Showing posts with label traditions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label traditions. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Year 2

Last year, on my birthday, we began a tradition that I hope to continue for a long, long time. I decided to take a picture of the kids, in the same spot, in the same pose, on the same day every year.

Here is last year's picture:

Delaney was 3 and Brody was 2! It seriously seems like last week, not last year!
 

This past Friday night we headed to my folks house (I never call my parents that, just trying it out:) for dinner and I knew I needed a picture. Brody was less than cooperative, but with some solo pictures of Delaney and some super praise, he came around....for like a second. So here are a couple from Friday:

 
 

 
 
So here is the best one....Delaney 4 1/2 and Brody 3.
August 17,2011
August 17, 2012
 
 
 
There they are...my little babies.

 

Btw...I got an iPad for my birthday (can I get oh yeah!) and I am trying to figure out how to blog on it, so please bear with me:)




 

 

 

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Family Fun at the Fair!

It seems as if April and October are two of the busiest months of the year. It just so happens that those are the months Delaney and Brody were born in. Seriously, though, there is a crap ton that goes on during those two months. So much so, that I had to wait until May to post about it. The Pima County Fair comes to town each year in April and we love to go. Now, I am a big chicken when it comes to rides. Like a big chicken- like the Big Red Chicken that is on Dora big. I have this unheatlhy ability to freak myself out and then get freaked out about the possibility of something freaking the kids out. Ugh, freaky deaky. Moving on.... we headed out to the fair. This was our first time sans the stroller . Daylen was with us, but had hurt his back and wasn't going to ride any rides. The kids were awe struck. They were looking around, walking into people's crotches (totally eye level people- so funny), and begging to go on rides. We bought our "tickets" (which is just a card they load a number on, which I find rather difficult because who wants to do subtraction at the fair? I would much rather just count how many I have left) and headed straight to the merry-go-round. Delaney is big enough to ride by herself on many rides, but we had to ride some with Brody. So Eric and I loaded the kids on the ride and I braced myself for the lovely circular motion paired with the smell of fried food and sweaty people and I try not to vomit. I soon forgot all the crap that was going on around us and just watched the kids and listened to the squeals and I was good.




We made our way to the petting zoo. Last time, the goats were munching on Delaney's hair, so we made sure to prepare for that ahead of time. Once we were in, we immediately noticed this totally pissed off pregnant goat. She was head butting everything and any one that got her way. She was seriously mean! There were these cute little prego pot belly pigs and she was shoving them too! We did not stay too long in there.
This is actually the tiger exhibit thing

Petting the babies
A jackass and a cute little donkey (just kidding babe...luv u)

We made our way to kiddie section. The kids were totally excited. The Bumble Bees were there again this year and Delaney begged to go on them. I believe this ride needs to be retired or at least severely maintained. It was scary sketchy. The ride grinded (way loud) the entire time. Eric and Brody's bee may or may not have made it completley to the top and when the ride did go up, it squealed like the bee was about to fall to it's death at any moment. I realize it doesn't make me 'the cool mom' to white knuckle it on a kid's ride, but this one was way freaky folks. Brody spied the Monster Truck ride while we were on the Death Bees and quickly made it known that he wanted to ride them. He really wanted D-man (Daylen) to go on it with him, so being the good big brother he is, he climbed in and endured the bumpy ride (yes Eric and I seemed to had forgotten at this point about his back, so we felt awful, but I know they both had fun).

Not excited at all!
On the freaky bees




This thing hauled booty! Poor Daylen, but Brody was on cloud 9
Pilot Brody
Flying the helicoptor

At this point, we had made it through half the fair with no incident. I should have known. We decided to get something to eat and as we were walking Delaney let out this bloody murder scream. For reals, the Piggly Wiggly people came out to see what was happening, there was a small crowd staring, wondering what the hell was going on. I immediatly pick her up and am searching for a scorpion, a bee, a wasp, a snake even. I ripped her shoes off of her, rubbed her down basically, all the while she is purple and passing out (cuz that's how she rolls) and Eric is involved in the search. What was it? A grasshopper. Yep, one of those jumping grasshoppers jumped onto her leg and she flat out freaked. She kept reliving it until Eric "stomped on it" (it has since jumped onto another unsupecting kid) and then she was fine.

Not into the 'music'
Delaney was in awe of the mega drop

We got some amazing sonoran dogs and fries and sat down to listen to the music. The music was awful. I guess it would've been nice, if you enjoy that screaming kind. The kids hated it too, but we pointed out the Mega Drop ride and they were enamored with it. We decided to walk over and watch it a little closer. I do not know how people ride that ride. Staight up crazy. Speaking of crazy, Delaney and Brody saw the big, enormous slide and wanted to try it. I'm not sure what I was thinking when I agreed, but we headed up to the top. In case you don't know me, or remember, I have a slight, paralyzing fear of heights. We had decided that Delaney would sit with Eric and Brody would be with me. About half way up, I began to have 'the fear'. I comtemplated turning around, leaving my 3 year old and heading back down the stairs, but the line behind me was too long. So instead, I pressed on, yelling at poor Brody the whole time to hurry up. We get to the top, Eric sits down and they load Delaney on. I sit down and my heart was pounding. They put Brody on my lap, and the crazy slide lady tries to push us! I watched as Eric and Delaney FLY down the slide and completely regret my decision to be brave. The lady tries to push me again and I hang on to the rail until she tells me to let go. Special moment, let me tell ya. So there we go- sliding down the mammoth hill and poor Brody is grabbing my jeans so tightly as I was trying to slow us down by pushing my legs out. Needless to say, we made it. Delaney LOVEd it. Brody, not so much. He and I decided no  more slide.

