Happy Thanksgiving

Calvin's Thanksgiving Turkey

We had a great Thanksgiving! This year was special for several reasons. Normally, we travel somewhere north of Phoenix over the Thanksgiving holiday. It is usually our favorite time of the year, but this year we were traveling over Christmas instead. This Thanksgiving was special because we got to stay home and spend it with Adam's family -- something we haven't done in years. And to make it extra special, we hadn't spent much time at all with them in several years and this new beginning created happiness and THANKFULNESS from everyone. 

 

Adam's parents and his aunt and uncle came over for Thanksgiving lunch. Other than a couple of things I made, they brought the entire dinner to us. It was delicious! We left the patio door wide open to let the fresh air and beauty of the day inside. And people -- this was so special, I purchased a table cloth. It may not have fit on the table exactly, but I purchased a tablecloth -- nothing was going to ruin this dinner. 

After dinner, Adam decided it was time to teach the boys how to drive the golf cart. So they both took turns driving on the golf course (because honestly, what else is there to do on a golf course?). Their grandparents were brave enough to ride. The boys are growing up way too fast. 

 

 

In the evening, we went to the movies. And not just any movie theater, we went to iPic with the huge recliners, pillows, blankets, and pure comfyness. Adam and I had a few problems with this situation though: (1) We ate turkey for lunch; (2) turkey makes you sleepy; (3) we were basically lying in a bed to watch . . . . a kids' movie. All this equals -- prying our eyes open to stay awake. I am pretty sure I managed to see the entire movie, and I am also pretty sure I caught Adam snorting one or two times. After the movie, I asked the old people, er kids' grandparents, if they fell asleep too. With confused looks as if I asked a silly question, they answered 'No'. Oh yeah, um, us either. 

 

This is how Wes fell asleep Thanksgiving night. No joke.

It was a GREAT Thanksgiving. The timing was perfect. I can't promise we won't travel again next year, but maybe we'll take a few people along with us.

Wes' class put on a Thanksgiving play.

Playing fuseball with cousins the day after Thanksgiving.

Fall 2013

We had a great fall! Below are some pictures with descriptions of what we did:

The boys got to sit in a helicopter when they went with Adam to pick up some gear for a shoot.

We've went on a few hikes this fall. Normally Alemitu will say, "We are never going to make it, Guys!" Then, at the end, not only did we make it, she gives us a trophy or a medal.

Calvin went to a friend's birthday party at a rock climbing place. Calvin does great in individual sports, and so it wasn't surprising that he was the first kid to make it to the top. What I love about Calvin is that instead of doing something easy for him over and over, he immediately moved on to a really difficult climb. After trying and failing for quite some time, the guide told him to take break so someone else could have a turn. A few minutes later, after completing another easy one, Calvin got right back in line at that hard one. He loves a challenge!

Adam celebrated his 34th birthday. He wanted to go to Dennys so he could spell out his age in bacon. (Tribute to his favorite TV Show 'Breaking Bad'.

My parents came into town, and we were able to celebrate my mom's birthday.

We played some miniature golf and had a great time. This was Alemitu's first time to play, and she loved it! She would normally hit it a few times, and then go put it in the hole with her hand. "Yay! She wins!" This place is really close to our house (Adam grew up playing here), and so we want to make sure we go more often.

One of Alemitu's favorite things to do is help her dad in the garage. She will tinker around with his stuff, and then she finds her own things to "fix". But mostly, she just rides her tricycle in the driveway and never stops talking.

Adam painted the boys' old bikes, and customized them so they were more like BMX bikes. There were some free wheel issues, but this was a test to see how they would do with real BMX bikes. They boys loved their "new" bikes. Wes learned the word "customize", and we haven't stopped hearing about his "customized bike" or his "customized lego guys" etc. He loves the idea that no one in the world could have one exactly like it.

The boys getting ready to ride their bikes down the street for a birthday sleepover with their friend, Sullivan. Even though this wasn't their first sleepover before, I just felt like they were growing up before my very eyes as they rode away down the street.

I tried giving the dog a haircut. I failed. Miserably. Adam made me take her to a professional groomer the next day rather than let her grow it back out (or put a T-shirt on her like I tried to do originally). Speaking of haircuts, I also quit doing hair this fall. My focus is on Adam's business, and so I need to take a break from doing hair right now. It was a hard thing to give up, but I know it was the right decision.

