9 Year Anniversary

Rach and I went on a much needed "staycation" last weekend for our 9 year anniversary. It was tons of fun! We left the kids at home with Ellisa and trusted she wouldn't let anything happen to them. Boy were we wrong! Just Kidding! She took care of everything while we were gone. We really are lucky to have someone like her in our lives who is willing to take care of the kids for two days. The trip was all day Saturday and Sunday. I won't go into too much detail, but we most certainly did some crazy things. Okay, I'll go into some detail.

We hiked Camelback mountain. It was harder than I thought it would be, but nothing Rach and I couldn't handle. We made it to the top and by the time we made it to the bottom we both felt our joints telling us it was time to stop. I hate getting older! Holy Crap! I'm going to be 30 in two months! Anyway, Rach has many more pics regarding our trip on Facebook, but here's one we got about a quarter of the way up.

After the hike we were starving so we headed to Fashion Square mall in Scottsdale and ate at Z'Tajas and had a little of this and that...

Afterwards we did some shopping, then went to the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak to check in (same hotel as our first night up 9 years ago!). The hotel provided a "Manicure and Margaritas" service. It would be my first manicure experience so I thought I'd amuse the idea, the margarita helped my decision of course. Afterwards Rach said the manicure was done very poorly and that we'll have to try it again at a real salon. We'll see about that... my nails haven't felt the same since. I think my typing is being affectedddesestedsdfe, so I can't be held responsible what's typed from here on out...

Later Sat night we went on to see True Grit (John Wayne remake). Really good movie. I recommend it. For those of you who have seen the flick and found it as hard as I did to understand the Marshall, then you should find this quick video amusing.

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1945368

We wanted to make sure we got to bed early for the early morning hot air balloon ride Sunday morning, but I really wanted to enjoy the hotels hot tub. The hotel was awesome because they brought us some chocolate covered strawberries while we were in the hot tub! We also met a really nice couple that drove from AL for the college championship game.

We finally got to bed around 11:30 and knew it was going to be hard to wake up at 5:30.

We met the hot air balloon group at Deer Valley airport and from there took a van north on I17 a few miles and got off somewhere between Happy Valley Rd and Pinnacle Peak. When we arrived they were working on the balloons.

Getting in the balloon basket and feeling the ground move under our feet before we took off really got my adrenaline going. Seeing up into the balloon and seeing all the ropes made me really wonder how old the ropes were. In any case, I'm still here to tell the story so that's good.

We made it up around 5000' high. It was a great experience that I think everyone should add to their bucket list. It was much more calm than I expected. A perfect day with 9 mile an hour winds. We were up in the air about 90 minutes or so. It was cool to see the pilot steer the balloon with specific ropes in front of him. Great to see low tech used in such a high tech era. He did however have all these high tech instruments in front of him.

It was a really smooth landing, smooth enough that I took a video of it on my camera. After the landing they setup some tables and put together a really nice breakfast with some champagne. The pilot told a story about how the early French aerostats landed in a field and went up in flames. The peasants wanted to kill them because they thought they were demons. The French were saved because the champagne they offered as a gift had the king's seal on it. After that the king decreed that every flight should have champagne.

We went to Anthem and picked up some clothes for us and toys for the kids. We bought them the robotic claws (minus the tree)...

and quickly found out that when they get a hold of your wrist it's really annoying and painful to get it off. After Anthem we saw the movie, Social Network. Another good one that I'd recommend. We got home around 6:30 Sunday evening.

We started potty training the twins as of Monday of last week. So almost two weeks. Lacie gets excited when she goes and so she stops going and minutes later when we think she's done she has an accident. Austin doesn't have any problem with number 1, but has mastered pushing out one poop pebble at a time to get a treat for each one. Masters of manipulation at the age of 2.

Rach has her cousin and second cousin from the east coast flying in this Friday to run the PF Chang's half marathon on Sunday. They'll be staying with us so it's our duty to introduce them to real Mexican food. I hope they get adequate sleep and the kids don't wake them up. It'll be Sean's first bunk experience with Austin.

