The Girls are in Canada and I am jealous!!

*Because I have received threatening voicemails from the the participants in these pictures, there identities have now been "removed"!- SO THERE. Now please keep sending me pictures of Isabella!!!!! 

Shauna and Heather are in Canada with Sara, Matt and baby Isa and I am jealous! I have no idea how I am going to wait two whole months to see this prescious child! I am itching to get my hands are her and watch her coo all day long...and of course say hi to sara and matt on my way to the baby! hahaha! She just looks so scerene, and calm and perfect. I even think she has red hair. The girls have promised to keep me updated everyday with pictures and matt is lathargically posting his new pictures every few days, so I guess that will help keep me contented.
I guess my real contintement will be hanging around with Erin T's little one, Emma. Which of course I don't mind at all. Emma and I had some face time last night. We laughed and smiled at each other it was wonderful. She is such a good baby and she too has some hints of red in her pelo. So it looks like we may have some more crazy red heads running around, two girls after my own heart....and hair. Stay tuned for more of my baby envy.

Peace out - Kristin

I'M PREGNANT!!!!

April Fools!

sorry that was mean. but I just had too!

ANOTHER BABY HAS ARRIVED!!!!

Well it's been a long time since I have posted on here, and for those of you who are still sticking with me I am so sorry! Things have been crazy!

The last posting was on the delivery of Erin T.'s baby girl Emma Grace. And I am proud to announce to you that this posting is on the delivery of another precious girl very close to our hearts!!

Sara L. had Isabella Marie at 12:50 am this morning! Weighing in at 7lbs 1oz and 20.5 inches long! Everyone is doing great, daddy says (...to me at 2 am this morning- whew!).
Daddy Matt is a Super Fantastic Photographer so I will have some more Super Fantastic Pictures up just as soon as I get a hold of them!!

This is the last of the babies for a while. Joslyn is expecting a girl in mid June and Rachael is expecting a baby in October...So more to come on those great new lives!

Love

Kristin

The Baby Has Arrived!!!

Little Emma Grace Taylor has arrived!  

She came to us on Tuesday, Febraury 17th around 6:30 pm!  She was 8lbs 2oz and 20" long.  Sean said Erin T. was "superwoman"!  I found out later just how much of a super woman she really was....she did it all without an epidural!!!!  I can't even imagine! Erin T. you are definitely a rockstar! We are so proud of you!!!!  Even her doctor was suprised to walk in and find that she did not have an epidural! woo hoo!  

Emma is doing great and so is mom and dad...maybe a little tired, but they are doing well!  

Emma is now a week old and just as cute as ever and we swear that she has Erin T's raspy little voice! Yes another voice like Erin's and mine, that is so awesome!! 

I was so honored to get to be one of the first people to see her!  The pictures below are of little Emma, just about an hour old, and a proud couple of grandpa's holding thier little granddaughter!  This is Ken's first grandbaby and John's third!   Congrats to all....next up Sara L.'s little girl.  No names yet, they will decide when she comes, some time in late march!  woo hoo! 

Chinese New Year

My company is owned by a Chinese man, so every year it is tradition to hold a Chinese New Year firecracker display on the first day of the Lunar New Year, in front of our business for goodluck.  This year we celebrated the year of the bull siginified by an image at the top of the firecracker string (hard to see, but it's there). To the left you can see the string of firecrackers going off. We are hoping that the Bull is a double good luck symbol to be significant of the market! haha! Below you will see a video of the fire cracker display and a couple other images I captured that afternoon.  It was loud, it was fun, and it was a free lunch!  

Tennis Anyone...

A week ago tuesday, Katie (sister) and I went to the SAP open in San Jose to watch some of the first rounds of men's singles.  The hotties Rodick and Hewitt were playing (seperate matches) so it was really nice eye candy.  I told Katie I was so excited to see Hewitt playing becuase I had the biggest crush on him in high School! Kris G. and I were big fans of his, and Jan Michael and Saffin.  Didn't know too much about Roddick at the time.  I think he was a new  comer when I was in HS. Anyway Rodick smoked some qualifier in the first set, and then the qualifier rallied in the second, but was beat in the tie breaker...Rodick pushed through, but turns out he didn't win the SAP like he did last year. He was eliminated in the semi-final. We didn't get to stay for all of Hewitt's match against MartyFish, but that's ok because I would have been depressed to stay and watch him get beat. MartyFish made it all the way to the final round and was eliminated by Stykov, or somehting like that *(I am way off on that name).  Never the less it was fun to be there and watch the match, get mad at bad calls, and just have a good time!

