New Year Resolutions

It's that time of year to look at resolutions. Not sure why really, but it seems like everyone else is doing it so let's give it a shot.

I resolve to:

• Watch less TV and play more with the girls.
• Give Kim more time away from the house or in the house alone.
• Finally get moved into the garage
• Get serious about my projects or move on
• Prepare for the Paramedic Captain's exam
• Write more in the Girl's books

Kim resolves to:

• Cook more
• Take more walks
• Continue to kick ass
• Minimize psychological damage to the children

Back to the grind

Back to work I go, after the chaos at the house, here I am at my quiet house. As you saw in the last post Eliza is in her walker with nice results. My only fear is that Morgan will figure out she can push her sister around in it. And I can guarantee Eliza will smile and laugh when she does.
In other Eliza news, she is on to solid foods! We've been doing bananas and rice cereal, but yesterday she got a whole can of peas and loved every bite. Now near dinner time she screams and cries until we put her in her high chair...and even then!


Morgan's early success at potty training has regressed since we changed products. The cotton training pants just led to too many accidents that required my haz-mat training to deal with. With a return to a paper product, Morgan finds it easier to just play and worry about the potty later. But then we go out somewhere and all of the sudden she remembers how to use the toilet.


I expected to work new year's eve, but it looks like I may not have to after all.
For now I'm just catching my breath at work.

Random Christmas Pics

Here are a few more pics of the girls









And look what Eliza can do now:

The human side

Proposition 8 has been a touchy subject recently. Supporters of the bill seek to redefine Marriage as between only a man and a woman, legally overturning previously legal unions.

It passed by a slim majority and is slated to become state law in California, the first ever alteration of the State Constitution to deny a right.

These are families being ripped apart. Watch this slideshow and realize that if Prop 8 becomes law, everyone of these couples, plus countless others will be forcibly divorced against their will.

"Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD." - Leviticus 19:18

A hap hap happy christmas

Later on Christmas day Morgan was overheard saying her favorite gift was "My kitchen!"
Ken and Linda got Morgan a big play kitchen complete with dishes and play food and she just loves it. It seemed like a good place at the time, but against the wall in the family room may have been wrong, it shares a wall with our bedroom and is quite noisy first thing in the morning.

In other news, the families are now scattered back to where they came from. Angela Mike and Meadow left yesterday and Jerry and Jeana left this morning. Ken and Linda are the only stragglers, but they leave today for a few days in Napa to "relax." I told them taking the girls for a few days would be a nice way to relax and Linda laughed.

Eliza slept in on Christmas morning and smiled and played all morning. Morgan and Meadow took turns begging for their fathers to open certain packages, such as a baby you can take a bath with and a toy shopping cart.

It was chaotic at times, but we had a blast hosting Christmas. We hope everyone who visited had a nice time. We've been updating the slideshow up there in the right hand corner and will continue to do so as we sort through the pile of photos taken.

Hope all is well,
Carriage House

The Eve

The Eve started early for Angela as Meadow awoke around 2:15 proclaiming, "Play Morgan."
Last night, with the family all together, the girls were adorable. Running around in matching pajamas and playing together made everyone smile.
This morning started with Morgan and I starting the coffee and bringing in the paper while Arnold ran out to use the yard. Angela and Meadow were next to wander out and the two girls were so excited, they woke Eliza. Kim made it out just before Jeana and Jerry arrived with Coffee in hand and activities to distract the girls from the exhausted parents. Mike was last to surface, but after the long drive yesterday with a 2 year old I'm surprised he's conscious.


Right now I'm huddled in the front room chair you saw in our card photo, the one near the tree, while Linda and Jeana (Grand and Mina) are helping the girls build a gingerbread house. On occasion someone will wander in with Eliza in hand or Arnold will sniff around for dropped food.
Johnny Lang's Merry Christmas Baby is on the radio and all is well.

I need more coffee. More pictures soon.

