The rest of the weekend...

Friday, Niko ended up getting sick-the same thing that Matthew had the week before-croupy coughing, sore throat, tiered...So we stayed in on Friday; watched Christmas movies, did laundry, cleaned the house, took it easy-shmeasy...

Then on Saturday, Niko still sounded horrible, but felt better, so we kept our plans to go out to Catalina State park and do some hiking with the Stubblefields...We headed up the trail to some pools that are up there...It was a great trail...we were doing great-well, half of us were...

Matthew was being a particular pain in the butt. Someone turned on his "Let's-throw-all-we-know-about-respect-out-the-window-and-be-as-selfish-as-we-possibly-can-be-and-do-it-as-loudly-and-shockingly-as-we-possibly-can" button. So that made it a little challenging and stressful for some. And Niko was having trouble breathing with his chest issues...Rebekah wasn't feeling that great either...So we hiked in for about an hour and then split up. The half that were doing great-Brian, Mike, Bethany, James, and Aaron-were released to continue on, not held back by the chaos of a certain 7 year old or the justified moping of a 9 year old...We turned back...

We took a few pictures before we split up...

This is Mike and I struggling to get a smile out while we watch our child climbing up a rock almost falling onto a cactus...and as you can tell by the looks on our faces, we are halfway hoping he does...Is that bad? Can you guess which child it is?

Brian and Elena- Happy Birthday Elena!!!

Rebekah and Estevan...

The group that continued on made it to the pools. Reports are that it was beautiful and worth going back to for sure. they got back to the car after the sunset, but right before it was getting dark. They just made it.

The group that returned to their homes took showers and baths and got birthday dinner ready at our house...

Then it happened-a full-blown migraine exploded in my head. By the time Mike got back, I was ready to throw-up anytime I opened my eyes. It hasn't been that bad in a long time. I was incapacitated...

The Stubblefields came for dinner and Mike put everything together and entertained like a pro and made Elena's birthday dinner a success. He's my hero. I love him so much.

Sooo...after almost two years...we are once again a two car family...

We function so well with one car. We actually prefer it. It just simplifies things for us to have one vehicle...But we were running into issues, especially having a car with only five seats...

Squeezing four across the back seat when we needed to give people rides...

People coming to visit and having to rent a car to go anywhere...

Mike needing to go to Phoenix and one of the kids needing to be at a practice...

There are more things that kept coming up-more of convenience things than anything else...

The kids still love to walk to school, we have the grocery store just steps out our door, we don't do a heck of a lot of running around typically, we have several friends within a mile that are always willing to give us a ride where ever we need to go...

But we found a deal on a great vehicle. We are very happy and excited to introduce you to our new set of wheels:

It's a Toyota Land Cruiser. 4x4, third row seating, solid ride...Now that we have the Obama campaign stickers taken off, it couldn't be more perfect for our family.

Turkey Day 2010

Or plans for Thanksgiving Day were to have a quiet, cozy dinner with just the five of us. This was Carol's (Mike's stepmom) year to have Thanksgiving at their house for her side of the family. So they had a very full house.

(The timing of Jennifer having the baby on Thanksgiving couldn't be more perfect-all of the aunts, uncles, cousins were in town to meet little Mackenzie-what a gift!!)...

So, at any rate, we were planning to have a 'Clesceri day'. Early on in the week though, our good friends insisted we join them on Thursday. So we accepted. Niko, however, was a bit disappointed that we weren't going to be sitting around our table. So on Wednesday I somehow managed to distract them enough that they didn't realize I was cooking an entire Thanksgiving dinner (I kept the lights off in the kitchen and cooked.) They thought I was making what we were bringing to our friends the next day...Mike got home about 6:00 and I turned the lights on in the dining room, brought the turkey out, and Whah-Lah-instant Thanksgiving feast!

We were able to spend some time as a family talking about what we were thankful for. Sadly, Niko's mouth was bugging him because of his newly installed expander so he was unable to truly enjoy the feast, but we all enjoyed sitting around the table being the family that makes us 'us'


So then on Thursday, after a relaxing, low-key morning, we headed over to our friend's house. There were puzzles being made, conversations to be had, and food to be eaten...


The turkey was so moist and yummy!!

After our tummys were stuffed once again, we went for a walk...that involved a little jogging, walking through washes, climbing fences, and laughing to the point of crying...

Then we got back to finish up dishes and have pies...Bethany made a Nantucket Cranberry Pie that was a big hit. Definitely a keeper-YUMMMM....Mike made pumpkin pies from his homemade pumpkin glop-MMMMMM....and we had pecan pie too-Ahhhh....

