Changes & Wisdom

As the new year rolls around, Matt and I are looking at making some changes. We're not really ready to talk about any of these upcoming possibilities (and NO, they DON'T include babies - unless they're your babies) but we ask that you support us with your prayers for wisdom, guidance, and timing. Thank you and we'll keep you posted!

Our First Christmas

Growing up, Matt always had an artificial tree and I always had a living tree. My family tradition was to either cut down a tree at a local tree farm or go to a local store and buy one. Matt and I decided together on a live tree and headed out to buy one at our local Home Depot on Saturday night. In a short matter of time we picked out a Douglas Fir tree in the 5-6ft section and had it trimmed and ready to put in the Jeep and take home. We spent the evening setting it up, stringing on the lights, and decorating it. I had already decorated the house the weekend before, so with the tree, everything was complete for our first Christmas together! 

Here are the pictures:

Keeping presents under a tree when you have a puppy who loves paper is not a good idea. Keeping them here for now. 

Our tree

Tree with stocking in background

A family of stockings. It's Fabulich tradition to make them. :)

Here's the one my mom and I made for Hunter

And the one my mom and I made for Matt

Tree

First ornament we hung was a wedding picture in a 2011 frame from Crate & Barrel

This is a Lennox ornament my Grandma gave me years ago and I finally have a tree to hang it on!

An ornament from the Daroca family

Two little ornaments I bought for myself last year :)

We decided on a cheap tree skirt this year in case Hunter tried to eat it

Our new bookshelf we got on Black Friday. The DVD case normally goes where the tree is so we moved it here for now. 

Kitchen table decorations: dark chocolate espresso beans, chocolate truffles, hurricane with candle from Crate & Barrel, and a basket of cinnamon scented pine cones. 

Coffee bar on top, and wine bar on first shelf. Family photos below with Matt's books. 

Living room

Here's Hunter sticking his tongue out. He enjoyed the decorating party we had. 

Hunter- 7 months old

Celebration in Napa

A few weeks back Matt surprised me with a getaway weekend to Napa to celebrate the anniversary of our engagement. I was super excited because we have always wanted to go wine tasting, we love traveling to new places, and he made a big deal out of something he knew was a big deal to me. Love that! He went above and beyond by booking a beautiful and luxurious hotel, as well as a fully stocked limo to take us around Napa for the day! (Matt also knew I had never been in a limo and had always really wanted to.)

The day started out cool and then warmed up nicely. Our limo driver was very helpful in suggesting places to go and tips for different wineries. He also looked like Zach Galifianakis (guy with the beard from The Hangover) and was hilarious. We had a great time hanging out with him and had some good laughs, especially when Matt poured me a large glass of water only for me to find out it was vodka. Seriously- it was in a crystal bottle and all. Who thinks that is water?! Apparently my husband. HAHAHA! Luckily I caught a large whif of it first and realized his error before taking a drink.

Our limo driver suggested a great deli to stop at for lunch and have a picnic and also suggested a great place for us to go to dinner. So we made reservations and later that night were dining at Morimoto Restaurant in downtown Napa. We both had what was one of the best meals we have ever had and would highly recommend it to anyone visiting the area. It's worth the extra cost to have a memorable meal together. We ended the evening by walking around downtown Napa, getting mocha's at a local coffee shop, and then hanging out at the hotel bar where we made friends with the bartender and got a personal sampler where we found some new favorite wines.

The next morning we had breakfast and then headed home to pick Hunter up from the Petsmart Hotel where he did great on his first overnight trip from mom and dad. Overall a fantastic weekend!

Mumm Napa

Mumm Napa

Mumm Napa

Mumm Napa

Frog's Leap

Frog's Leap

Silver Oak

Coppola

Coppola

Coppola

Almond Mocha

*And yes, Matthew has quite a full beard as I'm sure you'll notice. There is a contest at his work for charity where they are growing beards and then shaving them into mustache's. It will be gone when he comes home from his next China trip. Thankfully. :)

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Ever since Ben was born, I have gone to the pumpkin patch in October with my sister and her family. We always take lots of pictures and enjoy the hay, animals, and atmosphere. 

