New Mexico Vacation

The week after we moved, we had our family vacations. This time they were separate. Dan went to Michigan (he'll blog that later) and the kids and I went to visit Vanessa and her family in New Mexico. What a week! We had lots of fun. It was great seeing the Moodys again. We miss Nessa, Stephan, Grant and Zoe already! Right when we got there we thought it was going to be a very LONG week once Dono saw Roxy and started screaming. He's been a real scaredy-pants lately, even of our cat Moon. So when he came face to face (literally) with Roxy the huge boxer puppy he freaked out. We had to repeatedly teach him to say "Go Roxy, Go" in order to have some quiet. We got to hang out, watch movies, go shopping, have pedicures, and ate some great food (except for Los Hermanitos--man that was cruddy service). After 2 weeks of packing and moving, that was awesome relaxation. It was nice to have someone for Dono to play with and keep him occupied. We learned that Zoe started crawling the day we left. I guess she was held a lot while we were there. Nessa also got pumpkins for the boys to paint.

Dono and Grant had lots of fun, and surprisingly most of the paint got on the pumpkins! There was the occasional mark on the face and body and of course the few blobs that got on Roxy's face. The boys were so proud of their pumpkin masterpieces.

Donovan with his pumpkin

Grant with his pumpkin

Boy am I glad we stripped the boys down first.

We were so sad when the time came to leave. The next time we see the Moodys they will be moved into their new house. Thanks for letting us come to visit!

Dan's Family History Trip

Crystal asked me to post some information and pictures from my recent family history trip on her blog. Now there is a romantic word: BLOG. Sounds like something you would have to excuse yourself for doing in a public place. But I digress, on with the story.

I left Phoenix at 10:30PM on Tuesday, 18 October 2006. I arrived in Detroit at 4:40 AM local time, or 1:40 AM Phoenix time. I got my rental car and drove for 4 hours to Buckley, Michigan where my dad's grandfather and great-great grandfather are buried. Here is a picture of the Cornell Cemetery entrance.

That's my van there. It had Sirius Satellite Radio. I quickly became addicted to channel 17. The Grateful Dead channel. Many of the cemeteries I visited were quite literally in the middle of nowhere and I was the only living person for miles. Though I never got lost, on one ocassion I was slightly confused visa vi my geographical location.

While driving I tried my best to take pictures of the fall colors, most of the time to the dismay of my fellow drivers. Here are some examples...

I'm trying hard to refrain from posting pictures of all of the headstones that I uncovered (some unfortunately rather literally). But I did find some interesting facts about my ancestors. My mom's great-great-grandfather came to Canada from County Clare, Ireland. My dad's great-great-grandfather was an ardent abolitionist and fostered run away slaves in his church and possibly his home near Cassopolis, Michigan. However, the most powerful moments came at the gravesites of my ancestors I knew, my Grandma McMahon and my Grandma Shoot. We called her that not for her marksmanship, but rather because of her use of the word stemming from her desire not to curse in front of the grandkids. Here are pictures of their headstones.

Towards the end of my trip I stayed in Detroit with my Uncle Harley. He and Aunt Barb took me out on the town. I got to go to the new Tigers Stadium, the Hockeytown Cafe, and got to drive up Woodward Ave at 10 PM! (Which for those who don't listen to rap music, that's what the people that live in the ghetto, call the GHET-TOOOO!) As I was to afraid to take pictures of the G-dawgs on Woodward I just took pictures of the stadium and of Hockeytown.

This is the big cement tiger that greets those who enter Comerica Park.

Here is my childhood hockey hero, Gerard Gallant! SACREBLEU! Il tire, il marque! Me revenir, mon hero francophone!

So my tale of my trip to Michigan would not be complete without my critique of quite possibly the finest restaurant in Dowagiac, Michigan: Mr. Yahoo's Restaurant and Laundromat. Now there is a combo you don't see very often. The unfortunately occupied non-smoking table was located next to the laundromat portion of the facility. Forced into the smoking section I was rather cavalier and ordered the BBQ Ribs and Chicken dinner. It came complete with mashed potatoes and "gravy". The food was remarkably palatable considering the proximity in which was cooked to open containers of laundry detergent.

If you would like more of the sorted details of my trip, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope to my house. If you don't know my address, you probably don't know me too well and the remainder of my trip would be remarkably boring for you. Just fill in the details of my swashbuckling gallantry using your own imagination to avoid disappointment.

