Dad calls her a trained parrot... sometimes all we do all day is make her tell us "what does a doggie/elk/chicken/fishy/duck call/lion/ABA say!?" and say her words in Francie language and make her do her limited signs (more, please, hat) over and over. And over. Here are a few of the clips we managed to get on film from over the past few weeks...
FRANCIE!!! She is officially a walker and all of the sudden she is obsessed with shoes and socks. :) She started talking steps a few weeks ago but usually when she didn't realize she wasn't holding on to anything. Yesterday I put my old walker-high-tops on her and she was going to town walking all over the place all day. Here comes Trouble!
Em sent me some cute pictures her mom, Marla, took on Saturday night when James and Em babysat Francie-pants. They took her over to Em's parents house to meet cute Baby Jackson who just turned 1 month old on the 22nd! They took along Francie's "cah-cah" to keep her occupied and along with the banana puffs she felt right at home :) Thanks again guys!
Auntie Em showing Baby Jackson to Francie.... for a kiss ;)
Puffs on the face makes everyone laugh... except Francie.
But Uncle James knows how to make her happy!
This weekend we went to cousin Emmy's Division 1 soccer debut games! She is playing for San Jose State University and has been working hard since last spring training with her team. She started in both games this weekend... Friday night vs Santa Clara and Sunday vs Cal. Emmy had quite the cheering section at her games! We are all so proud of her especially since she scored the FIRST AND ONLY GOAL OF THE SEASON!! She rocked and we are excited to be Spartan fans and go to all of her games this season. GO EMMY!
Jannie and Francie watching intently at Friday night's game
Uncle Jerry was up from Southern CA for both games!
Francie got plenty of passing around but loved to sit and watch the "baw-baw" (aka ball)
She LOVED cousin Luke (I think it was his fancy colored braces:)
The college girls Ari and Claire at the game to cheer Emmy on before heading off to college. Claire left the next day for her freshman year at Boston College. Good luck Claire!
My Dad and Heff watching the game (and probably not talking about politics or legal stuff at all:)
Just a small section of the "Emmy Belding Fan Club"
Ella's Go #10 sign!
Uncle John, Luke and Ella reading Francie her animal book
We got a visit from Emmy after the game up in the stands. We love Emmy!
Emmy and Kelly
End of the night after Emmy's first D-1 college game!
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Saturday we had two parties to go to without the little Doo so Uncle James and Auntie Em babysat for us! This was the first big night we've left her, James and Em did great keeping her busy and even getting her to go to sleep. Heff and I had fun at Icie's birthday party and Suzi's "Totally 80's" rager. We were decked out in 80's gear and didn't even take a picture! (just think me in my 7th grade windbreaker/2-piece-snowsuit in pink/purple/teal with giant neon goggles and a side ponytail... Heff in a vintage ACDC shirt, pegged jeans and a rocker blond wig with headband:) But Em said her mom got some shots of Francie meeting Baby Jackson so hopefully I'll get my hands on those to post later :) THANKS JAMES AND EM!
******************
Sunday's game back at Spartan Stadium was even more exciting as Emmy scored a goal!!!
SJSU reported: "San Jose, Calif. - In just her second game of Division I women's soccer, San Jose State University junior Emmy Belding found the back of the net for her, and the team’s, first goal of the season, but the Spartans ultimately fell to the #17 California Bears, 3-1.
"Scoring that goal was super exciting,” said Belding. “I just went in there and attacked. The goalie tried to clear the ball, but I trapped it and saw the open net. Two defenders came at me, but I was able to spin away from them and put the ball in the net.
"Tying the game really gave us a big boost. We played much better from that point on. Opening the season with Santa Clara and California has been a big test, but that goal showed us that we can compete and gave us a lot of confidence.”
Super fans Gary, Jerry, Connor and Johners
Sporting her Red Sox hat in honor of Claire's first day in Boston (from Goody!) and intently watching Em tear it up on the field
Another run at the net by #10
ALMOST in this time!
Emmy Belding Fan Club... cheering from the shade today!
Number 1 fan :)
Francie laughing with Lukey again
Connor "Big-man-on-Playa-Blvd-Now" Kreeft and Johners "I-Change-My-Facebook-Profile-Pic-Every-Hour" Belding
Francie cuddled next to Daddy
James with the Aunts and Uncles
Heff with the kiddos
Popular Number 10 being interviewed after the game
Uncle John and Francie Doo!
Aunt Kaky looking hot in Spartan Blue and white to cheer on her Superstar daughter!! (Em takes after her mom's excellent dodge-ball athletic ability:)
YAY EMMY!
