Biking in Monterey

We've found our new favorite way to exercise and explore Monterey with the children!



(S.H.- you really need to break down and get a bike. Even if it's a banana seat with a basket and streamers :)

FHE with the Hollobaughs

The Porter, Owen, and Drew Monsters

Witchy Fingers w/ Monster Munch

Luke aptly named this "The Human Monster"

We had a fun, surprisingly relaxing evening carving pumpkins...don't have a good photo of the actual event but you can google "pumpkin carving with kids" and I'm sure we covered it:)

Singing Porter

Baracuda Afton

K, Our View...

Is amazing

Had To!

I wasn't going to give anything away about our Halloween theme but I don't think this will. So here is a laugh!

Laundry Anyone?

I could have chosen to fold the 60 loads of laundry waiting for me....


But instead I chose this...

Nacho

Luke has turned his love of "Nacho Libre" into Porter's love as well. Though Porter says "Natoe"

Weekend Photos

Monterey has something going on nearly every weekend. Do we take advantage of all the adventures offered? Not nearly as much as we should. But, this weekend I took advantage of the energy my mind told me I had (because my hubby would be home for 4 straight days). We took in the Marina Air and Car show with planes dating back to WWII and cars dating back further. Luke is in-love with the P-51 Mustangs (no girls, they're not cars). I wanted him to take a once-in-a-lifetime ride up in a P-51. It was $750. So I wanted Luke to take a ride in a plane. We all, Porter and Afton included, took a ride in the "Beechcraft" which was built in 1942 and used for training. Price: $60. Who needs that once-in-a-lifetime ride up in a heroic WWII fighter plane!?

Pilot: Will Ferrell's Brother







Porter w/ P-51 Mustang


Guilty Pleasure: 1.Abundance of unconditional love from husband and children. 2. A 4 Day weekend with my Hubby!!!











Guilty Indulgence:
Ate a pint





Made this to make myself feel better later: Turkey/veggie Burger with spinach, org. wholewheat bun, and green drink.


Luke is SO much more creative than I am. Porter has so much fun imagining with him. Today Luke told Porter a story about a mommy dog and all her puppys. After the story he went so far as to find stuffed animals to play the parts of all the doggies from the story. At the end of the re-enactment all of Porter's Sesame street babies got to pick a puppy to take home with them. Then Luke Lined all the Sesamie Street Babies up along the wall with their puppies(plus a lamb & a walrus, to stand in since we ran out of puppies). Then Porter decided to grab the mommy doggy and sit down in the line up with the rest of the characters. This was a golden photo-op we just couldn't pass up...

Why I Feel Successful Today...

1. I showered. Yes, they are fewer and farther between than they should be because I detest them. Why? Because it's another "chore" on my to-do list. Love the end result. Hate the time and effort.....and it wasn't even a "hair day" today :)

2. I remembered to put on my Men's clinical strength deodorant before going to bed....like the directions say.

3. I changed my sheets, cleaned a toilet bowl, unpacked 2 boxes, and fed and diapered my children (husband not included)


(......ahhhhhhhh now I'm ready for Conference tomorrow)

Spinning Lemons and Talking Sister

So...

I saw something at Costco today. Sort of made me shudder. A "children's" book entitled "Barack Obama." Apparently trying to convince the newest generation of his greatness. I've studied a lot of socialist and communist leaders and this is eerily similar to their methods of propaganda.

Animals

Update

Porter and his new best friend. Our families went to a free event that included pony rides and a petting zoo

Not too sure of the bunny yet

Cheese

Who's out there?

So close, yet so far

Our view and Luke's ride from work

On their way to catch the short bus...

Luke babysitting Mr. Potato Head


I am SO proud of how well he eats. I know that's so retarded, but he ate all of the contents of this veggie sandwich (albeit separately). I've worked hard to pack our meals with as many organic veggies as I possibly can, and make his "treats" fruit or homemade Popsicles. Seriously though, what 2 year old comes running when he sees wheatgrass juice???

Like Luke, he's always such a ham

Awww

Porter brought Afton his favorite toys, one by one, and was so proud to show me the end result of his sharing.

Okay, no joke, we came into the kitchen after we heard Porter climb up and click the tray onto his chair....to find him reading one of Luke's German books.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words...



then what is a video worth???

