Story telling time

Now when Isabella is talking there is no stopping her. She talks and sings non-stop all day long. Last night while taking a bath she told me something very interesting. Right out of the blue she began telling me Ansi and Johan were home together and they were baking. Then she corrected herself and said they are home and Johan is baking. I asked what is he baking? "Cookies for me".

Ahhh ain't that sweet who knew? I for one had no idea Johan could bake but thanks Johan when do they arrive?? The cookies that is! Don't you just love the imagination of a child.

B-day Party

Today we had Isabella's 2nd birthday party. Her real birthday was on Thursday and we celebrated that the three of us. Today was about friends and family. We chose to have brunch party which was perfect... we had Santa Ana winds (warm winds blown in from the desserts) so the morning was perfect. We had the party outside in a park by Mission Bay. We could not help but remember last year when you could not be outside because of the polluted air and smoke from the fires.

The menu was bagels, blueberry buns, apple cake, fruit salad, latte and hot chocolate as well as ice tea and juice. The kids had a great time playing around.

Beautiful Rowan as photogenic as always

Taking a break from playing in Aunt Jess's arms

Toby and her parents. She and Isabella go to daycare together.

Michele, Andrea and Josh (Yes the Josh which Isabella has been talking non -stop about for the last couple of weeks.

Gracie (who married the two of us) and Isabella setting the bars for all women. You go girls!!!

Ok give it up, give me the cake or I will shake you up side down until it comes out

Brian's favorite place, between two beautiful women

OK, I'm ready for the party, I got a nice dress, dry diaper and a hat for protection

The proud parents of the most wonderful two years of our lives

Phew that was fun but I'm really tired now

Actual B-Day

Isabella's real birthday was fun but mellow. We started out early in the morning in bed, taking it easy. Isabella's favorite thing is to curl up in bed with us in the morning. Isabella went to daycare and we to work. In the afternoon Fredrica picked her up and took her to the park. They had so much fun. Later Fredrica had to go to teach so James and Isabella had the evening together. Mom cooked Isabella's favorite thing; Cheese tortellini, corn on the cob, broccoli and raspberries for dessert. Daddy got Kalops, a traditional Swedish dish he loves.

Aqua baby. Isabella the dare devil diving under the water.
Mommy I'm hungry!!! Isabella nibbling on a carrot

Mommy had been training Isabella to show and tell how old she is now. On her birthday she finally got it, kind of...

First thing when she woke up she wanted to talk to "Anch" that's Ansi

Helping watering the garden and it's hard work so now and then you have to take a sip on water.

Obama's most important endorsement...

You were thinking Colin Powel right? Nope! This video hasn't been picked up yet by CNN, but perhaps it will make next Sunday's talk show circuit.

And while two thirds of the Syren family can't vote... yet... we'll help get out the vote... two weeks from today!

Make sure you cast your vote on Nov 4th.

Oooopppps!!!!

This is what happens when you take your eyes of your child for just one second. It goes from painting nicely on a piece of paper to painting herself all over. I was cooking dinner and tried to keep Isabella occupied with painting. I turned my back to her to wash some vegetables and it was all it took.

Just to make other parents jealous

Usually it's a challenge to get your kids to eat their vegetables. This is not such big issue for us since we actually have to bribe Isabella with...vegetables to get her to eat the rest of the food. Broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, peppers and corn is what she would eat all day long if we let her, protein and carbs not so much. However, she will eat them if we bride her with a vegetables.

Talkative Little creature

Now when Isabella is speaking a lot there is no way to shut her up. She constantly chit chat and really don't care if any one is listening or not. She loves singing and usually spends our drives singing her little heart out. What she is singing I most of the time have no idea. The funnies times are when she is walking around the house saying peoples names, Anch and oan (Ansi & Johan that is) being on top her list. In second place is a big surprise, Josh. Who is Josh you might wonder? It's Andreas new boy friens who she only met twice but that's all it took. Josh must have left a fist good impression on her. She now she walks around the house and asks "where's Josh?".

Morning hike in Mission trails

James and I use to love to hike all the time, that's BB (before baby). We have this gorgeous hike not far from our house, Mission Trails and once last year we got fancy and bought a nice backpack for Isabella to sit in and went out for a hike. Unfortunately about 20 minutes in to the hike Isabella did not want to sit in the backpack nor did she want to walk, all she wanted was for me to carry her which made the hike something of a tortyr and we never went out again.

Last weekend it was very nice morning ( I know we live in sunny land and don't have many bad ones) and we decided to give the hiking another try. This time it went much better and a matter a fact we started out with her walking and after a short while she begged to be carried....not by mom but rather in the backpack. Whoooohooooo!!! She sat there happy as a clam and we truly enjoyed the hike.

"Say Cheese!".Taking a break by the dam to feed the ducks left over of Isabella's breakfast.

"Come on ducks I have yummy pancakes for everyone".

ISo famously everything is big in America, even the cacti . You would not want to sit down on this one for sure.

Isabella discovers her pockets after a well deserved brunch after a couple of hours hike

why we have not been blogging

Our Internet has been down so we have not been online for days. Let me tell you it felt being out of touch with the whole world. Luckily I could read and respond to my emails on my IPhone and James at work. Now the problem has been fixed and we'll have new posting soon.