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!

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;)

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!

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.

LA and Disneyland

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.

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!

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.

Kites, Dinos and D'Backs!

Friends!

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

Photos by Omar

Hey everyone! A slideshow of photos taken by the Oboy!

Weekend in Colorado

If Omar could type, I am sure this is what he would write!

"Last weekend, Mom and Dad took me back to Colorado to see my friends. We had a great time!

Marie, Dave, Kelli and Doug threw us a "Congratulations Stiner Family" party and all my Colorado friends came over. I got lots of hugs, a yummy cake, great food and cool gifts.

Before the party started Mom and Dad asked my friend Doug to give me a haircut. Doug specializes in buzz-cuts but Dad thought it would be fun to do something a little different.

I will let the photo slideshow tell the rest of the story. Enjoy! And thanks again to the Menas and Rodericks for the party and thanks to everyone who came!"

A little taste

There are more pictures to come from our Colorado trip...until then, notice the haircut?

Omar on his first day of school

"I made good choices today. Everyone called me Omar. I will go back tomorrow."

And did he mention, "He made good choices"? Only about 10 times!

Omar on our dogs

"Mokie is six and Max licks my face!"

Grandma comes to visit!

Thanks for visiting Grandma! It was nice to meet you and I had a lot of fun. See you soon!

Omar on soda

To mom and dad, "I say, 'Give me some soda' and you say, 'Okay Omar, here's your soda'"

And you thought swimming was fun!

Chalk Drawing with Dad!

Tonight, Dad decided to give me a new look!