Good Combination?

This has to violate some health &/0r safety codes.

Stay classy Torrance

For Megaroni & Cheese and the Grandparents

Or anyone else in need of a Cohen fix.

Eating hay. Approprate when wearing plaid and sitting on a hay stack.



Bringing the flannel back. I can not believe I'm supporting this come back, but what can I say, he rocks it.

Smilin and clappin

We got disney passes and we (meaning Cohen and I) are in heaven.

Philidelphia

This has been sitting in my queue for too long and is way overdue.

In August we went to the city of Dunkin Donuts, Quiznos, and brotherly love; (yes in that order) aka Philadelphia. I had a work conference and luckily John had some time off in between the bar and work so he was able to come with us.

It was a quick trip interrupted by sickness but we were still able to do some sight seeing.

not the real sign

John and the boy at Independence hall

wicked steep steps in congress hall

The Liberty Bell

Corylynn's Wedding

How Many Pictures Can One Post Hold

Cohen, the ring bearer in his baby tux.

4 inch heals + grass + pulling a wagon with a baby = hard

Here comes the bride

Happy sisters

GORGEOUS

Mr. & Mrs. Cooke

Brothers and Sisters

The Reception

We worked our tails off and of course we forgot to take pictures of the finished product. Here are the few we have.

Red Velvet Cake

the centerpiece

the favors

They were married on International talk like a pirate day so there were a few pirate details

Sweet moves

"aww da baby"

Gramps taking a picture of the photo booth

The photographer had set up a camera with a self timer so guests could take pictures of themselves with a few fun pirate props. For more pictures of the photo booth go to http://www.greglozaphoto.com/ then proofs, then cooke, the password is cooke_booth.




Some Matern women



Sisters, Sister. There were never such devoted sisters.

Before clean up we remembered to take a photo

The happy couple at the end of the night
The end.

Did You Know?

I think I gave birth to hedgehog

First Comes Love Then Comes Marriage

Presenting my beautiful sister, Mrs. Cooke (est. 9/19/09)

More to come

Wordless Wednesday

Oral Care

With the exception of size and shape one would say that the two above objects perform the same function, right? Wrong. Let me clarify. The bottom object is a toothbrush used by Cohen, while the other is a teethbrush used by moi.

Cohen's TOOTH brush.

Est. 8/31/09

Bitter Sweet

Bitter

Less time with them

Sweet

More time with him

Today was my last day working with the fabulous women pictured above.

My pink slip and I will be heading to work at El Camino tomorrow rather than UCLA.

Things I will not miss about my awesome job:

1. The commute on the 405
2. The temperamental elevators in my building
3. The loud protesting groups

Things I will miss about my awesome job:

1. My fellow DGP team members
2. FREE Yoga and Jazz dance classes
3. The fantastic benefits
4. The close proximity to yummy Westwood eateries especially Diddy Rees
5. The stimulating environment
6. The Professional growth
7. My UCLA rec pass that allowed me to have access to wonderful classes, the Wooden center, and the Olympic sized pool.

It is the best job I have ever had. You could not ask for better co-workers or a better boss(es). I have increased my knowledge of genetics a hundred fold. I have become a better thinker, a better interpreter, and a better person by working there.

Holla

The house is unpacked and the internet is hooked up.

We are back in business!

Hi-O!

So Long One, Hello Two

The current state of my living room

Dear Apt. F,

Thank you for being our home the past 2 years and 9 months. I will miss the huge bedroom, fabulous patio, and the rumbling of the garage doors beneath us; well maybe not the last one.

We have loved our time here but have out grown the space.

Thanks so much for the memories, don't ever change. Maybe I'll see you at the beach this summer.

K.I.T.,
-LeeElle

The time has come...we are finally upgrading to a TWO bedroom! We are moving a mere DEUX blocks away (ZWEI *german* blocks closer to the beach), which means we'll be able to stay in my beloved City. The new place is fantastic, has the most amazing kitchen with an insane amount of cupboard space, and a washer and dryer; can I get a hallelujah?

We are all packed and ready to go. I've brought all but the furniture and heavy boxes over (with the help of the Adams family) and we'll take the rest tonight when the truck and muscles show up.

Meanwhile John is staying in Beverly Hills finishing day DOS of TRES of the BAR. Fortunately for him he has been excused of all packing and moving duties - lucky duck. Truth be told I'd prefer to do this than take a gnarly exam. I am looking forward to his return home tomorrow night.

hmmm, there are no boys in that stock photo, must be an MFHD test at BYU

Caption?

I LOVE this picture, but I can't think of a good caption, or rather, an appropriate one. So my dear blog readers/lurkers, a prize for the best caption.

(My mother in law reads this so please keep it PG, Kirk I'm looking at you.)

5 Months

The child continues to grow and develop and we are still enamored with him

He's hard core.

Hence the board shorts and rash gaurd.

Things of note about his 5th month:

• He started to sit up on his own about 2 weeks ago. He's still a little wobbly and 'timbers' from time to time but for the most part can hold his own.
• He can move in his Bumbo seat. He pushes off with one foot to get across whatever surface he is on to retrieve the desired object. No more Bumbo on the counter/table.
• He's not really into naps, unfortunately. I think it's because he doesn't want to miss anything. Some days he'll take 2 or 3 20 minute cat naps. I (and my babysitter) love the days where he goes a whole hour or two. Luckily he doesn't get cranky from lack of sleep
• He loves being in the water. Yay for summer and pools and beaches!
• He's started scooting around on his belly.
• He's very flexible(I know all babies are) and eats his feet
• He has started to grab hair-it's not cool. Farewell to my cute dangly earings for a few months
• He loves textures and toys
• Can almost hold his bottle
• Ever since our trips to Sacramento he hates being put in his car seat. When he is strapped in he squirms, arches, and flails until we pick up the seat. Then he is OK.
• He is overall a friendly and happy boy
  

I wanted to snap a picture of him sitting up. This was the best I got before my camera battery died.

I wish you could hear the sound he is making in the picture. How I love my little grunter.

He still loves music. Don't feel bad if your child is not as oh what's the word...advanced. We got him a special pacifier to help with his embouchure.

The fam on the fourth.

We watched fireworks with our friends, The Calders, on the baseball field at Rec Park. Great seats and great company. Cohen was not a fan of the fireworks for the first 15 seconds then decided he was over them and fell asleep. I don't blame him. El Segundo puts on a good show but we/I am from Disneyland country and no one does fireworks better than Disney. (I say we because I believe that being from Disney-heim is a physical trait that Cohen inherited from me)

My sweet boy

Vacay

Cohen and I headed to St. George for a few days. We were joined by my mom, grandma, aunt Lezlee and her girls for a few days.
Unfortunately John was unable to join us. He is studying for some test he calls "the bar" (I don't know about you but that sounds to me like code for getting drunk and passing out by the pool). Anyway he claims it's very important. Whatever.

While we were there we...

Ate yummy food

I tried the pork Cafe Rio salad (I normally get chicken) and it was so good. The sweetness of the pork combined with the hot sauce (I don't do the tomatillo dressing) is to die for. I'm never going back to chicken.

Went shopping

I heart Tai Pan Trading and killer sales at Pier One and $10 cake stands/punch bowls.

but the main reason we went was

To see the plays at Tuachan

We saw Annie (adorable) and Footloose (Thayne from SYTYCD was Ren and was and amazing dancer)

> ;Aunt Lezlee and her girls, Grandma Matern, and my Mom




It was also Cohen's first time in the pool. He loved it! He was very interested by the water and enjoyed floating, splashing, and playing in the H20.