The Big Announcement Has Been Made!!!

That's right...after much anticipation, the Naffins are pregnant!! My sister and her awfully lucky husband will be the proud parents to TWO, that's right...I said 2 little bundles of joy! And to make it a little sweeter, I was the first to welcome the twins with their FIRST baby gift!

Stephanie is a little under 3 months along, and the morning sickness is just starting to kick in. Rest up, Steph and Dave because although you will never remember life without kids AFTER the arrival of the Naffin twins, you will also never remember what it feels like to get a full 8 hours of sleep! :)

Life will never seem sweeter than when you look into the eyes of your children. I am so happy for both of you...Congratulations. I'm going to be an Aunt again!!!!

Pumpkin Patch Gang 2006

Wendy, Jeff and Micah came down from San Jose for a visit. We thought it would be a great opportunity to go to the pumpkin patch and snap a few shots of the cousins. We had so much fun, even if the sun was SCORCHING! Dave and Caiden played in the bouncy houses, and slid down the air slides...We all had strawberry smoothies at the end. Micah was such a trooper. I altered some of the pictures in photoshop...For instance, I made Micah black and white, or made the background black and white, did a vignette with the cousins. I removed ugly objects from the background (with the exception of the one with Caiden kissing Micah...Frankly it's past 12:15am, and I'm tired and want to go to bed. :) Let me know what you think!

Passive Aggressive Drivers Beware!

I have a theory. A theory about those annoying people that sit in the fast lane on the freeway doing 20 mph UNDER the speed limit and refuse to move over a lane or God forbid do the unthinkable and actually get OUT of the fast lane and move into the slow lane. These are the same people that also tend to sit in front of me after a long day of work as I am driving Ortega Highway (a well know two lane, curvy, windy, and otherwise dangerous mountain road).

Now I spend a lot of time driving. If I were a mathematically inclined person, I would insert the exact amount of time that I actually spend in the car here. Thankfully for all of you reading this, I am not. (Although I am sure that I will be told by either my lead or my husband (both mathematically inclined individuals) exactly how much time I spend sitting on my rear in the car). Anyway, I digress. The point of my rather wordy story is that I spend an awful lot of time on the road, and thus feel justified and worthy to develop a theory on people's driving habits.

My theory goes something like this. These people that sit in the lanes and refuse to move are passive aggressive. They exert no actual control in their own lives, so they feel that they MUST control the lives of others (if only for a moment). These people are married to or otherwise influenced by more dominant individuals that tell them what to do, say, think, etc... This frustrates them, but they lack the will power or strength to grow a backbone and stand their ground. They DO feel a small twinge of a backbone while in their stinkin' 4 wheel car driving in front of me, as my son repeats over and over. "I want chocolate milk!" "Mama, mama, mama, mama" (in a sing songy voice). They are the same people that sit on the two lane road of Ortega Highway, taking the curves at 20mph, practically stopping every time they see a car coming the opposite direction of them on the road, refusing to take turnouts, and all of a sudden develop a lead foot on the straight-aways (where I could actually pass them). These people think they have the right to hold me hostage...to waste precious moments of MY day that could be spent doing more important things like updating my blog :) Well, to these people I say, "No More!!". You will NOT sit there in front of me causing me heartache and grief and get away with it. No...you will be added to my blog. *da da duhhhhh...insert cheesy scary music here*

This particular scenario happened to me on the way home from work yesterday. (see the above picture). This rather annoying P.A.D. (Passive Aggressive Driver), spent the entire 1.5 hour drive in front of me, making a game of slowing down and then speeding up. I finally couldn't take it anymore and grabbed the camera and started taking pictures. This so unnerved the driver that they swerved into the other lane in search of their camera phone to take pictures of me. (Ha! I like my picture taken, snap away!) :) As you can see, the car in front of me as well as the car in front of the car in front of it (did you follow that - stay with me now) were both P.A.Ds. The car in front of the car in front of me however was just as irritated as me. We spent the entire trip trying to rid ourselves of these crappy P.A.D.s.

Now before I get a bunch of negative comments. I did behave myself. I did, I swear! I ONLY took out my camera and took pictures. I did not...I repeat....I did not swerve into the other lane of the two lane road and cut the P.A.D. off, and then slam on my brakes like I wanted.