Lion-ess

Mom sent me this hysterical picture this evening. Our poor fluffy cat, was too fluffy (no her name is not fluffy, it's sierra) and I guess had way too many knots in her coat. She hates being brushed, so this is what she gets for being stubborn! hahahahah!!!! poor cat!

The Ballet...

Erin S. and I just got back from watching the SF Ballet's 1st Program of the season. It was a three piece ballet, each by a different choreographer and each with a very different feel. Our favorite of the three was called "diving into the lilacs". It was a more contemporary piece, set to classical sonata by Tchaikovsky. The movement was fluid and the extensions were amazing.
Being at the ballet is indescribable, the emotion it evokes and the motion that it puts to your feet. I felt like getting up and doing an arabesque as some parts.
The first performance was nice, fairly classical in nature, and upbeat at times. It really helped that I knew the music piece, written by non other than Beethoven. I guess all those A&E films are paying off! haha
The last one,was weird. The program read as follows "The structures of both score and ballet are based on the idea that different personality traits are associated with the body’s four humors—black bile, blood, phlegm, and yellow bile." All I could think of when I read this was, "what?!". I could see remnants of this, I guess...it was just a little weird though. Definitely evoked that 1940's ballet feel in which is was originally written for. Erin and I agreed on one thing here, we liked the classic black leo and pink tights. There is just something about that that says "Ballet" , not sure what it is though..... *wink wink* just kidding.
Anyway, we are very grateful to my boss who so gernerously gave us her tickets for the night. We had such a good time, and thank God the laughing woman wasn't back (right Jos?! hahah).
Now I have to do some work and go to bed...
Peace out!

American Idol...

...Well it's back again, and I am once again addicted and glued to the tv for the 10 weeks of auditions and then Hollywood week, and of course my office famous "Top 24" list, in which I very deliberately stamp out the faces of those people who get kicked off. My boss loves it! HAHA!
Anyway, I was searching amazon for their Daily Album Special to see what it was (Stevie Wonder...blehh) when I came across a plethora of past american idol contestants with new
album's out.

Brooke White (last season- mediocre steve nix-esque), David Cook (winner, and Robinson's hunky mand crush, and not a half bad album I am previewing it on amazon as I type), David Archuleta (runner up last year, teenbopper crap- yes I have his album...), Kelly Clarkson (season 1 winner- new song out- dance-y hit), and worst of all....SANJAYA (aka Sanjina- still terrible as ever- who gave him a record deal- baliwood?)!!! Not sure, why I am sharing this with you, but I thought that it might strike a chord with someone. hahaha!

Oh well, enjoy the next set of auditions tonight, I know Aaron and I will! hahah!

Prep'ing for Erin T

Can you believe that Erin T. is only 1 month away from her due date?! It is truly amazing how fast time flies. I feel like it was only a couple of months ago that she told us she was pregnant, and only a few weeks ago that we were talking about what we would do for her shower. Thanksgiving came and went, Christmas came and went, our planning meeting for the baby shower came and went, and now we are finally here, 1 day away from the big BABY SHOWER!
Of course, being in the business I see a lot of cool marketing, advertising and packaging ideas. That's where the "shake's" in the starbucks cups seen aside- filled with little clothing items and topped with tissue paper came from. I love this stuff!
I just have this like obsession with these dang clothes, and getting to pick out part of the baby's wardrobe for the next couple of years elates me (not to mention the rather generous discount that I get). I remember my cousin Jess' shower and the basket 'o' clothes I put together for her, it was like watching a kid at Christmas, and the joy it brought to her face and soul, and the utter and genuine appreciation she had for my gift brought a joy within me that was more than I can explain. I guess that it just reaffirms that one of my stronger love language's is Gifts of Giving.
Anyway, it all sounds so material, but if you know me, you know that it doesn't even come close to that. I am just looking forward to Erin's reaction; I hope she likes it.

...and sara- even though we don't get to have a "real" shower for/with you, I am well into your "gift basket".
Peace out yo!

