The Poseidon Adventures

My Dad and Linda are determined to be cool. And I think it's working! They mix music with an iPod, their iPhone is en route and they've entered the Blogosphere.

Linda has started a cooking blog. Pictures... techniques... everything that's wafting out of the Poseidon kitchen is at your fingertips. And she earned that tall hat, so beware.

The best part? She's sharing recipes. Check it out.

Altitude and destitute.

Friday morning Heather and I headed up to my cabin with the boys. We traveled lightly and the men (I think they qualify) met us later that evening. It was a nice travel day with a stop for lunch in Folsom and an afternoon walk to enjoy the perfect weather.

As the day ticked on, we realized that our diaper supply was quickly dwindling. Luckily, the boys wear the same size diaper now. Unluckily, they were tearing through those things like they were made of tissue. We were stuck at 8,000 feet with two mess-making machines (Marco takes most of the credit.)

As Nikos' bedtime loomed, our packing skills were in question. Jeff and Taki had the diaper supply, Nikos' pajamas and his pak n'play. Oh and I think they had our share of the patience too. We roshamboed for the last diaper (Nikos won) as the men pulled into the drive.

Crisis averted! Adventurous story achieved.

At the bar...Out for a walk and a swim for Bosco...
We also played this game called "Who weighs more?" Luckily, it was about the boys, because I was NOT prepared to win that game. I think the consensus was that Nikos weighs more, but Marco is more dead weight and doesn't hold himself up as much so he seems heavier. Nikos was insulted by the entire game and proved his man-like strength by showing Marco who was boss.

Please note how I'm unable to juggle two children. Enough said.It was a great weekend, in short, diapers, margaritas, smores and trivial pursuit (Cecchin victory!) Not at the same time of course. Thanks Romioses! Check out their account.

Tommy can you hear me?

I think it's time to absolve Tommy from his role as the bully cousin. Next up in the batting order is innocent, feminine, red-haired Miss Clara Jane. Observe the play-by-play... Tommy, Joey, Marco & Clara...

We regret positioning Tommy as the bully and look forward to the cousins' adventures this weekend.

Gut check!

(Sorry about the quality, it was taken on Jeff's phone.)

A few of my most important friends.

Just when I thought it was sooo cool that Melanie's kids are featured in the Antioch Press (plus a series of far east bay local rags...)... my friend Erin suddenly appears on the red carpet! What? I mean, I've resided myself to knowing that a life of financial services marketing isn't the most glamorous job out there, but really? MY friend Erin? Talking to my "Heroes?" I mean, I think this post will just about throw Heather into a tizzy so I hesitate to share, but how can I resist?

Here she is at my wedding to prove I 'knew her when'. Starting from the left, it's Erin Fox, TV Guide red carpet correspondent, noboby, nobody, nobody, nobody/me, Jaime who gets us into fancy clubs that we have no business being in and nobody. So there you go.
I have no comeback to Erin's glamorous life except to sheepishly say, "WELL I HAVE GREAT BENEFITS!"

Dear John, (err, Nikos)

Dear Nikos,

I'm so sorry your Starbucks is closing. You can roll with me to my Starbucks anytime. Thanks for letting me sit in your chair and play with your toys Friday. What? You were already in bed?

Please disregard.

Your friend,

Marco

What the heck is a Kroeck?

It's a family reunion! Forty five of us gathered for the Kroeck Summer Weekend of Fun up at Silver Lake. It was a rager. Blue-eyed kids as far as the eye could see. So happy we could be a part of it all. Marco was happy to be held and bounced and spoiled by just about everyone. And so was I!

At the cabin...
Marco got to meet his cousin Katie for the first time because of the Oregon invasion. He brought her a "cell phone." I have got to know who her provider is, because she was the only one with reception. Here they are together on the bridge that Gr-Grandpa Graf built.
Friday's cocktail hour at the Kroeck cabin...

Napping on Grammy... Uh? Notice the color of their hair.

Saturday at the beach...
Marco loved the Lake! He sat in the icy water smiling, squealing and laughing. I think he's wearing a girl's hat, but it was on sale for $2 and he hasn't gotten Niko's plethora of hand-me-down hats yet. And his boardshorts have a tiger on them (Thanks Auntie M!) so that's quite manly.

Saturday's dinner at the Harrington cabin...

With Gr-Grandma Alice. Please note this is the outfit Marco was wearing when cousin Courtney said he looked like a cute turd. I have it on good authority that she recently donned a monochromatic brown outfit and her husband said, "Who's the turd now?"