So, for all of you P.A.D.s or potential P.A.D.s beware!! I am on the lookout, and I am armed with a digital camera!
Ok, ok. So I'm not ALL bad. I DID fuzz out their license plate :)

The Next American Idol????

Caiden is learning so many new things at school. Everyday he comes home with some newfound talent. This week it's his desire to sing! That's right, you heard me...sing. Caiden is going to be the next American Idol...hopefully Simon Cowell will go a bit easy on him. In the below clip, Caiden is singing "The Wheels on the bus" and "The People on the bus". Note the ending...the very 2-year-old ending. I'll just leave it at that.

Proof That Caiden IS my son!

OK, so besides the obvious: The 9 month pregnancy (or was it 10?), the 13 hours of unmedicated labor and delivery, and of course the fact that he has that cute little dimple on his chin (like his mama - or as Grandpa Phil says...it's where God touched his chin and declared, "You're done!"). Besides all of that...I have video...I have proof that Caiden IS MY son.

Now don't be sqeamish...it's not one of THOSE videos. (Seriously, have you met me? I'm pretty modest). No, this video contains the ultimate testament that Caiden is my son.

So, a few of us went to U and I sushi in Laguna to celebrate Ian Mackie's birthday. During this little adventure, Caiden discovered that not only did he enjoy sushi, but he really preferred Masago. Look at the verocity at which he devours the sushi. For those of you who have had the unfortunate luck to sit on the other side of the table from me when I am starved and have not had sushi in awhile, you will see an uncanny resemblance as my son politely shoves the sushi into his face. Charming, eh?

Everyone needs a little S FACTOR in their life!

Since many of you have asked me about my class...you know, the exercise class that I've been taking for the past 4 months? (Almost at level 3 - halfway there as there are 6 levels!!!) . The studio had an open house last weekend, so I invited a few friends, and one of them took pictures. So, for those of you that are "curious"(and you know who you are)...here are a few pics of the famous exercise class that I have found myself absorbed in. For those that see this and are interested - let me know - I'll give you the number to the class - trust me...you'll thank me for it. For those of you who are unsure...all I have to say is keep an open mind. This is a dance class - that just HAPPENS to have a pole :)

Pool Update and Pictures

Well, a lot has been done since I last posted. They have put in rebar, plumbing, ran electrical and sprayed gunite. They have even created the rock slide and the dry ghrotto.

Caiden Signs! - The video

Every night before Caiden goes to bed he picks a story and we read it together. Tonight he picked a story that had sign language. He was doing so well with it, I thought I would record a few of the signing words he knows. Here's my first video of Caiden on the blog. Hope I did it right, and I hope you enjoy. Isn't he the cutest? :P

More Pics of Mr. and Mrs. Ryan Andriese

We Now Pronounce You Husband & Wife...

Today I went to one of my best friend's weddings. Jen Coie finally married the boy she has been in love with since high school...Ryan Andriese. It was absolutely gorgeous. They got married in Newport Beach on the yacht, Destiny - a perfect name for them. The whole day was beautiful, and Jennifer was absolutely stunning. Well, see for yourself. :P

New Glasses- A tribute to the past

I've always loved going to the optometrist. I think it's because every time I leave there I can actually SEE!! I remember the first time I left Dr. King's office after getting glasses. I was shocked that trees had such detailed leaves. I could actually SEE the leaves on the trees. It was impressive.

As much as I love going to the optometrist, my least favorite part of the visit is picking out the new glasses. I mean, at this point in my adventure, the doctor has already asked me a million questions as to which lens appears better and whether I see one line or two lines, they have stuck my head into this contraption and asked me to push a button every time I saw a light, and they have spit air into my eye (I STILL don't know the reason behind that torture test). Then to top it off they lead you (as those like me who are poor of sight have to be led because they have either confiscated our glasses or contacts to clean them). They then expect you to pick out glasses that you can't actually see because they have your contacts or other glasses.

Anyway, the last time I got glasses (4 years ago), I found the perfect pair of glasses. They were cute, stylish and made me look a bit like a 1950's librarian (which I am ok with). Well, this last visit to the optometrist was less than thrilling. They told me that I am wearing my contacts too much and I need to start wearing my glasses. I guess my eyes are not getting enough oxygen so my body has decided to help out by making pretty, red blood vessels (nice). Dr. King said this would continue to happen (and he used some scary medical term that I forgot 2 seconds after he said it) until my eyes got a break.

