AZ Obert

Patiently Waiting for Football Season to Start Up Again

2010-07-03T16:33:00.000-07:00

I haven't done anything here for a long time so I decided to post a new picture. This is from the last game of the season before the playoffs. I have always liked the picture. I am patiently waiting for football season to start again. I like going to baseball games but lets face it, its not the same. And for the FIFA soccer - I just can't bring myself to pay attention to that . . . and for good cause.

Trip To Disneyland 2009

2009-10-18T15:53:00.001-07:00

This year we went to Disneyland for Fall Break. It was a fun trip. We even got the opportunity to meet Donald Duck at Goofy's Kitchen. This was huge because I understand that you almost never see Donald out and about in the park.

Shooting aliens for Buzz Lightyear . . . .

Meeting Mickey on the stage of Steamboat Willie . . .

The Jedi Training Grounds. Probably the coolest thing I have ever seen at a Disneyland Production. Unfortunately - Patrick didn't want to go up for the training because of the uncertainty. After it was over, he wanted to try it.

Disney was decked out for Halloween. Pretty cool stuff. I think I may try Christmas some year.

Here is the video of the boys getting to meet Mickey. As the weekend went on . . . Aaron's excitement grew. He was hitting Goofy at Goofy's kitchen by the end of the trip.

Fishing in the Rain

2009-09-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

We went back to Payson and Woods Canyon Lake again for one last weekend camping trip before football starts. Auntie Mel joined. Tried fishing at the lake again. Left Payson - it was a perfect 85 degrees and we were wearing t-shirts and shorts. As we got to lake, a storm came in and it cooled to about 44 degrees. So, after buying sweatshirts and ponchos, we decided to try anyway as the trout like the cooler water. As we fished, the rain kicked in and out.

Patrick is getting pretty good at casting.

Video of Aaron fishing . . .

. . . we only caught one crawdad. When we got back to camp - the rain also drenched the stuff we put out on the line outside camper. But it was a good trip anyway - stayed warm around campfire.

Camping in Payson

2009-08-29T20:14:00.000-07:00

We found a nice campground in Payson to get out of the Heat. Spent two weekends there. We went fishing the first weekend but didn't catch anything (too hot). The second weekend was rodeo weekend so we were able to take in the activities surrounding the rodeo including a farmers market, a parade and the rodeo itself.

Fishing . . .

Yes thats a camp fire in AZ. I also thought this was a good photo at the rodeo, catching the rope at full length.

Making s'mores.

Route 66 - Oklahoma City Vacation '09

2009-08-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

Yeah we know we haven't added anything for a while. Facebook tends to suck up tremendous amounts of time. But we will start with this post:

This years vacation involved a road trip from Phoenix to Oklahoma City. Along the way we detoured parts of the old route 66 and saw sites. While in OK City - we met up with the Schuhmacher clan. The kids had a great time together. Why Oklahoma City you ask? Why not? But we did find things to do. The zoo, the route 66 park, the Harley Store (ok its a staple on every trip), a pizza fun parlor, a brew pub, a locked up ball park (that only I got to enter to retrieve a 6 year old's hat), the OK City Bombing Memorial, and more. It was a good trip but a lot of driving. On the way back, we visited a brewery outside of NM that had some really good beer. Here are some photos.

The boys at the Continental Divide in New Mexico.

No interesting sites in OK you say? How about a zoo with actual bears that don't hide. Like this one. (I can watch bears for hours.)

Angie and the boys at Cadillac Ranch. If you drive route 66 you have to stop - its the law.

All the Kids at the Marriott Residence in OK City.

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-20T22:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads, but especially to our Daddy, Papa, and Grandpa! We are so happy to celebrate you! Thanks for all you do for us. Have a fantastic day. We love you lots and lots!
Love and Hugs,
Patrick and Aaron

These are the boys . . .

2009-05-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

Happy 2nd Birthday Aaron!

2009-04-17T14:39:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday Aaron! We wish you a wonderful day and a year filled with good things.
With lots of love and hugs,
Mom, Dad, and Patrick

My how you have grown! You are just as cute now as you were then!

Philisophical/Theological Question

2009-04-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

Are there more stupid people in heaven or hell? On the one hand stupid people perform stupid acts deserving of eternal damnation. On the other hand weren't we taught that God is a forgiving God and shouldn't the first people on the list to be forgiven be the ones who are too stupid to know any better. Were Adam and Eve evicted from Eden for eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge? So . . . is ignorance truly bliss? Are we longing to hear those divine words . . .

"Congratulations dumbass, you may enter these pearly gates."

Aaron's First Hair Trim

2009-03-29T22:13:00.000-07:00

Decided it was time for at least Aaron's bangs to get a little trim. So Susan Marie agreed to take care of it. Having him stand with me right there seemed to work extremely well! Not sure when we'll tackle the rest. I still like the curls!

Renaissance Festival

2009-03-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

We were able to attend the Renaissance Festival this year. We went with Grandma and Grandpa Obert and had a fantastic day. It really wasn't enough time to even see it all. It was Pirate weekend, so the boys were fascinated with all the "pirates." They had great snacks, saw a couple of shows, went on some rides, and got swords!

They each got to take a shot at a bow and arrow. Patrick really wanted one. Perhaps another time. I think we know what would happen at this stage of life.

Aaron was determined to go on this rocking horse. So I went with him. It really wasn't so fun at least from my stand point!

Snack time...

Photo fun...

Grandma, the boys, and I got to ride on an elephant. Her name was Chris. It was a fun experience! The boys really seemed to enjoy it. It's great experiencing these events through the eyes of the kids.

Aaron goes to the Zoo with Mommy and Auntie Mel

2009-03-29T21:56:00.001-07:00

Aaron LOVES the carousel and wanted Auntie Mel to take him on. He had a blast and didn't want to get off, as usual!

Riding on the train and eating popcorn. Can't beat a day at the zoo. Thanks Auntie Mel for going with us. We'll have to do it again one of these days when you have off...

Recent photos...

2009-03-29T21:50:00.003-07:00

Aaron and Bubba, just hanging out...

Time at the zoo with Papa. We had a nice afternoon. They especially enjoyed the Orangutan exhibit and we could have stayed for hours. Kasih, the 3 year old, was quite entertaining that day!

Couldn't believe that the giraffe was actually SITTING. Had to get it on a photo.

Patrick and Keisha.

Dobby and the boys.

Aaron getting Papa to give him rides on his bike!

Aaron and Cabo, his buddy! They sure look out for one another!

What do they mean "Exactly what they were doing at IHOP was unclear" - isn't it obvious?

2009-02-24T11:39:00.000-08:00

Hilton vs. homeless man
Feb. 24, 2009, 10:19 AM EST
MSN Entertainment
"I am placing you under citizen's arrest," a spike-heeled Nicky Hilton announced to the 50 year-old homeless man who allegedly pushed the heiress to the ground at 5 a.m. Saturday morning outside a West Hollywood IHOP.
TMZ first broke the story about the celebutante-turned-fashion-maven's run-in with the law.
"One of our deputies was at the IHOP, having a coffee break, and noticed a waitress run outside because there was a commotion," Los Angeles County Police spokesman Steve Whitmore later told Us Magazine.
The magazine went on to report that it took both Hilton and the officer to restrain the man, whose name is Michael Broadhurst.
Hilton was not injured but Broadhurst was arrested for battery and is set to appear in court April 21.
Exactly what the rail-thin billionaire was doing at IHOP remains unclear.