One last quiet night

We've got the girls to bed and are sitting near the fire catching up on TV and the interwebs before the chaos that is the Schorr family christmas begins. We have the moose shaped glasses for nog, got a black dickie and white sweater for Mike and cleared out a space for the RV. The keg is here, the dartboard will be going up in the morning and the tree is being held up by a number of gifts. Can't wait for everyone to arrive.

In other news, congratulations are in order for the newest local member of our extended 'family,' Chloe Reinhold. Chloe was born December 21st at 7:19 AM weighing in at 6 lbs 11oz. We have word that mom Nikki is doing well and Dylan is wandering aimlessly (New dad syndrome).

I don't want to go back to bed

moRemember when I said it was neat that Eliza and Morgan can keep each other entertained for 20 minute stretches? Yeah, I should have said what time of the day that was a good thing.
Whenever I don't work I try to wake up before Morgan to keep her from waking Kim so she can get at least a little more sleep. Sometimes she does the same for me. Usually Morgan wakes up, wanders into the family room and asks for cereal and Caillou. After getting no sleep the night before at work, I chose to hit the snooze button this morning instead of just dragging myself out of bed at first alarm...like I did all the night before.
This morning was not a new experience, just always a great way to wake up. I awoke to the sound of Eliza talking her grunting language (which actually sounds like a tawn-tawn from Empire Strikes Back) and Morgan talking back. Morgan woke early, saw no one in the family room and decided to wake Eliza. Lovely. I walked in and shout whispered "What are you doing in here!"
"I don't want to go back to bed!"
Smile* grunt*
Now the feeding and nap schedule is toast and we have a lot to get done today.

Welcome All!

Welcome all you newcomers to Word from Carriage House.

Our Christmas card has arrived here, which means you all should be receiving it and heading this way out of curiosity. We've been at this since soon after Eliza was born in July and try to keep it updated as best we can.
How about a tour?
At the top right of the page is a slideshow of recent pictures. Just click on the image to start it and the little arrows in the lower right corner make it full screen.
To the left is the archive, which will let you pick and choose which events to catch up on. Below that are fun links to other blogs, websites etc that we enjoy and want to pass along.
So take a look around, click on an ad (Help the girls get to college) and while you're here, press control-D to bookmark us and make coming back easier.

We're getting ready to host Christmas this year, the whole clan is coming up to visit. Ken, Linda, Jeana, Jerry, Mike Ang and Meadow, Jennifer and likely the dogs will make for one busy house so we'll be posting photos and news as it happens.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and have a Blessed Solstice on Dec 21st!
The Schorrs

Christmas Towne 2008

Sequoia Hose Company #1 and Carriage Hose Company #5 race to a fire at the Candy Shoppe.

Carriage Hose Company #5, the first horse team in the County















The Firemen racing















Sequoia Hose #1 pulling out of the Firehouse behind the horses














Great Great Grandfather Schorr, ahead of the Company team

Eliza has a boyfriend

Now that I have your attention...Eliza has been kissing the fellow in the photo below. If I find this guy, he's toast.







In other Carriage House news, the tree has been up for a while and I'm getting requests for a tree picture. I tell these people, it looks a lot like a douglas fir with a bunch of lights on it, but they keep calling. So let me post this photo to end all the calls...LINDA!

And that takes care of that.
Morgan has been at it again...that is acting like she's 2 1/2 going on 14. She has informed us of everything she is going to teach Eliza when Eliza gets "bigger and bigger" (arms rising higher and higher). Tonight it was teaching Eliza to swim. Morgan also turned to me at the dinner table and said, WITHOUT COACHING, "When I get bigger and bigger daddy, I'm going to go work with you. Is that OK?" I nearly cried. You see Morgan is slated to be a 3rd generation firefighter and eventually Chief of the San Francisco Fire Department. I looked at her and said, "I would like that very much." She turned back to her dinner and said, "OK."
Then she spat out, "When I get bigger and bigger I be a Doctor" so we laughed and then the gold began to flow..."When I a doctor you and mommy come live with me." I immediately turned to her and extended my hand. "Deal?" I asked, hand extended to shake, "Deal" she shook. We're SO totally taking her up on that on account of her being the first Doctor Chief of the SFFD.

