Tallaortega Days & Nights

Anyone out there??

2012-02-20T07:19:00.002-06:00

Not really sure if anyone is still reading our blog, especially since we haven't posted since the end of October!!! Geesh!! I guess since a couple of family members have made comments about no updates, there must be a reader or two out there still checking. Funny because I used to make fun of my friends for "never" posting.......

So, what have we been up to since October? Lots of the same old same old and lots of other fun stuff. Of course, my brother and I walked in the 3-Day (but that's a post in and of itself), we celebrated Turkey Day, we geared up for Christmas and a visit from Lela (Jaime's mom), the boys started gymnastics, we did a few touristy things (Sealife Aquarium, The DMA, Dallas Zoo, Texas Discovery Gardens, The Dallas Symphony, ICE! @ The Gaylord Texan, Medieval Times), celebrated Christmas, rang in the New Year, and had lots of fun around the house - and that's just November and December! So, here's the shortest November/December catch up I could manage...........

The Month of Pumpkins!!

2011-10-31T19:56:00.009-05:00

October was a busy month and full of fall fun and pumpkins as can be expected.

We enjoyed some welcome rain, spent time with family, visited a few pumpkin patches, enjoyed a Halloween concert at the Morton Meyerson Symphony Center, spent a day with friends at the Dallas Arboretum, played at home, carved pumpkins, went to the farmers market, celebrated fire safety month, attended a workshop at the Dallas Museum of Art, celebrated my 40th birthday, attended a community festival, enjoyed cooler weather, and, of course, went trick-or-treating. So, as has become usual, here is a recap of our October - hope you enjoy!!

Ft. Worth Alliance Air Show

2011-10-23T21:50:00.001-05:00

Whenever we have the chance, and our schedule allows, we like to attend the Ft. Worth Alliance Air Show. We were able to attend the show a couple years ago, and wanted to head back again this year. It was neat to see how much more the boys enjoyed it now that they are a little older (and we brought along proper ear protection). It's technically a "free" event, except that you have to pay for parking and any refreshments you want on-site. I think it's a wonderful way to spend the day with my family, and I think we are already planning to attend next year.

The State Fair of Texas!!

2011-10-04T19:51:00.004-05:00

We lucked out and got to attend the State Fair of Texas with some of our family this year. The Fair is a totally different experience when visiting with young people, but it's still one of my favorites.

This year was the 125th anniversary the Texas State Fair, and it seems to get better and more expensive every time we attend. Despite having to take out a second mortgage to pay for everything, we still managed to have loads of fun, stay up too late, see KC & the Sunshine Band, and eat plenty State Fair food. The boys LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it.

September

2011-09-30T19:44:00.004-05:00

A look back at our September........

Ahoy Mateys!! Our Pirate Party!!

2011-09-03T22:35:00.000-05:00

Here it is, the long awaited pirate birthday party video!!

Despite my reservations about hosting a party with 35 guests in 106 degree weather at our house, it actually turned out pretty well (at least that's what I think). We had loads of activities and games, many of which we never even had time for, and plenty of food. We got to dress like pirates, create telescopes, engage in sword fights, walk the plank, earn gold doubloons, pop cannonballs, hunt for treasure, eat cake, make messes, and have lots of other fun.We even got to eat a delicious and beautiful strawberry treasure chest cake and plenty of yummy pirate banana cupcakes all lovingly baked and designed by my good friend Erin. Thank you Aunt Erin!!!!

I think the kiddos and even a few adults had a good time. Happy 4th Boys! Enjoy the video:

Other bits and pieces

2011-08-31T08:42:00.001-05:00

Yep, still working my way through all those birthday photos and video clips!!! The good and the bad of digital photography I guess. In the meantime, here is our video of all the other miscellaneous stuff we did during the month of August.

Rainforest Cafe and Legoland Discovery Center

2011-08-30T20:42:00.000-05:00

While I wade through the 447 files from the boys party, I thought I'd post on a couple other things.....

Back in January I bought pre-opening tickets to the Legoland Discovery Center that they were opening in Grapevine this year. I chose the day after the boys party because I thought it would be a fun addition to the party weekend, and because I thought they might enjoy it more if they were closer to four instead of three.

My friend Cass bought tickets for herself and her son Lucas, and we all went together deciding to eat at the Rainforest Cafe (in the same mall) beforehand. I bought leftover birthday cupcakes to lunch and the waitstaff sang to the boys while making them stand and beat on their chests like gorillas. It's very dark in the restaurant so it's hard to see much in the video.

We then headed to Legoland and had a great time. The kids could "do" everything they had available there. We saved the princess, rode on a "flying" thing-a-ma-jig, saw a couple 4D movies, and played with tons of Legos. It was pretty busy, but the kids didn't seem to mind one bit. Connor spent a lot of time in the climbing structure building with big Legos, and Alex spent a bunch of time designing and testing Lego cars. We ended up spending six hours in the mall between the two places, and everyone was VERY tired by the end of the day. Here is a small peek at our day:

Happy 4th Birthday Boys!!!

2011-08-30T00:01:00.002-05:00

I have a "rest of August" post, a Rainforest Cafe & Lego Discovery Center post, and, of course, a 4th birthday post to catch up on here.....

I just don't think I am going to get them all in before the end of the month. So, here is a big Happy 4th Birthday wish to our boys on their special day, and a sneak peek at the theme of this year's party!!!

Happy Birthday to our boys!!!!!!

Highland Village Balloon Festival

2011-08-21T23:14:00.001-05:00

So, there was this small balloon festival that we weren't sure we wanted to go to. The thought of waking up the boys on purpose didn't sound especially appealing for a Saturday morning. So we told the boys that, if they happened to wake up early, we would go and see some hot air balloons.....

Little did I realize that Alex would wake up at 2:00 in the morning asking to sleep with me so that he wouldn't miss the balloons!! Then it was Connor's turn. He work up sometime between 2:00 and 6:00am concerned about the same thing. I told them I would set my alarm and make sure everyone was awake.

6:00 in the morning came much too quickly for my taste and I remained unconvinced that waking my sleeping children was a good idea. I decided that I would sneak into their room and whisper that anyone who wanted to see balloons needed to wake up. Alex immediately hopped out of bed and ran down the hallway with Connor not far behind. And so it was decided that we would attend the Highland Village Balloon Festival.

We dressed and grabbed a few bananas and headed out. When we arrived, we found a good spot for our picnic blanket and then enjoyed a pancake and burrito breakfast while watching the balloons. After they all took off, it was time to play with our free Smoky Bear Frisbees for a bit before checking out the car "show" and then some of the vendors. Once it started to get too hot and there wasn't much going on, we headed toward the house stopping along the way for some homemade ice cream, lunch, and a little shopping.

It turned out to be a great Saturday morning and everyone even took an afternoon nap!! Guess that's the bonus of waking your kids up before the sun.

A Day with Trev & Family

2011-08-19T20:41:00.000-05:00

My brother Trevor is in transition from one job to another and found himself with a few days off. He mentioned wanting to stop by and see our house before he starts training next week, and somehow that quickly turned into all of us going to Hawaiian Falls together. What Fun!!

Molly, Trev and the kids are season ticket holders and wanted to check out a different location as a little day-stay-cation before Trev starts working again and the kids head back to school. How lucky that they not only invited us, but they had free buddy passes as well. They picked the Roanoke location which is the newest park and looked like it had some pretty cool rides. It was a compact and totally fun place. We spent the day sliding, climbing, riding the waves, floating (flying) around the lazy river, getting soaked, eating, and mostly staying cool.

Even though the days are still over 100 degree mark, most of the places to cool off are closing down during the weekdays and will be closed for the season after Labor Day weekend. How nice that we got to finish out the "Summer" with some of the Schreier's. They never did get to come by and see the house, but I guess that's okay since they'll be here next weekend for the boys 4th birthday party ;o)

Because of all the water, I wasn't able to get many photos or videos, but here's a compilation of what we did get:

Tyson's 5th Birthday

2011-08-13T22:51:00.000-05:00

Tyson insisted on having an outdoor horse riding party in the middle of August. So, Molly found a camp with lots of activities, including horseback riding, and set the date. The party was scheduled for the morning hours in the hope that we might escape the record breaking temperatures just a bit.....

What an excellent birthday surprise when the Metroplex woke up to RAIN this morning!! Just enough to cool everything off for a comfortable and fun birthday celebration. As a matter of fact, the temperature never rose above 90 degrees today!! What a treat since the rest of the week should be right back up around the 107 mark. I think all the kiddos really enjoyed being outside helping Tyson celebrate his 5th birthday.

Swimming!!

