Terry Fator

Last week I was able serve as Technical Director for a show featuring Terry Fartor. The dude's amazing! See below for a sample.

(This is Rob, by the way, not Bennett)

Holiday Pics

Here are some holiday photos a little late to be posted:

Wrestling Grandpa

Playing guitar with Uncle Kevin
(I am his biggest fan)

After my bath

Whoops! It's cool, I'm not shy.

Hide n seek with Dad

The family (Uncle Tom is not in the shot-he took it)

Mom, Dad, and Me

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Fa La La La La

Bennett is our little Christmas elf. I say this because he loves all the "stuff" of Christmas this year, now that he is a big two year old. He is excited about Christmas lights, Christmas trees, giving Christmas gifts...the list goes on. However, nothing exceeds his love for-you guessed it- Christmas music. His all time favorite is one he calls the "hee-hee-hee" song, a quirky little ditty by Nat King Cole. It is a happy, silly song sung in the voice of "the happiest Christmas tree... ho-ho-ho, hee-hee-hee." Rob and I are torturing ourselves day after day by putting the song on repeat, because Bennett's reaction to it is so priceless. It involves smiling, laughing, dancing, and singing. I wish I could get him on video, but the second the camera makes a click or a ding he charges me like a tiny bull demanding to "see it, see it." This is why I don't post more videos.

His runner-up favorite is Jingle Bells (pronounced "ginko buzz"). He requests this one frequently, but we don't own it, so we turn on the radio and wait. The other day we walked into Starbucks, and Bennett stopped in the middle of the doorway to start dancing before I realized what song was playing. It was Ella Fitzgerald singing Jingle Bells. Gotta love that kid. He also likes Angels We Have Heard on High because he can sing the chorus: "glo-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh..."

Anyway, that's why he is our little Christmas elf. He gets it from his Dad, who-and this may surprise you- gets SO excited about all of the Christmas stuff. I am no scrooge, don't get me wrong, I love Christmas too. But my boys have me beat on the excitement and anticipation of all of it, making it that much more wonderful for me!

I found a video of Bennett dancing (sort of), and even though it's not to Christmas music playing, it is pretty cute. I can't believe he actually let me take it!

Movin' On Up

So, here's our big news...
Rob accepted a new job up in San Francisco, and we are moving up north on December 29th. It feels really anticlimactic to blog about, because it seems that everyone who actually reads our blog is family, and you all know. But anyway, we are really excited for another adventure, and we hope that this is it for us. I mean, moving every few months is fun and all (I have actually discovered that I love this type of change and get antsy after staying put any place for some length of time), but it is time to put down some roots.

Rob will be doing the same work he does now (corporate/hotel audio visual work), only this is a regional position. He has a large territory, including 14 hotels located in and between Monterey and Tahoe, but will be mainly working out of The Fairmont Hotel and The Ritz Carlton in the city.


We actually have a house already (pictured above)! We will be living in Castro Valley, in the East Bay. Rob's sister and brother in-law-to-be will only be about 15 minutes away in Pleasanton, so that will be really great. Also, my parents will be 2 hours south of us now (verses our current 6 hour trek)-yay! God really blessed us through the home search, and actually used that process to give me (and I think Rob too, but I will speak for myself) a huge peace about the move. I am so incredibly grateful for how smooth all of the details are going, especially considering that it will be just 6ish weeks from "baby time" when we get there!

More details to follow...

O.k, I have blogged about it, so it must be official.

Bennett Turns Two

O.k, so we have been really busy, but I cannot neglect to mention that the little guy turned 2. On Thanksgiving day, Bennett reached this important life number. The following Saturday, we celebrated via birthday party at Grandpa and Noni Markley's house in Nipomo. He was surrounded by family and friends, and he had the time of his little life.

It was kind of a bummer, because the pictures did not come out well from the party. Attention parents: How do you enjoy the party with your kid and the party goers, while simultaneously capturing the memories? Better luck next year! Here's a couple...

The Cake

Bennett eating a cupcake-he wouldn't touch the frosting, and
eventually asked for a fork. I think he inherited this quality
from his cousin Tommy.

Here is a little tribute to him, and a glimpse into his two years of growing:

Thank you, sweet Bennett for all the joy that came along when you entered our lives. Your name means "little blessed one," but your Daddy and I feel that we are the blessed ones for raising and knowing you. You are: Sensitive, bright, joyful, intuitive, expressive, spunky, fun, friendly, mischievous, mellow, cuddly, stubborn, loving, social, decisive, content, musical...and much more. We love watching you grow!

This Kid is So Pushy

My patience is tried. I am physically tired and worn down from this. I knew that being a parent would have it's ups and downs, but never did I expect to be pushed around like this. The kicking, the pressing, the shoving...

and she is not even born yet! Yep, I'm talking about Elodie :). She has actually been wonderful to me. She only made me feel a little sick in the beginning (and I truly mean a little), and sometimes she makes me tired. That is it. But this past month, she has developed a new habit of pushing around in there like she wants out or something. The girl is aggressive. I remember Bennett's kicks-a little bam there, or a little jolt there. Not Elodie. She "kicks" whole-heartedly with all four limbs. She rolls, she scoots, she shoves. The borders are being stretched to their limit (and by borders, I mean my belly). Funny, funny girl.

Lately, I find myself asking Bennett to please rub off on his sister when she comes out. He is so sweet, mellow, and fun. He says excuse me when he burps. He randomly comes at me with wide open arms, and gives me a hug, a kiss, and says "I wu woo." He is still a toddler, and he has fits and melt downs like all toddlers do. But he apologizes on his own. I am not even kidding. Rob and I keep asking him lately "how did you get so sweet?" We are baffled. God is good. Little Bennett makes me excited to meet our Elodie-pushy or not.