Ben less than 1 year old. Our first time at the pumpkin patch together:

Me, my sister, and my nephew Ben

Ben 1 year old. Just learning to walk and explore:

So strong! 

The 3 of us

This little boy LOVES pumpkins

Practicing to be a regular farmer

Ben 2 years old: Becoming such a big boy!

Still loves his pumpkins :)

Looking so old. Miss my wee little pumpkin of the past but so proud of his growth!

This year I wasn't able to go with them since I have moved and I was having a really hard time with that. Matt and I talked about it and it turns out Matt hasn't been to a pumpkin patch in over a decade and really wanted to go with me! So after consulting Google we went out in search of a farm. After one disappointment in Mountain View we finally found what we were looking for in Morgan Hill. I may be missing my old traditions but a large part of marriage is starting our own traditions and I'm really looking forward to continuing this one and am so grateful for a husband who supports me and takes care of all of my needs- even if they're only silly little pumpkin ones. :)

80 degrees felt more like summer than fall but it was a beautiful day! 

They had a train ride and a hay ride

Our family of pumpkins (Big one is Matt's - he's quite proud)

Beautiful day with a Radio Flyer full of pumpkins

First year together at the pumpkin patch! (Matt needs to stop losing his sunglasses - haha!)

Daily Grind

I always like to envision what other people (who are close to me) do during their day to day life so I thought I would share a few pictures from my daily life.

My day starts with getting up and getting the house ready to get the dog up. After I get him up and take him out he gets breakfast. While he eats I go and get ready for work. Now, if Matt is home he is super good about doing all this so I can just get up and get ready right away. After I'm ready, Hunter gets locked up in the kitchen with his special snack and we walk out the door with a, "Be Back." Usually he doesn't bark and just devours his snack. I hop in my car and hit the surface streets until I come to 280 N where, if I'm lucky, I'll only sit in traffic like this:

Otherwise it's bumper to bumper and takes awhile. Thankfully with my work hours of 9:30-6:30 I can take the carpool lane for at least part of my time on 280. Once I exit I take a really long road into work. 

This road has at least six traffic lights, which no exaggeration, can each take 2-3 minutes each. This road connects to an equally long road with as many equally long lights. Over time I have found a nifty shortcut though. And it turns out it's really beautiful!

This road connects to Stanford Ave which is the edge of the campus and where I work. I didn't take pictures of it but it's full of BEAUTIFUL homes (for coaches and faculty to rent) and amazing trees that canopy the street. Typically the weather is sunny and warm with a bit of a breeze and I really enjoy it. 

Here are a few pictures of my classroom. I just redid my bulletin boards and we change them every few months. Every classroom has to have a Parent Information Board, Family Board, Birthday Board, and a Curriculum Board. (You can make all photos bigger by clicking on the image.)

Corner of my classroom. The babies love to play on this pillow turtle and look in the mirrors. 

Parent Information Board: Our daily schedule (not in this pic), our school calendar, our school philosophy, and our teacher bios. 

Curriculum Board: This is a board that I can post their artwork and pictures of them making it. The parents love this board. It also states our curriculum philosophy. 

Family Board: This board has each child's family picture and the names of the members in their family's, including their pets. To make the Family banner I printed the letters and used modge podge to glue them to construction paper. I used the same process on the family cards.

For confidentiality purposes I won't post pictures of this other project but I wish I could because it turned out so cute! I needed to make personalized signs to go over each of the baby's cribs so I took an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cream construction paper as my starting piece and added layers. I added their name at the top, cut out with cute scissors. I added a circular picture of the baby, which was also cut out with the same cute scissors. These were both bordered with colored construction paper cut with the same pattern. The picture was glued at the bottom of the page. In between I glued a color copy of their feet print (as can be seen in curriculum board pic). I love that it turned out so cute AND so personalized.

To wrap up my day I head back on the same roads and finally walk in my door where I get to greet Matt and a very excited puppy. We take a walk, come back to feed the pup, and then work on dinner for us (if Matt doesn't already have it ready). The evening is filled with getting ready for the next day, laundry, dishes, playing with Hunter, and hopefully a little down time before bed.

There you go. A day in the life of Staci.