If you're reading this before part 1, go to "older posts" first.
Okay, part two here we come. When publishing part one we lost half of the post, not sure how that happened, figure now we'll break it up in two to not clog the great information superhighway. I will try and regain my piece of wit toast and prose butter to churn out another Stumbaugh update. Did you refill your glass? Ching ching!
We were fortunate enough to get down to the East Bay for Adam's surprise 40th birthday day rage. I don't think I'll ever forget the look on his face from the surprise as it was it permaglued for at least 45 minutes. People lined up to hold a giant "Happy Birthday Adam" spelled out in individual letters. Jason, Papa Yoches and I took that opportunity to stand back and drink all the micro-beers and deflower the salsa bowl. What? All the letters were being held:) Otis got to frolic in the grass a bit with his friends. We sprawled all over the park grass, laying atop blankets and watching the clouds.
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| 9/24/11 Adam's Surprise Birthday Party |
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| 9/24/11 Jason and Otis at Adam's Surprise Birthday Party |
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| 9/24/11 - Jennie and Otis at Adam's Surprise Birthday Party |
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| 9/24/11 - Lacie and Otis at Adam's Surprise Birthday Party |
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| 9/24/11 - Adam's Surprise Birthday Party |
Video of Otis clapping:
http://youtu.be/WymDzt4y45E
Video of Otis in his walker:
http://youtu.be/Ux6csxPMzY4
We drove up to Bend to see Otis' grandparents in their natural habitat. Otis got ample play time with his cousin Devon and Mari. The adults pretty much sat back and watched the baby parade in between eating lush meals. Otis got thorough enjoyment out of chasing down dogs in his walker and yelling alot, mostly to hear his own voice. We normally head up to Oregon for Thanksgiving but can't do that any more with the busy holiday schedule at my job. Super nice to get up there, it was great seeing Bend with nice sunny weather. The girls were scared of going outside so they FORCED Randy and I to play video games and have beers for hours and hours. You have no idea the suffering they put us through.
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| 10/1/11 - Otis and cousin Devon in Bend |
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| 10/1/11 - Grandpa Randy and Otis |
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| 10/1/11 - Cousin Mari, Gramma Marsha and Otis |
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| 10/2/11 - Otis and cousin Devon |
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| 10/2/11 - Otis and Devon |
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| 10/4/11 - Otis and cousin Devon |
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| 10/4/11 - Otis and cousin Mari (she took that spatula from him) |
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| 10/4/11 - Otis and Gramma Marsha |
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| 10/4/11 - Cousin Mari, Otis and cousin Devon |
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| 10/4/11 - Otis and cousin Devon |
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| 10/4/11 - Otis, cousin Mari and cousin Devon |
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| 10/4/11 - Mari, Currie, Melanie, Otis, Karen and Devon |
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10/5/11 - Family (leaving Bend)
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More Bend Photos here:
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwVAzWy
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| 10/9/11 - Leroy Serros and Otis |
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| 10/9/11 - Rosie Gomez and Otis |
The Machpheez and the Strumbolinas hit up the pumpkin patch at the Spring Hill dairy farm in the far western reaches of Petaluma. We arrived around sunset, the vast hills illuminated in the orange and purple rays, the pictures don't do it justice. The kids has a blast running around, slapping pumpkins and eatin' dirt. We all went on a tractor ride which was is harder on the butt than initially perceived. Sabin got a giant "pickle" shaped pumpkin that was both hideous and beautiful.
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| It puts the lotion in the basket..... |
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| 10/14/11 - Pumpkin Patch with the MacPhee's |
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| 10/14/11 - Sabina and Otis |
Video of Sabina and Otis:
http://youtu.be/t1tJGqLFSQ4
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| 10/14/11 - Yona, Sabina and Otis |
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| 10/14/11 - Sabin, Xochitl, Melanie, Otis, Tony, Yona and Sabina |
More Pumpkin Patch photos here:
http://flic.kr/s/aHsjwJEB3a
Back in Mid-October we were visited by Adam and Maria for an evening of lush. Maria gave each Melanie and I a muscle melting massage while Adam took turns enchanting us with his good company. I made a big all-vegan indian meal which I haven't done since Melanie's dietary needs did a flaming cartwheel on us some years ago. Had a great evening with some nice wine which usually goes well with my pre-pubescent sense of humor. Adam just got a job as shop teacher after being a well seasoned science guru. Hopefully this photo isn't the last we see of him with all of his fingers:) Really nice to see them as our quality time was limited at his b-day party. Love you guys!
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| 10/15/11 - Otis, Adam and Maria |
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| 10/15/11 - Adam and Otis |
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| 10/18/11 - Nonni Bev and Otis |
Scot, Wifey, Otis and I piled in the car and went to Mendocino for our last camping trip of the year at another OTP event called Food Madness. Another weekend of good friends, tasty food and happy times. Scot and I spent an afternoon tromping through the wet hillsides, through stabby brush and slippery duff to pillage the land of all the mushrooms it had to offer. We had a nice bounty of chantrelles and my belly was full of fungi and butter for the next several days, oh my.
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| 10/20/11 - Scot and Otis |
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| 10/21/11 - Josh and Otis at Food Madness |
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| 10/21/11 - Matt, Otis and Josh at Food Madness |
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| 10/21/11 - Leila and Otis at Food Madness |
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| 10/21/11 - Sabina and Otis |
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| 10/22/11 - Dana, Caden and Otis |
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| 10/22/11 - Caden and Otis |
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| 10/22/11 - Melissa, Otis and Sabina |
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| Halloween - Xochitl, Sabina, Tony, Otis, Melanie, Susie and Yona |
11 months and counting, Nonni is still cranking out magic every tuesday and Otis is her number #1 fan. If people had half the love she has inside, this world would be a better place.
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| 11/8/11 - Nonni Bev and Otis |
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| 11/8/11 - Nonni Bev and Otis |
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| 11/13/11 - Nana Debbie, Tony and Otis |
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| Mobile by Jennie Kulczyk <------bad ass |
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| 11/14/11 - Otis is mesmerized by that mobile |
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And here is a word from our friend and sponsor, Wifey....
Otis has four teeth, two on top, two on the bottom, his top two eye teeth have just about cut through. He's talking lots of nonsense and singing songs without words. He can crawl super fast and isn't quite walking yet, but has taken some steps and can stand up without holding on to anything.
Tiz all for now friends and family. Hope your drink is empty by now, feel free to come over if you want a refill. Many more Stumbaugh family adventures in the near future.
-TOM
p.s. dear bay area, why are you so afraid to drive north?
