7.31.2008

A Sad Good Bye to My Brother

Woody
April 26, 1997 - July 30, 2008


My family's very beloved dog, WOODY, passed away last night. To us he was a member of our family. All of us sisters taught him everything we knew . . . like how to squat to pee. Woody came on family trips with us. Yes, all 7 of us squished in one van. He went on walks and runs with us. He swam in the pool with us. And when the kids wanted to explore on him, he would let them crawl all over him, poke and pull at him, and he'd just sit there looking at us with a face saying, "Really guys? You're going to let them do this to me?"
We will miss him SO much. It just won't be the same with out Woody barking to greet us at the door when we walk up.
Me with Woody the night we got him
May 19, 2007

We got to take care of Woody when my parents were away.
Maya with Woody July 2005

Teagen playing with Woody and Papa in Lake Tahoe July 2008

7.30.2008

Maya the Mermaid...and Teagen too!

Last week Maya stayed with my parents for 4 days to have swim lessons in their pool. This is her third year with the most WONDERFUL swim teacher (who also happens to be Kendra's teaching partner) Jill Brick. Thanks to "Ms Jill" Maya has been pool safe for about a year, but this year she learned how to do the breast stroke and the back stroke! She even tredded water for 20 seconds! She is a little fish, that's for sure!
Jill teaching the class (Maya is all the way to the right)
Maya doing the floating on her back


Ms Jill even got her little swimming hands on Teagen. We learned a few things to practice over the next year so that next summer Teagen will get swim lessons too and she'll know what to expect.

Teagen with Jill

Thanks again, Jill. You are the BEST!

7.14.2008

Home Away From Home

Pictures from Lake Tahoe


Teagen's mohawk - getting ready for the boat

Maya driving the boat with Papa

Teagen at the beach

Maya on the Bonzai with Auntie Sheena and Uncle B

Teagen asleep in the tube on the beach

Teagen and Aunt Sheena

Cousin Brody (Lindsey's Cousin's Son)

Maya in the lake

Mommy helping Maya use the "outdoor" bathrooms

Aunt Roxi and Maya in the tent Papa built

Lindsey: hard at work on the deck

Maya and Gigi on the raft going down Truckee River


Teagen in the raft


Our last night - out to dinner (Teagen is slept the ENTIRE time!)

7.07.2008

The Latest

Here's what we've been up to in Lake Tahoe:

Today was a lazy day.

We have been teaching Teagen sign language for the last couple weeks. She has picked up the sign "more" so fast. Maybe that's a sign. She is quite an eater! (Guess it runs in the family, Kendra!) We finally got her signing this morning.

After my dad finished working we headed to Northstar to cruise around and check out all of the building they are doing there. They had a bungee trampoline for Maya, which is one of her favorite things to do up here. Last year she was doing flips and this year was no different!

7.06.2008

The Adventure Begins...

It the time of the year again for Lake Tahoe. My parents were taking their summer trip to their house over the 4th of July for two weeks, so the girls and I decided to fly up and meet them on the 5th. We were leaving on an early flight so that we could get up there and have the whole day to "play". Well, during the day on the 4th, Maya came down with the flu that has been circulating through the family. FABULOUS! I still had some packing to do so luckily Maya slept most of the afternoon. Chad came home from work and we bar-b-qued some good ol' American hamburgers and corn on the cob.

The next morning we got up early, loaded up the car and headed down to the airport. A few exits down I realized that we forgot my suitcase. So we made a quick turn off the freeway and headed back to the house and got the suitcase. Finally back on the freeway we made our way AGAIN to the airport. Chad was able to take us and help me get all the suitcases checked and bag up Teagen's carseat to be checked. Thank God he was there to help because, as usual, we were running late. Chad walked us to the security check where we said our good-byes (which with me always includes tears). That's where the horror continues.

It is my first time traveling on the plane with a baby. Maya was a year and a half when she flew for the first time. So she could at least walk. And with all of the security now, it was ridiculous. I didn't know about having to put all lotions, sanitizers, etc in a plastic bag. And I also didn't know that you can't have any of that stuff in a regular size container, they all have to be travel size. Well I had sunscreen and diaper rash cream in my diaper bag. I also had filled up bottles with water for Maya and if I had to make a bottle for Teagen, which you are no longer allowed to have either. The security lady was SO rude, telling me at least 5 times I wasn't allowed to have it. I said after the first couple time "just throw them out then, I'm going to miss my plane." She also told me quite a few times she would have to check with her supervisor to make sure it was okay. Really, do I look like I'm going blow up a plane? Also a new thing, I didn't know that you had to put your stroller through the X-ray machine, not just push it through the metal detector. So with my eyes welling up in tears, waiting for a couple captains and crew member to go in front of me through security, and some nasty looks at the security lady, I made it through. I walked straight to the counter and just handed them my ticket apologized for crying uncontrollably. The very nice lady said in a very quite voice, "That plane has already left" and quickly started working on finding the next plane out. There was another plane . . . leaving in 5 hours! Great, put me on it. We'll just walk the airport for a few hours to pass the time. And even better news . . . it was in a different terminal, meaning, WE GET TO GO THROUGH SECURITY AGAIN!

Well, we made it through. The girls were FANTASTIC through the whole thing. Teagen even took a nap for about an hour and a half. We made it on the plane, a non-stop one, and made it to Lake Tahoe to open arms from my family. But not before capturing some pictures. Can you tell how happy I am in the picture Maya took? And I was able to get a picture of Teagen on her first plane ride.
Teagen, so happy!
Maya, watching the planes
Can I tell you how I really feel?
It almost time to get on the plane
Getting ready for take off
We've finally landed! YEAH!!

7.02.2008

Let's Go ANGELS

There is an ongoing "fight" within our families on what sports teams to cheer for. Football season is always agreed - Chargers. Basketball season is always agreed - Lakers. Baseball season is where the fight comes out. The Jarvis clan grew up huge Angel fans with some Dodger in there too. Chad growing in in San Diego was always a San Diego fan, but not a huge Padre fan. (In fact, together we've been to about triple the amount of Angel games then Padre games.) So the grandparents always battle on who is better and tries to get Maya to say "Let's go Angels" or "Let's go Padres". I am all about supporting the team where I live, but when it comes to baseball, my heart will always be with the Angels.

We are lucky enough that my parents have season tickets to the Angels, so Maya has been to quite a few games in her life time. But last night was Teagen's first time at an Angel game. With 2 (yes TWO) Angel shirts on, she was ready to go. The drive up was a little rough. Teagen is teething and she makes sure to let EVERYONE know it! We got there and the girls and I sat down and got adjusted while my parents went to get the food and drinks. There's nothing like the usual at a baseball game: hot dogs, sodas, peanuts, licorice, cotton candy, a round of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game". The girls even made it onto the jumbo-tron (big TV in the outfield). By the 8th inning, Teagen had had enough. She finally fell asleep just as Garrett Anderson hit a 2-run home run putting the Angels in the lead and eventually, to win the game!
Cutest Angel's Baby Fan!
We're all ready to go.
Can you tell how excited Teagen was about wearing her hat?
Papa, Gigi, and the girls
(notice there's no hat in the picture!!)
"...for it's one, two, three strikes your out..."