The Katie Blog

FROM THE BERRIS FAMILY :>)

2011-12-06T20:38:00.000-08:00

OUR BEST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL 2012 ALAN, LILA AND KATIE BERRIS

Telephone number change: Alan and Lila Berris

2011-04-04T22:22:00.001-07:00

Hello friends and relatives,

Lila and I wanted to let you know that we are discontinuing our
land-line telephone service and are only going to have our cell phones.

Please cancel all listings you have of the 805-683-3401 number.

Alan can be reached and left messages at 805-455-6063.

Lila can be reached and left messages at 805-895-4363.

We hope this change causes you no confusion or problems. Sorry if
you get duplicate e-mailings of this letter.

Take care and thank you.

Alan and Lila Berris

KATIE IS MOVING AUGUST 24, 2009

2009-08-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

The adventures of Katie, Alan, Lila, Bonnie the Shih-Tzu, and Bart the African Gray Parrot is moving to FaceBook.....just a lot easier to deal with.....see you there!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=100000212460911&ref=profile

IS NO NEWS GOOD NEWS?

2009-03-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

Yep, we are all alive and well....just absent from blogging: so little time.

It has been nearly a year since the last entry.

Katie has not lost any of her baby teeth yet, and they are no looser. The dentist isn't worried, but I think a six year old needs a nice gap in her uppers to look like a six year old is meant to look.

Ok well, the tooth fairy probably needs a government bailout anyway.

KATIE'S GROWING UP

2008-05-14T11:46:00.000-07:00

Well....I haven't seen Katie this excited in forever.

Yesterday Lila took her to the dentist for a regular checkup, and they were told that two of her teeth were just barely starting to loosen.

She is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO proud and ecstatic....she has wanted a loose tooth for at least a couple of years.

It will prove two things:

1) She really is growing up.
2) That fairies (at least tooth fairies) really do exist and are generous with money.

Katie's Finer Uses of the English Language

2008-04-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

taste-bugs = taste-buds
"Taste bugs are on my tongue and make pizza taste good."

crunches = crutches
"My teacher sprained her ankle and was walking on her crunches today."

hannaber = hamburger
"I can say hannaber the right way now!"

bisset = biscuit
"Bissets are my favorite bread."

vimanin = vitamin
"Please give me my vimanin right now so I can get down from the table."

crinkle = wrinkle
"That lady's face has a lot of crinkles."

ambleeeyance = ambulance
"Whenever I hear an ambleeeyance it means somebody is going to the hospital to be dead soon."

talow = towel
"I wiped my body with the talow."

YES, WORLD, KATIE'S ERSTWHILE FAMILY IS STILL HERE.....MORE OR LESS. HERE ARE SOME UN-CAPTIONED PHOTOS FROM MAY 27, 2007 THROUGH JUNE 23, 2007.

2007-10-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

2007-10-14T13:13:00.001-07:00

2007-10-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

2007-10-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

2007-10-14T13:10:00.000-07:00

BLUEBERRY PICKING. 06-09-2007

2007-06-09T18:52:00.000-07:00

Today we took a ride to the Santa Barbara Blueberry Farm at Restoration Ranch. It is on Hwy 101 right between the Gaviota tunnel and the town of Buellton. We had a great time picking berries, noshing a LOT, and enjoying the differences between the 13 subvarieties of the "Southern Highbrush Blueberries" they grow. We got there and the weather was just perfect, mid-70's with a nice breeze. Got our little pails and went out to the fields. We didn't eat as many as we picked, but we ate a lot, they are really great...some of them are as big as grapes, ripe, sweet and intense. We took home two pails worth and have been eating them by the handful....well....it is healthfood after all. They have more antioxidants than almost anything else you can eat. Anyway we will be going back very soon. They have picking from mid-May to mid-September.

OUR HOUSEWARMING CACUS IS FLOWERING!!!

