life cereal – Page 19

whoa x1098375923875

Whoa. So much has happened in the past two weeks it hurts my head to begin thinking about it (not to mention the extreme jet lag setting in).

Top of the list: Welcome to the world Nora Esther Vidergar! Nora was born on May 31, 2008 at 10:44 am. She clocked in at 8 lbs 4oz and 20.5 inches. My sister calls her Nor’easter when her cries escalate to a shrill (as babies do).

I think nearly all of us thought the thing in the big belly would be a boy because it was so active and large. We were thinking he would be a big lazy lunk. Instead, out popped big girl Nora. But, I said to my sister (with a tear in my eye) that I am sooooooo glad Amelia gets to have a sister because my life would not have been the same without my sister. Plus, Nora gets to join our girl clan in the family (mom, sister, me, amelia, two female dogs and now Nora!).

Congrats, Steph and Cyril. I can’t wait to meet her.

croquet mania

A new favorite wedding idea: have a swanky lunch followed by a croquet match. This past weekend was eye candy for us: folks dressed in white, beautiful blue skies, green grass…it couldn’t have been any better (except for the massive farmer’s burn afterwards).

my big little bro is a big boy now

Congrats Bri Bri! You are the last of the crazy Bruce Beckord clan to make it through college. I am proud to say that the kid I used to share a bunk-bed with (who I would constantly tell not to put buggers on the wall) is now a true adult. Actually, folks thought you were an adult when you were 14, but now you can say you are truly an adult because you have to pay your own rent (ha!/aye!). I am so happy that I was able to be around for a good portion of the developmental stages of your life (remember the photo I took of your first few armpit hairs?)…I can’t wait to see what big boy Brian has in store. My 24 hours with you in San Diego were a blast…now go cut your hair!

superheros unite 2008

Last weekend was a whirlwind of events involving mass amounts of friends. Our 5 year SCU reunion was up to bat so we all got together for a little friendly time. The reunion was awkward as reunions go, but it was great seeing folks nonetheless. The morning after the awkward social event we relieved ourselves with a little bay to breakers action…

Superheros uniting at BART…

Then the race..

Whoa nelly, chaos and craziness. That is all I have to say.

I AM IN LOVE!

I did it! I found me a pair of good ‘ol cowboy boots and I must say, they are darn comfy. These duders fit me like a glove…as though they were made for my feet. All broken in and stuff, I am IN LOVE! I know, people think cowboy boots are silly (especially folks in SF), but I am embracing this symbol of our American heritage like none other. I wear them to work, I wear them to bed, I wear them when I go for a run (ok, the last two not so much, but I would if I could).

If you were ever to own one pair of shoes in your life…consider cowboy boots. That is all I have to say.

this is what happen when my bro goes home

This is what happens when my bro goes home….

1.) He gets too distracted by the chaos of a toddler wanting to play, dogs wanting to play, a dad drilling into an ostrich egg, etc. that he has to set up his office in the garage. Funny thing though…neighbor kids were intrigued by a man with a card table in a garage working on a computer that they rode their bikes up to see the spectacle.

2.) The fumes from the garage did a number on my bro…he got a little high and played the accordion until the wee hours of the morning…

b to the o to the u to the l to the d to the e to the r

The first in a long series on my trip home to Boulder…Cooper and I went home for a super short time but we were able to pack a lotttttttttttttttttttt in!

Such as:

Tons ‘o trampoline time…

Pigging off…

Chuck E. Cheese!

Roller coasters for toddlers…

Skee ball…

Fatboy hammock lovin’…

Soy sauce…

and back to jump…

Goooooooooooooo NayNay!

Action packed? Yes. Could I keep up if I was my sister (pregnant with a 2.5 year old in toe)? Nooooooooo way. Don’t know how parents do it.

dogs and babies

Last weekend Cooper and I were dog sitters for my bro’s brown boy: Finney. Oh my, I need a dog. 1.) We (Finney and I) spooned for a solid 3 hours and it could have lasted longer but my phone went off. It was true spooning (he is about my height when on his hind legs)…he even had his head on my chest while in a deep deep dream. Oh my. Heaven. 2.) Dogs create for a greater social life when you don’t have one. Every spot we ventured to people would talk to us about the dog. In a city where people are closed off and don’t acknowledge one another…if you have a dog life is different. 3.) Dogs can be tourist attractions. Finney likes to carry Nathan’s shopping bags as “his job.” After Cooper bought a t-shirt Finney claimed ownership of the bag. When you are walking through Union Square or along the cable car route…let me tell ya…a dog carrying your shopping bag is a bonafide tourist attraction. Photos were taken care of us that day…if only I had taken a shower.

This coming weekend we are off to Colorado for 48+ of more dog time plus babypalooza Actually, Amelia is no longer a baby now that she is sleeping in my bed, but there is a big baby brewing in my sista’s belly and he/she is about to pop!

Zihua 2008

Thank you, Mr. Flanagan, for three things:
1.) For having a beautiful sister who got married in Zihuatanejo last year and enlisting Cooper for the photo job. Now Zihuatanejo is almost our second home (or at least one of our favorite places to relax) and folks get married in Zihua simply because of the photos they have seen of your sister’s wedding.
2.) For introducing Cooper to the Diana camera. I LOVE the what it does to these photos! The colors are so rich and rustic…gives me tan when in reality I am whiter than the whitest white. (P.S. I learned last night that the rich colors come from cross processing the film…not the camera).

and 3) For agreeing to send us one of your prints in honor of the Alice Cooper 7 year courtship. Such an honor to have your print on our walls.

time with Dr. Daddy Bruce

Three weekends ago (yes, three weekends…I am a little late with this, but I have to post it for my own recollection 298723 years from now) my dad had a little over 24 hours of down time between shifts at the ER so Cooper and I met him half way at Morro Bay for a brief jaunt of father/daughter/daughter’s boyfriend time. We had such a great time drinking free wine at the hotel, scarfing hundreds of the largest and juiciest strawberries I have ever encountered, eating seafood, walking against the wind, going to sleep at 9pm (dad was on a different schedule), perusing a shell shop that looked like it was stuck in the 1950’s….