Pumpkin Pie on Mt. Diablo

On our way through Walnut Creek up Mt. Diablo, we ran across this monster limo- a hummer limo that is. Amazing huh? I figured I'd take pictures of it and see how amazed I am of it 30-years from now. Would technology change that much more?

These two love each other soooo much. I wouldn't be surprised if they were really brothers in some spiritual way. But other than hugging, playing, and laughing- they fight also.

Here's Lukas kicking Kai in the nuts! And did I hear Rolf say that Lukas is learning Kai's bad habits? I think not! haha. My poor baby is a victim here! (wink!)


We met the Bienert family on Mt. Diablo. Believe it or not, they too had purchased a minivan the same day we got our Euro. So we were checking each others autos out on Mt. D. Ute finally joined my club "The Soccer Moms" now being a proud owner of a minivan.


Lukas and Kai bramble down a tree.


The daddys Greg and Rolf, with sons Kai and Lukas.


Kai gets a natural head rush from daddy.

We settle down for some hot tea cookies, and leftover pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

The day on Mt. Diablo was perfect for this chilly weather. A nice hike, with good company, a yummy treat, and then down the mountain to have homemade fajita pizza with Bienert's at their place! Yowza- great meal!

VIDEO: Spinning toddlers

Kai Stuff- November update

• Kai eats a blue lollipop and is preoccupied with checking out his blue tongue.
  
• Kai learned how to say "PEEZ" (please) with both hands held out together. Surprised me- I did not teach him this.
• Kai learned to say "TANK OO" on Thanksgiving day! What great timing huh?
• Kai tries on daddy's boots for size, after pulling it off the shoe rack.

• Every morning he will sit on the garage step and wave bye and blow kisses to daddy as he drives off to work. One day, we missed seeing him off (I was dead tired to get out of bed) and he spent the whole morning looking for daddy and running to the garage door.
• Kai will mimick my dancing in the car while driving to tunes. This surprised me when I saw this on the rear view mirror.
• He will flush the toilet for us. (We are trying to toilet train him) He at one time picked up his poop and handed it to daddy. Greg got grossed out of course.
• He loves his books! I usually get hit on the head with a book every morning. I cannot sit down to read without him joining me with his book also (again demanding that I read to him).
• Kai still startles me when screaming "RUCK" (truck) while driving. I cannot seem to get used to that announcement.
• Kai loves to hang out in the garage with daddy. He gets under the car with Greg and believe it or not hands him the tools daddy needs. (not perfect, but surprises Greg!)
• Kai helps me every morning to make the bed. He likes to place the pillows on the bed and will attempt to pull the blankets to smooth out the wrinkles. Of course, he will also mess it up again by jumping on it.
• He also has learned to skip and jump while running, off steps, and on the trampoline.
• He is mischievious. He has learned to drag the kitchen chairs to the counter and will get a hold of a bag of cookies or a chocolate bar. And to make sure I know about it- he will approach me with it and try to share, also offering what was just pulled out of his mouth. YUCK!
• Kai likes to give me belly blows and will grab my tummy baby fat and say "Baby!". I'm like, huh? Where did he learn that from?
• And when involving bad habits, he will stick his finger up his nose, smell his feet, or eat his feet just to get my attention.
• He also walked around in the store one day with his hand in his pants, I guess scratching his butt (just like daddy, haha).


• And when Greg and I hug each other, Kai likes to join in on the group hug...
  

Eurovan acquired, Vanagon traded in- BooHoo!

November 23, 2007, Friday
I was sitting quietly on the papasan chair reading and wrestling with a cold, when Greg suddenly asked if I wanted to go out to Santa Rosa with him to check out a car dealers lot. He had scouted a Eurovan on the Internet and the salesman would also consider a Vanagon trade-in as he sold Vanagon's on his lot.

