Road Trip – The Return

Ah man, the 5 Fwy is the goods – soooooo many trash trucks.

To amuse my folks, I sung my “Barack Obama, John McCain” song. I have no idea why I thought about those guys, but I did.

In the evening, we cruised around Trader Joes while I yelled "Hello to everybody" then danced in the cart while singing the line "Shake my booty!"

Happy Birthday to the Daddy!

We got him a cake with candles (which I helped him blow out) and a few gifts (which I helped him unwrap.)

Of other significance, we played catch for the first time. It was real catch, and I completely understood the concept.

Merry Christmas!

Santa made his first visit, and I am glad that I left cookies and milk for him (see pics.) He gave me a cool school bus filled with lego-like pieces.

What a great day. It was awesome to see everyone and receive gifts. At this point, I enjoy getting gifts more than giving them, but I’ll understand the “giving” part in a few years.

Grandma managed a fun gift giving game where everyone gave and received 18 gifts. Most memorable award goes to Aunt Kay for her sheets of band aids in unique designs/colors including bacon, pickles, and monkey heads.

Special Xmas gift for mommy … she got to play Euchre against a bunch of Wolverines. After, she got a serious case of sillyitis, partially resulting from the phrase “winner, winner chicken dinner!”

A Christmas streaker?

or my macho cousin?

Sharkeez

A battle for fish tacos:


Silliness with Daddy:

Team Jacobs

Stop #3 on the Christmas Road Trip … the Jacobs home.

We met their cute baby, Leila, and it was fun to see Chase and Colin and all of their awesome toys.

Christmas Base

Stop #2 on the Christmas Road Trip … Grandma and Grandpa’s home. It’s a very full house with lots of guests. Reunion attendees:
- Grandma and Grandpa
- Aunt Helen and Uncle Bob from Michigan
- Aunt Theresa and Uncle Mark
- Uncle Tom & Aunt Cathy + cousins Cory & Kyle
- Cousin Shannon and Joe (originally from Michigan)
- The Carpenters
- Uncle Jeff

We ate Snow on the Mountain and played Knock Poker, where I specialized in the knocking part and throwing nickels in the cup.

Here is the pic of me and mommy as we arrive.

Team Zoryan

Stop #1 on the Christmas Road Trip … the Zoryan home.

It was great to see the Zoryan family and meet Jacqueline and Andrew. JZ is a great singer and I like playing with (i.e. “in the vicinity of”) Andrew, who is a big dude for a younger guy. Liz made a great lunch and kudos to them for sharing all of their delicious sweets.

The Christmas Tree

GeeGee and Pop-pop

Wonderful visit from the GeeGee and Pop-pop.
We had a great Thanksgiving, and they took me to the little farm and on my first train ride (which I loved.)

Happy Thanksgiving

Aunt Nene and Uncle Noah

Very excited for thier wedding. I hear there will be cake and lots of dancing!

Painting (with water)

Danny (esposo de Adriana)

As I like to say "We're doing a little work."

Trojans!

Went to the USC/Stanford game and tailgater. Props to Gwyn for hosting a great event and getting tickets. First half chomped, but second half was great – I loved the stomping, high fiving and yelling “Go Trojans!”

Voting day

Bad news - little guys can't vote.
Good news - free stickers.

Trick or Treat

Yes, this costume is funny.
(Note that I refused to wear it on 10/31)

Sushi

Monica and Steve joined us for my fist sushi experience. Sushi is so good, so good.

I even used chop sticks and applied the stab and lift method.

Nueva Casa

Wearing the “gobbles”

Cabo vacation

View Album

Get your own

I ran half a mile in this store

View Album

Get your own

Another ah man!, what a weekend.

There was some serous productivity on Saturday since mommy set the alarm for 6:00am! I helped with some stuff - digging in the garden, unscrewing the tv brackets, and cleaning up.

Grande gracias to Nicole and Dorian. They took me to the gym then to the park after my nap. I had a lot of fun with them and when they left, we were all very tired (pic)

The other pic of the crib is for mommy's Memories. Since we're moving and I'm growing, mommy wanted to see me in the crib before we broke it down. Remember when I couldn't even see over the top bar?

Weekend

Ah man, where to start... Mommy and Daddy were seriously productive ... painting, spackling, packing, yard work, etc.

See pic. Even I got into the mix, and yes, I stand on the step ladder because it's forbidden.

Weekend thoughts:
- Huge props to Elba. She took me to AcroSports then installed a new lock and hardware on the front door. She owns more powertools than I thought and her household knowledge is uber impressive.
Special appreciation to the Dewans for taking me to the park.
- Nate is becoming a very funny guy. I like his laughs and it was fun to have another little guy at the dinner table (especially since we were eating pizza.)
- Karie - it's unclear who liked the slide more, but I think she'll make a great swim teacher.
- Steve - surprisingly, the guy is a pretty good singer who knows a lot of kid tunes.

My first corn on the cob

New videos

Two from Cypress. See above.

Photos from Cypress trip

Airplanes - love to talk about them ... don't like to fly on them.

