tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24010856862441997972024-03-05T14:55:34.951-08:00What We Done Did, Are Done Doing, Will Done DoGrussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-71881713378966000232012-05-13T23:30:00.000-07:002012-05-14T15:02:50.299-07:00Mother's Day 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gGDEYznZhcNlVJqEZlukQK6jRXTVFVXBaYG-R7JVhWV9SSmhSSNUC58wYMfzjihZ_1SUCn0YRlejVK8VaC7rXE95r1NOr69EE2ECAexvtbBckRXUSlyZ37NfLRJlMQtoAhrpQugDQkgP/s1600/DSC_0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" dba="true" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gGDEYznZhcNlVJqEZlukQK6jRXTVFVXBaYG-R7JVhWV9SSmhSSNUC58wYMfzjihZ_1SUCn0YRlejVK8VaC7rXE95r1NOr69EE2ECAexvtbBckRXUSlyZ37NfLRJlMQtoAhrpQugDQkgP/s320/DSC_0777.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We had a dinner party last night so I consider that the non-official start of my Mother's Day celebration. We had three awesome couples over for BBQ dinner, wine, and music. It was the eight of us and eleven of our kids. There was a wealth of food, wine, and great company. We had so much fun that everyone stayed until about 2am. Most of the kids lasted that long as well (how do kids do that?!). <br /><br />Sunday started out with an extremely lazy morning, we gave the kids a late breakfast and took time to do the last bit of cleaning from the party. I know, exciting stuff. When we finally got it together (read: when I finally decided to get dressed and make myself presentable), we headed for the beach. We drove to Pacifica, to my dad's place, uninvited (because that's how we roll). We were lucky to catch him out walking his dog, Pumpkin; there was much jubilation when we caught up to him on his walk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the beach, Graeme was immediately drawn to the surf, Xavier was attached to Pumpkin for a bit, and Jasper hung on to Rodney until he got comfortable enought to play in the sand on his own. All in all, a normal beach day for the Grussings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After the beach, we headed for the city to meet Carolyn, Rodney's very good college friend, for an early dinner at <a href="http://www.fogcitydiner.com/" target="_blank">Fog City Diner</a>. She came with her brother (Joe), his wife (Linsey), and their one-year old son (Gavin). It was a great meal and we had fun catching up with Carolyn and getting to know her family. I only wish I'd taken pictures (um, yeah, especially since I had my camera with me the entire time - duh).<br /><br />When we left the restaurant, the boys walked ahead of us and we caught them staring and having giggle fits. It turned out that they were looking at themselves on a reflective wall. The wall was paneled and was giving them a carnival fun house effect and they were just having a blast. Click <a href="http://bit.ly/JYjImf" target="_blank">here</a> to enjoy a few photos of those moments.<br /><br />The last little bit of playing we did was at the park next door. There were fountains, stepping stones, and rocks to climb; the boys were in heaven. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there! I hope you were spoiled rotten. If you are still lucky to have your mom in your life, make sure to hug her real tight and tell her how much you love her, not just today but every damn day. You are lucky to have her!</span></div>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-73746036119854915062011-12-15T09:39:00.000-08:002011-12-15T10:29:18.888-08:00Annual Santa Party<div>Every year, our company throws a holiday party for the kids where they all get to say HI to Santa. It's one of the few family traditions we have. This year, Ethan was finally too old to want to come along so he sat it out (and end of an era!); things change a lot when you're 13. :)<br /><br />The three other boys, on the other hand, had a great time, meeting and greeting Santa and his elves. Well, mostly anyway. Jasper cried hysterically until Santa handed him a present; then, he figured out it was worth the horror of sitting there. Ah, the joys of the holidays!<br /><br /><strong><em>Jasper</em></strong> - from tears to thanks!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBCo2RR8wUDKNfCTuxbYTAai_2U08DCu-w4M6Rk1aRMtuXkoq80qbbK5VFQaUz5unCGXV_2HFKjlz9I3sN0R-NJAtg3yHLwbKXhgN72CXOoJAsNsCE4MAKC_DFxSN6K-VAgShABGKgwOc/s1600/235a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686420134323811170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBCo2RR8wUDKNfCTuxbYTAai_2U08DCu-w4M6Rk1aRMtuXkoq80qbbK5VFQaUz5unCGXV_2HFKjlz9I3sN0R-NJAtg3yHLwbKXhgN72CXOoJAsNsCE4MAKC_DFxSN6K-VAgShABGKgwOc/s200/235a.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3EqwHSJzMpc0J0GHqzMrNs8dTW6f7NSz3L6PBluPIm04GZPSnxdqac6zwjzIqilmVDTSt1SezAT2q1o8J_PNXRnKrCdAd_1dZJKk-bAaDzIqoYaa229e2J4ypTpDK_u-kBZKaUS2tVN-/s1600/235a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 142px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686423016513781458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3EqwHSJzMpc0J0GHqzMrNs8dTW6f7NSz3L6PBluPIm04GZPSnxdqac6zwjzIqilmVDTSt1SezAT2q1o8J_PNXRnKrCdAd_1dZJKk-bAaDzIqoYaa229e2J4ypTpDK_u-kBZKaUS2tVN-/s200/235a.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2jOW_idC8_tFKtnj30qrFTVOyigaDWFgO0cqyPWGbFA15Tw7g6Uk3IAdW1Dc9I_6no-xahQxlAo-qTrz-2HJB7vcoQF9n8GNSG_q4jImHFg3rg9pKUYxZW_Qh1odJFKWDn1dJUEKajj6/s1600/237a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686420139996587634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2jOW_idC8_tFKtnj30qrFTVOyigaDWFgO0cqyPWGbFA15Tw7g6Uk3IAdW1Dc9I_6no-xahQxlAo-qTrz-2HJB7vcoQF9n8GNSG_q4jImHFg3rg9pKUYxZW_Qh1odJFKWDn1dJUEKajj6/s200/237a.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><strong><em>Xavier</em></strong> - loved every minute! He was the only kid to give Santa a big hug.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXOtBmbwyJq67CPnZN11_ylefswnmknkBNPwNYj4NHwXO9b5bg76xTnBi8P5RJJFQjFYs4FW4gglhRLljt6hpdOvig4oPzstkFBHFgd78G9IvTDtTKAwU3FleKHIpHJU3uufWfev6emS_/s1600/242a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 133px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686420155226529058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXOtBmbwyJq67CPnZN11_ylefswnmknkBNPwNYj4NHwXO9b5bg76xTnBi8P5RJJFQjFYs4FW4gglhRLljt6hpdOvig4oPzstkFBHFgd78G9IvTDtTKAwU3FleKHIpHJU3uufWfev6emS_/s200/242a.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jGeauHLBOVKbUBMT6ZRdoG35B7huIsnhGAil8xw-SRMRrnJPt9fE47d_zZ_y9kXgp_agr0OFtzHi5QLKiIgd4Bur4HDomuHn9cFVmVgflCs65fVBHXuREPPdnlwTs-0xBk1TMe_ou_i7/s1600/400a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 133px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686420156041781586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jGeauHLBOVKbUBMT6ZRdoG35B7huIsnhGAil8xw-SRMRrnJPt9fE47d_zZ_y9kXgp_agr0OFtzHi5QLKiIgd4Bur4HDomuHn9cFVmVgflCs65fVBHXuREPPdnlwTs-0xBk1TMe_ou_i7/s200/400a.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><strong><em>Graeme</em></strong> - he was hamming it up the entire time. We had to ask him to tone it down; this kid needs to be in movies!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw0wH8j0U1DPqb6CPVPA7cTWad_Jg8lk-WhcS-ef-eJIBziM7bQ4ziYnGvWqZMlFI2Gjfk1d0jdKm0OQxrHzqGrwnDFdKAP81kfyyptLa5V_SuLBrdRHmEOan7vwzgxI2dxwE3C7Tw1To/s1600/244a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686423023536747890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRw0wH8j0U1DPqb6CPVPA7cTWad_Jg8lk-WhcS-ef-eJIBziM7bQ4ziYnGvWqZMlFI2Gjfk1d0jdKm0OQxrHzqGrwnDFdKAP81kfyyptLa5V_SuLBrdRHmEOan7vwzgxI2dxwE3C7Tw1To/s200/244a.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvcrVOA5gXsNBOqN63FbgdRrPH9B7PuUSyRaBHyrJUi7WFDFr_TBGSycrF2hTze9irjl_WZ7OYsZFEE_-vkOzon29yeVtawzmRRbC2djwSYgv4chNlaR6eblwMg-wfJs5zF_ywoGMMEFp/s1600/246a.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686423029922434050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJvcrVOA5gXsNBOqN63FbgdRrPH9B7PuUSyRaBHyrJUi7WFDFr_TBGSycrF2hTze9irjl_WZ7OYsZFEE_-vkOzon29yeVtawzmRRbC2djwSYgv4chNlaR6eblwMg-wfJs5zF_ywoGMMEFp/s200/246a.jpg" /></a></div>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-29259899267485117072011-10-11T15:24:00.001-07:002011-12-15T10:30:58.717-08:00Summer StrawberriesI'm backtracking in my storytelling a little because I found this photo of Graeme that I just LOVE to death.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviK8YEcf9ueNn4jrkleYZb5861XcEcmaPGGh4DE6KYo_d82_IpAlwWJlhtPDKgp-W8lA5-X87Kw1cPE_kdtIWmsZt9FHFLbHvZPj7YvV0SOA_pmQcvWXE5sy0ow7TDVSgG_zkG8Cr-PQ5/s1600/026.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 133px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662364726979158898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiviK8YEcf9ueNn4jrkleYZb5861XcEcmaPGGh4DE6KYo_d82_IpAlwWJlhtPDKgp-W8lA5-X87Kw1cPE_kdtIWmsZt9FHFLbHvZPj7YvV0SOA_pmQcvWXE5sy0ow7TDVSgG_zkG8Cr-PQ5/s200/026.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZzWnW0dPU1f-K_jyVENlcqsjWfEBtn3b-Fz98gksPYS_aTfETjJTVwvtpVu9C7egWSQbj6MeYHVGlS8bQ5m5eqQcohtNGgiSSXp84evkaWv9RavoSF9quCfXxmO3sxpojF1bBstreTHy/s1600/037.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662365418203907314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZzWnW0dPU1f-K_jyVENlcqsjWfEBtn3b-Fz98gksPYS_aTfETjJTVwvtpVu9C7egWSQbj6MeYHVGlS8bQ5m5eqQcohtNGgiSSXp84evkaWv9RavoSF9quCfXxmO3sxpojF1bBstreTHy/s200/037.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Back in June, we took the boys to Swanton Farm in Pescadero (on the coast) to pick strawberries. They had a blast, even Jasper, who had to be strapped down to his stroller because he is too crazy to let loose on a strawberry patch (poor kid!). They did a great job berry-picking! Check out the picture of me with the boys and notice Jasper helping himself to an early (unpaid) strawberry.Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-39066927154673905042011-09-01T11:13:00.001-07:002011-09-01T16:20:07.867-07:00Jasper Turns TwoWell, our baby isn't much of a baby anymore, even if I still call him that. I'm likely to call him my baby even when he's already had babies of his own!
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<br />Where does all the time go?! Jasper turns two today. As Rodney says, he's two going on four, trying to keep up with all his older brothers. He's changing and growing every day, which is so wonderful to watch, but I have to admit that there is a part of me that dreads all this growing up business.
