Kroger Family

OOPS!! DEC 2009, Jan 2010 and Feb 2010!

2010-02-26T13:58:00.000-08:00

WOW! Time flies! I haven't posted in soooo long! I started working 2 extra days a week so that is 4 total now in October! I am still working 2 days downtown with Pitman family dental and now work 2 days for Dr. Sherrard in Multnomah village. So I find my x-tra time is spent with Cetta, keeping up on house work and getting errands done.

Cetta started daycare 4 days when I started working more. She is now at Growing with Pride just around the block. It has been much better for all of us! Lucetta enjoys learning new things and doing projects every day. She comes home very happy and sometimes exhausted from playing so hard.

Thanksgiving was a bust this year! Lucetta had the H1N1 flu that she passed to Todd. Luckily, Cetta already had her flu shots and one H1N1 of the series and had a very mild case. Fever for 4 days and seems like a bad chest cold. No vomit! Thank god! Todd was sick for about a week but took Tamiflu and got healthy much quicker. I was lucky and never got sick! Hand washing, bleaching toys and hand sanitizer did the trick.

for Christmas we went to Yakima for the weekend after we had our Christmas morning here! It was so much fun! I apologize the Christmas Photos are on Todds work computer so I can't post any!

New years was also a bust due to me being sick this time with a bad chest cold that lasted 3 weeks. I was in bed by like 8pm!

February is always Todds busy month with The Yard, Garden & Patio show the weekend of Valentines and the Spring Home and Garden show this weekend. Unfortunately, that doesn't pay him!!

We were able to take Cetta to Manzanita beach last weekend when we had the nice weather! It was in the 60's and we didn't even wear a jacket most of the time. We hung out on the beach, played in the sand and Thuja went for a much needed run! Then went to Cannon beach for lunch at Moes and headed home!

Hope life finds you all well here are a few photos of the last few months!

Mom and Cetta at beach!

Yeah! New sand toys from grandma patti!

This is what happens when daddy gives you a bath and puts you to bed! Rocker chic!

First steps on the beach!

1 year pic

Didn't really like Santa!

October 2009

2009-11-14T20:03:00.000-08:00

It has been a busy fall here at the Kroger home. Cetta has started walking. She started taking a few steps between us just after her birthday then a week or two later she is walking everywhere! I can't believe it!

We took Lucetta Trick or Treating for the first time just in the neighborhood to a few houses. Once she figured out they give her something she wanted to run away to the next house.

Work has picked up for Todd. Seems like everyone wanted a landscape now that there is only a few weeks left in the year.

I am now working 3 1/2 days a week. I picked another day and 1/2 at a new practice. It is great! Cetta loves school but I miss her!

Here are a few pics! Happy Fall!

Callin my peeps!

Halloween!

Lots of pumpkins. My sister and her boys came for a visit the weekend before Halloween. The boys wanted to come again for the great Pumpkin Regatta (pumpkin boat race) here in Tualatin. They came last year and loved it. This year it was ON Halloween, so they decided to come the weekend before. So we went to Grandmas Place in Sherwood to shoot the pumpkin Cannon.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cettas First Birthday cont

2009-10-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

Lucettas real first bithday is September 21st. We had a quiet family night at home. Here are a few more pics...

My new coat from grandma and grandpa Gamache.

Opening more gifts! Thank you everyone!

Playing with Cousin Emery.

Mmmmm more cake!

Cetta's First Birthday!

2009-10-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

On September 19th, Saturday we celebrated Lucetta 1st Birthday! We had family and friends over for food and cake. We had a blast. It is still hard to believe that our baby is 1 already.
She loved her first taste of cake! It took me a while to put together and frost but it turned out well...
Lucetta is crawling and walking around the furniture like crazy! She even stacks toys thinking she can climb on top of the couch etc.. But NO walking yet. She is being very cautious. She will walk holding someones hand or a walker but no steps alone yet.

