10 Amazing Years

Today celebrates 10 years since Nathan and I started dating. Our story is one of those really special ones. We met in college as we lived in the same dorm. I lived on the floor above him. We shared similar friends and often were at the same events. Nathan would come up to my dorm every night to ask me how my day went. To be honest, sometimes this would bug me. However, one day, September 9, 1999 to be exact, Nathan came to my door to pick me up for a friend's birthday party at Bubba Gump's and it clicked. I opened the door, saw his smiling face, and the thought that went through my head was, this guy comes up to my room every night to ask how my day was and really wants to know.

I decided to make him a scrapbook for Christmas that year. I gave it to him before we went on Christmas break from school. He gave me some sad excuse of why he couldn't be with me. I was devastated and pretty upset. I was really glad to be going home. I went home and Ruby's waited to have their Christmas party for when I got home. I went to the party and when I came home that night my mom was waiting up. She came out of the house as I was walking up and said, "Go look in the dining room!" I ran in, and sure enough, there were flowers from Nate with a card that read, "Thinking of you." -Nate

We were planning to see eachtother for New Year's as Dave and I were going to drive up and meet Nate and continue further up North to Arnold where his mom had a cabin. We did just that and boy was I ever excited to see him. On New Year's Eve it was the turn of the century and I thought it was going to be SO memorable!!! Well, it was memorable alright...5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year! Dave gave me a friendly kiss and Nathan....NOTHING!

We traveled back to the dorms and stayed there. I was so frustrated....Finally Nathan asked, "What's wrong with you?" I replied with, "What's wrong with you?!" "Why won't you kiss me?" And, then, we had our first kiss. So romantic, right? Not so much!

Dave and I traveled home again and Nathan and I had planned for me to meet him in Colorado as he was going to visit his dad and stepmom. I had never been to Colorado and thought it would be fun, I also thought we would have been together by this point. I flew out to Colorado. The day I got there, January 17, 2000 we were sitting on the couch and he said, "I've kinda been telling everyone you are my girlfriend." Then using a quote from my scrapbook he said, "I think it is time to set our friendship to music." And the rest is history....

UCI Reunion!

Today was another fun day for our family. The UCI girls and all their families got together again as Becca, Ernie, and the boys were in town for a visit (they now live in Georgia). We drove down to San Clemente to meet everyone. I have to say, it has been a wonderful journey with these girls. Some of us started out single, and went from dating, to marriage, and now most of us even have children. It has been an amazing ride and I am so grateful for the friendships I formed while obtaining my teaching credential. Kai, again, did really well with the other kiddos making mommy and daddy very proud!

Burke's First Birthday Party

So today was an exciting day. Kai attended his first birthday party. It was really neat as there were lots of people there with children around Kai's age. It was the first time we got to see Kai really interact with multiple other children. He did SO well. We were amazed at how well he played with others. We felt really proud. Burke looked so cute in her birthday dress and Megan and John had such a nice party put together with lots of friends and family. I can't believe how fast the first year has gone by. It has been really amazing to watch Burke grow...

Happy New Year 2010!

Happy New Year!

I am starting this blog for the light of my life Kai Barret Russell. I hope to record his most important moments in an online blog to share with friends and family. I also hope it will serve as a record that he can look back at in the future.

2009 was an amazing year. It goes without saying that the most important thing that happened in the last year was the birth of our son on April 1st. He was born at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, CA. We couldn't be more proud of him and his accomplishments so far. Some of these accomplishments include smiling at 4 months, crawling, pulling himself up, and waving goodbye at 7 months, and cutting his first 4teeth (top front) at 8 months.

Kai is already quite the little traveler. Over the summer we went to Gilroy for the Garlic Festival and Catalina Island, which he loved. Kai has already been to two other states other than California. He went to Nevada to celebrate his Grandma Howdy's 50th birthday in Lake Tahoe when he was only 5 months old. Jason and Kim joined us in Lake Tahoe which was really nice. We just returned from ringing in the new year in Colorado with his Grandpa Russell. This was also his first time on a plane. He did so well as we expected. The people on the plane even said things such as; "What a good baby" and "He didn't even make a peep!" We have always found ourselves able to comfortably take him anywhere with us. In fact, we acually enjoy always having him with us. We have plenty of family and friends wanting to babysit, but we just love having him with us.

In May Kai met his Great Mamaw for the first time. We also celebrated my first Mother's Day. It was incredibly special. We went over to my mom's house for a gorgeous brunch. She had set up all of the china and Ed cooked. It was just lovely. My mom and Ed got me a beautiful Tiffany bracelet with a ducky charm with Kai's name and birthday on it. I wear it everyday. My mom also gave me my childhood blanket. My brother gave me some really cool Katin board shorts and a little Katin shirt for Kai. So cute. Then, later in the day, we went to the Sunset Beach Art Festival. Grandpa and Tutu met us down there. We walked around and then went to their house for dinner. They gave me a candle and my childhood bear "buddy." That was a very special gift. Daddy and Kai got me a massage spa package. Joe and Emily got Jen the same thing so that we could go together. Very fun! My first Mother's Day is definitely something I will never forget.