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<br />Here are some photos of the birthday boy at his party this past Sunday. We did another joint party with his cousin Jack, who was born a day before him.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvubO7gIEk9eSJhrJNDMTxgdFyzGChrmCrB2eMmiUMUwBM9x5xUKg4V7G-ZJrklcUbGdrqUn6D2FuE4ZFXThrjxcKQYCO1qMFcH9n2s8vP8Bc_cGlfnyan9CozgC_yNv09aoAZPSzdpszJ/s1600/021.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647534296854749378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvubO7gIEk9eSJhrJNDMTxgdFyzGChrmCrB2eMmiUMUwBM9x5xUKg4V7G-ZJrklcUbGdrqUn6D2FuE4ZFXThrjxcKQYCO1qMFcH9n2s8vP8Bc_cGlfnyan9CozgC_yNv09aoAZPSzdpszJ/s200/021.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8epywkMjfjMloQX5idDNg_ytyYLbUWkJs_7D3R8K-_t3_3k0onT1CWNjDymGj6IT4JflEiBwT6rlsqKMtyoL0l_F1njR4trT7ccvRqoe7XuTL8uyOE5s-H8Tpv8XCV58nDoQlt-m4i4N/s1600/069.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647534303765810914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8epywkMjfjMloQX5idDNg_ytyYLbUWkJs_7D3R8K-_t3_3k0onT1CWNjDymGj6IT4JflEiBwT6rlsqKMtyoL0l_F1njR4trT7ccvRqoe7XuTL8uyOE5s-H8Tpv8XCV58nDoQlt-m4i4N/s200/069.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uIaorwy4ODwnnqgTb2xg991-urA5R-r91jj5gS3aLqaMXNKsZ7lFm2v5C5_Y3hRehD0lVaFYchzN_gLOrIF3fjDbRk0fgq2eRGg_uZzxxK2PIYobKKLokZVkLxAJX0dhzLA5c6qnixrc/s1600/072.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647534301005557378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3uIaorwy4ODwnnqgTb2xg991-urA5R-r91jj5gS3aLqaMXNKsZ7lFm2v5C5_Y3hRehD0lVaFYchzN_gLOrIF3fjDbRk0fgq2eRGg_uZzxxK2PIYobKKLokZVkLxAJX0dhzLA5c6qnixrc/s200/072.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iG3ZfDhu8bLxnBch654ynYQCVdY-QKXGX5RFVYTTWW90FXjYcxqx4dDIFo8wZ2-h31S5xhyphenhyphenol65Fkndtt7CHgbaFX-OFDAV6wgjPuWMTC_28YlPAmQiJzKr6FxfPMYnfEKHrhw5YsNu7/s1600/133.JPG"> <img style="WIDTH: 133px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647534309907310210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4iG3ZfDhu8bLxnBch654ynYQCVdY-QKXGX5RFVYTTWW90FXjYcxqx4dDIFo8wZ2-h31S5xhyphenhyphenol65Fkndtt7CHgbaFX-OFDAV6wgjPuWMTC_28YlPAmQiJzKr6FxfPMYnfEKHrhw5YsNu7/s200/133.JPG" /></a>
<br />Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-79564652268428534312011-08-30T23:40:00.000-07:002011-08-31T00:11:15.715-07:00Costa Rica 2011: Days Six, Seven, and Eight<strong>Day Six: Kayak and Snorkeling to Chora Island in Samara</strong>
<br />Samara was a really small town, not a lot of tourists, and not much to do, but the beach was two blocks away and so beautiful. Ethan and I woke up early to grab our breakfast then we headed on out to the beach and spent the entire morning there. Ethan was body surfing and I was partly guarding our bags and partly plucking rocks and shells from the shore.
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<br />After lunch, we lazed around waiting for what we thought would be another ride to our next adventure. Turns out, we were being picked up to walk back to the same beach to grab our kayaks. Ethan and I shared one and our guide had his own. See the photo on the left below? The island on the left is Isla Chora (Chora Island) and that's where were heading. Kayaking is fun, but it definitely takes a little practice, We were out of practice so it took us about forty-five minutes to get there. I bet our guide could have easily made it out there in half the time.
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<br />We walked around the island a little when we got there and relaxed a little before heading out to snorkel. There was a big group of teens there from all over who were apparently in Costa Rica teaching English. When we started to head out to snorkel, Ethan started to get too much water in his mask so he decided to head back while I ventured on with our guide. The water was really choppy and the tides were wild so there wasn't much fish to see, but the ones we did see were very impressive. Plus, it really was just fun to snorkel. There is a calm when you are in the ocean like that and you can't hold conversations and all you concentrate on is swimming and looking, swimming and looking.
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<br />When we finally returned to the island, Ethan had already worked his way to hanging out with the young English teachers and was helping the boys in that group with their hermit crab battles in the sand. The island was teeming with hermit crabs. There were also a lot of iguanas in the trees, some of whom were pretty brave and would head down to eat the scraps of fruit people would leave behind.
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-t6LiRSxU6HtmmhiqmkGSHPhhLppKFY2s6Xg1duFZyif1__730PTPg3F4O9Mi1h-eAqgr-VUpRCl77AYrfpV8p1FdMCAPvgZtgb0f5jURtOL-FchQKJZgKn4Boz7X4VYOJw3qZ0lK7Hnq/s1600/255.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646907592638088626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-t6LiRSxU6HtmmhiqmkGSHPhhLppKFY2s6Xg1duFZyif1__730PTPg3F4O9Mi1h-eAqgr-VUpRCl77AYrfpV8p1FdMCAPvgZtgb0f5jURtOL-FchQKJZgKn4Boz7X4VYOJw3qZ0lK7Hnq/s200/255.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMtC-YWFJTkuoZgNJ6HJQed96QZIDoN9OwMptoiS8zdHAO-NT2zyvyaDHEms62r0yyyMbRX-GaLowxytTxn8iHngj38X8VstCd1f74TTz7RmAFwEOSd-T-V5xSga5lZwTJWuWzSBbpVMU/s1600/258.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646907599003504482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuMtC-YWFJTkuoZgNJ6HJQed96QZIDoN9OwMptoiS8zdHAO-NT2zyvyaDHEms62r0yyyMbRX-GaLowxytTxn8iHngj38X8VstCd1f74TTz7RmAFwEOSd-T-V5xSga5lZwTJWuWzSBbpVMU/s200/258.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><strong>Day Seven: Trip to San Jose</strong>
<br />After waking early to breakfast, we waited around for checkout and another long drive into the main city, San Jose. I think the best part of the trip was the fact that we got another driver who only spoke in Spanish. I felt a little bad for Ethan not understanding, but he really didn't mind since he spent most of these drives asleep on my lap anyway.
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<br />San Jose was the worst part of our trip. It was full of people, loud, dirty, and just well, yucky. It was odd/sad that you could tell you were in the city from all the recognizable American stores/fast food joints all over.
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<br />Our hotel was old, but was nice enough and it was the biggest of all the rooms we stayed in. It reminded me of really old houses in Manila. Ethan didn't want to stay in and eat dinner at the hotel restaurant so we decided to venture out towards the city. I should've been suspicious of our neighbourhood when we spied a "sexy bar" (a men's club) behind our building. We made a couple of wrong turns, but ended up right in the middle of everything. Interesting, to say the least. We did find a nice restaurant to eat at, where we splurged on our last vacation meal.
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<br />When we walked back to our hotel, we got a little turned around and missed our turn. On one street we walked on, there was an Amazonian woman headed our way dressed to the nines in heels and tight clothes. I was wondering to myself if she was not a man in drag, she was so tall. Then, as she passed us up, another woman in uber sexy clothing (if you consider wearing only nylons and underwear on your bottom half to be "clothing") was walking ahead of us. It was only at that point that I finally realized we had strayed into the city's red light district. Ahhh, what a way to end our trip, with me exposing my 13-year old to San Jose's "ladies of the night." At any rate, we had a good laugh then hightailed it on out of there.
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<br />If I ever come back here, I plan to skip a stay in San Jose if possible. If not possible, I may not leave my hotel room. Hahahaha!
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<br />Here's the best view of San Jose I can offer...
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0ZpAB0JeFQt1mnsS7Wgkd2bRF-AIz6Wh4THF7a4yVpF2h32dwivMor7i6JtyMuN2PcYg27RadukWyNhiisOL-MpuQ7QGTtW_sjLuvflol9uAHzbA2Q5CY9dyhtw9hTvuWhRZaEs1gO4r/s1600/271.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646913586709526322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0ZpAB0JeFQt1mnsS7Wgkd2bRF-AIz6Wh4THF7a4yVpF2h32dwivMor7i6JtyMuN2PcYg27RadukWyNhiisOL-MpuQ7QGTtW_sjLuvflol9uAHzbA2Q5CY9dyhtw9hTvuWhRZaEs1gO4r/s200/271.JPG" /></a>
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<br /><strong>Day Eight: Flying Back Home
<br /></strong>We had such a blast and cannot wait to come back. Maybe I can even convince Rodney to buy a house here - did I already mention this? I'm a little stuck on this thought if you couldn't already tell. Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-91785991864072932962011-08-30T22:38:00.000-07:002011-08-31T00:21:28.453-07:00Costa Rica 2011: Days Five and Six<strong>Day Five: Selvatura Canopy Ziplines</strong>
<br />Monteverde is the place where I really end up falling in love with Costa Rica. It is so beautiful! I never knew it, but it was founded by Quakers from the US in the 1950s who were pacifists avoiding the draft into the Korean war. Apparently, a lot of Americans retire here. Daydream...
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<br />The view off our room's balcony is quite amazing (see photo below). I'm amazed we even wanted to leave the room at all, but we did. A photo of our favourite restaurant during the whole trip is shown below, of <em>Restaurante Maravilla</em>.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cBn4klm9p8wG0YEG4U6PJFhdInUkCZf_3-MlbgudiiJjk3TrS0j6QmOtzy1-vHc7Mx-1dVDp_61TcoKgBy4s2aY62MiN8F-BppJY9G-U31Vjpe5kaIjtIjSqs5dwOpYoOTljsdZWIwD7/s1600/226.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646899581975552626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9cBn4klm9p8wG0YEG4U6PJFhdInUkCZf_3-MlbgudiiJjk3TrS0j6QmOtzy1-vHc7Mx-1dVDp_61TcoKgBy4s2aY62MiN8F-BppJY9G-U31Vjpe5kaIjtIjSqs5dwOpYoOTljsdZWIwD7/s200/226.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioW-snKCCPcw0Sv1pkwkBFoIwUJp2mKNgr6CCeTeCDyV8fBKLhq6IAx3KfHkRs0_LnwGW7m9uyMCF2xqixZG-z5PpDZplEJMT-_P9Xa-Uu7nVG5TJufgCvRJb5gNJLZbrgGxuAJrNteb6M/s1600/231.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646899596786734994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioW-snKCCPcw0Sv1pkwkBFoIwUJp2mKNgr6CCeTeCDyV8fBKLhq6IAx3KfHkRs0_LnwGW7m9uyMCF2xqixZG-z5PpDZplEJMT-_P9Xa-Uu7nVG5TJufgCvRJb5gNJLZbrgGxuAJrNteb6M/s200/231.JPG" /></a>
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<br />Today is the day we headed to the Cloud Forest for some ziplining. True to form, Ethan napped on my lap in the van on the way there. Good for him as he was well-rested for the 12 ziplines that we did, some short, some long, all of them very awesome. We were harnessed and gloved and would zip along these lines above the rainforest canopy. It was pretty misty and if you notice any "freckles" on our faces in the photos below, that's from the rainforest dirt raining down on us. The last zipline we did was a tandem one, where we zipped down the line together so we were speeding pretty fast and it felt the scariest to me.
