May 2017

We got a piano!

It was an adventure to get it though. An online auction had just the right piano for us (happily, it ended up being a former piano of our piano teacher, so we knew it was a good one!)

I got a little excited about 'winning' the auction, so I may have inadvertently outbid myself at the last moment. So I payed a few extra dollars, but it was totally worth it in the end.

We fixed up our guest room! It wasn't in time for Aunt Kelsey (Sorry!) but Grammy came and got to enjoy the splendor!

Grammy got to see Sock's 4th Grade play, "The Pied Piper"

 Socks played the mayor and had a small solo. It was so fun to watch!

We also got to celebrate Grammy's Birthday with her!

Our days were filled with the usual chaos.

Hair-dos.

Lego-ing. (The iron rod and the Tree of life!)

Dentist visits (like a pro!)

Orchestra concerts

And Haircuts!

Socks loves keeping his hair long. "I just don't like short hair because I like how it feels when I run my fingers through it long." But we reached maximum capacity

ENTER... the $10 haircuts.

Grapes dared the boys to go VERY short for summer. She offered them $10 each!

Of course they took her up on it. (I don't think she thought they would!)

One Sunday, late in May, the kids complained that they were bored. So I told them to make a cake, not thinking they would.

But they did!

And it was also May-May's birthday, so we decorated accordingly and sent her a photo.

Then we ate it.

Epcot! (Disney World Trip part 5)

February 2017

Because Feta LOVES Frozen, and because the rest of my kids don't....
she and I made the most of the Early Hour available at Epcot to visit Anna and Elsa.

The ONLY souvenir she wanted. An Elsa dress (that has since been worn to death!)

Thanks again Uncle Lon and Aunt Liz, and May-May and Jared for souvenir money!!

 The first line, for the Frozen Ever After ride was happy. And twirly. (new dresses do that to you)

Then we got in line to meet the princesses...

we waited...

and waited...

After an hour plus, the goal was in sight!

When her turn came though, she was suddenly shy.

I think she was in awe of it all

Elsa introduced her sister, and as Feta walked over she finally opened up a bit.

 (It helped that Anna was less regal and much more chatty)

For our little monkey, this was definitely the highlight of the whole trip. 

We met up with Dad and the big kids right after this

 (they sort of got to sleep in!) and we pressed onward.

Epcot had SO many other adventures. The kids loved Mission Space and the Test Track.

 We tasted lots of yummy food this day. Mexican tacos, sushi, German sausage (as a bonus we saw Snow White!) and then delightful pastries as we walked back to our bus.

It was a very warm day, and we loved the snacks too!

(not pictured, but we fully loved the frozen lemonade as well!)

We also accidentally found BayMax and the boys were THRILLED.

Not to be forgotten- the Turtle Talk with Crush (where Pencil got to ask a question, and asked, "I don't actually know how fast you breathe." (not technically a question, but that's not important)

After everyone laughed, Crush responded, "I don't either, Dude! But that reminds me, I need to breathe now!"

It was beautiful- and that evening I couldn't help snap a picture of the Epcot Ball. (I think going inside it was my favorite ride of the day!)

Sea side in Seattle

Sometimes a Mommy needs to run away and figuratively join the circus.

I am a firm believer in the magic of absence making the heart fonder and the mind clearer.

Last week I left my adored monkeys in the capable hands of my dear sister, and I ran away.

 I got to tag along while my husband went to Seattle for an Emergency Medicine conference.

I did not attend that conference. I'm not one for lectures about airways and eye injuries.

Instead I high-tailed it to my sister-in-law's house

 to see my only nephew and one of my dearest friends, his Momma.

OH- that face!!

Little B and I spent some quality time becoming fast friends. 

Not just anyone listens while I read Piggie and Gerald OR calls me 'Win-tee"

Memory Lane

Strolling down memory lane (in the form of photos saved on my ancient laptop) has been a delightful diversion as of late.
Because there is no news on the new house front. DON'T ASK.
So- lat's take our mind off it together.
Come, take a stroll with me.

A Christmas in Review

My mother-in-law's Christmas decor leaves me inspired every year!

We have returned to good old Arizona after a wonderful visit in the winter wonderland of Utah. Christmas and all of its accompanying events and activities kept us delightfully busy with still offering some rest and relaxation. Magical holiday, that.
Christmas to us is about being with family, and this year, that was what we did best. SO much family!

My monkeys with the favorites: Uncle Jared and Baby Bradley. (I hope he outgrows the Baby title, or he may dislike family get-togethers in a few years)

 Aunt Natalie gained new found favorite status this visit, and I hope she liked it. (I can't quite tell from this face...)

 May-May (the eternal favorite) and again with the Bradley face. (I could just eat him up!)

 More favorites came. Uncle Tyler and Aunt Amanda.

The Doctor's extended family got together for dinner and catching up. I was in charge of the photo. Thankfully it turned out OK. (Whew!) 

Grandpa took my big monkeys sledding. They lasted for hours, and loved every minute of it.

My Arizona kids have been winter deprived for so long that every clump of snow or ice (if only one inch in size) was fascinating and magnetically compelling. More photos and Christmas to come!

Are we still talking about this?

Just to finish up this endless summer vacation report (and I better get an A!)

Event # whatever comes next:
Our dear Maymay and her little family joined the Whiting crew and the party began again!

Maymay and Gwampa
(Random side note here, since we've been home from the trip,
 Pencil talks about Gwampa whenever he sees handicapped parking symbols.
 Weird? yes. Often? also yes. So yeah.)

A baby in the house

No- This is not an announcement.

Our Beloved MayMay and her Husby and Baby-kins came to visit us this weekend. It was a delight to see their faces and hold this chubby-lovey-ness. I wish they could have stayed longer. (Boo to real life, folks!)

My kids were ga-ga over this new little person who represents novel and unsung levels of cool by being simultaneously a COUSIN (we don't have any other of those) and a BABY which is cool considering the last one we had was like, two whole years ago. It was also a hoot to have the adult visitors here too. The fighting over who got to sit by or ride with them was enough to make me want to ban visitors.... or my kids..... Just kidding.

Rain!

We had a real rainstorm today. The temperature dropped to the 70's and we went outside to just enjoy the weather.











"Oh, he's sleeping Naked! How cute!" said Grapes upon entering the van after school. We won't mention the fact that at the grocery store moments before he had exploded his diaper and created a smelly mess. So cute!


We have aunt Maymay visiting this week, and we've had a million laughs together.
*Sockie called her 'Megan' instead of Maymay just to tease her (they tease each other SO much!)
*Grapes refused any snack ideas, so Megan asked if she was ANTI. Grapes asked what anti meant. Megan answered, "it means you don't like it" and Grapes responded, "Oh, Like Antibacterial."
*We had salsa for dinner. Sockie took one bite then said, "IT SO FICEY! I CAN'T BREATHE!"
*We introduced Sockie to peanut butter and banana sandwiches. It includes two of the things he is addicted to, so it was an instant hit.
*Maymay got an owie, and sockie turned and kissed her. His kiss happened to land right on her bum.

The doctor and I got to go on a date last night as well. (THANK YOU MAYMAY!) and I got to spend some of my birthday monies. (THANK YOU FAMILY!!) We went to a little pizza place that was SUPER yummy, and Target. It was so great.