Next week Lucetta starts daycare and school at "Growing with Pride" here in Tualatin. We were not real happy with the previous daycare and had the opportunity to change. I am nervous for the transition period but it will be a change for the better.

The Birthday girl in her shirt.

Cake!

Yuuum!

Makin a mess...

yeah!

Fish tank at Zoo!

2009-09-08T20:34:00.000-07:00

Finally figured out how to load a video!

1st trip to the ZOO!

2009-09-08T20:22:00.001-07:00

This last weekend was Labor Day weekend. We spent the weekend at home in Portland to do some house work (Painting and paver patio in the back)...We got all of our projects done and we were even able to complete most of everything while our angel napped!

Friday before the weekend I convinced Todd to take the day off and spend the day at the Zoo with Lucetta and I. She did great! She Looooooved the fish tank and crawling on the grass at the bird show. We at lunch during the bird show and Lucetta fell asleep and slept thru most of the afternoon in her stroller! We had a great family day. Here are some pics.

The next few weeks are filled with us getting ready for Lucettas first Birthday! I can't believe it was a year ago that she became a part of our family! She is a joy and I love every moment I get to spend with her!

Until next time.....

Elephant imatation!

Sozing up the bears!

Fish tank

Petting the goats!

Not so sure of the goats at first!

August 2009

2009-08-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

We have had a very busy month! Lucetta is 11 months tomorrow and I guess I have to start thinking about a 1st Birthday party! OMG! We took Lucetta on her first camping trip this last weekend at Rimrock Lake, Washington. She did great! We borrowed a "pea pod" type tent for her to sleep in. I was worried that she wouldn't sleep at all and our trip would be cut short, but she slept ALL night both nights. We were so happy we ended up staying an extra night.

We took her to the Crawfish festival parade here in Tualatin! She loved the noises and kids running after all the candy!

This was after a long day at daycare in the heat. She fell asleep like a true future landscaper with her shovel and Mimi her bunny on the way home!

Looooooves her bath!

Peaches!!

Lucetta passed out in her pea pod tent.

Eating some pancakes in the camper!

Lucetta and daddy at the crawfish parade!

With mommy on the swing camping!

Lucetta loves to chase Thuja in her walker. She had Todds belt with her for some reason this day!

Lucetta and mommy at the parade.

Us at Tre and Destiny's pool party. (Our niece and nephew)

Havin fun!

relaxin!

Todd and I took some time to go to the brewers beer fest this year! Todds mom came for a visit to watch Lucetta for us. It was a good night out before too many beers were had!!

Lucetta is alot of fun and changes so much every day. She is crawling up on her knees now and walks around all the furniture! She is soooo close to those first steps! She is into everything! She even tried her first taste of dog food today! YUCK! She is feeding herself now with mostly finger food. She refuses to be fed with a spoon now. So I have had to become very creative with the menu! Anything that she doesn't like she likes to throw at me or on the floor and laughs when I tell her "No! No! "

We have one more month before our baby turns one! It has been the single fastest year of our lives. We looks forward to many more joy filled days with our little one. We hope that life finds you all well!

Love , the Krogers

10 months!

2009-07-27T14:00:00.000-07:00

Oh my how time flies! July was a very busy month. Lucetta is 10 months and is changing every day. She gets around in her walker and drags herself across the floor army style! She has gotten very fast and I can't leave her alone for a second because she is into everything! The first weekend we spent a day at Mazanita beach. It was windy but sunny! The second weekend my sister Carrie got married in Seattle. We of course forgot our camera so I only have a few pics so far! It was beautiful and went by sooo fast. Then Carrie and Chris came to visit after their honeymoon at the Oregon coast before the jetted back to NY!

I am working a full 2 weeks the end of July then 2 days a week after. Todd business is staying afloat! He worries every day that he may have to close but they are surviving!

Hope life finds you all well! Love the Kroger's!

Carrie and I giving the girls a bath!

Lucetta and Sophia!

Playing in the water at jameson square!

All of us at jameson square park!