2007-06-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

This is the cactus that Alan's folks gave us as part of the housewarming gift in December 1999. It was in a 6 oz. bowl and was about as thick as a thumb and had the length of a pinky finger. As you can see, 7 1/2 years later, it has seven babies and is flowering for the first time ever....we are thrilled.....

Thanks again, Buby and Zady.

AT THE SANTA BARBARA FAIR AND EXPO, APRIL 29, 2007.

2007-06-04T20:42:00.000-07:00

GO SPEED RACER, GO!!!!

2007-06-04T20:41:00.000-07:00

Alan's ladies are real swingers.

Abby and Katie up high on the Ferris Wheel.

Carousel Katie.

Flamenco girls.

TENAYA'S BIRTHDAY PARTY AND A BATH, LATE APRIL 2007.

2007-06-04T20:36:00.000-07:00

Our little flying nun/scarf dancer.

Katie "pulling Tenaya's leg."

The joy of blue icing.

A bath with Dora and her magic bubbles.

PHOTOS FROM KATIE'S NURSERY SCHOOL, MAY 2007.

2007-06-04T20:28:00.000-07:00

Katie and Natalie.

2007-06-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

".....WHAT THE????" is Katie's current favorite expression.

Miss Fira's class. Katie is second from the right.

Katie, with the help of Ella's Mom, Meryam, putting her palm print on her class picnic table to be auctioned off at the annual fund raiser.

Katie and her creative dance class with Miss Allison.

JUNE 2, 2007, CELEBRATING ALAN'S 53rd. BIRTHDAY

2007-06-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

Dave, Lila, Bob and Kim at the Foley Winery tasting room.

Bob is feeling a bit better with several bottles of wine down his gullet.

Kim, Bob and Dave clowning around as usual.

Dave, Lila, Alan, Kim and Bob celebrating Alan's 53rd. birthday at (where else??) THE HITCHING POST!!!

HAPPY 17th. BIRTHDAY TO BART!!!!

2007-05-28T09:13:00.000-07:00

Today, May 28, 2007, is Bart's 17th. Birthday. Let's all wish him well, and give him best wishes for a long and wonderful life. He is a great pet and friend, and most importantly, adores Katie.

EARLY MAY 2007 WITH FAMILY DAY AND MOTHER'S DAY

2007-05-14T19:41:00.000-07:00

Tenaya and Katie in their classic matching sun dresses. Note the finely professional model-like posing.

Katie, Curious George and Lila at the Zoo.

Lila and Katie relaxing at the Zoo.

2007-05-14T19:40:00.000-07:00

Katie posing nicely in our back yard.

Zoey and Katie at My Gym.

Katie dressed up like a rainbow....she loves crazy color schemes. I guess she gets it from her mother...ha ha ha.

Katie and Snow White at the Mother's Day Festival at Goleta Beach Park.

2007-05-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

ROCK AND ROLL!
HOOTCHIE COO!
LAWDY "MOMMIE," LIGHT MY FUSE!!!!

Alan and Katie enjoying our Family Day feast at Ming Dynasty Restaurant. It was there, over 3 years ago, that we saw our first set of referral photos of a 10 month old Bai Meng Xia, our Katie in China.

Katie and Lila celebrating Family Day, our third anniversary together.

Lila loved her beautiful Mother's Day bouquet (from none other than that Alan guy.)

2007-05-14T19:37:00.000-07:00

Katie and Alan enjoying our Mother's Day outing at Stow Grove Park.

Mother and daughter "supporting" each other in their own special way.

Enjoying a funny card from Alan and Katie.

One of several Mother's Day cards from Katie. This one is the "envelope" version.

2007-05-14T19:36:00.000-07:00

.....awwwwwwwww, a loving moment for Mother's day.

Bowling and climbing around at the park.

Lila, Lila's mother, Elizabeth and Katie celebrate Mother's Day together.

OUR THIRD YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH KATIE!!!!