After the game Sunday afternoon we all went to "OJ's" (Original Joe's) downtown San Jose for a big family dinner (it was the geriatric hour, but we couldn't turn down OJ's!) The "kids" table:
Not to be confused with the "not-kids-table" Nice Shirley Temple Con-man
Francie got to sit in a booster seat next to Jannie and Uncle Andy at the "adults table!"
Loving her first trip to OJ's
Uncle Jerry, Kaky and Rich
ALL DONE!
The other day we snuck away for a family afternoon at the San Francisco Zoo. I hadn't been since a second grade field trip when Jannie got yelled at by the teacher for taking kids on the train ride (she was 8 months pregnant with Ann but go NO breaks:) and Heff had never been to this zoo. We didn't get up there until 3:30 so kind of did a zoo tour on speed but Francie loved seeing all the animals. We walked the whole thing in less than two hours and managed to see everything but we'll have to go back when we have more time and can stop at the "Leapin' Lemming Bar" for beers and hot dogs!
Francie thought it was funny to pretend she was a baby giraffe
"Do you see those giant monkeys mom!?"
Francie was wishing she could climb on the chimp's playhouse!
Chillin in her overalls by the baby elephant (Dad dressed her this morning in my old vintage Osh Kosh:)
On the shoulders and in charge... "That way Dad!"
Don't harass the tigers at the SF Zoo! ;)
"How'd that big chicken looking thing get out of it's cage?"
Walking on Dad's big feet!
and we found another Carousel ride! The "elk" was taken so she settled for a horsey
Dad checking the safety this time :)
Holding on tight and gripping with those little stinky toes!
Dad let her sit on the "elk" (or reindeer:) on their way out... she was making her elk sounds when she saw the horns
Francie stopped to take a picture with mom... but she just wants to see more animals! (signing her version of "more")
This silly Billy Goat in the family farm was her favorite... she was laughing so hard when he hit his blue ball!
And our last stop was the giraffe feeding barn... they were a big hit with Francie too
"That thing is even taller than Uncle Mark."
Dad had to take her in the gift shop... but resisted the urge to buy anything Ollie would probably destroy as soon as we got home
"Can we go back to that zoo all the time mom?!"
Laughing at her crazy dog
and her crazy mom
I love pictures of babies sitting on their feet :)
"Just getting the mail for you Mom."
Wednesday we had a Summer Playdate at our house for Icie's birthday and to get the babies together to enjoy the warm weather and get some use out of the playpit. Some of the older boys are walking and everyone is talking and playing together more than they have before... it's funny to see them fight over toys :) Francie was a little miffed when other kids got to ride her beloved "cah." It was a fun afternoon but our thoughts are all with our friend Aliza who couldn't be there :(
Baby Stella (who lives four houses away) hanging out on the blankets
Estelle and Francie scheming on how to get Leo out of the car
Estelle proud of herself for getting the drivers seat back
Wesley doing anything but napping in Francie's Pinked-Out crib
It was such a warm day I had to borrow the neighbors umbrella out of their yard while they were out of town!
Paige and Wes after the nap didn't happen
Cute half naked baking babies in the shade
Francie thought it was funny to climb underneath the bar table
again and again...
Icie the Birthday Girl!
Isaac with his new blond locks (and his mom Lindsey is expecting a baby in March... she's the first one to go for number two!)
Little Miss Natalie (who is also a neighbor and shares a birthday with Baby Stella!)
Natalie's mom Moriah (left) and Stella's mom Gretchen (right). We are so lucky to have so many baby girl neighbors!
Still under the table
The big guy Carson in his "shorts"
We were all trying to figure out why little boy shorts are all SO long!?
*Next few photos courtesy of guest photographer Paige Kron :) (happy now Paige?)
Francie says "Paige. WHAT are you doing with my mom's camera? She always tells me 'NO NO' when I touch it!"
Isaac with the ball before the fight over it begins
Lindsey, Heather and Erika. Moms to...
The big boys Isaac, Carson and Leo
We all very much missed our friend Aliza who was just recently diagnosed with and is battling leukemia (infant ALL). She is back east with her parents and their families and just started chemo on Monday. Aliza is in all of our thoughts and prayers constantly and we sent her our love from all of her CA playdate friends.
Obviously the babies all miss Aliza :(
Kelli and Landry
Moriah and Natalie
Gretchen and Stella
Icie "blowing out the candles" on her Jello-shot "cake" (yes, we think we are 20)
Leo says "Oh these mothers never stop talking"
Landry crawling on over to Carson and Leo
Michael and Leo... "Whatta you lookin' at?"