2011-08-08T10:39:00.000-05:00

After seeing one of our previous videos, Landri and Avery decided they wanted to check out the Coppell Aquatic Center with us. So they came over yesterday, we packed up the cooler, and we all headed out for some summer fun at the pool. The kids had a great time jumping, climbing, leaping, sliding, and swimming. We almost didn't notice it was 107 degrees.....almost. Afterward, we headed back to the house for some rest and dinner before saying goodbye. It was a great day and we hope they come out and join us again soon.

First Dental Visit

2011-08-03T20:30:00.000-05:00

The boys finally had their first dental visit yesterday. Other than having to wait too long to see the dentist, it was fun. The boys did GREAT!!

They showed the x-ray technician how they could open their mouths like lions, they listened to the hygienist, payed attention to the dentist, and even reminded me that they couldn't eat or drink for 30 minutes. Both their teeth looked good, although Alex has a few little spots that could turn into his first cavities and the dentist had to remind him not to eat the toothpaste or his grown up teeth would also be discolored. They got the usual toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss on their way out and then they each got a bonus balloon animal as well. They are already looking forward to their next appointment in 6 months.

The rest of July

2011-07-31T22:30:00.001-05:00

So, as much as I didn't think I liked these "catch up" posts and videos....I suppose it's really the best way when I only have a couple photos of everything. I mean, how interesting is a post about our trip to the movies with only a photo or two?? Or a post about another trip to Lowe's to attend their build and grow workshops? I think it's way more fun to see a re-cap of everything instead, what do you think?

Anyhow, we've been mostly trying to stay indoors during our 100 degree plus temperatures. We did venture out to two different aquatic centers, we went over to my friend's house for kid swim day, we explored the local farmer's market, and we built and filled our sandbox. The rest of the month was spent indoors enjoying Lowe's Build and Grow projects, swimming lessons, library visits, indoor play spaces, roller skating, story time theater, hanging out at home, hanging out with family, and our first "full length" movie theater movie: Winnie the Pooh. The boys did great overall, but thought we had to wait too long before the movie started. Good thing we got the giant bucket of popcorn to keep them busy, and they finished the entire thing!! So, without further ado...here is our "The Rest of July" video:

Our 4th of July

2011-07-13T09:43:00.000-05:00

OK, so it's the 13th of July, but things seem to be running a little behind around here lately. We had a great 4th of July weekend hanging out with Trav and Trev and their families. We had a BBQ and some small fireworks on Saturday (there was a burn ban in Midlothian this year), then we hit the Ft. Worth Science Museum on Sunday followed by tasty Mexican food, then it was "pool" time and house work on Monday the 4th capped off by a great festival featuring the Grand Funk Railroad and fireworks in Flower Mound. Unfortunately my camera ran out of batteries Saturday evening and then wasn't functioning properly the rest of the weekend, so I only snapped a few pictures and videos...Still, here's what we got:

What Happened to June??

2011-07-05T22:22:00.000-05:00

Well, it's been a month since we closed on the house....we've moved in and actually started getting some furniture. We are still waiting for the roof and gutters to be finished after over 5 weeks or so, (it was part of the "deal" when we bought the house and the seller picked a really terrible roofing company), but we are settling in and trying to wrap or heads around being actual homeowners.

Of course we've been up to a bunch of other things as well. Playing, swimming, skating, local events, spending time with friends, and hanging out. The weather here is crazy hot, so if it doesn't involve water it better be somewhere inside!!! Here is a recap of what our June looked like:

SOLD!

2011-06-03T20:22:00.000-05:00

Well, it looks like the Traveling Wilburys actually bought a house!! We closed today and now have a lot of work ahead of us....but, we have a house. Here are just a couple pics from today:

Our House

Water, Water & More Water!!!

2011-06-01T20:56:00.000-05:00

Our Memorial Day weekend was filled with lots of water activities and BBQ!! First we were invited to a Wacky Water Party where the boys played tons of fun games, ate yummy food and snacks, and got totally wet. Next we headed over to another friends house for delicious fajitas and swimming. Then we hosted Trav and the girls at our apartment pool for MORE swimming and more BBQ. Needless to say it was a weekend spent in our swimsuits!!! Too much fun!

The Sci Tech Discovery Museum

2011-05-20T19:42:00.002-05:00

I had to return a few overdue books to the library on our "old" side of town, so we called up our friend Liam and had his mommy meet us at the Sci Tech Discovery Museum in Frisco for some fun. They had an "in-between" exhibit of trains as well as their usual fun stuff and a couple new surprises. Once the school groups left, all three boys had a blast playing, exploring, and eating pancakes which, it turns out, also happen to be a science experiment. We had time for some lunch and more playing at a local restaurant before heading back home to beat the impending storms. We can't wait to do it again!

Brenham & San Antonio

2011-05-17T00:48:00.000-05:00

Back when it was still winter, my friend Cass suggested we take a trip to San Antonio. She works for the Westin and gets some great rates, so we randomly chose the weekend of Jaime's birthday and booked out rooms.

The last time we went to the Westin La Cantera together was when I was first pregnant with the boys, and, although we had a great time, it was too cold to enjoy all the amenities. This time we picked a warmer weekend and also invited some more friends.

We all met Lori and Jeff back when we were all childless and had time for a regular cooking club. Since then, Lori and Jeff have also added to their family and relocated to Brenham, TX where the delicious Blue Bell ice cream is made. We "convinced" Lori and Jeff to join us in San Antonio, and they invited us to spend a night in Brenham.

Lori cooked a wonderful dinner for everyone in her home on Thursday night, and then Friday morning we enjoyed the Blue Bell creamery tour (side note: Blue Bell doesn't allow photos during the super short tour) before heading on to San Antonio. We hung out at the resort the rest of the day and then had a lovely dinner at one of the restaurants.

Saturday was more time at the resort, a stroll, lunch, and a boat ride on the Riverwalk, a stop by the Alamo, and then a birthday dinner for Jaime back at the hotel.

Sunday we just lazed around the resort before making the traffic and potty stop filled journey back to Dallas. Of course it was a fun and relaxing weekend hanging out and catching up with friends.

Could it be??

2011-05-09T22:30:00.000-05:00

Well, Jaime started working for a company in Las Colinas called Terremark almost a month ago. He's still settling in, and hopes to have his own customer or two soon. So far he seems to really like it.

Just before he began his new job, we moved into a temporary apartment in Irving so that we would be closer to Las Colinas. It's a three bedroom and they have a great pool, plus it's a VERY short commute for Jaime, so we are enjoying ourselves here while we look for a house.

It seems like we've been looking at houses since before Christmas, although I'm pretty confident we didn't start until sometime after that. We've looked at tons and tons of houses on-line, and, as I'm sure our realtor would agree, we seen many, many, many houses in person. While we've found a couple that we liked, none have really worked out for us....until now.

Last week we decided to look at a house that was a bit older than we originally wanted and that needs a little more work than we originally wanted to put into a house. We liked it. It's still close to Jaime's work, and, with a little negotiation, we were able to settle on a price. The inspector came out today, and, for the most part, everything looks good. So, we are moving forward!!

Can you believe the traveling gypsies might actually settle down for a little bit? Ha!! We can't either!!! Here's a sneak peak at the house we just might get:

Mother's Day Weekend

2011-05-08T21:13:00.000-05:00

Here we are....my 4th year celebrating Mother's Day as a mommy.

This year my friend Cass organized a Saturday morning picnic at the amazing Celebration Park in Allen. Several families joined in, and the kids had a blast running through the spray park and playground.

On Sunday, Jaime and I took the kiddos to Mayfest in Ft. Worth. We enjoyed fun activities, good bands, and tasty food. Our favorite stations though were the free ones put on by Tom Thumb and the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife. Once again, it was a great Mommy's Day weekend.

The Greatest Generation

2011-04-26T20:39:00.001-05:00

How fortunate for us to have taken that unexpected road trip to WI earlier this month. How fortunate for us that we got to spend one last week with my grandpa. How fortunate for us that we were there to help celebrate his 86th birthday. How fortunate for us to have had Robert L. Schreier in our lives for as long as we did. How fortunate for us to have known him.......

On April 20th 2011, we lost another member of our greatest generation, my Papa. He was the kindest, the silliest, the truest, and the most generous and patient person I've ever known. He was outgoing and fun and always had a story to share, a hand to lend, or a corny joke to tell. He was my hero, and I'll miss him beyond words.

God saw the road was getting rough,

The hills were hard to climb.

He gently closed those loving eyes

And whispered "Peace be thine,"

The weary hours, the days of pain,

The sleepless nights are passed.