In June, we celebrated Nathan's first Father's Day. We had brunch at my mom and Ed's again and Mommy and Kai got Daddy a Sony video camera to capture all of Kai's firsts!

In July, Kai got to meet his Great Grandma Barret for the first time. We also celebrated Nathan's 30th birthday in July. We had a surprise party at Solis Winery in Gilroy with a bunch of our friends and family from up north. It was a really great evening as many of our friends that were not able to see us soon after Kai's birth, were able to meet him for the first time.

Kai was a frog for his first Halloween. We went trick-or-treating on Main St. in Seal Beach during the day with our friends Jen and Joe Evano with their daughter Emily and our friends Billy and Cheryl and their daughter Makensey and their son Bradley. In the evening, we had about 13 adults for 2 kids. It was hilarious! Jen and Joe had Joe's mom and dad, brother and sister, and their significant others and Kai had us, Grandma, Grandma Howdy, and Tutu. We had a wonderful time and felt so lucky to have such an entourage!

In November we celebrated my 29th birthday.

We went up North to Gilroy to celebrate Thanksgiving with his Great-Grandma Barret. He also got to meet his Great-Aunt Kris, Great-Great Aunt Margaret at that time along with his 3rd cousins Walt Jr. and Suzy Barret and his 4th cousins Nadine, Brian, and Kyle. Grandpa Howdy's sister and brother-in-law and their children joined along with adopted family member Julia Frisch. He also got to see his Great-Uncle Bob and Dale and his Great-Uncle Todd. We were also very happy to get to spend the holiday with his Auntie Megan and Adam and Jason and Kim.

The Sunday after Thanksgiving we went for our second year in a row with the Evano's to pick out Kai's first Christmas tree.

On the first Friday in December we went to Kai's first Seal Beach Christmas parade with Grandpa and Tutu. Kai was also in his first Christmas parade on that Sunday. Grandpa and Tutu drove us in their Woodie down Main St. in Huntington Beach for the Huntington Beach Christmas parade.

The following weekend we took Kai to see Santa. He did really well. We took him to see Santa at Long Beach Market Place. It was awesome! It was super sweet to watch Kai with Santa. He sat on his lap, looked at him, played with his beard, and then, he looked at him again and started crying. We got the sweet picture and the classic get me outta here picture!

We celebrated Christmas with Grandma, Papa, Uncle Doodie, and Ariele before Christmas by going on the Huntington Harbor Lights Cruise and eating yummy pot roast and opening presents. Kai got a Tickle Me Elmo. It was a big hit!

Christmas Eve was celebrated in Gilroy at Great-Grandma Barret's house. We continued the tradition of opening our gifts up from eachother on Christmas Eve and then opened presents from Santa on Christmas morning. Kai got a lot of Sesame Street toys and an Elmo puppet. His big gift was a big beach wagon! He went for a ride in it and knew exactly what to do! He sits up in it and loves going for rides around town! We then came home and flew to Colorado to spend some time with Grandpa Russell and Traci. Kai got to meet his Great-Grandma Russell, his Great-Aunt Fina, Great-Uncle Danny, and his Cousin Kathryn. He also got to see his Great-Uncle Todd again as well. He not only saw the snow for the first time, but he also went sledding for the first time. He loved it! Here is a video of Kai and Daddy sledding.

We celebrated with Grandpa, Tutu and Uncle Doodie again when we got home. Kai got a super cool Radio Flyer ride-on rocket. He loves it! His latest is to slam his hand on the seat as if to say, "Put me on! I want to ride my rocket!

As for Nathan and myself, we are both working full time. I was lucky enough to be able to stay home for the first five months of Kai's life. I am truly grateful for this. This is my sixth year teaching 2nd grade. Nathan is working for Mitsubishi Motors as the Events Specialist. We are very lucky for our setup right now. Grandpa (and sometimes Tutu) watch Kai 2 days a week, Grandma and Papa watch him 2 days a week, and Grandma Howdy watches him 1 day a week. They are all really good about covering when one needs it or picking up an extra day here or there. We are so thankful for all their love and support, but know they are having a blast getting to spend the time they do with Kai. Although it is hard for me to be a full-time mother, wife and teacher, I am truly grateful that I do not have to drop Kai off at a daycare. I also firmly believe that he is as well-adjusted as he is because he spends time with and around so many other people.


Here is to a very exciting year with a lot of learning and new experiences!