2 Year Hiatus-

Well it has been almost exactly 2 years since I posted anything to this blog. I have heard that you can get your blogs printed into a book format. If this is true then I think I will use this to record our events and pictures rather than trying to keep up with scrapbooks. I am so far behind in those I am admitting that I will never get caught up. I need to try an easier way to document my life. Especially since Ian told me the other day that he doesn't remember being a baby. This comment made me realize a sad fact I knew deep, deep down, we have very few memories about our life prior to 5 years old. This means that everything I have done with my kids is going to fade away if I don't preserve it. I have no problem taking pictures. In fact I consider myself a photoholic, taking too many pictures and not knowing what to do with them once they are printed beside putting them in organized boxes is my problem. SO I ask this, can you really turn a blog into a book? Please let me know so I don't waste my time on this.

Valentine Craft

I love decorating the house for holidays but get tired of the same old Made in China stuff at all the stores. So whenever I'm inspired and have nothing else to so, we make our own. Thanks to a friend of mine for the salt dough recipe to make these hearts. It was pretty messy but worth it in the end.







I love decorating the house for holidays but get tired of the same old Made in China stuff at all the stores. So whenever I'm inspired and have nothing else to so, we make our own. Thanks to a friend of mine for the salt dough recipe to make these hearts. It was pretty messy but worth it in the end.

Our Cruise

Arriving at Catalina Island where we spent our short 3 day honeymoon 10 and 1/2 years ago.

That is the "Casino"- which is really a movie theatre and ballroom made in the 30's by Mr. Wrigley...as in Wrigley Field and Wrigley gum. We took the tour later. "casino" means gathering place. There is also our cruise ship in the background.
Just an awesome house on Catalina Island we found while exploring.


Some ocean life we collected and then threw back in to the ocean.

Terry standing on the balcony of the Casino
Some colorful boats
Sunrise from our room. Yes, we couldn't sleep in...pathetic I know but when your kids wake up at 6:30 every morning you just get used to it.

The Mexican Cultural Center in Ensenada

la Bufadora...the Blowhole. Kind of like Old Faithful but made from waves shooting out of a cave.
Us at la Bufadora
Sunrise back home in San Diego.





Well we, I mean I, finally got the courage to take a trip without the kids. I really wanted to go to Hawaii but didn't think I could handle being across an ocean for at least a week, so we compromised with a 4 night cruise. In the end, the kids did fine, we did fine, and it was sooooo nice to just be ourselves for a few days and not worry about feeding and entertaining 2 kids. On the down side I found out that even on a big cruise ship I get sea sick. I thought it was only on small sailboats. With the help of the sea sick medicine from the infirmary, I never got too bad but just really tired and it took about 4 days off the ship to get the sway feeling gone. I'm not complaining though becasue I got to eat good food, lots of ice cream cones, and didn't have to cook or clean for 4 days.

1st Day of 2009

As our trend goes we always seem to spend our New Years Day out enjoying nature. This year we went to Lake Hemet for the first time even though I have worked in Hemet for 8 years, (the lake is in the mountains about 50 minutes from where I work so it's not that weird). After strolling around for awhile watching Terry try out his new fly fishing pole he went out on his own and the kids and I stayed to play with sticks...so much fun. Well Heidi had taken a few steps into the water on accident earlier so in my boredom I thought it could make for some cute pictures. I stepped out on some rocks in the water to take shots of the kids on the shore. Heidi stepped in. Then in her clumsy way (she can fall standing still on a flat surface) she tried to walk towards me, tripped and landed in the water on her hands and knees. Luckily she kept her head above water. I almost jumped in after her but after seeing her head was fine took an extra second and jumped to shore, grabbed her arm and yanked her out. I am always amazed at how quickly and effectively the body/mind works when your child is in an emergency situation. It gives me confidence that in a real emergency instinct will kick in and take over. She was freezing and in shock of what had just happened. I started calling for Terry who was on his own fishing becasue he had the pack with dry clothes, never leave home without them. Luckily he wasn't far. Never a dull moment with Heidi.

Ian sporting his new cow boots Learning to fish

The picture I happened to take as she fell in.
She is not a happy camper.

Letting her clothes dry and checking out her soaked, sandy shoes.

Breakfast with Santa

We had Breakfast with Santa at the Community Center. It was so much nicer and fun than going to see Santa at the mall. We got a sit down breakfast served by elves, they had the kids go up on the stage and sing Rudolf, Ian didn't sing but he did stand up there nicely. Then Santa and Mrs. Claus came and Heidi about made Mrs. Claus retire she kicked and screamed so much (mind you that it had nothing to do with being freightened of Santa, she just wanted to go outside at the moment and Santa was not on her agenda). Ian got to tell Santa he wanted Anikin Skywalker. The only problem was Ian thought he would get Anikin on the spot and then stood off to the side of Santa, with his hands in his pockets, head hung, trying not to cry and not wanting to leave Santa. It about broke my heart, I had to go to Target after to make sure Ian would get Anikin on Christmas morning.

Thanksgiving

I love holidays for the sole purpose of getting to see my whole family. From Jeff and Maia who live just 3 miles away or Ben and Stephanie who live in Oregon at the moment, for a few hours we are all together.



Heidi playing with "aunt" Stephanie's scarf.


The Bruce family all together in a picture
Cousins Chantel, baby Erissa, Heidi, Ian, and Aarianna

Family Pictures

So after Ian being the photographic natural, I am still convinced that one day Heidi will actually look at the camera when we are taking a family picture with a less than horrified look on her face (she has the most amazing smile but doesn't like strangers taking her picture). Naturally, Heidi tends to be difficult, especially when it comes to doing something we want her to. Yet, I was still hopeful that somehow this day would be different. Last year we tried this at 2 different photography studios will disastrous results and merely mediocre photos. Our family picture on the dining room wall is from when I was 2 months pregnant with Heidi, we have yet to get a good family picture of us all. I was soooooo hopeful that somehow she would cooperate but as expected I was wrong. Here are the outtakes of the photo session. We managed to get 2 decent ones that will be appearing in Christmas cards. The rest are purely comedy as uncle Tyler tested his patience with 2 crazy kids, beach, water, sliding down sand dunes, runny noses,temper tantrum after temper tantrum, and some beautiful sunshine that disappeared minutes after we arrived. These are the moments that will get a good laugh in 30 years from now.