The ever-patient worn out frame

Has found sweet rest at last.

God saw you were getting weary

So he did what He thought best;

He came and stood beside you

And whispered, "Come and rest!"

You bade no one a last farewell,

Not even a good-bye,

You were gone before we knew it

And only God knows why.

~ taken from the funeral card

Avery's Birthday

2011-04-21T06:50:00.000-05:00

Avery turned five years old earlier this month. Wow, I can't believe that many years have passed already. We headed out to Trav's on a Saturday and helped her celebrate on Sunday. It was a great party complete with a bounce house, horses, BBQ by Trav, a pinata, a Tinkerbell cake, and a very happy and tired girl. Happy Birthday Avery!!!

Another Day at the Zoo

2011-04-20T06:45:00.001-05:00

Beautiful weather almost demands a trip to the zoo. We decided to hit the Ft. Worth Zoo one more time as a family before Jaime started his new job. We didn't know the dinosaurs would be there!! It was a fun and beautiful day.

Texas Bluebonnets

2011-04-18T18:50:00.000-05:00

The official flower of Texas and a Spring tradition here in the Lone Star State.....

An Unexpected Road Trip

2011-04-07T20:24:00.000-05:00

In less than 3 hours we found ourselves in the car making the 16+ hour journey to Wisconsin for an unexpected road trip. We thought we were heading up to see my grandfather one last time before attending his funeral later in the week. Two days after we arrived, things took a 360 degree turn and he started getting better slowly but surely. He is now in rehab trying to make his way back to his apartment in an assisted living community.

Although it didn't start out under the best circumstances, it ended up being a great trip. We had been meaning to get up to Wisconsin to visit, but we were waiting for Jaime to find a job and have a start date to finalize the plans. I guess we needed a little push to head up. We spent just over a week hanging out with my grandpa in the hospital, helping him celebrate his 86th birthday, and visiting with family. Now we are back in Dallas and prepping for a move into a furnished temporary apartment and getting ready for Jaime to start his new job in just over a week. More on all that sometime soon....

Spring Break 2011

2011-03-23T21:46:00.000-05:00

Okay - so every week is pretty much Spring Break in our house, right? Actually, we tried to lay a little low during Spring Break here in Dallas. We wanted to avoid all the other kids and families who would be crowding all our favorites spots. We still managed to have a little fun though.....

Where have we been?

2011-03-07T19:21:00.010-06:00

I knew we hadn't posted in awhile, and I actually had a couple posts in draft status....and I'd been meaning and meaning to write......and then my cousin sent me an e-mail and mentioned that she missed reading about the boys...That's when I realized an entire month had passed without publishing. So,once again, I'm here to do a quickish update post with a random montage of photos and videos. Hopefully someone is still reading this blog.

So what have we been up to? Well, we headed to the Dallas Zoo a couple more times. Once with Connie and the girls and again with the Alex & Connor's friend Lucas. We hung out in Midlothian, rode bikes, played at parks, celebrated Trevor's birthday, built a fire pit and made a great fire, played in the snow when it snowed again, played dress up, went to a friend's birthday party, worked out with Uncle Travis, played some more, went to lots of parks, rode bikes again, did lots of Valentines art, went to a Valentine's party, baked cookies, hit the museum, fed the ducks....and generally repeated as necessary. Here's our video re-cap for February, hope we won't be such slackers in March even though my constant companion camera is broken beyond repair and I haven't gotten a replacement yet.

Dinosaurs Live!!

2011-01-28T07:58:00.001-06:00

We are back into some beautiful weather here in Dallas, so the boys and I ventured over to McKinney to visit the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary. This was the last week of their Dinosaurs Live exhibit and I thought the boys would really like it. Not only did they enjoy the dinos, but they liked the animals of the world and the Bugs! exhibits as well (GIANT roaches and spiders and such). We walked over a mile and a half before deciding to save some of the trails for another day. It is a beautiful place even in the winter, and I hope to return again soon.

Lowe's Build & Grow

2011-01-26T19:59:00.000-06:00

Twice a month Lowe's home improvement stores host Build and Grow clinics. The kids get a free apron and a pair of goggles and then get to work on their project of the day. After completion, they get a merit certificate and a cool patch to add to their apron. We attended both clinics this month and the boys loved it. They built a game box and a ball toss, and they are already looking forward to next months projects: a music box and a race car!!!

Let it Snow in Dallas!

2011-01-11T07:25:00.003-06:00

When I said that Friday would be the last day of good weather for awhile...I had no idea it meant we would see snow!

While we were spending the rest of the weekend with friends, the weatherman changed the forecast from really cold to really cold with SNOW. About mid-morning on Sunday the snow began to fall. The boys and their friend, Lucas, were super excited. They had a great day hanging out together and playing in the snow. The boys loved it so much, they just had to get out again on Monday to play a little more...

The Dallas Zoo

2011-01-10T07:34:00.004-06:00

When I heard Friday was the last day of good weather we'd be having for awhile (67 degrees), and then I found out that the Dallas Zoo was only $5 during January and February - Well, it just seemed logical that we go! Immediately.

I have always preferred the Ft. Worth Zoo over the Dallas Zoo because I remembered Dallas being very "concrete and cold." I always felt it was a barren and sad zoo, and just never went back over the past 15+ years. Well, it's not all concrete and sad anymore! They opened a new exhibit last May and it is quite beautiful. The children's area kept the boys interested for awhile. As a matter of fact, I had to pull them away to ride the monorail that runs through the Wilds of Africa Giants of the Savannah , and they LOVE anything that resembles a train.

We only had 3 hours to spend at the Zoo before it closed for the day, but it was enough to know we'd like to go back. Even Connor said that next time he wanted to stay all day. Heck, we might even get a season pass once we know where we'll be living!!

NYE Weekend 2010

2011-01-06T15:06:00.000-06:00

We had a great NYE weekend over at my brother Trav's house. We had tons of food, fireworks, games, grapes, and fun. On Saturday, we went to the park, sat on a horse, and celebrated Trav's 35th birthday with my other brother Trevor and his family. On Sunday we had a leisurely breakfast and then packed up the kids for the final day of Holiday in the Park at Six Flags over Texas....I don't think we could have squeezed anything else into our last weekend of 2010 and our first weekend of 2011. Happy New Year Everyone!!!

And...for the 4th week of Christmas (finally), plus more

2010-12-31T13:03:00.000-06:00

For the third week of Christmas...

2010-12-20T08:00:00.001-06:00

For the second week of Christmas...

2010-12-13T15:46:00.000-06:00

For the first week of Christmas...

2010-12-05T23:05:00.004-06:00

December, December....it's already here!!

This year we decided to create an activity advent calendar for the boys with various activities or treats counting down the days until Christmas. Anything from a Christmas Light Parade, to making ornaments, to eating candy canes...And, since we aren't going to torture anyone by posting on each and every activity, we've decided to do a "week in review" each Sunday/Monday instead. Here's what we were up to this past week:

Back in the U.S. of A

2010-12-01T10:05:00.004-06:00

Hard to believe we've almost been back in Dallas an entire month! Our flight was great and we're as settled in as we can be while intruding on family space.

We spent our first week getting all the "necessities" like a car and a phone and whatnot, and then Jaime got down to the business of looking for work. Lots of resumes sent out across the US, but nothing promising just yet.

Then it was Thanksgiving week...and now it's December!

Otherwise we've been hanging out and enjoying the TX weather fluctuations from 84 one day to 37 the very next day. We've been enjoying the local amenities from neighborhood parks to library story time, and we've been attending some of the many Christmas time activities throughout the metroplex. Here's a little video of our Dallas November:

See you in Dallas...

2010-11-08T02:53:00.002-06:00

For those of you who don't know...we are heading back to Dallas for awhile. It might take some time to get settled in and back on-line, but we'll certainly be up and posting as soon as we can. I'm sure we'll be up to lots of fun things especially with the Christmas season just around the corner.

Random Octoberness

2010-11-07T02:00:00.000-06:00

And here's the rest of what we were up to in October:

Family Picnic

2010-11-06T05:30:00.000-05:00

The day after Halloween was a holiday here in Spain, so we took the leftovers from our Halloween party and headed to the mountains/forest with the family for a picnic and some "hiking." It was a relaxing and delicious day.

H-A-L-L-O-W-E-E-N

2010-11-05T03:00:00.001-05:00

This past Sunday we decided to throw a Halloween bash as a sort of "Adios" party. It took some looking around and a few trips to different stores, but we found lots of goodies for our fiesta. Alex was Dracula and Connor a Rumba Guy. We had food, games, music, and fun. While it started off a little slow, it turned out pretty great in the end. Happy Halloween everyone!