Lil drunk at Carries wedding!

Mommy and Lucetta and thuja in the background a the beach!

Daddy and Lucetta at Manzanita!

9 month stats!

2009-06-25T21:13:00.000-07:00

Oops! Didn't realize that it has been so long since I posted! We went to Chelan, Washington for Todd's cousins wedding June 13th! It was beautiful! (I will be posting pics later! The pics are on the office computer!) The weather was perfect and it was nice to get away for a weekend. Driving home wasn't so fun then Lucetta finally decided to cut her first two teeth! She had been kind of cranky the night before and I didn't feel them then but driving home we finally pulled over after an hour of crying and there they were!

We went to the doctor today for her 9 month check up! 2 shots! She was 18lbs 12oz and 28 inches!! Growing like a weed!

Money is still tight but we are getting by. I am still working 1-2 days and doing interviews here and there. Problem that I have realized is that the market is flooded right now and there are not alot of jobs! So I will continue where I am working and hope for more days. I will keep looking for additional days at other offices.

In the mean time I am enjoying my mommy time with Lucetta! She has started to pull herself around the floor more army style like then crawling.

I will post some pics as soon as I can get out to the office or get the photos on the laptop!
Be well, love you all!
The krogers

Cancun 2009/ Easter 2009

2009-04-13T21:10:00.001-07:00

Hi all! I can't believe that it has been that long since I posted. Guess nothing much has changed besides our little monkey! She is growing like a weed!

We went to Cancun for a family vacation the end of March. We went to Holbox island just north of Cancun. The locals call it "Mosquito Island??" It used to be infested I guess, but now they spray. We did get bites but not as many as the locals talked about getting previously! Lucetta only got 2 bites! We had a wonderful week, swimming and relaxing! It was hard to come back to reality after a great week of warm weather.

We spent Easter at home and had a quiet day! Lucetta with her Easter basket!

Daddy and Thuja took a nap after the tiring easter basket opening!

Me and Lucetta out to dinner in Holbox island!

First time swimming in the Caribbean!

Playing in our bed on vacation!

The BOB goes anywhere! Even the beach! We brought a little sand home with us, but it did awesome!

view from the house!

Our house!

Darn these sandals!

Lucetta likes to roll around in her sleep now! I often find her with legs and arms hanging out!

Hope you are all well....I continue to work just one day and have still be looking for more days of hygiene. There is not alot out there now! Things are starting to pick up for Todd's business.

Be well, we love you all.

The Kroger's

Snowshoeing 2009

2009-02-20T20:42:00.001-08:00

We went snowshoeing on Valentines Day and took Lucetta with us! She did great! Poor thing couldn't move because I had her so bundled up, but she had fun! Then Tuesday I picked her up from daycare this week and she had a stuffy nose and flemmy cough! Sounded nasty! So I took her to the Dr. on Wednesday because she had started to pull on her ears also. They told me that she had a cold. No fever let it runs its course........OK, well it got worse!! No sleep on Thursday night. She cried and woke up several times, then she woke up at 2am with a fever. So went back to the Dr. on Friday and they took one listen and look and tested her for RSV! Yep, positive for RSV! Dang daycare! I know that is where she got it! It will take her a few weeks to feel better. So far we just have to watch her and hope her fever doesn't last much longer or that her breathing doesn't get any worse, otherwise we will have our first hospital trip! So I will have to stay home from work the next week to take care of her (like the other parents should have instead of letting their children pass it around the daycare) Otherwise thing are going well. Todd is in the midst of the first of 2 trade shows in the next 2 weeks. So far business seems to be picking up! That is a GOOD sign!
We stopped for hot chocolate and to feed the baby and she wanted to pretend to help daddy drive!

Thuja need a little excercise! He LOVES the snow!

Hope life fine you all well! Love the Krogers!

