The Doneganian

Am I still considered a blogger....

2009-04-11T15:48:00.001-07:00

if I only blog twice a year? My goodness I just can't keep up. Having a 2 & 4 yr old that both have Type A personalitys really keeps me on my toes 24.7! Was never quite prepared for the sibling rivalry, but hopefully this is just a season. At least they get along 10% of the time and they are super cute:) Positive thoughts are the way to go!

The last couple of months have been quite busy. With a baby shower, visits from my mom, days in the mountains and new babys being born we have much to be thankful for. God is good!

Enjoy the pix!

XOXO

Wow! I am a slacker!

2008-12-21T20:44:00.000-08:00

Sheesh! It's been forever and a day since I blogged!!! Life has been crazy since Halloween. With birthdays, traveling, visitors and being sick the days have just flown by! And I have gone back to work (from home) so my time is even more limited....so here is a quick snapshot of our past two months...Enjoy!

First of all our little girl turned 2 on November 9th. Unbelievable! If feels like yesterday that Lauren was in my belly kickin' away. I had a little party and she enjoyed most of it:) The terrible two's have definitely kicked in, but we still love her more than anything and think she's super adorable no matter what:)

Next we were off to the East Coast for almost two weeks and had a blast (most of the time:)! But holy moly was it a lot of work with a 2 & 3 year old. I really wouldn't even go as far to say that it was a "vacation". We flew into Boston, drove to NYC the next day, spent the weekend, drove to Maine for a week and then headed to Boston to fly back home. I know! We're NUTS! But it was ALL worth it...Spending time with friends and family was a blessing.

Then my brother came out for a few days after we returned home. Brandon just got back from being in Japan for 3 years (he is in the Navy). Now he is based in San Diego and we are thrilled. It was wonderful seeing him and what a mature wonderful man my little brother has become...

In between all of this we of course had some fun snow days here and there....

Now we are now anxiously waiting for my mom and Greg to get here. They will be in town for a week. Can't wait!

Sometimes, during the busiest times of our lives, it's hard to just stop and thank God for all the wonderful things He has gifted us with. There really is so much to be thankful for! I pray you have a blessed Christmas and a joyful New Year!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-02T11:40:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a frightful, but fun Halloween! Noah was Spider Man (I know, so original) and Lauren was both a Lion and Minnie Mouse. We (I) couldn't decide which was cuter, so we went with both;) Michael and I were babies, but I do have to say Michael whines A LOT more than I do! Noah had a Halloween party at preschool and they were in a parade. It was the cutest darn thing I'd ever seen! Later in the evening we went trick or treating around our neighborhood and because of the warm weather no jackets were needed! After gathering all of the candy we could handle we went to my cousin Lu's for a party. We had a blast! Couldn't find a sitter, so it was an early night for the Donegans, but all in all we had fun!

a

September Fun!

2008-09-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

I will do my best to sum up September while keeping it short and sweet:)

The month started off with a super fun trip to the berry patch. It is located in Brighton. Noah doesn't even like berries but picked away as if he did. Lauren on the other hand didn't enjoy it as much but still had fun:)

Then we spent a day out in Morrison at my cousins house which is nestled in the beautiful Rocky mountains. From now on I think we'll just go camping on her property! That way if it's too cold we have a warm bed 5 ft away:) And the kids had a blast. Lauren fell in love with their new kitties and Noah wanted to drive around with his cousin all day long!

My sister came out from So Cal last week and we had a blast!!! I almost held her hostage here, but then I thought it would be best to let her go. Maybe someday she will miss us soooo much and move to Colorado:)

Sadly, we said goodbye to my sis but then welcomed my mom! We always have so much fun shopping, watching "what not to wear", getting new hair do's, and playing with the kids. It's always tough seeing her leave, but we make sure there is a trip already in the works.

Well that's about it...for now. I am looking forward to October. The leaves are changing here in Colorado and it has been beautiful!

Enjoy your day!

Noah's 1st day of preschool...

2008-09-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

With a 1 and 3 yr old that have a ton of energy and are a little strong willed (wonder who they get that from:) my days can be challenging. All I've been saying is "Thank God preschool is just around the corner". Well the time has come. I dropped Mr. Noah off at preschool yesterday morning, only to return to a quiet house. That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks. Luckily my friend Kirsten was here to console me. After a small meltdown we went to the park..and wow did those tears dry up quickly! I really enjoyed my time with Lauren and oh my...how easy it is to keep my eyes on just one child. The day flew by and before I knew it was time to pick the little man up. My eyes couldn't believe what they saw. He was sleeping so peacefully on his little nap mat! I never would have thought they would get him to sleep! I woke him up and the first thing he said was "can I please stay for five more minutes?". So all in all preschool is a wonderful thing and I think we'll all adjust quite nicely....