Bodegas Monje & Icod de los Vinos

2010-10-28T02:09:00.000-05:00

We planned a trip back to Loro Parque one day last week, but decided to stop at the Bodegas Monje instead. I'm so glad we finally did. It was a beautiful day, a beautiful little winery, and we had our own private tour and tasting...

Afterward, we headed to Icod de los Vinos in search of a particular artisan Jaime liked on a previous visit. Because of all the traffic the artisans caused, the local government told them they could no longer sell their wares there...Oh well, we had to settle for some wandering around and a menú del día in a little cafe instead. It was rough, but someone had to do it.

Bugs, Bugs, Bugs!!

2010-10-26T02:53:00.005-05:00

Besame Mucho

2010-10-23T13:50:00.008-05:00

Los Gigantes and....

2010-10-18T12:18:00.004-05:00

We used my birthday this past weekend as an excuse to finally head out to Los Gigantes. Los Gigantes means "the giants," in Spanish and it describes the Acantilados de Los Gigantes which are vertical basaltic walls reaching heights of 500 metres (1640 feet) in some places. In the times of the aboriginals, the Guanches, they were known as the 'Walls of Hell."

We took a tour/whale/dolphin watching boat and headed out on a three hour tour. We got to see pilot whales, a couple dolphins, and plenty of beautiful cliffs and scenery. Afterward, we drove to Los Cristianos and hung out at Playa Las Vistas until it was time to head home.

Back at the casa, Jaime's family surprised me with some snacks, a cake, and gifts before Jaime and I headed out for some really delicious fusion tapas at a place called Victor Cruz in Santa Cruz. It was a full and wonderful 39th birthday!! Thanks boys!!!

September Catchup

2010-10-11T07:55:00.003-05:00

I always think that I won't need to do yet another "catch-up" post...but then the days keep passing by, and, before I know it...I need to do a "catch-up" post. So, here it is - what we've been up to since we visited our friends on El Hierro at the beginning of last month:

Our Friends on El Hierro (Video)

2010-09-16T16:58:00.012-05:00

Our friends, Eliza and Sergio, and their baby, Elliot, were recently transferred to the island of El Hierro, the smallest of the Canary Islands. Of course that meant we HAD to go and visit them as soon as they got mostly settled in. On the first Friday of September, we took the ferry and spent just over a week with them hanging out and exploring their new home.

We hung out around the house, had a BBQ, played the Wii, cooked, ate, visited and explored some of the island. The highlights of our exploring include:

Ermita de los Reyes - the Ermita is a small whitewashed church and the main destination of the local Herreños pilgrimages. Here they keep the statue of the Virgen de los Reyes - the patron saint of the island. Every four years, in her honor, they hold the Bajada Virgen de los Reyes - a tradition that began in 1741.

El Sabinar - The juniper groves in the west of the island have enjoyed environmental protection since 1975 and they have a very special feature. Their twisted shapes have been formed over centuries by the force of the wind and the climatic conditions which predominate in this area. Alex & Connor just call them the "bendy trees."

The Eco-Museo Poblado de Guinea -This, one of the three oldest settlements on the island with caves and volcanic corridors showing the way of life of the first inhabitants of the island - Bimbaches, and evolution of the construction industry since the times of Conquesu until the XXth century. It also includes a Lagartario where we saw the famous and highly endangered Lagartos Gigantes - the giant lizards of El Hierro.

Faro de Orchilla - a lighthouse marking the westernmost point of Spain. In the II century A.D. the Greek cartographer Ptolemy considered this western end of the island as well as the end of the known world, and he used it as a reference point to cartography and geographical calculations. In 1634 this point was officially set as the Prime Meridian (Meridiano Cero). It was functioning there until 1884, when it was replaced by the new one, passing through Greenwich.

Roque de la Bonanza - Another of the island’s emblems, this is a beautiful arch that rises 200m straight from the sea bed.

Mirador de la Peña - A beautiful overlook and restaurant designed by the famous architect, César Manrique.

We had a great time with our friends and, as always, our time together flew by. Thanks for letting us visit your new little island home!! Enjoy the video!!

Happy 3rd Birthday Boys!!

2010-08-30T12:45:00.003-05:00

End of Summer Fun

2010-08-28T13:44:00.004-05:00

We've been trying to keep busy and cool since my cousin left a couple weeks ago. We haven't been up to anything specific, just a bunch of this and that. I wanted to post a quick video before we celebrate the boys 3rd birthday tomorrow!! Crazy!! Then, next week, Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of yet another summer...sometimes the days are slow, but time sure does fly!! Enjoy our fun!!

We can do it!!!

2010-08-20T08:22:00.004-05:00

One day, while my cousin was visiting, the boys decided that they didn't need to use floaties to swim anymore.

So, they took them off and just "jumped" right in. They already think they are expert swimmers...which they just might be by the end of the swimming season.

It's amazing how much they learn on their own from one day to the next. We are happy that they are SO comfortable in the water, but now we need to be even more careful with them when they are near the water.

Here's a short video of what they are up to:

Kim and Megan visit Tenerife

2010-08-16T17:57:00.003-05:00

My cousin, Kim, and her daughter, Megan, made the trip from Oregon to Tenerife to spend 12 days with us on our little island...here's what we did:

...the rest of our 2010 US Tour

2010-08-10T17:51:00.002-05:00

Coming in at just under a month since our return...here is the final video of our recent stay in the States. It was nearly impossible to select just a "few" photos and videos, but we managed to do it!! Hope you like it!!

SO far behind....

2010-07-18T22:37:00.004-05:00

Our time in the States has just FLOWN by!! I find myself sitting here on the eve of our last full day, and I am already sad that we have to go. I can't believe 8 weeks went by "just like that."

I am so very far behind on the blog and we've done loads of fun things, but I've only had time to put together one more video. I'm working on one for the second half of the trip as well as one from our early celebration of the boys birthday too, but that will take a bit longer.

Here is a (long) look at our 4th of July week spent in WI. We hung out in Germantown with my grandpa, and enjoyed a long weekend staying with my Uncle John and Aunt Mary up in Prairie du Sac on Lake Wisconsin. It was a fantastic week, the boys had tons of new experiences, and we thank everyone for their generosity and hospitality. Enjoy!!

Happy 4th of July!!

2010-07-04T09:41:00.003-05:00

2010 US Trip - Part I (Video)

2010-06-26T16:09:00.002-05:00

I heard that we are busy enjoying the hottest Texas summer in 40 years....how lucky that we decided to come for the summer this year.

Actually, we have found lots of ways to stay cool. We've been busy visiting museums, local events, water parks, spray pads, library story times, friends, family, pools, parks, malls, etc. So much to do and so little time...it's hard to believe we only have three more weeks back here in the good ol' USA......next week we head to Wisconsin for a bit and then a little more time in Texas before heading back to Tenerife.

Don't blink during this video...the pictures go by quickly. We've taken well over 1000 photos already, and I had a really hard time just choosing a few for this post. Hope everyone else is enjoying their summer!!

There's No Place Like Home

2010-05-30T15:07:00.004-05:00

We have arrived safe and sound in Texas...just in time for some unseasonably hot weather!! Ugh!! The trip was long, but mostly uneventful, and the boys did great as usual...

We've mostly just been hanging out and getting settled in, it's hard to believe we've been here for over a week already. I'm hoping to get a video together of the highlights soon....stay tuned.

Happy 40th!!

2010-05-16T14:53:00.011-05:00

"I'm not 40, I'm eighteen with 22 years experience."
~Author Unknown

We really didn't do much for Jaime's 40th birthday. Jaime wanted to go paragliding, but we haven't been able to coordinate that just yet....

Instead, the boys and I took him out for lunch on Thursday, then we had a little cake celebration with the boys and Jaime's parents on Friday afternoon, and then on Friday night we hosted an Italian dinner to celebrate with more family and a couple friends. Jaime said it was all great, and it's his opinion that counts!! Happy 40th Daddy!!