Our church, CCV Scottsdale campus, celebrated its first year

My dad and I let Adam and my mom win. I mean, it was my mom's birthday after all. It was the nice thing to do.

We have had LOTS of playdates with friends. There was one week in the fall that we had a playdate 4 out of 5 days of the week. The kids have loved staying in touch with old friends, and playing with new friends as well.

Tricycle riding girl - even in her pajamas.

Relaxing at the park.

The kids were pretty popular the week that we brought the stomp rocket. We go to this beautiful park with friends every single week, and the kids haven't gotten bored yet.

She asked me to take this picture.

Alemitu got to hang out with my good friend Bridget, and her daughter Faith (Alemitu's good friend). Bridget text me this picture of Alemitu getting her make-up done at Sephora. Alemitu was in heaven.

At the end of summer, Adam's grandparents came out for a visit. The kids love playing with them.

Alemitu making great-grandpa go to bed.

Great Grandma wanted a granddaughter for so, so long.

 

Another playdate with friend, Hunter.

Two Turtles and a Pony

 

We had a fun Halloween this year. In early September, I started asking the kids what they wanted to be for Halloween. The boys would change their minds each time. I told them that once they could stick with a character for at least a week, I would then order the costume. They finally settled on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

Alemitu went a different route. She wanted to dress up like "Halloween". No matter how many times and ways it was explained, she continued to argue, and get quite upset, because she wanted to be "Halloween". Normally it would go something like, "Yes honey, we are going to dress up on Halloween and get candy, but do you want to be a princess, Doc McStuffins, a pony . . . ." I would be cut off mid-sentence by an angry 3 year old yelling, "I don't want to be a princess, I want to be HAALLLOOOWWWWEEEEEEEEN!!!!! Whooo- Whoooo" (as she pretended to act like a ghost or zombie) So then I would say, "So you want to be a ghost?" Now here come the tears and stomping of feet. "I WANT TO BE HALLOWEEN!!!!" Oh dear. After a month of this, I decided to have her watch me buy the costumes for the boys. She then wanted a costume too. We saw a few options, and she picked Rainbow Dash from My Little Ponies. (And that's a completely different story, about how we argue that it is HER little pony, not MY little pony. We finally have agreed to share ponies, and she is satisfied with that. She has no understanding that MY Little Pony is the title, and I'm not actually calling the ponies mine.)

Our street, and the one it "Ts" into, have a block party in a cul-de-sac. It is put on by some empty nesters, and the neighbors look forward to it every year. They block off the cul-de-sac and set up camp. Lots of chairs around a big fire, and tons of food and beverages. It is pot-luck style. A few adults take the young kids out trick-or-treating, but otherwise, everyone hangs out in the cul-de-sac for the night. 

I was surprised at how many trick-or-treaters our neighborhood had. Since we would be at the party, I set out a huge bowl of candy, knowing I had bought way too much. Unfortunately, within about 10 minutes, it had been taken by some greedy, little children. :-( Our neighborhood was crawling with trick or treaters. Adam, myself, and another mother (Sullivan's mom) walked around the neighborhood with 11 boys and 1 girl -- Alemitu. After more than a mile, the boys were starting to get tired and so Adam grabbed the truck, we all loaded in the back, and slowly drove back down our neighborhood street to the party. The boys thought that ride was the coolest thing ever. (Myself and Sullivan's mom were sitting on the tailgate as we drove to make sure the crazy boys didn't act too crazy.)

Wes, Calvin, Alemitu on the right. Best friend, Sullivan, in the middle. Sullivan's brother and friend on the left.

The weather was wonderful. The kids had fun. The adults had fun. It was a great Halloween!
  

Adam's pumpkins representing his favorite show, Breaking Bad

The boys requested Jack Skellington

The boys also requested Mike and Sully from Mosters University

Indiana Visit

 My mom had several free airline tickets, so she offered to pay for me and the boys to visit over Labor Day weekend. Who can say no to free airfare? We had a great time. As always, we were SO busy. If we weren't going places, we were downstairs in the basement playing dodgeball and tag. My mom and older sister just never, ever stop moving and playing. The kids love it! Me . . . well, I love visiting my family, but I come home exhausted. 

