Category Archives: Living

Happy 2013!

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Starting the new year off right…I’m a few days late on my blog post about New Year’s Eve.

This year, we invited a few friends over for a sleepover with their three boys. What a fun and different kind of night. I skipped the champagne and vodka but enjoyed my guava juice in a wine glass. B and “those boys” (what he kept calling them) did everything from ride bikes in the dark to eating popcorn and gummy bears while watching a movie to jumping on Erin to the point where a few of the boys were squished and crying. We all stayed up way too late and by 1 a.m. I was ready to call it quits. When I woke up the next day, my eyes stung and all I wanted was a greasy breakfast. Apparently, whether you drink or not…being prego and staying up that late makes you feel hungover. Here’s to a promising 2013!




A Rainy Saturday

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Sometimes I forget to blog about what a typical day is like in the Tomarelli household. I want to capture big events, like birthdays and holidays, but also the little things too. I know we’ll look back at this and be thankful for a few photos that captured just an average rainy day.

The funny thing is, this wasn’t an average day. Today was the first time Blake saw a movie at a real movie theater. I know it may not seem like much, but taking a very active little boy to an hour and a half movie could have been a challenge. We all enjoyed popcorn and juice while watching Monsters, Inc. And after an hour of the show, we decided to go. Blake couldn’t resist the stairs.

It was still raining so we headed off to Jump ‘n’ Jammin (a local place that has a bounce house and random obstacle courses) which was a madhouse of little ones running around. B burned off so much energy that he fell asleep around 5:30 p.m. Wish us luck once 3 a.m. rolls around.. He’ll be jumpin’ into our bed asking for cartoons and pancakes!

1. After a shower, Blake waking up Daddy wearing his new robe. He’s such a little man. // 2. B playing with his favorite Christmas gift–the green trash truck from Tia. // 3. Sipping on some juice and getting comfy in the theater. // 4. Picture of us before the show starts. // 5. & 6. Crawling through the maze and posing for a picture at J’n’J.





 

Christmas Snapshots

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A little look into our lives over this past December. What a fun time! As Blake would sing.. Happy Day! (Happy Holidays!)

1. Santa Visits Our Town // 2. Blake before his first ever Holiday Happening recital. // 3. Our little guy loving the spotlight and singing to all of us parents. SO proud! // 4. Oh what fun! Thomas and Blake on Mike and Ryan’s shoulders at Aunt Nancy’s house. One of my favorite Christmas parties every year. // 5. Jamie, Blake, Mike, and Thomas get together for a picture. Love my sister’s top! // 6. Lauren, Blake, and I put together a toy at Papa T’s house. // 7. Papa T, Blake, and Mike pose on Christmas Eve. // 8. Santa brought B exactly what he wanted–a green bike! // 9. Blake coming downstairs so excited to see what’s under the tree. // 10. Testing it out! // 11. Christmas Day over Dad and Jeanette’s house. We had fun! Hope you did too!











Happy Thanksgiving

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What a fun, relaxing day!

We woke up to a delicious breakfast of ‘leftover carne and egg and cheese and cilantro and sour cream burritos’ and great company, as Blake would say: UNCLE (screaming) Jay and Amory (Mallory). After flipping through the Black Friday ads and saying goodbye to Jay and Mal, it was time to cook!

This wasn’t the first time I had cooked a turkey and was excited to host a small, family dinner. As I prepped the bird, M and B had a good time out front at the neighbor’s bounce house. We are so fortunate to live on a great street and everybody was out doing something: flag football games, bikes, drinks, and a lot of laughs.

Jenny and Ronnie arrived right on time to help with the sides (and we had a lot as you’ll see below!). It was nice to be in the kitchen and really cook and talk about our kids growing up together, since Jenny is prego too. Blake went down early after eating (while half asleep) a yogurt. He didn’t want any part of this fantastic meal. Next time.

I sure am thankful for a great life.




All Girls Getaway

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Up in the mountains, back in 1959, my Grandpa Stone built this amazing place we now call The Cabin. My Aunt Peggy arranged a fun, relaxing getaway for the girls of the family. While relaxing on the worn-in couches sipping wine (or chugging water, in my case), we chatted about life, family, and growing up. We ate sandwiches and pumpkin bars and veggies and dip. We took pictures of ourselves on the iPad and found out what celebrities we look like (poor Mal, Tom Hanks, really?). I think Jamie won that game–Rachael Leigh Cook look-a-like.