"Nobody grows old merely by living a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul." ~Samuel Ullman

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T00:47:00.001-05:00

A MOTHER'S HUG

by Susan Brewer

A child sits at his window
Watching storm clouds in the sky
Knowing that he's frightened
Not really knowing why

Maybe it’s the thunder
Could be it’s the rain
Maybe it’s the lightning
Mirrored on the window pane

But it really doesn’t matter
What fears the day may bring
If you’re safe and snug in a mother’s hug
You can face most anything

So soon the smiles of childhood
Turn Into teenage frowns
It seems so much of growing up
Consists of falling down

And through those painful middle years
I soon would come to know
The kind of pain that hurts the most
Is the kind that doesn’t show

Now children do get older
But a child they still remain
Childish fears of darkness
Give way to worldly pain

Maybe it’s the sadness
When you lose someone you know
Maybe it’s the grief that comes
From reaping what you sow

But it really doesn’t matter
What fears the day may bring
When you’re safe and snug in a mother’s hug
You can face most anything

Now I still look out those windows
At storm clouds in the sky
At hopes and fears and joys and tears
Of many years gone by

And I'm thankful for the blessing
Of allowing me to be
The one who gives the comfort
When my children come to me

Cause it really doesn't matter
What fears the day may bring
When you’'re safe and snug in a mother’s hug
You can face most anything...

Mother's Day #1 (Video)

2010-05-05T05:50:00.000-05:00

It was Father's Day here in Spain last month, and Mother's Day this past Sunday. My friend Eliza (a new mommy) suggested we have a BBQ in the mountains to celebrate. Before we knew it, we had quite a group put together for the festivities. It was a beautiful day, and everyone was exhausted by the end of it.

Monkey See, Monkey Do (Video)

2010-05-02T16:22:00.005-05:00

Last weekend we finally went to a place here in Tenerife called Monkey Park. I've been wanting to go since I first read about it almost 2 years ago, but we've just never really been motivated especially since we have season passes to Loro Parque.

For whatever reason, we decided last Saturday was the day. It wasn't the easiest place to find, and it was a bit run down (which we were expecting), but we had a really nice time.

It's a small park with several monkey/animal encounter areas. You can bring your own fruit or purchase snacks at the entrance to feed the animals. We brought our own apples and bananas, which weren't nearly as well received as the raisins a couple of tourists shared with the boys later in the day. The monkeys were pretty friendly with the adults, but were more cautious with the kids. The boys had a great time feeding and talking to the monkeys, and Connor even tried to teach them how to share their raisins.

The park had other monkeys in cages or behind glass, as well as several different types of birds, turtles and guinea pigs of all things. Like I said, it was a neat experience for the boys and we certainly had fun...but we hear Loro Parque just acquired a couple otters, so I think we'll be heading there next.

Happy (late) Easter!!! (Video)

2010-04-21T04:00:00.003-05:00

I didn't want to just bunch up all my posts...so I waited a bit before showing you how our Easter went. We had a small yummy brunch with family and friends and the boys ate entirely too much chocolate...Hope all y'all had a great holiday too.

Forest or Beach? (Video)

2010-04-14T15:38:00.004-05:00

We couldn't really decide...so we did both!!

No naps plus full weekend days equals getting out of the house whenever possible! Saturday was off to the forest where we walked, collected and threw pine cones, "made" our own playground, hunted for bugs, and then stopped for lunch. Sunday we headed to the beach for some sun, sand, and toddler nakedness!

This is how we do it.... (video)

2010-04-09T04:19:00.004-05:00

As promised, here is a little video about what we've been doing lately. A visit with friends, a trip to Loro Parque, and then mostly just hanging out around town and around the house. We did do a forest/beach weekend, but that's for the next post...

"A Playful Path is the shortest road to happiness."
~ The Oaqui

Been Awhile (Video)

2010-04-02T10:23:00.006-05:00

Wow, it seems that it's been awhile since I posted last...almost a month, actually. We haven't been up to much, and yet we have. Mostly playing around the house and getting out on the weekends just like everyone else. I have lots of random pictures, and I'm working on a catch up video...but it'll be a couple of days until I can finish it up especially since the boys are off from school for Semana Santa.

We did do a little home "photo shoot" of the boys wearing Papa's special delivery hat from his years with the United States Postal Service. It was our gift to him for his 85th birthday in March. Happy Birthday Papa!!!! Enjoy!!

Let them be little (video)

2010-03-09T15:22:00.005-06:00

It seems people are always telling us to "enjoy the boys while they are young" because "they grow up so fast." The seniors I know remind me that time passes all too quickly and it only seems to speed up as you age...

Even though the day to day can be monotonous, frustrating, and exhausting, we still need to remember to enjoy each day that we have...and especially to enjoy each day we have with our little ones.

Sometimes I watch older children and teenagers, and I find myself already missing the boys toddler-hood. Even though I look forward to each stage ahead, and I am curious about the adults they will become...It still makes me a little bit sad.

I know, they are only two and a half...

I think it's the wonder and amazement they have a this age. How everything is pure joy, pure excitement, pure pleasure...how everything is wonderful and magical and new. Sure, they also have major meltdowns where they think their world is coming to an end, they have anger and frustration and sadness...but the "bad" things seem to disappear almost as quickly as they appear, and they spend most of their time in a world of wonderment and joy...

At this age, kids truly "live in the moment." Something it seems adults are always striving to do. What a gift to be allowed to share in this wonderment...even if it's only for a little while.

The Village of Masca (Video)

2010-03-02T02:35:00.001-06:00

Masca is a picturesque village of about 80 inhabitants on the Northwest side of Tenerife. Until somewhat recently, it was referred to as the forgotten village because it was very difficult to get to due to inadequate roads. It still took us over and hour and a half to drive the 50+ miles through windy mountain roads. It's an excursion we've been meaning and meaning to do, but we just never wanted to spend all that time in the car...until this past weekend.

It's an area of deep ravines interlaced with lush green flora. On this particular day, we could even see the island of La Gomora from the top. Visitors can make the 3+ hour hike down the ravine to the Bay of Masca (thought to be an old pirate hideaway), and then catch a boat from there to the Port in Los Gigantes. Obviously, we didn't take that hike when we were there...but we did enjoy a yummy patio lunch and then walked around enough to exhaust the boys.

Since the boys fell asleep too early on the way back down, we decided to stop at a beach to let them run off a little more energy before completing the trip. It was a tiring but fun and beautiful day (the pictures don't do it justice, but it's better than nothing).

...And the rest of our visit with Alise (video)

2010-03-01T01:28:00.002-06:00

Other than eating pizza, the Carnaval parade was our very first outing after Alise arrived...followed by an evening of tapas and bedtime.

The next day, we had a nice morning with breakfast near the ocean including churros and chocolate. The late afternoon/evening brought heavy rains and strong winds...so much so, that businesses closed, festivities were postponed, and the Canarian government urged people to stay in their homes....

The rest of our week was either cloudy with a chance of rain, or sunny and beautiful. We spent our time hanging out, watching movies, shopping, eating, visiting Loro Parque, basking in the sun & playing at a beach in the South, enjoying the Parque García Sanabria, and hiking and exploring the Taganana Mountains.

We also had one failed attempt to see the snow on the Teide followed by a more successful attempt a few days later, as well as a failed attempt (flat tire) to spend another day in the South followed by a visit to Playa Las Teresitas which is much closer.

Overall it was a busy and eventful visit. We're glad the sun decided to show its face at least once or twice so that Alise could bring a semi tan "home" to cold and snowy Chester, England. Now, it's back to life as "usual."

Santa Cruz Carnival Coso 2010 (Video)

2010-02-24T18:15:00.006-06:00

Okay, so much for keeping up with the blog while my cousin was in town! Even though we had a few days of not so great weather, we did manage to keep ourselves pretty busy during her 9 day stay. She heads back to England and her studies tomorrow...so maybe I can get caught up on everything now.

We'll start with finishing up our view of this year's Carnaval. Alise arrived in Tenerife last Tuesday...just hours before the Carnaval daytime Coso (Parade), and we got there just before the action began and with enough time to still score some decent seats.

The boys had a great time watching, playing, dancing, and catching (eating) tons of candy...We all "sat" through most of the parade before wandering up the street a bit to take in more sights and grab a bite to eat.

The last of the 4+ hour parade was passing by just as we called it a night and headed back to the car. We did our very best to condense all that entertainment into this under 10 minute video. Hope you enjoy!

It's Carnaval time in Tenerife!!

2010-02-12T14:47:00.007-06:00

Yep, it's that time of year again....it is Carnaval time in Spain. As you might remember from my post last year, the celebrations here in Santa Cruz are second only to the world famous Carnaval in Rio de Janerio. Even Wikipedia has a lot to say about the fiesta here in Tenerife. This year's original theme was "La Historia de la Hunanidad," or the ‘The History of Humanity,' but was changed to "Tenerife, story of a carnival." They almost changed the poster too, but decided to keep it in the end. (I could speculate as to why, but I'm not entirely sure...so I won't.)

There are lots of contests, fiestas, concerts, pageants, etc. that take place during Carnaval, but we pretty much just check out the things we can reasonably bring the boys to...I know, maybe not as exciting and glamorous, but we are "old" boring parents now...so take what you can get. I will try and do better about posting this year, especially about the daytime parade which is next Tuesday.