We ended up back at the kiddie area and Delaney wanted to go on the kid version of the enormous slide which was still ginormous. Eric told her she could go by herself and I was less than pleased. I imagined her getting half way up, her legs freezing and her wanting to turn around (oh wait, that was me). Well she shocked the you-know-what outta me. I watched her as she pranced her cute little booty up the slide with the sack thrown her over her shoulder, watched her sit and then watched her fly down the slide. I was shocked. She was so flippin brave. She actually cried because we did not have anymore tickets and she couldn't go again.

There she goes....all alone....
I was still shocked at this point
Big. Ass. Slide.
THere she goes!
Made it!
Such a big girl

The evening was topped off with some fried Snickers and enormous ice cream cones. The fair delivered, but I would expect nothing less when it comes to my family.


Saturday, January 7, 2012

Christmas at last


Christmas morning came early. At 7:30 Delaney was ready to go downstairs. The big kids spent the night and we told the littles to go wake Kaylie up- super fun! We went downstairs, the kids completely missed all the present s that took over our living room and went right to where the cookies and milk had been set out for Santa. They were shocked to see that Santa had eaten the cookies and the Coors Lite glass that had once been full of milk, sat empty next to the plate. It was then that they turned around and saw that Christmas had come with a vengeance. This is the first time that we have had all four kids on Christmas morning. I have to admit, it is difficult! I had a hard time paying attention to each kid! Daylen got a new scooter, Kaylie got a pair of socks with some money in it, Delaney got the Strawberry Shortcake Berry Bitty Market and a Strawberry Shortcake Doll- and let's not forget about the dinosaur she wanted (it was stuffed with no babies in it's belly) and Brody got an airport table and a firetruck. Oh and Opie and Sandy each got new dog beds!





Delaney noticing that Santa came.

Brody's airport

The big kids checking out their Santa presents

Can't drag Brody away to open his stocking


We let them open their stockings and then it was on! Christmas paper was a flyin'. Brody was very diligent in his opening. He pretty much made confetti by the time he was done with each package and each time he would say, "Dat's what I wanted!" Delaney wanted each new toy out of the box immediately. After the last present had been opened, we "cleaned" up and had breakfast. Eric's mom and step-dad came over mid morning and the kids opened more presents.


Kaylie with her sparkling cider and new shirt that says, "Cool story bro, tell it again", a phrase that she used constantly not to long ago


The big kids left around 2:00 while the littles were napping and we prepared for round 3. My family came over around 3:00 with a CRAP ton of stuff. Our little living room became teeny tiny fast. The kids were totally excited! We must have opened presents for an hour and a half. Sadly, I only took 3 pictures due to the fact that I was a crazy person opening presents, passing presents out, opening presents that weren't even for me- whew-crazy lady.

Christmas again!

Brody's helmet

And another blurry picture of Brody man

Dinner was at our house- paper plates and all. I could not believe the amount of stuff that we got- our kids are BLESSED- no doubt about it. I want them to know and understand how lucky they are to have a family like they have. The kids went bed early that night and Eric and I crashed on the couch shortly after.
It is so exhausting having kids and doing Christmas, but totally worth it.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Christmas- part deux

Christmas Eve came outta nowhere. Like for real. As much as I thought I was ready and full on told people that I was totally done shopping and wrapping and ya know, pretending to be Superwoman.... I wasn't. But at a certain point, I knew I could do no more. Christmas Eve morning, Delaney and I went to my mother-in-law's house for our annual baking get together. This was the first year Delaney got a chance to help out. I have no pictures, not sure why.... but still a good time.

Church was at 5:00 that night. Of course we end up sitting behind the one scrooge in Tucson... so Brody was hacking a little bit- so was the lady right next to her and she wasn't giving her dirty looks. And yes, when Brody tells us to "be quiet" he is saying in a voice that is just below a yell, but it's Christmas and he was excited. I think he dropped his cup half a dozen times, sat on everyones lap in the family and had a crap load of popcorn, but that's okay. He's two. Delaney sat with Kaylie- she misses seeing her sister more. When it came time to light the candles, I get all teary eyed. I literally memorized the moment realizing that they will never again be 2 and 4 on Christmas Eve. My moment was cut short because Brody was on the verge of catching my mom on fire with her candle, so I had to think fast. After church, I made everyone brave the cold weather and take a picture, cuz that's how I roll.

Waiting for the service to start with Mimi and P-Paw

Telling Kaylie that he sees Christmas!


My family.


After church we always go back to my parent's house for chili and White Christmas. This year was a little different because my dad was on a trip, but got to come home Christmas Eve! My mom went to pick him  up while we ate! I wish I had gotten a picture of when my dad walked through the door. He was still dressed in his uniform (airline pilot) and Delaney says, "Wow, look it's pilot Granddaddy!" She was so cute! Anyway, while we were at church, one of Santa's elves left some cozy Christmas jammies for the kids so it was time to change into them, but not before I snapped some pictures because I just loved Delaney's dress and I know that I probably won't be able to get away with dressing her like this for too much longer.

A little dark, but I love this picture!



Joe, Danielle and my little nephew in there

Our kiddos:0)

Kaylie and Me


Mimi and the boys
My grandparents with my kids
Mimi with all the girls (except mom)
Daylen and Brody

Delaney in her new Christmas jammies. I love this picture.
Brody's new face- constantly.
My kids with my grandparents:)
Eric and the kids throwing the reindeer food on the driveway

Christmas Eve was a success. When we got home, we put on a pot of coffee and finished wrapping presents and Eric being the great dad he is, stayed up until 2:00 am putting together Brody's Santa present:)
I love it.

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