2007-05-12T08:32:00.000-07:00

May 11, 2004 at about 3pm is the date and time we first met our wonderful Katie. Here is the photo. We have been together for 3 awesome years now.....never a dull moment, either. She is a great daughter: very loving and affectionate, so smart it is scary....becoming streewise too. She is artistic, athletic, a great dancer and good with people and gentle with animals......AND SHE GIVES US HER LOVE....A LOT! We are very very lucky.

Happy third anniversary of Family Day....may there be many many more.

JANUARY AND VERY EARLY FEBRUARY, 2007

2007-05-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

Katie and Abby on the Chase Palm Park Carousel....

2007-05-07T19:49:00.000-07:00

Katie and Isabella clowning around at Isabella's 3rd. birthday party at My Gym.

Katie wearing one of her Hawaiian dresses that she was given by our great buds, The Fratkins.

A princessworthy playdate with Kassidy (Cinderella) and Katie (Belle)

Katie giving the guided tour to Zady at his house.

2007-05-07T19:48:00.000-07:00

Katie explaining to Zady everything there is to know about roses.

Snuggling with Mommy under Katie's new homemade blanket....as you can see by her expression, Katie is thrilled.

Playing cards with Buby.

Snuggling with Daddy before going out in the rain.

2007-05-07T19:44:00.000-07:00

All dressed up for one of the extremely rare rainstorms we had this very dry season.

Climbing the bars at My Gym for Ella's 4th. birthday party.

Katie loves wearing her plaid Kilt....a true Scot....AYE!

Katie is taking swimming lessons once a week with Julie....Katie loves it.

RIBS, RIBS, RIBS.....OMYGAWD, RIBS 04-28-2007

2007-04-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

MMMMMMMMMM....Alan's homemade and VERY secret sauce goes on....slather, slather...MMMMM

DOUBLE hickory smoked!!! Succulent, sweet, spicy, juicy, tender and delicious.....Need we say more????

AROUND NEW YEAR'S EVE 2006-2007 AND A VISIT FROM THE OTHER BERRIS FAMILY AND KATIE'S COUSINS

2007-03-12T19:55:00.001-07:00

Abby and Katie with their Walkie-Talkies.

Baby Evelyn, Abby's sister...look who can almost walk!

Looking for Monarch Butterflies in the SB Monarch Preserve.

Katie "fixing" Leah's hair while watching for Monarch Butterflies.

2007-03-12T19:55:00.000-07:00

Unka 'Teevie and Alan at the Ellwood bluffs in Goleta.

A captive Helaine lovingly/begrudgingly plays the "nite-nite" game with Katie...."NO PEEKING."

Leah and Katie on the twisty slide at Stow Grove Park.

The 3 cousins.....

2007-03-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Aunt Debbie and Momma Lila wearing their dangly rainbow Chanamas earrings.

Katie and Cousin Helaine at New Year's eve.

Unka Dave and Da-da Alan...New Year's eve.

Katie "coloring" Cousin Leah's hair.

A VISIT FROM THE FRATKIN CLAN IN DECEMBER BETWEEN XMAS AND NEW YEARS.

2007-03-12T19:39:00.001-07:00

Katie and Samantha on the super slide at Chase Palm Park in Santa Barbara.

Ahhhhhhhh....some days life really is just a walk in the park.

Waiting to ride the train at the SB Zoo.

2007-03-12T19:39:00.000-07:00

Riding the train at the Santa Barbara Zoo...why does Calder look happy and the ladies all have looks of concern? Hmmmmmmmmm?

Lila and the kids on the Bronze Elephant.

Beautiful Santa Barbara sunset at the zoo.

Our favorite photo of Samantha....darn she is cute!

2007-03-12T19:38:00.000-07:00

Sami and Katie with matching shirts in front of the tree.

Fantastic Hitching Post New York Steak.

The whole gang at the Hitching Post....yummy food and wines.

Happy and satisfied Berris'

2007-03-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

Katie and Uncle Allyn

Calder, Samantha and Katie at the Santa Barbara Monarch Butterfly Preserve.

