Jingle All the Way. Hey.

I don't think we have any Michael Buble's in our future. But they sure have a lot of spirit!

Story time with Santa and a little something extra

On Saturday, we took the boys for Story Time with Santa at St. Martin's. The boys were really excited, especially Finn. It was a well organized event with coloring, cookies, projects, photo ops with Santa and Santa reading stories for the kids.

Finn & Santa

Sawyer did not want to go up to Santa. In fact, Santa apparently scared the vomit right out of him, as was evidenced just a couple of minutes later. Luckily, he didn't get Santa. Hopefully that's not an automatic ticket to the naughty list.

Oh Christmas Tree

You say you wanted to see the finished product? Wish granted.



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Christmas Tree Hunt 2011

Last weekend we headed up to the Santa Cruz mountains to partake in our holiday tradition of cutting down our Christmas tree. We got a big one this year- about 9 feet. That's right.

Finn picked out the tree this year. Nice work!

Finn is giving it his all trying to cut this tree with the dull saw they give you.

Jason and Sawyer are supervising.

Maybe next year Sawyer will be ready to be the sawyer. Heehee.

Looking good.

Even Momma gets a turn.

Scout is thoroughly unimpressed with the whole thing. But there were lots of different things to occupy her nose so that made her happy.

Here's the whole Papier Clan with our trees.

Thanksgiving cookies

I love that my 4 year old has the creative bug. We spent a couple of hours at the mall to kill some time on a rainy day. Finn was excited about the Christmas decorations. And he wouldn't let me leave Williams Sonoma without some Thanksgiving cookie cutters. I offered to get him 2. He demanded 4. We settled on 3.

So tonight we made some yummy cookies with the help of Finn's buddies Jack & Norah. Sawyer helped too. Mainly in the eating department. The kids had a blast decorating the pumpkins, acorns and turkeys. The heads on the turkeys kept getting cut off. Just like the real thing.

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Halloween 2011- The Final Chapter

I had to post a final Halloween post because despite some screaming (me), kicking (Sawyer) and crying (Jason) we finally got Sawyer into his monkey costume. He was immediately content. Go figure.

Banana, check. Lollipop, check.

The only thing scarier then the huge monster in front of the house is the devil dog inside! Check out those glowing eyes.

You may need to double click the picture to enlarge.

Happy Halloween!

Here's a preview of King Finn. He seems to think the scepter is a combination wand/sword/bat. It grants wishes, turns people into other things and goes "bam" a lot.

Sawyer refused the multiple costume choices offered and instead channeled the terrible-twos. He is going as Senor Cranky Pants. No costume necessary.

Halloween Box 2011

Aunt Betty's box full of Halloween treats arrived last week. Oh boy, oh boy.

Finn sneaks a peek

Hey, what'd you get?

Aunt Betty was very sweet and sent two of everything. Thank you!

Serious business

No time to take off the plastic

Sawyer is ready to ship himself to Montana to visit Aunt Betty. Scout is glad to help out!

Halloween Part 1 of a lot

Finn started begging me to decorate for Halloween for ages ago. I kept telling him, "first your brother's birthday, then we'll do Halloween." We had had this conversation 146 times and it was only Labor Day. Yes, the kid likes him some Halloween. So, of course, we had to indulge him with Filoli's Autumn Festival come October 1st. And it's not so bad for the adults either.

Here is Finn with the apple cider press. He even got to turn the wheel several times. Of course, the best part is drinking the cider, not making it.

Sawyer actually did a pretty good job with this necklace.

Finn is the master of crafts, necklace making included.

The boys running in the gardens.

Had to have his face painted. A blue butterfly.

Sawyer parked it in the flowers. Luckily we didn't get in trouble for that.

More photos from Sawyer's Bday

I'm only a month behind in posting these. We've been very busy with Halloween. More to come on that.

Sawyer getting a little help from big bro to open his presents.

Favorite present from that day has to be these new rain boots. He put them on immediately.

A week or so later we celebrated with the family. Here are Sawyer and Auntie Kirsten with their birthday cakes.

Making a wish. Blowing out candles.

Having fun!

Sawyer Turns Two!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

Can it be that Sawyer is 2 years old already? Yes and he is. And he knows it.

Me: Whose birthday is it today?

Sawyer: Me's!

When it's your birthday you get to decide if pants are optional. And today they were.

He really liked that candle. The candleholder looks just like him (and Finn).

Oh yeah. Kickin back with full tummies after a special birthday breakfast.

First Day of School

Guess who started Preschool today?

Finn was a bit of sleepy head today (rare!) so we were in a rush to get out the door (not so rare). But we made it in plenty of time. The teacher had started story time and Finn quickly found a spot in the circle and blended in like it was his 100th day. He was very excited about going to his new school and didn't seem the least bit scared or anxious. Wish I could say the same about his parents. I'm really proud of this little guy for being so adventurous and outgoing.

Not sure which was more exciting- the first day of preschool or his new lunch bag. Here he is showing off the contents to Jason and Sawyer.

For my Mom

I'm a little embarrassed that it has been well over a month since my last post. What have I been doing? Lots of stuff. And since things aren't slowing down and I won't be anywhere near my computer on July 3rd, let me just say

Happy Birthday Mom!

And in honor of your birthday, it is now your turn to be the subject of my tribute.