4 Month Pics!

2009-02-13T21:31:00.000-08:00

Here are a few 4 month Pics of Lucetta! We finally got some taken. She is 20 weeks already. Time seems to be flying by! Todd's business is starting to pick up a little. The BIG landscape show are the next 2 weeks, so he will be BUSY and I will be on my own with Lucetta!

I am getting used to daycare and working 2 days a week. Lucetta does fine there, I am just being the crazy mommy who worries to much! I wish I could stay home with her all the time, but its just not in the cards right now especially with this economy!

Hope life finds you all well. Sending out love!

The Krogers

Arizona January 2008

2009-02-04T11:39:00.001-08:00

Hi there all! We went to Arizona to visit Todds friend Hugh and his family for the weekend. It was 80 degrees! It was so nice to see the sun for a few days. Lucetta did great on the plane. No crying (she even had a cold) She ate well and slept well. The only BAD was the 3 poop blowout that always seem to happen at the most in-opportune time!! Thanks god I brought extra outfits! I had to wear poop on the way home, but Lucetta was clean and comfortable!

Here are a few photos!

January 2008

2009-01-28T14:35:00.000-08:00

Don't you just love my double chin!

Watchin the game with Daddy!

Wow! Time flies by soooo fast when you have a baby! Lucetta is 4 months already and growing like a weed. She went to her 4 month appointment on friday. She weigh is at 14lbs 10oz and is 25 inches long. the Dr. said she was tall! Now that is great news for 2 short parents!! She had her shots and did very well. Let crying and crankiness this time around.

I am working 2 days a week at a downtown practice. Lucetta is going to daycare those 2 days. I am having a hard time with it. I am not sure that I picked the right place though. I plan to look at a few more soon and we may switch her. Probelm is the better ones are more money of course! We just want what is best for her!!

We are off to Arizona to visit Todds friend this weekend. (And watch the superbowl!) It is some much needed SUNSHINE time! This will be our first travel experience with the baby and all the STUFF you have to bring with you. I am sure that it will be fine.

Love you all,

The krogers

Here are a few recent pics!!

Happy New Year again!

2009-01-02T21:04:00.000-08:00

Sorry forgot to add a few notes before publishing! We spent Christmas with my sister Carrie, her fiance Chris and their new baby Sophia. I felt bad because we were snowed in and couldn't go anywhere. Todd tried to take Chris to the Blazer game on friday and got stuck in the street backing out of the driveway! Needless to say they didn't make it to the game. Todd was very proud to have the Bronco out to YANK the car out of the stuck position that it was in. We had like 16 inches of snow! Here is a pic of his second baby the 74 bronco he loves so much. He pulled a few other people out on the street and had a blast while scaring the crap out of my sisters fiance Chris. They came back after pulling someone out and Chris says "Now that is a f*!%ing truck!" Even though we couldn't leave the house we had a good time. Carrie doesn't visit much from NY so I was glad that they made it our way!

I have a new job! Took me long enough! I will be working 2 days a week downtown Portland. It will slowly work to 3 days then maybe 4. I am hoping to stay part time for a while. I am enjoying my time with Lucetta. Hopefully things will pick up soon for Todd's business. For now he is doing some design work and Daddy day care while I am at work.

Hope they holidays were good for you all.

Happy New Year!

2009-01-02T20:59:00.001-08:00

Poor Thuja at Christmas!
Lucetta playing in her new exersaucer!

Grandma patti made my shirt!

Snow 2008

2008-12-22T22:21:00.000-08:00

We drove to Seattle for the weekend to have Christmas with my family on Saturday. Well we got snowed in there and decided to brave the drive home today. Things went well. I was sweating and screaming while Todd drove. Baby Lucetta slept the whole time. It took over 5 hours to get home. We have over 2 feet of snow! The bamboo in the yard is leaning so far over that part of the fromt fence is coming down!!

Lucettas guard dog!

Lucetta and cousin Sophia

She recently learned to suck her thumb at night!

Merry Christmas 2008

2008-12-16T10:20:00.001-08:00

This is my sexy look!

grandma making me smile!

