May

Some Pics of May to catch myself up on this blog for really reals! We had a GREAT month, although I only can remember some of the month now since my camera battery died & I was lazy about getting a new one for the first half of it!

We had a great little Chico reunion BBQ at the Gutterman's over memorial day weekend. It's so awesome that all our kids are the same ages, it's even more awesome that Bre & Michael have a pool they can all swim in! Hopefully I will be posting more pics of us chill'n at the Gutterman's this summer. We had such an awesome night!

The ultimate "Mom" picture of Bre. Don't you all have a picture of your mom in the kitchen like this? Can you believe we are the mom in the pic now? What happened?

New mom, Auntie Sara, with Alex & baby Michael Cook III

A great shot of the Dad's posing with their boys: Michael & Max Gutterman, Michael & Miles Chavis, Michael Cook II & III, and Brian & Mason Laney

A rare shot of me with Miles. It's funny how I am the one who is with him 24 hrs/day but I have the least pictures with the little monkey!

Miles first tubby with the girls - what a ladies man!

Alex & Abby-gails

My friend Iman's twins turned 1 this month & we had a great time at their party! Happy Birthday Adam & Miriam ;)

Iman with the twins in the classic "lugging" pose!

At the party, we discovered that Miles is not too fond of bounce houses. He preferred to be held & bounced than to bounce by himself. It's really too bad because I am learning that bounce houses are the cool thing around these parts!

Even though the bounce house was a bust, the barbie jeep was a huge hit! We definately know what our little man wants for Christmas - we just hope he doesn't want it in pink!

We went to our first Giants game this month too! It was Miles's first baseball game & Mike & I decided it will be his last for the next, oh, 3 years or so! We had a great time being at the stadium on the water - love AT&T park -, eating garlic fries & visiting with Amy, Alberto, Johnny & Josh, but we didn't have so much fun watching the game. And, thats because we didn't get to! We gave it a shot, but lesson learned: 13 month olds & crowded baseball stadiums don't mix. Next time, well get a sitter!

The Chavis's all decked out in Giants gear - I can just hear the boos from all our SoCal Angel fan friends! We haven't ditched the Angels, but we have to have a local team to cheer for!

Amy, Me, Johnny & our little Giant!

Da' Boyz: Alberto, Josh & Mikey

This month also happened to be the little Maser Facer's birthday. Happy 1st Birthday Mase! Amber & Brian did a great job with the party & all the kids had so much fun! I had to take Miles home for an afternoon nap, but we returned later to chill & party into the night. It was an awesome day for adults & kiddies alike! Mason definately looked like he enjoyed his special day! Hard to believe he & Miles are only a month apart since Miles is practically 2x Mason's size!

The party set-up: bounce house & water slide bounce thingy. The water slide was a HUGE hit & you couldn't drag the kids off it! The adults got to have their fun after the official party ended! So awesome!

Little Mase on a total sugar high!

An action shot of Miles & his Amber

My favorite event of the month was my baptism! It was such a beautiful day & occasion through Bridgeway Church at Folsom Lake. The experience was so emotional & fulfilling that I wish I could get baptized every week! Next year we will definately go to celebrate others who choose to give their lives to christ.

Coming out of the water a new person ;)

The crowd at the beach & a snap shot of my favorite memory of the day - Miles, Mike & I singing praise & dancing with the band of guitarists & bongo drummers after I came out of the water.

Finally, Miles & I have been spending lots of time in our backyard. We got him a little water play station, a baby pool & some other outdoor toys to enjoy. But, of course, all he wants to do is help mommy garden & play with my tools! I have slowly been working away at pulling up this tiny patch of onions that the previous owners unsuccessfully planted. I say slowly because my little helper is just so helpful that it's hard to get too much done at a time!

Gotta love him, though!

Picture Update

Since I am the worst blogger out in cyberspace (any of you still checking in? - thanks if you are!) I am going to skip a lengthy written update about Miles's first b-day party (since it was a month ago!) & just provide some pics. I feel so bad just passing over the whole thing, even though it is old news (He's 13 months now - so over the one year thing). We had a great time bbqing with family & close friends at our house. I can't thank everyone enough for coming - I know it was a trek for most! You made the day for Miles ( & Mike & I), though! I wish I would have gotten more pics, but I was trying to be all hostess-y. Not a pro at that quite yet (totally forgot the hamburger condiments & only realized once I became mystified by the fact that everyone was eating hot dogs only!). Anyway, next time I will definately remember to assign someone other than Mike or I to photography!

We also had a wonderful & much needed visit with Nick, Nicole & the kids. I have missed them SO much & it really filled a void to have them here. We ended up just kick'n it & going with the flow (so much easier with kids!). We chilled at the park, went to Old Sac, ate yummy food & played a lot. It was all good...

So now that I've gotten Miles's birthday filed away in blog world, I can start blogging about current stuff! So much changes in a month with a little one - it's already like Miles is a whole new person! I'll leave you on the edge of your seats with that one (haha!). I'll do my best to post in the next week & be better about keeping in touch with you all! xxxx

I tried 10 times to get this pic - my kid hates hats! Thanks Geoffry for this one :)

"Mmmmm that is yummy cake mama!"