Newborn Monarch Butterfly Cluster

Monarchs are gorgeous.

OUT OF THE BLUE.....

2007-03-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

....at dinner last night, without warning, Katie looked up at us and said,

"Mommy-Daddy?"
"Yes Katie?"
"Thank you for loving me and caring about me, and being the best Mommy-Daddy."

This should last us quite awhile, I think......sigh.....

ARTWORK THAT WE LOVE

2007-03-02T18:45:00.000-08:00

Katie's class in nursery school has been learning about the North Pole (among many other things).

Below are 3 views of an art piece that we really liked a lot.

The tome, written by Katie, says:
"When I came to the North Pole, it was flower time.
I saw flowers, snowbirds were flying.
Snowballs fell from the sky, touched clouds, clouds
turned into water, little drops.
I feel water.
Also, I saw a snow person.
She gave me presents, and I went back to the
Polar Express to go home."

Another pair of views.

CHRISTMAS TIME FUN.

2007-01-08T20:58:00.001-08:00

Katie and Santa #1 at the Skating Rink.

Ready to hit the ice at the Earl Warren Showgrounds ice skating rink which was set up for a few days outdoors....very fun, and Katie made sure not to fall even once....so she says.

Kassidy and Katie ready to ride the Candy Cane Train at the Goleta Railroad Museum.

Our beloved Toby celebrates Christmas as best he can.

2007-01-08T20:58:00.000-08:00

Whoa!!! Snow in Santa Barbara? How did it get here?

Katie and Isabella romping in the snow at the Winter Wonderland celebration at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.

Katie and Santa #2 at the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum.

Abby and Katie inside a dinosaur egg enjoying gummy worms at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

2007-01-08T20:57:00.001-08:00

Katie all dressed up for winter and enjoying her new ornament from Mollie.

Katie's nursery school class waiting their turn to perform.

Miss Fira leads her class in Oh Christmas Tree at Cathedral Oaks Nursery School.

Kassidy and Katie attacked Alan the second he walked in the door from work...he is quite "mad" you know.

2007-01-08T20:57:00.000-08:00

Katie and Lila made this beautiful Ginger Bread House.

Uncle Dave, Alan and Katie get ready to roast the rib....see below.

Katie proudly shows off her new Elmo TMX....it is hilarious and brilliantly engineered.

Mrs. Claus...or Mrs. Happy Wife...you decide....

2007-01-08T20:56:00.001-08:00

Katie and "Uncle" Dave playing Dora Checkers....with Katie's "special" rules.

Yet another perfectly cooked 6 bone, PRIME prime rib...thanks to Dave for bringing it....and Alan for cooking it on the Weber rotisserie.

Christmas eve dinner.

Santa's Little Helper....and Santa number 3....the REAL one....HO HO HO!!!!!!!!!

2007-01-08T20:56:00.000-08:00

Santa's little helper.

Belly button Belle.

Singing Sleeping Beauty

A fairy dancer.

CELEBRATING KATIE'S FOURTH BIRTHDAY.

2007-01-08T20:23:00.001-08:00

Katie and Aunt Sarah are really happy to see each other.

2007-01-08T20:23:00.000-08:00

Katie's nursery school teacher, Miss Fira, crowing the birthday girl.

Sharing homemade pumpkin muffins with her classmates that Katie and Sarah made.

At the Chase Palm Park "Shipwreck" playground.

Katie and Aunt Sarah on the carousel at Chase Palm Park.

2007-01-08T20:22:00.002-08:00

Aunt Sarah and Katie adorn the Santa Barbara Dolphin Fountain at the head of Stearn's Wharf.

On the way to Longboards for a great birthday lunch.

Proud Aunt Sarah with her 4 year old niece, during Katie's birthday breakfast.

"Gramma" Mollie, Katie, and Abby decorating princess crowns at what must have been a princess themed 4th birthday party.

2007-01-08T20:22:00.001-08:00

Katie is wearing her princess crown pinata.

