapes and painted them with fabric paints. I put the years of our birth on the stockings-it was something my mom did when she hand-embroidered our stockings when we were kids. Since I don't sew, my mom is sewing red felt onto the back of them and we'll hang them up near our tree.

Kyle was so cute at the tree "farm"-(Every year we go to the Boy Scout's tree lot for our tree. Even though there are a bunch of local farmers that grow and sell their trees Robert would rather pay a little more but support the Boy Scouts.) I think he had a good time and he loved running up and down the aisles :-)

I call this the "male model" pose!

We don't have any room in our house for a proper Nativity scene...nor would it be very good to have one when we have Kyle running around the house grabbing everything lol I bought this small statue back when I lived on my own and it works perfectly :-)

I had Kyle help me put a couple of ornaments on the tree and he loves looking at all the different ones on the tree and does sometimes grab one but always tries to put it back.

Our star broke so I put this little angel figurine on top since it's hollow and it worked perfectly! I love it!

Here she is! All 5 feet of her!

As for updates, we've all been sick in our household lately! I caught it first, then Kyle was a few days after, then Robert last. Kyle is still kinda sick with a cough and runny nose but is getting better daily! He still is liking to be babied and held throughout the day and I think that is why he is crying all the time... it helps him also get his way, which he enjoys LOL

On the job front, I had an interview last week and it went well-I have a second interview scheduled for this coming Thursday morning. The first interview was with a panel of three people and they each asked me a bunch of questions. Some of them seemed almost too easy to answer because I did that job already so I have a solution to every problem because I faced all of them before. I was sort of nervous that I answered too briefly or honestly but I could tell they liked me (and they laughed at my jokes!) so I wasn't too surprised to get another interview. I am pretty good at interviews and I get weirdly comfortable during them. Even though, before and after, I am a nervous wreck! This next interview is with the Commander so that does make me more nervous but I think I will do okay. I just have to be myself and be honest and do my research on the department before I go in.

We are really excited for Christmas this year! Kyle is at an age where he is noticing the lights and the Santas and decorations. It's so much fun! We are going to take him to Santa once he gets all better! Pictures of that to follow!

Love, US

Happy Thanksgiving!

A new cute picture of my favorite boys.



Today was our (mine and Robert's) third Thanksgiving as a married couple... today was also our (mine, Robert's and Kyle's) second Thanksgiving as a family. It was a really laid back and delicious day!

This morning we met for breakfast at my Abuelita's house. We being my parents, my brother, Robert, Kyle, me, and of course, Abuelita. My dad made swiss cheese and ham panini's and the coffee flowed. It was a great way to begin the holiday! At 3pm we headed over to my Aunt Lupe's and Uncle Tim's house for dinner. They made a tradional Thanksgiving feast and it was so very good! And Robert and I commented how we just ate a little of everything, it was delicious and we didn't leave feeling stuffed. We just felt so content. Since I started getting sick (allergies probably) today, we left a little early but came home and watched a movie together with some apple pie.

On another note, I have a job interview this coming Tuesday morning! It is for the City of Menlo Park Police Department and I am interviewing for the position of Police Records Officer. It is just another name for exactly what I did before for HMB PD. I was a Records Clerk II at HMBPD. So, if I get the job, I will be an officer, not just a clerk. Menlo Park is a really nice, small city that neighbors Palo Alto, where Stanford U is, and Menlo Park also houses my favorite book store in the entire world: Kepler's Books. I can spend hours in that store... and have! In other words, it could be dangerous for me to get the job b/c I will be spending a lot of money on books! But luckily, the Menlo Park Library is right next to the PD so I will save money on books. It's just a win-win, really. If I don't get the job, that means I get to spend my time with Kyle, which is pretty great, also. It really is a win-win situation.

I have been doing a LOT of crocheting lately. I go through phases with my yarn crafts... it was all about knitting until I learned to make slouchy, crocheted berets and I can't get enough. I keep thinking of new ways to make them; different little accents, such as popcorn stitches so they have little bubbles coming out every so often (much cuter than it sounds), bobble stitches every so often (make little bumps) and just plain berets. I also learned to crochet birds (from my Happy Hooker book!) and I sew a button on it for an eye, which is fun bc I get to search through my huge tin of buttons for the perfect one. I found a great yarn by Caron called Caron Country. It is a merino wool blend and it's so soft! Especially compared with the normal acrylic yarns that can be a little stiff. And the colors are gorgeous and satiny-looking. It's a little more expensive than some of the other yarns at Joann's but WAY cheaper than going to Fengari on Main Street! I think I am going to go to Joann's and Michael's tomorrow in case they have some major yarn sales.