Yes, I agree . . .

2009-02-22T14:12:00.000-08:00

January 27th, 2009

2009-01-28T14:51:00.001-08:00

Happy 6th Birthday Patrick!

On Saturday the 24th Patrick had a party with his friends from school at McQueen Park. (Thank you Papa for reserving the ramada!) He had a great time. They played on the play equipment, had Scooby-Doo cake, did some arts-and-crafts, and had a pinata! A good time was had by all. On his actual birthday he decided he wanted to go to King's Fish House at the Tempe MarketPlace for dinner. It was yummy and he followed it with ice cream from Cold Stone.

We hope you had a fantastic birthday!

We love you!

Mom, Dad, and Aaron

A Scooby Doo Birthday at McQueen Park.

Birthday celebration in the Classroom. Patrick is pictured with his teacher, Ms. Bailey!

Opening gifts at home after dinner.

Happy Birthday Mike!

2008-11-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

We Love You...

We hope that you had a good day! (Go Pack G0!)

Love,

Ang, Patrick, and Aaron

Happy Birthday Angie

2008-11-23T07:53:00.001-08:00

We Love you . . .

. . . Rock Climbing Momma.

With love from all your boys.

For Our Iowa Family Connections

2008-11-16T17:01:00.000-08:00

O.k. in over 25 years of my college football allegiance with the UW Badgers, I am about to do something that I am not sure I have ever done - root for Iowa. Yep - you heard me right, I will be cheering for the Hawkeyes (whatever that is) to win next week against those slimey Gophers. Why you may ask? Well, if both Iowa and Wisconsin win next week, that should put Wisconsin in the 6th position in the Big Ten, having won the head to head against MN this week and that means Wisconsin, not Minnesota, has a good shot at coming here to Arizona at the end of December for the Consolation (Oops, I mean, Insight.com) bowl. That will serve two purposes for me. One, I will be able to see my beloved Badgers a second time here in Arizona. Two, I do not have to see all of those MN Gopher fans showing up here wearing what very well could be the ugliest colors in football and showing up at the restaurants and hotels in those clothes, except on Sunday when they wear their clothes with the same yellow color but with purple and that picture of what very well could be the ugliest picture of Heidi ever drawn. Now don't get me wrong, its not like this state gets taken over with MN fans when the Gophers come here. Being the most fair weather of all football fans, I really only think about a total of 50 of them show up anyway, but it only takes about 5 of them to ruin a meal.

So Katy, Kent & Lucia - mark next Saturday on your calendars because your big brother is going to be rooting for the Hawkeyes next week. Please don't let me down.

So as much as it pains me to say this . . . Go Hawkeyes. (Ouch, that hurt)

On Wisconsin (that's better).

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ~ 2008

2008-11-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

Halloween 2008 was a lot of fun! I was able to pick Patrick up a little early from school. We headed to Mike's office where they were able to trick-or-treat from office to office. They really enjoyed this and received LOTS of candy! And they were pretty cute too! Patrick had to be the HULK and Aaron was the cutest little Dragon! His tail swayed when he walked which made him even more adorable. After the rounds at LBBS we loaded back into the car and headed to trick-or-treat with Patrick's friend Evan and his sister Reagan. We go around their grandparents' neighborhood. They really do their house up including having a fog machine. They both really enjoyed all the decorations. Aaron enjoyed walking up into the yards to check out all the decorations. Nana was able to join us part way into our adventure. That was a good thing as I needed more hands! The kids had a great time and Aaron really got into getting the candy. He also learned to say "candy" quite well. All in all I think it was a memorable day for both of them.

JDRF Walk ~ November 1st

2008-11-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

The walk yesterday for the "Walk to Cure Diabetes" was held at Tempe Town Lake. There were 27,500 walkers!!!!!!!!!! That is more than the population of my hometown (Watertown, WI)! It was amazing. It is estimated that $2.1 million was raised. That is awesome!! So many stories, so many people to talk to. Technology has certainly come a long way. There is new and exciting equipment out there that I cannot wait to research further. Thank you to ALL who donated for such an important cause. A cure is within reach and hopefully we will see it within our lifetime.
(Sorry there are no photos. I completely forgot. Probably because Aaron wasn't thrilled to ride in his stroller so I carried him most of the 3 miles!)

Summertime Fun...

2008-09-10T21:52:00.000-07:00

We spent lots of time in the water this summer. The water adventures brought many firsts. Patrick went on his first water slides and then went on the low diving board and HIGH diving board for the first time. Aaron LOVES the water and is kicking his feet and moving his arms. He is Papa's sidekick in the water. Aaron doesn't like to wear any floating device or sit in any device much. So we are left to hold him or he tends to enjoy walking on a step in my parents' pool. It's been a fun summer watching their growth in the water. Many fun times were had this summer.

First water slide adventures.

The diving board...not so sure about that HIGH dive!

Couldn't resist this cute shot!

Camping in Prescott

2008-09-10T21:37:00.001-07:00

During our Prescott trip we hiked, visited downtown, and went to the zoo. The campground wasn't the nicest ever, but we managed.

Camping in Sedona

2008-09-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

While camping in Sedona we took the boys to a Rainbow Trout Farm. Here Daddy and Patrick caught two fish. Patrick was SO excited. We brought them home and Mike grilled them. First Patrick had to scare me with one that still had it's head on! YUCK! Aaron enjoyed camping, but decided he'd see how much damage he could do to his face. You'll notice some nice marks on his nose from face planting into the cement slab. We hiked while there and visited the shops downtown. Always pretty scenery in Sedona.

First Day of Kindergarten

2008-07-28T21:07:00.000-07:00

Patrick started kindergarten today! It's unbelievable how fast time has gone! Seems like yesterday when he started preschool and now it's two years later. A few weeks ago when asked if he was ready for kindergarten he responded with "I am DEFINITELY NOT going to Kindergarten!" I was a little worried about today after that. However, he did very well and his teacher, Ms. Bailey, informed me that he "DEFINITELY had a good time!" There are 20 students in his class and 20 in the kindergarten class next door. In fact, they share a bathroom and will also be spending time together for different subjects. He has been in class with some of the students before. He did make some new friends today though. It was his first FULL day of class and he had to take lunch too! All in all I think it was a good day! Let's hope for a fantastic year! Even Aaron wanted in on the action. He was NOT very happy when I made him leave the room!

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T22:08:00.000-07:00

To all the Dads we know and love we wish you all the best on this Father's Day and always!

Friday the 13th!

2008-06-15T22:04:00.000-07:00

I have never really been superstitious, but I believe that changed forever at 9:30am on Friday when I was rear ended in my less than 3 month old Honda Pilot. Aaron was with me. We had dropped Patrick off at camp, stopped at the bank, and were heading home. I was stopped at a RED light! Her insurance is claiming 100% responsibility which is good, but it saddens me that my new vehicle had to get wrecked! I am very thankful that everyone was OK though. When we heard the crash, Aaron screamed and I looked back to see her front end all smashed up and the air bag deploying. It was kind of scary to see and to have a child in the car. I think the next Friday the 13th I'll just stay in bed all day!

Rocky Point ~ May 2008

2008-05-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

Aaron "smoking" Papa's cigar!

Nap time for Aaron and Daddy!