Beating the living hell out of the poor pinata.

All four major princesses adorn Katie's birthday cake: Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Belle, and Ariel.

Katie jealously watches Mom serving the wonderful chocolate/rasberry cake to everyone else first.

2007-01-08T20:22:00.000-08:00

A proud and happy Daddy at the birthday party.

A proud birthday girl opens her new Fairy outfit.

Aunt Sarah, Katie and Lila after a wonderful Irish dinner at Dargan's.

Dancing in her new Fairy dress at My Gym.

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND TIME....A PRE-BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION, AN EARLY CHANUKKAH, AND A VISIT FROM A RARELY SEEN AUNT...NOVEMBER 2006

2007-01-07T19:20:00.000-08:00

Getting coifed by Susan before the trek down south.

Lila visited Katie's nursery school and talked about Katie's adoption from China....everyone was fascinated. Here is Katie's teacher, Miss Fira.

Silly poses after class at nursery school.

An awesome Thanksgiving dinner at Buby and Zady's house....small, intimate, and excellent.

2007-01-07T19:19:00.001-08:00

....what could be better than a birthday party with Dora cupcakes?

We did Katie's birthday too.

Auntie Lulu-Belle who now lives in Washington State came to join us and to meet Katie for the first time. Lila and I haven't seen her since we got married, so it was a very great and special treat.

....and they got along like old friends, and best buddies.

2007-01-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

Chanukkah gifts for all!!!

Katie just loves the beautiful Chanukkah Candles and Menorah at Buby and Zady's house. She recites the prayers with us, too.

A lovely loving pose at My Gym

....she wants to be a bat (no doubt a Vampire) when she matures.....

HALLOWEEN TIME FUN, OCTOBER 2006

2007-01-06T20:25:00.000-08:00

Katie riding on the almost never operational Carousel at the Santa Barbara Zoo.

2007-01-06T20:12:00.000-08:00

Alan and Katie demonstrating proper Bart petting to Tenaya. Bart and Katie are best friends these days. Bart lets her play with him in ways we never thought he would allow to anyone other than Alan...guess she is just that lovable even to parrots.

Katie at the Crane Country Day School Harvest Festival

Katie and Abby playing chess...guess who won?

"Hanging around" with Abby.

2007-01-06T20:11:00.001-08:00

Abby and Katie in jail and loving it.

Katie and Lindsay at the My Gym Halloween fest.

"I made my own trick or treat bucket!!"

Cinderella Katie all set to trick or treat for her very first time at the Calle Real Center shops.

2007-01-06T20:11:00.000-08:00

Sponge Bob always makes me nervous, but Katie sure likes him.

The princess and Dread Pirate, Daddy.....arrrrr harr harrr....ARRRRRRHHHHHH

The Princess and the good? evil? or mediocre? Witch, Lila.

The princesses princessing together on Halloween.

2007-01-06T19:52:00.000-08:00

Katie loves the horozontal ladder or as she calls it, "The Monkey Bars" I guess that is because you brachiate on them.

Katie in her new dance dress.

2007-01-06T19:51:00.001-08:00

Katie's artistic chalk creation at the Music and Art Festival in Santa Barbara.

Princess "Pumpkin" Leia from Star Wars.

On the giant pumpkins.

Katie practicing her tractoring talents....a truly great tractor driver.

2007-01-06T19:51:00.000-08:00

Katie and her new buddy, the Scarecrow waving Hello.

Katie and Will are a kitty and a puppy at the Harvest Festival at Cathedral Oaks Nursery School.

Princess dressup fun with Kassidy.

Katie on the monkey bars. She can go each way and turn back without help.

2007-01-06T19:50:00.000-08:00

Katie and Isabella at Ingrid's Fall Harvest Party.

A new dry version of bobbing for apples.

In our fall finery.

