Backyard fun

The boys had a good time playing in the backyard today.

Fun with Playdoh

Gus found a "cozy" spot to relax

Rockin the crazy coupe  (new bday toy!)

Birthday Fun!

This year was a special birthday year for the Keane-Miller-Anderson Clan.  Gus turned 1 on the 28th, and Casey turned 28 on the 1st!  We all thought it was a fun coincidence, and thanks to Shannon for pointing it out!

After having spent our first weekend in our new home, without any traveling for any of us, it was time to head back up to Davis for one more weekend, to both pick up our other car and last trailer load, and of course to celebrate birthdays! Thank you to Baba and Dave for creating a fabulous birthday feast and party!

Gus's cake.   Still made straight out of the box, but at least I decorated it!

Casey's cake, a carrot cake at her request!

Some partied in the Kitchen

Some partied out back

And others partied in the living room

Gus was a trooper and made it all the way until after dinner to get his cake!  He kept reaching for it, and mostly wanted to just grab all the M&M's off of it, but he managed to have a little fun eating it too...

Well, he didn't spit it out like he did with his birthday brownie!

Should probably put some in the hair for good measure

Should I paint my whole face or just half?

Arjen was also a trooper in waiting all day for birthday cake...even after waking up 5 minutes into his nap earlier in the day, just to make sure we weren't eating birthday cake without him!

I AM ONE! 

The gardener and mechanic

Having fun waiting for the moving truck to arrive!

Happy 1st Birthday Gus!

Well baby boy, you started your life in Oakland, where you spent your first 6 weeks of life.  Then we spent the majority of your first year, living with both sets of grandparents.  I know you're too little right now to realize how lucky that made you (and all of us!), but some day you'll hear us tell all sorts of wonderful stories about just how great those 10 months of your first year were.  Now, you are turning 1 year old, living in a new house, in a new town, in a new part of California.  Lots of exciting changes!  And throughout it all, you have remained one of the most chill, happy, smiley, easy going babies I have ever met.  Although, I suppose you aren't really a baby any more, huh?  You are a walking-almost-running, climbing, laughing, talking toddler!  Here's a look back at how you've grown over the past 12 months:

Always a happy, calm baby, even as a newborn

Already showing us your beautiful smile at just 2 months!

Did we mention how big your hands are?  You definitely have either Treptow, or Miller, or a combination of both in those paws!

Your laughter is contagious little man!

Five months old and starting to sit up on your own.

Half a year old, sitting on your own, and showing signs of crawling

A roly poly at this age...rolling from one end of the room to the other, no longer wanting to sit still

Eight months old, and you just went straight from crawling to cruising

Nine months and getting into everything!

Ten months old, and walking already.

Eleven months old, wearing Arjen's hand-me-downs in size 18 months, and becoming an expressive little dude!

I'm one!!! (We'll get your official photo with your pillow and iPad soon buddy, but for now, this will have to do!)

So Mr. Gus...Thank you for being an incredible baby/child/person.  You give us great love and joy everyday!

27 Entrada East

We have Wifi!  Which means I can now get back to updating the blog with a little more ease.  I just haven't adapted to the mobile blogging thing very well yet, although I really should.  Anyways, if you want to see pics of the new place, here they are.  Just ignore the plastic bins, the mess, and the general lack of anything tidy.   These are iPhone pics I took during our first week in the house.  We've now been here almost 2 weeks, but still have yet to have a fully furnished home...but that will be soon!  The quick virtual tour, however:

half of the kitchen

backyard

panoramic (and dark, sorry) view of the kitchen, looking thru door to dining room

view from dining room into living room, and front door/entry way

Gus's room

dining room

stairwell

Arjen's room

upstairs guest/kids bathroom

Garage...I love being able to park in it! 

Master Bedroom with makeshift bedding from Target...we thought ahead to bring our mattress, but forgot to bring any linens!  

4th room/loft/guest room

master bath

looking down to the living room, windows on right face front of house

Happily exploring their new 'hood

front of house, front yard; on the other side of the fence is a small greenbelt/walking path 

our house is on the left, our association's pool and tot playground is at the back of the photo (in center)

our cul-de-sac

Saying farewell to our furry friend

We laid Bandito to rest on Feb 3.  While we were away for the wedding, he became unable to stand, and therefore unable to take care of himself.  Our neighbors graciously took him to the UC Davis Animal Hospital, where he was kept comfortable until we could get there.  He was the friendliest dog I've ever known, and we always joked he was an oversized lap dog.  He was about 10 years old, and for a dog of his size, definitely lived a full life.  It's still hard to believe he's gone, and as Arjen so wisely put it: "We miss you Dito."

surfing with Andrew as a puppy

watching T-ball in Wisconsin

One of his favorite games: Where's Dito?

Wedding Fun!

They did it! Shannon and Brian tied the knot on February 2, 2013.  Arjen and Gus were ring bearers.  I was the Matron of Honor, and Casey was the Officiant.  It was an amazing day and weekend! There are too many pictures to post on the blog, so here's a link to a picasa album:

Shan and Bri's Wedding Weekend