Snapshot #1015: Humming Bird

January 31, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Look at what the cat drug in; very much alive and flapping.  So...I caught it in a pillowcase then released it outside.  

Snapshot #1014: Raynor Park

January 30, 2014.  Sunnyvale, California.  While waiting for the paint guy to mix a custom color for my client Hazel and I found respite at a nearby park.

Snapshot #1013: Hazel Tracks

January 29, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Literally, Hazel Tracks.

Snapshot #1012: Love At First Sight

January 28, 2014.  San Jose, California.  I'm in love with this house.  I can't stop dreaming about it.  Hardwood floors, old school character, wrap-around porch.  It's in a rural setting, yet only 45 minutes from The City.  It's less than an hour from the Pacific Coastline.  It's surrounded by wine country.  It's sitting on 2 acres with ample room for a picturesque apple orchard in the back (my dream).  There's a children's play house and a red barn on site.  Sigh.  It's currently for sale (though over-priced).  Too bad it's in Oregon and we're in California.

Snapshot #1011: Straws & Connectors

January 27, 2014.  San Jose, California.  I'm not sure who had more fun, Dave or Hazel.

Snapshot #1010: Before & After

January 25, 2014.  San Jose, California.  This pantry overhaul was long overdue.

Snapshot #1009: Picnic

January 24, 2014.  Cupertino, California.  We walked through Rancho San Antonio today and had a picnic at the farm.

Snapshot #1008: So Glad When Daddy Comes Home

January 23, 2014.  San Jose, California.  She's watching and waiting for Daddy to come home.

Snapshot #1007: Project Whole Foods

January 22, 2014.  San Jose, California.  The goal is more energy.  I'm thinking this might do it.

Snapshot #1006: Fever

January 21, 2014.  She's cute, even when she's sick.  And she cuddles more too.  Can't say that I'm complaining.

Adorable, Adoptable Family...Pass It On!

Dear Friends & Family,

Just over two years ago the courage and strength of one woman changed our lives forever.  In 2011, through the gift of adoption, we brought into our lives and our hearts a precious baby girl.  We love being parents and are actively seeking a new little baby to join our family.

More than half of successful adoptions originate through a friend of a friend.  As our friend, we would like to ask you to forward this message to your friends and family.  If you know of anyone whose life may also benefit from the gift of adoption, please give them an opportunity to get to know us.  Snapshots from our daily life may be seen at www.adayinthelifeofthewoods.blogspot.com
We may be reached via email at davidandkeri@gmail.com

This is our prayer that a  sweet little baby will make his/her way into our home.

Sincerely,

David, Keri, and Hazel Wood
www.adayinthelifeofthewoods.blogspot.com

Snapshot #1005: Saturday Morning Fun

January 18, 2014.  San Jose, California.  One of Hazel's favorite things is wrestling with her Daddy; especially on Saturday mornings.

Snapshot #1004: Gingerbread House

January 17, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Thank you to Grandma Shirley for a most thoughtful gift.  Hazel absolutely adores her candy house.

Snapshot #1003: Hooray for Hazel!

January 16, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Well, potty training Hazel was way easier than it should have been.  I feel it's been too good to be true and that I'm going to wake up and find that all the progress she's made has regressed.  She had only one real accident on Monday morning--and then it clicked--and she hasn't had an accident since...including nights.  Don't ask me how that's possible, I don't understand it myself; yes, she's waking herself up at night to go.  We spent four hours away from home today for Music Class and then the park (the real test) and she passed with flying colors.  "Hooray for Hazel!" (Her new theme song...which she LOVES.)

Snapshot #1002: Sweet, Sweet Sleep

January 15, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Ahhhh...sleep...in the middle of the day.  It's been almost a week since that happened.  She's not even two and a half and she's already fighting the nap.

Snapshot #1001: Hazel's Potty Chart

January 15, 2014.  San Jose, California.  We have learned a lot about Hazel throughout the potty training process.  She's much smarter than I some times give her credit for.  In three days she's had only 1-1/2 accidents AND she made it through the night dry; waking herself up once to use the potty in the night.  She's very proud of her star chart and has insisted on sleeping with it.  