Fun at "Daytime Boo at the Zoo"

OUR MINI VACATION TO MONTEREY AND AUNT SARAH'S HOME IN MID OCTOBER 2006

2006-12-18T19:01:00.001-08:00

ARRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHH....the dread pirate Willie is after Katie....Alan thinks it is a big joke, so does Katie....well, the dread pirate Willie just wasn't hungry for silly little girls today...we were most lucky.

2006-12-18T19:01:00.000-08:00

Katie measuring up Dad's head to see if it will fit in the shark's mouth.

We had an excellent shrimp dinner and drinks at Bubba Gump's whose name comes from the Forrest Gump novels and movie.

Evil personified....Alan's vision of hell, his worst enemy based on a dreaded attack from these monsters when he was merely a lad of 17.....

The Alligator Hunter's personal hell/evil personified....but Alan LOVES these guys.

2006-12-18T19:00:00.001-08:00

Katie gazing in awe as the sheer power of the wave generator.

Our newly hatched baby dinosaur...."Katiesaurus Rex."

Mommy penguin.

Katie explaining to a sea star exactly what is expected in the tide pool maze.

2006-12-18T19:00:00.000-08:00

Penguin researchers feeding and studying the penguins.

Katie completed all the stops and tasks in the Monterey Bay Aquarium Kid's tour. Here a docent examines Katie's Aquarium passport to determine it's completeness.

And here Katie gets her reward, a beautiful shark poster.

Alan and Katie celebrate their monumental traverse of the world famous Golden Gate Bridge.

2006-12-18T18:59:00.001-08:00

Lila and Katie celebrate their monumental traverse of the world famous Golden Gate Bridge.

Lunch with Aunt Sarah...here Katie is "driving" Aunt Sarah nutz.

Alan going down the bumbly-wumbly pipe slide....ooooh what a feeling!!! Enlarge to see the true face of excitement in San Rafael.

Sarah and Katie have a "moment."

2006-12-18T18:59:00.000-08:00

Katie catching some air shooting out of the pipe slide.

Mallards....Alan's favorite ducks.

Katie and Sarah planting fall flowers.

A VERY brave aunt Sarah encouraged Katie to help her make dinner.

KATIE'S DOINGS FROM SEPTEMBER THROUGH EARLY OCTOBER

2006-12-04T20:55:00.001-08:00

The whole family at Sam Helfand's first birthday party.

Queen of Sam's party!

2006-12-04T20:55:00.000-08:00

I am soooooooo adorable !!!!!

Now this is how you eat birthday cake!!

Katie and Dad just horsing around.

Katie and one of her sitters, Cheryl Wilson.

2006-12-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

At Balzhana's third birthday party. Everyone looks happy, right?

Katie wearing what's left of Balzhana's pinata.

The last refugees from the shutdown of the English Language Center, Lila's place of work for over 6 years.

The little ballerina greets Buby and Zady for their Rosh Hashana visit.

2006-12-04T20:53:00.000-08:00

Can't you just see the family resemblance...we have great genes in our family.

A late summer swim.

At Rosh Hashana dinner.

Evelyn Rightmire, at about 8 months of age.

2006-12-04T20:52:00.001-08:00

Katie rocking out in her rainbow dress for Victoria, Evelyn and Abby's mom.

The Last Luncheon of the ESL refugees at Galanga Thai restaurant.

Our super model in her new sundress.

Isabella and Katie at My Gym...true acrobats.

2006-12-04T20:52:00.000-08:00

Abby and Katie swinging on the tire swing at Willow Glen Park.

Kassidy and Katie at Goleta/Stow kid's train station.

Katie getting ready for her ride to Cathedral Oaks Nursery School on a beautiful fall day in Santa Barbara.

Katie and Amanda Joy pretending to get their feet massaged at the San Diego Zoo. 10-07-2006

2006-12-04T20:51:00.000-08:00

Two absolutely gorgeous Hyacinth Macaws, Alan's favorite parrot, and he loves most of them.

Katie "riding" a giant tortise at the San Diego Zoo.