My Chunky Little Monkey

Schnappi

Oh my goodness this is SO super cute! Luke introduced Porter to the German language with this video and Porter LOVES it! To take a "break" from the daily grind of school and studying,Luke will practice his listening skills by playing some of these with Porter on his lap. He's such a great dad!

Tuna, Rocks, and Crayons

Ah, She took it like a man!

Well, the moving company moved us in on Monday of this week so I had to entertain the kids and keep them out from 9am - 4p.m. Well, we finally had to come back around 2 so they could get a break from me. Porter, Afton and I camped out on one of the bathroom floors and watched a movie while the movers finished up. Not even 30mn. had passed when we heard a knock on our door and it was one of the movers asking "is that your Volvo?" (mind you, parked a block away on a random street) I said, "uh yes" and they sheepishly said "we hit it trying to get out of here." I told Luke he needed to take care of it because I was going to cry, as this would put me above my maximum stress capacity :) We still are not 100% sure how this accident was remotely possible! (Luke said the driver must have been drunk and mildly retarded)



Just wait, it gets better!

Tah dah!


This is the front passenger tire...because it was dragged 25 yards from a parallel position to the curb ending up in a perpendicular position

Tag

Becky started this...thanks, Becky. I think it'll be fun!

1. Add a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments.

A little bit of everything

Okay, here it is. I took the lazy man's route and just put a bunch of pictures into a slide show instead of posting individuals.

So, I'm writing this for a little sympathy "awww" and maybe a comment that tells me "it's okay Steph, I've been there, you'll get through it."

We're in the middle of a "permanent change of station" move and we've not yet found a place to live. Though, in the matter of one week, we've had to unpack and re-pack all of our belongings that didn't get loaded onto the truck (i.e. everything we need for a 2yro, 2mo, and 2 adults to function)3x. Why have we had to do this 3 times in one week you ask. Well, there is not enough room at the inn. A day here, a day or two there. There are 3 military lodges in Monterey and because we did not have time to make a reservation well in advance, they are all booked up with vacationers and other PCS moves. It's odd because when we were vacationing in Hawaii and staying at a military lodge, we were told that at any time we could be asked to leave for PCS moves because they get priority. Hmmmmm. It's been fun.

Luke started classes last Monday and he is gone from 7a.m. to about 3p.m. so, the poor guy, has had to cram a lot in between that time and the time property management companies leave for the day. The most challenging part, I think, has been sharing a room with the 2 children. Afton sleeps in the closet near the bathroom, and Porter in the Kitchenette area. So there's no escaping to make phone calls, shower, watch movies, have nice discussions with the spouse, or for Luke to get ready in the morning without waking one of them. On top of this, it has been GLOOMY and cold! I definitely suffer from seasonal affective disorder (I've diagnosed myself)and we heard nothing about the weather being like this up here, only how much everyone loves it. I've paid my dues living in the states of Massachusetts, Utah, and Misery...oh, I mean Missouri. Oh, how I miss AZ. Oh! And the icing on this cake has been Porter's discovery of poo in his diaper and that he can now access it. A few days ago I found him with it all over his fingers, clothes, and bedding. And because he now has a "thing" about having dirty hands,there were also long, poopy streak marks up and down the mesh sides of the playard. How do you clean poo out of mesh?! I don't know, but I figured it out...then, and again today!


Okay, I think that's it. I feel better already:) I miss my YW in the Del Cero Ward, not only for the babysitting benefits, but because they are all so special and I love being around them! It will be nice to make friends in our new ward...I'm ready for a little break, even if it is just a few hours ;)

Blessing

We had sweet Afton blessed on July 6th, 2008. It was a beautiful blessing and (thank you Di!) we have it recorded for her baby book so she can look back and see how her life played out. She looked so beautiful! Please note the shoes :) with big satin bows (awwww)

It was very bitter-sweet as we closed the San Diego chapter of our life to begin a new. (Although I'm still in the "bitter" section of the chapter...yea, yea, it will be sweet soon, I know.) Just so all of you in S.D. know, this was the first time in a VERY long time that I wasn't ready to move. I love new adventures and living new places but I really became attached to our friends and ward family! It comforts me knowing we still own our home in S.D. so I can, theoretically, return tomorrow :)