Wiseman Family

Nativity -narrated/sung by Amy Wiseman

2010-12-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmZBaphvAqs

Newport Beach-September 2010

2010-11-16T23:17:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Don and Alison's hospitality, we were able to hang out right on the beach for a week in September. It was so nice. Waking up every morning, going for a run while staring at the ocean to the right, people watching right in front, and hoping that the cool houses had opened their blinds so we could look in. Having no agenda except that someone needed to put the beach chairs out in the morning. Making runs to the taco place for $1 tacos. Biking to circle K for a soda refill. I think one of the reasons that I loved this vacation so much was that it was just that... a VACATION. Everyone is there for the same reason-to do nothing. I loved biking on the boardwalk and watching everyone on their patios, bbqing, laughing, playing cards, playing with their kids, reading US weekly, people napping in the sun at 4pm. It totally fostered that feeling that you don't need to do anything or go anywhere.
Max was in paradise.
All he needed was a shovel.
Trying to be safe, even indoors.

2010-11-16T23:03:00.000-08:00

Olivia loves her cousin Max.
My 3 boys
Cal made friends quick-here he is with the downstairs neighbors kids' hanging out on the patio. They did this for so long-requesting fives from all the boardwalk bikers. He loved it.
More fives. Most people were eager to give the kids some skin, however, there were a few who blatantly ignored-they clearly had no souls.
Cal and Luke hanging out people watching-a favorite pastime when doing nothing at the beach. bliss

A whole lot of nothing-perfect vacation

2010-11-13T22:44:00.000-08:00

Passed out after crying the whole walk back from the surf shop-they didn't have the exact same hat as Daddy's-tragic.
warming up to the new hat
I love this picture of Garrett and cal-Nice totally cheesy smiles!
Soaking up all the media they can get.
Father son bonding

"We should probably just play in the sand all day"

2010-11-13T22:34:00.000-08:00

Gabrielle, Olivia, and Max.
Taking turns is an acquired taste.
Olivia and Gabrielle getting warm after fully committing to a full day of chilly ocean swimming.

So much more than cousins:)

A little Bocce

2010-11-13T22:26:00.000-08:00

"Just gotta get my bowls for the game mom"
Too close to call

"Am I standing too close dad?"
They have the same exact stance-it's hard to tell from this photo, but it is exactly the same. genetics. fascinating.

More beach memories

2010-11-13T22:14:00.000-08:00

Zoomanias!!
Cal in action
Gabrielle couldn't stop laughing out of fear/excitement on this sling shot thing.
Luke with Cal and Garrett on the Ferris Wheel at Balboa-I went on it with Gabrielle and I was honestly a bit nervous when it stops at the top and it is not high. I think it's part of aging....
Garrett, Cal, Gabrielle, Isabella, and Olivia. Thank Goodness for cousins that are the same age and love to be together-a lot to be said for coordinating pregnancies with those you love to spend time with

My favorite Max

2010-11-11T16:22:00.000-08:00

We love this guy. He is now 17 months. He is just as intense, if not more, than our other kids. He is the only one of our kids who loves to be thrown up in the air-Cal and Gabrielle were scaredy cats. He can somehow whistle, not on demand, but when he sees me doing it he will form his little mouth into an oh, inhale/exhale, and we start to hear the little high pitched whistle-I love it. He's making requests constantly, saying "MINE", sings, runs, fakes like he wants to hug me and then grabs my hair and doesn't let go while laughing hysterically. He spins around while saying, "whoa, whoa, whoa!!" He's also my only kid who gets scared of the vacuum, gets super scared of loud noises. Obsessed with any kind of ball and watched more than a few innings of Giants baseball with Luke this season. So glad he's here with us!

4 year olds

2010-08-11T17:47:00.000-07:00

Cal and his cousin Garrett couldn't resist the lure of the girls' roller skates
After some hot tubbin, London, Cal, and Garrett take in some educational TV-love London's tude
Cal loves Melissa and is never too shy to show it

Thanks Melissa for hanging out with ALL the kids!

A Cal of many colors

2010-04-25T06:24:00.000-07:00

Our kids have 2 settings: high/off-not a whole lot of in between. Cal always keeps things interesting. He is such a loving kid and so funny, however there are many moments where Luke and I find ourselves looking at each other with wide eyes that are communicating "who is this kid and what do we do with him??"

