Homecoming 2014

The girls decided that "Girls just want to have fun!"  They looked amazing and are growing up so fast! 

Football and Basketball King

This is a quickie - but want to able sure something is said about the little amazing NFL/NBA future player.  Kole is 6 but already shows incredible passion for sports, team , and results?   Who knew all that at 6?  Not me that is for sure! 

10 baskets in our last game.  The ball acted as if it had some electric connection with Kole- it just kept coming back to him!  Kole was a STAR! 

Grand Canyon

Scottsdale - Arizona Vacation 2014

Scottsdale - August 2014

This trip is 1 year overdue and oddly timed.  I just had surgery that put me on medical leave for four weeks, and Eric just got a great new job unexpectedly!  Yet every year it is something, and we made a promise on our honeymoon that we wanted to travel and vacation together forever!  We also knew we wanted to have our kids learn and see as much as we can provide them!  So no matter what we made it work this year!  (Last year we stole away just the two of us to Aruba, - (Kole is still bent that he didn't get to come).  The morning started at 3:45am flight from Seatac at 7:30. Ever one was excited to go so the morning wasn't as painful as expected.  We played the "say a word that starts with each letter of the alphabet and at so many points we giggled at the  words that were offered up...

B - (Daddy) Bazinga ( Big Bang Theory - reference)

F - (Kole) not going to say a bad word guys so I will say "Freak"

P - (Kali) Platypus - (Kole) - Poop ( typical six year old answer)

FIRST STOP - Hertz Rent A Car - (Gold Club - thank you Concur)

If you know my husband and kids you would know that walking up to a brand new Mustang is like a dream come true!  Even if our luggage barely fit we decided to keep it!  Now the only problem was that it was Arizona Cardinal Red!  This dictates our next stop....

We went directly to the Cardinal Stadium to show Arizona that the 12th man had arrived!

Kali is now 15.5 and was looking for a big change in her "look"!  How I know that feeling as a woman, so I told her lets wait until we get to Arizona - the home of the blonde!  So a big cut and color was next on the agenda! 

Introducing Kali's newest "look"............

Our little girl is getting so grown up!  She is such a great girl and has always made grown up choices - so it is time for us to accept the reality - kids grow up if we like it or not 

You look BEAUTIFUL Kali!

Most of our vacation is planned to be relaxation and pool time!  

Kole has really bloomed in his confidence in the pool!  We packed a life jacket and expected it to take some time.  Kole never really  "loved" the water..... Well the warmth of the Arizona sun changed that in less than a few hours... Our tentative little one is also suddenly seeming so grown up.  

Kole must have spent 8+ hours in the pool!  Daddy was "game" each and every time he begged to go back to the pool.  Even in the evening for the night time "Dive-In" of Wreck it Ralph 

First two days ....complete - more to come soon!

Signing off -The French Bliss Four

Day 3 - Sunday - Took one for the team - Pool day

Today we took a tour of a timeshare property and got a voucher for a room in Sedona. We are planning to go to the Grand Canyon on Tuesday - we will stay in Sedona on the way back.  This will be a road trip.  It is about a five hour drive from Scottsdale to The Grand Canyon.  Sedona is about half way back!  No photos but we headed to the pool around 6:00 and it was amazing!  Warm and the water was just right.. Might of fallen a bit in love with this area?????  Never would have thought it!  Maybe Eric and I will end up being snowbirds in our retirement!

Family Photo ?? First attempt you can help us vote at the end of the trip!

It takes a work of congress to get everyone on board to stop for a family photo...and then the awkward involvement of the stranger you trust to take the photo! If we don't get a better opportunity I will take this one!

Sweet Moments

Great college essay -a must keep forever

Two years ago, I was afraid of wanting anything. I figured wanting would lead to trying and trying would lead to failure. But now I find I can’t stop wanting.

I want to fly somewhere first class.
I want to travel to Europe on a business trip.
I want to get invited to the White House.
I want to learn about the world.
I want to surprise myself.
I want to be important.
I want to be the best person I can be.
I want to define myself instead of having others define me.
I want to win and have people be happy for me.
I want to lose and get over it.
I want to not be afraid of the unknown.
I want to grow up and be generous and big hearted, the way people have been with me.

I want an interesting and surprising life.

It’s not that I think I’m going to get all these things, I just want the possibility of getting them.

College represents possibility. The possibility that things are going to change.

I can’t wait.

*** Our family is addicted to a older tv show called Friday Night  Lights - this was shared from one of the characters and when I heard it I knew it was a must keep.  

Always important to know what you want and not be afraid to say it out loud.