We were able to join my parents in Rocky Point from Sat-Tues (17th-20th). We would have liked to have stayed longer, but Patrick had his last days of school and graduation. Plus the weather turned worse so we had the best days as far as sunshine goes! Aaron wasn't feeling the best ~ teething. Patrick had a blast. He made friends each day and everyone knew his name, even the adults! It was rather funny when we'd leave the area and we'd hear children and adults alike yelling "Bye Patrick!". We stayed around the resort the whole time which was just fine. We had a cabana by the pool each day thanks to dad's early arrival down by the pool around 5am! He'd take his pillow and blanket and lay on the bed at the cabana. It was very nice though as Aaron could be in the shade and could take his naps right there. Each day they had two "Happy Hour" times. Patrick even looked forward to them when he could get his "virgin daquiris". Aaron liked the "virgin pina coladas" better I think. It sure was fun to hang around the pool and get waited on. We ate by the pool bar too which has very good food except for one night when we lost track of time and they had closed for the night. Then we ordered room service. That was kind of fun too! The maids got creative with the towels as you can see the towel dog. They also had swans and sea shells. Some cute stuff. Patrick certainly enjoyed coming in to find the new items. Aaron did get a little more interested in surroundings toward the end of our stay and ventured out a little. He enjoyed walking the steps and playing in the sand. Both boys really like the sand. Patrick enjoyed being able to write names with his rake in the wet sand. Next time we'll have to see if Aaron likes the sea!

Aaron turned 13 months on the 17th. He's growing SO fast!!

Preschool Graduation ~ May 22, 2008

2008-05-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Patrick and Auntie Mel
Patrick and Great Grandma Dobby

Patrick and Mr. Sippel - Superintendent of Schools
Patrick and Ms. Teresa - preschool teacher
Family photo op.

Patrick has graduated from Preschool and will be attending Kindergarten next school year. It was a very nice ceremony. Awards were presented and diplomas received. They looked SO cute in their caps and gowns! Patrick was thrilled that the colors were that of the Packers as well as Daddy's high school. Great Grandma Dobby and Auntie Mel were able to attend the memorable occasion.

Spring Champions

2008-05-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

The 5-6 Chiefs were the #1 seed in the tournement today. After 6 hours of football they emerged as champions. The kids worked hard all day and all season and it paid off with the big reward in the end.

Discussion Flag pulling Strategy with Coach Larry.

The Champions!

Now get ready for the off season . . . with golf.

Happy 1st Birthday Aaron!

2008-04-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

At 7:29 am one year ago, Aaron Michael was born. What a precious blessing he is. He is such a joy. He is SO close to walking. His personality is a delight and his smile charms everyone. His first birthday was spent hanging out at home this morning. Aaron is still recovering from a double ear infection. We took Patrick to class and afterward played on the playground. Here Aaron thought he'd try out being a "big boy" and atttempt the stairs and slide alone! YIKES. Then later in the neighborhood he thought he could ride a two-wheeler with training wheels and a skate board. Guess being one made him even more curious and daring. Tonight after a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner we had a small birthday cake. Aaron was pretty neat about it. I hope he had a wonderful day. Happy Birthday baby, we love you!
Love,
Mommy, Daddy, and Patrick

Just some fun photos this morning of Aaron with Patrick's Grand Canyon Ranger hat! They were too cute not to post some.

All tired out after a full day of turning one. Must be exhausting!
My FIRST birthday cake! MMM...the frosting is good, but feels kind of gooey.

BORN TO RIDE!!!!!!!!!!!

The Winner!

2008-04-10T21:45:00.001-07:00

Who does the NCAA Brackets for March Madness? In the last 5 years, we have two winners. Patrick won when he was 2 and this year Aaron won even before he is age 1. Thanks to Godfather Ron for the help. Now he will decide how to spend the spoils.

Loverboy . . .

2008-04-05T12:52:00.000-07:00

Last week, Angie had a little "girls" type party at the house. I was making myself scarce by doing such manly things as working in the garage and in the yard. One of Angie's friends has a little girl about Patrick's age and she came over to play with Patrick while the mom's had their party. Patrick and the little girl (whose name is being witheld to protect the innocent) have known each other since they were very little. They were behaving very well, not arguing and for some time were playing very quietly in the back yard. I moved from the garage to the back yard at one point and found the two of them sitting on top of the hot tub that was covered. I politely asked them what they were doing. Patrick's answer in the most non-chalant and innocent voice came out . ..

...

"Kissing."

I immediately went inside and told Angie - "You need to go out there and deal with this one." As a dad I wasn't sure how to react. Part of me said "Oh brother." The other part had me thinking "That's my boy!" Finally, another part wanted to burst out laughing but I held back not sure what permanent psychological damage I could impose on these two 5 year olds by doing so.

Look What the Easter Bunny Left Angie!

2008-03-23T12:21:00.001-07:00

The old Pathfinder hit 201,000 miles last month. Mike was being very stubborn and believed that it would go another 100,000. The EB thought differently and believed it was time to trade up so he took the Pathfinder and left this in its place. Angie is very happy and is believing that she was very good this year.

11 Months Old

2008-03-17T20:59:00.000-07:00

Aaron is 11 months old today. It's so amazing to watch his daily accomplishments. He is such an easy going baby compared to Patrick. He is so close to walking, he crawls, and climbs, pulls up on things, says words like "quack", "mama", "dada", "papa", "bubba", and "rock". Quack was actually his first word. He enjoys listening to Twisted Sister (thank you Papa!) and his favorite song is "I Wanna Rock!" He is learning to brush his teeth (he has 8!) and also brush his hair. It's so fun to watch him. He is such a joy! We love you baby!!

The Boys & Their New Found Skils

2008-03-15T17:44:00.000-07:00

Aaron has learned to walk behind things like his Gator with more stability. It's so amazing watching this transformation. Each time he tries he is more stable and there are less falls resulting in crying. He wants to walk so badly! He has also used a laundry basket with clothes in it to push and walk behind. It's so fun to watch him grow, but yet sad knowing that our baby is reaching these milestones that we'll never witness again as a "first."

Patrick had his training wheels removed from his bike TODAY! He is VERY excited to say the least. He's really doing rather well. The starting and stopping is a little shaky, but he gets better each time.

Redneck Weddings

2008-03-08T21:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.cmt.com/shows/dyn/my-big-redneck-wedding/series.jhtml

Has anyone watched this show? It is hilarious. Who mud wrestles in a wedding dress. How about mattress surfing. A recent one actually had a bride to be in tears because she couldn't find her teeth! Then her sister offered to have the bride borrow hers!

In all honesty, I think I have been to a few weddings like this.

SLEDDING in Flagstaff

2008-02-18T18:20:00.000-08:00

We spent the night at the Residence Inn in Flagstaff. We had been told that there was a hill on the hotel property for sledding. So we got Patrick a sled - in Orange of course. We hit the hill after breakfast. Patrick had a GREAT time! He went flying over some bumps and did a couple 360s. I even got the nerve to take Aaron on the sled for a short trip down the hill. Mike was too sore from snow boarding to attempt any sledding.