Eat Halloween Candy - Get Fat - Go on Biggest Loser

You know how you usually walk away from watching a tv show thinking that was good I'm glad I wasted an hour or two of my precious life watching that! Well, Rach and I experienced such thoughts last night after watching the Biggest Loser. What a time suck! You'd think we'd totally be into it now that it's almost the end of the season... Instead we are less into it and are thinking about stopping. I guess it could be on account that it's the same 'ol stuff that we've seen with past seasons - fat people get skinny, but most likely it's due to pointless anticipation buildup the show puts on waiting for someones wait to post on the board! And somehow through the seasons the contestants feel they have the right to give a speech. What's that about?! I don't care if you are proud or not...

We watched House too. Unlike previous episodes where predictability is inevitable, it brought a new interesting element that made it interesting again. So I could walk away from last nights tv experience a little bit more like I didn't waste my time. We are trying to keep up with the latest season of House by recording it on our DVR, but somehow we missed a week because our cable box has been acting stupid. Waiting for the DVD's will always be my preferred method of watching the dramas.

The kids are getting more and more independent. Always asking to do things themselves. I do it, I do it - all day long! Oz is getting really consistent now about letting us know when he needs to use the potty. We just bought a seat for Lacie so the toilet has a more enjoyable, retro fit inspiration. She's still trying to get used to it. Sean is still playing with his B-day toys. We bought him a toy train track. He's been wanting me to help him build a new track everyday it seems. He also loves his dart gun which is really hard to not get him to shoot people. Reminds me of me at that age. Sean came back from school one day with a craft and at the bottom it said, "Sean is scared of ET". We are guessing they asked him what he was scared of. I guess maybe it was a bad call on my part to show him that movie so early. Oh well. Hopefully it'll make him stronger. Lacie has learned for the past month now how to use the pedals on the trike which is too cute now to see her riding around everywhere.

Rach left for women's retreat last weekend and left me with the kids for 64 hours, 35minutes, and 16 seconds. Sounds like she had a lot of fun with all the awesome activities she planned for it such as: funny faces, ugly dress competition, and other stuff I can't remember. The kids lived off of Mac&Cheese, sandwiches, hotdogs/pizza, and cereal. I really think they were in heaven about that :-) Our Bible study group just started reading Love & Logic so we don't screw up our babies lives like our parents screwed us up... Anyway, reading the first chapter and putting it into practice really helped me with the kids all weekend. I felt more in control and the kids seemed happier. I can't wait to see what the rest of the book has in store for us.

Braceface Update :-{#}
Rach is off getting her braces tightened right now. Enjoying the pain that comes with beauty. I gather she's used to it though, being a girl and all who wears crappy shoes through the mall in the name of style.

Going back almost two weeks, Halloween was fun! Besides the fact that I lost our garage door opener while trick-or-treating, it was still fun. On Friday we had a costume competition at work where I got to see some really crazy costumes. Then Saturday night we went to a Halloween carnival/B-day party at Freestone. Finally, Sunday evening we watched the kids go door-to-door getting their candy that they inevitably would never get their hands on again. So I dressed up in my costume 3 times. That's record! Rach and the kids obviously did a Doctor Seuss theme while I was Wolverine.

Going door to door

Stuffing faces once we got home





Jan Brewer Supports the Term "Braceface"

What the!? This is wild! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkKWApOAG2g&feature=related
Think of all the benefits of getting things done twice as fast. I don't think I'd give them a license though. That's just two dangerous... or too dangerous, and they'd need two airbags. So many questions and things unanswered with something so rare! Like, I wonder what would happen if one had something happen to her head and died? Would half the body just go limp? If the stomach throws up, who gets to enjoy that? Who wipes? If I were a reporter these are the questions I'd be asking...

What is this about other foreign countries getting in on what laws are passed around here?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/43199.html
I think they need to mind their own business! Why does Obama want to make U.S. law subordinate to international law? Seems ridiculous to me.