With Ollie locked safely away in the house I brought out the chickens... they were a big hit and survived the little death grips :)
Heff took Francie to the office with him this morning and when I came in a few hours later (thanks for the sleep-in day Heff:) Francie and her Dad were hard at work watching Elk videos on YouTube... She was fixated and making her elk sounds at the computer!!
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I used to slide by with only a few baths a week for Francie when she was a "baby" but NOW she gets so dirty multiple times a day she is in the tub all the time :) She loves to play in dirt and rocks and somehow gets mud and dirt all over her face, knees, feet, hands, fingers and toes. It's nice now that she is bigger she can take a bath in the tub without a babybath or anything so we just throw her in and let her go at it!
Monday night we had dinner at the Dutch Goose with our good friend Jen before she heads back to New York City to move into her new apartment. She was out here for the weekend meeting movers to get her stuff (hope it makes it:) and we got to spend lots of time with her over the weekend. She couldn't believe how big Francie was since she hadn't seen her in a couple of months. We'll see you next month in New York Jen!
Sunday night we had our neighbors Ben, Sandra and Alexa over for dinner and found our first egg in the chicken coup! Alexa and Francie were playing in the playpit while Ben and I were checking out the chickens (Sandra and Ben were the first chicken sitters when they were baby chicks and had the unfortunate timing to have to "brown bag" the sixth chicken who bit the dust) Ben looked in and said "Oh you have eggs now?" and I was surprised to see a little brown egg in their hutch! They are supposed to lay eggs at six months, but these guys are only 4.5 months so one of them in a little early to the party... we've had one egg a day since then so we'll have to catch it in the act to figure out if its Red Neck, Trailer Trash, Daisy, Duke or Queenie laying the golden early egg!
"What? You didn't tell me those chickies lay EGGS!"
Cute Alexa
Crazy girl Francie pants
Saturday night Heff went out with the "Willows Dads" for their annual Pub Crawl in downtown Palo Alto. These guys are pretty serious about their monthly Dad's Nights Out and the Pub Crawl... so serious they had t-shirts made up this year! One of the Dad's designed a logo for the Willows Dads and then the guys could order whatever size/color/cut they wanted on Zazzle. They only looked slightly gay in their matching shirts riding their bikes together :) They all had some good stories floating around the neighborhood the next morning (do we live in a college dorm? Sometimes it is almost as fun!) and I'm sure we didn't even get to hear the good ones :) All I know is I'd never heard the Old Pro turned people away from riding the bull because they were too drunk to write their own name until the Pub Crawl was over!
Before the Pub Crawl on Saturday afternoon we went to a birthday party down the street for our friend Bart Draper who I went to 6th-8th grade with and we just recently ran into each other on the sidewalk when he bought the house a block away! He has a two year old girl and Francie had fun running around with the big kids :)
And not to let the DADS steal all the glory... Last Saturday night we had an impromptu "Moms Night Out" at the Old Pro in Palo Alto with a few of my mom friends who live nearby, Icie, Ressa and Paige. I was already in my Juicy's on the couch when they texted me to go out but I rallied (you can tell since my hair is curly :) We had fun and stirred up our own trouble!
Paige asked this guy how his basketball team did at the Olympics and how he got back from Bejing so fast. He was not amused but did agree to take a picture with her
Walking Home. A little earlier than we used to :)
Saturday we went to the San Mateo County Fair with the Johnets and the Carters. It was not the Red Bluff fair (vendors were a little more Oriental Trading Company than Red Bluff Round Up) but it was fun and we were surprised how many 4H kids there are in San Mateo County (Heff and I were BOTH 4H kids even if he was a little more 'hard core' than I was... I mean just because her raised 250 pound hogs and 1250 pound cows and I just had a dumb turkey (Gonna' B. Eaten), a lamb (chops) and of course vaulted he thinks he trumps me:) But Francie thoroughly enjoyed the animals and the sights while we feasted on every kind of fried food we could get our hands on. It reminded us of our last trip to the County Fair in Red Bluff when she was 9 days old!
Eating BBQ and beans with Jannie
Francie asking for "more, more!"
Waiting in line for the carousel ride with her Dad (she had to try these out before she rode the REAL THING!)
Not so sure about this at first...
Deep in conversation with her Dad
"You sure this thing is secure Dad? It looks a little rickety up there."
Despite the worried look on her face, she did have fun!
Back to Mom to walk around and check out the other rides (we considered putting her on the "swings" that go around in a circle but were glad we didn't when we saw them going around super fast with the kids flying around in the oversized swingseats!)
The tractors in the Kids Barnyard Babies exhibit were a hit for Francie... she called them all "cah"s (aka cars)
Her favorite though were the animals... she got to feed this mutant goat with no ears
and watched the "Hog Wild" pig races from Dad's shoulders
The Johnets and the Carters at the pig racing stands
The Heff's with our favorite little Doo!