Arizona Snow Bowl

2008-02-18T18:03:00.000-08:00

We started out about 5AM on Sunday morning to head to SNOWBOWL. An attorney that works with Mike, Dominique, joined us. Mike wanted to take Patrick skiing. We arrived up at the mountain before 8AM. Patrick began his ski school around 9:30AM. They kept him until 3PM and fed him lunch and taught him some of the basics. The instructor was very pleased with him and indicated that he had "expert" on almost all skills on the report card. He said he'd do very well in school as he was very focused and got along well with the other kids. Patrick didn't want to give his ski boots back and was intent that he was skiing again on Monday! Mike and Dominique attended snow boarding school. Their school started right after Patrick, but they were done by noon. Aaron and I hung out in the lodge. The lodge wasn't quite what I had anticipated. It had lots of tables and chairs and there was a fireplace in the center, but there weren't really any windows to watch the skiers. Aaron took a couple naps on my lap while I FINALLY read some of my Harry Potter book. We also played with some of his toys and books and I made him a spot on the floor with a blanket to play. Mike and Dominique joined us for lunch and then we went to check out Patrick. After a little time in the cold and WIND Aaron and I retreated to the truck for awhile. After getting Patrick we hung out in the lodge until everyone was ready to go. All in all I guess everyone had a good time. Patrick can't wait to go again and wants to try snowboarding someday. Just ask him about his ski experience and I'm sure he'll give you an ear full!

Aaron is 10 Months Old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Completed Pass

2008-02-16T08:27:00.001-08:00

The little Dolphins ended their season last week. Throughout the season, the team had one completed pass. Guess who was involved.

NFL Experience ~ January 27th, 2008

2008-02-10T20:29:00.000-08:00

On Patrick's actual birthday he decided that he wanted to attend the NFL Experience. This is a "theme park" more or less built by Home Depot. Since Glendale was the site of the Super Bowl, the NFL Experience was here as well. It actually was raining which made things wet and soggy. Some attractions were closed and were a bit cold, but that didn't stop Patrick (and Daddy too) from getting in there and trying things out and having fun. They ran obstacle courses, threw passes, kicked field goals, looked at memorabilia and numerous other things. After leaving the event we went to Margaritaville for dinner where Patrick received a "special" balloon hat from a guy on stilts and also a strawberry shortcake dessert. He was very excited about the dessert. It was certainly a nice birthday ~ one he will surely remember!

More Cake...

2008-02-10T20:20:00.000-08:00

On the evening of the 26th we had family over and a few friends. Jillian and Ava were able to come over and play with Patrick. Pirates of the Caribbean was the theme of this cake. Patrick opened more gifts and played with the girls. It was a nice night!

Jillian and Ava are waiting for some cake.

Harley Davidson shirt and in his favorite color! Nice choice Nana and Papa!
Never knew that underwear would be such a great hit, but when they are PACKER underwear that's a whole different story. I couldn't get them washed fast enough for him so he could wear them.

We are so thankful for everyone who was able to join us to celebrate Patrick's 5th birthday. We all had a nice time! Also, thank you to everyone who sent wishes his way!

BOWLING ALLEY FUN

2008-02-10T20:02:00.000-08:00

Ok, so FINALLY a post from Patrick's birthday. On Saturday, January 26th we had a party for his friends at the bowling alley. It was our first bowling experience. Ten friends joined him for some fun, pizza, cake and ice cream. They did a fairly nice job and we had little to do other than remind the kids to bowl. Patrick received some nice gifts and seemed to enjoy himself. Aaron did well - he napped on Nana most of the time. That was actually very nice so that Mike and I could pay more attention to the party.

Patrick and Sofia...
Majority of the guests to sing "Happy Birthday" to Patrick.
A Diego cake was chosen for the theme of this event of the day. It was yummy, but we had TOO much left over.
Good thing we asked for bumpers on both lanes. The funniest was watching how fast, or really how SLOW, the ball rolled down the lane. It was pretty funny! What great entertainment.

JANUARY 27, 2008

2008-01-29T14:06:00.000-08:00

HAPPY 5th BIRTHDAY PATRICK!
We love you lots!
Love,
Mom, Dad, and Aaron

PS. I'll post photos later of his birthday festivities.

Just had to post...

2008-01-21T08:50:00.001-08:00

Although our Packers didn't fair so well, these photos were too precious not to share!

Sleepover at Our House

2008-01-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

Patrick had his first sleep over at our house on Jan. 3rd with his friend, Evan, from school. They seemed to have fun, although couldn't stop talking when it was time for bed. Evan did fairly well, although wanted his parents about 2:30am. Luckily some talking and a little bribery did wonders.

New Year's Visit with Grandma and Grandpa

2008-01-21T08:25:00.000-08:00

Grandma and Grandpa Obert arrived the Friday after Christmas. We had fun just hanging out, having Christmas all over again, going to dinner, and Patrick had MANY trips to the park along with numerous tickle fights with Grandpa. Here are a few photos of their visit.

9 Months Old!

2008-01-17T16:27:00.000-08:00

Aaron turns 9 months while battling a sinus infection and bronchitis. It's been a real fun week. But on a better note, he is beginning to show serious movements toward crawling. I think being sick has delayed it a little, which is probably ok (gives me a little more time). He also wants to walk all the time holding onto someone's hands. He's fun, although at times can be a bit challenging especially when sickness is involved! He loves to play Peek-a-Boo & has learned to wave!

The Little Dolphins Defeat Seahawks

2008-01-12T13:48:00.001-08:00

Here is one of Patrick's two touchdowns today. He now has four touchdowns in two games for the Dolphins. It was forshadowing as the NFL Green Bay Packers also defeated the Seahawks.

POLAR EXPRESS

2008-01-01T16:12:00.000-08:00

We made our way to Williams. Friends were traveling as well that night on the train. After check in, we got situated in our rooms. It was snowing so Patrick was DYING to get outside. He had a great time throwing snowballs with his friend, Tyler and his family. We went in and got ready to see Mrs. Claus and get photos with Santa. Then we headed to dinner and then back to the room to get ready for the train ride at 8pm. The boys got on their matching pjs for the train ride. This is what coincides with the story The Polar Express. Aaron fell asleep before boarding and slept through about half the trip. He was awake though in order to receive his bell from Santa. Patrick had a great time again, Aaron seemed ok with his first train ride & loved his bell, & Nana & Papa enjoyed it all for the first time too. In fact, we already have reservations for next year to continue our tradition!

A fun time was had by all & we look forward to sharing the experience again in December!

Sedona

2008-01-01T12:06:00.000-08:00

Even some snow as you can see on the flowers which was mixed with rain.

A little snooze on Papa...

We spent Saturday night, December 9th, in Sedona with my parents and sister at Los Abrigados. We went to be able to view the Christmas light displays there. We went to the Oak Creek Brewery for dinner, walked around by the shops, Patrick sat on Santa's lap, and we wandered around the grounds to view the light displays. After breakfast the next morning, we headed to WalMart to get Patrick a warmer coat. Later, Nana & Papa joined us for a drive to Williams for the Polar Express.

Zoo Lights

2008-01-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

One of our yearly traditions at Christmas is to attend the Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo. My parents, Grandma, and sister joined us as well. We went to Red Robin for dinner first and then headed to a VERY crowded event. It was busier than ever, but we had a nice time viewing all the beautiful displays and a few of the animals. The zebras were more active than we've ever seen. Aaron saw some of it and then decided to take a snooze. Patrick enjoyed the talking giraffe most of all.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T11:50:00.000-08:00

Wishing you a very Happy New Year filled with peace and blessings!