Lila "riding" the giant tortise with support and aid from Amanda Joy and Katie.

It must be tortise day at the zoo.....

2006-12-04T20:50:00.001-08:00

On the Carousel with Donna, Amanda Joy's mom.

Flying on a butterfly.

Batter up!!

Lila and the giant string cheese man, who made her very horney....guess why?

2006-12-04T20:50:00.000-08:00

Dancing in the streets at the San Diego Italian Festival.

Parasol girls.

Well, it isn't the Dumbo ride at Disneyland, but it will do in a pinch.

Bathtime at Amanda Joy's house.

2006-12-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

Wearing their matching sun dresses.

Katie with Lila's old college friend, Margaret.

Katie and her new baby doll.

Some of Katie's Zoo Camp creations....quite the artiste....

OUR FANTASTIC TRIP TO DISNEYLAND WITH THE FRATKIN FAMILY, NOVEMBER 2006.

2006-11-13T22:16:00.001-08:00

Samantha and Katie are thrilled to see one another. We shared a two bedroom suite with the Fratkins.

Alan and Katie in the HUGE parking building, rarin' to go!

Riding the tram on the way to Disneyland. The excitement mounts.

2006-11-13T22:16:00.000-08:00

Katie and Alan waiting in line for the "kid's" roller coaster in Mickey's Tune Town. It was loud. It was also a really good coaster. Katie said, "That was fun, Daddy, but it was scary and made my tummy wiggle."

Getting off the coaster, what a great ride.

OKAY, that was fun, but I'm hungry now, Daddy.

Samantha and Katie pose with Pluto.

2006-11-13T22:15:00.003-08:00

Arggggggggggghhhhhhhhhh, Matey, beware this pirate. He will eat you for dinner, you scurvy knave. Arrrrrrrgggghhh.

Lila and her Tinker Bell ears in Tomorrowland.

Katie and Ariel.

Alan and Allyn, the mountain men.

2006-11-13T22:15:00.002-08:00

Katie on the Fantasyland Carousel.

Lila and the White Rabbit from Alice in wonderland. One of them doesn't seem to be late.

Teri and Samantha Fratkin.

A brief respite at a Japanese Restaurant. We all needed a heavy dose of Sake that night.

2006-11-13T22:15:00.001-08:00

Day Two: Just before entering California Adventure.

Katie in the Jumping Waters in the Bug's Life area. We spent a lot of time in this fun section of the park.

Alan and Katie gasping in awe at the nearly musical belching of Heimlich on the Heimlich Caterpillar Train ride. We went on this one three times. Quite hilarious. But don't put carrots in your eyes!

Samantha and Katie cooling off with yummy popsicles.

2006-11-13T22:15:00.000-08:00

Two tired and crabby young ladies resting in the shade (not the standing young ladies, the sitting ones.)

Katie riding a sea horse on the California Adventure Carousel.

The two dads helping the two daughers play in the fountain.

Day Three: Katie and Samantha practicing donkey kicks while awaiting the USAA/China 33 families who joined us on Sunday.

2006-11-13T22:14:00.000-08:00

Katie, Mimi and some of the other girls climbing the walls and entertaining themselves better than any ride can.

Mimi, Katie, Samantha and Naomi crowding into a single Dumbo compartment.

Samantha and Katie meeting Jasmine from Aladdin.

Katie and Samantha chilling with Cinderella.

2006-11-13T22:13:00.001-08:00

Katie chatting with Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

Lila, the true Queen of Disneyland....sigh....

King Alan and Katie in awe of something or other on the Jungle Cruise Ride. Still a great ride, especially because we had a really hilarious guide.

The USAA/China 33 girls and their Moms.

2006-11-13T22:13:00.000-08:00

The USAA/China 33 girls and their Dads.

Katie's new friend Katie and her godmom (not our Katie's, the other Katie's)

Katie and Katie spinning really fast in Alice's Spinning Teacups.