But the BEST part of the day was the pony ride! Francie is a pony riding pro thanks to the Flynn girls so she got to ride "Lincoln" the pony all by herself at the fair! (Dad walking around inside just in case :)
"Does this guy know what he's doing? Where is Madeline when I need her?"
"You better get that belt nice and tight buddy."
"DAD don't embarrass me, I'm a big girl you know"
"Hummm... this pony sure likes to stop a lot."
Francie posing for her pony ride photo-op
Now she's into it... "Ride um cowgirl!"
Looking for Jannie around the bend
Laughing at Mom and Jannie!
"Can you believe Dad AND Grampa are letting me ride this thing by myself Jannie!?"
"This horse is moving kinda fast now..."
"What!? They are taking kids OFF? Nobody told me this thing ends!"
Giving the horse a "Good Horsey" pet on the neck
and doing the "MORE" sign when she wants to keep going
High-5 to Jannie on the last go round
Good ridin' Cowgirl!
All Done
Delivered safely back to her dad
Ok, maybe not FAMOUS... but Francie's "Glamping Trip" got some action on my favorite website Ohdeedoh... Click here to see the post and leave a comment!
Last Thursday night we had dinner at my parent's house since Claire and Tom were in town to move Aunt Kat out of her place and up to Red Bluff (we'll miss you in Menlo Oaks Kat!) Mark and Sarah and Sarah's brother Jacob joined us and Kathy and Michelle Bacolini were here to join in the fun and as always were a big help with the pizza preparations. We hadn't had a dual-family-dinner in awhile and it was fun to get the pizza oven fired up for some new pizza concoctions and John's BloodyMary skirts steaks too. Thanks Johnets!
Francie loves this scarecrow in Jannie's garden, we call him "Funny Guy" and she always wants to go see him and wear his funny guy hat (she signs "hat" by patting the back of her head with both hands.. close enough:)
She gets pretty excited to see Funny Guy and has her own little conversations with him...
Francie AND Jannie in funny guy hats!
Looking like a farm girl in her JanKnit longies...
Jannie got our old wooden blocks back (ie, had to pry them out of cousin Drew's reluctant hands!) and bought Francie a new push wagon for them
Speaking of JanKnits... Jannie just finished a new white sweater for Francie in the same pattern as her cute pale pink one she wears all the time but is growing out of!
AGAIN she finds her Cherrios in the pantry when no one was looking! We're on to you now Francie-sneaky-pants
Michelle making pizzas...
Dad eating the pizzas!
Francie with BOTH sets of Grandparents (she calls Opa "Pah-Pah" and Grandpa "Am-Pah" but sometimes they sound like the same thing:) and her favorite Menlo Oaks family members
Just missed the airplanes! It was a pretty night...
Some pictures of Francie helping pick tomatoes in the garden and causing trouble with her sidekick Ollie! Sorry for the lack of blog postings last week... once I caught up on Black Butte posts I was worn out! We had a busy week working a little, hanging at at home a little and shopping with Emmy on Friday... thanks for sharing your day off with us Em, can't wait for your next soccer game!
Silly Girl
Hanging with her doggie
The Princess of her Playpit :)
Francie has been a little "wild banshee" lately climbing on things, ALMOST walking on her own and getting into everything she can. The other day when I went in to check on her after her morning nap (hence the dirty-kneed-pj she is still wearing) I found her with quite a guilty look on her face and her DOG book in three pieces...
Then at Jannie's we realized she had crawled into into the other room and and we couldn't hear her anymore... never a good sign :) Jannie was running around outside and in the back porch searching for the little monster and finally found her in the pantry with yet another guilty look. She CLIMBED up the pizza oven stacker to reach her Puffs on the second shelf, opened the container and went to town snacking away :)
Wears a girl out!
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The other day we had Wes and Estelle over for an impromptu playdate in the backyard. It was HOT so the babies played naked in their very chic diapers and sported their sippy cups.
Francie stands on her own when she doesn't notice she is doing it :)
Estelle and her mom in a heart to heart over sippy cups
Wes says "Um. You're in my way."
Francie driving full speed ahead!
Estelle says "You taking pictures of my bum Francie's-Mom?"
"I know you did... you better not blog that picture!"
Look at those naked buns of steal working hard to help the girls stand up!
Wes is not happy with us at all... now Icie put a headband on him. poor guy :)
"Yeah enough. Get this thing off my head."
Estelle did you just eat dirt again??
Look at my new denim "longies" Jannie knit me on her cross country road trip! They are sooo comfy and CUTE!!
Life with our Four Marys! Raising Free Range Kids in Northern CA.
