Phoenix Zoo

On the forth of July when we went to the Diamondbacks baseball game and received free tickets to the Phoenix Zoo. They were getting ready to expire in October so of course we needed to take full advantage of this opportunity. Today was our family day to do just that. The boys were so excited to go and check out the animals. They had their favorites they wanted to see.
Every direction on a main highway that would lead us to the zoo was closed. What would have been a quick 20-25 min drive turned out to be almost an hour trying to navigate through the city, hitting every stop light along the way. That is very frustrating and the kids kept asking how much longer it would be to get to the zoo. Thank goodness for DVD player. Madagascar was the only DVD in the van and that was perfect for getting ready to go to the zoo. The minute the movie starts, Rylan sings the “I like to move it, move it” song and bee bops all over in his seat. It’s quite hilarious.

Our first stop is the Savanna area and African trail. They were very interested in the Giraffes, Watusi Cattle, and the Rhino’s. Unfortunately they really wanted to see the Zebras, but hey were no where in site. Monkeys, Orangutans, Baboons and Mandrill’s were next. Rylan gets a kick out of these guys. Especially the baboons. For some reason he can’t help to point out how colorful the Baboon’s butts are. Of course he has to make a big ordeal and say something silly when a lot of people are around and embarrass the crap out of us. I wish I could remember what he said. It was pretty funny. Chad and I looked at each other, laughed it off under our breath, grabbed the boys and ran out of there!

The Lions and tigers are always a huge hit. The lions were out playing and very lively. By the time the boys got up there to see them they mellowed out and went into their little caves. That was a bummer. The elephants are always a big hit. One little guy was out all by himself. The boys said "ahhh he is sooo cute!". And he really was, but he needed some friends in there to play with. So we threw Tanner and Rylan in...ok, i'm kidding. Chad went in!

On our way to the petting farm we ran into an interesting character...one that is seen here in Phoenix quite often. A bobcat. Just like Rylan is with our cat...he went ahead and teased this little fellow too. The kitty gave the boys a big ol' hiss right back to let them know he was scared. It looked more like a ...If I were able to break out of my cage, I would rip you to shreds hiss. He was looking pretty mean and ferocious! I think I jumped back a couple of times.

Ahh yes, the petting farm. Who doesn't love a germ infested, disease spreading area?? Rylan got out a bush to pat down his little buddy. Chad picked leaves off the trees and Rylan got a kick out of the goats eating in his hands. Tanner found his friend. His name just happened to be T.J. Tanners initials. He insisted I take a picture of them! Check out the red collar.

After we left the petting zoo it was time to rub our dirty hands in a big bag of kettle corn...did we wash them...nah! Ok we never got kettle corn and we scrubbed up to our elbows before we left the barn.

Here are some other random shots throughout the day

Despite the fact that the temperature was 105 degrees today we all had a blast. Its a dry heat!!!

12 Year Wedding Anniversary

Today we celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. Being married this long sure makes you wonder where all the time went. Reflecting, as most couples do on their anniversary, we remember being very young when we got married. Chad was 23 and me…a mature 20.We met back in high school when I was a freshman. Chad , a senior at the time, was very popular and all the chicks wanted to date the “Thomas twins” (he has an identical twin). I was 14 when I met the “twins”. He was a "hot" tennis player with a bunch of other good looking, mullet wearing guys. I always had my eye on Chad though. Outside of school, we worked together at a grocery store back in Nebraska . He was a Deli-boy and I…well I was anywhere in the store where I could see him. Whenever I saw him on his break, I would conveniently take mine. He would scoop me up a big thing of mashed potatoes and hide a couple of “free” chicken legs underneath. What a sweetie! Besides thieving for me (hehe), he always did this funny little routine with his fork and knife that always made me laugh hysterically (who am I kidding, it still makes me laugh) *INSIDE JOKE*. Despite Chad ’s refusal to date me because I was too young, we remained good friends all through my high school years. I think he was afraid of my dad. My dad was not fond of him being in college and he thought he had a "reputation"; whatever that was. I mean, he just drank a lot and had huge parties at his mom’s house, what college kid didn’t? Fathers are so protective of their daughters.
He finally gave in during the summer of ’94 when I graduated high school and we started dating. We dated for about a year and a half before he asked me to marry him! We were engaged another year and a half before we tied the knot!