Enjoying Colorado...

2008-09-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind the past couple of weeks have been!

It all started with a super fun weekend at Pueblo Lake with the Austins. We spent the weekend out on the boat wakeboarding, waterskiing, tubing and laughing! The weather was perfect. Lauren stayed home and Noah loved having the Austin girls to hang out with. This is the first summer I have spent out at the local Colorado lakes and I have been impressed!

Our friends the Fitzgeralds were out for a short visit last weekend. We were in their small group in San Diego. Ryan, Michelle's hubby, is in Afghanistan until October and her and the kids' needed a vaca! It was great seeing them!

Lastly we spent Labor Day weekend in Steamboat with our dear friends the Epps. What a fun weekend! The first day of camping was great and then the sun set and 32 degrees of coldness hit our tent around midnight! It was frigid and we (the Donegans) weren't all that prepared. Poor Lauren woke up shivering and we decided to hotel it the next two nights:)

Now the fun stuff..laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. YUCK! This week is crazy as well. Noah starts preschool on Wednesday so I am sure an emotional post is to come:(

Hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend!

Why can't we do housework in our sleep?

2008-08-07T14:28:00.000-07:00

Just want to vent a little:)...

With two kids 3 and under I try my darndest to find time for housework! So of course the only time I have is during their naps. How much work can you get done in 1-2 hours???? I just rushed around here like a madwoman (while sweating up a storm) to get the floors mopped!!! Then BAM...Lauren is yelling "MOMMMMMMMY" and Noah wakes up and slips on the wet floors. What is a mom to do? Any suggestions..(besides call Molly Maids)????

Three posts in one...

2008-08-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

It seems that the only time I have to do anything is when the kids are both napping...which only lasts about 1.5 hours...2 if I'm lucky:). So I will make this post short and sweet since my time is limited....

Michael and I took the kids to Tiny Town last week and had a blast! Michael was able to get the morning off which was a treat!

My wonderful mom came to visit and what a great time we had! The hardest part is saying goodbye...but she's already planning her next trip:)

My dear friend Melissa was in town with her precious baby, Caden. It was so great meeting him and being able to spend time with him and his mommy.

Times up!!! Gotta go tend to the kiddlings...

Have a wonderful week everyone!

Our weekend at Jackson Lake.....

2008-07-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

What a a blast!!! We went to Jackson Lake with three other couples and had a fabulous time! Friday night was tough only because it was so darn windy, but the rest of the weekend was perfect. It could have been a few degrees cooler, but being out in the water made all the difference. It was Noah's 1st time camping and he did great. Lauren stayed home with our friend Susan because she is not quite old enough to rough it. Our friends, the Austins, have a boat and we had a wicked fun time! I know, I'm from the West coast, but I can say wicked:) The group included the Baumgartners, Epps, and the Austins. Time spent with friends is truly a blessing and this will definitely not be the last family vaca. together. Next time I opt for the Hyatt:) The weekend included lots of fun memories and I captured several on camera...Enjoy!

Rainbow the first day...

Michael and Lyb hangin' out

Susie and Mandy

Bonfire fun

Lindsay and Mandy enjoyin' the boat

The girls

Sus rippin' it up!

Red goin' big!

Captain Noah

Chicks on a raft:)

Fun in the sun...

So sleepy...

Until next time...

Little Ms. Lauren....

2008-07-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

It just amazes me how the days seem soooo incredibly long but the years just fly by! Lauren had her 20 month check up yesterday and I can't believe she'll already be two in November! The doc said she is very healthy... and is advanced for her age:) At least someone in the family is:) j/k! She has bypassed her brother in all her stats...weight is 21.4: 5%; Height 31 3/4": 30%; head 18 1/2": 50%. Basically she is a skinny, big headed little girl! I think it took Noah until he was 3 to weigh 20 lbs!

All is well at the Donegan home front, accept for the fact that sibling rivalry has hit us like a BOMB! If anyone wants a free seat at the next WWF's "Nasty Noah versus Ms. Lauren Lightning" come on over any time of day or night:) All bets start at $100!

Hope all is wonderful!

Attached are some pix of Lauren...

Enjoy!