Fine, I thought. I will get new glasses. I tell them I want the same frames as last time, at which time I am told they have been discontinued. *sigh*/ Of course, it's hard enough to find a pair of glasses you like and then when you do they discontinue making them. Swell. Anyway, I just got my new glasses today. They are the ones on the right. The jury is still out on if people like them. Josh at work (my lead) likes my old ones better, as do a few others, however some people at work said I look more academic. Whatever. I guess I'll leave that up to you. Which do you prefer?

Lack of Sleep = Embarrassment

Ok, so Tuesday and Wednesday we had an Ops Review at work. This is where the entire management team gets together, including the Vice President and Director to share the results thus far, as well as to discuss strategies and strengths and weaknesses. There tend to be very few breaks, and the time together is jam packed of presentations, discussions, and basically a LOT of work.

Well, to be honest, I haven't been sleeping very well. Call it a case of insomnia or something, but I have been a creature of late that doesn't see the underside of her eyelids - at least I haven't for very long.

Now for those of you who know me, I am NOT a morning person (that is the understatement of the year), and I need my coffee in the morning. (*My name is Melissa and I am a Coffee Addict* - crowd says, "Hi Melissa"). A morning with no coffee is a bad combination, especially when morning people(really annoying, peppy people) inhabit my space on these unusual days. Anyway, so this particular morning (I would say which morning, but remember I have not had any sleep and I don't remember what I wrote two seconds ago, nevermind what day it was when this story happened) I had not had my coffee yet. I arrived late to work, as my newly potty trained (in-process) son had a slight mishap which caused a delay in our schedule.

Knowing that I am already late for work, I cannot possibly stop and get coffee, so I do the unthinkable....I go to work WITHOUT coffee. I know, I couldn't believe I did it either, but there it is. Halfway through the first presentation I found myself fighting the urge to explore what the underside of my eyelids REALLY look like (translation: I was falling asleep).

Seeing that the VP was sitting directly in front of me, and my director was off to my left I thought it best if I discreetly excuse myself from the meeting and find some much needed caffeine. I wait for a break in the conversation until I feel it is the appropriate time to make my move and get up and head for the coffee. My mind is consumed with thoughts of coffee, as I head for the door. I'm feeling proud of myself as I saunter towards the "open" doors and out to the lobby for my fix. But lo and behold, my head and hand strikes something hard, and a loud smack echoes through the now quiet room. You see, the doors were not open as I originally thought. The doors to the conference room are glass doors, so in my haste to get my coffee I walked straight (and proudly I must add) into the glass doors.

The entire conference room gets silent and then the sounds of the participants saying "ooohhh" and "are you ok". I pause...confused as to what just happened (remember...at this point I haven't made it to the coffee yet, so my brain is still on auto pilot). I suddenly realize that I just walked into a solid glass door. I stop. I consider my options. Can I get out of this? Do you think anyone REALLY noticed? Do I laugh? Do I throw my hand to my head (which really hurts at this point and has a nice big red mark on it) and show that I'm in pain. Well, the only thing I could think to do was to be honest. I said, "well, you can tell I haven't had my coffee this morning". Someone then opened the glass doors for me, and I promptly exited the conference room with what little dignity I could muster.

Thankfully, everyone was pretty good about it. Except for me being the butt of all of the jokes for the rest of the day I think I got off pretty easy. I can tell you that I used the back door to the conference room for the most part as this door is a normal solid wood door. When I did have to pass through the evil glass doors, I paused, made sure they were open and then braced for the impact just in case. :) Moral of the story: Always drink coffee before coming to work on days where you have had no sleep and your son is potty training. :P

The Chosen Underpants

A Very Big Day!!

Today was a very big day in the Bonney Household. Today, marked the first day that I put him in "Big Boy" underpants.I started out the morning making a very big deal out of it. My logic: If I make a big deal, it will be a success on the very first day. After all, my kid is a genius. :P

As we are progressing through the morning routine, we get to the part where we would change his diaper (or HE would change his diaper - as I have already stated...he IS a genius) I bring him into the bedroom and lay out about 10 packages of brand new underwear. I sit him down and explain that today he is a big boy and today he will get to wear big boy underpants. He can wear ANY big boy underpants that he wants...and we do have a selection. We had Nemo, Thomas the Train, Spiderman, Dinosaurs, Elmo, Madagascar, and Race cars just to name a few. I look at Caiden with anticipation, and try to sound as excited as I can.