My mom’s side is Mexican (translation-FUN PEOPLE) so one can only imagine how big our wedding was. 450 of our closest family and friends were there for the biggest party of the year (about 50 were there for Chad-ahhh those poor white people didn’t know what to do with themselves). The ceremony was complete with a Mariachi band and DJ who made us do the Macarena and the “train” all night long. I was told by more than a few of our guests, that it was the funnest wedding they had ever been to. I would have to agree! Of course none of it would have been possible had it not been for the greatest parents in the world; Rick and Rachel for making the wedding of our dreams happen! And Rick (Thomas) for making a beautiful cake (and making Chad and I look old in our “50th Anniversary picture)!

Through our experiences, we have learned a great many things about ourselves and marriage. Below I have tried to summarize them in a list. Enjoy!

12 things we have learned since getting married

1. We are each other’s best friends (that is, when football and my soaps aren’t on the TV-LOL).
2. The honeymoon doesn't last forever, but it’s still possible to rekindle those old feelings when you make time for it.
3. Planning your first 5 years of marriage makes life so much easier and manageable.
4. Love can be painful and brings out the best and worst in us (I think we all know this one)
5. All the stories you hear about children are true!
6. Having sons is awesome!
7. Our kids think we take a lot of "naps" if you know what I mean!
8. Opposites truly do attract
9. Women really do need 35 pairs of shoes ( Chad ’s entry)
10. Having separate checking accounts has saved us from a lot of frivolous grief
11. A California King bed is better than a Queen bed any day (I need my space!)
12. Our love is stronger now than it was the day we got married

Over the last 12 years, Chad and I have been through a lot; some fantastic peaks and some very low valleys. Things have not always been easy, but in the beginning we made a commitment to each other to stay together “till death do us part”, no matter what. We face new and exciting challenges every day. From how we manage our differences in spirituality to who gets to record on the DVR to who gets to clean up the cat puke. No matter what happens, we got each other’s back and that’s what makes being married worth while. So to my attractive, lovable, beautiful blue-eyed, man who is devoted, caring, witty & charming, polite, outgoing, comical, intelligent, loyal, trustworthy, responsible, understanding, a great father and wonderful husband…thank you for 12 years I will never forget.

Oh yeah, to celebrate we had dinner at an Italian restaurant called Tomaso's (that is with one ‘s’). We didn’t get treated like the owners, but we got treated like Italians! It was great spending time with each other; reminiscing about our past and how far we have come together. It is amazing that we are where we are today. We both know we could not have gotten this far without our love and support of each other.

Tanner's first year of tackle football

For most of the kids on the Cardinal Wolfpack Mighty Mites team, this is their first year hearing the sound of helmets crunching on the field. Then you have other kids who like to keep their distance and watch from the back while playing safety. That would be Tanner's main position. August 30 was their first scrimmage game. They didn't do so well. It was very hot out and the kids were still learning all the plays. They walked away with a renewed passion to get their very young team as prepared as possible for the upcoming season. The Coach said they will learn how to execute under pressure and that things will work when everyone performs their responsibilities.

(Tanner is in the center with Coach Keith telling him what to do)

(Uncle Scott & Sema were also with us to cheer the team on)

(the drive home after the game, a very tired boy)

September 6 was their first real game against the Chandler Wolves. This time Uncle Rob, Aunt Jill and baby Ethan came to watch. It was very early in the morning. The kids had to be on the field by 6:30am, kickoff at 8am. Never mind the fact that it takes us 45 min from our house to get there. Luckily Rob let the boys stay at their house in Chandler. The field was only 2 minutes from them. Tanner looked very handsome in his new uniform with "TOMASSO" on it.
But handsome will only get you so far. Our team got killed 33-0. On a bright note they had flashes of genius against much older kids and they improved 100% from their scrimmage. In the end they all had fun and that is the main thing.