28th Week, Christmas

This photo is from Christmas Eve, we took a walk in the neighborhood on their trail. Very nice. Kylie was enjoying the fresh air too.

Somebody just got a bath! Here's Kylie opening one of her many Christmas presents. "Hi I'm Tad."

And another toy...

This book is cool. Traci's mom, Donna, made it for Kylie. This is the kind of gift that I know Kylie will appreciate when she's older. (Plus she can chew on it now and the pages won't tear).

28th Week, Set 4

Walking barefoot in the sand. Santa Cruz boardwalk in the background

Two of the days on our trip we stayed with Traci's high-school friends Paul and Jenny, and their daughter Isabella. She was very good with Kylie, she's almost 3. Very cute!
On our journey from Santa Cruz to Sacramento we paid a visit to long-time familiy friends Lona and Larry. They gave Kylie her first set of letters. These are links too.
This was taken in Traci's parents' living room. She's playing with her fishy-clapper.

28th Week, Set 3 (still in Santa Cruz)

Here's Kylie sucking on Traci's bottom lip.

And here's my Mom, Erwin, and Kylie before they flew out to for Christmas in Seattle.
Today being a nice day, (and me finally finishing some work) we made the trip the Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk. Which was pretty quiet. But now, Kylie has been to both oceans.
This is one of my favorite photos.

28th Week, Set 1 (Santa Cruz, CA)

This is the morning we decided to go take Kylie to get her first ever photo with Santa. We were to meet up with Santa at the Capitola Mall. Below, is Santa's Little Helper.

It was pouring rain that day! It's hard to believe, but that was a month ago. Kylie sure grows so much in so little time.
Kylie and Dad (above) , and Kylie and Momma (below)

Here we are on the backside of Santa's backdrop at the Capitola Mall. I'm glad we went to see Santa at the Capitola mall... Had we met up with Santa at Washington Square buy us, we would've had to wait in line.

27th Week, Set 1

These pictures are from our annual Holiday/birthday party... which was also coincidentally Kylie's 6 month Birthday as well! Never before have we had so many kids rolling around and running around the place.

From left to right: Ryan, Kylie, and Riley

Here's Kylie and Riley going for one of their headbutts. Our next door neighbor, Lisa made that Red fleece gingerbread blanket. Kylie loves that blanket. In fact we get many compliments on the blanket wherever we go. Thanks Lisa!

New Floors (Master Bathroom)

I used to have something to say about the new floors... but since that was weeks ago now... I don't have much to say, except to show the before and after.

Not bad, eh?

26th Week, Set 1

Blogger has been giving me crap lately! These photos are getting old enough that I don't remember the context.

I know this was taken prior to Kylie's 6 month birtday. She and Biggest get along really well.

Here is our house decorated for Christmas this year. Many of our lights from years past were non-functional this year. Could've been from the hot summer in the attic? We'll have to stock up again next year.

You can see some of the remants of the tornado that blew through our living room while decorating for Christmas. And of course we have the ever-adorable Kylie!

28th Week, Set 2 (Santa Photo, Capitola Mall)

Here's my mom holding our easily distracted squirmy worm. It was hard to take a good picture with Kylie with so much stuff going on all arond us.

Kylie's Santa Photo 2006

Their camera is set up to look down on the people on Santa's lap. Kylie was at eye-level with the rest of us.

27th Week, Set 5 (California Christmas Trip)

On December 19th we flew down to San Jose to start our California Christmas. The first night we stayed with Traci's old friends Jenny and Paul outside of San Jose before heading down to Scotts Valley to spend a few days with my mom and Erwin.

Kylie caught with a "V" in her mouth.

Kylie caught with a caterpillar in her mouth. I think she's discovered that holding things in her mouth is a way of transporting stuff.

Here she found her way under Erwin's coffee table.

This will be one of those rare photos, where you see Kylie with a pacifier in her mouth. She will rarely take one, and if she does it won't be for long.

27th Week, Set 4

Is this a subtle Coca-Cola ad?



Nope, just some after-bath photos of Kylie... with the bath towel placed just right to protect the innocent.

27th Week, Set 3

On the 16th, we went to another holiday party. This one, is an annual gift exchange party hosted by our friends Josh and Trisha.

Here's Kylie and Riley facing off again.

This just looks torturous. If you want, I'll get this photo printed on coffee mug for you? Thanks to our friend Trista for the super-stylin' bib and changing pad. They are retro-funk cool!

We learned about these Parent's Magazine Block Party blocks from our friends Josh and Trisha. They were carrying them at Costco... but were selling out fast! So Traci had me get on the phone and track a set down for ourselves. I called my local Costco... and they were down to their last, and they held it for me so I could go pick it up the next day. They are $100, but are great developmental toys and double as a colorful ottoman. It's like getting two pieces of furniture for the price of one! Kidding aside, these blocks are great and are a fraction of the cost of pro-grade stuff Traci was accustomed to in her Occupational Therapy work in the school district.

I think she can actually touch the tip of her nose with her snake like tongue.

27th Week, Set 2

More holiday gifts from our friends.

Kylie tipping one back for the camera. I'm sure it's just eggnog.

Here's are dear friend Theresa trying to Kidnap Kylie from us. Her son Matthew is very cute, and so much fun to watch. At one point he tried to wheel the cooler away. He's very industrious.

Merry Christmas from the Carlson's!

Chris, Traci, Kylie, and Biggest too!
We actually sent out some Christmas cards this year.... and we also ran out of cards too! Next year we'll have to order more! We hope that you all had a very Merry Christmas and hope that God will bless you in the new year.

New floors (Guest Bathroom)

Here's the before and after on the Guest bathroom. The overall project cost nearly $1500. We saved money by choosing the same vinyl for both bathrooms. And to do the job with single sheets of Vinyl we need 12' roll Vinyl. If I told you the new floors were Tile, would you believe it? Some people who saw it, thougth it was Tile even while stepping on it. Why not tile? Because Vinyl is easier to care for and clean up!