We are FINALLY done with our renovations!*
*Of course we are only "done" in the sense that the house is once again habitable and presentable to company. In reality, one is never truly done with household DIY until a move or death.

Erich puts on one more coat to finish the job

Thankfully, my greatest fear, as I told my friend Kelly, that the day following our renovation completion the house would burn down has not come to pass (watch this space tomorrow!). I feel fairly confident we can relax once more. Thank you to all for being so patience over through this slow (yet rewarding) process. Perhaps now, three years later, a house warming party is in order?

You can see a picture of the renovated kitchen here.

10 Weeks Old	One Year Old

Here is Xander in eager anticipation of his birthday cookie:

Our Mama Dove has returned, this time on the front patio and had two babies this year. See pics here.

And our neighborhood is full of mother nature. Here is a pheasant from the local herd teaching her babies how to fly. I watched as, one by one, each baby followed mom into the tree. One had a little trouble and a truck to gain an advantage.

New CD Reviews:

Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Long
Rihanna - Good Girl Gone Bad
Infernal - From Paris To Berlin
Hilary Duff - Dignity

New Book Review:

Stain of the Berry by Anthony Bidulka

New DVDs:

Casino Royale
The Departed
Dirty Dancing

So as not to encur any further wrath from any aunts or cousins who pleasantly remind me they haven't seen it yet, my tattoo has FINALLY healed enough for me to take a picture and show everyone what it looks like. Here it is:

Your thoughts are probably....uh, what is it?! Well, it's "Scotty" written in an ornamental arabic script. I wanted something unique and I'm sure no one will else will have it. So, there you go.

In honor of spring, here are a few pictures Scotty has taken:

	Spring tulips brighten up the spring air at Mountain View Cemetary in Oakland (left, above); two jack rabbits prouncing in the grass
	More tulips in Oakland (there was a "tulip event" at the cathedral (left); just in time to capture this green valley along the Altamont Pass (below), soon this will all turn to summer California gold

Good luck to all those who have not yet filed their taxes. But, with ours done months ago, I've already received (and pretty much spent) my refund.

We ordered our remaining cabinets yesterday and are told it may only take two weeks. Let's hope, we are so sick of eating out (yes, this coming from Scotty). At least the repose gave us the opportunity to do some needed repairs and updates to the website.

Also, click here to (FINALLY!) see some of our Hawaii pictures.

Though we managed to make this much progress by mid day Sunday, a mere week after ripping everything out:

We should have none it would never be that easy. As we put in the bottom cabinets, we realized one of the cabinet, along with the sink cover front are too big. And we now have to reorder the remaining pieces!! Another two to three weeks. Gof figure. Our mantra after all these renovations is "There's always something!"

Proof our kitchen renovation has begun. Everything is gone. Thank god!!! I choked to death from sheet rock dust and may caused permanent brain damage, but, we no longer have to look at those horribly ugly white tiles!!!

Though we planned on waiting until May when our lease for Julia was up, we went to test drive a new car this week and guess what? We ended up getting our Toyota Camry Hybrid now. Damn persuasive car salesman!! Actually, we gave them a run for their money! Anyway, here's our new girl...no name yet.

With an utter lack of any good rain this winter season, spring came early with a week of high 70s; weather that most people crave, weather Erich and I abhor. On the other hand, watching the boys frolic in the sun at the park makes it worth it.

New CD Reviews:

Katherine McPhee - Self Titled
Ciara - The Evolution
Young Love - Too Young To Fight It
Thrive Mix 03 - DJ Scribble
Robbie Williams - Rudebox
Jamelia - Walk With Me
Girls Aloud - The Sound of Girls Aloud

Book Reviews:

Cross by James Patterson
Mary, Mary by James Patterson
London Bridges by James Patterson
Big Bad Wolf by James Patterson

New iTunes music:

Ace Young - Scattered
Ayla Brown - Know You Better
Da Buzz - Last Goodbye
Da Buzz - Without Breaking
Da Buzz - Soon My Heart
Da Buzz - World for Two
Daughtry - It's Not Over
DHT ft. Edmee - I Go Crazy
Diddy ft Christina Aguilera - Tell Me
Drake Bell - I Know
Gia Farrell - Hit Me Up
Gwen Stefani - Wonderful Life
Gwen Stefani - Early Winter
Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape
Hilary Duff - Play With Fire
Hilary Duff - Play With Fire (Richard Vision Mix)
Jenna Drey - By The Way
Jenna Drey - Don’t Wanna Cry Anymore
Jenna Drey - Impossibility
Jewel - Only One Too (Lenny B. Club Mix)
Jojo - Anytime
Jojo - This Time
Kim Sozzi - Alone (Valentin Radio Edit)
L'Accorche-Choeur - Noel Nouvelet
Nickelback - Savin' Me
September - Satellites (US Mix)
Sun - Gone (Tony Moran and Warren Rigg Radio Edit)
The Fray - How To Save A Life

After seven days of island hopping, we make it safely home. All of us absolutely fell in love with Hawaii, each island having its own distinctive charm. We definitely plan to return and, if we play our cards right, we'll be able to stay at our time share we have decided is a must have.

And to answer Erich's persistent questioning, yes, I am a little obsessed with taking phots as I took over 1200!!. After I manage to edit them down to a more reasonable amount, I'll will post some of them in our vacation section.

Tomorrow Erich and I are off to a week long cruise of the Hawaiian Islands with my mom and sister!! And we can’t hardly wait!!!

Finally!!! Pictures from our vacation in Chicago in October have been updated on the website. Please go here to see our trip.

New DVDs:

Harry Potter, Goblet of Fire
Superstar
Scary Movie 3.5

Us is Marin County overlooking the Bay after a long hike at Muir Woods.

Happy New Year to all our friends and family! Can’t believe it is 2007 already?! With the close of 2006, please click here to check out our favorite music and movies of the year.

Poor little boy got fixed over the holiday break and wasn’t happy about the collar he had to wear.

New DVDs:

Mean Girls
Bowling for Columbine
Red Eye