Happy 2nd Birthday-part 2

On Saturday night we had a family birthday dinner for Matther and his Grandma Eileen. They were born on the same day! We dined at Buca di Beppo's in Valencia and then had a wonderful "combined" birthday cake. Here are just a few pictures and Matthew loves his "bike" from Grandma and Grandpa.

Happy 2nd Birthday-part 1

We had a fun party at Matthew's nursery school on his actual birthday Friday. Denise was gracious enough to let us trash her kitchen (kidding) so the kids could sing, play, eat cake and watch Matthew open presents. He never did get the hang of the "blow out" party favor, there's always next year...

6 months since Court!

Just a few pictures showing updated pictures of Matthew. It was 6 months ago today we had court in Tobolsk Russia and judge waived the 10 days and we took custody of our baby boy. As you can see, he's grown up quick. Here he is with his "girlfriend" visiting from out of town but they started out together in the same orphanage. We took them out to lunch and then let them run wild at a children's gym. Another picture is out to dinner with our friends and they took a picture of the 3 of us. Last picture was taken today at work when my co-workers generously threw Matthew a birthday party 1 day early. He had birthday cake for the first time ever. The picture to my left is the outdoor set they bought for him.

Happy Halloween!

Superman before and after trick or treating for the first time. Took him about 30 seconds to get the hang of it. I think he charmed the candy out of the neighbors bowls into his bucket in record time. Only went to 12 houses and it was over flowing. It got heavy for him but being Superman he insisted on carrying the full bucket himself.

So....how many licks to the center of a tootsie pop?

Pumpkinliner 2006

There is a very old town about 19 miles from us by the name of Fillmore. They have a few real locomotive trains that take short trips. They have an annual Halloween/Pumpkin patch train ride called the Pumpkinliner. It is run by the Fillmore & Western Rail Road. This is Matthew's first real train ride and some pictures once we got to the pumpkin patch. He had a blast. My niece Rachel was sweet enough to spend the day with us and give us that "extra hand" with Matthew. She is not only his cousin but his only babysitter (outside of nursery school) so she is very special to him. Matthew refused by the way to stand correctly in the ghost cut out so that is why he is a witch, check out the look on his face (double left click to enlarge any photo)....stop giggling CT!

GO KINGS GO!

Matthew made his first ever trip to Staples Center to watch the Los Angeles Kings (Hockey) square off against the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings lost during the shoot out in OT, no great surprise. Check out the look on Matthew's face. Also here is a pic of the legend himself...Gordie Howe!