We watched the storm hit us pretty hard yesterday. I was listening to the news and they said power lines went down and there were a lot of broken windows everywhere. Today the storm is slamming the northern part of the state and there's even a tornado warning. Pshhhh tornado... in AZ? Crazy? Must be global warming! I asked my co-worker yesterday why he drove his bike to work because he's going to get all wet on his way home. He laughed at me and and wanted to bet me that by the time he left for work the rain would be done. :-) Let's just say I would've won that bet. He had to call a friend to pick him up haha. http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/weather/2010/10/06/sot.az.hail.reporter.cnn?hpt=C2

I totally forgot to include in my previous posts that Rach is getting braces! She has the spacers in right now making way for the metal that'll be invading her mouth soon. After having the spacers for a week and half she is still having trouble eating everything. Braceface for at least two years! Crazy to picture! I better get my kisses in now before she doesn't want anything to do with that because of the pain.

:-{#}

Park Fun

We had a huge mega storm today at work it was crazy! The power was flickering in and out and I thought I was going to get to go home early... Oh well, maybe next time!

Some pictures that Rach sent me today from when they went to the park...

Mommy pushes me because I love to swing!



Yummy lunch! Everybody loves mom's pasta salad!



Another picture mom?



Rach and I are going to go play some racquetball today when I get home from work. I'm going to make her a pro for sure! Racquetball is always fun no matter who you play with. The kids have been very good lately being dropped off to play in the gym's play area. We are very happy about this! We often wonder what would happen if we dropped them off at the gym and went to see a movie. We would never, it's tempting though because it's free babysitting.

Julie should be moving into her new house soon. I forgot which Sat. exactly so she better call me so I don't make other plans...

I think I'll stop here because my IE is bugging the crap out of me! I can't concentrate the way it's treating me today. 

Ouch! He stung me!

Hopefully we get some good storms here in sunny AZ! I thought the storms Sat evening was going to bring some cooler air in, but I guess not! It's been way too hot here for way too long!

Billy and Teanne had their son, Jaren Andrew Fenter last Thursday. Rach and I brought some dinner for them and visited. He reminded me of Austin when he was a new born with so much black hair. He was 6.5lbs and 21" long. Healthy baby. They have their hands full now with 4 kids!

One night I finished putting the kids down for bed by myself because Rach was out and Lacie kept yelling something over and over. I couldn't make out what it was. Lacie did it again the next night. I told Rach that she's been doing that now and not to worry, she'll stop. Rach listened, and laughed. She told me it was her singing the latest song she learned, "I'm squishing up my baby bumblebee...". The last part of the song is, "Ouch! He stung me!" So she was yelling out really loud, "Ouch! He stung me!" over and over and over... It really is pretty comical to listen to.



That's a lot of babies!



Rachael and I found 5 scorpions around our house last night! They are surrounding us! She spotted one in our garage after getting out of the van. I don't know how she spotted it because it blended in so well. I kept losing it standing 4 ft from it. It was a baby, so I'm glad we killed it. We found 3 more in their favorite corner. Their nest! I knew I wouldn't be able to kill more than one before the others got away so Rach and decided to spray them with Raid. They scurried off into their nest before I could see if they died or not. Maybe the others will get infected too. Maybe it'll be like bringing back a nasty plague killing off the entire deal! We found the last one under our citrus tree outside Oz's window. It was an adult for sure! Very big! Unfortunately, I missed it with my knife and it ran away! I'm beating myself up over that one because it's those big ones that make the babies.

So to continue about the disgusting story that I left so cleverly hanging from my previous post...

I have what you might call a bit of a toe picking problem. I sit watching tv as I pick at my toe nails. I never think ahead as I do this otherwise I'd put the trash by me, so I end up mostly making little piles of them on the floor or coffee table. Sometimes I get in a jam with mostly my second toe nail from the littlest and it starts going into the quick, or it's too deep into the cuticles that my fingers can't grip it anymore. I'm too lazy to get clippers (obviously! Otherwise I wouldn't have gotten into the predicament in the first place) so I go in after it with my teeth. I know, I know! You're thinking how gross! It doesn't happen often, geesh! This however is not the grossest part. One sunny afternoon in AZ (I'm guessing it was sunny because it's always freakin' hot and sunny here) I had picked and picked and accumulated a nice pile on our side table. I forgot all about it and had my back turned from it while I was talking to Rach. I can't remember the conversation, but I'm sure it was a good one to distract me from my nail stash. Anyway, we heard this choking and gaging behind me! I turned around to see Sean trying to eat my toe nails!!! LOL! I couldn't believe it! The poor kid. I think it was a good lesson. I haven't seen him eating any toe nails since...