FYI: We have big news on the horizon...stay tuned!

Family Photos

Here are some pics. from a recent family visit. Just thought I'd share...

Ally and Me hanging out on the rocks

Stealing a kiss while on Daddy's shoulders

Grammy, Ally, Tommy, and Me

I love playing piano with my cousins!

Bumpa and Dad working on their chops

Coco and the Cousins

Thanks for looking!

Funny Parade

Hi everyone,
A few weeks back, we went down to little Belmont Shore for a dog costume parade-so cute! Bennett loves dogs-it was really fun. It kind of amazed us the amount of time and love that people put into preparing costumes and floats (yes, floats) for themselves and their dogs. My favorite was a little float full of U.S. chiuaua troops; the picture does not do it justice, unfortunately. It was a wagon transformed into a tank, with about five or six chiuauas holding down the mobile fort, wearing soldier uniforms-hats and all-and carrying expressions of complete ownership. Too funny.

This is the float I told you about!

And I couldn't leave without a little (just woke up) Bennett shot :)

Quite a Victory

I've got to say, no matter what your political beliefs are, or how you voted, November 4th 2008 was a great day for the American people. I cannot stop thinking about the powerful impact that having a black president will have on our society.

Rob and I got into bed early on Tuesday night (Bennett has been waking up at the crack of dawn, so we were tired), when we heard yelling in the streets, horns honking, and even some fireworks. I probably should have prefaced that statement by saying that we live in a very diverse neighborhood. It was clear that the people shouting "Obama!!" outside our windows were Black. The next morning Bennett and I were walking down the street; we passed by some people who appeared to be strangers, and one man, a black man, reached out his hand and shook the other man's hand and said, "well, black man, we now have a black president. Did you ever think you would see this day?" He had giant, proud grin on his face as he said hello to Bennett and I.

I have seen various interviews over the past couple of days of incredibly accomplished black authors, professors, politicians, etc., that say, just like the man on the street did, that they thought they would not live to see this day. A very heavy statement, especially from such forward-thinking people. I can’t help but be moved by the fact that this day came within our generation. I am amazed by how much change has happened in just four generations. Without even realizing it (at least until a certain age) Bennett will look at black people in a completely different light than my grandparents, my parents, or I did-all because of this president.

One more story: When I worked for FCNI, I had a 6-year old client, a boy, whose skin was very dark. He was actually part Mexican, part black (this is one reason I take issue with the term African American-though he may have looked it, he did not consider himself African at all). He often struggled with the color of his skin, because there were no other students at his school that were as dark as him. This little guy lived with his grandparents, who were white, and this was also confusing for him. Anyway, one day, the boy, his grandma and I were talking about what he would grow up to be. He thought there were not many things he could do, because he had so much trouble in his life (sad logic for a six year old, I know). The little boy’s grandma started to list the many things that he could one day accomplish, and I was ready to jump right on board-until I listened to her list. The Grandma said, “You could be a basketball star, or a rapper, or a football player…” I could not believe my ears. I agreed with her that he may grow up and do one of these things, and told him he could do anything else he worked at, like becoming a teacher, or a doctor, or whatever he chose. I like to hope that as of election day, in 2008, this young boy has added one more career possibility to his list-President of the United States.

Little Rob

So, you have to really know Bennett's Daddy to appreciate this post, and I think all of you do.

The three of us went to our local pumpkin patch the weekend before last...pumpkins were only the beginning at this place. In typical Long Beach style, the patch had everything: rides, a train, a giant slide, and a petting zoo.

Here is the part where Little Rob immerged. You can probably tell from previous posts and photos that Bennett is a fairly animated guy. When he is in certain scenarios, however, usually when his surroundings are new, he turns into a tiny stone wall. He is happy, excited even, if you look closely; but his expression is dead serious. He just takes it all in, and he talks about the experience for days to follow. This was how Bennett reacted to Disneyland, for example. If you met him for the first time that day, you probably would never guess that he is an extroverted, giggly, chatty, little fella. In fact, it wouldn't even have been apparent to a stranger that he was having fun at all. But Rob and I find his "fun overload" attitude to be hilarious. You see, he comes by it honestly. I have been beside Rob through many happy moments-birthdays, graduations, our wedding, to name a few-and there are times when you have to know him quite well to recognize his excitement. I actually love this character trait. Now, I get to love it in both the men in my life!

This very short video captures the description above just a little. On his first ride alone Bennett took his driving very seriously!

The not-so-smooth start!

O.k, I can't help myself...a few more photos:

Same reaction to the ponies

A little smirk while playing with Dad

Belly update-I know I'm a lot bigger than this pumpkin :)

What finally made the little guy smile?

CHOCOLATE! That's my boy!!

Just Three 1/2 Months Ago...

Bennett and I were looking through photos and videos together the other day-one of his favorite past times- and I cam across this one. I recorded it in early July, and I can't believe how much he has changed! His voice has changed (not so babyish anymore), his vocabulary has exploded-his hair is even long. I wish I had a good recent video for comparison, but we rarely talk with him while recording; videos are mostly about capturing Bennett's dance moves.

P.S-Sorry it is side-ways, Rob has told me approximately six hundred and thirty two times that there is one correct way to hold the camera when recording, but I am a slow learner.



I can't watch it without getting a little teary; our little guy is growing up! More posts to follow soon...

Carmel Valley Trip

In the previous post I mentioned our recent trip to my home in Carmel Valley. I wanted to add some more pictures, but there were so many to choose from that I had to make a slide show-below are my favorites. Bennett fully enjoyed playing in the meadow at my parent's house, exploring the pumpkin patch at Earthbound Farms, and playing in the sand at Carmel beach. We also had a lovely visit with our family friends, the Kreps. Enjoy the photos!