Hip Hip Hooray!

You might think the Carico's are celebrating the fact that the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the playoffs, and the first game is tomorrow afternoon. You would be correct. That's pretty much a no brainer! Even more exciting, in my opinion (we aren't asking Richard his opinion on the subject), is that Olivia went potty in her big girl potty tonight!!!

I have the cutest little picture of a very proud little girl next to her full potty. However, she's getting ready to get into the bathtub, so I am not going to post it for obvious reasons.

"Yup, this is how it's done! Watch and learn."

Olivia is showing off her expertise after getting out of the bathtub. She is quite proud of her accomplishment! The potty is full!

"That's right, I can do it with my jammies on, too!"

I am trying really hard not to push potty training, but deep down I am hoping I can stop buying size 3 diapers before I have to start buying newborn diapers once again. I bought a potty chair last summer, but Olivia has only used it a handful of times. Every time she uses it we get excited and encourage her. However, she hasn't consistently shown any interest or even real understanding yet. For a while, after she had used it once and was showered with praise, she would get on it and smile up at us with this huge grin, just waiting for us to acknowledge her accomplishment. However, the potty remained empty.

My latest incentive. . . while shopping at Target Olivia saw Mickey and Minnie panties that she absolutely had to have. It wasn't worth making a scene to force her to give them up, so I am using them as an incentive to stop wearing diapers. I keep reminding her that once she starts using the big girl potty, the panties will be hers. Sounds like a great deal to me!!!

Think Blue! ! !

Baby Boy Blue ! ! !

I've been trying to think of a creative way to share the news, but I haven't been able to come up with anything exciting, so this will have to do!

Olivia and I are busy shopping for little boy outfits.

Richard is getting ready to paint our extra bedroom in Dodger colors.

Fall Evenings

On the road again . . .so get outta my way!!!

"MINE!!!"

"I'm walking away for a minute. Don't even think of touching my wheels!!!"

"Is your tongue brown from the tootsie roll like mine???"

Puzzles!

These are the newest, latest, greatest toys in our house! We love 'em!

Look Who's Driving . . .

Richard came home from hunting this weekend and Olivia got a huge treat. She loves driving, as I've mentioned before; it's even better when she thinks she's in complete control. Her Dad loves having her behind the wheel just as much as she likes to be there.

I have to admit I was stunned the first time I saw Richard do this. I lovingly refer to him as the car seat Nazi, and my baby girl isn't even wearing a seat belt!

I'm not sure who smiles bigger. . . Olivia or Richard.

"Concentration is key to this parking job!"



"Ahhh, it was nothing really, Lucy, just all in a day's work! I could probably do it with my eyes closed!"

Our First Summer Vacation Came to Us

We had the best time this summer when Uncle Bob and Aunt Gloria came to Idaho for their summer vacation. They brought their two daughters, Daphnie and Candice, their son, Greg, and Candice's boyfriend, Karl. It was so much fun!!! We did the things we always say sound like fun but don't get around to doing, like Roaring Springs Water Park and floating the Boise River. Just visiting with them in the evenings was an unforgettable treat.

I took but five pictures to Aunt Gloria's 150 photos. She is an amazing Aunt. Even though I am a month behind and summer is over, I had to include a few shots because we had so much fun. I wish their vacation didn't have to end and we could do it again!

"Just chillin' at Roaring Springs with Aunt Gloria, Uncle Bob, and the stuffed doggy in the gift shop window I conned Aunt Gloria into buying for me!"

Aunt Gloria and Uncle Bob let Richard and I play on water slides all day long while they watched Olivia. What a treat for us! I just had to keep an eye out to make sure Olivia got enough to eat between the Dippin Dots and Elephant Ears:) Did I mention Gloria took over 100 pictures that day???

"Mmmm. . . I just can't quite get the whole thing in my mouth, but I won't give up."

"This must be brain freeze."

Candice and Karl are models. They are both so down-to-earth and fun to be around, you wouldn't guess they were models. . . unless you looked at them:). Olivia took to them both immediately, even before they offered her ice cream (now that doesn't happen often!). Candice is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside; that's saying A LOT!!!

Drinking buddies! I probably should have checked on Olivia a bit more:)

"Oh my goodness, I am soooo tired, Cousin Daphnie!"

Olivia was crazy about her new friend, Cousin Daphnie. I enjoyed Daphnie just as much. She graduated from Pacific University in Oregon. Now she lives in Portland and works for the American Red Cross. Daphnie is just a genuine, kind, and fun person to be around.

"It's a new day and I'm bursting with energy once again! Look out Boise airport!"

"Okay, Greg-o, I'll give you a pat on the back for that!"

Richard had a good time reconnecting with his only guy cousin, Greg, a 10th grader who acts as mature as a college freshman, in my opinion. Really, how many high-schoolers enjoy their 21-month-old cousin. It was fun to see Greg and Richard together.

Good-bye LA, Good-bye Dodgers, Good-bye Ocean

This is definitely, absolutely, positively one of my favorite things about Dodger Stadium. The parking lot lends the most amazing view of downtown LA. It's unbelievable!

I had to include one of Richard's favorite things about Dodger Stadium. . . Manny Ramirez!!!
We saw the game in which the Dodgers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks, putting LA in first place in the National League West. Manny hit two home runs that game; one was a grand slam!

This is the Dodgers 5oth anniversary at Chavez Ravine, aka Dodger Stadium. It is such a cool park! They are getting ready to renovate it.


Good-bye ocean. . . This is something Mom will miss!

Beachtime Fun in Mission Bay, San Diego

This sand stuff really is good for something.

I kinda "dig" this!


Hmm, this bucket is a bit heavier than when I started.

Sha-mu, Sha-mu, Sha-mu!

Of all the things to see and do at Sea World, Olivia liked this mini-gym best!

She would have played here all day if we would have let her.

Olivia is reaching out to pet a dolphin. I was so excited because I actually got to pet one for what seemed like a really long time. It was the highlight of my day!

One of my favorite pics!

More time at the Sesame Street amusement rides before we went home. Once again, one of Olivia's favorites!

San Diego Zoo, Here We Come!

I'm still trying to imagine our family with one more person this time next year!

We were told on our tour that the plant life at the zoo was as valuable and interesting as the animals. Thus, they implicitly told us not to pick the flowers. Right after Olivia got done smelling this flower, that's right, you guessed it, she pulled it right off the plant!

Dad and his girl!

Next Stop. . . Dodger Stadium! ! !

Watching the Dodgers beat the Padres was definitely one of Richard's favorite parts of the trip!

I loved hearing Olivia's cheer, "Dodgers, Dodgers, Dodgers!"


Dad caught Olivia an extra special souvenir! Pretty cool!

She doesn't know how lucky she is to get a fly ball at her very first pro baseball game!

California Here We Come!

First Stop. . . Long Beach

Olivia's First Glimpse of the Ocean. . . I was much more excited than she was.

"I think I like it better up here on the dry sand, with Dad."

"Okay, just let me catch my balance and get used to the feeling of the sand between my toes."

"Okay, maybe I do kind of like this ocean stuff!"