White Eurovan and Blue Vanagon. Greg calls them "Euro" and "Vanny"- funny how he already has names for the autos. Must be a guy thing.
~
So in no time, we were out there and before I really thought about it (hard)- we were pulling stuff out of the Vanagon and into the 1999 Eurovan. There was not much difference between them as both are camper vans with pop top tents, sink, refrigerator and sleeps 4 (2 under the pop top). The plus was, we now had air conditioning, better pick-up, a furnace, and a grey water tank/hold. It was somewhat smaller than old Vanny but we also got extra removable seats- so now we could easily sit 6. And Greg would not be embarrassed driving this auto to work/client sites (to present a more professional image). AND we really needed to consolidate our cars.



Kai does a quality check on the Eurovan's interior.



Daddy locks Kai out as he uses the head in the car for the first time.

Kai wants the keys to the car.

A nice smooth ride home, and Kai catches my attention by first smelling his stinky foot...

...then shoves all his toes into his mouth! I did not think that was possible!

On the way home we stop at Orchard Hardware Store and purchased a Toro leaf blower/mulcher (no tax paid on purchases today). This was my toy and I was excited that it had variable speed (88-235 mph), metal blades (chops debris 16:1), 12 amps, and weighs 7.5 pounds. AROO!

I am such a tomboy my mom would say! Can't wait to see how it sucks and blows! haha.

Thanksgiving at the Bengtsson's

November 22, Thursday
Uncle Martin slices the turkey and gives the best part to Kai who immediately starts to eat.



He just loves drumsticks!

Video: Kai eating a turkey drumstick! (In Quick-time)

Then Kai moves on to his next course of pumpkin pie, which Auntie Ale gives him his own slice.

Video: We were experimenting with the camera. And got some pretty neat footage of approximately an hours worth seen in a minutes time.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Another paid shoot for playing!

Another one of Kai's crayon art work to be sold to the Louvre when he becomes famous (j/k).

Tuesday Nov 20, 07
Kai gets to play for almost 2 hours at Iridio Studio in Point Richmond. Mervyn's again did not use him along with the 2 other toddlers he was playing with who were also back-up models.

Jeez, I too wish I could get paid for playing on work time! Hey, wait a second- I already do! heehee.

Hiking in our back yard

Wednesday 11.14.07

Beautiful day for a beautiful hike, with our beautiful toddler boys...

Ute and I carried the boys up the hill like donkeys, and then let the antsy toddlers loose. While Lukas appeared to be enjoying himself, running ahead of us for the mountain lions to chase...

Kai lazily strolled along with his sippy cup tucked under his arm.

After watching Lukas bite the dust several times falling down the hillside, Kai took to holding my hand to safely reach his buddy for this picture.

My favorite part of this hike. When it's dusk, I could imagine the Headless Horseman coming around the bend.

Kai is whining to be carried now.

Paparazzi Ute trying to get a good shot of her son who never stays still.

The boys try to slide down this hill of rubble.

Daddy Greg meets us at the bottom of the hill on his bicycle.

Video: Rubble hill slide.

Video: Kai is wakened from his nap by buddy Lukas and they jump around like nuts!

SPLISH-SPLASH~ Kai's First Pedicure

Sunday Nov 11, 07

Mommy got a new toy! A pedicure/foot bath! Of course Kai had to join in on the SPAAAH experience also. RESULTS?: Softer and better looking feet and splashed water everywhere...

Kai makes easy money today! And other mile-markers

Turkey Kai, another art project completed at daycare. He just loves to see it on the refrigerator.

Friday November 9, 2007
Kai made easy money today in the waiting room of Iridio Studios in Point Richmond.

We showed up for his 9 a.m. booking for Mervyn's, which he had time to play with 2 other little boys. But Iridio made a mistake- they were to showcase "lilac" outfits and meant to book little girls instead. So we walked away with more money for his college fund and he got to play with all their great toys there... if only it was always that easy!

Other Mile-Markers!