For my Mom:

My Mother set a very powerful example for me. You can be a wife and mother and have a career. When I was just beginning grade school, my mom went back to work. As I recall, this was not the norm among her peers and I never got the feeling that financial need drove her to do so. What I understood, was that my Mom wanted to work, she wanted to develop a career for herself and do something productive outside of our home. I remember her going back to school, studying, taking tests. My friends’ moms were not doing this. But we were all so proud of her. And then she landed her first job at Dawson and Brolan. And then she was on to Hill & Co., Troycor and McGuire. She artfully balanced her career and family and I don’t remember ever feeling deprived because she had gone back to work. I mean, except for that time she forgot to pick me up at summer daycamp. And the entire family and half the neighborhood were out looking for me. And it turned out that I had been resourceful and walked to my Nana’s apartment and waited there for someone to pick me up. And the whole thing nearly drove my Mother to quit her new career. You know, except for that.

My Mom taught me to fight for what I want and not accept “no” for an answer. And that is especially true with anything relating to her children. She motivates us (one way or another) to try harder, do better, and never give up. I can say without a doubt that I would not be where I am today had my Mother not raised me the way she did. When I have thought of giving up, I hear my Mom’s voice in my head, and keep pressing forward to reach my goal. That is a Gift that she gave to me.

My Mom and "her brood" circa 1976

How the brood has grown by 2010.

Happy Birthday Pops!

Today is my Dad's birthday. And it's a big one. I probably shouldn't say which big one since my Mom will never forgive me. But my Dad wouldn't care. In fact, I bet he is pretty proud to hit the big 75. Whoops. Sorry Mom.

My parents both retired about a year and a half ago. I wrote a tribute to each of them but never posted it. So today, in honor of my Dad's big birthday and recent retirement here is the tribute to my Pops.

For my Dad:

I have lots of memories of my Father at work. One of my favorite things to do was to go on hospital rounds with him on Sunday mornings after church. I realize now that this was a tactic for my Mom to get me out of the house so that she could get some work done, but I really enjoyed myself and often begged to go. Sometimes I would get to meet my Dad’s patients. And they would go on and on about what a wonderful doctor my Dad is and how lucky they were to have him. The trip usually ended with getting a bite to eat in the doctor’s lounge. I felt very special walking past the regular folks in the cafeteria to our “VIP” dining area. I also remember spending lots of time at my Dad’s office. My first memories are at the 4141 Geary office with Carlos and Agnes and, of course, Dr. Allison. I used to walk around the offices and check out all the doo-dads from the drug companies and Carlos would slip me some candy. I quickly learned to stay out of the lab. Although Carlos was a fun guy, there was nothing fun about the contents of that lab fridge.

During my first two years of law school we car pooled nearly every day, except for the months my Dad was out for his heart surgery. By then he had “incorporated” his practice and the office had moved to Shrader Street. Waiting for him in his office most nights, I learned a lot about my Dad. First, he is incredibly organized and disorganized at the same time. His desk is piled with years of paper work, magazines, charts and unopened gifts from patients. But somehow he is on top of it all. He is incredibly well respected by his staff, colleagues and patients. “Your father is a good man,” they would say. “He is such a good and caring doctor.” He is a leader. I had no idea how many presidential and chief posts he held until his heart surgery required him to step back. And he is fiercely proud of his family. Our family portrait hangs in the hallway outside of his office. I can’t tell you how many times I witnessed him walk his patients from their exam room over to that picture to show off his family. And if all these things didn’t convince me that my Dad is special then the fact that countless times growing up, and still today, when strangers hear my name they ask me if I am related to Dr. Frietzsche. Each time I proudly answer, “Yes, I am his daughter.”

Happy Mother's Day

Jason went crazy this year and surprised me with these. Nice!

It was a lovely day featuring breakfast with my boys, relaxation time by myself and a late brunch with my Mom, Dad and Karol.


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Egg Hunt '11

On our way to our neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt this morning.





Sawyer was super pumped waiting for the hunt to begin and was even jumping up and down and doing a little dance. He lost all interest after finding chocolate in the first egg and just wanted to eat "nanny" (candy). Just learned that word this morning.



Finn secured quite a basketful of eggs. He even shared some with Sawyer after Sawyer dropped his basket and another little boy came over and took some of his eggs.

Watch out cousins! I think these boys are ready for the annual family Easter egg hunt.

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04/04, Oh Four

Finnegan is Four today!

We celebrated with a huge party on Saturday. Finn invited everyone, even some of the mannequins at Nordstrom's. Seriously.* The weather was a little cooler than we would have liked but that certainly did not stop the kids from jumping in the bouncy house, painting their wooden cars, hanging on the play structure, digging in the sand box and generally having a fantastic time.

Here he is getting some help with the candles from his buddies Mikey and Jackson.

I was shocked to see so many of the kids sitting at the table at once.

I guess they will do anything for some cake.

And, of course, here is Sawyer hamming it up for the camera.

At the end of the party he hopped up on the kiddie tables and did his best cat walk. Seriously.

*Finn walked straight up to the kiddie mannequins in the boys department and said, "Hey, you guys want to come to my party?" This was in January.

18 months

Still SO Big.

35" tall (99%)
almost 27 lbs (65%)

But a trip to the doctor's has it's perks. After a nap, lunch with Daddy and playing in the park, we shared some banana frozen yogurt.




Good to the last drop!



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When you're right, you're right.

The other night . . .

Finn: [under his breath] I don't like you. You're bossy.

Me: [shocked] Excuse me?

Finn: [quietly] You're bossy.

Me: [sternly] I AM THE BOSS.

Finn: [defiantly] You're not the boss. You're mommy.

Me: [bluntly] Yes. And I'm your boss.

Finn: [confidently] No. You're Daddy's boss!

Me: [uproariously] Hahahahaha . . .


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Happy Valentine's Day

Finn is very excited about Valentine's Day. Although for some reason he keeps referring to it as Father's Day. We made valentine cards and cookies for daycare.


Bet you wish you were getting a Valentine treat from my boys.





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