We actually made it to the New Year without falling asleep. We were watching the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Mom and Dad Obert are here so we were able to ring in the New Year with them. Patrick and Aaron didn't make it to midnight. Patrick actually fell asleep 10 minutes short. That's ok, as he really doesn't "get it" yet anyway. We had a nice steak dinner at home and Mom and I had grasshoppers while the guys had beer/wine to celebrate. Imagine making grasshoppers without a blender. It was interesting! :)

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

We hope that you all had a Wonderful Christmas with family and friends celebrating each other and the REAL reason for the Season! On Christmas Eve we went to Nana and Papa's for dinner. We had one of the traditional meals (hot beef sandwiches) that my grandma made when I was younger. The kids opened their first gifts of Christmas and then we all went to church. After we got home we opened gifts from our friends from WI. Patrick was determined to wear his Packer "uniform" to bed. I talked him into wearing it on Christmas Day instead. On Christmas Day everyone came to our house where we opened the rest of our gifts and had a prime rib dinner. The boys were able to open their stockings right away when they got up. Patrick also got a 3-in-1 table which wasn't wrapped so he knew about that when he walked out of his room. Needless to say he was just a little excited when he came downstairs. Patrick received the Diego Mobile Rescue Unit which pleased him immensely. This was the main thing he asked Santa for and Santa remembered! Aaron enjoyed his first Christmas. It was so neat to see him experience things for the first time. The Jumparoo was a big hit! Patrick enjoyed himself and really got into the spirit of Christmas. In fact, he went to bed better than he EVER has on Christmas Eve as he claimed to hear bells. After informing him that Santa wouldn't stop if he wasn't in bed asleep, he raced to his room and didn't even really want to be tucked in or anything. We are truly blessed with great friends and wonderful family!

8 Months Old

2007-12-17T21:41:00.000-08:00

Aaron is 8 months old today! It seems he may have another tooth or two for Christmas. One of the upper teeth broke through today!

Happy Birthday Mike!

2007-11-24T14:29:00.000-08:00

We hope you have a wonderful day and a great year ahead!

Love and Hugs,

Angie, Patrick, and Aaron

Happy Birthday Angie

2007-11-23T13:16:00.000-08:00

We hope your day is fun. Party on!

With Love from Mike, Patrick, and Aaron.

Bathtime Fun!

2007-11-18T20:02:00.001-08:00

Aaron received a tubside bathseat as a gift from our neighbors. We decided to give it a try as he was trying to roll out of his little tub. He is having a GREAT time in the seat. What fun to splash in the water!

Flag Football ~ Fall 2007

2007-11-18T19:51:00.000-08:00

Patrick decided to try his hand at flag football this season. He was on the Chiefs. Coach Larry did an awesome job with the boys. There were ten of them on the team. They were all 3-4 years old. They actually WON first place in the division. They do not play in the tournament at this level and there isn't a team trophy, but they had the best record. It was a lot of fun. Patrick was starting to get the hang of it. Some of his biggest problems were not running through and playing with his mouth guard. The boys seemed to spend more time chewing on them than having them in their mouths protecting their teeth.

Patrick will be playing again in the winter season, but unfortunately will not get to play for Larry as Larry moved up. Maybe next time around.

Seven Months

2007-11-17T17:00:00.000-08:00

Aaron has reached the 7 month mark. He seems SO much bigger than Patrick was at this age. He's pushing 18lbs. (Patrick was like 13-14 pounds) He's so much fun right now. I'd love to freeze him at this stage. He's very interested in his surroundings. He is sitting for small amounts of time before toppling over. He prefers to stand over sitting and will take a couple steps while holding onto someone else's hands. He reaches his hands out/up when he wants to be picked up. His smiles are awesome! We are truly blessed.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

2007-11-06T16:48:00.000-08:00

We love you lots & wish you a year filled with many good things!
Love & Hugs,
Patrick & Aaron

A few more Halloween Photos

2007-11-04T19:16:00.001-08:00

They boys received stuffed ghosts from Build-a-Bear as their Halloween gift from us. The ghosts' eyes and hearts glow in the dark and the cape and boxers glow as well. They were too cute so they each got one. Patrick's is Casper and Aaron's is Boo. They both seemed to like them a lot and they had to ride in the car with us all afternoon and evening.

After all our fun trick~or~treating, Patrick was still determined that we needed to head to Nana and Papa's so he could show them his costume. We arrived a little after 9pm and the boys received cards and gifts from Nana, Papa, and Dobby. We ended up arriving home a little after 11pm. It was a LONG, but FUN day! Aaron's first Halloween was an adventure!

Happy First Halloween Baby Yoda!

Trick~or~Treat

2007-11-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

We spent Halloween evening trick or treating with the Terwilliger family. (Dave, Erika, Evan, and Reagan) Patrick and Evan attend San Tan together. We met them about 5:40pm at Evan's Grandma and Papa's house. They go all out with decorating. Danny dresses up to hand out candy and plays spooky music. The kids were very intrigued with all the decorations. We went around their neighborhood for at least 1 1/2 hours. The kids sure seemed to have a good time. They received lots of candy and were rather tired toward the end. When we got back to the house they had to sample a few pieces of candy. Then the boys decided they should run around in their underwear, even outside! We finally were all buckled into the car by about 8:40. It sure was a fun time and I am thankful we were able to join them. It made the night better for us all! So thanks to the Terwilliger family and to Mary and Danny! We sure had a good time.

Packers Cheerleader, Firefighter, Jango Fett, and Baby Yoda
Best Buds...
Mommy and her Baby Yoda

Halloween Photos~LBBS

2007-11-04T18:44:00.000-08:00

Mike departed on Halloween morning for depositions in New Jersey. This did not sit well with Patrick. So luckily we had a FULL day of events. He had school in the morning. By 3:30pm we arrived at Mike's office to trick~or~treat from office to office. Auntie Mel met us downstairs and came over with us. Then Ron, Aaron's godfather, walked around from office to office and introduced the boys. Patrick was a very modest trick or treater. They would tell him to take two or more and he'd only take one. Ron tried to get him to take handfuls, but Patrick wasn't really having it. He did let Ron put candy in his bag though. We spent about an hour and then headed off to our next event.

Gilbert Halloween Festival

2007-11-04T18:36:00.000-08:00

The Town of Gilbert had a Halloween Festival at Freestone park on the Saturday before Halloween. There were bounce houses, slides, etc. which Patrick loved. They had food booths and other vendors with things like jewelry and cooking products. It was our first time and we thought it was a pretty neat setup. There were also areas where the kids could color, make bracelets, stamp, etc. We ended up being there almost 3 hours. We met up with the Reese family (Michelle, Brent, Tyler, and Korey). Patrick enjoyed his time with Tyler as they don't get to see each other much anymore.

TRUNK~OR~TREAT

2007-11-04T18:29:00.001-08:00

Church had an event called Trunk~or~ Treat in the parking lot on the Friday night before Halloween. People would park their vehicles and decorate the trunks and pass out candy from them. It was pretty neat. Some people go all out and even have fog machines etc. Then inside there were games and hot dog dinners. We arrived a little late and Patrick didn't get to play all the games he would have liked. Jango Fett and Baby Yoda seemed to have a good time though!

2007 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes

2007-11-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

Today was the JDRF walk in AZ! My Mom, Sister, Aaron and I joined in the fun. We walked around Tempe Town Lake. Albertson's provided both breakfast and lunch. Gold Canyon Candles gave gift bags when we came back into the park. The generous donations of the large companies is wonderful!