Then we played cards (Hand and Foot) then called it a day...a GREAT day!

Another Baby Joins the Family

Our niece, Mackenzie Rae, was born Thursday morning at 8 am weighing 7 lbs 8 oz!!! That was a great way to start our Thanksgiving day!

Can't wait to meet her...

It's official-the drooling and speech irritations have begun for Niko. His expander went in this morning. He hasn't eaten much today because "food keeps getting stuck up in it"...This should be a fun week for him. Doesn't hurt too bad...yet. Would show a picture, but it's all behind his teeth, so not much to show...

My Thought of the Day

The distance of time can create a valley of awkwardness that fear and procrastination refuses to build a bridge over.

-AC

Monday was not special day for just us...at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, David Anthony was born weighing in at over 9 pounds!! He joins a family that is near and dear to our heart. His daddy, Tony, has been an awesome mentor to Mike over the past several years. We are so excited for them and can't wait to meet him :)

Also, today is my brother, Greg, and his wife, Jennifer's, 12th anniversary. They are such an example of strength and support to one another and are a beautiful, fun, amazing couple! Happy Anniversary you two! We love you!

13 Years and Counting...

Monday Mike and I celebrated our 13th year of being married...

It has been an incredible 13 years. At church on Sunday, I was reminded once again of God's incredible faithfulness to us through the past thirteen years and how His unchangeable faithfulness will continue to be with us in the next 60+ years...We are so blessed-in the joys, successes, victories, failures, challenges, tears, and laughter-we are BLESSED!!

We celebrated by having a picnic at Reid Park during his lunch hour. It was peaceful and fun.

We watched the birds...and C-130' land one after another...

Mike played with his new Nerf gun...

We took a walk through the Rose Garden...

"Where's Waldo?"

The garden smelled sooo good...

Dance Recital

Mike's going to have to show me how to compress videos. Bethany had a beautiful dance recital on Friday night with the Waves of Praise dance group she does each week. I only took a few still photos, but took a ton of video-they're all just too big to upload or email...

Waves of Praise is a class that uses tambourines, flags, and streamers to dance in worship. I guess it's an interpretive-type dance class. All the movements they do mean something. So they put the Word of God to dance. It's very interesting and very beautiful.

The recital was great and can't wait to share the videos with you all.

Last weekend was a busy weekend, despite Matthew being home sick. Him and Mike spent a lot of time together :)

After Bethany's dance class on Saturday morning, I took the older two to Michael's to make a craft. The craft of the weekend was a make and take stocking. They did a great job and were very creative with their projects. We all made one for Matthew together.

Then it was off to grocery shop and fight all the Thanksgiving crowds-ugh...

The weather has been so nice and cool and beautiful this past week. Love having the doors and windows open all the time.

Track and Field

The 4th-6th graders at the school had a Track and Field event this afternoon/evening. Niko had it high on his priority list to be a part of it. There were about 5 different schools there from the district. It was kind of impromptu being that they found out about it last week. There was little preparing done for it. But the kids all showed up ad had a great time with it. Kind of got a taste of what a track meet could be like.

Both of the started with 100 meter dash...

Then they waited for the next event to get going...

Meanwhile Matthew kept the gals in the bleachers entertained...

the one in the pink shirt looks charmed...

The next even for Niko was the softball throw. He did really well. Good arm on him...

What's Matthew doing now? He seems to be done charming the gals...

He's intently reading the Bible, go figure...They don't call it a pocket Bible for nothin'

Way to go Bethany! She did fantastic on the softball throw as well!

They also did the shot put and the long jump...

There were definitely kiddos there that were more advanced and prepared than ours were. But we all had fun and Bethany and Niko put forth a great effort. They learned a little bit about what they can work on and how they can improve their technique and form...

Here are a few videos

NPE Budget Calculator

The company I work for Results Direct has won some awards. See attached: I have been working with the developers and designed an application that works awesome for calculating the show space for the NPE 2012 exhibit. You view it here.

We've had some days off and fun stuff since the last time we've talked :)

Bethany did awesome in her concert on Wednesday.

And then they had Thursday off of school.

Wednesday night Niko headed up to Prescott to take advantage of the day off and spend a long weekend with Grandma. They went to a museum, to a fort that was having live reenactments and fun activities. He had a great time with grandma and grandpa, as they always do, hanging out and doing some fun things too.

Meanwhile, back down here at home...Mike had to work still but the two other kids and I took advantage of some sales and found went on a mission to find Bethany some jeans. We did good! Three pairs of jeans and two shirts for 15.00 and some change-yeay!

