Chex-Breakfast of Champions!!

Chex+Milk+Sugar+Cartoons=Happy Kids

I think she was thinking he had something different here!



This morning Kyan asked if he could eat his breakfast while watching cartoons! It is fall break...why not? Of course Lola had to join him and they were a sight to see! They looked so cute with their little TV trays, eatin' their cereal! Off to a great start so far this week!

Long Time No See

This weekend my girlfriend from high school was in town to see another family friend and I got to spend part of the afternoon with her and her family! After their afternoon trip to the zoo, Carol, Miles, Anthony, and Fox (wow, only know you by that and not your first name - sorry) stopped by the house for a visit! My kids woke up from their naps (or were woken up from their nap I should say) and made fast friends with the boys! Within minutes they were running around the backyard whootin' and hollerin'! Lola even joined in on the craziness and tried to be one of the boys!

While our time together was short, it was fun to catch up and play for a little while! Next stop, I know, will have to be a trip back to Wahoo!

This was the best I could get of the four of them sitting still - I think Miles is in NEED of a little sister after seeing him with Lola! Not a hint or anything Carol!

South Cack-o-Lacky

Last weekend Chad and I snuck away to South Carolina
(or as Chad refers to it as South Cack-o-Lacky) for my cousin Missy's wedding, that has been years in the making! Her and Shaun had been engaged for what seemed like forever and they finally were married last Saturday! We weren't going to miss it, so Chad and I snuck away without the kiddos (thanks Grandma Donna, Grandpa Michael, and Auntie Kristen for taking such good care of our babies) for a short trip, but fun nonetheless!

I was able to see family that I haven't seen in years, family that I grew up with and spent so much time with (especially after school, crackin' sunflower seeds and telling the birds to shut-up)! It was so good to see everyone and reconnect after such a long time!

Missy and her dad making the walk down the aisle!

Shaun was blown away when he watched his bride to be make her way to him. So often we are focused on the bride, but I always love to watch the groom to see their reactions!

Seeing two of my uncles at the wedding felt like I was seeing two different versions of my dad - GEEEEZZZ - the brothers look so much alike the older that they get especially!

I had to change one to my favorite old school vintage sort of look! This is my favorite picture taken from the wedding (I could only sneak in a few before the priest asked people with camera to put them away).

Try as I did - NO ONE could figure out how to take a picture using my camera! We tried to take a few of them outside the church, but no dice, so a quick self-portrait would have to do!

Me and my cuz - the night was winding down and this is the only chance I had to grab her for a quick pic!

I had no idea that the reception was an "80's" party - it was so fun, seriously, nothing but 8-'s music! They had many the props to dress up and take silly pictures, as well as wear to the dance floor to cut some rug!

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Rudi

A Morning with our Besties!

This morning we met up with Jayla and Susie at the Goodyear Farmer's Market. It was the first time Goodyear has done this in awhile, so we headed off to check it out! I am a sucker for anything homeade and found really cute hats for the kiddos once it cools down even more! They also had another thing going on at the ballpark unrelated to the Market, but we walked down just for fun! It was valley sports (soccer) picture taking day and they had fun activities and games for the kids, you didn't have to be in the soccer league to participate! Judging by the kids faces, I think they had a blast!

Lola was checking out her shadow!

Don't think she wanted to share much today!

If this isn't the face of his daddy - I am not sure what is?

Lola on the go!

Besties just kickin' it!

Cutie Pies with their sunglasses on!

Kyan and Jayla braved the face/arm painting lady! No thank you for Lola, she was not having it! Jayla kept her arm up for quite some time after her flower was painted on!

Showing off their tats!

Why were they so attracted to the fence? Who knows! But they sure did spend quite a bit of time by it!

At the farmer's market, they had the CUTEST hats I have ever seen! Lola and Kyan both NEEDED one - ok, not really, but did I mention they were so cute!

Kyan waited so patiently for his turn at this game!
HEY BATTER! BATTER! BATTER! SWING BATTER!

Lola insisted on playing a game with her brother when we got home from playing, I told her she could play for 5 minutes, then it was naptime, she didn't even last that long! Next thing I knew, she was snoozing on the couch next to her brother!

Thanks Jayla and Susie for meeting up with us on the fly! We couldn't think of anyone better to kick off our fall break and Saturday morning with!

Losing a brother...

...no matter if it is in death or for an extended length of time, it is still a loss and it still hurts.

Joel deployed today for the U.A.E. (Middle East) early this morning and will be serving over there for a year to a year and a half. It was hard to say goodbye on the phone yesterday, harder than it ever has been, although I tried NOT to let him know this. He is in a different place and I didn't want to make it worse.

Why this time did it hurt so bad and not the others? I think for a few reasons. You see, yesterday, a childhood/high school friend of my brothers also passed away in a tragic car accident. This childhood/high school friend was the brother of one of my high school friends, Alex. I cannot even imagine what he is going through right now and while over the years we have lost touch, visiting and remembering the good times we had last at my cousin Jon's wedding a few years back, my heart still hurts for him. I haven't brought myself to call him or his family, who all have special places in my heart, only send a text message to let them know I am thinking of them. If you are a person that prays, please keep the Shada family in your prayers.

While I have not lost my brother in death, I have lost him temporarily in war. Yes, my brother signed up for this, I know, but when he was in the states I just felt better, like he was more safe. Over there, not so much. So Joel, if you are still able to read this when you get to where you are going, please know that I love and miss you to pieces and thank you for serving our country. For those of us still here, thank a soldier.

Crazy Lola!

Ma-gah Donna stopped by Saturday afternoon unexpectedly with a few surprises for Lola. While shopping at TJ Maxx earlies, she discovered a few items of funcky clothing that she thought Lola needed to have! One being the skirt/leggings combo seen above - just so happened that I had the perfect shirt to go with it! Lola looked adorable in it and pranced around before school (notice the just woke up and got dressed hair, I do it downstairs, so the stuff was on the counter and I obviously didn't go down there before I took pictures) and after (again, brushed hair)! Of course she threw on a pair of my shoes that she went and got from the closet! Little stinker! She is my accessory queen!

Thanks Ma-gah Donna, we love her new clothes!