The way too inside joke

I thought you all knew this, but the comments prove otherwise. As Morgan has grown, and since she was Eliza's size, I have played silly games. One of those games was singing a certain song to the tune of Gumby. Instead of the part, "Who started out as a little green clump of clay...GUMBY!" I changed the words to "Who's your favorite Secretary of State...COLIN POWELL" With the arm raised up where the "..." is.

Geez people, that was easy to get wasn't it?

Oh Tannenbaum... Oh Tannenbaum...

The tree is up and looking good. It was such a painless experience this year. we bought the tree from a local school doing a fund raiser. Pick your type, height and pay them. A few weeks later, we get the tree. We wandered into the school building and there were 4 of our kind waiting. I asked the guys to help me stand one up (they were only that morning unwound and cut down only 2 days earlier) and it was perfect.
So it spent the night in the garage, drinking an entire tree stand of water in less than 12 hours and this morning was moved into the front room. Morgan's job was to hold the front door slightly open and when she saw me coming with the tree, open the door. This was to minimize the 48 degree weather from coming in while I carried the tree part way around the house. This thing weighs an easy 60 pounds and as we all know isn't easy to get a grip on. It was right near the door I can hear morgan's voice from deep in the house "Mommy the tree is here, the tree is here!" Thanks kid.


In other news it seems you don't realize what you leave in the car until it gets ransacked. My shaver is missing as well. I save time in the mornings and used to shave while driving. Oh well, that's the second one I've misplaced.


In adorable news, Morgan and Eliza are now able to keep each other entertained for 20 minutes at a stretch. At the end of one of their "playdates" I heard a familiar cadence in the things she was saying. Kind of like when you hear a pop song in musak in an elevator and can't quite place it right away. It was Morgan lifting Eliza's arm that finally made what she was saying, and their playing so funny.
It's like that quote we have says, "The most haunting thing in motherhood is hearing your own words come out of your daughter's mouth."
What Morgan was saying to Eliza was this (just sound it out) - "Oos favit serary ate? Orin (pull Eliza's arm up)Owl!

It clicked and Kim and I lost it. Morgan was trying to teach her sister what I spent so long trying to get her to do, often to her complete refusal. My work here is done.

They took what?

As a belated welcome to the neighborhood gift, it looks like someone found the Prius unlocked in the driveway and decided to give it a try. Justin came back from work around 930 this morning and we went to get the tree, more on that later. After an afternoon of putting up christmas lights, Justin decided to run out to the car and grab a little something he had bought just a few days ago. He opened the door and the satellite radio dock was on the floor, the saddle compartment open, as well as the glovebox and he couldn't find the item he was looking for. There in the backseat was his computer bag, badge and uniform cap. Then he noticed the DC splitter for the satellite radio was missing and sure enough so was the item he was looking for. The Prius had been ransacked.

BY IDIOTS!

Here is where I go from feeling sorry about losing $10 worth of stuff and kicking myself in the head for neglecting to lock the doors and wanting to kick the little punks in the head. Not because of what they took, but because of WHAT THEY DID NOT TAKE.
OK, pop quiz:

You're in someone else's car and have the option of stealing the following, which do you take?
A. $5 cigarette lighter adapter
B. $5 Wooden bird house, unfinished
C. Dry cleaned pants, in plastic
D. Laptop Computer
E. Garage door opener
F. D and E
G. A, B & C

Correct answer: G
You guessed it, they took my work pants. Wool fireman pants, a wooden bird house and a cigarette lighter adapter. I fear for the future of America if our best and brightest choose someone else's dry cleaning over a computer. Idiots.

