Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a nice relaxing Thanksgiving. The kids and I got down all of the Christmas decorations and got the house ready for our big decorating day on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Daddy raced up Mt. Hamilton and then we went over to our friend's house for a lovely meal.

Phoenix found these barrettes I purchased for her a few weeks ago in her room on Thanksgiving day. I put a couple in her hair, but she decided if two look good why not put all 12 in her hair. This was great entertainment for her for over 30 minutes. 

 I decided organizing the closet and going through my clothes to donate to charity would have to wait for another day since I had to constantly help Phoenix put the barrettes back in her hair after she would take them out and try to put them in herself.

 The only pictures I got at Mike's house was right before heading home around 8:15pm at night, way after Pheeny's bed time.

 Both kids wanted to hop on the lions that are on either side of their porch. I had Phoenix ready for bed, but Axel is looking all handsome in his new button up shirt that Grandma Susan sent.

 Yesterday, Friday, while many folks headed to shop, Keith and I headed out into the country side. We enjoyed a nice relaxing ride/date together while the kids enjoyed hanging out with Monica, our other babysitter.

 After Phoenix woke from her nap we headed to the park.

 Phoenix rode her bike, swung and climbed.

 Axel ran and played soccer/kick ball with daddy and a very cute 5 year old girl named Olivia. Axel and Olivia played so well together that when she was ready to say good bye she grabbed Axel's hand. Axel was a little embarrassed because daddy made a big deal of it, but both kids had a fun time. :)

 After the park we decorated the Christmas tree and finished putting up all of our Christmas decorations.

 I truly believe that Axel enjoys this more than I do!

 What was almost more cool than watching Axel decorate the try was seeing Phoenix join in for the first time. She has become such a big girl. She decided she really doesn't want to be a baby. Yesterday as she climbed into Axel's chair for breakfast she said, "Big Boy." Daddy and I corrected her and said "Big Girl". So we pulled up a big girl chair for her to eat breakfast in. A funny little addition to this is that Mike and Vanessa were surprised that Phoenix wanted to sit with all of the 3 and 5 year olds at Thanksgiving dinner. They were impressed that she wanted to do everything the big kids were doing and didn't bat an eye that she wasn't sitting with mommy or daddy.

The most charming part about decorating the tree last night was seeing Axel be his charming, caring self and help Phoenix place her ornament on the Christmas tree. She was having trouble getting the cloth hook to open up over the branch. 

 My cuties!

 Once I realized it was already 7:15pm I quickly had the kids say good night to daddy and head to brush their teeth and pick out a book. Phoenix was extra sweet to daddy climbing up on him to say good night and feeling his prickly face.

I don't think I mentioned during the last post that Phoenix had another tooth finally cut through the gums a few weeks ago. I believe she only has one more tooth and then her second year molars before she has a full set of teeth. I also don't think I mentioned that the pictures I took of her at the park at the end of the last blog were her 22 month photos. It is hard to believe that in just two short months she will be two years old!

She has become very interested in the potty so Keith and I are keeping our fingers crossed that she will be ready to say good bye to diapers in the very near future. I wouldn't mind not washing them anymore!

We are headed to San Diego for a fun family vacation so be sure to check back in a couple of weeks for more Szolusha fun!

Fun, fun, fun!

I downloaded these picture well over a week ago. I have been run down with a cold, working 4 days a week the past 2 weeks and have a schedule that has been non stop. About 3 weeks ago we met the neighborhood kids in the park for some fun playtime and arts and crafts. Here a few of the kids, including Axel, are rocking out the mustache look. 

The moms decided to get a picture with the mustaches as well. I believe I have another picture of the three moms in a text message, but here is Chantal and I.

We had amazing summer like weather until this past week where the temperatures have finally dropped and rain has been on the radar.

We fully enjoyed the nice weather. Here are the kiddos running home from school.

Axel is quite charming most of the time and is quite the helper with Phoenix. I just love how much they love each other.

Here Phoenix asked me to pick her up but Axel volunteered. She was happy with brother's help!

We have had some nice family time the past few weeks as well. Here Axel and daddy are playing in the park together.

They were having fun making up games and tricks.

A couple of weeks ago we went to a friend's house for dinner. It was a get together with the folks that we have been racing with during this year's Low Key Hill Climb Series. Unfortunately, I hadn't been feeling well all day, especially after doing an extremely hard effort racing up Hick's/Umunhum road that morning. My migraine and sickness climaxed at the party so Phoenix and I went home to bed while Axel and Daddy returned for some more fun. Here the kids are enjoying some food while the adults were chatting away.

