Jeepers - 2009, where are you going so fast???

Hi All,

I know, I know. You don't have to say it, really, don't. =)

Just a quick update: D and I are still gainfully employed (WooHoo!) and both kids are in preschool.

A is just about through the trauma of Potty Training - wonder if *I* will survive it. She will be 3 next month (*sniff sniff* where did my baby go?) and really focused on a big bike for her birthday. That's all she's asking for anyway. She continues to amaze us with her brilliance (no, we are not biased), her big heart, love for her brother (most days) and her beauty. One day maybe she'll be a brunette. How both kids are dishwater blondes is beyond me. I think my only external biological representation in either kid is A's brown eyes.

I enrolled J for Kindergarten last week; it surely was a bittersweet moment, not to mention uneventful. I don't know what I was expecting - maybe a few trumpets from the heavens, or confetti - something? anything? He is beyond ready for a change in schools and a new challenge. He's enjoying his last year in preschool. Guess why? He the Big Man On Campus this year, the one the younger kids look up to for leadership. He's also brilliant and handsome and the best big brother a little sister could ever ask for. He is so sweet with her even when she's buggin' him to death. Of course, we think he's the best son.

Needed a little break from real work and better get back to it.

All our love to family and friends!

OH!! Pictures....

Misc. Pics

Christmas Day 2008

Hello Family and Friends.

I am so very ashamed to realize I haven't posted one little teeny weeny word here...since JULY! My goal, hope, resolution, is to be more active updating our family's goings on.

Quick update - our little man J is now 5. Yep, 5 years old just 2 days ago, on the 23rd. I'm not sure what 5 has in store for us. I do hope the 'rumors' of the Fabulous Fives is not a rumor.

A is ahead of schedule for the Terrifying, Torturous threes. I thought maybe a late entry into 2s but I regret to report I was incorrect. *sigh* Oh well. This time we know what to expect so that's a point ahead.

Christmas has been wonderful, so far. Kids got a couple of awesome gifts from The Man. They enjoyed a much overdue visit from Grandma L today too. It was a very special gift for us all.

I am off from work the remainder of the year. I promise to do my best to get back here in that time and post pictures from the last few months, including the great holiday pics of the kids.

Love to All

Happy Birthday To Me

Well, gotta start somewhere.

I'm a year older. Maybe I feel it, maybe I don't. I'm not quite sure yet.

Work is going well for me. In fact, I recently returned from 1. my first solo business trip, 2. my first international trip. Yep, I've now got a stamp in my passport. Where did I go, eh? Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It was fun and an absolute test of the New and Improved Mrs. Bear (the less Type A Mrs. Bear). Without all the gory details here are the highlights: took 24 hours to get from SoCal to the office of the hosting company, I will never rent a car without a GPS unit again (unless maybe I have a navigator to watch for street signs and such), I will remember to bring comfy walking shoes (just in case I'm going someplace fun that's not just around the corner).

I guess there were a few highlights to the trip as well. I made a new friend or two, had an opportunity to get to know the folks I work with a little better. A great group of people are working the program I'm on. WOW! Oh, and I spent my b-day in Calgary and had a great time. I actually had a candle to blow out and my wish came true. MM and JM - thank you! Ah - the wish...I had an uneventful return home - no flight delays, etc. The worst was a gate change -- whoop tie do.

Kids update? Munch and Screech are perfect. Dinosaurs turn Baby Bear J's ears off far too often for our liking but hey, it is what it is. He's doing great in school and learning something new every day. He's always got a new word or concept to amaze us with.

Baby Bear A is the same, just bigger, bossier, moodier, and more beautiful with each passing day. And she is scary smart. That girl - I'm terrified. She'll outsmart both Momma and Poppa, and we're pretty smart too.

Both kids finished up swimming lessons today. BBJ was 'sent up' to the level 1 class from the preschool one - he's ahead of the game. Go figure, mom and dad were fish in our younger days. BBA is a dare devil. She couldn't get enough of jumping off the side and swimming with her noodle.

I'll work on getting updated pics online.

Our love to all - friends and family.