San Diego Trip

So Rachel has a new word in her vocabulary. It's Shamu! Today we headed to Sea World. The highlights were the dolphins, polar bears, penguins, walruses and of course lunch with Shamu. Rachel made it through the day quite well. When we got home she took a nap and we headed down to old town San Diego for some Mexican food. All in all it was a good day. Tomorrow we are off to the wildlife safari park. Check back at this post because I will add photos to this slideshow.

Mommy put me in the garbage...

Here's a conversation that Rachel started in the car the other day while Bruce, his parents, and I were driving to drop Rachel off at Kim and Kurt Olmsted's home. We were leaving her there so we could go out to a nice Italian dinner.

Rach11 - "Mommy you throw me in the garbage?"

Nicole - "What?"

Rach11 - "Mommy you throw me in the garbage? (Asking me if I'm going to put her in the garbage.)"

Nicole - "I'd never throw you in the garbage!" (I was thinking, "Where the H-LL did you get this from?")

Rach11 - "Mommy, you throw me in the garbage, and then you walk away and leave." (She says this while laughing.)

Nicole - "Honey, I'd never throw you in the garbage."

Rach11 - "Yes, and then I be sad and cry. And then I fall sleep in the garbage." (She's smiling as she says this.)

Nicole - "You're silly"

Nicole (to Bruce's mom) - "Is this normal?"

Despite this conversation, she did fine being dropped off at Kim and Kurt's. She actually walked right in, made herself at home, and waved to us as we left.

Hagerty Family Mission

(According to Bruce...)

During a friendly game of GHOST with family and friends, Bruce announced a new mission for our family. I thought I'd share it with you all.

Hagerty Family Mission:
To make our home a funk hole for all who enter our doors.

What's your family's mission?

Entering the blogging world

Okay, so I (Nicole) have finally decided to join the rest of my generation and figure out this technology thing. You'd think it would be somewhat easy since I do have training in html and such, but no, it's not. And, for some reason it intimidates me.

But enough about that. I've decided this would be a good way to keep in touch and let people hear from me ever now and then. This blog is really kept up by Bruce and this is my first step towards hijacking it.

I've decided my first post will be my "I Am" poem in honor of my sister-in-laws, Erin and Colleen, and the wonderful Erin Rish. I started writing it a week ago and it has undergone several revisions. I probably could revise it for another couple years (the perfectionist in me) so I just decided to post it "as is", in its unfinished state. With it, I'm posting my daughter's first photograph. This is the real me, so enjoy...

I AM
I'm not what I appear to be.
I am still figuring myself out.
I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.
And yet, I am my own self.

I am optimistic at heart.
I am hopeful (most of the time).
I am extremely emotional.
I am sensitive.

I am a lover of people.
I hurt for those who are hurting and I rejoice when others are joyful.
I am a philanthropist without (lots of) money.
I prefer to see and recognize the good in others.

I am happy in beautiful surroundings.
I am happy telling, hearing and discussing deep thoughts.
I am a traveller at heart.
I long to see and experience new places.

I am selfish and indulgent (i.e., what I eat, my desire for a "comfortable" life).
I am lazy, even in my faith.
I am stubborn and want to be right.
I am fearful people will see all my inadequacies.

I am glad I am not in control.
I am trusting there is more to this world than I can see or touch.
I am a believer in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost...
Even when I don't understand it all.

Photo Shoot

So Rachel had a bath tonight and she pretty much emptied the tub splashing around. I dried her off and brushed her teeth and sent her in for a pull up. I got distracted by a phone call from Luli and before I knew it she was bouncing on our bed. She then crawled into Nicoles "Snoogle" and I had to snap a few shots. Enjoy!

Steak Dinner With Royalty

Friday was dinner at the McDougals. Nicole saw that "her butcher man" was having a good deal on steaks so we jumped on the opportunity. Little did we know that we were going to be in the presence of royalty. Snow White and Belle showed up and we were stunned by their beauty. They even posed for a photo. How lucky were we!

The Birdies have left the nest

As of last Friday we had one bird that had left. Lourdes and I actually watched it take off from the floor of the deck never to return. So we tried to catch the last two leaving but never did. In the meantime we got some cute video to share. Rachel definitely got a kick out of the baby birdies.