Birthday Suit - love that squooshy tooshy!

The Chavis Cousins; chocolate & vanilla swirl!

I found the real rainbow chip frosting! Lindsay & Ambra would be proud & I was so stoked! Too bad Crate & Barrell jipped me on all the pieces to my cupcake tower! A twig seemed to add a festive touch to make up for the missing hardware.

Ambie Lou Laney & her "budgy" man Mason

The living doll that is Kenzie McMackin

The birthday boy & his best buddy

Miles & Grandpa

On the hunt for lady bugs...

The Chief & his Chieftess (?) of the San Clemente Chavis Tribe

Me & my bro-ski

Why is everyone staring at me? Do I have something on my face?

Darien's masterpiece

What a stud!

I love my presents...

thank you so much!!!

Two little indians: Morgan & Mason

Daddy & Miles during our day in Old Sac Town. This is Miles favorite spot!

Nicole & Miss Milan

Ice cream was a great way to end a hot day!

See how happy ice cream makes us!

Miles's Birthday week...

Miles's birthday was next (4/23) & I was so excited that the little man was turning 1! I wanted it to be extra special for him, even though he had no idea what's going on. But I figured there is a possibility that he is creating emotional memories that he will subconciously draw on for the rest of his life - I couldn't have his subconcious spewing out bad emotional memories of his 1st birthday & having bad feelings about birthdays for the rest of his life! How ridiculous right?

Anyway, we had a playgroup party planned at the park, a special birthday shopping day at Toys R Us lined up & then the big party on Saturday. On the Sunday before his birthday week kicked off, he came down with a 103.2 fever. He came back down to 99 by morning with the aid of tylenol, but something just wasn't right - a mom knows! I thought it was an ear infection, but it turned out to be worse! (well, the doc said it was better, but for birthday week, it was worse!) Miles had contracted hand, foot & mouth virus and we were housebound until the sores healed. The name sounds grotesque, but it is actually a pretty common childhood illness. Have to clarify: my child is not a grotesque dirty varmit. Hand, Foot & Mouth virus is a normal thing. Ok, moving on. Luckily, he only got 3 sores on is tongue & they healed fast. But, we had to call of his birthday play group (boo) & we almost had to cancel our special visit from the San Clemente Chavis Tribe. I was depressed for Miles. I tried to make being in the house all week fun (that subconcious thing). We played in his baby pool - who knew it could be so fun without water, but Miles LOVES it! I bought him a couple early gifts - the favorite being the Best of "Veggie Tales" CD. It is a crack up & Miles loves the music. I really recommend it if your sense of humor is just weird.

We actually had a great time stuck together in the house & I got to do all my obsessive cleaning things before our house guests & party guests arrived over the weekend. Miles was just fine after the fever passed & without sores by Thursday - just in time turn 1!

Here is Miles & his baby pool. He cruised all over the house like this on & off for 2 days - when he first scooted by me, I thought I was going to die laughing ;)

Happy Birthday to Me!

It was two weeks ago now that I had my big 2-9. I know, I am a bad blogger. But, thats no surprise by now, right? Anyway, I had a wonderful birthday, despite the fact that I turned 29. As Amber put it, 29 is almost worse than 30; It's the final countdown to 30 - the waiting year. Ugh. I feel old. Change the subject, shall we?

So, my birthday was great because I got lots of birthday wishes from all my friends & family. I am always surprised at how many people remember my birthday (thank you facebook!) and it makes me feel so special on my birthday when my friends/family send a text, give me a call, send a card or shoot me an email just to wish me a happy day & let me know they are thinking of me. It really reminds me of how important it is for me to remember my loved ones birthdays so I can make them feel special on their birthdays as well. I used to be GREAT at remembering birthdays (almost as good as Caley & Jamie!), but since having Miles, I just stink at it. No excuse. Maybe living in a "ground hog day" existense just kind of lends itself to forgetfullness as your brain just slowly shuts down. Anyway, I resolve to be much better about remembering birthdays! I want all of you to feel as special as I did because you remembered me!

Amber Laney cooked me an amazing fish dinner for my day. She even went above & beyond & cooked my fish-loathing husband a burger. She baked me a delicious box cake (cakes from scratch don't compare - try baking one & you'll see!) with sprinkles! We had wine, got a little silly & took an evening nature walk with the kids & the nats. It was a great night! Oh! And, I got this candle that I couldn't bear to pay $20 for but was obsessed with at Bed, Bath & Beyond. We decided it smells like a well cologned man at the end of the day/night. Yummmm. It's called "firewood" & is by Henri Mendel (?). Instant turn-on.

Pictures!

Finally uploaded some new pics from the last month!

Look how fun it is to lay sod!

Abby was such a good helper!

Before

After ;)

I love to crawl around furniture & play peek-a-boo

I like to push any mobile object around the house too!

The spitting image of little Michael

I found mommy under the table!

Our home & Miles walking up the driveway with his buggy - such a stud!

My little bunny rabbit

Grandma is so impressed by how I talk on the phone & say "Hi!"

Grandma Kisses, Miles & Grandpa

So coooool ;)

The infamous birthday picture in front of the kitchen cabinets. The big 2-9 this year. Ugh!