They estimated that there were 25,000 walkers and we raised $2.2 million. We have now become the biggest JDRF walk, surpassing Sydney, Australia. It is truly amazing all the stories you hear. They are tear jerking to say the least. THANK YOU to all who donated to help such an important cause. A cure for diabetes became even more important when I was diagnosed in January 2006 with Type 1. A cure IS within reach and hopefully we will see it in our lifetime! Hopefully every step, every donation will bring us a little closer.

Again, my heartfelt thanks to all who donated to help reach toward that cure!

Happy Halloween!

2007-10-31T13:26:00.000-07:00

Wishing you few tricks and many treats! Hope everyone has a spooktacular time!
(I will post photos when Mike returns from NJ with the laptop!)

A Day At The Zoo ~ Oct. 16th

2007-10-19T10:07:00.000-07:00

Patrick had fall break this week. Therefore, I had to have activities to keep him busy & out of my hair! So we planned an outing to the zoo with his friend, Sofia. Patrick & Sofia met when he was 11 months old & have been friends ever since. The weather was perfect. We had such a nice time! Actually got to see the cheetahs for a change. We had to really look, but could see them laying in the grass.
The baby ~ born on Patrick's birthday!

Aren't they cute?!?!?

Just hanging out...
Patrick and Sofia~a little snack!

Schnepf Farm Trip ~ Oct. 12th

2007-10-18T09:17:00.001-07:00

San Tan offers a field trip extension each fall to Schnepf Farm. This means that if you want your child to go, you also have to go. This was a fun outing last year and so thought we'd do it again. Patrick's best buddy, Evan, was going so that made it even better. We spent about 3 hours there walking around and letting the kids play. Then we headed to McDonalds for lunch and more play time. Patrick was thrilled as he was able to ride with Evan in his vehicle.

Evan, Reagan, Patrick, and Aaron in the Pumpkin Patch.

Patrick, Evan, and Reagan riding on the airplanes. Erika didn't read the sign getting the kids in and thought parents had to go, so she tried to fit into the plane only to be told by the attendent that adults weren't allowed. Needless to say, he got a good laugh!

Notice the looks on Evan and Patrick's faces on the rollercoaster. They were scared to death. They were insistent on riding though. Erika, Evan's Mom, rode right behind them. They had a death grip on each other. Evan was screaming and Patrick too scared to do anything. They actually stopped the ride so they could get off. A lesson learned I guess.
Evan, Patrick, and Reagan each got to pick a small pumpkin (0r punkamin as Patrick calls them) out of the patch on our way out.

A little gathering before we begin our journey on the farm. Tyler, Reagan, Hayden, Patrick, and Evan all stop to pose for a photo.
On the train ride. Patrick, Evan, and Hayden are in the same class at school.

Patrick coming down the BIG slide. This was a hit, although made for some dirty children!
Patrick was determined to try this sling shot game. He didn't do well, but had fun trying.

Aaron is 6 Months Old

2007-10-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

Fun at the park!
Daddy's idea of a funny outfit!

It seems amazing that our baby is already 6 months old. He has done so many new things this month. He is now eating fruit, sleeping in his crib, nursing less, and numerous other things. He is becoming a "little man" right before our eyes. He is similar to Patrick but yet SO different. Many say he looks just like Patrick, but he is coming into his own more and more. Yes, there are similarities, but also many differences. He is such a joy! His smiles, "hugs", and "kisses" are absolutely wonderful. He can melt your heart for sure.

420 . . . 421 . . . 422 . . .

2007-09-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

Brett Favre. No matter what your team affiliation is you have to respect his accomplishments. His greatest attribute is how much he appears to love playing the game. When he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame they will talk about how much fun he had playing the game. A true competitor. I may be biased but it is not a stretch to say that what Brett Favre has given to the NFL equates to what Michael Jordan gave to the NBA. (Shut up Bear fans - your team is 1-3 so we know you have to over sensationalize your past accomplishments. How many quaterbacks have you had since Brett Favre has been in the league . . . zero. Now why don't you go listen to your Super Bowl Shuffle record again while you wipe the dust off your picture of the Fridge.)

Obviously, my team affiliation is the Green Bay Packers. So this is extra sweet. You can see he has truly motivated this very young team. The best record today . . . 4-0. Will it last ? Who knows but even the football announcers cannot say anything bad about what Brett is doing to motivate these young players. And beating the Vikings in the dome is a sweet feeling. The struggles in that place have never been a secret. Pat E. - when driving across that river to go to work - make sure to wave that big "G" flag proudly. And ask them to put their purple flags with an ugly version of Heidi at half mast.

Too bad for Vikings Fans again. My rivalry with my neighbor continues . . . .

I found this message today. It made me laugh.

Message to Iowa Hawkeye Readers

2007-09-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

Here is why the so-called "controversial" call was not really a controversy. Under no circumstances would Iowa have been found to be in possession of the football fumbled by PJ Hill.

Rule of Football regarding Inadvertent Whistle:

"The nearest official typically blows his whistle after the ball becomes dead to alert the players

that the play is over. If the ball is alive and the official sounds an inadvertent whistle, then the ball still becomes dead, but the team in possession of the ball may elect to have the down replayed or take the spot where the ball was declared dead. If the ball was loose from a fumble, then the ball can be put into play at the spot of the fumble. If the ball was in flight from a kick or a pass, then the down is always replayed." (Source: The Rules of Football on Wikipedia)

In other words, when there is an inadvertant whistle while there is still a live ball, the play is over and it reverts to the moment of last possession. That was when PJ Hill fumbled on the 3 yard line. The only controversy is the fact that there is an inadvertent whistle in the first place. If there had been no whistle, the ball was recovered by Wisconsin in the endzone and the result of the play is a Wisconsin touchdown. Even Iowa coach Ferentz agreed with the ultimate ruling. At least he knows the rule.

Message to Kirk Herbstreit - "learn the rules of you are going to announce games!" We know you are still upset about the fact that you didn't get to go to the Rose Bowl in 1993 but get over it . . . you lost to Michigan.

Pine Top

2007-09-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend in Pine Top with my parents and grandma. We stayed in a cabin and had a very relaxing time. Right at the resort there was mini golf, a rec center with a pool, pool table, ping pong table etc. We went out for breakfast and dinner each day and just did fun things during the day. The weather was great~sunny and 80s during the day and cooler at night. The boys had a great time. The trip up and back was good as well as they slept the majority of the time. We traveled after dinner which made a late night for us, but it was a fairly peaceful ride. Aaron had his first ride on a slide with the help of Patrick. He certainly enjoyed it.

Aaron holds the bottle on his own for the first time! He doesn't like the bottle, but can do it. It had juice in it, so that made it a little better.
Hanging out on the cabin porch with Nana.
Watching some football.

The boys at the resort entrance.

You can see Aaron's first tooth and the start of the second.

Hanging out on the pool table.
Mini golf was a favorite past time. Patrick can do really well when he concentrates and takes his time. He wanted to play all the time!
Relaxing in the pack 'n' play.
Having some beer. Seems to really like beer. Not so fond of the "hard" stuff though.

Snuggle time...
The boys and Dobby (aka Great Grandma)
The boys and Nana
Papa "helps" Aaron cross the rings
Patrick is determined to cross the bars/rings, but claims he needs help.

Aaron Photos - Sept.

