Visiting Chris and Mike!

We visited Chris and Mike in September. Chris is my roommate from college, he and Yvonne and I lived together in Mustang Village. He and Mike got married (again) during the summer and celebrated their marriage on October 19 - there 13th Anniversary...which also happened to be a certain princess's birthday (see other post.) Mike is not in the photo because he was off making a real estate deal in Mill Valley! Chris cooked lunch, homemade carnitas and corn salad - it was fantastic.

And..We also...

Visited Sue in Pismo Beach. She does Search and Rescue with her dog Jackson. It was a short, but very sweet visit! For some strange reason.....hhmmmm...we do not have any pictures of us with Brad and Nathan....but we were there and they graciously hosted is.

Flashback to August....A Late Addition!

We visited Ojai in August and have been pretty much insane since then chasing around a baby that suddenly walks and keeping up with John's art openings, work, cleaning the house..(.at least some of the time.) Sharon gave Coco her first doll, which you can see in a previous post. I met Sharon and Jerry when I lived next door to them on Signal Street in Ojai in 2003 or so. That's where my my lovely dog Buddy died, but also where I found Oliver, discovered Yoga and met the most wonderful people. Sharon and Jerry were among them....I miss them and there wonderful family!

Coco's First Hair Cut!

In late SeptemberMiguel of Oz in Benicia gave Coco her first haircut. As with most things, she was simply curious and was checking it all out.

Post Birthday Presents....

Coco loved her new play table from Cousin Ava and Uncle Jay and Auntie Laurie that she climbed right up into it!

Coco's First Birthday!

Coco turned 1 on September 9! Her first birthday after a year of so many firsts. Daddy made her a felt crown and I made her a bear cake and she got lots of presents that make sounds and light up, she was so ecstatic i thought she might need a sedative! She enjoyed the cake so much she got a bath and a wardrobe change, though her hair took days to recover!

Saying Goodbye to Grandma

Esperanza Fortes, Coco's grandmother passed away Monday evening, August 18, 2008. She went very peacefully and was surrounded by family including 5 of her 6 children and 8 of her 10 grandchildren. Lola was 90 and still very sharp, with a wicked sense of humor. She was born in the Philippines as one of 9 children. She married young and had a child and lost her first husband in WWII to malaria. She married John's father over 5o years ago and had 5 children with him. She has 8 great grandchildren. Her children remember her being in the kitchen mostly, loving food and providing for her family.

I always liked John's mother. She was had a little wicked side to her, and as much as John doesn't like to admit it he takes a bit after her for sure. She always remembered Coco was her granddaughter, NOT her great grand as so many others have gotten confused about. Coco used to always cry why she saw Lola. It was odd because she wouldn't cry with other people, just Lola. After a little while she would be okay, but at first just cry when she saw her. When we went to say goodbye to Lola on Monday, I had been telling Coco all day what we were going to do and that she wouldn't see grandma again. When we went into her room Lola looked very peaceful and I brought Coco over and she stared at John's mother and she gave a little grin...then she reached out her hand and started waving it at her. As more and more people gathered Coco just kept looking at Lola very calmly and seemingly happily and waving. The veil is thin with babies....