2010-04-25T06:18:00.000-07:00

2010-04-01T22:30:00.001-07:00

"Sing to me when I was a baby" -Cal

2010-03-28T07:46:00.000-07:00

One bedtime, I was singing to Gabrielle and I changed the words to You are my sunshine. I started sing "When you were a baby....." I was pretty much just rambling off any possible memories I have left in my brain, KIND OF to the tune of the song. Anyway She loved it, wants me to sing memories to her almost every bedtime. Cal heard me and made the same request in his little high voice, "Sing to me when I was a baby". The challenge is trying to remember. I have been with these kids everyday of their lives, you'd think I'd be able to remember more, but I can't so I will start keeping record of all the random, semi boring mundane things because I do want to remember those things and apparently, so do they. I just received this pic (thx Kari) and it took me a second to put together which boy it was. Because I have the same car seat and Max wore that onesie too, I had to refer to the arm rolls, Cal had lots, Max has none. They actually look pretty different, Cal's forehead is taller, Max's chin is a separate entity from his cheeks, lips are totally different, and the hair-Cal's was so easy to stick up and Max's needs some effort.

Meeting Baby Jane

2010-03-01T14:48:00.001-08:00

One of my closest friends, Amy Willits, had her first baby girl Jane about 5 months ago and Max and I went to meet her! She is such a chill little lady and so cute with her precious tiny little features. We hung out and went to lunch-it's so nice to have friends that no matter how long you go without seeing each other you have a bond that can't be broken-ahhhh. Amy deserves a special place on the blog since she is the one who felt "inspired" to have me drive home with her to meet some guy named Lucas!

Daddy Daughter Dance

2010-02-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

Saturday morning pancakes with Daddy

2010-02-08T22:13:00.000-08:00

Buttermilk pancakes with chocolate chips, peanut butter, cinnamon, and banana mmm thanks Daddy!

Max

2010-01-30T21:39:00.000-08:00

Gabrielle took this picture and wanted it on the blog so here it is-I think she did a pretty good job

2010-01-26T19:48:00.000-08:00

Max and doting Grandma Sherrie
My little monster

Halloween 2009

2010-01-26T19:43:00.000-08:00

Cal had his mind made up that he was going to be and iphone since July-so here it is and he LOVED it!
He kept pressing all the buttons saying "Look at all my applications!!"
Oh the plight of the babe who can't have food yet
Gabrielle and Lexi. Gabrielle discovered a new found love this Hallowwen-Kit Kats

Prinesses on Ice

2010-01-26T19:39:00.000-08:00

2010-01-26T19:36:00.000-08:00

Hey let's go to Apple Hill to get in a crisp fall mood! Oh wait its 82 degrees-lame

2010-01-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

We thought he was just being quiet.....until we found him

2010-01-26T19:25:00.000-08:00

2010-01-26T19:20:00.000-08:00

I just love this picture
Pumpkin carving with cousin Livy! YAY
Uncle Jer trying to contain Max
Cal and Livy chillin in my room-they're just not quite ready to start the day

2010-01-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

Alexis Wiseman photo shoot in old town Folsom

2010-01-26T19:13:00.000-08:00

Max at 4 months

2010-01-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

Gabrielle LOVES Max. She smothers him with kisses-literally

2010-01-26T19:03:00.000-08:00

The girls had so much fun and it was such a nice relaxing time for me with little Max

2010-01-26T18:56:00.000-08:00

I love this picture because it shows kids in the perfect state: tired because they played hard all day, sun kissed skin, freshly bathed, sitting quietly engrossed in a show with bedtime in sight-aahhh summer

Newport in August

2010-01-26T18:49:00.000-08:00

C

Newport Beach August 2009. My ideal family vacation.

Is anyone there???

2010-01-26T13:49:00.000-08:00

I have been off the blogging bandwagon for some time now and I'm thinking of hopping back on. At this point there may be no one who even sees this, but I want it for journaling purposes. I'm not going to retrace the last 7 months so I will recap.

Max is 8 months old and so cute and precious. He is my only kid who lets me rock him in the cradling position and just chills and stares at me, the other 2 would never have stood for that, they'd be clawing and arching like crazy!

Cal is 3 1/2. I don't know how to describe him-unique, lover of all things technical (computers, phones, cameras) loves letters, hilarious, sensitive, loud-very loud. I love having conversations with him. His day pretty much consists of coming with me to the gym where he gets to play with his friends, playing the wii, anticipating Luke's safe return from work, and some fighting with Gabrielle (with some eating and playing mixed in).

Gabrielle started kindergarten this year at Oak Chan Elementary! She loves it. I keep waiting for the novelty to wear off, but it hasn't. I'll add more detail as I go-Welcome back!