Noah the Fire Chief

2008-07-05T17:13:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to share some pix from Noah's day at the Aurora Fire Station. My really good friend Tommy Johnson graduated from the Academy about a month ago and he really wanted to show Noah the station. Noah was a little unsure about the big engine at first but as you can see he really warmed up to Tom.

Noah received first class treatment. He took a ride in the front seat and was able to hear the sirens and the horn. He was thrilled!!

The crew was very nice to Noah. Tommy was even able to find him a little gift...he even let Lauren try it on when we got home.

md

Good times!

2008-07-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

It feels good to finally be living a somewhat normal life again! Colorado has been great to us so far. It has been a bit hot, but I can't complain. Everything is so green and the mountains are gorgeous. The past couple of weeks have brought much laughter, and many good times.

Michael and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. He took me back to my cousins house where we got married and threw a little anniversary party for me. He decorated the gazebo with daisy's (which is the 5 yr flower) and even got the same color ribbon that was the wedding color. Very creative I must say. The best gift was our new kitty, but sadly we had to give her back because Noah was allergic! Such a bummer! Other than that the night was great!

Last Sunday we had a MUCH needed mom's night out at the Rio Grande. We had too much fun and will be doing this every month from this point on. It really gets tough sometimes being a stay at home mom and these little treats really help prevent from me going completely insane:)

Michael and I were lucky enough to get tickets to the Rockies game and we had our first Colorado date night! We went to our fave restaurant called Zengo's. Again these little treats go along way!

Yesterday we celebrated the 4th at my cousin Lu's and last night my cousin Jake and Cass had a casual wedding reception at the golf course. Last month they got married in Cabo so it was great for those who couldn't make it to celebrate their marriage.

Today Michael is taking Noah to his friend Tommy's Fire Station and then we're going to head out to Bear Creek Lake for some swimming since it is a bit hot!

I hope everyone is having a Happy 4th of July weekend. I want to thank my brother Brandon who is currently serving in the Navy. We are thinking and praying for all that are in the military who are unselfishly serving and risking their lives for a our freedom! God bless and thank you brother! I love you!

Home Sweet Home!

2008-06-20T20:01:00.000-07:00

Well we made it to Colorado! Everything has fallen into place just the way it was supposed to. It has been a roller coaster of emotions, but the worst part is over. We love our house and we are happy to be unpacked! Thanks to my cousin Deb for working many hours to find us our home. There are some upgrades that need to be done, but all in due time. No rush. Since I am all rushed out! Noah and Lauren love the big yard. Lots of fun in the sun.

We went back to our old church and Michael will be singing this Sunday which is great! And Michael is very happy at work. Lots of answered prayers.

Enrolled Noah into preschool today and I just found out that my grandfather helped build his school and my mom grew up in that same neighborhood. She past his school everyday while walking to school!!! Too cute!

I started going to the YMCA again. The kids love it and so do I. I can actually work out, shower and put on lipstick. Rarely do I get to do that at home. Sometimes I just go to the Y to shower...j/k! But if I have to I will!

This weekend we're celebrating our 5 year anniversary! I can't believe all that has happened in 5 years...2 kids, 3 moves, 4 jobs, a trip to Italy, and now I have a lot less brain cells than when it all started. Which isn't saying much:)

Hope you all are enjoying life! As crazy as it can be it's a fun ride!

From the beach to the Rockies...

2008-05-09T21:18:00.000-07:00

If I don't write this post now it won't happen because we will be quite busy this month with...moving. Yep, the Donegans are moving back to Denver..for the 3rd time!

Last Friday Michael's office was unexpectedly shut down. Unfortunately the market here is terrible and the cost of living is very high. They had been struggling for awhile but we were just hopeful that one day it would turn around. Now we are picking up the pieces. Thank God Ace Denver has an opening. Michael is driving out tomorrow. YES that's right tomorrow. I know so crazy. It still doesn't seem real, but as of right now this is the best choice for our family. There is no reason to risk accepting another job out here with the market the way it is. We need stability at this point.

We have treated this last week as an overdue vacation. We've had a blast and it's been great spending time together. Attached are the pix from our week.

As of right now we don't know where we will be living, but God will work it out. I have so many emotions and feelings at this time and of course I can't write them all down. When we get settled I'm sure I will have an emotional post. I was laughing yesterday because Michael and I were getting caught up on DVR'd Oprah. It's definitely time for him to get back to work:)

Springfest here in Allied Gardens
Noah's first ride on a pony...