Snapshot #1000: Goon Fishin'

January 14, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Three and a half years ago I never would have guessed that my 1000th snapshot would be about Goon Fishin'.  But seems as how I can't get the song out of my head, I thought it worth sharing this silly little video that Hazel has watched today over and over and over and over and over again.  We're potty training; so we've spent the whole of the day in Hazel's room playing games, reading books, and watching silly little videos.

Snapshot #999: Potty Training

 

January 13, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Today I took the plunge with Hazel into potty training.  It started out with her screaming for a diaper and refusing to put on the underwear.  In a desperate move before throwing in the towel, I turned on this YouTube video of a mother training her two-year-old daughter and it grabbed Hazel's attention.  After watching this video two or three times Hazel got the encouragement she needed to proceed.  Her first success (and attempt) came with me holding her down on the potty after chasing her through the house as she was running for the door crying for a diaper.  Poor girl...she was just scared.  But success got her excited and gave her confidence, leading to more success throughout the day.  We're so proud of you Hazel!  You've conquered another fear.      

Snapshot #998: Best Oatmeal...Ever

January 11, 2014.  San Jose, California.  I made this for breakfast.  Yum!  Laborious, but worth it.   Healthy Whole Grain Mornings...that's my goal.

Snapshot #997: Puzzles

January 10, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Ever since we downloaded TozzleHD--an iPad app featuring varying styles and skill levels of puzzles--Hazel can't get enough of puzzles, including traditional ones.  I tried on several occasions to sit down with Hazel and get her interested in putting together this Winnie the Pooh puzzle, but with little success; concluding that it was too complicated for her 2-year-old mind.  Now that a simple puzzle app (and some of her Dad's patience) has sparked her interest (and given her success on smaller puzzles) she's interested in attempting this larger puzzle too.  I place the pieces face up on this floor mat and she can successfully pull out all the pieces belonging to one particular character.  Once I get two pieces put together (per character) she can stumble through the rest.  And when there's about five pieces left to the entire puzzle, she can figure those out too...with a little encouragement.

Snapshot #996: Las Palmas Park

January 9, 2014.  Sunnyvale, California.  After music class today Hazel and I went to the park and played until nap time.  

Snapshot #995: Chicken Please

January 8, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Hazel likes chicken, a lot.  When she saw me grab it at Costco she insisted on hugging it for the rest of our trip.  Oh...and she's also started rolling her eyes at me...then she giggles.

Snapshot #994: Selfie

January 7, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Hazel's figured out how to take pictures of herself using my phone.  We usually just get her eyes and forehead and a lot of wall.  But every once in a while we get a true selfie.  These were my favorite.

Snapshot #993: Look Mom!

January 6, 2014.  San Jose, California.  I have spent a lot of time working from home over the last several weeks.  Hazel has had to self-entertain; an important skill to learn.  She usually uses these beads to string bracelets, but she discovered they also fit perfectly on her baby doll's hair brush.  She was so excited to show me her work.

Snapshot #992: True Gift, Continued

January 4, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Dave's Christmas gift to me...taking over one of my unfinished projects.  On the left is where I had left the patio chairs, with only one coat of paint.  On the right is Dave's handiwork...the second coat of paint.  A truly thoughtful gift.

Snapshot #991: Little Baker

January 3, 2014.  San Jose, California.  Little Miss Helpful is getting better and keeping things inside the bowl. 

Snapshot #990: Family Snapshots

January 2, 2014.  The Wide, Wide World.  We sent a group text out to our families yesterday sharing a photo from the beach and this is what we got in return.  A snapshot of what several families were doing across the globe at that same time on that same day: Bird Hunting, Ice Fishing, Off-Roading, and Puzzling.  I LOVE this!

Snapshot #989: A Beautiful World

January 1, 2014.  Santa Cruz, California.  I am thankful for the beautiful world we live in.