Notre Dame v. Stanford Weekend 2011

Over Thanksgiving weekend we got away for a quick weekend in San Francisco and in Palo Alto for the Notre Dame Stanford game.  We had so much fun!  We stayed right near the Ferry Building and took Lucy to an inappropriately fancy (for a 17 month old) restaurant, Boulevard (yummy!) the first night we were there.  The Occupy SF movement was camped out right near our hotel so that was also a sight to see (and odor to smell), though I did not take photos.  We loved strolling around the City, visiting the farmer's market, eating some amazing belgian leige waffles at the Ferry Building and also spending time with our great friends, the Gagnons, who hosted their usual excellent tailgate ... nobody went hungry!  We also spent part of Sunday with the Gagnons at their home in the East Bay! 

Lucy, the tailgater.

Lewis Hall alumni!  Courtney (that is my late Grandpa Miller's Notre Dame hat), Virginia Brisley (my freshman year roomie) and Allison Gagnon

Taylor, Lucy, Shelby, and Grace use working on some tailgate art projects.

The farmer's market at the Ferry Building

Lucy and David with the Bay Bridge in the background.  This was the morning before the afternoon game.

She made a good effort (thankfully not a succesful one) to catch a pigeon.

A few shots from our efforts to get Lucy to look at the camera nd not scowl.

Look at Daddy!

Come on, babies, cooperate!

The Gagnon boys show Lucy their train table.

Lucy and her godmother, Allison.

More efforts to capture the little ones.

Not bad!

Thanksgiving 2011

Just a few photo highlights from last Thanksgiving. (Yes, I'm that far behind on blogging!).  My now sister-in-law (as of July 28, 2012!  Photos of that forthcoming), Alyson, took some awesome photos too.  Here is the link: http://imgur.com/a/EsWcj#5.  I especially love all the action shots of the corn hole game.  SFD girls, you will recognize my throwing form from football tossing at countless tailgates.

There was corn hole ...

Hurry, there might not be anything to drink at dinner.

Auntie Paige and Lucy

Lucy and Alyson

Happy Presidents' Day!

Lucy "Honest Abe" O'Mara wishes you a happy and relaxing Presidents' Day!

A favorite bath game at our house is the bubble bath beard.

Remembering Jack Dana

Today would have been my Grandpa Dana's 90th birthday.  He died exactly one year before Lucy's birth and I wish he would have been able to meet her and see how amazing she is and to see me as a mother.  Although he never met Lucy I am glad he was able to meet David.  I remember when David and I were visiting him, probably the first time I introduced them ... at the time I was still planning to return to San Diego where I had lined up a job.  I was explaining about the job I had accepted and that David and I would be dating long distance and he just turned and looked at David and said something like "How the hell is that going to work?"  Well I guess that was the wisdom of a life well-lived speaking (with the benefit of foregoing subtlety in your 80's) because not long after that I decided I better stick around Reno to see where things went with David and we were engaged not long after.

December, 2005 in Concord, CA.

The old adage is that a woman usually marries a man like her father, but David has always reminded me more of my grandpa.  He was a very patient person with a quiet faith.  In his youth I think my grandpa had a build similar to David's.   He enjoyed cooking and entertaining and a good margarita, he seldom complained, and he knew how to love an intense woman like my grandmother, Thelma, who passed away last March. 

I have many fond memories of my Grandpa and will be remembering him in a special way today, which I will always remember each year as his birthday.  So here's to my Grandpa on this February 9, may he rest in peace. 



Mullet in the garden - late October 2011

I could not resist the opportunity to photograph Lucy's undeniable mullet.  It can be styled but without adult intervention it is just this cute little mullet. 

Lucy and Bentley enjoying a warm fall day

Examining the garden with Nonnie

Lucy and Nonnie

Halloween 2011

Here are a few photos of our fun Halloween.  Lucy was a Tyrannosaurus Rex and David and I were Dinosaur Hunters/Catchers.  We attended two family-friendly parties.  One hosted by our friends Heather and James and another hosted by the Pryles.  Enjoy!

That is one scary Lucy Rex!

Her face here is a little scarier

Brilissa as 80's rockers of some type.

Dana/Tinkerbell and little Logan/Peter Pan

The Reichenbergs

Lillian and Lucy

Johnson family ... Orrin and Alicia are characters from Dexter. Lillian is (cute as) a bug/butterfly.

Garrison and Carmen just days before their wedding

Hosts Heather (Edward Scissorhands) and James (Mr. Hangover) Robertson

The Zarcone Zombies

Courtney, Alicia and Catherine

Mr. Prosciutto Face

Heather

Kim and Mike Loranger (homemade costumes!)

Erin's scary snacks for the kid's party

Lucy and Sophia (T-Rex and Cobra ... cutest reptiles ever)

Cousins.  L to R: Lucy, Sophia, Eve, Abby, Maddie (ages 16 months to almost 5 as pictures)

These two just love each other

I love the mild disorganization of trying to photograph a group of children.

Watch out for these chompers!

Lucy and Brooke dancing at Tanuary III