Redbull Races at Coronado Bay

Michael, Lauren, our friend Matt and Addie

Disneyland

Look in the upper left hand side..that's us on a VERY scary ride!!!

The famous castle

San Diego Zoo

Corvette's Diner in Hillcrest

A day at the beach...

2008-04-28T07:57:00.000-07:00

Who knew a couple of hours at the beach could be so much fun! Yesterday was a perfect day to go to the beach. We took the kids to La Jolla and they had a blast. Noah found treasures (such as seaweed, and other yucky beach things), he also loved running in the sand and they both (for the most part) played well together. Lauren wasn't too sure of the sand in her toes, but got used to it after awhile. Unfortunately we don't get to the beach that often even though it's a 15 minute drive. So yesterday was a treat!

3

A year in review...

2008-04-22T09:55:00.000-07:00

Unbelievable! We have been in San Diego for a year now! I can't believe it. What a whirlwind it has been. Here are some highlights and lowlights of our past year...

The Good

Being close to family has been amazing!
Everyone is healthy
We go to a great church
Wonderful visit from the Wheelers and Michael's dad
Started a Mom's bible study
Part of a wonderful small group
Met great friends
The weather is perfect
Sea World, The Zoo, beach, etc.
Reconnecting with old friends
Realizing that I don't need the things I think I have to have
Learned some pretty good lessons on money

The Bad

Potty Training (no fun)
Teething
Trips to the ER
No dishwasher
No washer/dryer
House prices START at 400/k if your lucky!
$4 for a gallon of gas (ouch)
Adjusting to 1300 sq ft.
Very difficult to connect...just met my neighbor for the first time!!! Crazy!!!
Missing Colorado friends, family and skiing

And the Ugly..

Michael's looooong hours
Losing my job
The economys effect on Michael's job
The terrible fires
Too many darn people!!!

As I sit here looking at my three lists I am thanking God for all the amazing blessings he has poured over our lives here in San Diego. Yes we have made some sacrifices, and have had a challenging year but it truly boils down to 1 Corinthians 13:13 "There are three things that will endure-faith, hope, and love-and the greatest of these is love." Sometimes life seems overwhelming but when you sit in silence and count your blessings it really isn't that bad afterall

Our friends in San Diego..

Go Ducks...

2008-04-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Well I have to admit I am a fair weathered hockey fan. I was a Kings fan, then moved to Denver and of course was an Av's fan and now since we get box seat tickets at the Ducks games, they are now "my" team. Go Ducks...for now!

Michael was lucky enough to get box seat tickets from one of his account exec's. We went to Anaheim to the Honda Center and had a blast. We ate tons of bad food, Michael screamed and hollered, and the Ducks won! Yeah..I guess:) My sister came out and watched the kids so it was a nice treat to have a date with my hubby!

Happy Easter!

2008-03-25T13:06:00.000-07:00

I was so happy because for Easter weekend our family was FINALLY healthy:) Is it just us or has this flu season by far been the worst??? I pray that was the last round of ugly bugs in the Donegan household. No fun.

Anywho, on Saturday we went to my friend Mimi's for a fun Easter celebration filled with yummy food, an Easter egg hunt and lots of sunshine. Noah adored their dog Rush and Lauren loved all the flowers.

Side note...The kids (and I) had a meltdown right before we left so I wasn't sure if it was a good idea leaving, but it was and we were thankful we pushed through it. Before I had kids I never quite understood what parents meant by "well it all depends on the kids". When I'd hear this I'd think "just figure it out and make it happen". Yeh, now I get it!!! :)

Sunday we went to my mom's in Corona and had a blast. She cooked an amazing ham that was out of this world. They had an Easter Egg hunt and there was some pool time since it was 85 degrees. I was surprised Lauren enjoyed finding eggs as much as she did. Especially when she knew there was chocolate in them! My adorable 76 year old grandfather hand made Easter eggs for all the kids. Bless his heart. Little Lauren wore her Easter hat and Noah was glued to his Auntie Jaymee as he always is. And of course Lauren was exhausted and passed out right when she got in the car.

We hope you all had a Blessed Easter!

Hugs and kisses...

Fun weekend with great friends!

2008-03-13T20:38:00.000-07:00

Our dear friends, the Wheelers, visited last weekend from Chicago and we had a blast. It started on Thursday with a quick trip to Mission Beach. Brought everyone back here for a pasta dinner.

The next day we took a trip to Del Mar which is a small beach about 15 miles away.

