Thanksgiving 2009.

I'm back to blogging! Here're a few pictures of Christopher and family from Thanksgiving. We are so blessed to have so much family nearby, as both Gregory and I are from Sacramento. It does make the holidays a little hectic rushing from one place to another but it's well worth it when you get to spend time with loved ones. This year we had Thanksgiving breakfast at home with Gregory's family, Thanksgiving lunch with my Dad's side of the family at my Aunt & Uncle's house and then Thanksgiving dinner with 56 Reali's from Gegory's Dad's side of the famly at his Aunt & Uncle's house. Unfortunately Gregory was super sick and stuck at home in bed with a high fever while Christopher and I ran around Sacramento. Good thing there were enough leftovers to bring home for him.

Christopher and his 2nd cousin, Chase.

He spent a lot of time behind the camera.

Christopher and Gregory's cousin Elizabeth telling secrets.

Christopher hanging out with Gregory's cousins Kellie & Elizabeth.

Christopher and his Aunt Stephanie.

Christopher and few of his (2nd) cousins.


The Reali picture- wow.

Frist Day of Preschool!

Christopher started his 3-day preschool last week and while he doesn't like being there without me, I think at the end of the day he enjoys going. Here are some pictures from his first day.

Almost time to go!


Christopher and his friend Peter. I tried to get the classic "on the porch before school" shot with no such luck. But what can I say, they're 3.



Walking to school! I think it was more exciting for Lara and I then for Peter & Christopher.



They had a short class on the first day but made placemats to use at snack time. We brought in pictures and stickers and Christopher choose 2 pictures to use and then we decorated the rest of his placemat with his name spelled out in stickers and Thomas the Train stickers too.

Christopher and Mommy :)


Walking back to Peter's house. I just love Christopher's new backpack!


Of course we had to stop for the garbage truck. Ah, the life of a 3-year-old boy!

Lake Tahoe

We got away for a whole weekend and spent it up at the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. We had a nice time relaxing, swimming, and just enjoying the Lake Tahoe scenery! Oh, and of course Gregory squeezed in a tiny bit of fishing :)

Here's Christopher's mini version the Lonely Island's song "I'm on A Boat."

Christopher loved the swimming pool.

Here is Christopher hanging out under the pier right on the beach where we stayed. He loved playing in the sand!

We also took his bike up with us so he could ride around in the parking lot. His favorite part was going over all the speed bumps. Gregory and I thought he was going to tip over on them because he was going so fast, but he went right over like a pro.

We took Christopher to see Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." He did ok for most of it, but we ended up having to leave about 20 minutes before it was over because he was being such a wiggle-worm. Not too bad for his first Shakespeare play though!

We took a paddle boat ride!



Christopher's favorite part was helping pull the boat back up and playing in it on land!


Christopher and Andrew.



Lake Tahoe!



Ahhhh! I'm falling into Lake Tahoe!

San Francisco Sunday trip

We spent another Sunday away from Sacramento, trying to avoid the heat. This time we headed to San Francisco to visit a particular tackle shop that Gregory wanted to go to, hit the Stonestown Galleria mall, grab some lunch and hang out at the beach by the Golden Gate Bridge. Gregory wanted to try some fishing, so we tried the pier but since it was too windy we relocated down to the beach. Christopher had a blast climbing on the rocks and helping Daddy cast and reel in his fishing pole!

The Golden Gate Bridge

Christopher and Daddy fishing.

Playing in the sand.

Fishing in San Francisco!


The Golden Gate Park signs.


This one came out blurry but I think it looks like a painting!


View of the Golden Gate Bridge.


The Palace of Fine Arts at night.


Christopher showing off his sandy hands.


I love the expression on C's face here (and the color of the sky)!


Crossing over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Italian Camp

Christopher's been going to an Italian Camp all week for 3 hours each morning. It's not really a parent-participation class, but Christopher's never been left by himself so I've been going to the class with him. I did leave him there by himself on Wednesday, but he cried for 1/2 hour straight, so I'll stay with him for the rest of the week. He doesn't really like to participate as much as the other kids, but he is becoming more interested in how to say different things in Italian. Right now they're mostly concentrating on foods and colors.

They made gelato today so here's a picture of Christopher enjoying every last drop!

Wrights Lake.

We spent another weekend day away from Sacramento trying to avoid the heat, but this time it was so Gregory and his buddy Ray could get in some fishing. We decided to make a little trip out of it, packed up both families and drove up to Wrights Lake (a little closer to Sacramento than Lake Tahoe). We took a picnic lunch and spent the afternoon splashing around, swimming, canoeing and fishing. The boys (Christopher and his friend Jake and Jake's baby brother Josh) had a blast in the water and Jake and Christopher got to enjoy a couple canoe rides while Josh stayed on land. They absolutely loved getting to swim in the lake and we had to drag them out of the water to take a snack break!

Gregory and Ray took the canoe for a while to fish and apparently found some trout. They caught a couple but came back only towing one because I think they threw the rest back.

All in all it was a great day and even though he's young, I hope Christopher will always remember spending time with friends at the lake!

Jaime took the boys for a walk.

Here's Christopher dressed in his cute little fishing outfit, even though he didn't get a chance to fish :(

Apparently they weren't wet enough, because the boys spent a lot of time watering the rocks.

Ray and Gregory out on the lake.

"Baby" Josh just up and stood up all on his own!

I think this was supposed to be a hug, but it looks more like a a headlock.

Christopher making a spalsh.

Jake about to make a splash. Not really, I think he was throwing rocks!

Here's baby Josh enjoying the water.

Here's Gregory and Ray when they got back from their fishing outing.

Dinner?

You can't tell, but we're really in the middle of the lake where we canoed out to!

Silly boys.

Anyone know what kind of animal this is? We were thinking it's a muskrat, but it's tail has fur on it. Plus, according the the department of fish & game, there aren't muskrats between Folsom and Lake Tahoe.

Saturday.

Today Gregory and Christopher changed the brakes on the truck. Ok, let me rephrase that... Today Gregory changed the brakes on the truck and Christopher played and got dirty. Ok, so Christopher helped a little but mostly he just got dirty. It was fun!