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<br />At the end of all the ziplines was a 26-foot "Tarzan Swing" where you are essentially hoisted off a platform to swing above the canopy. I nearly fell off the platform before it was time to jump, but I really enjoyed the frightening yet exhilirating plunge. I screamed my ass off. Hahahaha!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMOU7q9zFBiQlxflJtLjZrj1uzWRMHwH6IXoKhgWYXgc3UJkaLArYoeIkLX-BuH3mNgm70W8lPzcibeGIGwFfaO_BvPnJToF03hQ-W_lv3OHN1yxGt4l23YuLOUzO4r0Q87mBVSx5Y9F6/s1600/IMGP7447.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 133px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646898924477227938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIMOU7q9zFBiQlxflJtLjZrj1uzWRMHwH6IXoKhgWYXgc3UJkaLArYoeIkLX-BuH3mNgm70W8lPzcibeGIGwFfaO_BvPnJToF03hQ-W_lv3OHN1yxGt4l23YuLOUzO4r0Q87mBVSx5Y9F6/s200/IMGP7447.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYYAGsjMJIvZEUrPHKgRQADCljkZTn2A_Hm-97PoIbyZRU-ikSqD71drdy6VBxSzKxHUntw0XKfSN6xvsiYwtZ049cVBx0XenC03nfYzaogvm2_K0LQ0zhax6r4sDVAeYj5ry1w4jsf7Z/s1600/IMGP7446.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 133px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646898817247982114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYYAGsjMJIvZEUrPHKgRQADCljkZTn2A_Hm-97PoIbyZRU-ikSqD71drdy6VBxSzKxHUntw0XKfSN6xvsiYwtZ049cVBx0XenC03nfYzaogvm2_K0LQ0zhax6r4sDVAeYj5ry1w4jsf7Z/s200/IMGP7446.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAggAZYnRZc63wMbOaHqzHWAtmB0aneGeR9FfOd0GqUdwZtmOlZyQGJ8d9KmwnEd6Yp6gx1VbMoR8pADD-vL96whXNVBmBg3vMD80uDXETwM9m3vrzhrsbvqCia_bnBZPoVeDxpCbPPm1/s1600/246.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646898799821996690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWAggAZYnRZc63wMbOaHqzHWAtmB0aneGeR9FfOd0GqUdwZtmOlZyQGJ8d9KmwnEd6Yp6gx1VbMoR8pADD-vL96whXNVBmBg3vMD80uDXETwM9m3vrzhrsbvqCia_bnBZPoVeDxpCbPPm1/s200/246.JPG" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGO9s7Dgn-jSoY7Noa8VGZdVCCzjNvANXAAG7cXV5CuEcY3slmf4E83qnMMhAYmgoifwvmHI8UXKivyNmSSyCkyIaK_ofrcYTyV68oZXoygIhrJYVVsWck6mhYtC3ZtpJ9kd4gqdihClu/s1600/250.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646898814926722818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGO9s7Dgn-jSoY7Noa8VGZdVCCzjNvANXAAG7cXV5CuEcY3slmf4E83qnMMhAYmgoifwvmHI8UXKivyNmSSyCkyIaK_ofrcYTyV68oZXoygIhrJYVVsWck6mhYtC3ZtpJ9kd4gqdihClu/s200/250.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6Ptsxf2rIQgewLogmz_Egcjssd07UntNKwGrEv0B1Gtbfb5CpkoK8x58HE3KTE-k86OoXw5yYvojunPyH6j_u-K-GeM9wo4_lma4F6DLuYE4_v9sbx6OSHnbH0DItXx7WJo3muLQcdEs/s1600/248.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646898809749132690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO6Ptsxf2rIQgewLogmz_Egcjssd07UntNKwGrEv0B1Gtbfb5CpkoK8x58HE3KTE-k86OoXw5yYvojunPyH6j_u-K-GeM9wo4_lma4F6DLuYE4_v9sbx6OSHnbH0DItXx7WJo3muLQcdEs/s200/248.JPG" /></a> <img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5646898435882590738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyF1W67kJ5PagsftV76DVntuqmYJWF88s5PjSxKo3mSQS9hxrBn7GdplrL8nabHr-GVjDJrAmmN1cFihiWj9X4BJcjG4l0v9rwZcMS-FFUYcGAUuAc271N6Tq_bUJQENl-EufBXWH-meFj/s200/236.JPG" />
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<br /><strong>Day Six: A Little Monteverde Before Heading to Samara</strong>
<br />We got up early for breakfast and headed out into town for a bit of exercise and distraction before we were being picked up for the long ride to Samara. Of course, we ate lunch at Restaurante Maravilla and hung out at a couple of souvenir shops before heading back home. I really wish we had more time here.
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<br />The drive to Samara was crazy long. I probably don't have to mention here that Ethan slept on my lap the entire time - do I? (wink!) I was impressed with our driver, who made the 4+ hour trek with us then had to head back to where we came from. WOW! One of the best things about him was that he spoke to me purely in Spanish so, once again, I got a lot of practice. It's amazing how fast things come back to you, but really my Spanish leaves a lot to be desired. Nothing that more time in Costa Rica wouldn't cure...wink!
<br />Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-40474242606399286002011-08-15T13:15:00.000-07:002011-08-30T23:40:12.529-07:00Costa Rica 2011: Days Three and Four<strong>Day Three: Whitewater Rafting - Rio Toro Class III/IV
<br /></strong>Boy, am I glad I let the folks at Desafio talk me into doing the class III/IV instead of the II/III Rio Balsa. We ran into people who did that and they said there was one rapid at the beginning and smooth sailing after that. Our river wasn't overly rough, but it was a perfect combination of mellow and crazy. Ethan and I had a blast and that kid chuckled so hard every time I got soaked. In fact, we both laughed quite a bit during the ride, perenially open-mouthed. I kept wondering how much bacteria we were ingesting, but we survived. :)
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<br />In the middle of the ride, we got to stop and swim in the water and we ate the yummiest pineapples I've eaten since forever. Since they are grown there, the pinas can be allowed to ripen properly. Yum!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXtmZl9XeQa2PXfaOfQfwn0Ni9leYYama6J0gmOZge6HOET9efqu71GUTlYJ5qy7aTAnZuYTx5M7GMzPzWSuU67xkPArjL6QEZgyXmWaBFLm5ct_WMkKinwzt5lL2cRklHkzXswOF_0-G/s1600/_DSC0006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641181053154487954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMXtmZl9XeQa2PXfaOfQfwn0Ni9leYYama6J0gmOZge6HOET9efqu71GUTlYJ5qy7aTAnZuYTx5M7GMzPzWSuU67xkPArjL6QEZgyXmWaBFLm5ct_WMkKinwzt5lL2cRklHkzXswOF_0-G/s200/_DSC0006.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IVpCUgm5H7EkgM5ao_B9ZjRh8duM70LZe2i3dHogXg74jVErss-0Wsv-3uu-E5P7AMi_vHF2uYpKfyyMsHoj2LRfxQQ0UPX5PMo24ALYUhOT_8dNr4ThdCrNRADKL0jeNXz9ThySmfUH/s1600/_DSC0284.JPG"> </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY2sNby17CA-fKwwk71Vf0qJrxkbPvH3gbY08WKN5hDTnKizMTxYo84dJdN34iCHiZq8e68VY_ELgZk5sE1cVvmMnrZc2WdiPKs6miAVJQmgGlaVEbkJWbUm_6ObjQPF3VnS-prn5yiKL/s1600/_DSC0111.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641181062913515314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbY2sNby17CA-fKwwk71Vf0qJrxkbPvH3gbY08WKN5hDTnKizMTxYo84dJdN34iCHiZq8e68VY_ELgZk5sE1cVvmMnrZc2WdiPKs6miAVJQmgGlaVEbkJWbUm_6ObjQPF3VnS-prn5yiKL/s200/_DSC0111.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TqbxhXOCVGUZE2M-x06ddiMdCzlDGt0x8mXs6fXa6ieOzVJzbR5z5Z-_08K2ngUQ9qGWZge1iVAPPhcDHxCA1soeA80RFrRB4MSey77fI6nPPFj1Cst2y3VBeA4l1AhZiF7EK_9QamFV/s1600/_DSC0106.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641181058684681698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7TqbxhXOCVGUZE2M-x06ddiMdCzlDGt0x8mXs6fXa6ieOzVJzbR5z5Z-_08K2ngUQ9qGWZge1iVAPPhcDHxCA1soeA80RFrRB4MSey77fI6nPPFj1Cst2y3VBeA4l1AhZiF7EK_9QamFV/s200/_DSC0106.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdjwwZMVMNBeLMIC2GN38DoOxB_Y3MwEK6TOg06bUehjNp1uqzgRz10H5gixnt2NVQPHr6rbvwfrZPN7iiUgVe1ktl2jRPCgX2aodaenfBjfSkh6-iQn6EAyeafXYYE9ak6aa0EoQCxEr/s1600/_DSC0225.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641181064599234690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdjwwZMVMNBeLMIC2GN38DoOxB_Y3MwEK6TOg06bUehjNp1uqzgRz10H5gixnt2NVQPHr6rbvwfrZPN7iiUgVe1ktl2jRPCgX2aodaenfBjfSkh6-iQn6EAyeafXYYE9ak6aa0EoQCxEr/s200/_DSC0225.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IVpCUgm5H7EkgM5ao_B9ZjRh8duM70LZe2i3dHogXg74jVErss-0Wsv-3uu-E5P7AMi_vHF2uYpKfyyMsHoj2LRfxQQ0UPX5PMo24ALYUhOT_8dNr4ThdCrNRADKL0jeNXz9ThySmfUH/s1600/_DSC0284.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641181071210341554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1IVpCUgm5H7EkgM5ao_B9ZjRh8duM70LZe2i3dHogXg74jVErss-0Wsv-3uu-E5P7AMi_vHF2uYpKfyyMsHoj2LRfxQQ0UPX5PMo24ALYUhOT_8dNr4ThdCrNRADKL0jeNXz9ThySmfUH/s200/_DSC0284.JPG" /></a>
<br />On the trip home, Ethan was so exhausted he fell asleep on my lap. This whole sleeping on my lap was getting to be a new "bad habit" for the growing boy. Hahaha!
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<br /><strong>Day Four: Travel from La Fortuna to Monteverde via Boat, Horse, then Van
<br /></strong>To go from La Fortuna to Monteverde, we opted for a quick boatride on the lake, followed by a two and a half hour horseback ride, then on to a two-hour van ride. The boat ride was quick and beautiful. The horseback part was long, but we had a great time. The guides spoke more Spanish than English so I got to practice a lot with both guides. On the way, we even got to see a small viper. After we had all gawked at the snake for a bit, our main guide was kind enough to share that that particular snake was so poisonous that one bite would kill the horse I was on, never mind me. Yikes! Ethan did struggle with his horse for a bit until one of the guides gave him a little stick to egg that little sucker on. His name was Payaso and Ethan really hated that clown. Once we got off the horses, we took a van to Monteverde. Since the roads in Monteverde are mostly unpaved and there were SO MANY potholes everywhere, the ride was quite long. But it was fun because we had a great driver who let me practice a lot of my broken Spanish with him. There were so many people on the trip that Ethan and I had to split up seats; I sat in front and he sat in the back. He didn't get to nap on the ride at all. I think that traumatized him. :)
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<br />We loved Monteverde. The temperature was cooler than La Fortuna and the town was a little bit bigger. We enjoyed trekking 15 minutes from our hotel down into town. There, we discovered what we lovingly referred to as "our" restaurant. Restaurante Maravilla, where we enjoyed the yummiest meals of our entire trip. It was so good, we went back twice. After we leave Monteverde, I've started to daydream about owning a home here (I will be bugging Rodney about this endlessly, I know this now - sorry babe).
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA39IlPdNJce6R5MfOgBd4GoUIIEHbqGgM0uwl3D4M-NlIxtVt0HHeeOpAXs8zyMNh3hsF69udqOGleNwJjRAVnKyJzENWLok8jATDtGQiX24p4wi-VhJ1pJvOQUOw3d8471SXEGDcGkzJ/s1600/194.JPG"><strong><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641182576104284034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA39IlPdNJce6R5MfOgBd4GoUIIEHbqGgM0uwl3D4M-NlIxtVt0HHeeOpAXs8zyMNh3hsF69udqOGleNwJjRAVnKyJzENWLok8jATDtGQiX24p4wi-VhJ1pJvOQUOw3d8471SXEGDcGkzJ/s200/194.JPG" /></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1WNgldgNN0K-MM7M2zao9Qr97onbESE702KYNw5gFYeOftdQ_n0OjrTz0dT5TQfF57moJzQNKRwFkKte0HqzwhSaXMpqyk-UQVvbRlUZxqLxT33KEXvyRgRPTYXc2Z5iWMN1TBHpwS8v/s1600/197.JPG"><strong><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641182579893592626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1WNgldgNN0K-MM7M2zao9Qr97onbESE702KYNw5gFYeOftdQ_n0OjrTz0dT5TQfF57moJzQNKRwFkKte0HqzwhSaXMpqyk-UQVvbRlUZxqLxT33KEXvyRgRPTYXc2Z5iWMN1TBHpwS8v/s200/197.JPG" /></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLV8L1m7MeYW0-xkQVHeCcn4k1ICENkgJ_1kNBRSl0LKNH8qFXZHc3sDvpaQXzuyKbbhxFsd5s7ek0LM2B1cpeYhZngNdzk8MpOXcypU02fIyieJG1FgTXGgO_Vq-gqt1j7zXo1V2s9_d8/s1600/212.JPG"><strong><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641182599321788082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLV8L1m7MeYW0-xkQVHeCcn4k1ICENkgJ_1kNBRSl0LKNH8qFXZHc3sDvpaQXzuyKbbhxFsd5s7ek0LM2B1cpeYhZngNdzk8MpOXcypU02fIyieJG1FgTXGgO_Vq-gqt1j7zXo1V2s9_d8/s200/212.JPG" /></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4P3Pb6t6EVEX9Qd9oa0I2k-uEWpNrA4UFFEEAUF_sppQramkZWh48ri9PQtkr3_ssQEaw8WyKk66FTPGRM-dJK1Q_9-yTvfsfsRpzRwbzD_0JcV6IcVlHV7KCTR2wL_bLCYi1Jqv4mjn/s1600/206.JPG"><strong><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641182589841735650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4P3Pb6t6EVEX9Qd9oa0I2k-uEWpNrA4UFFEEAUF_sppQramkZWh48ri9PQtkr3_ssQEaw8WyKk66FTPGRM-dJK1Q_9-yTvfsfsRpzRwbzD_0JcV6IcVlHV7KCTR2wL_bLCYi1Jqv4mjn/s200/206.JPG" /></strong></a>
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<br />This adventure to be continued...