Past Marco's bedtime at the campfire...

Check out the Sullivan blog and more cute pics for their account. Cheers Kroecks!

You're so money.

I've been getting many questions about my girl's Vegas trip. But since I'm lazy and it's old news, just bite Heather and Kelli's accounts.

Me = in Vegas.
Jeff = working a beer event with Taki.
Marco = stayed home with Niko and his Grandma.

A great weekend for all!

Someone get that kid a Giants hat!

Marco and Daddy are on the Giants fan site!

I deleted the pic and linked to it instead because I don't want to know what the inside of San Quentin looks like. I hear they're particularly hard on new mother season ticketholders.

I also didn't want to pay one million dollars for Jeff and Marco with this very nice SI graduate whose name I can't remember and his son Patrick. He married one of Tom and Meredith's friends. Nope, you guessed it, can't remember her name either.

The Venga Gus is coming.

And everyone is jumping.

LA to San Francisco.

He rubs his face in Crisco.

I like to eat Nabisco.

da-da-da, da-da-da.

What a fabulous surprise for dinner - it's Gus!

The only thing that could've been better was if he brought his wife and kids with him. Oh and Pumpkin. R.I.P.

Cough, cough, pay attention to me.

After listening to Marco's cough for the past three weeks, I was starting to think I might actually be a bad mother. I dialed up "advice nurse" hoping she'd tell me something like "Ahh... I'm sure it's fine" or "Don't be high-maintenance - just wait it out." No such luck.

The Doc had an appointment today at 4, so I figured it was a sign. I swear she basically said "I'm sure it's fine... don't be high-maintenance.. just wait it out..." Blast! Since it is two weeks until his six month wellness checkup, she just threw that in too while I was there. Gotta earn the co-pay!
Here are Marco's five and a half month stats:

Weight: 17 lbs. 2 oz
Height: 25.5 inches (yes, still!)
Head circumference: He doesn't wanna talk about it.

Stats put him in the 55th, 19th and 88th percentile respectively. She says developmentally he's hitting his milestones, he's growing and eating well. In summary, great news - we pass as parents! Phewf, it was touch and go there for awhile.

On the GLEC front, Marco is loving rice cereal, applesauce, peas, sweet potatoes and bananas. Next stop, carrots!

**Please note that in the pic, Marco is rocking a size 1 diaper. I think they mixed up his bin with little Marcos' at daycare. They just told me last week to bring him size 3s. Also notice how my fab Coach bag now holds diapers, wipes and toys.**

Proud to be an American.

Barbeques... watermelon... pool parties... baseball... three-day weekends... this is the stuff holidays are made of.

I'm sure this is in the "What not to do in the first year" book, but whatevs.

Next time, ten more pushups before showing the pecs around town. Maybe we should've left his "Born in the USA" t-shirt on.

Marco rocks the baby pool at the Briggs' house with Sadie and Brooke. With swimming lessons and a birthday under her belt, Brooke is clearly sandbagging.

Marco gives the big kid pool a shot. Pool? Brrrr. Spa? Just riiiight.
Marco cuddles up to Makenzie at the Mulrys.

Illegal fireworks should be enforced... but... as long as they're not, we went ahead and enjoyed both the professional and bootleg versions from atop the D'Angelo's hill. Beat LA.

And a cheers to Grammy Pammy on her birthday - can't wait to see you next weekend!

Flapjack

This baby is like a flapjack. Back... and forth... and back... and forth. And more recently, he's mastered forth... and forth... and forth... until I find him wedged under the coffee table or mashed up against the door. Clearly, planning his getaway.

Daycare continues to keep us aprised of his neverending chatter and his insistence on being on the floor to roll and roll.

Here's a video of both:

Sunnyside Up.

Dear Marco,

If it's 2030 and you're reading this post - probably on a device embedded in your hand - I just want to say that I'm sorry. But I couldn't resist!

Love,
Momma

GLEC

His membership card is in the mail - we've officially welcomed Marco into the Good Little Eater's Club when he finished an entire container of applesauce!

So far, he chows rice cereal and applesauce and seems to enjoy both. He's been waking up at night and wanting to eat and although it could be our family's neverending cough (blah!), daycare says he's moving around so much now that he's probably hungry... enter high chairs and bibs, spoons and adorable, messy faces. Next stop... peas.