Just Because

This is a picture that my aunt sent me (Thanks Kathy!) of my parents in high school. Aren't they cute? And they're still together and happily married, plus best friends. Does it get any better than that? I don't think so.

Thanks for being such great role models Mom and Dad!

ps. I know I'm going to get yelled at for putting this picture up, but I'm doing it anyway :-P Hopefully they won't notice too soon so people see it before I get told I have to take it down. Hehehehehehehehe

Snapshots from the last week

We went to Korean BBQ last week on Tuesday and q insisted on using chopsticks just like Q and I. He didn't quite understand but he still managed to eat some salad that way. The rest of the salad he decided would be better as "soup" so he poured his water in the bowl, picked it up, and drank it. All the while yelling "SOUP" at the top of his lungs.

I also relented and started allowing q to watch movies. His current favorites are Nemo (aka "Momo") and Lilo and Stitch. This is a picture of him watching "Momo" with the doggies. Every 10 minutes all through the movie he says Momo and Movie and claps with excitement.

Last night I was making dinner for Q, Mindy, Sawyer, Cheyenne, q and myself and q decided he wanted to help. He pulled on my pant leg and said "cook" then went to try to get the stool himself. So, we got out the apron he got for Christmas and he climbed up to the counter. The next think I knew he was eating all the broccoli before I had a chance to get it in the oven. I did manage to get him to say "cheese" around this bite though.

We transitioned q to a toddler bed this weekend by replacing the tall rail of his crib with a short one. He was starting to pretend his crib was a trampoline and getting pretty high with the jumping so we decided it was probably better to let him out in the mornings before we're up rather than having him crack his head open (for a second time).

This morning we went in there to wake him since Q wanted to get to the gym early and we discovered that Murray had jumped over the baby gates and crawled THROUGH all the barriers in q's closet to join him in bed. It was so cute I had to take a picture but it's definitely frustrating because I have NO IDEA how I am going to keep Murray out of there now.

James in Abuelita's Glasses

An Afternoon with the Cooks

Yesterday, our friend Karen offered to watch James for the afternoon while I was at work. This conveniently made hanging out with her and Jason MUCH easier on Friday night. The Cooks have an adorable little Bishon/Poodle mix named Mochi that James just adores. He spent the whole afternoon trying to hug and kiss him.

After that we went to a Japanese Ramen restaurant in Irvine that was really, really good. I always find people's reactions to what James is willing to eat hysterical. It's one of the most entertaining parts of taking him out to dinner. A young couple on a date sat at that table next to us. When they sat down they immediately said hi to James (and of course he said hi back). Then they kept watching him as he ate an entire bowl of corn, demanded more and more bites of my noodles (and would only eat them off my chopsticks) and then proceeded to eat a HUGE cube of crispy fried tofu. Below is a picture of James next to the fabulously Japanese decor. They had a HUGE anime girl holding a bowl of ramen right inside the entrance.

James as a Ring Bearer

A few months ago James had the honor of being one of the ring bearers in Mike's Cousin, Nicole's, wedding. She had them wear ADORABLE black "Ring Bearer" onesies to walk down the aisle. Their wedding photographer took amazing shots of the whole event which you can see here: http://proofs.kristenhoneyphotography.com/Pinon

I've included the absolutely precious photos of James below. The funnies thing about these is that not a single one is posed or encouraged in any way. Apparently I have a rather precocious child who is also a complete attention lover.

This next one made me laugh the most though. Everyone kept asking us if we thought he would be okay walking down the aisle....the coordinator COMPLETELY didn't believe me when I said he would be fine. So, I hid up at the top of the aisle holding his monkey "plug" so that I could lure him up the aisle if he got shy. Um....very much not necessary as you can see. James RAN full tilt up the aisle, grinning the whole time and waving BOTH ring bearer pillows in the air. The other little boy, on the other hand, ended up carried down the aisle by Mike even though both his parents were in the wedding party.

Too funny to resist

I know this isn't our vacation photos...or even Halloween pics, but I just couldn't resist adding this video now. Mike sent it to me this morning on my cell phone (hence the poor quality) but it just epitomizes James.

Here he is in his pirate pjs, lounging in his shopping cart while playing with another toy.

Just a Tease

Mike, James and I have been in Minnesota visiting Jeanne and Erik for the last 10 days. We get home tonight and have many hilarious pictures to share. They'll be coming soon!