A Brother named Nave and More

 
Midieval Times
Katie won two free tickets to Midieval Times at a School assembly recently, so we decided to put the tickets to use, grab three more and have a fun family evening...

we got there early and checked the place out. Carter could not handle all the swords. He was in heaven!

We met all the horses they use in the show and the kids loved that! Finally, it was time to go to our seats. When ordering the tickets over the phone, I really wanted to sit in the front to make sure the kids could see well, but it was a significantly higher price, so I said row three was fine. However, when they took us to our seats, we were upgraded to... THE FRONT ROW!! I kept freaking out saying "Ohhhh, this is too exciting!" AND we were right next to the king and princess too! 

Midieval Times is the best place for little boys. 

They get to eat with their hands while watching knights fight with swords on real horses!! 

Dream come true!

We had fun cheering on our red knight...

who gave both girls flowers...

 He even kissed it first and then tossed it to them... 

They were both so excited, smiling from ear to ear and blushing! Too cute! For the record, that was the girls favorite part!

The show was really fun and a great family activity! 

 

Speaking of shows....
One of my favorite gals and fellow musical theater lover, Megan and I went to see Hairspray at the Carpenter Center... 

We were super excited!

Before the show started there was a wedding proposal! It was so awesome! I have seen this done on TV but never in real life and I now want someone to propose every where I go because it was too cool!

The music, the set, the cast, all amazing! Loved this show!!
Another fun thing that happened at this show is during intermission, I look down and see two people waving and I realize they are waving to me and then I recognize them as Bryant's aunt and cousin!! I ran down and gave them hugs and it was so fun to chat and catch up, especially because Andrea (his cousin) just had her fourth baby girl and I was excited to hear all about it! Such a fun treat!

The other day when we came home we saw this sign on our front lawn and all our leaves were raked up! Such a fun surprise! Thank you "Drive By Raked" friends, whoever you are! 

That was such a treat on a day that was a little bit tough. It meant a lot! 

I love these moments when the girls help one another. above: the girls eating breakfast going over Ella's daily words. Ella helps Katie so much and I love it when Katie can turn around and help her in return. 

Sure love this kid! Mr. Carter is so big now and bathes, dresses and brushes his teeth (almost) all by himself each morning! 

Speaking of morning, this morning he woke up and asked for a brother. 

A brother that he would name "Nave." 

The kids minus Nave 

The other day Katie and I went out on a little date. We ate at Wahoo's, got Katie some new shoes because hers were about to fall apart, drooled over everything in Pier One and then bought a little cake for our good friend Emily's birthday. It was a fun girls day out! Sure love our Katie girl. 

 Speaking of girls day out.... Ella was my little photog. assistant last week while taking my cousins pictures. She can get the little kids to smile from ear to ear! I sure love my little assistant. 

Ella is such the peacemaker in our home. Carter ADORES her and Katie LOVES having her as her BFF/playmate. But Carter and Katie don't have much to do with one another these days. So Ella is often torn. She does such a good job though with balancing her time between the two, even though she would rather play dolls with Katie all day long, she will still take time with Carter. Sure Love that little Ella Bella! 

Last weekend we went out to Famous Dave's to celebrate my brother Steve's Birthday. It was super fun to be with the family! These people make me laugh like no other. 

Sibling love.... 

Don't worry Scott, even though you did not make it in the picture (once again) and even though your picture is blurry, we still think you are the BDC (bomb dot com)! You, Christy and Penny are the cutest little family there is! We love that little Penelope!!! 

At the Pine Street Pier, in the rain and loving it! 

So happy to have Aunt Sandy back from her forever long Hawaiian island hopping vacation! 

On Sunday we drove out to Bryant's old stompin' grounds, Rancho Cucamonga and met up with all our old friends that we have not seen in forever. Above: all the high school buddies (minus a few who live too far now). 

Stacey and Adam hosted the first annual friends Thanksgiving dinner in their gorgeous new (mansion) home. I told Stacey I thought I had dove into a Pintrest page because every where I looked, looked like something one would find on Pintrest!! 

Don't worry that everyone got their own personal chicken! It was out of control! Add the best mash potatoes and cream corn I have ever had and holy smokes, it was one yummy night! don't even get me started on the dessert, i just gained five pounds thinking about the pies. 

The kids were in kid heaven! There were 13 kids eight years old and younger and not once did one of them cry. They had a blast and played like they had been best friends forever. 

These three black and white shirted friends had the best time together!

We all left the fun filled friend night with our face hurting from laughing and a loaf of bread from their Family owned bakery, Old Town Baking Company... which is also out of control with goodness! 

Monday afternoons have become one to really look forward too. While the girls are in art class I go and visit my grandma Dode. Sandy is always there because she is babysitting Fox (Kristin, the art teachers son) and now our other cousin Robyn comes with her new little guy to spend the afternoon with us too. It is so much fun and such great cousin/sister/aunt/grandma bonding time. Needless to say, there are a lot of laughs. 

Kristen and Katie with her most recent art project! The girls can not get enough of these classes. I highly recommend them.

The other night I had a hot date with this hot tie wearing stud! I met him at his office and off we went to...

Where I got a new ski jacket and jeans 70% off and we got the girls Roxy Ski jackets for $25!! Bryant picked up some sweaters for $5. 

It was out. of. control!!! 

speaking of out of control... we were out of control at Sports Chalet. It was our last stop of the night where I apparently had to get my ski boots heat molded and my ski bindings binded... or something. I am not sure, still new to this. At one point, I got bored waiting for my bindings, so I went and tried on new running shoes and embarrassed Bryant as I tried them out running around the store and up and down the escalator. I had to make sure they worked. 

Had so much fun with my favorite guy in the entire world. 

I sure love this handsome guy of mine.

note: I tend to take pictures and blog about the fun we have, but I need to keep it real too. 

Not pictured or blogged about: a recent infection (that goes along with having spina bifida). Resulting in vomiting and pain.

Constantly trying to figure out meds. bowel and bladder issues are a daily issue with people with SB. The bladder medicine causes constipation. the constipation causes vomiting ... it's a vicious cycle. 

Bad, tough, falls from a result of walking with crutches and slipping. I don't know how people with disabilities live in the snow because one rainy day does us in.  

We have our daily "Sweets and Sours" and I am sure grateful that most days are full of sweets!

P.S....

Who is watching this and LOVING IT???

We totally are. 

and...

There is a very big wedding coming up this week.... 

Holy Smokes!!!!
Who's excited???