That night we had a great mexican dinner in Old Town. The mariachi band (and Josh) sang to us. It was a hoot!

Saturday night we were lucky enough to get a sitter. We went to an authentic Italian restaurant in Pacific Beach called Mama Mia's. We have been there several times because the experience is unforgettable. After a great meal we went downtown and enjoyed the city for a bit.

Sunday was church and afterwards we spent the day in La Jolla. It was a perfect trip..with some minor melt downs. With two young kids you never know what your gonna get. Luckily all went well!!!

We were sad to see them leave but it's only the beginning of many more fun trips....

Steamboat Memories!

2008-02-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

Where do I even begin??? This was our third annual Steamboat trip and it was by far the best yet! The weather was perfect, snowboarding was awesome and the time with friends I will forever cherish.

We got into Denver early Wednesday morning and took a shuttle to Steamboat.
The drive was perfect.

We got into town and went to eat pizza at the Slopeside Grill. Best pizza in town.

The next day Michael and I went skiing/snowboarding. Bluebird day. Snow was great! It was wonderful getting back on the slopes again with Michael.

Thursday evening our wonderful friends the Austins, Tottens and Epps got into town! Let the party begin! Words can't explain how wonderful it was seeing everybody.

Friday the girls went shopping and then Susie and I decided to go skiing. We met up with my good friend Ann. It was great to see her! And I think Greg enjoyed skiing with us:) What a fun day.

Friday night we went to Strawberry Park to meet the Millers and their friends. We had a blast. We came back to our condo ate pizza, and watched the cat video. Michael had his head cam and was able to video the entire day! Hopefully he can add this to our blog or put it on utube. Later that night the Weeks showed up with their beautiful baby boy Jackson. He was perfect the entire time and was such a joy!

Saturday the boys ski'd the back bowls and Susie and I went on our own. What an amazing day we had! White out conditions, but perfect runs. Everyone went in for lunch and the slopes were ours! Unfortunately I fell and got a hair line fracture on my elbow but who cares. We had fun!

Saturday night we went to an Italian restaurant called Mambo Italiano. Sherree and I giggled most of the time and sweet little Jackson slept through all of our loud cackles. The food was great, but most of all the time spent together was the best part of the trip.

We got to the airport the next day around 1 and off we were to San Diego. The trip went by way to fast. Snow and sand all in one day. We were sad to not have spent more time in Denver. Next time we go we will hopefully see everyone!

Looking forward to another great Steamboat trip in '09!!!

Deceptively Delicious

2008-02-05T09:24:00.000-08:00

Wow!! I am truly passionate about this cookbook by Jerry Seinfields wife. My mom bought it for me last week and I have made just about everything. Not really, but it feels like it!! I have a VERY picky son. For about a year and a half all he ate was oatmal. No fun! We had to put Carnation instant breakfast in his milk to bump up his calories. He was always in the 2 percentile, but his energy level was over the charts!!! No worries, just lots of frustration. He finally outgrew 18-24 mth clothing when he turned 3! Lately Noah has had some major poopy problems so I needed to be creative and get some veggies into his belly...

Basically the idea of this cookbook is to sneak ANYTHING healthy into the kids meals without them knowing. Last Sunday, I had a puree party. I pureed cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, etc. Monday was the big test. I made pancakes with sweet potatoes and Noah LOVED them. Then I made chicken nuggets (dipped in pureed spinach and covered with flaxseed and breadcrumbs) and again he inhaled them. I was shocked and thrilled!!! My boy is eating healthy and he doesn't even know it:) I couldn't help but to chuckle as I was watching him eat. And Michael has also loved my applesauce/carrot muffins and tried the chicken last night and was impressed.

Lauren on the other hand eats anything and everything I feed her. At least I have one good eater. I am really making it a point to get healthy foods in the kids meals everyday. The benefits outway the extra work. This is a way for all of us to eat the same thing and be getting the nutrients we need on a daily basis. It's a win win situation!!!

Happy Eating!!

Parties, Potty Training and Prayers

2008-01-21T15:51:00.000-08:00

The month started off with relatives visiting from Vegas. It was great to see my step sister Jill and her family. It has been years since we last saw eachother. Lauren fell asleep on Grandpa's lap halfway through the visit.

Then we had a few birthday parties for little Noah. He turned 3 on the 13th! I can't believe my baby is 3. We had a little party-playdate here last Monday which was super fun. He's been all about making silly faces lately.

