Sunday, December 7, 2008

December






This weekend was Omar's second to last soccer game. It has yet to be determined if he likes the sport.... he shows mild interest at best, and seems to play only when we convince him it will be fun! Needless to say, we are glad next week is the last game! We will be looking for other activities next season as we continue to find out what engages him most.

Last night we headed to downtown Chandler for the tree lighting. It was fun to be among hundreds of other families participating in the festive events. After looking at tree lighting pictures from friends across the country, it also makes us glad to be in AZ, where the chilly temps get as low as 60;)

Our tree is up, the stockings are hung... all that is left to do is the outdoor lights and baking the cookies! Holidays, here we come!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

The big hike





The last few weekends we have been taking mild to medium hikes around the valley. Omar has always been ready for "more". He often takes on the boulders chanting "I can do it!" with fists in the air.

Today we took him to Camelback Mtn, a 1 mile constant climb to the top. The hike, which takes just under 2 hours for average adults, took 4 for our trio. Omar did bouldered to the top undaunted. Stopping to look at an occasional scratch on his leg, he was pretty much a steady, yet slow, go the entire time.

The summit served as footage for our annual holiday video, due out shortly before the holiday:) We are excited this year to share our holiday wish from last season, our little O boy.

Needless to say, the kid is SLEEPING sound tonight! Thank goodness;)

Saturday, November 15, 2008



Last weekend we celebrated O's big "5" with lots of friends! Kids ran wild, adults chatted and cake was had by all. The day after his 5th birthday he asked for the car keys... when asked "why" he said, "Its time for me to drive"... uh-oh!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Where does the time go?



The last two months has been a whirlwind... It's hard to believe Omar has been with us now for 5 months!

Halloween has now passed and Omar's 5th birthday is next weekend. We have about 25 people RSVPed for his dinosaur birthday party. We will be spending the next week getting ready for the festivities.

Our first Halloween with Omar was terrific. He went out as a triceratops, despite the fact that Mokie (aka the Stiner TRex) tore the costume within days of it arriving...eating off one of the eyeballs. Initially disappointed, Omar didn't think twice about it and in fact, really didn't even care about trick or treating. Instead he struck up conversations with the people handing out the candy, engaged kids in discussions about their costumes and chatted it up with the adults accompanying their little ones. He is a chatty guy.

We anticipate a continued fast pace for the rest of 2008 as we enter the holiday season, and brace ourselves as Aaron finishes his last 6 weeks of his graduate program, which has proven to be a significant chunk of time and energy this semester. I think we will all be ecstatic when he can return to devoting his time and energy to us as a family.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Sunday, September 21, 2008



Omar's pre-school has an optional Sports camp, where kids learn skills for soccer, field hockey and basketball. Here are three pictures from the first of 8 sessions.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

A day in the life of Omar...


This weekend was typical of our activity level as a family, having fun and staying busy!

Friday
6PM Dinner out as a family
7PM Went to see Dinosaurs LIVE @ US Airways Center

Saturday
10AM Chatting on SKYPE with Grandpa Stiner
Noon Lunch
1PM Spent the afternoon at Sunsplash water park, fun on waterslides
6PM Dinner out at San Tan Brewery- Omar gets messy eating Wings
7:30 We watch Rainbow Fish as a family


Sunday
8AM Dad and Omar go to the Phoenix Zoo with Joaquin (in picture above)
1PM Mom and Omar go see "Suessicals" a Dr. Suess kids production
5PM Nap!
7PM Post dinner swim
9PM Books and bedtime!

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Precious Moments....

Tonight Omar brought us a "proud parenting moment"...

The scene: Omar just finished his bath and was in the master bathroom going pee before bedtime. Aaron was reading for grad school in our bedroom and Beth had walked in to check in on the boys.. We can't see Omar, as he is around the corner on the toilet.

Aaron and Beth are chatting quietly, and Aaron says to Beth, "do you know how lucky we are? We have this amazing kid, who is almost always happy, is so smart, easy going and let's us run him all over the world doing what we do... he is happier than we are all the time. We are so lucky to have him". Two seconds later, a little voice from around the corner replies,

"And I am so lucky too..."

I think both Aaron and I got a little misty eyed with his innocent and unanticipated response. I guess we can chalk this up to one of those great moments that erase any other frustrations that come with parenting...

So tonight we go to bed feeling and knowing we are so, so lucky.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Friends!

Just a sampling of some recent friendship excursions where we actually remembered the camera!