The Sorbellos

Bethany specifically told Kelly that she didn't want a shower for Armstrong Babe #2...so Kelly threw a surprise "un-shower" on Wednesday and it was a lovely success; she was totally surprised. Good work Kelly!

Mommy and her Baby Bump(ing around).

Cousin Kristen, who is also an Arbonne representative, brought scent-y supplies to pamper both un-showeree AND guests (Julie DeJong enjoying the treatment).

Here are the happy host and the decoy. Sarah was to be picked up by Bethany and Grammy under the guise of being a "mommy's helper" for Kelly. (Kelly is not green with sickness in this photo, she's green with some sort of refreshing, rejuvenating face mask).

Gracie offered to salt-scrub several of our nasty footsies and we are forever grateful. :)

The very next day, Justin Smith turned one year older. The big 2-7. Natalie had a sweet surprise planned, but it's hard to hide something from someone who wakes up singing "Happy Birthday to Me" and immediately runs about looking for presents, stashed ice cream cakes, etc...

Plans slightly altered - BJs for dinner and then back to the house for ice cream cake.

Favorite restaurant = happy family

The big surprise - Katie and Ben! :) Week nights are tricky for rounding up people for surprise 9:00 pm ice cream cake.

Friday (Dec.12th) we continued with the festivities and went to the Ganyo's house right after FBC's Children's Christmas Musical for some cookie decorating. We never actually got around to decorating cookies, but we ate a lot, had some political/philosophical discussions, hummed (and guessed) many a Christmas carol, and played Battle of the Sexes in which Justin single-handedly obliterated the girls' team.

The generous hosts.

This is when we all still liked our significant others (pre-BotS).

Siena spent some quality time on the couch with the ladies and learned many Christmas songs. Unfortunately, she was NOT a huge help come game time.

Earlier on Friday Siena and I visited WCHS at lunchtime and Natalie Spencer (jr. high secretary) corrupted Siena's selective pallet. (Whipped cream on the nose, empty chocolate wrapper in hand.) Maybe this explains why Siena weighed in at 13 lbs 9.6 oz on December 14th (3 months)!

This past Thursday morning we loaded into the car at 6:30 am to drive down to Huntington Beach for a basketball tournament Shiloh's team would be playing in. The grapevine had been closed for over 24 hours, but we sped down I-5 towards it in faith that it would open in time to get us to our game. (The alternate route had taken the girls' team 11 hours the day before!)

Hopefully Hayden and Halle won't grow up thinking that playing on the side of the freeway is a normal or fun thing to do. We sat (and stood, and walked around) for about 25 minutes before the roads were opened and we made it to Huntington 2 hours before game time!

Brian and Shiloh watching the guys warm up, hopeful for a first game victory.

Kelijo is a good baby-lover. Siena is passed out on her lap, enjoying her post-game warmth (sweat).

The only team picture I took was at The Cheesecake Factory and came out like this. Oops.

The next night: BJs. (We love BJs). Randy Taylor is the older brother of a player and was in the first graduating class that I taught at WCHS! Poor guy, stuck between the coaches.

Shauna is back from Grenada! (Sad for her, happy for the USA). She's only home for a few weeks before she moves to NC for her final year of vet school.

After the last basketball game we stayed around HB while the rest of the team drove home. We had lunch at Pasta Pomodoro with some great friends who have recently dispersed from Davis (but we hope they'll come back). Nidahl Akl, Shauna Nicholas, Shannan Sams, and Jason Gambonini. Lots of fun!

Shannan got to hold Siena for the first time. She gave him lots of smiles and felt very safe in his arms. That's what happens when you're a CHP (except when you're pulling someone over).

Shiloh handled the bill.

Since we didn't get out of HB as early as planned, we stopped for the night in Fresno with our good friends (and dentist) Dave and Alissa Forester. Their baby girl, Sydney, used to be WAY bigger than Siena, but Siena has been putting on the pounds and they're about the same size now! Sydney has more skills (rolling over, standing up, playing with toys, etc.) but Siena has more creases (legs, chin, wrists, etc.)

It was a long day for our little munchkin and she conked out on Daddy's chest soon after Daddy learned some new tricks form Dave. Ask him about his cork tricks and he'll be more than happy to stump you!

Finally, a couple of shots form the drive home...

Tongue.

Drool.

What's the longest word in the dictionary? SMILES - There's a MILE between the two "S"es!

Because Siena came a month early, it's hard to tell what she's "supposed" to be able to do. As she nears 3 months (on Sunday) though, she has kicked smiling up a notch. Her crooked, toothless grins melt our hearts and make us wish she'd never leave this stage...except for the still-pooping-in-diapers part of it.

On Thanksgiving I accidentally sent my diaper bag (with wallet, phone, camera, butt paste, etc.) down to Mountain View with Andy after he dropped me off at home since Shiloh was at the shelter. Oops. He sent me the important things, but last Thursday Siena and I drove down for a short Atherton visit to retrieve the rest of my things.

Andy and Siena do some bonding before we ignore her to play a game of Carcassonne.
I lost. Big time. (sigh)

Back in Davis, Friday night was the FBC Davis' Women's Christmas Party filled with desserts, talks, music, desserts, and some fun chatting at beautifully and individually decorated tables.

Thanks to Kalie Morgan, Siena was the belle of the ball...dancing shoes and all!

This was one of the few times I got to hold her - she made the rounds with Kristi Gladding, then Leigh Hyde, then Grammy...

Here she is being loved on. Jen is glad she's having a girl so baby Jarvis can get some sweet hand-me-downs. :)

Grammy and Poppy and the Christmas Baby

Then last Saturday was the long-awaited trip to Apple Hill where we would commence our search for the Perfect Tree. Bethany spotted it from the parking lot, but we did some token tromping around just in case.