Then we had a party with family and friends yesterday. There was ice blocking, a scavanger hunt and lots of playing at the park.

He had a fun time, but the poor guy was in a lot of pain. We are potty training and he hadn't gone poopy for 4 days!!! So he was a bit grumpy to say the least. We had to help him out a little (if you know what I mean) and he finally went today. It's been a terrible painful experience for us all, but I am hopeful that his pipes will be clean from this point on.:)

Regarding prayers..to make a long story very short Michael has had a challenging past 8 months with Ace. His co-manager resigned two months ago, which was an answer to prayer. Ace recently hired a replacement and he is AMAZING!!! Michael and Dave hit it off and are going to move mountains together. This is the first time in awhile that we've seen a light at the end of the tunnel. God continues to provide and it's truly amazing to watch. He has both humbled and blessed us beyond belief. We are going to a great church, and have met some sweet friends. We're starting to feel a part of something and it finally feels right. It was so difficult leaving Denver and we miss everyone and everything about it. But we know we are here for a reason. God is revealing that to us day by day.

The Donegans' December

2008-01-02T18:31:00.000-08:00

Merry late Christmas!!

Michael's been working super late every night and I have had no time to update our blog. Here is a quick recap of our December.

Noah met Santa for the first time...

I was able to go to my annual girls Christmas party, which started 20 years ago...

Lauren had the flu on Christmas and her new baby made her happy...

When Lauren was feeling well she was the baby with many faces...

Noah got a train table and race car track. He loves them both.

Lauren got a horsy and Princess car, and obviously she didn't love them both.

and the Patriots are having a record winning season! Michael wants this pic framed not because of Noah, but because of Brady!

All in all it was a great and memorable Christmas....

Here's to a wonderful New Year!

Disneyland Tradition-Part Two

2007-12-13T14:27:00.000-08:00

Growing up we had a family tradition of going to Disneyland at Christmas time. Unfortunately that ended years ago, but we are happily starting it back up again. My sister, mom, the kids and I went and had a BLAST.

Before children I went and it was fun, but now seeing it all over again through my kids' eyes is amazing. Noah LOVED everything except for the dark tunnels (on the kiddy rides) and the fireworks. He thought they were going to come down and get him. His favorites were the trains, race cars, and boats. Shocker! Lauren danced and smiled the entire time through "It's a small world". I was even able to sneak away and ride on the big kid rides. My faves are Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, Pirates and Star Tours. And the parade was truly magical. I even got giddy! Noah was super excited when it (fake) snowed and Lauren watched every minute of it. I just stared at both of them as they took everything in. What a gift!

At first I thought it may be a little much taking them but Noah did great all day, Lauren took two naps in her stroller and we stayed from dusk till dawn. I guess it really is the happiest place on earth!

Before leaving the park I stopped to take it all in. So many old memories came to mind, but I am thrilled to start new ones for my family and I. The chill in the air, smell of yummy treats, sparkles from the millions of lights, Mickey Mouse ears everywhere, and of course the charm of Main Street made for an unforgettable trip. Goodnight Disneyland..until next year...

A visit from Dede

2007-11-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

Michael's dad was here from Maine and we had such a great time. The trip did start off a little scary. When Tom (aka Dede) arrived he wasn't feeling well and the left side of his face went numb. We were of course worried, so we took him to the ER. Fortunately they diagnosed it with a non threatening illness. He has Bell's Palsy. I never heard of it before, but I guess it goes away and is treated with medication:). Thank God!

One night we went to an amazing Italian restaurant called Mama Mia's. Everyone speaks the language and the food is out of this world. Every time we go Michael "thinks" he is an Italian. He made friends with Francesco (the owner) and now they act like brothers! Brings back great memories from our trip.

The trip included a visit to the Midway Carrier, the car museum at Balboa Park, Coronado Island and of course the zoo (our favorite). One good thing about living in a big city is there is a lot to do!

We love spending time with Tom. Noah cried when he woke up yesterday and there was no Dede to be found. Hopefully we will be visiting him and the family in Maine next year.

Busy weekend....

2007-11-14T13:46:00.000-08:00

The weekend started with a baby shower on Saturday for our cousin Teresa. We enjoyed playing games, eating great food and hanging out.

Sunday was Lauren's 1st b-day party. I still can't believe she is a year old. The party included a pinata, homemade posters (by Auntie Jaymee), a jumpy, and a beautiful homemade cake (by our baker Nikki). Everyone was having fun but Lauren:( She had a meltdown when we sang Happy Birthday. Guess that's what I get for taking her nap away!

