Halloween 2009

Halloween this year was definitely a treat! Nana came to visit for the weekend and together we enjoyed the holiday with Ryan and Amy McGuire at their home in Fresno. Like every year since kiddos, we also made a visit to the pumpkin patch, so those pictures are in this post as well.

Susie as Chiquita Banana and our little kitty cat Claire
Trick or Treat, Godmama and Godfather!
We were instructed to bring a "spooky" appetizer, so this is what came about: a cream cheese/pepper jelly with crackers appetizer of sorts. The brains are chopped baby corn, olives for eyes and nostrils, asparagus eyebrows, bell pepper lips and pea puke. The blood is the pepper jelly. Eat your heart out, Martha Stewart!

Baby Jack enjoying his first Moscow Mule?!

Nana, Doug and the girls out for a few treats

Ryan and Amy with Incredible Hulk

Mr. Incredible aka Godfather

As always Mr. Incredible was incredibly fun....

.... even despite his incredible wedgie!! (Sorry Ryan, I couldn't help myself!!)

And finally, Pumpkin Patch 2009

Go Dogs!

Although I will always be a Cal Poly Mustang at heart, it was fun to root, root, root for the home team last weekend at a Fresno State football game. We kicked off the night by enjoying a tailgate party with Godmama and Godfather (we're thinking of renaming him Naughty Goddy), Baby Jack, and Ryan's parents Rick and Kathy McGuire. Thanks for inviting us! Grandma, Grandpa, and Uncle Diver Dave were at the game as well and were nice enough to let Susie sit with them during the game. Sweet!

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Tailgate with the McGuires

Luckily the girls had plenty of pre-game warm-up time on a big open field before we headed into the stadium. It's always good to get a little energy out before being confined to bleacher seats with children!

Claire's latest very cheesey "say cheese" smile alongside Susie's "I'm a glamour girl" pose.... heaven help us!
After many attempts, this was the best shot I could get- thank goodness for digital
Now here's a cute little kiddo!

Now look who's hamming it up for the camera! Naughty Goddy...

Happy Birthday Daddy-O

Dougie turned 29 this month, so the girls and I helped him celebrate with a birthday party lunch. Susie and Claire helped me bake a cake, which Claire had a really tough time keeping her hands out of... good thing we only had to make it to lunch and not all the way to dinner!

The "caught red handed" smile



Susie made sure daddy got his very own birthday door sign. It's a little hard to read, but in true Berry family fashion it simply says "Daddy is 29"

For dinner Doug and I got to celebrate with a night out on the town. Since we were without kiddos, we opted for some of the fun stuff we can't do with the girls: Suhsi at the actual sushi bar (highchairs don't work too well at the sushi bar and chopsticks become a weapon with Susie and Claire) and cocktails at the Vintage Press (I doubt they even have highchairs!). We had a blast!

Birthday Boy Doug enjoying his new favorite cocktail- the Moscow Mule. You'll have to come to the VP in Visalia and try it out!

All Work No Play?!

If only I could get them to clean the real house...

Blue Sky

Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue!

Baby Emily

Because today is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, please join me in praying for all those who have lost a child.

We love you, Scott and Tristen!

Happy 4th Birthday Susie!

It's hard to believe Susie turned four years old this month! Her birthday was a whirlwind trifecta of excitement complete with a school celebration, tea party, family dinner, and three rounds of cake and ice cream to go with it all. This, of course, means I was a baking, decorating, entertaining machine, but Susie's enjoyment from start to finish made it all worth the effort. It also made me appreciate my own mom who put so many wonderful birthday parties together for me over the years! Thanks, mom!! Here's the photo evidence of the big two-day event.

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Susie at preschool the day before her actual birthday wearing her birthday crown, obviously loving being the center of attention for the day...

Doug stayed up the night before Susie's birthday putting together this birthday gift. It was a late night labor of love complete with a hand-layed brick foundation and everything!

Both Susie and Claire enjoying the new birthday playhouse

Susie's tea party table set up

A vanity set with all kinds of terribly fancy dollar store jewels for the kids to play dress-up at the party

Susie and classmate Mia accessorizing

Claire getting in on the action

A collection of old hats from when I was a little girl added to the fun. Ooo La La!



Susie ready to dig in to the tea pot cake I made. Although it looked pretty cute, I have to admit it tasted terrible!!

Susie was allowed to invite four children from her preschool class to come to her tea party. Even though I kept reminding her that it was going to be a very girly party, she insisted on inviting her all-boy buddy Isaac. He was a very good sport despite all the frills!


The famous birthday door sign- it's not a birthday without it!

Susie was lucky to share her birthday dinner with friends and family- Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Dave, Uncle Ryan, and Auntie Katie Phillips, Godmama, Godfather, and Jack McGuire, and Neighbors Krista and Harold Rollin. By this point in the party excitement I'm sad to admit I was done taking pictures, so I don't have much documentation for you of the evening, but I do have these fabulous pictures of Grandpa testing out the playhouse!

Claire enjoying Susie's birthday dinner request: double decker tacos and corn on the cob! Sounds like a four-year-old request, don't you think?!

Our not so little anymore Curly Sue

More cupcakes

Birthday aftermath- Barbie City!!