What's The Buzz

On Saturday, I gave Wesley a buzz cut! I can't decide if I should feel sad that he looks like a little man now, or to be happy that I don't have to brush it and keep trying to keep it trimmed. Either way, he sure is cute!

Our Colorado Vacation

It’s been go, go, go since we got back from Colorado. At the moment  the kids are napping and I’m not working, so I thought I’d try and get a few pictures up.

 

Like I said, Colorado was WONDERFUL! Each time I look at all the pictures I can’t help but smile. We really had a blast! I hadn’t been back to visit my Dads side of the family in 12 years!!!!!! So needless to say the ‘boys’ (my cousins) are now men, with beautiful wives and stunning children! We stayed the nights with Derek and his family, and got to spend our days with Aunt Dottie and Uncle Blob (Bob). We were welcomed with open arms by everyone. Not once did it seem like anyone thought that having 4 extra people invade their homes and their lives was a nuisance (even when the kids were cranky and getting on MY nerves).  There was almost always a beautiful new face to meet… each of the 4 West boys have 2-4 kids (and we met all but one)! The hospitality from my aunt and uncle was (almost) too much… activities, love, food, treats, gifts, swimming, nights out… it was so sweet, so personal that just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. It’s depressing that we live so far away from each other.

 

The first couple of days were devoted primarily to getting over to see Matthews’s rugby team play in the national rugby playoffs. They placed 3^rd!!!!!! Truly amazing that our ‘little’ team from Santa Rosa is so very talented! During the second game, Matthew obtained his first real injury in his 10 years of playing rugby… he was landed on by a very large opponent and he separated his left AC joint in his shoulder. Now it's raised at a funny angle. He goes to talk with a surgeon tomorrow to see if there is any ‘fixing’ it.

 

After all the rugby, we truly started our family vacation which included Red Rock ampatheater, a train ride (which Mallory hated for some reason),  the zoo, multiple trips to THE most amazing community center ever (pools, playland, ice rinks, workout gym, running and basketball  courts included) and a chance to watch my second cousins in their swim meet. Let me just say these girls must be part fish because NO ONE was able to keep up with them and they won it all!

  

 

 

This trip was truly wonderful. I can’t wait to get out there again (and I am hoping that my aunt and uncle, and ALL of my cousins will come out and visit us soon)! Thank you for an amazing time. I love you all.  

Fishy-Goo

My family and I just returned from a wonderful vacation in Colorado!!!! There is so much to write about I’ll probably have to talk about the trip itself later… for now I’ll just fill you in on the adventure that started our trip off!

 

The 4 of us flew out of SFO midmorning. Mallory, being the seasoned traveler that she is, did great! We set up a Curious George video and she was good to go! Wesley on the other had hadn’t been on a plane in a year and he was not nearly as easy going about the whole thing. He started off on Matthews lap as we were taxing down the runway and as we picked up speed we pulled out the bag of Goldfish crackers (both to entertain them and to help keep their ears open with the chewing motion). Mid take off Wes started to freak out about not getting enough fishies (he likes to have a full mouth AND two full hands all at once). As he started to cry he inhaled and he started chocking on a glob of fishies. Matthew started patting him on his back and after a few moments he realized that wasn’t working. At this point I looked over because Wes is no longer coughing and was frightenely quiet and Matthew was saying ‘what do I do now’? Wesley’s face was plum colored! A sickening bright red and deep purple all at once. I whacked his back twice and when nothing changed I grabbed him from Matthews lap, tip him upside-down over my legs and somehow manage four or five good baby-style heimlich maneuver thrusts (all of this in the cramped space of an airplane row). A large wad of fishy-goo went flying from his mouth and landed on my leg (or seat, or somewhere). His color immediately returned to beautiful pale pink and I started to hug him and tell Matthew “I hope I didn’t break a rib” when he grabbed that regurgitated fishy-goo and popped it back in his mouth. Obviously he was (and is) fine.