My cousin Lu came to visit from Colorado and she was here in San Diego for two days. Yesterday we spent all day at Sea World and had a blast. Then we enjoyed a yummy mexican dinner in Old Town.

Now I am off to catch up on some chores before the kiddlings wake up! Have a great week!

Halloween fun!

2007-11-04T14:51:00.001-08:00

Happy late Halloween! It's been quite some time since I went trick-or-treating and wow is it fun going door to door getting free candy:) We spent Halloween with my family in Corona and had a blast.

Nana made scary cupcakes
Noah put out all the fires on Monterey St.
and Ms. Lauren hopped around as happy as could be My sister was the doc on call in case anyone overdosed on chocolate. Even Ruby the dog enjoyed Halloween as the Witch of the house
Michael was a skier and he took it so seriously he went to Colorado:). We missed him, but knew he needed a vacation.

Fire Update

2007-10-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

What a week! San Diego is some what getting back to normal and the fires are under control. Thank God. At one point I thought our neighborhood was in danger. The skies are starting to clear up and people are making their way back home. Thanks again for your prayers. They were felt! Copy and paste the link below to see some amazing photos taken from the past week.

http://flickr.com/photos/boiani/sets/72157602638964612/show

San Diego Fires

2007-10-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

Our phones have been ringing off the hook and I decided to update our blog with the current fire situation... just in case I don't have a chance to contact you.

There are 10 fires burning in and around San Diego county as I speak. Several of our friends have had to evacuate. Our old church "The Rock" as well as Qualcomm Stadium (which is across the street from Michael's work) are being used for evacuation centers. We are located off the 8 and the 15 freeways and as of right now we are not in any immediate danger. Thank God. The closest fire is about 20 miles away. The weather is supposed to be getting better here in the next couple days.

If the fire gets worse and hits us we only lose "things", which I can easily live without. One good thing is we'll have much less clutter:) God will keep us safe and will protect us no matter what the outcome is. We will keep you guys posted if anything should change. All in all we're doing good so there is no need to worry!!!

Thanks again for your concern and prayers!
The Donegans

Oma's Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-15T14:00:00.000-07:00

We took the kids to Oma's pumpkin Patch and had a blast! We enjoyed the hay ride, petting zoo, hay maze, and the pumpkin patch itself. Lauren swung happily as Noah played trucks in the dirt. This was of course his favorite thing to do. Gotta love boys! The Hay Ride was fun except for the fact that is was super stinky when we drove near the millions of cows. Luckily it was a short ride:). Noah picked out a pumpkin for him and a baby one for Lauren. All in all is was a successful day at the patch!

Summerpast Farms

2007-09-28T13:38:00.000-07:00

I was debating (as I usually do) if I should get the kids ready and head out to Summerpast Farms with one of my moms groups. Lauren was already cranky and Noah was being a terrible two. I said what the heck and decided to chance it. It's always a gamble. Either one of four things happen: Lauren is pissy & Noah is happy, Noah is pissy & Lauren is happy, their both pissy or (if I am REALLY lucky) they are both happy. Today was a good day. Lauren was fussy, but she at least let Noah and I have a good time at the Farm. I can now say that I am glad we went. I don't always say that:)

Summerpast Farms is nestled in the green rolling hills just outside of San Diego. You feel like you are somewhere in Maine, not in California. Rocky the Rooster was hanging out, Sam the cat was lounging around and the scent of the flowers was amazing. The weather was 70 and overcast which is my favorite. It definitely feels like fall. I was in heaven. And so was Noah.

A visit from Aunt Honey and Uncle Maurice

2007-09-18T08:33:00.001-07:00

We were lucky enough to spend Saturday afternoon with Michael's Aunt and Uncle. They live in Marbelhead, Mass and they have the best accents ever. Of course Michael's accent always comes out when he's with family:).

We went downtown to a place called "Little Italy". They have streets filled with Italian restaurants. Aunt Honey was born in Italy so it was a perfect place to eat. We enjoyed our meal together and suprisingly enough the kids behaved (for the most part).

We drove to La Jolla and showed them the beautiful homes and ocean. We were lucky enough to see (and hear) the seals on the cove. The day was perfect, but the drive home could have been better. Lauren absolutely lost it (due to teething and being tired). So we hurried back to their hotel and they were able to escape the chaos. Lucky them:)

All in all it was wonderful to spend time with Maurice and Honey. They have been married for 51 years and still are going on strong!!!