Kids with Daddy in Newport ( pics Thx to Alexis Wiseman)

2009-07-24T09:11:00.001-07:00

Pickin blueberries on Apple Hill (all pics taken by the talented Alexis Wiseman, my personal photographer)

2009-07-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

Baby Max

2009-06-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

Max Daniel Wiseman was born on May 22. 8lbs 7oz 20 in. we're loving him! Maybe I will start posting again!

The Nativity

2008-12-29T15:05:00.001-08:00

Favorite cousins: Cal

2008-12-29T15:02:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving with the Wiseman's

2008-12-29T14:58:00.001-08:00

Kid's discoveries

2008-11-21T16:27:00.000-08:00

While I was posting on here Gabrielle noticed the baby bouncing around on the right and asked if the baby in my belly was naked. When I told her yes she couldn't believe it. Struck with pure giddyness she was laughing and wanting an explanation. She is worried about the baby's bum touching my belly. How would it be to learn new and interesting facts on a daily basis?

Mud fun!

2008-11-21T16:18:00.000-08:00

Our backyard doesn't exactly drain well we've discovered-it makes for great mud play. Yes that is a pacifier in Cal's mouth. He doesn't usually have it during the day except for his nap and now I don't have to feel bad about it because a speech therapist told my sister that it's fine up until 3. So he will be hating life in about 6 months.

Weekend in Paso with Grandma Kathy

2008-11-11T16:38:00.001-08:00

Halloween

2008-11-02T13:54:00.001-08:00

New lip and lost tooth

2008-09-22T17:26:00.001-07:00

This is from a year ago. You can see how the lip hangs down so you see all her teeth and her gums and it's so wide.
Here it's still lopsided, but it no longer hangs down and it's not as wide. Notice the missing tooth. We were sitting on the couch and she hands me something and asks real casually, "What's this?" "Um it looks like a tooth! Wait let me see your mouth!" Sure enough, it as her tooth! We checked on line and discovered that some kids do lose their teeth as early as 4. It's very weird because she suddenly looks so big! She asked me if she was old now and I told her yes.

This is Cal's new move he loves it.

Fathers and sons and daughters

2008-09-09T19:20:00.001-07:00

2008-09-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

Well what's new? Not much, but I feel like I should write and not just post pictures. I'm ready for fall, but I need to relax seeing as how it's suppose to be 103 tomorrow. Gabrielle has been in preschool for a few weeks and really likes it. Cal is talking non stop and has so many opinions-it's rather annoying-what happened to the kid who goes with the flow? The kid who stays in the cart? The kid who is happy with whatever food I place in front of him? He is long gone, but he's still liberal with his hugs so I guess it's ok. Luke is taking the kids camping tomorrow with a friend and his kids. Gabrielle is so excited. I'm excited to have a quiet house, but I will be hanging out with my friend's tomorrow night and then on Saturday I'll be going to Time Out for Women with my friends. I should be quite rejuvenated by Sat night. Also I have turned over a new leaf and I have decided to start doing things differently. I had an epiphany this morning when Gabrielle came in and woke me up. I thought-ooogh I don't want to get up- then I thought-this is ridiculous Andrea do something different, clearly what you're doing now isn't working for you so change it. So insted of going downstairs in a fog and getting Gabrielle breakfast, then trying to fall back asleep on the couch before Cal wakes up, I went to my bathroom, washed my face with cold water and a lemon scrub, got dressed, went downstairs and drank some water and a emergenC. Then this afternoon instead of picking up the kitchen and family room and being too burned out to get to laundry and upstairs etc, I started upstairs. I feel like my brain needs switching up-who knows what I'll do tonight? It could be anything-I don't even know! WHOO I'm crazy!!!! My inspiration came from George Costanza. Do you recall the Seinfeld where george did everything opposite of what his instinct was and then everything started going right for him? Dang that was a good show.

2008-09-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

I love this picture. They made these at the gym daycare. You can kind of see Gabrielle's smaller lip in this one. It looks great. I'm just waiting another week or 2 to post a good pic of it when the incision is healed even more. We're really happy with it especially because she is. She says, "I can't even believe it my lip is tiny!"

"NO BUGS!"

2008-09-04T13:31:00.000-07:00

There was a fly in the house while cal was eating his breakfast and he was not happy about it. When he would see it he'd yell, "No bugs!" and cover his eyes.
Looking apprehensive, he'd peel his hands away from his eyes checking to see if it was safe, only to see it again.
He eventually just kept one hand up to shield his eyes from the horror that is a fly.

I typed too soon...