Hope you all had a beautiful Thanksgiving!

PS We found the digital camera! It was at Tim and Lupe's the whole time! Woo hoo!

Kyle and Elena at the kid's table! My mom knit his vest! It was so cute and he looked like a little man!

kyle and mommy photo shoot

We lost our digital camera and will be hopefully getting one before Xmas, but for now, we can only use our computer's camera!

Halloween and good times

We had a great Halloween weekend. Friday night we went to Debbie and Kit's Wig Party. I really don't like wigs (I know-I'm no fun) so I decided to go as an Indian (American, that is). I got the idea from Melissa's blog and thought it would be fun and, since Robert and I are saving up our pennies these days, an inexpensive costume.

I crocheted my headband out of a rust colored, satiny yarn and I made the feather out of cardboard that I drew on with marker pens. Then I flat-ironed my hair and layered on the necklaces. Robert decided to wear one of his old Navy uniforms since they totally fit again (he's lost about 14 pounds since he started the Academy!)

On Halloween night, we took Kyle trick-or-treating in Debbie and Kit's neighborhood, just off of Main Street. He wore my brother's old Papa Bear costume that my mom made for him when he was a little one. It was a tad too big for Kyle but he looked so cute! Especially with his little black nose!

We only went to three houses and then he got way tired and we had to go home. He fell asleep on the way home, which was just a five minute drive.

This is Kyle and Elena at the Pumpkin Festival this year. She was a flamingo. Her mommy, my cousin Erika, made her costume. She got 2nd place!

Here are some other cute pics that we've taken lately::

The other night was a cold one that needed some hot chocolate to make it complete. I used Ghiradellhi Cocoa powder, sugar, cinnamon, and Lactaid in a pot on the stove and made it nice and hot! I finally got to use the cute teacup/coffee cups that Natalie got me at Anthropologie. I love 'em!

Kyle is really into sunglasses right now. He looks really good in them, too! It's not just, "Oh, look at how cute that little boy looks in those sunglasses~" It's more like, "Wow, those sunglasses look really good on that little boy!" Seriously. He just has a face for sunglasses!

And this is just a fun one I took of us with the camera on our Mac. I love him :-)

Right now, I am still looking for jobs but I am enjoying just getting the chance to stay home with Kyle. Sometimes, I really miss working and getting out of the house everyday with a purpose. These days, I do still have a purpose, and I do get out of the house to run errands and visit with people. And I get to work on my drawings, paintings, and yarn projects. Right now, I am crocheting a blanket with some of my extra yarn. It's turning out so great that I get excited to work on it everyday. I will post some pictures of it soon.

Happy Monday!

We got back a week ago from Austin, TX where we attended the beautiful wedding of Alex and Melissa! We had a GREAT time dancing until the wee hours of the morning, making s'mores at 3am, and of course, being witness to Alex and Melissa getting married! It was a perfect day and all of their handmade touches, delicious Texas BBQ dinner, fun music, and their distinct styles made for a unique and touching wedding. Seriously... we are still talking about it! Plus, it was great to see all of the Campos/Gonzalez family that we hadn't seen for a long time, reconnect with old friends (like Mr. Christopher Calle), and see my in-law's new in-laws, (if that makes any sense), who (whom?) we met a couple of years ago and love! (I'm talking about Melissa's family, if that was confusing.) Melissa made a gorgeous bride along with Alex, who made a very handsome groom, and both of them were super stylish! I loved it. :-)

We left Kyle with my parents for the 3 days that we were away and man, did I miss him! I would call my mom every chance I got to hear about what he was doing. The thing he did do while I was away was... how do I say this... ummm, poo poo in the potty. Yes, he did! Since I've been back, he has told me, in his way, that he needs to go #2 and I'll put him on the toilet, and he's tried, but to no avail. I will keep trying! It just seemed early for him to be doing this but yay him!

On an another note, if you notice, I have a new banner for my blog! Melissa designed it and made it for me. She is really good at graphic design, and I am totally not, so I am excited to get to have a fancy, new banner! Thank you! Another cool thing about Melissa marrying Alex is that I now have a sister-in-law! And while I always would refer to her as Auntie Melissa when I talk to Kyle about her, she is now OFFICIALLY his Aunt! Woo hoo!

Kyle's photo shoot!