I wasn't the only one exhausted.

We took a late flight, and arrived around two in the morning. What did the kids want to do? Go play in the basement. So like good grandparents they are, my parents went down and let the kids play while I unpacked . . . at 2 a.m. They just couldn't get over the fact that my kids weren't tired. Alemitu was even jumping on the trampoline, and of course, talking nonstop. An image of that night that I will never forget is when we were walking in the airport after just getting off of the plane. Alemitu had her cute little book bag on, and when she saw my parents waiting for us at security, she took off running. That backpack was flopping all around, but she just kept running right towards her grandparents. I wish I had my camera out to capture that moment.

The next morning, we played at our favorite park and surprised their cousin Carter. We ate lunch at my favorite restaurant, Pizza King, and then we surprised their cousin Sydney when she got home from school that day. 

At the park

The next day, we went to Kings Island. Once again, they were having a heat wave when I came to visit, but we still had a blast and managed to keep cool. Wes was officially tall enough to ride on every, single ride. Even this one:

Notice the coaster is moving UP that hill, and getting ready to go down a hill that looks like it is straight down. At 80 mph, this ride seems terrifying.

He even sat in the front with Uncle Phil one time. Thank you, Uncle Phil.

Wes and grandpa on the drop zone ride.

Grandpa Jerry and Jerry Jr. -- no one else was brave enough for this one.

That kid has no fear. In fact, later on Wes wanted to do the bungee swing. I had done this once with Adam many years ago, and I remember being absolutely terrified. Well, 15 years later, nothing has changed. I agreed to do with it Wes, and I was absolutely terrified. As we were going up, I gave up the "tough mother" image, and started whining/almost crying to Wes, "I don't think I can do this. Wes, I don't think I can do this!" He agreed with me (but he has selective memory about that part when you ask him.) We went so high, much higher than it appears from the ground looking up. I had to be the one to pull the cord to drop us. My hand was shaking so bad, and it took me a few seconds before I built up that courage --- and then I screamed like a baby all the way down. I guess Alemitu told my parents, "Mommy loves it because she is screaming!" I am so glad I did it and am able to share that memory with Wes, but wow, that was terrifying. There is a new roller coaster coming in April 2014, and when Wes read that on a sign, he immediately said we need to come back in April. He loves Kings Island so much.

Prior to getting on the bungee swing

Alemitu did really well too. Last spring, I put her on a roller coaster that she wasn't ready for. It backfired. She hasn't wanted to ride on anything like that since. So when we went to the area with rides for her age, I had Aunt Tina go with her on a little kid roller coaster. I think we called it the pumpkin ride or something because she kept asking if it was a roller coaster. She was definitely scared at first, but Aunt Tina did a great job, and Alemitu was all smiles when she got off the coaster. After that, she wanted to ride everything. Going with grandpa on the log ride was her favorite. She did that a few times.

Alemitu and Aunt Tina in the 2nd car

Even on the little rides, Alemitu would scream off and on. She thought that is what you are suppose to do if you are having fun.

My easy going Calvin had a great time too. He rode all of the roller coasters that he could, and always had a smile on his face throughout the day. 

Getting soaked by a river rapids ride was Calvin's favorite.

The next day, we went to the movies and spent time with family. On our last full day, the girls went shopping and grandpa and Uncle Phil took the boys to the Indianapolis 500 race track. The boys have been so interested in seeing that race track, and had been talking a lot about it after they saw the movie, Turbo. They really enjoyed themselves, and even kissed the bricks (although if you ask them, their lips didn't actually touch). They had a fun boys' day, and I was so happy my dad thought to take them there. 

 

 

The next day we left and went back home. It was a whirlwind trip, but totally worth it. We had such a great time!

Doing homework on the plane

Completely soaked and dripping wet after the river rapids ride.

Whenever they say goodbye to my mom, they have to give her a "monkey hug". This means that they stand on a piece of furniture and jump at her. So far, she hasn't fallen over . . . yet.

This one almost knocks her over.

I love this picture of the boys taken at the Indy 500 track.