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<br />Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-27420146985428616002011-08-15T11:53:00.000-07:002011-08-15T13:15:38.132-07:00Costa Rica 2011: Days One and TwoThis past July, Ethan and I headed to Costa Rica for his 13th birthday. We had hoped that both Rodney and I could both go, but it was too logistically crazy to figure out what to do with the little ones so Rodney had to skip. We missed him a lot!
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<br />It was our first trip to Costa Rica and we LOVED LOVED LOVED it! I came home daydreaming of buying a home there (Rodney laughs at me and all my glorious dreams) so you know we'll be back.
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<br /><strong>Day One: Flight to Costa Rica; Drive to La Fortuna</strong>
<br />We flew out of SFO a little after midnight and arrived CR a little before noon on Monday, July 18th. Once we got there, we were fetched and delivered from the San Jose airport to La Fortuna, about four hours away. Ethan slept on my lap practically the entire time. On the way, we stopped at a restaurant to eat and Ethan indulged in some 7Up so I couldn't resist snapping a photo that made me reminisce about the fun Grussing Family Cancun vacation of 2006. Man, how quickly they grow!
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Pwrp04TEiuAgQ9xh-dapCHIg41mrdRP4LiyZezD1UBm05KRuyvKHlyyysvsesemR7gvOHXJKbBqAFpnEMuVicPvM9cbAuxMJX6yGxxzOZMXpVUrgnPrviS_ZPrqk_X5eOKVjwgKT3Pj/s1600/124.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641161723479131570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb3Pwrp04TEiuAgQ9xh-dapCHIg41mrdRP4LiyZezD1UBm05KRuyvKHlyyysvsesemR7gvOHXJKbBqAFpnEMuVicPvM9cbAuxMJX6yGxxzOZMXpVUrgnPrviS_ZPrqk_X5eOKVjwgKT3Pj/s200/124.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCZb1lIzPYsmDCyl2UqGsSMIh2rMIgbW-BmObcAcSFapr8J7eggib9qOKMGYqCPmUgFR0COEGGFmqTDEfDrDshHVEUr9tAsGBKYUp_8qwyrKgEqARYgRwcGvXXDyXSsRzzQrFEEX92u2O/s1600/062706_DSCN7472.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 111px; HEIGHT: 146px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641162045537413826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfCZb1lIzPYsmDCyl2UqGsSMIh2rMIgbW-BmObcAcSFapr8J7eggib9qOKMGYqCPmUgFR0COEGGFmqTDEfDrDshHVEUr9tAsGBKYUp_8qwyrKgEqARYgRwcGvXXDyXSsRzzQrFEEX92u2O/s200/062706_DSCN7472.JPG" /></a>
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<br />We stayed at a modest hotel in the middle of town, which was really convenient and fun for us. The Arenal volcano was right close by. Next to it was a mountain they called La India Dormiendo (The Sleeping Indian).
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslK1YTilUzJHiQrZij9Wv0joJKWoSALvgaQ0a-WAOGVJOW4Hz6fMbTb_DK9wLXgYuCW932ODQbCel2RD-IDms-No8zAyXuCo_Mrf73eSLd8MblI9_bEsfW_pKHDDmRGU_-F0o8HX8eYN1/s1600/full_arenalErupting.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641160878447675762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslK1YTilUzJHiQrZij9Wv0joJKWoSALvgaQ0a-WAOGVJOW4Hz6fMbTb_DK9wLXgYuCW932ODQbCel2RD-IDms-No8zAyXuCo_Mrf73eSLd8MblI9_bEsfW_pKHDDmRGU_-F0o8HX8eYN1/s200/full_arenalErupting.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkOJwzpoU5VNzo-smT-gCQfzFi00SB1uYzi1FAfYzd3ZeK2ip3xcc_A8MvfN69seMb4_b83c1RXTi4jYP3T7OyhuHGy3k_tx8_AYPIbMKCcR5SgwW9O7XGuad3kn8UY3q2zvFRto5Q6-R/s1600/5455243871_91b407e9fc.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641160739053436242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkOJwzpoU5VNzo-smT-gCQfzFi00SB1uYzi1FAfYzd3ZeK2ip3xcc_A8MvfN69seMb4_b83c1RXTi4jYP3T7OyhuHGy3k_tx8_AYPIbMKCcR5SgwW9O7XGuad3kn8UY3q2zvFRto5Q6-R/s200/5455243871_91b407e9fc.jpg" /></a>
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<br />We booked all our rooms and adventures in advance and I am so glad that I did it that way because it left little to plan once we got there. We used a local firm, Desafio Adventure Company (<a href="http://www.monteverdetours.com/">http://www.monteverdetours.com/</a>), and they rocked.
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<br /><strong>Day Two: Canyoneering, Liquid Lava Tour, and Baldi Hot Springs</strong>
<br />We spent our morning and early afternoon canyoneering; it was hectic (well, the hiking was hectic on poor lil' ol' unfit me anyway) and so much fun! Rappelling is my new favourite sport. We wish we could have done more rappels! We went out with a group of 11 and had about 5-6 guides. These rappels were down waterfalls so we definitely got WET! The last shot below is of Ethan passed out in our room between this and our volcano hike. Did I mention that he slept on my lap on the drives to and from?
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERlZ-7NE9xiH6uQA6Hg-sv8tXv56-ZEolmesNlLKVDs5F44-kSF2pPZl9ffqNi0Z7mqdejNxNxqrfIKha6LHQ3dyoxqce6lXGDHDLizixA3cTUf0C6ILgjDGeaWr-gpag9hUJ8l1dxZdX/s1600/IMG_5512.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641166585839535906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERlZ-7NE9xiH6uQA6Hg-sv8tXv56-ZEolmesNlLKVDs5F44-kSF2pPZl9ffqNi0Z7mqdejNxNxqrfIKha6LHQ3dyoxqce6lXGDHDLizixA3cTUf0C6ILgjDGeaWr-gpag9hUJ8l1dxZdX/s200/IMG_5512.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9c9jDHEaHXMyQ8kv4Ls6wrqjANQo7HDNtCN6dZMvrLZ9pkNWrglfqyM1EWdP3RctgvyzLJQgaZePJV7WSJWlYL8nDrkQeDws0l1HzAJ1Aa1DZAa6FRPGW1aAVZgpPrWXqC72VjBnvFb0/s1600/IMG_5521.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 147px; HEIGHT: 135px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641166589338803010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9c9jDHEaHXMyQ8kv4Ls6wrqjANQo7HDNtCN6dZMvrLZ9pkNWrglfqyM1EWdP3RctgvyzLJQgaZePJV7WSJWlYL8nDrkQeDws0l1HzAJ1Aa1DZAa6FRPGW1aAVZgpPrWXqC72VjBnvFb0/s200/IMG_5521.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-945BQz1q-S_0ed1nGkdNIPJJKLgcrv2UjjzcZiCs55vNpgifTWkJxV623EyRCohWigQmUjcVSkNWXlXWWBbQmtPUMGMUjNs1DG8EuCV6S2xhLWTG_JPIVXydswgfYCR1PC1QjDh31zk/s1600/IMG_5761.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641166593631499250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-945BQz1q-S_0ed1nGkdNIPJJKLgcrv2UjjzcZiCs55vNpgifTWkJxV623EyRCohWigQmUjcVSkNWXlXWWBbQmtPUMGMUjNs1DG8EuCV6S2xhLWTG_JPIVXydswgfYCR1PC1QjDh31zk/s200/IMG_5761.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI26i1jRtPXscFeSx11pxxYSfap_Vaeh585rySdUSqVlfNI5BrxU_I-WeN-cTDokc4JUXSuzTCbs0-Q9nGFFnemUihK2SCJ89H3aOd3b-CFIJHcPWR0CyHg26IE_Bljin39b_mjuQzfTP/s1600/IMG_5616.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641166602618227010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGI26i1jRtPXscFeSx11pxxYSfap_Vaeh585rySdUSqVlfNI5BrxU_I-WeN-cTDokc4JUXSuzTCbs0-Q9nGFFnemUihK2SCJ89H3aOd3b-CFIJHcPWR0CyHg26IE_Bljin39b_mjuQzfTP/s200/IMG_5616.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEojOUjI7PX3MIsBZnSa1V_TZEpk8NAOGcAqSIVO4zxlkxWyKtyVmKr0Glm7d_PL29GDGJ_I2PTcOfyaLoSFEEAtA-mK4sAL-g5o6GDCDihUQWP-TgA58NLTQ-fEnY_XGpekBqRXEP0x7/s1600/IMG_5606.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 134px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641166594570170290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEojOUjI7PX3MIsBZnSa1V_TZEpk8NAOGcAqSIVO4zxlkxWyKtyVmKr0Glm7d_PL29GDGJ_I2PTcOfyaLoSFEEAtA-mK4sAL-g5o6GDCDihUQWP-TgA58NLTQ-fEnY_XGpekBqRXEP0x7/s200/IMG_5606.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljB3xbwfSzlwmLEmbNErJMr1LCDkqAOxS6a2zFHWGhY7bZ1dXNa2cQKlFm1qBZylWmdLSBVT1tIRHB4jW4MKc0lkZn2m2T75rUXSVOk7BrUCzOK8HXz4whZFlAZ6x4KaKWfQiyvlkl9mG/s1600/136.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 180px; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641176796387159522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljB3xbwfSzlwmLEmbNErJMr1LCDkqAOxS6a2zFHWGhY7bZ1dXNa2cQKlFm1qBZylWmdLSBVT1tIRHB4jW4MKc0lkZn2m2T75rUXSVOk7BrUCzOK8HXz4whZFlAZ6x4KaKWfQiyvlkl9mG/s200/136.JPG" /></a>
<br />Later that evening, we headed towards Arenal volcano for a hike. We saw a lot of beautiful flowers and vegetation, a few birds, and a crapload of ants (yuck!).
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7fOLG4fihAJqb7jC9VSXv5bsSIV-hu-716oOxazMk0lycaBSkTNPAMOIZWntLIeGruuhMLt9ZXHP9YbxVwO11i6Zoaq3EykMLTf9xC6CeMPYiBLjRiOli8PexpSAnroo2vdDGuGQ3C-y/s1600/164.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 122px; HEIGHT: 151px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641177581832705634" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7fOLG4fihAJqb7jC9VSXv5bsSIV-hu-716oOxazMk0lycaBSkTNPAMOIZWntLIeGruuhMLt9ZXHP9YbxVwO11i6Zoaq3EykMLTf9xC6CeMPYiBLjRiOli8PexpSAnroo2vdDGuGQ3C-y/s200/164.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHr1jVqq5wdlkQ2t0wS8dTpwJgUa2p-apDqtnLC_0I6MkcbdojqIGCVq0YyfFXRKqriNO2qG3R6H4D1yF0Bv-v9HweJPHic4X844ibrHgtx-HnFSSAB8vFLKc0eyFRpZxkVYfvVMvx0my0/s1600/172.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 117px; HEIGHT: 151px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641177588487979826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHr1jVqq5wdlkQ2t0wS8dTpwJgUa2p-apDqtnLC_0I6MkcbdojqIGCVq0YyfFXRKqriNO2qG3R6H4D1yF0Bv-v9HweJPHic4X844ibrHgtx-HnFSSAB8vFLKc0eyFRpZxkVYfvVMvx0my0/s200/172.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rRH3QbgbIwDDnzR12_6phZLjK2VwMBEI0HQrpCWouef38LFmdN8pNE6kbd3qCcjpdFE6UKgOqpiB2DWhXuf-UT4XMuJ7siRS2W27CayqWqdUiTTkLvKM9KW-TfWULDxGYdmfldAM-TYx/s1600/177.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641177594812916082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rRH3QbgbIwDDnzR12_6phZLjK2VwMBEI0HQrpCWouef38LFmdN8pNE6kbd3qCcjpdFE6UKgOqpiB2DWhXuf-UT4XMuJ7siRS2W27CayqWqdUiTTkLvKM9KW-TfWULDxGYdmfldAM-TYx/s200/177.JPG" /></a>
<br />After the hike, I was introduced to a drink called "Liquid Lava" with the local rum, Cacique. I fell in love. Hahaha! We were taken to Baldi Hot Springs down the road where Ethan and I lounged in pools of hot water and falls, all heated from the volcano. When we come back, we'll have to spend at least a day or two at this resort. It was exquisite.