And I'm Back- Whew!

So you probably thought I had dropped off the planet again! Well fear not I am still around. I have been procrastinating writing as I have been pooped out! I got sick just before new years with a CRAPPY cold that had me on the couch for three+ days (and you ask why couldn't I have writen then? Because I was WAY too busy being sick and watching 90210-original- from the very beginning- whoa Brandon that was some mullet you had!). Then I came back to work to a friendly meeting entitled "New Year New Changes" - we got an hour tacked on to our schedule- sucky! So The past week and half has been 7:30-4:45 and today I didn't get out of there until 5:10! Yuck!
Anyway, so here I am finally writing again, although I am being summoned to the table for dinner- Katie cooked tonight! YES my new excuse for staying out of the Kitchen! Here are some fun pics of Katie - my serving wench- cooking!

and their stockings were hung by the chiminey with cheer...

Merry Christmas again everyone. I just wanted to share this picture with you that my mom sent over from her living room in las cruces. She captured a great shot!
Just as a little update. Christmas was fantastic and less hectic than usual, bittersweetly we only had two houses to go to as mom and emery packed up at the beginning of last year and moved out to NM. Gifts were exchanged, cheer was had with Davina's super yummy gluwein (a traditional German mulled wine, kind of like our apple cider, but with alcohol!) and tummy's were full with our around-the-world feast!
Katie is now living up here as of the 23rd. and her room is STUFFED with her SD belongings! Dad said it is great except that he now has a THIRD full kitchen set (his, mine, and now katie's)....we are definitely having a garage sale - SOON!!!!
That's all, I am sick, woke up with a nasty sore throat and have been lying on the couch all morning, watching chick flicks and SNL best moments on "E!"
Erin S. and I are going out for dinner at our fav. Indian place and taking in the "Twilight" movie-finally! (she has already seen it). So I am trying to rest up so I am ready for a fun filled night! woo hoo!
Peace out!

Merry Christmas and much much more

(our christmas card)
Gosh I feel so bad. My friend Sara emailed and asked if I was doing alright, cuz she hadn't seen a post in a LONG time! I am so glad you all look SO forward to this. I promise to be a better girl and post more often. This time of year is always hard, becuase of all the events:
Kipp.'s annual make your own gift christmas exchange part (Dec. 13)
Wizard Party (Dec. 6)
Erin T, Sara, Heather, Katie, James, Andrew's Birthdays (Dec. 15-27)
Ok and much more, but I can't remember... Here some Key pictures of the happenings....OH and guess what?! I ate sushi! really! A Soy wrapped Galaxy roll from our local sushi place...Rock Band Party at our house with the peeps from Frisbee
Wisest Wizard Party @ nate's house (Jill and aaron in stiff competition)
Aaron's North Pole Digerydoo, made for the Kipp.'s annual homemade gift exchange
"twilight" ornaments that I made for the same party
...and finally justice eating tofu at erin T's birthday dinner

Sienna Clair you are my sunshine!

So my work started a blog! (www.blog.letop-usa.com) and we have this page called "Daily Darling". So today the lady who runs it put up a picture I submitted of Sienna Clair Schaefer, who is my Cousin, Jessi's baby girl! Oh my gosh she is soooooo cute! You must check this out!

http://blog.letop-usa.com/ Click on Daily Darling Tab - Top Right!

Peace!

Highlighting Gram~

Hi all,

Just was thinking about my Gram, and how I hear she likes to read my little blog (but that I don't update it enough.. or so I hear). So I thought I would just share her with you. She is one of the most amazing people in my life. She is beautiful and a genuinely good and kind person. She loves to garden (she grows HUGE tomatoes), and loves traveling. She has been more places than I can only hope to go. I think my goal will be to match her record in countries traveled! What do you say Gram, you think I can do it?!
Anyway, she is very special to me, and lives pretty far away (VA) so I thought it would be nice to highlight her today and to let her know I am thinking about her...I am thinking about you Gram!!! Lots of love!!!! We just ordered your gift for Christmas, I can't wait for you to get it!!!

Love
Kristin

(ok...peace out)
oh, ps! APU Girls check out Todd's pictures on Facebook- WOAH! MEMORIES!

32D not 38A - I am not going down a size especially now!