Tomorrow we have a chance to see the elected queen and her consort, and, so far, we are planning on doing that as well. We might also check out the antique car procession next Sunday...other than that, I'm not sure what else we will attend, but I'll let you know.

Oh, and my cousin, Alise, will be here visiting us starting Tuesday so we will (no doubt) have lots of excursions and whatnot to post about...maybe not in the most timely fashion, but I'll get around to everything as soon as possible.

Anyhow, today the boy's school had their own official kickoff party for Carnaval. The kids were just too cute and Alex and Connor did an excellent job of parading, singing, and dancing. It was hard to get good photos without them seeing us, and most of my videos turned out really shaky, but, take a look, and see what you think of our sweet little bugs:

Big Boy Beds (Video)

2010-02-10T13:18:00.009-06:00

We kept putting it off and putting it off...for no good reason really, the boys were getting in and out of their cribs as if they were beds, and we finally just put the sides down to make it a little less "hazardous..." I think we were just avoiding it because it was easier. Well, last week, we decided to "take the plunge" and get the "real" beds.

The boys were super excited when we told them they were getting big boy beds, but I think they were mostly just excited about jumping on the mattresses.

For the most part, it's as if nothing changed. I guess, since they've been escaping from their cribs for ages, they didn't have the 'new found freedom' problem. And, since they've been known to nap in a twin bed or even our almost queen bed, it wasn't as if they felt 'lost' in their new beds...nope, just regular nights same as before.

Connor did fall out last night, but only because he fell asleep at the foot of his bed (near the door) and not on his pillow, but we just picked him up and put him back in bed and he barely made a sound. Alex was the one who woke up because of it and caused more of a fuss...go figure.

They still aren't napping these days, but that was a problem before the bed switch. We've just been letting them have "quiet" time (which is anything but quiet or relaxing), then they are a bit cranky the remainder of the day, and then they go to bed at 7:00 instead of 8:00. Good thing it's still relatively dark at 7:00, I'm not sure how this will all work once we change the clocks next month...Oh well, one day at a time. Enjoy the video...

Next time...

2010-02-07T01:53:00.002-06:00

...won't - you - sing - with - meeeeee???

“My alphabet starts with this letter called yuzz. It's the letter I use to spell yuzz-a-ma-tuzz. You'll be sort of surprised what there is to be found once you go beyond 'Z' and start poking around!” ~ Dr. Seuss

Major Storm hits Tenerife (Video)

2010-02-03T10:00:00.009-06:00

Some (The Miami Hurracane center) are calling it Tropical Storm "Candelaria," and others are calling it a hybrid storm (since the waters here are technically not warm enough to sustain a tropical storm)...whatever you call it, it brought high winds, high waves, and torrential rains.

On Monday, the government of the Canary Islands declared an orange, or ‘Level 2,′ state of emergency, closing schools and advising people not to leave their homes.

Water flows of up to 144,000 liters per minute were measured in Tenerife. Roads became rivers, slowing or stopping traffic. The roads were washed away in many places, and some roads even caved in, exposing water and sewage pipes. Tons of soil, vegetation, stones, logs and branches were carried down through towns and into the ocean.

From our place in Taibaiba, we saw plenty of rain, flooding, curtains of water falling from the expressway, and lots of waterfalls where it's normally dry. We lost power and water service for over 6 hours the day of the storm, and then lost water again the next day while they were repairing it.

We were home safe and sound during the entire storm. Jaime did his best to keep our patio from flooding and I entertained the boys with flashlights, shadow animals, and play-doh by candlelight...Then, it was dinner in the dark and an early bedtime for all of us.

Luckily, Tuesday was an Island-wide holiday so most people already had the day off from work and/or school. We headed out to check out the damage. By the time we got out of the house, crews had been working for several hours already, so we didn't get to see the "best of" things. We did still see plenty of flooded cars, roads, garages, businesses, and streets...we saw bulldozers, tow trucks, emergency vehicles, and a tour bus load full of emergency workers just in our town.

They are still cleaning the island, but things are starting to return to "normal" around here. As you watch this video, keep in mind that this is a normally dry area...the "waterfalls" do not exist at any level on a regular day.

This is what rugged looks like...

2010-01-31T16:09:00.004-06:00

"There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million." ~Walt Streightiff

Anything exciting going on here??

2010-01-29T13:51:00.006-06:00

Yes and no....

It seems the "real" potty training has begun, and, so, we have been sticking close to home these days (more than usual).

Yep, this is going to be a potty post.

The boys actually semi-started training shortly after we returned from the States. Once they were back in the swing of things at school, the teachers had us bring them with undies over their diapers. Then, they would go diaperless while at school using the potty when they needed to go (coached by the staff, of course). Then, the teachers would put them back in diapers when we came to pick them up. We were suppose to let them go diaperless as often as possible at home too, but, for the most part, things (real or imagined) kept getting in the way....Potty training can be a lot of tiring work.

Then, about a week ago. We picked up the boys from school and Ms. Rosy told us that the next school day they were to come in undies only and they would be leaving in undies as well. Um, scary! Our first thought was how we would manage to get them from school to home without an accident in the car...

We enjoyed our last couple days of diapers, and then, along with school, started the "undies only except for sleeping policy." We started with a timer, sticker charts, M&M's (or "em a lems" as the boys call them), and plenty of prompting...and, overall, it hasn't been too bad. Of course there have been plenty of accidents, mostly of the messier variety, but they seem to be doing really well.

Their main issues are going when they are busy doing something fun or interesting, and telling us when they need to go if we aren't at home. We carry a little portable potty when we do head out for short errands (and for school pick-up), and we still provide more prompting than is probably necessary, but maybe...just maybe we'll have two daytime potty trained boys very soon. Then we can start venturing a little further from home...just maybe.

"It's all to do with the training: you can do a lot if you're properly trained." ~ Queen Elizabeth II

Loro Parque

2010-01-16T16:13:00.003-06:00

We first went to Loro Parque in October of 2008...and we enjoyed it so much we bought season passes. Then they started to build their new exhibit, Katandra Treetops, and we watched and waited and hoped it would open before our passes expired...and it did, except it was two days AFTER we left for our fall trip to the States. As luck would have it, our passes also expired while we were away on our trip...

So, we went back a couple days ago to visit the animals, see the new exhibit, and renew our passes for another year. Yes, we like the park that much. We like not having to "rush" to try and fit everything in on a one day ticket, and we like being "forced" to go back several times a year. It is also great to watch how the park changes each time for the boys as they continue to grow and become more and more aware of everything around them. Here's a video from Friday's visit:

¡feliz año nuevo! (Video)

2010-01-13T10:44:00.007-06:00

A couple of weeks have passed since New Year's Eve, but I wanted to get this post in before we hit mid-January.....It's almost mid-January?!?! Wow, before I know it, we'll be planning the boys 3rd birthday party.....

Anyhow, we had party at our place again this year to celebrate the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010. The boys helped us with decoration quality control, but then went to bed at their usual time so Mom and Dad could enjoy the festivities.

Our friends Eliza and Sergio brought baby Elliot, Jaime's sister and brother came along with their families, two of Jaime's cousins and their family attended, and, of course, Jaime's Mom was there! It was a full apartment patio!! We had lots of good food, good wine, and good fun.

Just before midnight we all gathered around the TV to count down the New Year and eat our 12 lucky grapes, then a champagne toast, more fireworks, and more hanging out...until Jaime and I finally got to bed around 4:00am....Unfortunately, our little alarm clocks still work us up at 8:00am, but at least they "helped" us clean while we all enjoyed the concert of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra playing on TV. Looks like the Vienna concert just might become a New Year's Day tradition!

And now, here we are...almost mid-January of a brand new year. I wonder what 2010 holds in store for all of us?? Guess we'll just enjoy one day at a time and find out!!

"Cheers to a new year and another chance
for us to get it right." ~Oprah Winfrey

Merry Christmas 2009 (Video)

2009-12-26T17:14:00.004-06:00

Well, Christmas 2009 has come and gone!!

Hope everyone had a great one.

We had a nice celebration Christmas Eve with some of Jaime's family as well as our friends Eliza, Sergio, and baby Elliot. Santa stopped by for a visit, we opened presents, and then had a super yummy dinner together. Alex liked the lobster bisque so much he even rubbed it through his hair (we are still trying to remove that smell). It was a nice (and tiring) evening with friends and family.