Bath in the sink at grandmas.

Drip!

My new Christmas dress!

My new cousin Sophia!

you want me to pose in this candy cane outfit!

Merry Christmas from the kroger's! It has been a busy fall. We ended up spendin Thanksgiving weekend in Yakima. My grandpa passed away and the funeral was the friday following. I feel soooo far behind on Christmas stuff this year!

I am still looking for a job. I am supposed to have a working interview on Thursday but the weather here has been snow and Ice!! We are spending Christmas here at home and my sis Carrie who lives in NY will be joining us with her new baby Sophia for the holiday. We are excited to be at home this year! It has been a tight year in this economy but so many wonderful things have happened. We hope everyone has a magical Christmas and New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-12-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

We took Lucetta to her first Portland Blazers game. We took the MAX over with her in the bjorn and she loved it. She did great.

Hi ya'll. I am finally getting time to post. Lucetta Mae is 10 weeks old already. She is growing so fast. She had her 2 month appt already and weighed in at 11 lbs 14 oz! She had her first round of shots. I think mommy cried more then she did.

We spent Thanksgiving with Todds family in Covington (Tacoma area) then we had to drive that night to yakima. My grandfather passed away and the funeral was on Friday. The week was spent on the phone trying to get ahold of my parents who were vacationing in Italy. We were trying to get them back in time for the funeral. They made it but unfortunately had to end their trip early. My sister Carrie and her new baby Sophia were able to make it back as well. It was wonderful to be able to see them even though there were other reasons for her trip home. It was an emotional long holiday and we are glad to be home.

I am still on the search for a job. There is not much out there. So un-employment is my new best friend. Hopw you are all well. I will try to be better at posting more often.

Love you all!

Hope you are all well as we head into Christmas.

Lucetta Mae Kroger is here!

2008-09-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

Proud papa!! He is smitten!

Man that was tiring!

Lucetta in her homecoming outfit. This was my mother and my homecoming outfit as well!

Finally!! I went into labor early Saturday morning the 20th of September. My contractions were almost immediately every 5 minutes! I labored until 3pm without meds then started triple contractions!! I then decided to go with the drugs. I got to 9 1/2 cm at 2am, finally the pushing would begin. Then my cervix got swollen and we realized that the baby was posterior or in a face up presentation rather then face down with her head and neck best backwards. (made sense I had back labor all day) So after a LONG day of labor I tearfully agreed to a C-section. It was safer for me and the baby!

Lucetta Mae was born at 2:44am on Sunday September 21st! We are so happy she is finally here. She has been a joy so far. She sleeps great, we have to wake her to feed! She has also taken to breast feeding very well. I think I will need the patience for that! Here are a few pics!

Labor Day weekend!

2008-09-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

Ajay racing his new bike!

Todd andI with Ajay and Ethan after the race.

My nephew Ethan and I waiting for Ajay's race!

We went to Washugal where my sister and her family were for the weekend. They camped at the motorcross track and my 5 year old nephew Ajay has been racing this summer. He is doing quite well for his first year! He seems to be one of the younger ones racing in his class!

2008-08-26T21:42:00.000-07:00

My mom and dad the last day on the beach! It was sunny and 70 degrees! We didn't want to leave!

The sunset!

We went to Manzanita beach with my parents and my sis Anne and her family at the beginning of August. One last get away before baby! We are 36 weeks and counting! The babies rooms is nearly done. Just a little more organizing to fit all this new stuff into our small house! I am done working till December! I am very excited to be able to spend some time at home with the baby! I will keep you all posted of any action and baby pics when the baby arrives! Enjoy the rest of the summer!

33 Weeks and counting!

2008-07-30T19:52:00.001-07:00

I am growing by leeps and bounds it seems. We have had a few baby showers. One in Yakima July 9th. My sister Carrie was here from New York so that we could have a double baby shower. Her little girl is due just 4 days after our mystery baby. I had a shower here in Portland last weekend with all my local girlfriends. Next weekend in we are headed up to Olympia for a shower with the Kroger clan! So this weekend we are off to Manzanita beach for some R & R!! My sis and nephews will be there. We areexcited for Hot dogs and sand castles!