Trains, Carousels, Bubbles and Standing Up

2007-09-11T14:32:00.001-07:00

Noah and Lauren had their first train ride. We went to Balboa Park here in San Diego. It is a HUGE park with museums, fountains, parks, etc. Noah LOVES trains so we thought we'd take him on one. Of course it is pint size, but absolutely perfect for kids. He of course loved it, but Lauren could really care less. A little later Michael took Noah on a carousel. I think Michael enjoyed it more than Noah. I opted to hang out with Lauren, even though it looked like great fun. Lastly there was a bubble lady blowing life size bubbles. Noah laughed so hard when one hit him. He kept hugging Michael and kissing his cheek. This was Noah's way of saying thank you. We came home and Lauren decided to start pulling herself up from a sitting position. How exciting for her, but definitely not for me. It seems with each milestone comes more responsibility. Now I have to keep my eye on her 24.7 as well as Noah. And to think this is just the beginning:) Here is Lauren very happy that she accomplished standing up on her own. Just waiting for the next big thing...

Labor Day weekend in So Cal

2007-09-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well the weekend started off HOT!!! Crazy hot. Not sure what happened to the year round 75 degree weather. The heat wave is actually ending tonight. Thank God!!

We started our weekend by hanging out with some friends of mine from school. It has been great being able to reconnect. Especially since it's been tough meeting people here in San Diego. A lot more difficult than I would have thought. But it seems every week gets a little better.

Then we headed to church on Sunday and spent the afternoon in La Jolla (which was still 85 and hot) Crazy for the beach. We found out that Noah HATES sea weed and would do all he could to avoid it!

The church we have been going to is called the Rock. The pastor is amazing! Every week we learn so much from Pastor Miles' sermon but the church itself is HUGE. About 8,ooo people attend every Sunday. It is very difficult to connect with others and it feels as if we're going to a concert. We definitely miss our old church, pastor and friends. I am hopeful that we will find something similar again. Guess we have to wait to see where God wants us to be. These pix are a small portion of the church and sanctuary.

Then to finish up the holiday weekend we went to my moms house yesterday (where it was 110) but she had AC and a pool:) We enjoyed our day with my family and feel so blessed to be close to them.

Well it's definitely been a journey out here in San Diego. One thing (out of many) that I have learned is that you grow more from a bad day than you do a good one! And patience is key...and God always provides...I could go on forever, but lucky you I won't:)

Here is a cute pic I took at lunch of Michael and Noah..just had to share it!

Bye for now...

9 Month Check Up!

2007-08-28T10:58:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it??? Lauren is 9 months old already!! She had her check up yesterday and is as healthy as can be. Lauren is in the 11th percentile for weight (her brother is still at 2%) and weighs a whopping 16 lbs. We think this is a lot because Noah hit 16 lbs when he was 1!!! She is sitting up on her own, sleeping through the night, eating everything we feed her (including green peas) and almost crawling. Noah likes her less and less everyday. Now she can find her way to his room and play with his toys, which he has a total fit over. One day she will be able to take him on!
Well we're off to enjoy our day!
Mandy

Weddings, Weddings, Weddings...

2007-08-25T17:12:00.000-07:00

Last week my friend Catrina got married in La Jolla and the weekend before we were in Colorado for my cousin Ashley's wedding. Both were beautiful and full of love. It was amazing to see my cousin get married at the same place Michael and I did. What great memories it brought back. And how crazy to see where God has brought us four years later. I never would have guessed we'd be here in Sunny San Diego with two crazy kids!! Who would have thought! Life is crazy (hectic, loud, and exciting)... enjoy every minute as it flys by way too fast!

Mandy

Colorado Sunset

So. Cal Sunset

the bandwagon

2007-08-25T16:12:00.000-07:00

Since it seems the fun and modern thing to do, we decided to become bloggers. A new exciting way to dictate the weekly activities of our lives for all to enjoy. Mostly I think it will be interesting to look back in time to see the journey as we create it. I would say the majority if the time it will be us who read what we write. I just hope we are always compelled to keep it up as time goes on.

Let the banter begin.....

I am sitting here on a warm Saturday afternoon in SD listening to Lauren sob herself to sleep. She really only needs about 5 minutes and 4 oz of milk and she is in REM. Must be nice! One down the other up. Just as she passes out I hear the sound of my mini-me waking up from a 3 hr siesta. Time to play.

I'm looking forward to getting better at this as time passes. Starting slow is the best percription.

-md