....and the highlight of the visit, Katie shares a hug with Mickey Mouse. There was a little disappointment because Minnie was in the restroom, but that didn't last too long once Mickey hugged Katie.

A CUTE ONE!

2006-10-07T14:19:00.000-07:00

Lila and Katie went down to San Diego this weekend to visit friends, go to the zoo, etc.

On the way down on the I-405 we always pass the cemetary where my maternal grandparents are buried. I was the first born grand kid, and aptly named my grandfather Pady, and my grandmother Mady.

Katie is well aware of her great grandparents, both maternal and paternal, and it is sort of a tradition that whenever we pass the cemetary, we say "HI" to them.

So, per Lila, her conversation with Katie on the way down to SD went something like this:

"Mama, that is where Mady and Pady are, right?

Yep, sure is.

And they are buried in the ground, right?

Yep, sure are.

Can we go dig them up? I want to see what they look like!"

THE BIRTH OF A NEW ERA

2006-09-22T19:27:00.000-07:00

As of today, our awesome Lila is a "free" woman. Her place of employment, The English Language Center, is now permanently closed. A victim of 9/11, the Santa Barbara Branch, never really recovered from that nightmare, only to break even afterward, never again making a profit. The students at first had difficulties getting travel/student visas, and later they seemed to prefer the two big city branches.

Lila intends to enjoy her time off for a few months, and then find a new and more fun career to pursue. May she have a relaxing yet productive break from the rigors of daily employment, and when she is ready, may she find the position that will make her really happy, for a great company.

We love you Lila and wish you the best always.

All Our Love Forever,
Alan and Katie

PS from Lila: The beautiful flowers I am holding in the photo were sent to me at my work on our 8th. Wedding Anniversary by my loving husband, Alan

I DON'T BELIEVE IT !!!

2006-09-08T20:14:00.000-07:00

Our daughter. The one we love more than anything. The daughter we went through hell and back to adopt. Our Katie. Three years and 9 months of age. Bright, perhaps brilliant. Sensitive and very loving. Not a fireball, more of an atomic bomb.

Katie brought home the word "fuck" today!

We are told we are blessed.

Sigh......Oh really?

UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE DECADE

2006-08-30T19:10:00.000-07:00

Understatement of the decade....spoken by the waitress at Dargan's Irish Pub www.dargans.com where we did our Anniversary Celebration WITH Katie tonight:

"MY....your daughter is VERY outspoken, isn't she?"

.....Those of you who know her will understand completely.

Here we are well fed and imbibed after an excellent dinner.

On Saturday, Lila and I are going alone to Holdren's http://holdrens.com/ for dinner after a movie...yep, got an actual baby sitter for Katie. We plan to bring along a bottle of Foxen Winery 1996 Pinot Noir from the Sanford and Benedict Vinyard....arguably the very best Pinot Noir Vineyard west of the true Burgundy Region in France. We will of course give you a full report.

OUR EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY!

2006-08-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

August 30th is our eighth wedding anniversary. Sigh.... (very very happy sigh)
We are looking forward to many many more with our little family.

AIN'T LOVE GRAND !!!!

KATIE'S AUGUST 2006 ADVENTURES

2006-08-23T19:48:00.001-07:00

Katie and Abby enjoying a relaxing moment at the Los Banos pool area.

2006-08-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

Our hula girl....Katie loves any kind of dancing.

2006-08-23T19:47:00.001-07:00

Katie and Alan partying down during Fiesta.

2006-08-23T19:47:00.000-07:00

Katie saw her nursery school teacher, Hafiza, after being in the fiesta parade.

2006-08-23T19:46:00.001-07:00

Katie and Isabella's mom, Ingrid, after the Fiesta parade.

2006-08-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

Katie in the Fiesta Children's parade....she is squinting from the sun, not crying here.

2006-08-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

Lila, Katie and the beautiful fan at the Fiesta Parade.

2006-08-23T19:44:00.001-07:00

Katie and Isabella at Fiesta.