Erb Siblings Represent in Anaheim

For the inquisitive... Pat, Joanne, Jay, and Mister John. Little Mary Jane was getting packed inside Uncle Jay's home. Sadly, no rabbits were invited.

Happy 1st Easter for Mary Jane

She had a whirl-wind tour this weekend as she started in Arizona and finished in Anaheim with a whole lot of riding in between. She wowed three grandparents, three aunts, two uncles, a bunch of cousins. Good for her! Nothing like a big smile to make everyone happier.

Free the Dodgers!

I am quite hopeful and optimistic that the Dodgers will finally turn in the right direction. After many years of ridiculous leadership which put profit first and respectablity last, the McCourts have been removed as owners. MLB Commissioner Bud Selig gets some major props for this one (maybe this will make up for the All-Star game decided home field advantage in the World Series) as they had to go. And clearly in the best interest of baseball, they needed to be summarily removed.

Some day this year Jill and I will take our lovely little girl to a Dodger game and we'll know that the money that we spent on seats, parking, and Dodger dogs did not go to someone's Malibu mansion but rather to the benefit of the franchise. Mary Jane will be able to sit in the upper deck and stare out into the blue sky while Daddy knocks down a dog or two and prays that Broxton won't be needed to save the game. But those are the ON-FIELD worries... and that's all that we as fans should have. We shouldn't have to worry about owners and their ridiculous spending ways, divorce fiascos, or embarrassing quotes. The only embarrassment we wish to see is the butt-kicking we will do (on the field!) to the NL West.

Now the most important question: which Dodgers jersey should I buy this year? I'm leaning towards Andre Ethier but I'll take suggestions...

MJ and J-Lo at Best Buy!

On a typical sunny spring afternoon, Mary Jane cajoled me to go over to Best Buy to buy a charger for her camera. Well, not necessarily her camera but rather her parents' camera as she wanted to have more classic photos taken of her. While the smaller blue camera does work and Daddy (aka Mister John) often downloads those to Facebook or this blog, she would prefer the more detailed settings. Besides, Mommy is a master of the camera. Daddy still can't quite figure out point and shoot. (At least Daddy set the date on the camera so not all the pictures download to Jan 1, 2005 anymore.)

Mary Jane fell asleep on the drive over to Best Buy (must have been those two minutes at the ATM). So she initially missed the long line starting to snake around the building at Pico and Sawtelle. Daddy didn't ask as to the line, he was just focused on finding the proper camera battery charger (the previous one was lost either due to neglect or the Bermuda Triangle). He and the sleeping MJ marched into Best Buy to find many men in suits. Suits? What is this: an FBI convention? Anyway, Daddy (who voted for the aforementioned Bermuda Triangle option by the way) found his charger with due help.

The crowds started to swoon and even the employees were quite distracted as J-Lo entered the building. Daddy had no clue as to the lady; he thought it was just a local pop star. Then again Daddy wouldn't be able to identify any of her music unless she paired up with Metallica or Anthrax or even... hmm... System of a Down (now there's a mix). Mary Jane woke up for a few seconds amid the commotion, yawned, and went back to sleep. She needed a nap anyway.

Arizona Portrait

The light does indeed shine over Miss Jill.

Watch Out, American Idol!

Just in the last day or so, Mary Jane has begun to sing! Nothing too extra-ordinary yet... she's been stringing together multiple notes though. At first Mommy and I thought she was starting to fuss. But no! She's actually quite happy and singing her own tunes.

Clearly Commute Bunny, the singer in the house (left), has been coaching her. Within a few months, methinks that Mary Jane will be singing the entire repertoire of No Doubt songs. Mommy and I will be prepared.

Meanwhile Commute Bunny giggles as she knows she has a new protegee to teach.

Hiding from TMZ

Mary Jane was spotted by a rogue cameraman yesterday and did what any self-respecting citizen would do to stay off the front covers of tabloids: she grabbed her pet monkey Max and used him as a photo shield. This was the best shot they got of her in this situation.

Mommy and Daddy were unaware of this near photo assault but they will work their best to see it never happens again.

4 Months Old!

Someone looks sleepy.

More pictures to come.

At Home with Daddy Today

Mary Jane feels like rolling over plenty this morning while Daddy watches. Meanwhile Chip is hopping over to say Hi to the both of them. Stay out of the purple room, Chip. That's for Mommy's family this weekend.

Big Smile for the Camera!

Mary Jane was having a very happy afternoon in the back yard. Sometimes it's quite difficult to get her to smile for the camera. Check that It's almost impossible to get her to smile for the camera. As soon as either Mister John or Miss Jill bust out their trusty blue camera, she goes more stoic than a Roman statue. But every once in while -- if you hide the camera just right -- Mary Jane lets loose with a monumentally big smile.

Look at that not yet toothy grin. It makes her mom and dad smile as well. Oh, to have such unmitigated happiness. I love childhood. Big smiles... and the only worry is when will you be fed next.

Wait a minute. I'm kind of a hungry too. And so is Cherry Bugg.

Mary Jane Rolls for the Camera

Mr. John, aka Daddy, was taping Mary Jane in the back yard when she quickly flipped as he was about ready to press the record button. Yes, life never happens exactly at the time you want it to... especially with camera in hand. However, she then amazingly rolled back over in defiance of the original flip. Technically, Mary Jane's first recorded flip was on a Thursday afternoon but is often reluctant to repeat a command performance.

But there is a method to the madness. Every time Mary Jane starts to talk relentlessly, that represents a rise in her energy and then... WHOOOOP! She rolls over.

Alas, the bunnies were not impressed. Until Mary Jane stretches out and yawns, they have no further interest in the future leader of the back yard.

Arch Rivals Prepare to Race in Aunt Pat's Backyard

The eternal debate remains: who will win the race between the tortoise and the hare? During this -- the Final Four weekend -- these arch rivals will be competing all over households in the southern California area. As seen on the left, the tortoise Yoshi is comparing to race against the hare Samson (on the right). Both of them are resting up for their ultimate race tomorrow afternoon. Who will win? Who will give in?

While I'm not that sure about the result of their race, I do know that the word has spread all the way from Monterey Park (where Yoshi and Samson will vie) to that of the usually quiet Mar Vista where some of the animals are getting a bit testy. As the festivities are getting closer, the animals are lining up against one another at Chez Erb. As seen in the left photo, Mama and Papa Bugg have called out Theodore Victory (TV) Turtle and Kelly. Mama Bugg and TV have even gone nose-to-nose in a staring contest. Methinks that competition will be a draw.

Fortunately Root Beer Float and her sister Ruby Jane have not heard about this or they'd be busting down the doors to... eat the victory bouquet.