From Sara Lunde in an Email to me this morning! Definitely worth sharing!

I went to a bra store the other day, that I swear was run by a bunch of pre-puberty 13 year olds. Anyways, I decide to do a bra fitting, and this girl tries to tell me that I'm a 38A!!!!! I was like, honey, I'm wearing a 32B right now, it fits great around, and I'm not anywhere near fitting in the cups anymore. So she tries to tell me that the size around you are affects the cup size, which fair enough, but there is NO way I'm a 38!! I go home and measure myself around the ribs where she had measured 38 (which translates into 38 in bra size), and she was 10 inches off!!! I guess she read it wrong, because I was 28 (a 32-34), which then pushes the cup size way up. Sooo... my friend here lent me some of her bras, and so today I am comfortably filling a 32D. 38A my ass. Even if my ribs had expanded like mad and I HAD been a 38A, there is no way I would have worn it, just because there is no way I'm going to go DOWN in bra size when I'm almost 6 months PREGNANT!

Anyway, there's my story for the day. :) How are you? What's up?

love you!!

Sara

Snot Pot, Brownies and One talented Child

Happy Thanksgiving...or soon to be. Just had some great entertainment that I wanted to share with all you viewers...even those of you that I don't know are reading (would love to hear from you).

Last saturday we spent the evening with Erin and Sean T. and had a blast making brownies that we( errrr...me) took out of the oven too soon, so they were more like mooosh than moist brownie, nevertheless they were great, especially with the ice cream on top! woot woot!


Then Aaron demonstrated how to use, what we are calling the "Snot Pot". My Aunt Vicki sent it to us and I swear to you aaron LOVES that thing. He swears it works and clears him up! He has used it two or three times a day, everyday. And how did we eat brownies and watch him drain his nose all at the same time (nearly)?!!!

Aaron and I will be taking our Christmas Picture on Thanksgiving...we are super excited about our lame and overdone idea....I may give you a preview!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and eat as much Turkey as you want, the triptophan won't do anything to you, it's a lie!

S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y NIGHTS!

so! Jill got a new job and will be staying the YAY Area!! Thank God Massachusette's doesn't get her back yet...and if we have it our way, they never will!!!! We will marry her off to some hot california surfer and they will have babies and live long and never leave here! hahahaha...she probably has other plans!

So anyway the girls and I had to celebrate this great accomplishment by going "club'n". (tangent- why is it that I never, or maybe once- but that is besides the point- went clubing when I was single. Now that I am married I have been club'n so many times and I can't take anyone home with me except for the guy sitting in the corner just watching me like some stalker (also known as my husband...Aaron! hahahah). Oh well, I wouldn't want any of those losers anyway!

CanI just tell you before you look down at our GREAT! haha, pictures, that we waited 1.25 hours for a freaking cab!!!! we were all so pissed off, we were sober by the time we got back to Jill's because we had waited so long....which was a really good thing anyway!

So here are some pics from our night! hahaha!

FREAKING FINALLY!

HALLOWEEN PICTURES FINALLY.

Winner's of Mikey's 2nd Annual Halloween Party Costume Contest:
Aaron and Paul: "Broke Back Mountain"

Runners Up:
Gene R.and Eliot P.: "Wayne and Garth- Wayne's World"


Other Participants Included:
Kaitlin M. & Kristin D. as:"Samantha Ronson and Lindsay Lohan"Andrew S. & Cassandra (his finacee) as:"Joe Dimagio & Marilyn Monroe"Sean & Erin T. as:"Dennis Rodman and Carmen Electra"Marco & Alli R. as:"80's couple"
Kris G. and Derek K. as:"Eliot & JD - Scrubs"
Erin S. as:"Coor's Girl"Mikey P. as:"Baseball Player"Mark G. as:"Painter"
Joslyn K.as:"Little Red riding Hood"
James, David, Kenny & Luke as:"The Lost Boys"
Nate K. as:"The Sucker Who Didn't Dress Up"

Out of commission....

Hey all,
sorry I haven't been writing as much lately. I have been "under the weather" for a little while! But I am on the road to recovery. Not really much to say just wanted to put that up to let you know I am still around AND STILL WAITING TO GET THE STINKING PICTURES FROM HALLOWEEN, Hopefully I will have those on Saturday for you!

Peace Out.