Christmas morning Jaime and I hung out with the boys in our apartment, ate breakfast, (the boys) opened more presents and then we all played. Later, after nap time, we took the boys upstairs for one final present from Lela and Aunt Nuria...their own motorcycles!!! They must think Christmas is the best!!!

The Three Kings: Part I (Video)

2009-12-23T14:17:00.002-06:00

The Three Kings, who usually arrive on January 6, visited the boys school just before Christmas. It was suppose to be an outdoor event with food and such, but it ended up raining. So, the teachers made a special space inside for the Three Kings to hand out presents. The boys were scared at first (Connor more than Alex), but they soon figured out they were getting a present from one of the Kings...So, I guess it wasn't ALL bad. Even Lela (Grandma) showed up to meet Balthazar.

A few of our favorite things

2009-12-20T14:51:00.011-06:00

Connor:

How I Became a Pirate
Bananas
I Spy Book
The Color Orange, then brown
Grapes
Bubbles
Popcorn (while watching Dora)
Dora
Elmo

Can't really say the letter "F"

Alex:

The color blue
Jumping
Dancing
Keys
I Spy Book
Balls
Lacing Beads made into necklaces, the more like Mr. T the better
Popcorn (while watching Dora)
Dora
Elmo
Balloons
Bubbles

Can't say the letter "S"

They both say "Em a' lems" instead of M&M's which are their "reward" for going potty in the potty and not their pants

December Happenings (Video)

2009-12-19T02:42:00.003-06:00

Not much really...

The boys are back in school, crying most of the way there, but loving it once they are inside. Potty training started this week and is going okay. We aren't rushing things, but they need to be trained before they can move up to the next class at school...the one with the "big" (2 and 3 year old) kids.They have their school party next week, and then will probably be on a bit of a break.

Otherwise, we have mostly been hanging out at home doing regular things and getting ready for the holidays. Lela and Lelo are still living in the house above us since the weather has been decent, and they are having some remodeling done on their flat in the city. So, we will spend Christmas Eve up there with them, Christmas Day mostly at our place, and then we will host New Year's Eve again on our patio. Seriously, I can't believe Christmas is next week and 2010 is just around the corner....

Puerto (Video)

2009-12-18T02:49:00.010-06:00

It was some holiday here in Spain last week...I think the holiday actually fell on Tuesday, but everyone had a "puente" or bridge on Monday which made it a long 4 day holiday weekend. Jaime's brother invited us to go to Loro Parque in Puerto de la Cruz with him and his family on that Monday.

I guess everyone else on the island had the same idea because the place was PACKED!!! We saw the long lines from the full parking lot and decided to skip the park and just spend the day in Puerto. We went for a walk, played at the park, ate lunch overlooking the ocean, played at another park, enjoyed some ice cream, and then stopped by a little carnival they had in town. It wasn't the day we originally planned, but it was a really nice day just the same, and the boys were exhausted by the car ride home.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-12-17T02:47:00.010-06:00

Since our non-event Turkey Day last year, we've met Eliza and Sergio, an American from Ohio and her Spanish husband. And, through Eliza, we've also met Devon and Mike, a Canadian and her Irish husband. So, we had a great group to celebrate with this year. Adding to that, Devon and Mike brought baby Matthew who was born in late September, and Eliza and Sergio had baby Elliot who was born on November 19, just one week before Thanksgiving.

Here's a picture of the new cutie pies:

We ended up celebrating on the Friday after Turkey day, to give Eliza and Sergio and extra day to settle in with their new baby, and also because I had a doctor appointment on Thursday evening. It turned out great for Mike as well since he would have had to leave early to go to work on Thursday.

Eliza and Sergio hosted us all at their place and everyone contributed different dishes to the feast...and a feast it was!! We had most of the traditional things: a turkey with gravy, green bean casserole, dressing, scalloped potatoes, broccoli casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, bread, cranberry sauce, salad, apple pie with ice cream, and pumpkin cheesecake. By the end of the meal, the kitchen was a mess, and we were all completely stuffed with plenty of leftovers for everyone to take home and enjoy.

We ate, talked, and relaxed out on the patio until all the little ones AND the parents got tired and everyone went home. Thanks to our friends, it was truly a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration...

The rest of the trip...

2009-12-16T02:45:00.005-06:00

Papa went back into the ER the Monday after my brothers headed back to Texas. It was also the first day of our last week in town. We wrestled with the idea of staying longer, but the airline would only permit us to lengthen our trip by one week...Since we had no idea how long Papa would be in the hospital, we decided to keep our original flight. We spent the last week hanging out around town, running errands, and packing, and I visited Papa whenever I could.

I suppose it was better that we didn't stay since he is still in the hospital and they predict he will be there until well after Christmas.

Our final week actually went by quickly, and, before we knew it, we were driving to Chicago to catch our flight back to Tenerife. Other than a slight delay out of Chicago, our trip was mostly uneventful. We spent our delay playing at the wonderful kids area sponsored by the Chicago Children's Museum and eating at the airport Chili's. Everyone slept on and off throughout the flight and we were in Madrid before we knew it.

In Madrid, a friend of mine, and fellow PAMOM member picked us up and took us to her place. The boys had a nice time playing with her girl/girl twins while the parents chatted and drank some US style ice tea. Lizette made a great lunch for all the kiddos and then we headed back to the airport for the final leg of our journey.

We arrived in Tenerife just a few hours later...safe, sound, and with all our luggage. Lela, Lelo, and uncle Arturo picked us up and took us back to our apartment which Lela had fixed up and stocked with food. Once we got settled back in, it almost felt as if we never left...

We are Family

2009-12-15T02:04:00.008-06:00

My Mom had 8 sisters and 1 brother...so, needless to say, we still have loads of family in Wisconsin. Whenever we visit, someone from the Roth family agrees to have a "reunion" at their house so that we might see as many people as possible. This time, it was my Aunt Debbie who was also celebrating her birthday that weekend.

It had been many, many years since Travis and Trevor had seen most of these family members, and there were some we'd never even met in person yet! In a way it's strange to see your little cousins all grown up with families of their own, and it's also really cool. No matter how long it's been, you always feel welcome and right at home...like you haven't missed a thing.

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family"
~Anthony Brandt

Apple Pickin' (Video)

2009-12-14T02:28:00.004-06:00

The one Saturday that my brothers were in Wisconsin, also turned out to be a record breaking 70 degree day in November! It was beautiful! Papa wanted to rest, so we took the kids Apple Pickin' at the Barthel Fruit Farm in Mequon before bringing him some lunch.

We were allowed to pick two varieties of apples and were encouraged to "taste test" the apples before putting some in our basket. All the kids did an excellent job of both testing and picking the apples, and everyone had a great time. We left with lots of apples to share with the seniors, a couple of caramel apples, and some fresh cider.

A Surprise for Papa

2009-12-12T02:07:00.007-06:00

Since Papa can't really travel anymore, and it had been awhile since they'd seen him, both of my brothers decided to coordinate a weekend visit to Wisconsin while we were there.

Trevor arrived on a Thursday and stayed in our room with us, and Travis arrived late Friday with his family and stayed in the room next door. Not knowing when Papa was going to be released, I ruined Trevor's surprise a bit and told Papa he was coming. Luckily, Papa got out of the hospital on Friday morning...and was still surprised by everyone being in town.

Unfortunately, Papa still wasn't feeling well, and didn't want to leave his apartment all weekend. So, we alternated doing things without him while he rested, and visiting him at his place.

Here are a few general pictures from the weekend with my brothers:

"Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines
from generation to generation."
~ Lois Wyse

Betty Brinn Children's Museum (Video)

2009-12-11T02:24:00.004-06:00

As I researched things to do in Milwaukee, I actually found a lot of options...even in the winter!! Obviously, there is a ton more to do when the weather is nice, but we'll have to save that for another time. Actually, we didn't get to do several of the things I had hoped to do...but we can add those to the "next time" list as well.

What we DID get to do, is head down near the lakefront and visit the Betty Brinn Children's Museum which is right across from the Milwaukee Art Museum designed by Santiago Calatrava and the Discovery World Museum which is on our "to do" list for next time.

Even the Betty Brinn "big" kid areas were fun for the boys!! I think it might just be my favorite of the Children's museums we have visited so far...

“Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.”
~ Joseph Chilton Pearce

The Milwaukee County Zoo (Video)

2009-12-10T02:29:00.005-06:00

Unfortunately, my grandfather went into the hospital just 3 days after we arrived. Since we didn't want the boys roaming around a germ infested facility, I went to visit him while they took their afternoon nap or later in the evening when they were hanging out at the hotel with Daddy. The rest of the time, we found ways to "entertain" ourselves while Papa was trying to recover.