2008-08-19T20:07:00.000-07:00

Well we spent 2 freezing days in San Francisco for Gabrielle's surgery and it looks like we'll be heading back sometime in the future. The plastic surgeon said he couldn't get it all. He needed to be conservative because he didn't want to make it too small. It is a lot better just not as small as we thought it would be. We set the wrong expectations for Gabrielle and the first thing she said when she came out of anesthesia was "Is my lip tiny? Are you sure it's tiny?" Then she fell back asleep and when she woke up again she was licking her lip and asked, "Is it still big?" It was really swollen so it obviously felt really big to her. It's getting better and better and the incision looks so good-I don't think there will be any scar. I'll post pictures in a few weeks when it's to it's optimal size.

Bye bye hemangioma

2008-08-06T09:37:00.000-07:00

We leave tomorrow morning for San Francisco for Gabrielle's pre-op. Her surgery is on Friday morning. Luke's mom will be watching Cal here so we can have a fun day with Gabrielle after her pre-op. Then we will stay in a hotel so we can be there for her surgery bright and early in the morning. I'm not really sure what to expect. I know it won't look perfect, but I am excited to see her with a normal size bottom lip-she's excited too except for the eating soft foods part. She will have to be put under so there is always that small nagging "what if something goes wrong" feeling, but I'm sure she'll be just fine. Of course we will be rushing her out of recovery since we get charged by the hour and her insurance does not cover it. ooogh insurance companies!!!!!!(I'm shaking my fist in the air at them). Well I will post pictures when I can!

Cabo!

2008-08-01T19:33:00.001-07:00

Hawaii

2008-07-15T13:28:00.001-07:00

Camping at Gualala and Cal's 2nd B-day

2008-05-27T15:59:00.001-07:00

i hate moving

2008-04-20T21:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know if I posted on this blog that I'm moving, but if not-we moved. About 15 min away to Rancho Cordova. Our renters moved out and we were sick of renting so here we are. I am actually really excited-I really like this house and we're getting new countertops. So our kitchen is not in working condition and I'm so sick of going back and forth between the 2 houses. We have maybe 1 more trip and then we'll have everything here. the actual act of moving sucks. What makes it worse is having crazy kids. What makes it even that much worse is when one kid is obsessed with being out front (of course it can't be the backyard-has to be the front with danger lurking everywhere) and this same kid has pink eye. I had no energy to deal with Gabrielle's drama if I didn't let her wear what she wanted to church today so I said ok to her outfit telling her it was out last Sunday here and that was the only reason it was ok. She wore a blue and white dress with pink leggings with an awesome peach and white scarf (thanks to Martha's knitting) tied tight around her neck. She wore it the whole day and was so excited telling me that everyone was going to love her outfit. Hopefully this scarf isn't the new "tiny black shorts".

Easter Party

2008-03-18T15:41:00.000-07:00

Easter Party

2008-03-18T15:29:00.001-07:00

You've come a long way baby

2008-03-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

Wow-I came across this pic yesterday. I'm amazed at how small her hemangioma is now!!! We'll see Dr Hoffman (plastic surgeon @ UCSF) next month sometime and hopefully get her surgery for her lip scheduled. I'll ask about her cheek too. It still has slight fullness on that side-it's very soft though. my only concern is the skin, but hopefully it's gone down slow enough so it won't be a problem.

Sunday duck feeding with friends

2008-03-10T14:59:00.001-07:00

Gabrielle

2008-02-25T13:09:00.001-08:00

Cal

2008-02-25T12:53:00.001-08:00

Disgusting, yet satisfying

2008-02-12T17:35:00.000-08:00

It has been a week now and I still can't taste. My cold turned into a sinus infection, which I've never experienced, nor do I want to ever again. The pressure/pain in my head, cheekebones, eyes-it's brutal. It feels like there is a 10lb sack attached to my post nasal area. I'm fine with pain-I grew up never taking pain meds (except when prescribed by a doc)-one of those weird things in childhood where it just doesn't occur to you that you have the power to change your destiny (like having my face wiped with a wash rag that was kind of smelly-that I hated and to this day I CAN'T use wash cloths in the kitchen) My mom feels bad to this day-why didn't I ever say, "Ew mom don't wipe my face with that nasty rag!" I digress...........Anyway what I'm not fine with is the fact that I can't tase food, except for brief moments, and when I sleep at night, there is no chance of breathing through my nose so-the mouth it is. That's very pleasurable-desert in my mouth-weird side note-since I've been mouth breathing I've had the weirdest dreams-super vivid. I'm on the verge of going crazy-a week without tasting food is a lot to ask of someone who loves food. So today my friend gave me this sinus nasal rinse thing. It is really crazy looking and gross, but it does the trick-I can now taste my food about 55%-as opposed to 0%. Things are looking up folks!!