My buddy at work just got finished telling me about his experience playing some co-ed kickball. It sounds like so much fun! I totally want to do that! I'd kick the rubber right off that ball! Wait...

Yummy in my Tummy!

McDonald's anyone??? The kids had fun this morning enjoying some pancakes with mommy.

So we had some friends over for dinner last night and we were telling some stories about how disgusting we can be. A story happened to pop up in Rach's head about me and my toe nails...
Unfortunately, I'm out of time so I'll continue this tomorrow.

Hope everyone has enjoyed this beautiful day God gave us!

Rock Climbing Kids Eat Hot Wings Despite Anal Leakage

For all of you who read my blog, I apologize for disappointing you with my lack of posts for the past two months. I've either been too busy, lazy, or too malnourished to move my fingers - which usually isn't the case. A lot has happened these past two months that need addressing. But first I'd like to record some things that the kids have been saying/doing so I don't forget.

Go to your room! - Mom & Dad
No! I'm sad. - Lacie and Oz
No! I'm frustrated - Sean

Putting them in their car seat and they are telling us they want to buckle their seat belt themselves.
My seat, my seat - Lacie
I uckle up, I uckle up - Oz

I was playing my guitar belting out my vocals and I look over at Sean in the bath with a big smile on. I stop playing and he says...
That's really nice Dad - Sean
You really like my music? - Dad
Yeah, it's nice - Sean

Can you ask nicely please? - Dad & Mom
drink peesh - Lacie
may have drink please - Oz

Whenever I do something fun with one, the others comes running saying, "my turn, my turn, my turn" A couple nights ago Greg showed me a fun move that he does with Lauren called, body slam! I've only done it with Sean. I don't think Oz and Lace would like it very much right now. Anyway, for a body slam, you hold the child above your head over a couch, yell real loud, BODY SLAM, and letting them go for a nice little free fall.

We've been going through the books of the Bible with Sean and he's up to Ezra/Nehemiah. After 1st and 2nd Corinthians I have to prompt him for Ezra by saying, "And don't forget...", then he says Johnathan instead of Nehemiah. :-) Pretty funny. Oh and he doesn't say, "1st" for all the 1st and 2nd books like Samuel, Kings, and Corinthians. Trying to work on that.

We've been potty training Oz for the past few weeks and have had some recent successes with going number 2 in the potty. Yay! I can't wait to stop wiping butt! We are waiting a couple more months to start with Lacie. She doesn't go in the potty at all right now.

 

I can't think of anymore kids stuff right now. I'll try and remember for later posts.

We watched The Burbs with Eric and Katie from across the street. I started to fall asleep about half way through. It wasn't as funny as I had remembered, but Rach liked it. Katie fell asleep and I think Eric was distracted with his studying for his tests he's been doing. It was still fun watching a movie about neighbors with your neighbors.





This is why I'm glad I go climbing on fake rocks. 



I went rock climbing with Chris (co-worker) this past weekend. It was a lot of fun going with someone as competitive and strong. We found a wall that we could free climb and was so challenging that neither of us were having any luck. Well, I was determined and went for a rock with my foot that was at waist level and ended up ripping my shorts right at the crotch! It's okay though, I made it to the top and I've had the shorts for over 5 years. So I'm okay with it. There was one wall where it had an overhang and pretty much made our legs useless forcing us to hang from one rock to the next. We felt like real rock climbers in that moment... and that's all that matters!

Following the climbing Chris took me to a local place where I ate the hottest wings of my entire life. I think they were as hot or hotter than Native New Yorker's suicide wings. I felt like I was hyperventilating after 3! It didn't matter! With my awesome mental skillz I pushed through the pain like every person learning to ride a unicycle and ate the rest of them as quickly as I possibly could. The pain eventually subsided, at least for a few hours. Then my intestines hated me for the next 18 hours. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lhf9U5Wf3Q Needless to say, I'll never be doing that again.

Rachael's involved with another friends business in that she's doing a giveaway for her cookies. Rach said she loves doing giveaways. I'm really glad she's found something she loves to do.

http://eventfulcookiesaz.blogspot.com/

"We love him because he first loved us." - 1John 4:9-10