Some days we just hung out and did little things like visiting a local park, playing at the YMCA, or running errands. Other days, we ventured out a bit more. Our first outing was the Milwaukee County Zoo. I hadn't been there since I was a kid, and it was nothing like I remembered.

Since it was winter, all of the concessions and "rides" were closed...but, we practically had the place to ourselves. It was a brisk but beautiful day and we had a great time...especially in the big leaf pile on our way out of the park. I am actually looking forward to taking the boys back sometime in the Spring or Summer.

Remembering...

2009-12-09T02:11:00.013-06:00

We always take time to visit and remember some of our ancestors whenever we visit Wisconsin...

We mainly go to see Papa's true love, and my Gramma, Patricia Jean, who died back in 2003. It's sort of a tradition that, most likely, my grandmother would think we were crazy for keeping up. She always said "when you're dead, you're dead. That's it." She would also probably remind us that she isn't really there in that cemetery, and we are crazy to come out in the cold. Of course, she isn't here to tell us any of that...and, really, cemeteries and the like aren't really for the dead anyhow.

We also stop by to say hello to a few other Schreiers. Anna and William, Papa's parents and my great grandparents, and Herman Papa's brother, my great uncle. I didn't get a chance to know Anna and William, but I did know Uncle Herm back when I was young.

Of course the boys don't know where we are or why we are there, they only know it's a great place to climb and run around. But they will have the photos later in life, and, in a way, they got to "meet" some of their ancestors.

"If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors.
All of them are alive in this moment.
Each is present in your body.
You are the continuation of each of these people.”
~ Thich Nhat Hanh

Halloween (Video)

2009-12-08T02:44:00.006-06:00

Yei!! I'm finally tot he Halloween post!!! My goal is to catch up on our blog before Christmas...

So...our first full day in WI was on Halloween. Papa's niece (and my third cousin), Billy Joe, invited us to her house and neighborhood for some trick-or-treating. When we arrived she had a fabulous spread laid out for lunch and bags and bowls of candy and treats for her trick-or-treaters.

After we ate a little lunch, Jaime and I took the boys out to beg for candy while Papa and BJ hung out at her house to hand out candy. It was a REALLY cold day (especially for us non-northerners)!!!

Once the boys figured out they got candy at each house, they kept asking for "mo candy??" We went down the block and around the corner before we just got too cold and had to return to BJ's house. Everyone thought Winnie and Tigger were super cute, and we just had to agree. Thanks BJ for a wonderful Halloween!!!

The Road Trip to Wisconsin (Video)

2009-12-07T02:20:00.009-06:00

We thought about flying to Wisconsin again this year....but, with having to purchase 4 tickets, the added cost of actually bringing luggage, and the fun and excitement of getting to the airport on time and flying with two toddlers....Well, we just decided it would be more comfortable (and fun) to drive...and it actually was!!!

Other than rain, rain, and more rain...it was a mostly uneventful trip. We took 5 days to travel 16 hours, including an extra day in St. Louis. Other than one "longish" driving day, we pretty much coordinated things with the boys nap time so that they would be sleeping on the road. They were great!!

The boys had fun exploring new places, staying in hotels, climbing on the luggage carts, watching TV, sleeping in big beds, checking out the ice machines, and swimming in the pools....We stopped at the Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, MO, we visited the Discovery Children's Museum in Rockford, IL, and, as I mentioned, we spent an extra day in St. Louis visiting the Gateway Arch and attending the "Boo at the (St. Louis) Zoo.

Like I said, it was quite a comfortable and fun road trip!!

"And we should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which was not accompanied by at least one laugh."
~ Friedrich Nietzsche

The Ft. Worth Alliance Air Show (Video)

2009-12-05T02:20:00.008-06:00

The Ft. Worth Air Show happened to be the same weekend we were leaving Dallas. Luckily, we weren't leaving until Sunday and the show was all weekend long...So, on Saturday, we met Trav and his girls for a day of "loud airplanes." It was a gorgeous day with blue skies and 70 degree temperatures. I think everyone had a really great time. What a perfect way to say "adios" to Dallas.

The Dallas Arboretum (Video)

2009-12-04T02:20:00.012-06:00

Our fantastic day at the Dallas Arboretum (video)...

Frisco Fire Safety Town

2009-12-03T02:42:00.009-06:00

There's a great little place right next to one of the fire stations in Frisco. It's called Frisco Fire Safety Town. They are open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and they teach children about safety in a fun and interactive environment.

They have an educational facility which includes classrooms, an interactive fire engine, and a safety house with a realistic living area, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom for children to explore and learn about home hazards, severe weather, fire safety and more.

They have an outdoor ‘town’ that resembles a miniature Frisco complete with real buildings that represent area businesses, all created at a 5/8th scale. There are paved and marked streets complete with working traffic signals, a railroad crossing and a toll booth, where they let older kids drive little motorized Jeeps around to teach them about seat belt and car safety.

Obviously, we had to go. So, we wandered over there one weekday morning, they found us a volunteer, and he showed us around. The boys had fun climbing on the fake fire truck, trying on the gear, roaming through the town, and checking out the living area. They would have really liked the Jeeps, but there was a school group using them (and I think the minimum age is 3).

After checking out the Safety Town, the docent took us to the fire house and we were greeted by three firemen who continued our tour. They were excellent! The boys each got a hat and a sticker and then we got to see where the firefighters eat and sleep (Connor wanted to take a nap in their beds). Then they took us out into the garage to check out all the real trucks, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles. Jaime and I asked a bunch of questions and the boys had fun climbing, exploring, and pushing buttons. It was a really interesting and fun visit and it felt like we were VIP's.

Twenty Years??

2009-12-02T02:33:00.023-06:00

One of the reasons our trip home was scheduled during the Fall, was so we could attend my 20 year Berkner High School Reunion!!! I never really feel like I am nearing 40 until something like this comes along to remind me. Similar to the 20 year re-release of E.T. or the 20th anniversary edition of Star Wars. Where do the years go????

Anyhow, the reunion weekend was really fun. Not as fun as the 10 year (I think these people are getting old and reserved or something), but fun. A friend of mine had a wonderful small party at his house on Thursday, then I attended the ice breaker on Friday, then we all went to the family picnic on Saturday during the day, and then Jaime and I attended the "formal" event on Saturday night. We left Saturday's event a bit early to attend the 40th birthday party of a friend from California that now lives in Texas. It was a VERY busy and tiring weekend, but we got to visit with old friends and we even made some new ones!!

There are tons of pictures on Facebook of all the events, but I seem to really only have pictures from the family day. I guess I was just too busy chatting or something to take pictures. The family day was organized separately by a couple of classmates, and, other than the ugly weather, turned out very well.

Okay, and I do have these pictures from Saturday night. The first one is at the reunion (don't look too close at that 80's hairdo picture on my name tag), and the other two are from the birthday party afterward:

"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were?" ~Satchel Paige

Pumpkin's on the Prarie

2009-12-01T02:05:00.006-06:00

There was a pretty good (and free) pumpkin patch not far from where we were staying. So, one beautiful Sunday morning, after breakfast, we decided to stop by. It was the their opening weekend and we practically had the place to ourselves. The boys had fun playing with the pumpkins, playing the games, and bouncing in the bounce house. After watching another kid get his face painted, Alex wanted to try it too...so the lady quickly painted a ghost. Alex was SO excited and kept saying "goost" and pointing to his face. Connor, on the other hand, didn't want to be anywhere near the face painting.

There was a PAMOM (Plano Area Mother's of Multiples) event at the same pumpkin patch the following week. I am still a member of PAMOM, so we decided to go and check it out. The day was cold and overcast (quite different from the previous visit), but there seemed to be a decent turnout. They tried to get everyone and their kids together for a group photo, and did pretty well considering. The boys had almost as much fun as the first time, running through the pumpkins, playing games, and bouncing....and Alex just HAD to get another ghost before we left.

The Gaylord Texan

2009-11-30T02:04:00.008-06:00

One rainy Sunday morning, we met my friend Dayna for breakfast at Ihop. Afterward, to stay out of the rain, we decided to take the boys to the Gaylord Texan to see the trains and roam around before nap time.

Other than the hefty $12 parking fee they charge, the Gaylord is a great place for out-of-towners and locals alike. It's not as amazing as the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, but it's pretty darn nice. Their giant (four and a half acre) atrium houses gardens, winding waterways, restaurants, shopping, a spa, and a night club. Different areas represent the different and diverse areas of Texas including the hill country and San Antonio. The boys had fun watching the trains, checking out the fountains, and generally wandering around. We even got to see a guy doing rope tricks which the boys though was really neat!!