better pictures coming soon

I'm very excited because our Christmas gift to ourselves this year was a camera - so this is the last post of iPhone photos!

Our big news this month though is Jack finishing his MBA program at St. Marys. I met up with Jack and his classmates after their final class for some celebratory drinks. Such an awesome accomplishment!!!

We also finally got around to having baby Jack baptized. I still need to download more pics! But here he is playing with Daddy's tie.

And baby Jack likes to stand! All the time. I mean, all the time. This kid is going to break us. He already opens all the doors in the kitchen and attempts to climb the stairs. He is nuts.

But he's also the sweetest little thing - so it definitely makes all the chasing around worth it.

Busy

We have had a busy few weeks. Some of the highlights include the Yo Gabba Gabba concert that we went to with the Grochol's. Brooke LOVED it and is still talking about it. Her parents however think that our money would be better spent next year by getting a limo with the Grochol's and the 4 of us going out for a fancy steak dinner. Roughly the same cost.

Baby Jack is getting BIG! He is just over 8 months now and is pulling himself up on everything! He is not someone you can turn your back on!

Brooke also graduated from her current soccer class - sorry these pics are fuzzy. Maybe if I was using a real camera and not my phone, these would be better.

I generally find Baby Jack standing up in his crib in the mornings. I know he is going to be the one to climb out one of the days. Jack and I will hear a thud....and it won't be good.

And these are way late..but here are some of our shots from the Giants Parade. So fun! These aren't that great..but you can read the signs on the trolly and get the idea.

Buster..

That's Matt Cain

Cody Ross & Aaron Rowand

And these hot two players. Woop woop.

Trick or Treat

Since I did not take advantage of dressing Brooke up in ridiculous outfits before she started having her own opinions...poor Baby Jack gets to suffer through all of my clothing whims. Here he is modeling costume #1. Woof.

Of course we held on to Brooke's 1st Halloween costume...a hot dog, or this year, a Giants Dog!

Brooke was Cinderella, a huge turn around from last year when she dressed up only for daycare and then refused to put a costume on on Halloween. She loved dressing up and I caught several glimpses of her running down the sidewalk and then stopping to admire her dress and then twirl a few times. So cute. I wish I had the same reaction when I look down at what I am wearing most days.

A happy Cinderella and a non-complaining hot dog.

Cinderella, Hot Dog, Buzz and an Alien...a likely gang.

Um...who is Niko giving the death stare to?

And two weeks I took Baby Jack to his first baby shower. Poor sap. I didn't really notice that it was at a tea house until I was leaving the house...fine china and babies are not usually a good combo. But what the heck. He was a little gem!

And he is big enough now to rock the stroller without the bucket! Such a big boy!

With his cousins...(Brooke declined to pose).

On the Move

Baby Jack has started crawling! It's mostly an army crawl...but he is definitely figuring out how to get on his hands and knees. He is very proud of himself and very determined. You can hear him grunting his way across the living room any time of day now.

still here

We are still here! It's been very busy in the D'Angelo house. School, work, travel and kids have kept us on the go! Here are a few shots from when we did a photo shoot at Baker Beach a bit back. We have 143 shots, don't worry, I picked just a few and I'm keeping my favorites for our xmas card and a new picture wall in our hallway :-)

Here is what Brooke's headshot would look like if she was a professional actress. So serious.

Love this pic of her - she climbed up there herself.

Totally underestimated how much the wind at the beach would mess up my hair and how distracting the ocean would be for a baby!

This picture is so Baby Jack! He is such a happy little guy....this is a perfect shot of his personality.

And for the amateur section...here Will Atkinson looks absolutely terrified of Brooke who has him in her claws!

Love this shot of Baby J and his cousins.

Preschool is easy.....for Brooke

Today was Brooke's first day attending preschool. It was a "transition day" with the plan being that one of us would bring Brooke to class, and then sit quietly in a chair in case she needed to check in. Then go home around 11am and do the same thing tomorrow, with the first full day being Wednesday.

But we under estimated Brooke's enthusiasm! Here she is in the morning, new school clothes, sparkly shoes and er..toy horses.

They need a close up for her cubby. Check.

Baby Jack made sure that she did not forget her lunch box (where horses pictured were hiding).

Jack gave me the play by play:

Teacher: Good morning, what is your name?

Brooke: I'm Brooke, it's nice to meet you.

Teacher: Do you want to come to circle time?

Brooke: Sure (and took the teacher's hand and walked in, leaving a sentimental Dad in the hallway to follow).

Brooke loved it! So much that the teacher told Jack he could leave and just come get her at lunch.

He had to convince her to leave. In fact, she told the teacher she was going to hide - ha!

Jack took her back to Alba's while Brooke cried that she wanted to go back to preschool - amazing.

But this afternoon, when I came to pick her up and tell Alba that I think tomorrow Brooke will stay at preschool all day, making today her last real day with Alba, I was not prepared for how hard that would be to say.

Alba picked Brooke up in her arms and gave her a huge hug...and then she just slightly, started to cry. Brooke did too - like she knew. And of course, I am tearing up just writing about it.

Then like a normal 3 year old, she started singing about something and we were off to the car.

I am going with Brooke for the morning tomorrow - I can't wait to see her in action. And if tomorrow is like today...she will get stay! Sniff Sniff.

Baby J

I just got back from my first work trip - 2 nights in Chicago - and I forced everyone and anyone that talked to me to look at this picture. I am "that" mom.