<br />Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-48246875971866460802011-01-18T22:19:00.000-08:002011-03-15T09:35:41.675-07:00Family PicturesRecently realized that we have not taken a single family photo since who knows when. I mean the kind where all of us are in it. Not a one, not since Xavier was a baby. Well we finally had the best reason to take one. We got our new home and wanted to get a photo of us in front of the SOLD sign to show off.<br /><br />So, here's our first family photo since Jasper's made the cut into the Grussing-Pike Tribe. A very typical photo and very imperfectly perfect in so many ways.<br /><br />First there's me with my car keys dangling out of my pants pocket like a truck driver and my pedometer sitting so gloriously on my pocket (nerdlinger!). Then there's Jasper, both hands in his mouth and then Ethan smiling cutely with his short hair a little disheveled. Rodney looking really cute, but then Xavier is not facing the camera or smiling...and finally Graeme, in mid-sentence, with his hand on his crotchal regions. Ay! Ay! Ay!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcR08HxRTkmaUz09GsE8OUCAfy3PaTJdzSA0JC78sGDiCW-R7Yd1PkM5p3X6m7MlrH02DzFCjWHPtOPF6avmOfM-gFfV-ooglf1xzNb5mj3GfCvJTYA3qLW1-2m1F25rsGTgaRDSo8b2x/s1600/099.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563778942913460162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcR08HxRTkmaUz09GsE8OUCAfy3PaTJdzSA0JC78sGDiCW-R7Yd1PkM5p3X6m7MlrH02DzFCjWHPtOPF6avmOfM-gFfV-ooglf1xzNb5mj3GfCvJTYA3qLW1-2m1F25rsGTgaRDSo8b2x/s200/099.JPG" /></a>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-79383883659100568352011-01-14T10:29:00.000-08:002011-01-14T10:30:05.701-08:00An Entire Year?!I let an entire go by without a post. I'll do better this year. :)Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-80331007875989411692010-03-10T22:23:00.000-08:002010-03-10T23:06:18.004-08:00Lake TahoeIn mid-February, we had a 4-day weekend, courtesy of the local elementary schools so we trekked up to Tahoe with the Foster City Concepcions so that the kids could enjoy some winter snow. Kind of ironic, as the east coast of the country was getting pummeled by unwanted snowy weather at the time.<br /><br />We had a really great and mellow weekend. The boys (Rodney, Ethan, Manolete, and Jude) spent Saturday snowboarding while the rest of us pretty much just lounged around the house. I don't even remember getting dressed up that day - hahahaha! Graeme got to go into town with Aunty Alison and got to play in the snow a little too.<br /><br />On Sunday, we made an attempt to go tubing at Sierra, but there were too many people in town so we had to turn back around and head home. Thankfully, the house we rented had loads of snow around it so the kids were able to take a sled out and play.<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45322881@N00/sets/72157623597887730/">here</a> to see some photos from the weekend.Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-41643494756490593722010-01-22T22:17:00.000-08:002010-01-27T13:04:56.410-08:00Jasper at Four Months and Other Oddities<div><div><div><div><div><div>Jasper is growing fast. It's really amazing that he's nearly 5 months old. In just a few more months, he'll be crawling, then walking, then running, then talking and adding to the commotion in the house. I can't wait to see how the boys all adjust to each other and how they'll be playing together a year from now. I can wait to see how tired and aged Rodney and I get in that same amount of time - hahahaha!<br /><br />Last appointment was mid-January and Jasper weighed in at 17 pounds (87th percentile) and was 25.8 inches long (71st percentile). He's growing well and the doctor has said we can start him on solids anytime now, as long as he seems ready. My first try of feeding him rice cereal was entirely unsuccessful but I'll try again this weekend and see how it goes.<br /><br />This is what Jasper looks like when I have to get up and go to work in the morning. It makes it SO hard to leave because all I want to do is cuddle this little bunny.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFPnfsYgScJhA1-o7GzvweKYAL4b3yuzVc64ZZHXqip1WIHxTH-QngROH3zlLI_qndCnARghwhWpvq2CYibHnFvvL_9tDUmaJtPSs4F2pDyWDPmqLEQkFSfV8qT6H9UBwGJokPGBoz4m-/s1600-h/Nikon+photos+404.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429818393039323810" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFPnfsYgScJhA1-o7GzvweKYAL4b3yuzVc64ZZHXqip1WIHxTH-QngROH3zlLI_qndCnARghwhWpvq2CYibHnFvvL_9tDUmaJtPSs4F2pDyWDPmqLEQkFSfV8qT6H9UBwGJokPGBoz4m-/s200/Nikon+photos+404.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's a photo of Noki (Jude & Eva's dog) licking the heck out of Jasper. It seems the dog REALLY enjoys the milk flavour that Jasper obviously has.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhm2z6ImYliKpoP-YmWYr_n1MY94b13azHuFvWkRVg7G8p7tOtu3Mz-QijNhdDc5BhIlr9ZnYm6YooR8MnmNt2QBXLwaUlOnp6WPa5ew1yPzlyvbMgXINTZEeDBCark-qek1e5vtOJcSS/s1600-h/2010_January+117.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429818380965463938" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhm2z6ImYliKpoP-YmWYr_n1MY94b13azHuFvWkRVg7G8p7tOtu3Mz-QijNhdDc5BhIlr9ZnYm6YooR8MnmNt2QBXLwaUlOnp6WPa5ew1yPzlyvbMgXINTZEeDBCark-qek1e5vtOJcSS/s200/2010_January+117.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is Jack with Jasper. Jack is John's and Yvonne's son who was born the day before Jasper. He is such a darling and we love his hairstyle to death!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBz0yn7bGjfIHu63n0nCpDOKkemRh_qfC-TJoSNhJXqu0-eflxvlaLaiLhteQlmWF76s4yHoiesdCrGXwWd4A7Iv-GovnyYa1xcLx5-RTfmwHaBNw0gaK7x_udLY6zVsiIdIEUBiGr5r6/s1600-h/Nikon+photos+408.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429818386131430578" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBz0yn7bGjfIHu63n0nCpDOKkemRh_qfC-TJoSNhJXqu0-eflxvlaLaiLhteQlmWF76s4yHoiesdCrGXwWd4A7Iv-GovnyYa1xcLx5-RTfmwHaBNw0gaK7x_udLY6zVsiIdIEUBiGr5r6/s200/Nikon+photos+408.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the face Xavier makes when you tell him to smile for the camera. Hahahaha!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhJdZzxdmpt-Ea8GNOKV4g3FxignHLsV4QbE1sl-cGRafgJykK87iKwvAaK10oy9IX9EDNs6X2o3vO9uqE1R0zaW22pisSJ0hcUkXdpsWgrVogxpZ4uvDwlJAxeIjb8AypxthXGfKTzeE/s1600-h/Nikon+photos+425.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429818408868764338" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLhJdZzxdmpt-Ea8GNOKV4g3FxignHLsV4QbE1sl-cGRafgJykK87iKwvAaK10oy9IX9EDNs6X2o3vO9uqE1R0zaW22pisSJ0hcUkXdpsWgrVogxpZ4uvDwlJAxeIjb8AypxthXGfKTzeE/s200/Nikon+photos+425.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is Jude and Ethan doing some strange raindance. Ok, it wasn't actually a raindance, but a Wii game (Just Dance) - same difference, right????<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWs3CvR0SFoozht2k49QZ_fkRxkFO1aggzeASkVWdy92yKV1QCZkme1LjBHeonLwRyUZb8VAjf2XjdzdNHchkA8oi1IFHy-QrO0uKll_1sxZSjLwhtNvP6lvnQtVwzU-C5NgtD_JX0XVb/s1600-h/Nikon+photos+171.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429821115060151570" style="WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWs3CvR0SFoozht2k49QZ_fkRxkFO1aggzeASkVWdy92yKV1QCZkme1LjBHeonLwRyUZb8VAjf2XjdzdNHchkA8oi1IFHy-QrO0uKll_1sxZSjLwhtNvP6lvnQtVwzU-C5NgtD_JX0XVb/s200/Nikon+photos+171.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is what Rodney would look like if he were king of Bumboland or if he was just plain ol' Rodney.</div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGh-JYjq2HNy8zzo9y4dCX0VclTlpPqccBctQVOMtdFlXFvCnlW7xmqozSNo6gm6Tn_7vDrrlzZ1igNA-lB7McjCUVzQazpxGvtJwFsUW2M3agG7vMWBHeB85NXLnGufNql7SLU1bqsVC/s1600-h/Nikon+photos+267.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429821104299169682" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGh-JYjq2HNy8zzo9y4dCX0VclTlpPqccBctQVOMtdFlXFvCnlW7xmqozSNo6gm6Tn_7vDrrlzZ1igNA-lB7McjCUVzQazpxGvtJwFsUW2M3agG7vMWBHeB85NXLnGufNql7SLU1bqsVC/s200/Nikon+photos+267.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>This is what Manolete looks like when he's trying to be normal.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQol-Q43cEfuoqA7mSRJd_b_U2LXKY0pTj_i7hzZIlJU3ObmHHM6UB_QkrwtpDO-gc96yw4e97l5ZBB3wQwh0GRL2RYCTfDk6VZVWODfHArUQzGjjsC7xeFyOB6GKO1fdsYXZ0-JKhogIh/s1600-h/Nikon+photos+266.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429821096593525090" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQol-Q43cEfuoqA7mSRJd_b_U2LXKY0pTj_i7hzZIlJU3ObmHHM6UB_QkrwtpDO-gc96yw4e97l5ZBB3wQwh0GRL2RYCTfDk6VZVWODfHArUQzGjjsC7xeFyOB6GKO1fdsYXZ0-JKhogIh/s200/Nikon+photos+266.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And this is what Xavier looks like when he's wearing mommy's shoes. RuPaul, watch out!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7c3jLLVYgdEll7Mv-7d0wve3VtFDntx9b15ToxywTb4zevc_9Fc9aJIk_GUiKJqR_O57ljusuSGJB5jSsMdzeTP7ccS1kIPdHA8aBI8gq9hYVJ9YHkvkRr9Tlj6txVPnEAnNUvSpiR5fu/s1600-h/Nikon+photos+382.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429821085520000946" style="WIDTH: 133px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7c3jLLVYgdEll7Mv-7d0wve3VtFDntx9b15ToxywTb4zevc_9Fc9aJIk_GUiKJqR_O57ljusuSGJB5jSsMdzeTP7ccS1kIPdHA8aBI8gq9hYVJ9YHkvkRr9Tlj6txVPnEAnNUvSpiR5fu/s200/Nikon+photos+382.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here are Graeme and Xavier in the bath, where they are either yukking it up like crazy or fighting because someone splashed somebody.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEUr40A8dWh6PH57Wf0qtZUB6kB1hZBoyrATWC8sLJZBnw7m1fnXUeghQNpDfqZOVRZ7_daGO_goSRXnI8-H0QJPkbX5pMiHFRCxd2_EHlG0QI31x2spQSfoAIXNCtZlkWK9VF0l_lBCY/s1600-h/IMG_0737.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431527937981772050" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEUr40A8dWh6PH57Wf0qtZUB6kB1hZBoyrATWC8sLJZBnw7m1fnXUeghQNpDfqZOVRZ7_daGO_goSRXnI8-H0QJPkbX5pMiHFRCxd2_EHlG0QI31x2spQSfoAIXNCtZlkWK9VF0l_lBCY/s200/IMG_0737.jpg" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-24676583181723521132010-01-20T20:54:00.000-08:002010-01-22T22:17:15.305-08:00The Weekend ReviewI keep saying I'm going to post more often (and I DO think of it all the time) but then time just gets away from me. So here's the latest update... we went to the park this weekend. Wahoo!<br /><br />It's been cold and wet lately so getting out has been a not-so-fun thing to do, but this weekend, we braved the cold and headed to Central Park in San Mateo. The boys got some playground time in and two of the little ones got a chance to ride the little puffer train that runs on weekends. Needless to say, the boys had a really great time running up and down the slides and all that good stuff. I can't wait until Jasper's old enough to run around with his brothers. At the same time, I'm glad there weren't 4 kids to keep track of and chase around - hahahaha!<br /><br />Here are some photos from the field trip:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJERaE9zoCs4hJsCiLhBSOGZ-tvKUQK-Sce5hZ6PELp2LAFI0E9grR_ntNGHjvLb_897GwbryO1ojZw-3qlhHKiZUE-j6HuRBXBVMZ6w3lDt4w3HpIk2BQovFCZ9mrl1Dgdlw_zotBLS5/s1600-h/2010_January+037.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429815017295769458" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQJERaE9zoCs4hJsCiLhBSOGZ-tvKUQK-Sce5hZ6PELp2LAFI0E9grR_ntNGHjvLb_897GwbryO1ojZw-3qlhHKiZUE-j6HuRBXBVMZ6w3lDt4w3HpIk2BQovFCZ9mrl1Dgdlw_zotBLS5/s200/2010_January+037.