Family Fridays...

This past Friday, Daddy came up with a great idea to go to a local park where they show a family movie outside on the lawn.  We packed up our blanket, some drinks and headed off to one of the great parks near our home to watch The Princess and the Frog.  When we arrived we had no idea how many other families thought the idea was good as well.  Although crowded we found a spot to set up our blanket and we all (including Jack) sat down for an evening of entertainment under the stars. 

The boys were in amazement that we could actually watch TV outside and wondered if God and Santa Claus were watching too.  As the movie continued some of the other little kids around us became rambunctious and decided to run around, at which Gabriel and Michael said, "Mommy, those boys and girls are naughty... they aren't watching the movie."  "Yes Gabriel and Michael, you are being good watching the movie, maybe after we are done here we can stop for a treat on the way home."

The boys sat very patiently despite most of the other kids around us running around, they did a very a good job staying focused on the movie.  As the final scenes were playing out and The End crossed the screen the boys announced, "Now, we can go get a treat right Dad and Mom?"

Knowing that they had been very good, and craving sweets myself, we decided ice cream was a good plan.  We stopped at DQ and each got a treat.  We then returned home and enjoyed talking about the movie and how tasty our ice cream was.  I think we found a treat that almost all of us can enjoy.  Here are a few photos we took of us enjoying our Friday night sweet!



We really really really like ice cream. Can you tell?

Oh no, the sugar has already kicked in!

Michael enjoyed the ice cream so much that he's announced every night since that we should go and get ice cream again. Oh my, what have we started?

Until next time,
Angie

Best friends...

I've heard the saying that brothers can be each others best friends and I have to say if there were two brothers who model that saying, Gabriel and Michael are it.  For the last three years they have really only had each other to rely upon and each other to keep safe and protect.  That is why one watches out for the other and vice versa.

Up until tonight the boys have never really put a label on how they view each other.  If one would ask Gabriel, "Who is Michael?"  He would respond, "My brother."  And if Michael was asked who his brother is he would say Gabriel. 

Tonight, as we were going for our normal nightly walk, Gabriel and Michael decided to run together ahead of me on the sidewalk.  Gabriel shouted "Come on buddy" and proceeded to put his arm around Michael and skip ahead.  Without a second passing Michael said, "We are best friends, right?"  "Yes we are Michael."  And together they skipped along. 

Then Gabriel turned around to me and said, "Mom, Michael and me are best friends right?"  "I would say so Gabriel" and then they cheered.

I couldn't wait until we got home because I just had to take a picture of the way they escorted each other back from our walk.  I'm so happy we've been blessed with them and can be their mom and dad, but I'm especially grateful that they have each other. 

Until next time,
Angie

A trip up north...

A few weeks ago we decided we had had enough of the heat and wanted an escape.  So what does Phoenicians do when they are tired of the heat?  Head up north.

That is exactly what we did.  On Sunday afternoon we decided to go up to Prescott.  We invited Nana and Papa to join us.  On our way we decided to visit Montezuma's Castle.  Realizing that this state has so much to offer and that we often fail to take advantage of it, we decided to stop along the way before heading into Prescott.  Here are some photos from our Sunday afternoon drive...

 Montezuma's Castle

 The boys with their Nana and Papa.  Although we were interested in the homes built into the side of the mountain, the boys were more excited about picking up sticks.

 This is the shot of one of the rooms up along the mountain side.  We learned that up to 36 people lived in this home.  Even though they said they propped up ladders to get into the house, we still thought it looked like a challenge to get up and in.

A shot from the town square in Prescott.

 One of the few family pictures we have had taken.  This was in front of a statue in downtown Prescott.

 Gabriel and Michael trying to make silly faces.

Coming into Prescott Gabriel noticed this place and was convinced it was a play center for him and Michael.  He made us promise to stop there after going to the town square.  As we were leaving town he again reminded us to stop, but when we got there, we looked in the back seat to see he had fallen sleep.  We didn't worry too much though, it turns out this fun place was actually a dentist office... too bad it went out of business because I'm sure the boys would want to make this their new dentist office.

Until next time,
Angie

Celebrating Sparky style...

This was the first year in 4 years I was able to celebrate ASU Family Weekend with MY family... thanks to my friends in TPP, Gabriel and Michael are able to celebrate Sparky style!

 

 Go Sun Devils!

Until next time,
Angie

School dazes...

Today when I picked up the boys I found that Gabriel and Michael's teachers had both left me a letter.... again not a good sign...

Gabriel's teacher's note informed me that Gabriel has decided he no longer likes to take a nap at school and he doesn't think the other kids should take a nap either.  So, instead of being silent and lying quietly on his mat, he has decided to laugh and giggle out loud and then slide (or in Gabriel's term...slip) his mat over to the boy next to him to start playing.  After a firm talking to and a lesson about listening to the teacher Gabriel completed his first hand written letter.  This is what Gabriel will be taking back to school tomorrow...

And Michael... poor Michael... today while playing on the playground Michael got into a colony of fire ants.  Living in the desert I think we've all probably been stung by a fire ant or two, and learned our lesson to avoid them at any cost. Michael learned that lesson today by going into battle with a whole troop of fire ants.  He ended up losing the fight.  Two hours following recess and after scratching the bites unti his skin was scraped off, his teacher found his legs swollen, feverish and pussy.  After getting him home, cleaning him up and covering him in anti-inch medicine, here's his a shot of his battle wounds from today...

Tomorrow he'll be taking a note back to school too.  A note from Mommy that begs the teachers to keep him out of the wood chips!

Until next time,
Angie

I know I'm biased but...

how can one not agree; these boys are absolutely adorable...

Until next time,
Angie

The story behind a picture...

The other day I know I told a story about how Michael likes to carry the bag when we take Jack for a walk.  Can you guess what he did in this picture?

 Instead of carrying the bag in his hand he put the bag on just like one would put on a backpack.  I had to give him credit, I don't think I would have ever thought of that.

Michael and Jack have a love/hate relationship... sometimes they love each other but most of the time they, well, avoid each other.  Here is a rare moment of Jack and Michael sharing their love...

 The last time we went to the Library we checked out the old classic movie, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer... the boys LOVE the movie and since then have been playing Santa Claus and Rudolph.  Here's a shot of how to play Santa Claus and Rudolph.  Can you guess who is Santa and who got to be Rudolph?  (Note they wanted to wear red and white but it was a fall Saturday and you know who was playing)

 Oh and the toys in the "sleigh" were being delivered all over the house to the boys and girls across the world.


Gabriel is our early morning riser, sometimes he rises so early, it is actually the middle of the night.  We've gotten into the habit of letting him get up on his own and go do quiet activities.  The other morning (if you could call it morning yet) I heard something out in the living room, thinking it was a fan that was off balance or something I wandered to the living room to see this...

Should I dare say I'm looking forward to the day when they want to sleep in?  At least 5:30 a.m. would be nice on Saturday mornings!

Here is Michael's attempt at dressing himself..

This is progress... at least the pants and shoes were on the right way!

Until next time,

Angie