Caiden stands above the newly packaged underwear in awe. He takes a moment and ponders this momentous decision (and of course I know that's what he is doing because...that's right...you guessed it...he's a genius. How did you know?) :) Eventually (what seems like an eternity for me because we are running late (c'mon you know I'm not a morning person), he picks Nemo underwear. I have posted a picture of the exact underpants that he chose for your viewing pleasure. I am sure that when Caiden is 20 he will TRULY appreciate what a dedicated mom I was to document these kinds of events.

I calmly explain to Caiden the purpose behind the new underpants, and his responsibility (to explain when he needs to go potty so we can safely keep Nemo dry and happy). I understand that my logic is a little flawed as Nemo is a fish and would prefer to be drenched in water, however I explain to Caiden that Nemo does not like to be peed on or well, you get the picture.

Anyway, I quiz Caiden after my lecture. It goes something like this..."Caiden, so where do you go pee pee?" Caiden responds by pointing to his pants. Ok, so maybe I'm not as influential and persuasive as I once thought. I quickly switch tactics and decide to go with repetition. We repeat the mantra, "we potty in the toilet, NOT in our pants" over and over. We do this until we reach his school. I quickly give him a kiss goodbye and remind him to be nice to Nemo. Keep Nemo dry!

After work, I am anxious to see how many pairs of clothes Caiden went through (I brought 4 changes of clothes - I didn't know how many I would need, so I just kept packing). I get to his school and do a little happy dance when I see that he has only 1 soiled pair of pants in a plastic baggy, however my happy dance turns a bit sour when I find out that his school simply gave up after one soiled set of pants. I pick Caiden up to discover that his school has put him back in Pull-ups.

Well, we'll see who has the last laugh. I am now determined to win this battle. After all, when I signed Caiden up in this school they firmly and clearly agreed that they would assist me in potty training. I resolve to never purchase another set of pull-ups for the school again! I intend to send him with another 4 pairs of clothes tomorrow and of course new big boy underpants (Caiden's choice).

A Little Taste Of History

Well, you can't very well go to a city like Fort Worth and not get a taste of the history that encompassed this city. While awaiting for our plane ride back to sunny SoCal, my co-worker Michael and I decided to visit the Sixth Floor Museum. This museum is a tribute to John F. Kennedy, and to the memory of who he was and what he brought to our great Nation. Michael and I purchased the audio tour which details in timeline fashion the rise of JFK and the sudden tragic ending that left a Nation in mourning. They have memorabilia from the time such as the clothing the doctor's wore that fateful day and the newsreporters' equipment. It talks about the investigation and the arrest of Lee Harvey Oswald, as well as the controversies surrounding the case. Along each step of the way there are personal accounts from people who lived it.

I think the most interesting part of this museum is that it is ACTUALLY the location in which Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly took refuge to wait and carry out his deadly plot. Lee Harvey Oswald waited on the 6th floor of the Texas School Book Depository Building. You can even stand on the 6th floor and look out onto Elm Street and out towards the grassy knoll and imagine the presidential Motorcade driving down the street. It was eerie, but also very fascinating. After Michael and I had finished the tour inside the museum, we took a walk outside to the grassy knoll. It's surreal to stand in a place where something occurred that shook our nation to it's core. They said that within a few minutes 99% of the population of our Country knew that the President had been shot.

Interestingly enough, there is also a Conspiracy Museum located a short distance from the Sixth Floor Museum (although Michael and I did not have time to visit there) which I can only assume asserts that either Lee Harvey Oswald was not the shooter, or that he was not alone. I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Ft. Worth - It's not ALL work

Like I said earlier, I was not exactly thrilled to go to Ft. Worth, but in retrospect, I am VERY glad I did. One, it was a great experience for me professionally, and Two, I got to see some people that I haven't seen a really long time (as well as meet some new people). I have to say that the people in Fort Worth are SO friendly. I love the team out there, and wish I could spend more time getting to know them all. I'm working on my boss allowing my team to meet (in person) the Ft. Worth team. I think they would get along really well...we're all a little quirky. :P

Anyway, we worked during the day, but in the evenings it was all about time to relax, have fun and get to know our counterparts. Below are some pictures of some of the incredible people that I met.

I am counting down the days until we do it again!