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vRLedQ3sZIiJV_bOT47du98VHSEt-7ZmdZpwXHuF59nLPpm8He0O0JRNJMcULRwKHk7TCSqgb-pI0o9X0YhuzrZyPd8E-EKQ7UIRAW_LUezb-sqySWuq3mU9ywHwH7vHUwS7_QAqC0eG/s1600-h/2010_January+036.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429815009109000866" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1vRLedQ3sZIiJV_bOT47du98VHSEt-7ZmdZpwXHuF59nLPpm8He0O0JRNJMcULRwKHk7TCSqgb-pI0o9X0YhuzrZyPd8E-EKQ7UIRAW_LUezb-sqySWuq3mU9ywHwH7vHUwS7_QAqC0eG/s200/2010_January+036.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZbm-WbzUJCVU245McH_Myz8tnwcIzYrYuw41KGq1RQqFJs1NNujFurUsVpTLvQ5LS09eCf5jGyvfkCeqjt3OmXsj5BAfGccqB_QPjxf3cl5J2rYh2D88WpHJRMYqTHTG4btQMCp6fIQ1/s1600-h/2010_January+030.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429814992389748338" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZbm-WbzUJCVU245McH_Myz8tnwcIzYrYuw41KGq1RQqFJs1NNujFurUsVpTLvQ5LS09eCf5jGyvfkCeqjt3OmXsj5BAfGccqB_QPjxf3cl5J2rYh2D88WpHJRMYqTHTG4btQMCp6fIQ1/s200/2010_January+030.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRrICs0MwW_GKpfLNs13gkzrRzHgP5Cy6jObU850BJ6Y-4ln2zuRUD0fGbxDOJcT0ntplJtLcbado5MpgaLXxR8tqsO9e26Hd7H_o_I8CV9vdltq64ckPGmXF5zw5t06lZ0nwC3zJdvRm/s1600-h/2010_January+056.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429814998986913490" style="WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRrICs0MwW_GKpfLNs13gkzrRzHgP5Cy6jObU850BJ6Y-4ln2zuRUD0fGbxDOJcT0ntplJtLcbado5MpgaLXxR8tqsO9e26Hd7H_o_I8CV9vdltq64ckPGmXF5zw5t06lZ0nwC3zJdvRm/s200/2010_January+056.jpg" border="0" /></a>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-57089277704421100942009-11-12T00:03:00.000-08:002009-11-12T00:32:37.654-08:00New CameraI've always been fascinated with photography and I've daydreamed of getting a good SLR camera for a while now. Well, my daydream's finally come true in the shape of a Nikon D5000 and I am starting to learn to use it, with Rodney's help. I'm reading the manuals about the wonderfully dorky things like f-stops and shutter speed, learning about the lenses, and finding out about how to actually take great photos. I haven't mastered any of this just yet but look forward to the months and years ahead of honing the craft. *sigh of contentment*<br /><br />Today, I took the two older boys, Ethan and Graeme, to the park to test out the different shooting modes to see if I could understand what they all were. Ethan was a great sport with modeling for me; Graeme not so much (he was simply too busy playing to be bothered to pose today). Well, I wasn't so much successful at figuring all the ins and outs of the camera just yet, but I did manage to take some really good photos of the boys that I want to post since I'm always so late at posting photos...<br /><br />This first one is actually of Xavier (pre-trip to the park photo :), inside the house this morning when everyone was still running around in their jammies. The rest are from the park.<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT52JIM6gQxKBaJkcQsJ5cFjEiYV4MofH1YZGuEwruTgY0wApy7HMEh9LJv6ukUmj9Pt9c1UZv5ylPev_S0Wp5h3hfbb-Nwy19CYOI1oWPV3PEzdP0K8JOPPRQc913V7oxrbic9oD_bYy/s1600-h/iPhone+photos+002.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403128002836072770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRT52JIM6gQxKBaJkcQsJ5cFjEiYV4MofH1YZGuEwruTgY0wApy7HMEh9LJv6ukUmj9Pt9c1UZv5ylPev_S0Wp5h3hfbb-Nwy19CYOI1oWPV3PEzdP0K8JOPPRQc913V7oxrbic9oD_bYy/s200/iPhone+photos+002.jpg" /></a></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTthosInUZ76XAOaMX2-BT9vjTpHgpaf1Simg25abcq_cdig9Mxf8IV1xIA45sBcfVP8LudL-lgHHwNCYR9CZmPLmQQN88YzOBP7ZRLjkVr4KD7rHvnpooW0tGolEaQPvuvAN7XexWwG_/s1600-h/iPhone+photos+090.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403128032493760210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHTthosInUZ76XAOaMX2-BT9vjTpHgpaf1Simg25abcq_cdig9Mxf8IV1xIA45sBcfVP8LudL-lgHHwNCYR9CZmPLmQQN88YzOBP7ZRLjkVr4KD7rHvnpooW0tGolEaQPvuvAN7XexWwG_/s200/iPhone+photos+090.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvgooyeUbHS4KQ-hTwHYuDNY3HxMV3hiC5ILoKZl9gMH4pBBcnfZ7p5eVgctmhFcW7m_n1LnF0qOz0DC4rB3uo2ouir1yuJ2ajfdGJbpcPkjOe2yzKhbbdWjkwlfAjdChDCHv4enawyL-/s1600-h/iPhone+photos+013.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 133px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403128010020923490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvgooyeUbHS4KQ-hTwHYuDNY3HxMV3hiC5ILoKZl9gMH4pBBcnfZ7p5eVgctmhFcW7m_n1LnF0qOz0DC4rB3uo2ouir1yuJ2ajfdGJbpcPkjOe2yzKhbbdWjkwlfAjdChDCHv4enawyL-/s200/iPhone+photos+013.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKEHaiy-WtP574hB0wpGv6Hs3j0YONnHDrGcW70eJi-NkPdH7vFQkZ9rxZdjtJ2AvZ-w1B1SxxLo1wf5S1K5UGddngkwFq6tANeVIVnjb9sz-4bBjVSKm2Qrxz1n5cdh2COm4ZrXD3YGT/s1600-h/iPhone+photos+080.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403128024046497538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKEHaiy-WtP574hB0wpGv6Hs3j0YONnHDrGcW70eJi-NkPdH7vFQkZ9rxZdjtJ2AvZ-w1B1SxxLo1wf5S1K5UGddngkwFq6tANeVIVnjb9sz-4bBjVSKm2Qrxz1n5cdh2COm4ZrXD3YGT/s200/iPhone+photos+080.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTZZ2O2iqck1Tb1yaS-19oD3qg2RdmmQjdVR_sO6Y2UHlWbpXm692hQcVuqDrsET3awkr3C44XyB5vylOdM2T8Ij1lEtLo6BNZk5tnrPIEzYGZIxGDSpJQKli-cyTZmbJv5YuLrFujxiB/s1600-h/iPhone+photos+044.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403128018732616962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNTZZ2O2iqck1Tb1yaS-19oD3qg2RdmmQjdVR_sO6Y2UHlWbpXm692hQcVuqDrsET3awkr3C44XyB5vylOdM2T8Ij1lEtLo6BNZk5tnrPIEzYGZIxGDSpJQKli-cyTZmbJv5YuLrFujxiB/s200/iPhone+photos+044.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigY_T60VpBPuFTaE7DKbWi5AvpZHZP7bE2WOHLnkOidqGMbMo0UJT-l6U-3a7265Je4KrNS0xeEIC6RTO1IsgEQK_aGMbkyXOfy-CQMbn9G3zdLdHB5DN9wQ0cSaltgaR_USXJiBDHBcf/s1600-h/iPhone+photos+051.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 133px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403130374953370210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigY_T60VpBPuFTaE7DKbWi5AvpZHZP7bE2WOHLnkOidqGMbMo0UJT-l6U-3a7265Je4KrNS0xeEIC6RTO1IsgEQK_aGMbkyXOfy-CQMbn9G3zdLdHB5DN9wQ0cSaltgaR_USXJiBDHBcf/s200/iPhone+photos+051.jpg" /></a><br /><br /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-88636805067114940632009-10-28T00:07:00.001-07:002009-10-28T00:11:58.546-07:00Guess Who's Smiling Now?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6hLXVOPGhOwioCPrlU-nLVRYhBvvJuNKjZG4pStunVuRBVgRRMnwOIrfmTEK_shyR_nZzc3PJY_IzkFjjIwZTyQoUlL6h0eYVZjGEI4QHqYR7_hxXMe33VkbgPMW8y_yz7-10rwDcfmb/s1600-h/Jasper+211.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397544584884502978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6hLXVOPGhOwioCPrlU-nLVRYhBvvJuNKjZG4pStunVuRBVgRRMnwOIrfmTEK_shyR_nZzc3PJY_IzkFjjIwZTyQoUlL6h0eYVZjGEI4QHqYR7_hxXMe33VkbgPMW8y_yz7-10rwDcfmb/s200/Jasper+211.jpg" /></a>Something I've been looking forward to is Jasper's first real smiles and he obliged me this Saturday. I haven't been able to catch a great photo/video of it just yet but didn't want to forget the date, October 24. His already cute (and VERY chubby) face gets even cuter and brighter when he smiles. Mmmmmm...he's so yummy.<br /><br />Whenever I tell people that we have 4 boys, they always remark at how "brave" we are. I know it's crazy and our life is busy, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE my family and know that we are so blessed to have all these beautiful boys gracing our lives. We are so lucky.Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-19185593289008298132009-10-21T14:46:00.000-07:002009-10-21T15:02:18.263-07:00The Incident with the Gas<p>Hopefully, this video and sound come through. There is so much background noise from TV and other boys, but you may hear some "unwinding" sounds emanating from our latest spawn... Definitely his father's son - Ha. :)</p><p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzPuSksphY5WyMnEbu6kYm9InIhpvB7qaFbAlbo1h1v76fuNmjjTZH4DDewetSy9e-mv7wJo1RGJVUv_BACJQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-72190994084524855302009-10-14T00:36:00.000-07:002009-10-14T01:21:08.169-07:00Six WeeksJasper turned six weeks yesterday, October 13. Wow - time flies! Just a brief update on how everyone is doing these days...<br /><br />Rodney is back at work (yuck!) and as busy as ever. Marissa still "harasses" him daily about coming home early. We definitely miss him being around!<br /><br />Marissa has adopted a very bad sleep schedule, often not retiring to bed til the wee hours (3am???). Her Facebook game addiction, topped with the "free" time to do things like bills and handle all the silly little things like blogging do not help.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzssCVnFkoD-1kHC2n7sW_J2syGLBS12WquQJrjIyWZuSZwIgxovnO7ug2f5APvZSGzycI-m3itwPNTcsOqdrFuGi200jME3eu2ZVHVWpPWoFdov9MOX9fmIeN3Wl2vl4P8RtvG4GpBPa/s1600-h/Picture+091.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 178px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392363843976698418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdzssCVnFkoD-1kHC2n7sW_J2syGLBS12WquQJrjIyWZuSZwIgxovnO7ug2f5APvZSGzycI-m3itwPNTcsOqdrFuGi200jME3eu2ZVHVWpPWoFdov9MOX9fmIeN3Wl2vl4P8RtvG4GpBPa/s200/Picture+091.jpg" /></a>Ethan has adjusted really well to the sixth grade and has been getting really good grades in his classes. The standards-based grading system they use here is confusing, but he is getting As in most of his tests and is in the higher percentage of his classes. He started his "World Languages" class this week, where they are learning Spanish and French; he hit us up with a "grande" and "si" in conversation today. He's also enjoying the saxophone classes at school. I hope he wants to continue with it next year. Classes he's waiting for us to sign him up for include piano, swimming, and dance. DANCE! :) We're just so proud of him! Oh, another major milestone --- braces are gone and we are down to retainers - yayyyy!!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPXuX03u4g8KWiPrR2tM_pm2O1xaRBtdn057gUcnqr-Vdci7JAIg22d4QrARlPr-rqU5WyG6oBWkuHSiGsnIulGIGR3oQ-fye9Zc3qexDKXSjRsAluScarrGyARuDbkMckJoq9cH1rIMY/s1600-h/The+kids+052.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392364945036971490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPXuX03u4g8KWiPrR2tM_pm2O1xaRBtdn057gUcnqr-Vdci7JAIg22d4QrARlPr-rqU5WyG6oBWkuHSiGsnIulGIGR3oQ-fye9Zc3qexDKXSjRsAluScarrGyARuDbkMckJoq9cH1rIMY/s200/The+kids+052.jpg" /></a>Graeme has finally turned the corner when it comes to homework. He finally realized that whining and complaining instead of doing was not the best route - phew, our kindergartner is growing up! Soccer season's started and he's having a blast with his team, the Blue Dragons. He runs up and down that field like nobody's business! He has also spent a couple of Sundays hanging out with his Papa Tony in Pacifica and we have had a heck of a time trying to pry him away when it was time to go. For their next "grandpa date," Graeme asked if he could stay for "100 hours" so we may try to work in an overnighter there if Papa Tony is up for it. :) We wish Mommom and Poppop lived closer so he (and the other kids) could also get hangout time in.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0ZWxtPVNXAt1kI6oZ_S9SKIXt5bpt-SjnSwZM1b3qN3j5Obcp3Ho6MpVd_kQ5jCWro7bZ9riUNU124lXET-LqPZTeml0VwpxOgKt1__Q3165vZLvF-2FhV9hknQkFehlfbo3w7CXwchn/s1600-h/Jasper+051.