• Kai kissed me four times this morning on the lips, alternating between me and Greg daddy. We didn't even ask for it- as we were still half asleep in bed!
• Kai can walk steps without hand rails and will attempt to walk it normally.
• He will jump off one-step at a time also. Scares me!
• Kicks a ball, throws straight (watch out for rocks!)
• When I ask him to say "cat"- he says "MEOW" but all other animals he will call out by name. (He can't say the C's yet).
• He understands EVERYTHING I say, and will follow commands to the T (on a good day).
• He shoves books at us every moment he can get. I cannot even sit in a chair to rest, lay in bed, or eat dinner without his demanding that I read to him.
• Has learned to turn on the radio, followed by clapping hands and dancing.
• He will attempt to tickle me by blowing on my belly. And it makes me laugh, but then he won't stop and I have to hold him back! And he thinks that's funny, and will continue on...
• He still runs after Greg when he comes out of the shower. And he still tries to pull my pajama pants down. (for fun!)
• He will bring daddy coffee in the morning (in a travel mug).
• And he will choose what to eat when given a decision.
• HE ALSO SHOP-LIFTED A $20 fog-maker from the Halloween Store, which I made him return to the cashier. (I found it sitting in his lap while in the stroller...)
• ONLY TO FIND HE ACQUIRED a Sponge Bob Square Pants plastic ball on our last shopping spree at Target, that wasn't paid for. And I wasn't gonna drive back to return it.

So Kai is not only getting pretty smart but he is babbling a lot. And the babbling is starting to form words. So WATCH OUT! He is becoming like a recorder.

It Pays Not to Burn Bridges, REALLY!!!

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Kai stayed over at his buddy Lukas' place while I went to work late afternoon in Redwood City. My job was to photograph clients of ABD Insurance and Wells Fargo Bank, (who just bought ABD, the #16 largest insurance company in the country). And it was a big party alright...


That's me holding my trusty monster camera with Denise, who contracted my services. Denise used to be a wedding coordinator for Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City where I had gotten to know her through a Chinese-Filipino wedding I shot there almost 3 years ago. We exchanged cards and she called me a couple months later to shoot a mock wedding for hotel advertisement. To make a long story short, I arrived at the hotel and was surprised to see another photographer was chosen to shoot the event, and an unfamiliar wedding coordinator present. This person informed me she wasn't expecting another photographer and if I would instead shoot side by side with this other photographer?
~
I was pretty upset (but didn't show it) and politely bowed out. Which she then insulted me, by offering me a breakfast buffet certificate, which she would mail to me for my trouble.
~
I had spoken to Denise about this who arrived at the scene, and which she was apologetic. And well, I never heard from her again. In fact, I was a little teed off with her too. But I kept my mouth shut.
~
To add salt to the wound, the breakfast certificate never arrived!
~
A few weeks ago, Denise e-mails me and I noticed her credentials that she worked for ABD insurance now. Through the phone, she tells me she hadn't worked for Crowne Plaza pretty much after the incident with me. She found out that the "other" so-called wedding coordinator was hired without her notification and was given her work title. So she didn't bother to find out if they were doing something behind her back or were going to fire her. Either way, she was teed off that they embarrassed her by what they had done to me, as she had no idea this was transpiring. So she walked out on Crowne Plaza and had been with ABDi for almost 3 years now.

So here I am doing a job for her...

Well, the funny thing (that's why you don't burn bridges) is the world is getting smaller. You run into people in the weirdest places...one ABD insurance guy recognized me as the wedding photographer- (you see, he was a limo driver on the side). Another woman swears she had seen me at a health fair, which I have done things for Sutter Hospital and others.

~

To top it off, and I had not told Denise yet, but I ended up introducing her to John, ABD's safety manager (and they worked together for how long?) You see, I had also worked for ABD as an independent contractor for one of their clients doing ergonomic/ workplace injury prevention evaluations. And that was almost 10 years ago. What I didn't know was John was sorta tagging after me, trying to fit my face. I didn't realize I was taking pictures of this man, without recognizing him until he walked past me when I read his name tag. GEEZ! So you can imagine the look on his face when his lights turned on.