2007-09-19T10:54:00.001-07:00

I can Drive!?!?!?!? We attended a birthday party at Bounce U. Aaron enjoyed himself almost as much as Patrick.

Aaron sporting the PINK sunglasses that Patrick got as a prize from his Phonics class.
More Exer-Saucer fun! Thank you Leigh and Shanon. This is a BIG hit!

Diamondbacks vs. Brewers

2007-09-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

On August 22nd we took the boys to their first regular season baseball game. Everyone seemed to have a good time. Patrick said it was too loud, but Aaron didn't have trouble sleeping! I think the D-backs won - I was busy people watching.

Five Months Old!

2007-09-17T14:42:00.000-07:00

WOW! It seems unbelievable that Aaron is five months old today. He is accomplishing so many things. It's amazing how different and yet how much the same he and Patrick are. Aaron's first tooth came in Sept. 5th. Tooth #2 is ready to break the skin. He's very uncomfortable! He is eating cereal and veggies and has had prunes. So far his favorite veggies are sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots. He isn't fond of the green veggies at all! He is so much more alert and is VERY "nosey." He is interacting with us more and more. He is such a joy. He loves to be in the pool, swing, watch Patrick, be held, take baths, read books, watch football, and hold onto his favorite toys.

HAPPY GRANDPARENTS DAY!

2007-09-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Grandparents Day Grandma, Grandpa, Nana, and Papa! We love you lots and are so thankful for all you do for us. We hope you have a wonderful day.

With Love and Hugs,

Patrick and Aaron

4 Months Old

2007-08-17T16:24:00.000-07:00

Our baby is growing. Many firsts have happened this week. On Sunday Daddy let him taste melon at breakfast. Then at dinner Nana fed him mashed potatoes. He liked those! He also "watched" the Packers for the 1st time. That night he had cereal for the first time. The cereal is going pretty well. He is eating it at night and getting the hang of it. To celebrate his four month mark we visited the Doctor. He has his first full blown cold. It is a dandy! All in his poor little nose. Let's just say that sleeping last night wasn't good for either of us. He seems better now and hopefully that will continue. His fever has come down which pleases me. He weighed in at 13 pounds 11.5 ounces. He proceeded to pee all over my shirt right after he was weighed as we walked back to the room. That's the first time he's peed on me! Hopefully his cold will leave quickly. Makes me sad to see my baby sick!

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

2007-08-17T16:15:00.001-07:00

We hope your birthday is super and your year is filled with all kinds of good things. We love you lots and send hugs your way!

Love, Patrick and Aaron

Swing, Dog, and Diapers...

2007-08-09T08:55:00.000-07:00

Aaron had his first ride in an outdoor swing. He LOVED it! Patrick wasn't so sure about sharing it though.

Patrick wants to hold Aaron at least once a day. He is helpful some of the time. He likes the diaper thing we have and has become willing to help throw the diapers away, well he opens and closes the container anyway.

Badger has pretty much observed Aaron from a distance. Here he was genuinely interested. It must have only been for that day as he continues to watch from afar most days.

First Day of School

2007-07-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Patrick had his first day of preschool for the 07-08 school year. He is at San Tan Montessori again, but in a new classroom with a new teacher. Ms. Teresa seems awesome so far and I am excited about the new year. Many of his friends from last year are in same class with him again. In fact, his best buddy, Evan is in there! He will attend Monday/Wednesday/Friday mornings. So Aaron and I will have about 3 hours together! I think today went well. He came home covered in FLOUR! They had a flour sifting activity. That meant more laundry for Mom as he couldn't keep that shirt on and had to change. You'll notice the Bengals jersey he wore for his first day. (Compliments of Uncle Bernie and Aunt Teri)

Silly Willy Stories

2007-07-30T10:42:00.000-07:00

Patrick just completed another class with Ms. Kathi. This was a fun one. They read "silly" stories and did projects/activities to go along with the books. They read How I Became A Pirate ( I think that was it anyway) and got to dress up as pirates.

Camping in Flagstaff

2007-07-26T07:26:00.000-07:00

Well, we survived our first camping outing alone. We stayed at a KOA in Flagstaff, about 3 hours away. It had bathrooms and showers! (This was a must for me!) We arrived about 5:30 Friday night and Mike got everything set up and then grilled brats for dinner. Patrick enjoyed the playground right across from us. He wasn't thrilled to go initially as he thought that the Schuhmachers from WI should join us too! (We had only camped with them before.) He got over that though when he met a new friend at the playground. It was a bit chilly at night dropping into the 50s for sure. Not too bad though. It was nice Sat. morning when we got up, but by about 11 it began to rain. We sat in the camper and Mike read and I cropped photos. That part was ok. When it let up we headed out to see the Meteor Crater. That was interesting. Too bad the weather didn't cooperate. It was rather windy and rainy by the time the guided tour was to take place and they cancelled it. Oh well. We drove back into town and ate at the brew pub. Back at the camper Mike and I played the Archie Bunker card game. It was rather fun. I began raining again and I had a hard time sleeping with the continual PING PING on the camper. The boys didn't seem to have any problems at all. Just me I guess. Not fond of it at home and didn't like it there either. Luckily it stopped raining before morning so things weren't too wet and we could get packed up. Headed toward home and stopped at Montezuma Well. That was interesting. Maybe we'll see the castle next time. It POURED part of the way home and then by the time we hit Phoenix it was blue skies and over 100 degrees. Overall it was a nice time. We have another trip planned the second weekend in August with another attorney and his family.

Three Months Old

2007-07-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

Our baby is three months old today. His smiles are coming more often and are so cute. He has rolled over both ways and is now sleeping better in the night. He actually had a six hour stretch the other night. He is also getting a tooth. We can see the edge of it coming through.
He is sporting his second Harley onesie and is holding onto his Grand Canyon bear! (compliments of Uncle Dan!)

Janis Joplin - Cry Baby (live in toronto 1970)

2007-07-17T19:55:00.001-07:00

Play this w/ screaming baby in background. Really, it works.

Summertime Fun and More

2007-07-08T12:56:00.000-07:00

Aaron in his "Car" in the pool. Patrick loves it too so likes to share it.

Patrick sure loves his brother!

Aaron is looking cool in his shades riding in his fish boat.

When it's 100+ degrees in AZ you have to find something to do in order to keep children occupied. So we spend LOTS of time in my parents' pool. Patrick LOVES to be in the water and plays hard while in it. He and Papa play games and race. Patrick likes to cheat in order to win and then gets mad when Papa wins. He says he doesn't like it when Papa "cheats." Aaron likes the water as well and is often asleep in the water at some point or another. Papa is pretty good at getting him asleep in the pool! He's very content and when he's sound asleep enough we put him in the recliner on the patio to nap. It's a good thing Aaron likes the water or we'd be in trouble! Patrick would be in the pool ALL the time if he could. When not in the pool we try to find fun things to do indoors. As shown in a photo above, we went to Build A Bear Workshop with Patrick's friend, Evan, and Evan's sister, Reagan. They made Shrek that day and had a great time. We have also gone to McDonald's to play at the play area for some fun. Patrick is in his second level of swimming lessons and is doing well. Tomorrow night he begins VBS for the entire week for 2 1/2 hours each night. This will be his first experience with VBS. Hope it goes well. I begin teachigng Study Skills camp at Sylvan on Tues-Thurs nights this week and next. Pray it goes well and that the boys do well. They will be with Nana and Papa or Daddy depending on the night. I hope Aaron takes the bottle better than the last time I worked. I have only been away from him twice so far. So I am excited about teaching the camp, but not about being away.