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392361718206579410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0ZWxtPVNXAt1kI6oZ_S9SKIXt5bpt-SjnSwZM1b3qN3j5Obcp3Ho6MpVd_kQ5jCWro7bZ9riUNU124lXET-LqPZTeml0VwpxOgKt1__Q3165vZLvF-2FhV9hknQkFehlfbo3w7CXwchn/s200/Jasper+051.jpg" /></a>Xavier's vocabulary is growing. He says hi (pronounced with a Southern drawl, too...as in "hah"), hat, hot, more (this one's new today). He can moo like a cow and growl like a dinosaur. For all other things he wants to say, though, he pretty much just grunts - <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb9fIsndpVIx5-TSvc7qrxSnRZZ4GFNpsb7H3hJ6hI-IWIzkGj_AbyNqZ5myiR2kC5s4ySnap6duUm5wV-jHljGuexp9lGB_BeN3q_RnQNopo5nuultoIIjVqJUKVgZPwwcY9U_HZT9lLw/s1600-h/Jasper+051.jpg"></a>hahahaha! He can also point to more and more parts of his body (nose, feet, belly, ears...). It's so cool to watch him learning so many new things. Especially because he's trying to keep up with his older brothers, he is growing up so quickly and wants to be in everything they are into. He and Graeme spend a lot of time together especially now that they share a room. They are thick as thieves and they are usually cracking each other up and laughing like fiends; when they're not fighting over toys that is.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdC7o3rdCzk-I3Ily4Eh5L0lwcQs-1ymzU-1QACuWzhY7b08jjgyQPZUzN4ldgLRHzsZMxsYGP5lDFqN2I_Aitq3VJa_sJ0blY_vqMe2wmMbv9nItX2dpa-yi7y5jQUcPQr5WBfUxvugG/s1600-h/Jasper+213.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392366918053427698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdC7o3rdCzk-I3Ily4Eh5L0lwcQs-1ymzU-1QACuWzhY7b08jjgyQPZUzN4ldgLRHzsZMxsYGP5lDFqN2I_Aitq3VJa_sJ0blY_vqMe2wmMbv9nItX2dpa-yi7y5jQUcPQr5WBfUxvugG/s200/Jasper+213.jpg" /></a>I'm waiting on Jasper's first "real" smile...any day now. He is sleeping for longer stretches and I have to learn to take advantage of that. He's also spending more awake time, which is super cool. He also took his first bottle today and that's always such a relief. He and I have been pretty attached at the hip (okay, maybe at another body part that's a little higher up - hehehe!) and it's been so nice. He's asleep on Rodney's chest right now and it's just so precious when that happens. Ahhh... it's really just the little things that make me so happy.Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-293650437988349862009-10-13T23:51:00.000-07:002010-01-22T22:08:05.281-08:00A Birth Story...When I first tried to post this blog, there was a very lengthy birth story that went along with it. After posting, I noticed that all my text had been deleted. Thanks, blogger.com!<br /><br />Now I'm finding some time to rewrite, I want to save all the details for Jasper when he's old enough to want to know all the details...<br /><br />Well, the main thing to start with is the fact that Jasper was late. Ethan and Xavier were 10 days early and Graeme was 5 days early. So I was a little eager to meet the little guy. We did EVERYTHING the day/night of August 31st to speed the process up, including thinning the membranes, loads of walking, etc. I wanted his birthday to be his own and not land too close to Graeme's. Sometimes I wonder when he would've actually come if we just let it all be. The way it all worked out though was just perfect. <br /><br />August 31st was the first day of school for Ethan (going in to the 6th grade) and Graeme (going in to kindergarten), both of them going to new schools, and we didn't want to miss that so it was good that Jasper didn't come anytime before that date. His cousin, Jack, was born on August 31 (sharing a birthday with Uncle Luigi and his great-grandfather Manuel dos Santos) so these two boys have the closest birthdays among all the cousins.<br /><br />So, during our evening walk around the neighbourhood, I could feel contactions, but they were really not bad and felt more like Braxton Hicks ones more than anything else. When we went to bed (late!) that night, nothing had changed so I had pretty much resolved myself to going to work the next day. But at around 2am or so, I was actually starting to feel uncomfortable and slightly painful contractions. I kinda was thinking at first that it was just me and wishful thinking so I didn't bug Rodney at first. When I finally woke him up, he helped me start timing the contractions and they were coming pretty steady and I was starting to feel really uncomfortable so we knew stuff was happening. We called Manolete to come by close to 6am so that he'd be here when the boys got up. I was pretty excited heading to the hospital, but still kind of dreading that they'd still tell me I wasn't ready and send me home (it's always a possibility!).<br /><br />At the hospital, when they heard that this was my fourth pregnancy, they worked pretty fast. I get they just think that all fourth babies just fall out like it was nothing - hahahaha! By the time they checked me, I was already 4cm dilated so there was no turning back. For me, I was pretty surprised I was so far along; it had felt like an eternity getting to this point with the other boys. I had considered not getting the epidural for this one, but when they told me that both anesthesiologists would be in surgery for at least an hour and that I wouldn't get a chance to change my mind, I just went ahead and got one. Why suffer when technology can help, right?<br /><br />The best part about the epidural was getting nap in. The contractions slowed down a bit after that and the nurse worried that I had stopped progressing so she got the pitocin (evil drug!) ready. Thankfully, I didn't actually need it. :)<br /><br />Once I was ready to push, the nurse and Rodney helped me. It always feels like the pushing is not getting you anywhere, but this was the quickest experience yet. I think I only pushed for 15 minutes and there he was...our little Jasper. So perfect and just perfectly perfect.<br /><br />And I can say it now, too. I KNEW he was going to be a boy. Hahahaha! I always wished to get old surrounded by men and now I am seeing my wish come true. Oh joy.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LIUxjvzJ1kAudPNm0egZLgrMsInAspNCM2BrT0FGIAlRJJUTYK8zBCYhD5izPwgxwj6qCpF1WHaUKLjFxmf31UyqFE7gBEgFN09e4wKnlXx-kiWOaXyl2E3hYta_-htB-R5L6XqawuTB/s1600-h/Jasper+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392355244500406290" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3LIUxjvzJ1kAudPNm0egZLgrMsInAspNCM2BrT0FGIAlRJJUTYK8zBCYhD5izPwgxwj6qCpF1WHaUKLjFxmf31UyqFE7gBEgFN09e4wKnlXx-kiWOaXyl2E3hYta_-htB-R5L6XqawuTB/s200/Jasper+051.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx51z5xyxGdx4u7aN0rCY70CNmFLRxYPQIteNRMMLMe40KA8ZhR6ADMH7jeW30W-kApiYSUz12VWEd_7xpwbZtwKXA0JrCmICBxwCgW1dkF_T3ztPKMW26QkCRJ0Lyc4Dfw2Vs9DRpnCg5/s1600-h/Jasper+055.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392355254033410450" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx51z5xyxGdx4u7aN0rCY70CNmFLRxYPQIteNRMMLMe40KA8ZhR6ADMH7jeW30W-kApiYSUz12VWEd_7xpwbZtwKXA0JrCmICBxwCgW1dkF_T3ztPKMW26QkCRJ0Lyc4Dfw2Vs9DRpnCg5/s200/Jasper+055.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrjkUxiKouAIOWQrCLauQWPiMYSst_FeBHACGScro4F5PhB5gN0imH8gCS6OLxKvvk0b_MtUyMY3U9DF3EGU5cUsKY8-heODr82EWCijqL6ZaWhrKXaS2qprqYRmbsy2l-RkqAScaW3vo/s1600-h/Jasper+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392355235485751026" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrjkUxiKouAIOWQrCLauQWPiMYSst_FeBHACGScro4F5PhB5gN0imH8gCS6OLxKvvk0b_MtUyMY3U9DF3EGU5cUsKY8-heODr82EWCijqL6ZaWhrKXaS2qprqYRmbsy2l-RkqAScaW3vo/s200/Jasper+050.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDX-WY_zNd_MXJGeTHqgvO_w5fACs6CueLBPryx_sXQPR6YO1pkjwtz3T_7MhIzUf0OSlsQuo-gy-u0OKpsiq1-MkQjwA98EWrHCJMEUDQDMjsK4VXRJdu3VIBPLjfpAZlZEaFYbHKXss/s1600-h/Jasper+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392355226510437154" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeDX-WY_zNd_MXJGeTHqgvO_w5fACs6CueLBPryx_sXQPR6YO1pkjwtz3T_7MhIzUf0OSlsQuo-gy-u0OKpsiq1-MkQjwA98EWrHCJMEUDQDMjsK4VXRJdu3VIBPLjfpAZlZEaFYbHKXss/s200/Jasper+031.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-79048642531104915392009-08-31T23:44:00.000-07:002009-08-31T23:47:27.758-07:00Due Date Plus 2Wow, I never ever dreamt I'd be sitting here on the verge of September without a baby. Surely, this last one was supposed to toe the line and do as his brothers did? I guess he has a mind of his own. Or maybe he's a she and mad that I keep calling him a boy so she's making me pay?? :)<br /><br />Either way, it's an odd place to be and I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm getting antsy and anxious. Yvonne and John (my brother and his wife) had their latest Kawika Jack Concepcion at 1:30pm today so she definitely beat me in the baby race. Now it's just a waiting game for us.<br /><br />Not surprisingly, I'm not motivated for much else but having this baby right now. Will keep everyone posted as best I can. Love...Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-25374201567513190982009-08-26T10:29:00.001-07:002009-08-26T10:33:30.796-07:00Baby Delivery Wish List4 days left and the doctor at our appointment yesterday said I may go past my due date. This baby has already beat his brothers at staying in longer and he's likely to be bigger too! This whole going past my due date thought is making me anxious because I really really want this baby to come in August so he can have his own birthday month. :)<br /><br />Dear Baby:<br /><br />Here's my wish list to you, sweetheart, about when I want you to come so if you could just indulge me, I promise to love you forever and ever.<br /><br />Thursday night - Make it so mommy goes into labour<br />Friday - Get yourself borneded and out so we can meet you<br />Saturday - Chill with mommy and daddy in the hospital<br />Sunday - Go home and chill with all your brothers<br /><br />Can you do that? Please, pretty please???? I told you that I'd love you forever, right? :)<br /><br />Love,<br />Your Mom, who will love you forever (no matter what)Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-66822799486763133902009-08-18T16:04:00.000-07:002009-08-20T08:48:39.431-07:0010 Days Until Due Date...Just like before, I really am in no rush for this baby to get here, but if my track record proves to be any indication, this baby will make his/her entrance any day starting today (Ethan and Xavier were both 10 days early and Graeme was 5 days early). I don't think it's going to happen today, my body just doesn't feel ready to go yet, but then you don't really get so much advance warning every time, do you? *smiles*<br /><br />I'm trying to will this child to not show up until next week, when I hope we'll be a little more ready - there is simply WAY too much to do and we haven't even packed our hospital bag yet! Plus, there are more naps I want to take - hahahaha! Okay, that, and I just love being pregnant. :)<br /><br />We finally moved Ethan out of his room and into the old office, but he is slumming it and sleeping on the floor right now. We've still got to get the bed situation squared away - there are just too many options to choose from! It's funny to walk into his room in the morning and find him all balled up on the floor, looking like a lost little urchin. I'll have to try to photograph him for posterity's sake. He is enjoying having a room to himself once again, though, and I, for one, am VERY jealous!