Ah....an overtime

Many consider working work, but my work is my time off. Justin here by the way. I'm stuck working an overtime near the beach, watching the Arsenal game getting ready for volleyball. My co-workers consider it losing a day off, but I realize that it's actually an additional day off. I'm not having to carry Eliza around while Morgan cries or awake in the middle of he night to feed the baby. I wake in the night for other reasons, but that's another story.

Our Christmas tree arrives on Saturday and it seems as though Christmas is not sneaking up this year, but breaking through the wall Cool Aid style, "Oh YEAH!" We bought a tree from a charity a few weeks back. We pay them then, and a tree is cut down on Thursday in Oregon and brought to the local fairgrounds on Saturday for pick-up. We've already specified the type and size, so hopefully if I can get there early enough we can get the best one. It needs to look good since it's going in the front window this year.

Morgan now has an advent calendar, actually 2 of them. Linda got her one while I was at the store buying a nice wood one she refers to as "My tree with doors." She loves opening all the doors, then closing them and trying to keep her opening just one at a time is a chore, but I've been here 2 days so Kim knows more about that.

On another note: My 1976 Ladder Truck is still for sale. If you all are going to get it here before the heart of winter you need to move fast.
Arsenal 2-Chelsea 1 8 min remaining.

Winding down

The last of "My visitors," as Morgan called them have gone and the house is almost quieting down. It was a busy week and a lot of fun to have family around for awhile. It was also nice to be able to host family in the new house, without making people stand around in a number of different rooms.
We got some great pictures, now up in the slide show and some fun video of Eliza laughing.
So back to the grind I guess and getting ready to host Christmastime here in a few short weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Eliza watching the family run around


Janet and Eliza share a quiet moment


Morgan reads a story to Aunt Janet


Morgan makes up a story to Aunt Janet


Morgan eating the double stuff oreo cookies she and Grand made into little turkeys.

The turkey breast was juicy and the ham was great. Forget the roast at Christmastime, we're having bourbon ham. Mike will like that, I'm sure. The wine was a McDowell 2003 Syrah which complimented Linda's cheesy potatoes nicely. Morgan ate mostly bread and ham while Eliza made her usual grunts at the table. We finished the night with some lovely apple pie with crumble crust Kim made last night. Simply divine if I may say.

Well, time to get Janet and Margaret back to their hotel. Tomorrow we sleep in and get some work done around the house. Tomorrow night will be the viewing of Christmas Vacation and the official start of the Christmas season.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!

Meltdown

When Kim went to get Janet and Margaret at the BART station, Eliza melted down. Screaming, crying and completely inconsolable. Yeah. Good news is Kim eventually returned and we were all able to relax a bit. Janet and Grandma are here safely, although very tired after a full day's travels.
Luckily the girls got adorable when I had the camera out. More tomorrow, time to get the pies going and season the turkey breast.

It has begun

The first wave of guests for the holiday have arrived. Morgan was waiting at the window as Ken, Linda, Sufi and Arnold pulled in just a short while ago. Cleo was found huddled in a bush this morning after refusing to come inside last night before the rain started. With the dogs running around, Cleo has needed to find refuge from them and the rain. I think she's doing just fine.
The pies and stuffing will be prepped tonight and the ham starts at 10 tomorrow morning! Let's go!

A big week coming up

After a rough week with sick Morgan and sick Justin, Kim is anticipating the arrival of 4 additional guests for Thanksgiving. Ken and Linda are coming as well as Ken's sister Janet and their mother Margaret from Indiana. Needless to say it's going to be a full house, but empty compared to the Christmas we are hosting in a month's time.
To get ready for all that I got an early Christmas gift last night at work. With the week sick and a busy week coming I got a full night's sleep last night...AT WORK! A full 9 hours. It was almost like stealing, but not really. Working 2 days in a row now so I can have the whole week off to prep for TG.
Back to work now, time for movie #2 before volleyball. Oh and what a tough place to be stationed for 2 days. Google Earth it - 32nd Avenue at Pacheco.