Things I hate about being sick

2008-02-05T12:04:00.000-08:00

1. Feeling like a fuzzy version of myself
2. Having to apply vaseline around my nose cause it's raw from tissue use
3. no energy
4. not being able to taste food
5. Having to sleep with 3 pillows propping me up because I'm all stuffed up if I'm not at a 45 degree angle-and if I choose to lay somewhat flat I have to breathe through my mouth which burns my already burning throat.
6. Needing way more sleep, but not being able to get it thanks to Gabrielle and Cal.
THE ONE GOOD THING ABOUT BEING SICK-Once I'm better, I'm so excited to feel normal that I'm so happy doing the mundane tasks that come with most days.

2008-01-14T13:01:00.000-08:00

Gabrielle started gymnastics and got this sweet leotard-she feels sexy in it and that's all that matters. she started primary a few weeks ago-loves it. It was so cute when she came to me with her CTR ring on her chubby little finger that her teacher gave her. I'm in nursery now-so in case I don't get enough toddler stimulation throughout the week-I make up for it in those 2 hrs every Sunday. I have to keep chanting in my head "It's important to serve, It's important to serve" so now it's the lull of winter; rain, dark by 5 pm, kids going stir crazy, spring still a few months away....I am leaving on Thursday to go to Vegas for my sisters b-day-my other 2 sisters are going to see her too. I am so excited to be alone for 3 days-ahh. It's amzing the things that are fun after you have kids. I am excited to walk by myself to the gate, wait, board, chill with my sisters for 3 days and nights-I am very very excited. Thanks Luke.

Cal's love affair with a snowman

2007-12-29T15:39:00.001-08:00

Santa's coming!! WHOO!!!

2007-12-15T22:21:00.000-08:00

Santa was hitting the streets tonight with the Folsom Police and Fire to say hi to the kids and collect toys and canned food. It was really fun-Gabrielle loved it, but Cal was scared of the sirens. You can't really tell in the picture, but Gabrielle had these gloves on that clip together when you're not wearing them so they don't get separated-she did not want them unclipped so it was like she had handcuffs on the whole night. I was so cold and it's times like these that I don't know how I ever lived in cold weather, or how I ever lived in the Arizona heat for that matter. If I had to choose, I think I would rather deal with the cold-as long as I never had to drive in the snow.

Kind of obnoxious, but I had to put it on here

2007-12-13T11:01:00.000-08:00

Little black shorts

2007-12-11T11:57:00.000-08:00

Reading my friend's blog, I was inspired to start writing and not just post pictures. So here I am..writing or typing. Things are good-we're excited for Christmas-95% of my shopping is done-yes. I'm feeling good because I'm finally getting the rest of my baby weight off-ok technically Cal is not a baby anymore, but what's that one saying? 9 months to put it on, double that to take it off. Right? yeah that sounds right-so I'm right on track. Gabrielle is still obsessed with clothes. I went out the other night and Gabrielle was in the bath when I left so I didn't see her. All she wanted from Luke was to know what I was wearing. When Aunt Amy was here a few weeks ago, we were heading to Old town Folsom to walk around-when she saw what Amy had chosen to wear (Sweat short things and a t-shirt) she couldn't contain her disgust, "is that what you're wearing?" Amy thought better of the outfit and decided to change-Gabrielle was relieved. She is very excited about a new way to wear her clothes which I introduced to her over Thanksgiving down at my sister's house. She put on her little black shorts (originally intended to be worn with her leotard at gymnastics) put on a shirt, and was ready to rock the outfit downstairs for all the relatives to see when much to her dismay, the shirt was longer than the shorts. Mid meltdown I showed her this awesome thing-tucking in the front of your shirt-not the back (circa 1989). All was well-the shorts could be seen! So now she does it even when the shirt isn't too long. I'll post some pics illustrating this sweet fashion statement. This whole clothing situation gives me the most laughs and the most breakdowns-it creates an array of problems. ok off to pick her up from preschool I'll add more later!

Cal's crack

2007-11-18T20:41:00.000-08:00

Cal and Gabrielle caught in a rare moment

2007-11-16T14:18:00.000-08:00

2007-11-11T16:16:00.000-08:00

Gabrielle taking Cal for his daily walk

2007-09-13T20:33:00.000-07:00

2007-07-27T16:01:00.001-07:00

2007-07-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

2007-07-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

Wiseman Family

2007-07-27T15:49:00.001-07:00

Cal enjoying his apple until London assaults him and tries to steal it-las pic is classic Gabrielle

2007-07-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

Life is good-I have my apple back

2007-07-27T15:22:00.000-07:00