<br /><br />The start of school is right around the corner and that's definitely going to be one crazy week, with a new baby coming and with two new schools to attend orientations at. It's so surreal (still!) for me to be bringing Graeme into kindergarten when I can still remember dropping Ethan off for his first day of kindergarten. And here Ethan is starting middle school... Wow, how can six years fly so quickly?! Just a reminder to treasure every moment, I suppose. Yes, even the crazy ones...<br /><br />Here are some recent photos of the family for your viewing pleasure (or displeasure) while you are awaiting my next post. That will likely come after the latest Grussing spawn decides to join us, but we will likely be on Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and other internet devices while in the hospital so look out... Hahahaha!<br /><div><div><br /><div>Ethan at the piano (I'll post an actual video once I get Rodney's help downsizing the 90MB video I took of Ethan playing for about a minute - hahahahaha!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV293YScYWIRvuqDo88P_AlaEpsXTHtg9p6H2Ww4JlRNu5Pj5J98KDEiGCAeaLmUZa0t5W_K_EtzDc2Z-KQHudVe1yqOijmodoUHUp4AYGanx-G_owLXZ-kERL_ZE6K0aZycrbhIXvDP8V/s1600-h/The+kids+034.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 150px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5372072932477092498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV293YScYWIRvuqDo88P_AlaEpsXTHtg9p6H2Ww4JlRNu5Pj5J98KDEiGCAeaLmUZa0t5W_K_EtzDc2Z-KQHudVe1yqOijmodoUHUp4AYGanx-G_owLXZ-kERL_ZE6K0aZycrbhIXvDP8V/s200/The+kids+034.jpg" /></a><br /><br />The Grussing men lounging on the couch...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjtZsgpPEA9coBXrsitKjnt7qvwtccnJRoU_Wmz4cHy7eKqlupZPtACmPOETgbJcGsvqnA9DvprUds4OG2EMZZvKV-rwAaDyJoXyyYb2mJdbgMm3kJ8c_ItGsIZNtXVTLo87oc7_FyeBD/s1600-h/The+kids+111.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371446429368740514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjtZsgpPEA9coBXrsitKjnt7qvwtccnJRoU_Wmz4cHy7eKqlupZPtACmPOETgbJcGsvqnA9DvprUds4OG2EMZZvKV-rwAaDyJoXyyYb2mJdbgMm3kJ8c_ItGsIZNtXVTLo87oc7_FyeBD/s200/The+kids+111.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>Mommy and Xavier modeling what a 37-week belly (aka, the Shelf) looks like (um, try not to notice the thighs or the bundonkadonk on this one!)...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqsd4i56b_Xwk04aV2PTPKRSIFVzkqHdNt-AvCAMNGc4y-pUZWSLM2ewl0bDKzr1fqRfzXG5HircMIL9KBVojfgv3JYdRU11O7dJPThAan_qHKnCPyjZZYKTE4NOrJCftEGTRA7KWodXU/s1600-h/The+kids+073.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 130px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371447411358052818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkqsd4i56b_Xwk04aV2PTPKRSIFVzkqHdNt-AvCAMNGc4y-pUZWSLM2ewl0bDKzr1fqRfzXG5HircMIL9KBVojfgv3JYdRU11O7dJPThAan_qHKnCPyjZZYKTE4NOrJCftEGTRA7KWodXU/s200/The+kids+073.jpg" /></a></div></div></div>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-70510259626980883962009-08-03T09:12:00.000-07:002009-08-03T09:43:45.827-07:00I Don't Know You, But I Love You...Pregnancy, what pregnancy? You could hardly even tell by the way I've been blogging that I've been pregnant at all. I suppose life is simply too busy, what with the three boys, all of whom are transitioning into the next phases of their lives...Ethan into middle school, Graeme into kindergarten, and Xavier (just today) out of the baby room and into the "bigger" kids' room.<br /><br />Well, it's not for lack of obsession or love for this latest Grussing to come, that's for sure! Yesterday marked 36 weeks of gestation, which means that the baby now weighs almost 6 pounds and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He/she is supposed to gain about an ounce a day at this point so that's another 2 pounds of baby "meat" he/she will have to gain til his/her birthday. The last time I saw my doctor, she said she thought this baby would be an 8-pounder, but we'll see if we actually make it to the due date this time.<br /><br />Next week, the baby will be considered full-term, which also means they won't stop me if I go into labour. The Braxton Hicks contractions are definitely back and more frequent; the body is definitely getting ready. The last two weekends have been an exercise in finding energy, too. I can't fall asleep at night, wake up early, then find myself needing morning naps. Hahahaha!<br /><br />We've been trying to get the house ready too. We are moving Ethan into the office and the two younger boys will start to share their own room to make space for the baby (don't know how Xavier or I am going to take him being so far away, but we'll just have to see I suppose). We are looking at minivans and just waiting for the best deal to come along. Only thing left now is to pack my hospital bag and that'll be it. Everything else will be easy after that, right? :)<br /><br />In some ways, I am scared for the craziness that will ensue once there are four children in the house. But in more ways, I'm really excited to meet this newest little Grussing, to hold him and fall in love with him in person. I'm ready...<br /><br />p.s. If this next child is a boy, I'm starting a petition to get my own bathroom. I hope you guys will sign it too. So far, there's only one supporter and signature for said petition and it's definitely going to be an uphill battle, from the looks of it. I wonder how much those Port-O-Potties cost???Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-26931735132503478182009-07-14T10:22:00.000-07:002009-07-14T11:49:52.214-07:00Graeme GraduationI can't believe I almost forgot to write about this! Graeme graduated from his Pre-K class at Papillon Preschool this past June. While he doesn't technically leave Papillon right before he starts kindergarten on August 31, they held a graduation for his class that was so fun to watch. They showed off the things they've learned this past year - counting in Spanish and French, yoga poses, dancing, singing, etc. It was sooooo cool. At the end, there was a video presentation of photos by one of the kids' moms that was so touching and cool. It showed photos of the kids from baby to today and it was really amazing to realize how quickly they all have grown. Time flies to fast; I admit I got teary-eyed watching the video, but then again, I'm pretty sappy.<br /><br />To see photos on Flickr of Graeme's big day, click <a href="http://flickr.com/gp/45322881@N00/83VaE5">here</a>. We'll post more pictures of his first day of school as soon as those memories are created.Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-67335978305791558552009-07-07T23:51:00.000-07:002009-07-14T11:50:17.483-07:00Rodney's 40th BirthdayThe craziest thing about Rodney's birthday is that he's had to share it A LOT; his sister Terri's birthday is the day right after his. Little did he know that becoming part of my family would mean he would now have to also share it with our now 11-year old, Ethan, whose birthday is two days before his. This year, he not only had to share his birthday week with Ethan, but he also had to share his actual day with celebrating Graeme's graduation from preschool. Oh no!<br /><br />We love celebrating Rodney so on the day of his birthday (June 26, for those of you not "in the know"), we made sure to celebrate by going out with family to dinner. Graeme (because it was his graduation day) got to pick the spot and he picked his latest dining obsession, Macaroni Grill. We had a great meal, got the waiters to sing for Rodney, and "showered" him with presents and love. If you are interested in seeing some photos from that night, click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45322881@N00/sets/72157621120600048/">here</a>. The next night, Rodney and I went out for a fancy dinner at Central Park Bistro in San Mateo and then ended up at the movies, seeing "<a href="http://hangovermovie.warnerbros.com/">The Hangover</a>," which was a really funny movie.<br /><br />Because turning 40 is no small feat (especially for someone who's looking as good as he is!), I wanted to get Rodney something extra special to let him know how awesome we think he is so I had a birthday journal made for him, complete with entries from friends and family. The journal was handmade by a really creative friend, Melissa Esplin, who I had the pleasure of meeting while working with her husband, Chris, at Cornerstone. She's got a really great website that showcases her talent and shares a lot of really neat ideas, at <a href="http://melissaesplin.com/home/">IS•LY</a> (check it out!). It was actually one of her Father's Day ideas that led to the creation of this journal. The journal is made of leather and cork and touching it alone is sheer joy. But it is definitely the contents of the journal that make it extra special. I would like to thank everyone who contributed to it; without your words, the journal would not have been so wonderful.<br /><br />Here are a couple of pictures of the journal - the photos really do not do it justice so make sure to ask to see it the next time you see us.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm93LjdayfNLiRwAAuPu9br8L9E4zrXdBAPZjab-9q3l4z81FfiWq_7DsZLS7amomjKh5lHQczELS8NuVuWxJRcQSoJY2T5K5SrUliVNsn1ZgVWZk8dahHNka8wsPhyphenhyphenWwZjk-lTWHlgpd-/s1600-h/Journal.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 140px; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355991582491665378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm93LjdayfNLiRwAAuPu9br8L9E4zrXdBAPZjab-9q3l4z81FfiWq_7DsZLS7amomjKh5lHQczELS8NuVuWxJRcQSoJY2T5K5SrUliVNsn1ZgVWZk8dahHNka8wsPhyphenhyphenWwZjk-lTWHlgpd-/s200/Journal.jpg" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMDx9dOmPsiP6tc_KZggbw38nhCeo1D3owjG9RMWvxHnilACtixzH9p5cP5K0ZHsrftEV_3__KEmbufEGP2sfvcDSetvFaNAvbOQDpsA5SlS6Kr4cMQckg3vLKEBRJvTFuaW50p2lxd74/s1600-h/Journal2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 200px; HEIGHT: 119px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355991586787330034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicMDx9dOmPsiP6tc_KZggbw38nhCeo1D3owjG9RMWvxHnilACtixzH9p5cP5K0ZHsrftEV_3__KEmbufEGP2sfvcDSetvFaNAvbOQDpsA5SlS6Kr4cMQckg3vLKEBRJvTFuaW50p2lxd74/s200/Journal2.jpg" /></a><br /></li>Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2401085686244199797.post-57107106633674697192009-06-25T12:46:00.001-07:002009-06-25T13:46:58.020-07:00Ethan Turns 11We celebrated E's 11th birthday yesterday. First he came to work with me and we took him for a nice lunch at Oak City Bar & Grill across the street from work. Then I put him on the train, on his first solo ride ever, back to San Mateo to meet his cousins to spend the rest of his birthday. Alison, Eva & Jude spoiled him with a big birthday banner and swimming all afternoon.<br /><br />In the evening, we had family over for pizza and cake. It was us, plus the Concepcions, plus his dad, Grandad, Grand Mere, and Papa Don. And it's not even over since he and a few of his friends are going to get some laser tag action in this Saturday!<br /><br />Ethan did mention that he enjoyed his birthday last year just a little better. I was home with him and got to spoil him all day then, starting with breakfast in bed. This tells me that I need to take more days off on their birthdays and give them my time on that special day. I'll do this from here on out. :)<br /><br />Some photos on Flickr to enjoy; I will post more if we get more from Saturday's events... just click <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45322881@N00/sets/72157620558588100/">here</a>.Grussing Pike Tribehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597946505374055254noreply@blogger.com1