OH, AARON has ROLLED over again! This past week he rolled from back to belly. He doesn't roll often which is ok by me for now. Otherwise he'll be all over the place!

Fourth of July

2007-07-05T21:34:00.000-07:00

We had a nice day. We headed over to my parents' house for pool time and grilling out. Mel and Brett joined us after a visit to Urgent Care (Brett hurt his ankle). The boys both really like the water. Patrick can spend hours in the water, but likes it best when there is someone in there to play with him. He invents games to play and also the rules that go with them. In the early evening we came home. Mom and Mel joined us to watch the fireworks. We were able to see them from two churches nearby. Aaron even seemed to be watching them and never flinched at the noise. Patrick thought they were pretty. It was a nice day to spend with family.

Aaron is wearing his "Fourth of July" outfit that Grandma bought for him. He's too cute!

Aaron's Bad Mood

2007-07-02T20:49:00.000-07:00

Aaron fell asleep in a bad mood and wasn't afraid to tell the world how he felt.

Happy Birthday Chris

2007-06-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

From the brother who tried to distract you from young college girl campers.

Grand Canyon

2007-06-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we went on our first camping trip. We bought the pop-up in September in WI and it got out here in Jan. We stayed in it one night in WI, but didn't really have to get things ready. So this was a true first for Patrick, Aaron, and I. We met our friends Dan and Linda Schuhmacher and their children Josh, Alexis, and Abreanna along with Dan's Parents, Fred and Betsy Schuhmacher in the Grand Canyon. We left Monday morning. We were all ready to pull out onto the main road out of our neighborhood and Patrick announces that he already needs to go potty! GRRR! So Mike backed up and went back around to the house. I took Patrick in only to have him "dribble!!" We stopped a couple times on the way up, mostly because Aaron needed to eat. Upon arriving at the Canyon we set up, well Mike did most of it, and visited. They hadn't met Aaron yet so that was quite a treat. We all made dinner and enjoyed each others' company. The kids played very nicely and were thrilled to be together again. We couldn't have a campfire so our time sitting outside was a bit limited. It was rather chilly (30s and 40s) at night so we had to use the heater. The bathroom was right across from our site which was nice, although there were NO showers. I wasn't thrilled with this. There were showers available, but you had to leave the campground and drive down the road. Not my idea of fun. Aaron slept very well for his first night in his pack and play. The next morning Mike and Dan hiked a bit into the canyon. The rest of us hung out and got breakfast ready. The guys arrived back in time to eat. We then got ready to head to the tower lookout about 25 miles away. It was Aaron's first ride in a backpack. He did well, once he was fed! It was very pretty and the boys hike up all the steps with us. That night we ate up leftovers. Then we decided to head out to view the sunset. That was a neat experience. Mike was also able to look at a couple planets through telescopes that were set up for a star gazers event. The kids were able to shower in Dan and Linda's camper which was awesome. They were FILTHY as they had been playing in the dirt most of the day. They treated the dirt like sand and were using buckets and shovels. It entertained them, but boy were they dirty. Patrick's skin color was gray by the end of the night! The next morning the Schuhmachers all packed up and were off by around 8am or so and headed back toward WI. We took our time and packed up and headed home with lunch in Flagstaff and a drive through Sedona. We got home Wednesday about 6pm. Showers were much needed that night!Aaron trying his hand at driving in the McDonald's parking lot during our lunch stop.
Mike setting up the camper under the supervision of Abreanna.
Abreanna and Patrick switched chairs which they thought was extra funny for some reason. Aren't they cute? They got along well and both seemed to have "attitude."
Patrick's new shirt from Aunt Linda and Uncle Dan.

Joshua gets to hold Aaron.

Ball O' Ice Cream

2007-06-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Dan purchased the green ball you see that makes ice cream. It was a fun science experiment for the kids. They all helped add the ingredients. Once everything was inside, then they had to shake and roll the ball in order for the ice cream to form. They seemed to have a good time and the cookies and cream was pretty tasty!

Aunt Linda and her godsons.
Great picture - nice hand in there Alexis!

Aaron's first backpack experience.

Visit to the tower

2007-06-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

Patrick and Abreanna holding hands and walking with Mike. Aren't they sweet???
Aaron sporting his new hat from Uncle Dan (Aunt Linda too)!
Aaron hanging out on our bed in the camper. Not sure how he's feeling about this right now though.

Wildlife Etc.

2007-06-18T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Elk were VERY interested in our camp. We were able to see them up close twice in the same day in different locations. Patrick spotted the first group in the morning. This photo though was from the second group that came around dinner time. They seemed to enjoy the leaves off some of the trees. They certainly weren't too afraid of all of the people around.

Daddy with his boys and Goddaughter, Alexis.
Deer up close on our walk to the point where we saw the sunset. Mike thought it looked like it might be good enough to eat. The ranger didn't seem very amused by his comment.
Aunt Linda, Uncle Dan, and Aaron out at the point where we viewed the sunset.

Beautiful Sunset...

2007-06-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

The great sunset we were able to witness on our last night at the Grand Canyon.
This is our VERY dirty child. You would have thought his skin color was gray! The kids sure had fun though. Nothing like playing in the dirt as if it were sand. They even had their buckets and shovels out. Not my idea of fun, but they sure enjoyed it. The showering in Dan and Linda's camper that night for Patrick was truly a wonderful thing.
Alexis holding Aaron one last time. She sure enjoyed seeing and holding him.
Grandma enjoying holding a baby. She was always very willing to take over. Thank you! It sure was nice as Mike and I were able to eat etc. while others held him.

Patrick and Aaron hanging out on Patrick's bed. Aaron's pack and play fit just right where the table would go. Aaron slept very well which was a nice treat!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

2007-06-16T22:29:00.000-07:00

We love you Daddy! Thanks for all you do for us.

Happy Fathers Day

2007-06-16T21:41:00.001-07:00

A song for Fathers and Sons.
Harry Chapin - Cats In The Cradle.

A Tribute to The Dads in our lives

2007-06-16T21:06:00.001-07:00

Even though I probably haven't admitted it enough, to my dad who is probably the #1 influence in my life. He has taught me the most of anyone.

To Angie's Dad without whose guidance and big heart, I wouldn't be married to the best woman in the world.

And the 4 musketeers. The four of us became dads together. We are a constant reminder to our kids of how to keep playing and keep it fun.

There are others whose pictures haven't been posted and they are only left out for lack of space and time. However, each of you is important in your own way so today we salute you all.

At 7 weeks old...

2007-06-06T06:38:00.000-07:00

Aaron rolls over from belly to back!

Six Weeks Old Today

2007-05-29T18:48:00.000-07:00

Aaron is sporting some of his Harley Davidson clothing. He received his onesie from his Godfather, Dan and the booties are from his Great Uncle Bernie and Great Aunt Teri. The onesie reads "If you can read this, the bib fell off". Too cute. Had to share these photos. All the Harley lovers will appreciate it!

Aaron is 6 weeks old today. Seems unreal. He certainly is growing. What a precious blessing we have. It was the first day without "help" around. Mom and Dad Obert headed out this morning. It was wonderful having them around. It was weird to not have them here today. But as the day is coming to a close I can say that we "MADE IT!" Although dinner still hasn't been made. Oh well.