The decorations were neat! This was a five- floor party. New York theme on the 5th floor.

New Orleans theme on the 4th floor.

They served oysters! Which you better believe I ate some.

Japanese theme on the 3rd floor.

(So here is John and his son, John Jr.)

Mexican theme on the 2nd floor.

On the 1st floor, a Spanish/ flamenco guitarist played. This floor had the Beach theme. Another photographer was hired to do the studio set-up with the Wells Fargo banner as a backdrop. (Which you can see in the picture taken of me above)

Give-aways! A metal stagecoach coin bank recreated from the original one in the Wells Fargo History Museum in San Francisco. I took 2 of them to give to both Kai and Lukas and I also ran off with a plate of devilish deserts!

~Hey they were gonna throw it away!

CHOMP! Carnivorous plants!

November 4, 2007

It was a beautiful day in San Francisco, a comfortable 77 degrees outside and no wind. We had no traffic going into the city and were eager to see the final showing of CHOMP! an exhibit on carnivorous plants at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

We came upon lawn bowlers and watched awhile.

The Conservatory displays over 1,750 species of plants. This Victorian-style building has the oldest wood and glass of 16,800 window panes. Its upper dome weighs 14.5 tons when placed on top of the lower dome in 2003. And it is whitewashed to reduce the light intensity and heat load as well as to maintain its historical appearance.

Kai stands in the Lowland Tropics, under the main dome. The plant in the middle up high above is a Philodendron speciosum, the imperial philodendron is over 100 years old. We have one in front of our house that is at maybe 20 years old and not nearly as tall.

In the Special Exhibit room where CHOMP! was held. All those plants before me are all carnivorous.

This pitcher plant attracts its prey by its aromatic nectar. The lid closes on it and the prey drowns in the body of water or sticky substance inside, as seen from above.

The Butterwort releases its sticky substance when its prey lands on its leaves. You can see insects dead on it already.

The Venus Fly Trap can live up to 20-30 years. (under a magnifying glass).

Kai- acting like a carnivorous plant!

This is the biggest one I've seen yet! Wouldn't want to get my hand stuck in that one, right Kai?

In the Potted Plants section, Kai takes a liking to this cherub. The cherub is part of a historic urn from San Francisco's 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

I am just amazed by this stripped insect!

A double-coconut (looks like booty to me). Like flowers but has a texture like chili peppers.

In the aquatic plants room, there features an infinity-style pond.

A reflection of Greg, with a water lily protruding from his nose. Water lilies can grow up to 6-feet in diameter. We've seem them in the Amazon on our canoe trip through the Amazon river.

Nepenthes, the pitcher plants, are the only carnivorous plants with a vining growth habit.

I have never seen a dahlia garden by itself. From a distance I thought it was a rose garden.

Kai runs around the perimeter of this garden clock in front of the Conservatory.

Afterwards we sorta stumbled upon the carousel in the park on the way back to the car. Video: Kai and Greg on the Carousel.

We never got to rollerblade as planned (they close the park to cars on Sundays) and ended up at this children's park...

Kai goes body-surfing.

We watch kids go down this cement slide on pieces of cardboard (probably taken from the homeless people, haha).

Having watched intently, Kai then grabs a piece of cardboard and attempts to climb the slide on his own, so I have no choice but to do this stunt with him also. (See video)

It sorta hurt when the cardboard slid out from under me and I went the rest of the way down on my booty feeling all the bumps and scrapes. That didn't stop us from trying another 4-5 times, as Kai was persistent on the slide. But my incident was minor- as we witnessed a few incidents to cause us to say "oooh!, owww!, aaahh!" or "Watch out!" as we watched people slide down uncontrolably.

Kai climbed the rope all by himself. Sorta got me nervous he'd fall.

Riding a cat-tail.

On the way home, Xmas signage is already up in San Francisco. "Peace. Love, and Coverage".
~

Today, we fell back on time. It gets dark at around 5 pm now. I know we will sleep well today!