Bethany had received an award for being such an exemplary student on the bus. Along with the award, she got a coupon to eat free at The Golden Corral. So, the three of us went out for a treat for lunch. We don't go out often, and even rarer is the occasion to go out to a place where they get to chose ANYTHING they want to eat. It was a highlight for them for sure. Matthew got a whole plate of fried okra (haha) but his favorite was 'puppy tails' AKA hush puppies :) Bethany definitely enjoyed her treat.

Sunday was a busy day of picking Niko up, visiting our old church in Gilbert, and then rushing home to attend and teach in our 2=1 marriage class we've been doing. It was a busy day for sure. and before we knew it we were starting Monday all over again.

Niko had ortho appointment #2 today-more impressions. After two more appointments next week he will have his expanders on...finally!

We're gearing up for another fun and busy Thursday-Sunday again...so stay tuned :)

Have a great week everyone...

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you to all who have fought, and continue to fight, to preserve freedoms and liberties that we continue to enjoy. Your sacrifice should never go unnoticed or be taken for granted.

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Bethany had a choir performance today at school. It was a concert in honor of Veteran's Day.


They went through each of the wars in the past century and honored it by singing a patriotic song from that era. It was very well done. Bethany had a speaking part. She did well remembering what to say.

The last song the choir sang a song and the audience harmonized with them by singing 'Oh Beautiful..." Bethany was chosen to lead the choir during this song, while the choir teacher led the audience. Bethany did very well with her parts.

Dr. Jaw!!!

'Dr. Jaw'...that's who will be giving Niko his new smile over the next year

Monday he went in to get his impressions. They also put in his spacers. His teeth have been pretty sore the past few days. He's been asking for soft things to eat.

He's got two more appointments before they actually put the expander on in two weeks. No ice, chewy things, or crunchy things for a while...And he'll have to break that habit of eating pencils too. :)

Weekend

This weekend they boys had a day event with Royal Rangers. Department of Homeland Security-ICE came out and displayed and explained some of their operations. The boys had a great time and learned a lot.

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Sunday, we all went up to Picatcho Peak. It was a beautiful day. We got a late start, so were limited on our daylight.

We got up to the Saddle and debated 1) if the boys could negotiate the trail up to the peak, and 2) if we had enough time to get back before the sun set.

We decided to continue on the trail for a little bit so the boys, who have never been beyond the saddle, could experience and get a feel for the trail.

Everyone was doing fantastic and overcoming their challenges. But we were just moving too slow to make it to the top. So we turned around with the hopes of coming back next time getting an earlier start and making a whole day out of it. Still a great day though and good family time.

pterodactyl

We got video of a constipated baby pterodactyl that is lost, confused and looking for a place to poo...

Okay, so maybe you didn't need to see that. This started as Mike imitating some complaining being done by Matthew...actually it was more whining about not being able to get down a rock...but nonetheless, Mike's imitation looked more like what I described above. So being the camera freak that I am, I had to record it...and share! :)

ISM Mobile Site

My current work at Results Direct I have been learning how to do mobile web sites and created a very simple mobile site. Here it is: http://ism.ws/2500

Matthew says I don't look like a mom anymore...I look like a grandma! Thanks, son, thanks... Why is that you, may ask?...

This would be because all of his grandmothers have one thing in common-SHORT HAIR...Hmmm?

Sooo, guess what?


Can you guess what I went and done today?


It's been a long while since I've done it...


I made a donation to Locks of Love

And now I have a new do...I guess it's a 'grandma' do according to some, but a new do nonetheless.


Note: I do not mind having a 'grandma' do at all. That is actually a compliment. All of Matthew's grandmothers are beautiful, youthful, and I hope to look half as good as them when I reach their age :)

MSTFF 2010-Field Trip

Bethany went with her class today to the Math and Science Fun Fest in downtown Tucson. They have been looking forward to this for a few weeks....

The MSTFF is a collaborative effort between Raytheon, SciEnTeK-12, The
University of Arizona, IBM, Honeywell, Pima Air & Space Museum, US Expo,
local schools, and other partners to show students a real-life perspective of
many diverse sciences.

Aside from the much anticipated nitrogen ice cream, there were several other booths and displays to explore and learn about...Like making a helicopter spinning thing-a-ma-jig...

like a big chunk of quartz that was over 2,000 lbs!! Wowee...

...and a huge rocketry display. Every rocket you can think of....Including some homemade, armature examples. They did some launching also...

Bethany also made a poky, prickly cactus-roots and all. And she got to see the power and intensity of solar energy as it melted a penny out of shape...Their group participated on other learning adventures about the body, nature, animals, math and had a grand time...