Are neighbors purchased a new washer and dryer and since then we have had a giant fort in our house for over three weeks!The kids have been having loads of fun in it.

To top it off our neighbors dropped off another box that the kids called the car. I recycled the car after 4 days and the fort will being seeing its end after Thanksgiving as we make room for Christmas decorations.

Last weekend we headed up to New Castle to a surprise 60th birthday party for my Uncle David. The kids had a great time with all of the fun activities Grandma provided. Here is Phoenix asleep with her cute puckered lips.

Axel was resting here, but ended up falling asleep himself.

Axel and Phoenix absolutely love bath time. Axel wanted me to take a picture of him as bubble man here.

Over three weeks ago Axel made an awesome marble maze. I am extremely impressed at his engineering skills. He made this all by himself even with it being bigger than himself.

Axel continues to be quite the artist as well. He was drawing on his leap frog while Phoenix was napping. I think he is quite the artist for 5 years old!

Phoenix continues to amaze me at how physical and independent she is. I love how much she loves Louis and loves to walk him.

She continues to develop her climbing skills and has recently mastered the climbing wall.

She can also climb the slide now without using the slides edge. I think she is part monkey.

And my brave little girl copies what all the big boys are doing.

She is so proud of herself for going face first!

We are having 20 people over for our annual Pre Thanksgiving Feast. After this weekend is over I am looking forward to a nice relaxing weekend next weekend of family time and Christmas decorating. We hope you all have a lovely Thanksgiving!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

When I was cooking dinner on Thursday night Axel and Phoenix were coloring. Axel yelled, "Mommy come here". This is what I found. The funny thing is I was checking on them every couple of minutes, because I am always expecting a fight of some kind. They were awfully quiet. How could I not see that she was drawing on her face! I had to get a photo of this so when she is a parent she can see how happy she was to draw on her face. 

On Friday Axel had a school party. They had four stations. Two were different craft stations, a memory game station and a snack station. 

 The snack was chocolate pudding with Oreo "dirt" a sugar pumpkin and ghost. Axel was one of the few we scarfed it down. I explained to the other mothers this was the first time he had any of these treats since he just outgrew his allergies this past January. They all enjoyed him enjoying his treat.

 Here is a class photo of the kids and their masks they made.

 Here is one with their teacher, Mrs. Tolbert.

 We headed out early to go trick or treating. Phoenix is crying "Annika's house" as I was asking them to smile for a picture. She didn't quite get that I wanted a picture before going to see Annika.

 Daddy said, "go outside and take a picture." This made Phoenix much happier. Phoenix was a princess carrying her baby in her dress and Axel was superman.

We met up with the neighbors. Chloe was superwoman.

 Here is the neighborhood "gang" we trick or treated with. Cohen, Henry, Phoenix, Rishaan, Axel, Zain, Saif, Sonya and Chloe.

 Our pretty princess did an awesome job keeping up with the big kids. She ran the entire time at 100% before she crashed and burned at 6:45pm. Daddy took her home while I stayed out with Axel to finish up the neighborhood houses. We were all done by 7pm. It was nice to start and finish early.

 Axel had a great time this year. He was able to keep up with his friends and was extremely confident and self sufficient. Keith and I were really enjoyed watching the kids enjoy themselves.

Here is a picture of our neighbor's house who had the huge Halloween party that we went to last weekend. The inside of their house was just as decorated.

 Here is Rishaan, Axel and Cohen.

Even though it rained off and on most of the day, we lucked out with dry conditions for the evening. The rain started again after trick or treating was over and ended mid morning today. Keith ran an awesome time trial hill climb today.

My car started smoking after I took it in for an oil change and for them to check a leak on Thursday. They told me they couldn't diagnose the leak because it was too dirty and to go get it steamed clean. Well, my car was smoking so bad today and overheating it was by God's grace that my car stalled within a few hundred feet from the shop on the way home from the bike race. God then provided 4 strong men to help me push it there. I must have looked ridiculous trying to push my car by myself, but one has no choice when their car is in the middle of traffic :) Keith was able to go and get everything settled after he returned home from riding. Hopefully it will be done by Monday. As a result we have enjoyed a fun game night at home instead of going to another party/get together.

We already took down the Halloween decorations and started on our Thanksgiving directions. Axel is excited beyond belief that I purchased some fun craft Thanksgiving directions and can't wait to decorate the house tomorrow.