So, how do you end one of these? Not sure. I will end by saying this. BOOTS ON A DRAGONFLY, BOOTS ON A DRAGONFLY!

Happy Birthday Papa!

Our internet is finally working so it's time to back-track! Happy 57th Birthday Dad! Dad's birthday was October 13th. My dad is a very generous and helpful person. If he knows that you'll take care of it and return it in good condition he'd give you the shirt off his back. Growing up, my dad was always seeking perfection. Everything had to be in order and clean (living with an inspector by profession was shall I say interesting). Even the outside. My dad was also a professional landscaper once upon a time after his military career. So every Saturday my dad would take care of the yard. He even generously edged and sometimes cut our neighbors' lawns so that they would make the block look nice. Well, while growing up, I hated cleaning and didn't understand why my dad made such a fuss about cleanliness. But now I'm very glad that my dad taught his daughters the meaning of hard work and helping others. It's something I will always take with me.
Another thing I will always love about my dad is that he was always there for us growing up, and now. He went to all my t-ball/softball games, orchestra concerts, and anything else that I had going on. It really made me feel important and loved. I want to be able to do the same for our kids. Thanks dad!

Happy Birthday Dan

Yesterday was Dan's 27th birthday! We celebrated by going out to dinner and resting from our packing efforts. The kids and I even brought lunch to him and ate with him at work. He's such a good sport. He always has been. The first birthday we spent as a married couple had to be spent another day. You see my friend Kelli was getting married the next day and I was a bridesmaid. The other bridesmaids weren't doing anything for a bachelorette party, so I decided to take her out. Dan was so understanding because he knew I wanted to do this for my friend. But from now on I try to make his day special. I don't think he had to change a single diaper! We love you Daddy!

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

All was quiet at the Earl Zoo. I was checking my emails while Donovan and Elliott were napping. Or so I thought. I know I placed Elliott on his back on his blanket and he was asleep. I turned around to find this:




YEAH!! Elliott rolled over! He was so happy about it that he started spitting up, then he laughed. What a cutie. He thought he would be sneaky about his accomplishments. After a few more rolls he got quite tuckered out.

But then hey! Even Superman gets tired.

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam

Oh my goodness! Dan and I were laughing so hard. As the evening was coming on Monday the sun was casting beams on our wall. Dono couldn't figure out what it was. So he took his beloved blankie and tried rubbing it off. It wasn't working. Then we heard him muttering "towel, towel" and proceeded to go into the kitchen. He came out with one of my towels and started rubbing it with that. We thought it was so funny that we had to take a picture. Afterwards we just had to sing Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam for Family Home Evening that night.

Less Afraid

For our mom's club we went to the Tempe Beach Splashpark. I'm always leery because Donovan has always been afraid of the water. Any time he experiences something new with water, he freaks out. For example it took months for him to actually not cry when we gave him a bath. But now that he has one a lot and has toys and crayons to play with then he's ok. A shower? No way. Then the beach (Florida or San Diego) is just a horrific time. Well this splash park has been no different. I was prepared to leave quickly, after he tried first. There was a little whining, but not much. He actually had fun. Of course he would only really get his feet wet and kick the water, but hey, I'll take what I can get. Too bad the summer is coming to a close and so is the park. I wish I tried sooner. Oh well, there's always next time.

Camping

We went camping 2 weekends ago with all the Elliott family and the kids had so much fun playing together. Donovan and Grant played for so long that once they put their heads down they fell right asleep. It was fun being able to spend time with aunts, uncles, and cousins that we don't see that often. We also learned that Dono is a bit accident prone. It was scary watching him tumble down the stairs of Nama and Papa's trailor. Thank goodness a scrape on the forehead was the only result. When we got home though, Dono thought he wasn't done getting hurt. He was playing with the bathroom door while I was occupied in there and shut the door on his finger. It scared me. It bruised the nail and the cushion side too. Now he goes around wanting everyone to kiss his owie.

As for our youngest boy, Elliott, he has an ear infection. He doesn't like it, but sleep is helping him cope with it. It doesn't stop him from getting a haircut. From the day he was born he needed one. I finally broke down and cut about an inch all the way around. It is now almost permanantly sticking up but it's cute. These are the before and after shots.

Isn't he cute?

Getting Started

I just got this site started. I heard about it from a good friend of mine and thought it would be a great way to keep in touch with family and friends and show you what's going on with our family. I think it will be a good way to keep a sort of journal as well. I'm so bad at writing in my own journal, maybe this way can be a little easier.