June Camping Trip

2008-06-27T09:23:00.000-07:00

We went camping at Hood Canal on the Washington coast and stayed at the Dosewallips State Park with Todd's parents, sister and her family. We had a blast. We had 3 camp site all next to each other. Todd sister and her husband and 3 kids stayed in one of the local Park Tents. The kids thought this was great. They had never been camping before!

We took the kids clam digging at the beach. Yum steamers for dinner. My favorite are the oysters, but being pregnant I could not eat them!

The pregnancy: I am 28 weeks now and growing!! We are picking up the baby furniture and starting to get the room set up this weekend. We have had to be creative about were everything is going in our small house. We have decided not to build a new house this year. The economy, Todd's business and building loan market are not in a good state, so we decided to wait. Todd's business is still busy, but landscaping is an x-tra so Todd is holding his breath this year in hopes that he will stay busy! I will work until the baby is born in september then take a few months off. I am planning on going back to work full time in december!

I will post more prego pics later! They are downloaded on a different computer.

Have a great summer!

1st Trimester SUCKS!

2008-03-19T18:20:00.000-07:00

Sorry to all those who have been looking for new NEWS! I have been sicker then a dog in the 1st trimester and pretty much go to bed as soon as I return from work. I am 14 weeks now and starting to feel better day by day! Thank god! We are still working on the construction loan and may be faced with not being able to build the house this year! We should find out this week! If we can't we will stay where we are at and hope that the housing and construction market improves in the area. I don't have any ultrasound pics! Our scanner is not working. I will post ASAP! P.S. We are not finding out the sex of the baby! It will be a surprise!

Snow shoeing at lost lake, Mt. Hood

2008-02-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

My parents bought us some snow shoes for christmas. We recently go to use them at Mt. Hood! It was actually sunny that day! It was beautiful!

More Jan.

2008-02-01T17:49:00.000-08:00

The house project is coming along... We are in final design and engineering etc...The problem is the currently loan market is not good as alot of you know. We may have to buy the land and wait on the house for a year or two, but we are still hoping everything is a go! It is difficult with Todd being self employed! I will keep you all posted. Keep youf fingers crossed because we need to a bigger house. We decided to add another member to the family, Yes we are PREGNANT!!! Due in september. We are very excited! So needless to day we have figured out what to do with one of the other bedrooms upstairs!!

Jan 2008

2008-02-01T17:45:00.001-08:00

We began the year with a bang and at 80's themed New Years Party! What a flash from the past. We played Ski ball, Miss Pacman, Frogger and other games you may all remember.

Hiking in the snow!

2007-12-26T11:02:00.001-08:00

Thuja is 1 year old now and has been a great addition to our family! He has alot of energy and keeps us moving!

Thuja's first time in the snow! He had a blast!

My nephews at Christmas!

2007-12-26T10:48:00.000-08:00

We went to Seattle to visit everyone for Christmas eve! Lots of gifts, fun and italian food! Yum!

Before going to Seattle we spent the weekend at our house with Todds parents, His sister and husband and their 3 children! We had a great time! We are now exhausted and looking forward to a few days off! We hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday!

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

Hi Ya'll. We are expexting the Kroger clan at our house for Christmas! We are excited to finally be celebrating in our neck of the woods!

We are still in the planning phases of the house building. We bought .85 of an acre in Newberg! We are very excited to just get started!

Beginning

2007-11-19T20:21:00.000-08:00

Hi Kids! Just beginning this whole BLOG thing. No Pics yet, will have some soon!

NEWS: We are building a house! We are on the search for land but hope to break ground by April or May in hopes that we find a good few acres to build on. Todd will be the General Contractor and I will run the Budget! I will keep you all posted with photos once I figure this all out!

Have a great Turkey Day! More to come!