Great trip. Spent quality time with Ethan and Colby, A Paula & U Brian, U Jeff and (of course) Grandma and Gramdpa. Check out the pics - fun times at the beach, gardening with Grandma, playing w/ my cousins, and feeding ducks at the park.

Yes, I am suave

4th of July

Went to a great bbq at Torie & Duke's. Check the Rock Band pics and video (above) of me rocking out to Metallica.

first cereal (on my own)

Robbery!

I must admit that I stole a box of soup from the Ashbury Market. It looked so good, and when Adriana wasn't looking, I grabbed it. Primary complication is the fact I can't open the soup.
We brought it back the next day.
Bad Brandon

Acro Sports

Could not do this one month ago.

Team Pop-pop and Gee-gee

Had a nice visit with Pop-pop and Gee-gee. They are very good at playing with me and my toys.

Routine silliness

Happy Mothers Day!

Mommy, you're a star and I love you.

Birthday #2

Ah man, two years old!

Had a great birthday party with many of the usual suspects. M&D had a great theme - RockBand! Yes, Duke brought the game over, and everyone rocked.

Special props to Grandma & Grandpa Dougherty for coming to the party.

Grandma & Grandpa D

Growing up

In addition to new words, abilities, and an attitude that resemble a toddler who is already in their Terrible Twos, I've got my own Southwest Frequent Flier card. Nice!

Mommy and Daddy are so easy to impress - the other day, I threw some coffee filters on the floor and proceeded to point and count "one, two, three, four, six." This also impressed Adriana because while she knew I could count, she didn't know that I could do so in English.

Related, I know to speak Spanish to Adriana and English to my parents.

Guess who turns two in one week?

So Cal

Daddy and I took a weekend trip to Orange County to see the Grandparents. I had a great time, and I'm glad to report that everyone is doing better. Trip highlights include:

- Feeing the ducks and ardillas (squirrels) at Breakfast in the Park
- Puzzle time with Grandma
- Piano time with Grandpa
- Roughhousing with Ethan and Colby

Cypress trip (album)

Baptism!

Yes, I was baptized today. See the album for more pics.

I was a little cranky at St. Agnes, but I was in better spirits at home. Highlights:

- Priest was Fr. Cameron Ayers, who Bill first met in 1991 at USC.
- Godparents were Ellen Gehrlich and Jeff Ballinger.
- Most memorable aspect of my party was a drum set from Uncle Jeff - it inspired lots of laughs and (eventually) a few headaches.

All in all, it was a great baptism and party, and I'm thankful that so many people came for me. I want to especially thank those who traveled - (Aunt) Paula, (Uncle) Brian, (Aunt) KayKay, and of course my fellow munchkins; Ethan and Colby.

RockBand w/ Duke

GeeGee

Had a great time with GeeGee - lots of playing, reading, and other fun stuff.

Pics

Sorry I've been offline for so long. Here are some shots and an album from the last month.

The album includes shots of me cleaning, me and Zeke at Safeway, being silly w/ the curtains, wearing eveyone's shoes (on the wrong feet), laughing and saying "cheese", and weighing myself. Enjoy some of the shots that make mommy & daddy laugh.

3/08 album

The joys of splashing

We're going streaking!

Hola Danny

Here is the guy I talk to on the phone. He's Adriana's boyfriend.

Shots from my sports school

Sports school album

Congrats!

Mommy got a medal for being a Great Wife!

Ring Around the Rosie

Jan 08

Favorite new word ... "Bravo!"
Newest development: putting words together. I'm on my way to speaking in full sentences.

Msg from Grandma D & pics

I spent 5 days with Grandma & Grandpa D while Mommy & Daddy vacationed in Cabo (where they missed me dearly.) Grandma Doughery reports:

"Grandpa D. and I had a fun time with Brandon, keeping him busy throughout the day, playing with a variety of toys, some of which his Daddy played with many years ago, plus other toys purchased more recently! Reading was a fun activity as was taking walks around the neighborhood. We played in the backyard, digging in the dirt and going down the slide. There was a music time everyday - plunking on the piano, listening and dancing to the rhythmic beat of the organ. And, the most fun of all was playing with cousins, Ethan and Colby!!!!!!!!!!!"

Cypress 1/08

Rock band? he sings & I dance

Man, I love that leg kick at 9 seconds.

New video of YoGabbaGabba

(pls adjust volume if necessary)

Cypress vacation

Been in Cypress since the 30th - here are the highlights:

- Zoomars! a great petting zoo (be sure to see the pics)
- Ethan & Colby - seen them twice. Coming soon - a video of Ethan and me dancing to YoGabbaGabba.
- Grandma & Grandpa D - fun to play w/ toys from the 70s. They are good readers & play partners.
- Sharkeez w/ Uncle Jeff - I understand why it's a favorite restaurant of mommy & daddy.
- Silliness w/ Aunt Kay - see the pics.
- Rose Bowl - man, it's fun to yell "Touchdown!" 7 times.
- Ice cream cones - I've eaten two; they're mini but good.

Cypress 1/08 album