Our Morning at the Park

This morning we headed to the park a few blocks from the house to play with Susie and Jayla!

Susie called me on her way and had this to say, "Uh, do you have your camera?"

"Duh!" I answered.

What kind of question was that? Did I have my camera - ask and you shall receive pictures my friend (probably too many in fact)! I never leave home without it! In fact, I am doing a family photo shoot for my girlfriend and her family from school tonight! Can't wait!!!

We had a great 2 hours at the park! Kyan made friends with a few of the other kids that were there, as well as make sure JayLo was having fun! He is quite the big brother!

Here are a few that I took the time to edit in photoshop, still learning, but having fun trying:



Here face here - too much! She loved going down the slide and showed it on her face almost every time!

Lola going through the tunnel...

...swearing to Jayla that it is really fun.

Ok, no Jay, Lo will just have to do!

Really Jay, it is fun!!!

Yay, she did it!

Auntie Susie was scaring the kids, mine loved it and were screaming in excitement, Jayla, not so much - she did NOT like her mommy being the scary monster!

Ok, so Kyan and I have this thing - we give the thumbs up as a sign that means I LOVE YOU! We actually stole this one from my mom and brother! They did that for years...now my son and I do the same thing.

Sassy pants - don't mess with her!

Oh, the slide - Lola's FAVORITE of the day!

Doing "nana nana boo boo" to Susie - she chased him around the playground!

Cheese! Jayla was a tough cookie to crack a smile out of today - made me think of the Wonder Pets when they say, "this is serious", felt that was Jayla all morning! She was taking the craziness that was the playground all in!

Jayla's turn to slide!

Swingin'

Lola would do this weird thing and keep her head down while swinging?! Not sure what it was all about, but it looked funny!

Always running...

My kiddos and Me!

Jayla and Susie

Susie and Jayla, thanks so much for meeting up with us! Everyday that we get to play with you gets better and better! Love our little outings, as simple as they are!

Camille, hope that you can meet up with us next time, want to get some pictures of little Avery! My camera hasn't seen her in a while!

Kyan and Lola, I love you, especially on days like today!

Are you kidding me?

Thought it was a little too quiet - uuuuggghhh! Kyan was having a good old time drawing on his sister, especially her face. I didn't see her face at first, just noticed her legs and hands. Then, I looked up and to my surprise, this is what I saw:

How do you get pen off of ones face?

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.