Birthday Boy

Yesterday was Caden's 6th birthday. His request was to go to Chuck E Cheese and has been inviting everyone he knows for weeks now. In the end we gathered at Peter Piper Pizza and he had 2 cousins come along (Roman & Damian). Also joining in for some fun, Uncle Kimball and Aunt Lindsay.

Right as I took this picture Caden decided to move. I know I've taught this boy to use a napkin instead of his clothes. Good thing it was his birthday and he can get away with it this time.



Caden and Roman played an intense game of air hockey that lasted at least a good 10 minutes.



Paxton cashes in her tickets for prizes with the help of Aunt Linny & Daisy.



They all went for the vampire teeth as one of their prizes.



Back to drop off the cousins, we sang happy birthday and shared cupcakes with the rest of the Acereto cousins.

Rock hoppin

Spencer had Monday off and Caden was out of school (which doesn't happen often), so we decided to do a little family hiking. We loaded up the grubs and packed a few snacks and headed just east of Superior to Queen Creek Canyon. After our recent storms, the waterfall on the north side of Highway 60 was running nicely.
Once we parked I thought we would walk roadside along the path up to the bridge and enjoy the sights. Instead we hike down to the creek and Caden rock hops a little with Spencer and Daisy around creek.

From there we start to work our way up the creek instead of back up the trail and over to the easy path. About half way up the creek, and carring Paxton over select rock hops, my lack of balance that comes from being almost 7 month pregnant, I looked up the creek to see that it only looked to get a little more challenging. I decide and Spencer concurs that we will now head up the hill side and finish on the path. It was another challenge in itself. Larger rocks at first, some easily gave way. Caden did well mostly on his own, with guidance from Spencer who was also carring Daisy. I did alright & pushed and guided Paxie up. Then we get about 15 feet to the top and its all loose rock/gravel. At this point we were fortunate that a couple was walking the path and offered their help. We pushed the kids up one by one to them, then we followed. Whew, glad that part was over.
The girls and I took pictures of the boys as they crossed under the bridge for a close up of the waterfall.





Now on to Devils Canyon, where we hiked again only this time with ease. The trail is basically all old highway, so daisy could walk on her own. We crossed an old bridge, saw an old foundation of some sort, saw an old wrecked truck and the kids were most excited about finding little patches of snow here and there.


And we've got a little snapshot of each little grub kickin it under a large oak tree. They loved this tree and finding all the fallen acorns below it.











Here we finished up our hike with a small picnic and then on to Superior for a stop at Dairy Queen before heading home!

What's your passion

Last night after letting Daisy cry for 10 minutes or so, she just wasn't going to go to sleep on her own. So I went in to rock her and a few short minutes later she was snoozing, but that isn't what this is about.

As I was holding her in the quiet, I kept hearing the sound of something being hit. Over and over and a little mumbling here and a little there. So I laid her in the crib and went to stand outside the door of Cadens room. Come to find out, he was hitting the mattress with his hand or kicking it with his leg, but I just couldn't make out what he was saying. I go in and ask what is the problem and he sits up and tells me (in a very emotional voice, just shy of tears)

C: "I'm mad and I'm sad."

Me: "Why?"

C: "Because the Cardinals lost and the Steelers won."

At this point the flood gates open and he starts sobbing. Spencer walks in because he heard crying. I let him know whats going on and Spencer embraces Caden and his flood gates open too as he cant hold back his emotions any longer due to the loss. jk

Actually, we have to quickly conceal our smiles at the sweetness of this little boy and his love for the Cardinals! Four days later and he's still upset. So we have to settle him by telling him things like:

they will get another chance next season, and every game has a winner and a loser, and they've done better than they have in the past and thats a great accomplishment. On and on we were trying to let him know it would be ok and to try not to think about it so he could go to sleep.

It was all a sweet moment. He is passionate about the Cardinals.

Well, today when Spencer picked him up from school, he came out with this picture in his hand and began explaining it to Spencer.



Per Caden, this is the next time the Cardinals play the Steelers (note the score 50-00)! We've got a huge fan living under our roof.

OPA

Today is our 8th anniversary! We celebrated by spending the day apart. I cleaned the house all day and Spencer was in training in Phoenix, and is still there until tomorrow. Who really needs to spend the day together when your 8 years in, right? I mean, after this long, isn't it nice to just have a day to yourself?

I am kidding of coarse. Not about how we spent our day, but that I would have much rather have been able to spend the day with Spencer, not without. Knowing that he was going to be away, we took advantage of this past weekend and it was nice.

Saturday we headed to the valley and dropped the kids off at Aunt Lindsays house. We cashed in on our Christmas gift of service from her and her offer to keep the kids while we went out. From there we headed over to check in to our hotel and then out to dinner. We went with trying something new and both really liked it. If you haven't tried MY BIG FAT GREEK RESTAURANT, I would recommend giving it a try. We started off with some bruschetta and it was very good. So fresh tasting and the presentation of the plate was great. We had a lady come over and ask what it was because she also thought it looked so good. Spencer had the Lamb souvlaki and I had the Mouska, we both enjoyed our meals. (Spencer did say that the souvlaki that he had in New Zealand was much better, but this was good.) I sampled his Lamb, as far as I know this is the first time I've ever had it and it was good. To top things off we shared some Baklava and ooh I thought that was yummy. Our dinners also came with lemon roasted potatoes and they were tasty. Just as we were getting ready to leave they started a little "show" where they clapped and the female waitresses danced around the restaurant and the males held their pans of fire. It was entertaining. OPA. Overall, we ate to much, but wanted to try different things and we decided it would be a place we would go back to. It will be a good mix up from our usual mexican or chinese.

From there we made our way to the theaters and decided to watch The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. We both thought it was good, but I seemed to enjoy it more than Spencer. For some reason throughout the movie I kept thinking I need to be a better mother. Acquire more Queenie like attributes. Anyway, we liked it. We topped the evening off with a Cold Stone Creamery, which I wished later I had passed on.

We didn't get to sleep in the next morning, as we had to get ready and get out to church in Johnson ranch to make it to the blessing of Talmage and Rachels twins. It was a nice morning and while at their ward we saw a couple who we had met when we were first married. We had been in the same ward in Gilbert and we got to catch up with them again. From here we gained back responsibility of our children again and had a nice luncheon at T&R house. Spent time with family there, then Spencer (w/Caden and Paxton) went to McKay and Brandi's for the big game.

Thanks to Erin and her generous offer I took Daisy to their house so we could have a nice nap and enjoy some quiet. Daisy didn't cooperate as I wish she had with the nap, but the quiet was nice.

After a frustrating Cardinal loss, we packed up and headed home. Only for Spencer to have to wake this morning at 4 and head back down to Phoenix this morning which is where I started this post and now I end it.

* Sidenote: OPA (Greek) means horray or oops. They shout this randomly at the restaurant .