In the morning, we woke up to Aunt Nancy flipping pancakes, just like Grandma used to make, with boysenberry syrup. Such a nice time to really look around at all these great women in my life, and be thankful.

We missed my mom and Crystal but know this is the first of many trips away…to spend time with family…especially just us girls.








Pumpkin Time

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Over the past few years, we have gone to the same pumpkin patch. It’s pretty cool. Great pumpkins to choose from. Rides. Games. Petting zoo. I wish it wasn’t in a mall parking lot but once you’re inside of this place, you forget about the Macy’s glowing, red sign in the background. B loves it and we always seem to have a good time too. In the next few weeks, we hope to go to a more traditional pumpkin patch with hay rides and pumpkins on vines. I need to bring the good camera to that adventure.

Definitely my favorite time of year…




Lake Las Vegas

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Gosh a few weeks ago already, we took a family trip to Lake Las Vegas. My mom took care of all the details–the hotel was gorgeous, the rooms were perfect, we were close to Lake Mead. It couldn’t have been a better time.

I think some of my favorite memories include Blake playing with Tess (the dog), playing darts with Aaron, Jamie, Mike, and John, watching Blake go down the water slide with Mike, finding two turtles with Blakey who live at the hotel, hearing the stories of Blake going on the inner tube with Jamie and Mike for the first time, and enjoying a minute with my mom at dinner to chat about the future (still can’t believe twins are on the way).

Now, time for the pictures that really show how much fun we had! That first one is B jumping from bed to bed. See? Fun!








A Little Bit of This

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Lately, my days have been filled with…

1. Chatting (or I guess Listening):

B has been talking up a storm and we are enjoying every minute of it. Things like, “Momma/Dada, sun down, moon up?” Or when we are driving and I tell him, “Okay we are close. The park is only a little bit away.” He will reply, “Momma, park closed?” He also loves to point out who people are in pictures, especially his Grandma Jeanne (Gamma Jeeeeeeen).

2. Baking and wanting to cook more:

I just made these little cupcakes for a work baby shower. They were a hit! Simple, white cake with white frosting. I also got an email that had Mama DePandi’s Bucatini Pomodoro recipe inside and can’t wait to try it! Doesn’t it look good?

3. Shopping:

I’ve been eye-balling a side cross necklace for awhile but some of these other pieces from Bip and Bop are pretty cute. Loving the skinniness of the bangles.

4. Partying:

It was cousin Tommy’s 3rd Birthday last weekend and we had SO much fun–water balloons, B’s first attempt at a pinata, pizza, fake tattoos that B wanted then wanted to scrub away once they were on, lounging in the pool, and cake pops. Pictures in a few days. Still need to download.

5. Planning:

Summer may be over but we still have one more vacation planned near the end of September with my family. Then M’s out of town… umm Tahoe and then Hawaii for work… SO tough! :) Birthdays. Changes. Tons of fun, new things to blog about!

Hope all is well with you,

J

OC Fair

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Fried everything. Sugary lemonade. Loud. Farm animals. Shady rides. Photo booths.

Yep. We went to the Orange County Fair. We go every year and this time around was just as fun. Once we hit the kiddie ride area, B went crazy. We took him out of the stroller and he couldn’t decide what to do first. Games? Roller coasters? The largest jungle gym/play house thing? Oh yeah. There are a few pictures below of him (and M) going across the not-so-stable bridge. And another one of them at the end of the ride where they shoot out a pretty high slide. They went on this one twice.

Blake also won his very own prize for the first time. He had to throw a bean bag at the balloon and pop it. Winner! He chose the green lobster. Another first was the little piggy races. Mike thought it would be fun–and he was 100% right. Blakey loved it. We cheered for piggies with names like “Black Swine” and “Sloppy Joe” and boo’d when our guy lost.

A memory I soon won’t forget.

Happy Birthday Jamie!

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My younger sister is turning another year older today. It amazes me how great she is. She has this outgoing personality that makes people want to be around her. She always has cute, new clothes and matching accessories. She’s silly. She is one fun aunt to little Blakey. She’s a hard worker and rarely a complainer. She treats her mother-in-law well (I think that says a lot). She listens and cares. When times are tough, she’s the one who will be there. She will stay up all night, every night, in New York for some true sister bonding. She’s a best friend.

We don’t talk everyday but, Jamie (B), you’re everything to me. Thank you for being such a fun, loving person in my life, and to all of those around you. We truly are the lucky ones. Happy Birthday! I love you!