November 2024

I spent the first full weekend in November with my sister in law, Louise, in New York City. It was such a spontaneous trip and was so amazing. She always provides the best lifelong memories for myself and my family. Times Square was a block from our hotel. 

Unbelievably amazing art displays to promote conservation of animal species. 

We went through the Chelsea Market and could have eaten everything in sight. 

Grand Central Station never disappoints. 

The New York Marathon happened to be the weekend we were there. It was amazing to watch all of the people. 

Someone's finger got in my picture. Rude!

We had high tea at the Plaza. Louise has always wanted to do this, so she booked us in. We discussed that it might not have lived up to its hype. 

Baby sandwiches, scones and desserts. 

Well, there was at least one tree up at Radio City Music Hall. 

Times Square at night

This musical was all that and more. I highly recommend seeing it. 

Louise was so excited because a dancer she knows was playing Shakespeare, the lead role. 

And as always, we had amazing seats. 

Daniel (Shakespeare) front and center. 

Of course we went to the stage door to meet up with him after the show. Louise was so thrilled, she cried a bit. 

Central Park by the fountain. We walked through Central Park after getting a coffee. 

Wedding photos were being taken in the park. 

We had lunch at the Boathouse in Central Park. Iconic!

Lunch was amazing and we sat right by the window closest to the boats. This restaurant has been seen in many movies like When Harry Met Sally and 27 Dresses. 

The last photo of this trip. What an epic 40 hours. 

Do I look cold? Beach volleyball state finals were a bit chilly. Casteel got beat by Mountain View for the championship. It was a fun and quick inaugural season. Jack and his partner, Will, were the second team all season. 

Veterans Day weekend Jack’s club team beat Aspire 16s. This has been a long time coming. They are the 16s biggest rivals. 

The superstars of Casteel Volleyball visit Riggs Elementary kids. They were signing autographs. Ha! Jack felt famous. 

Forcing the children to go with us to Top Golf was great. They were both grounded for the weekend from their friends, so this was part of their punishment! They do see hanging out with us these days as torture. 

My two best guys! So handsome!

My niece Morgan came into town for a night and we got to see her and her sweet baby girl Hallie. Hallie was a bit scared of Jack. 

Hallie was helping Grammie cut the banana cake. 

Although Hallie was scared of Jack, she was obsessed with Millie. 

The next to last weekend in November the club team went to Long Beach for a tournament. They ended up winning bronze in the gold bracket. They were the only Fear team that came home with a medal. 

While we were in Long Beach, Millie stayed with her friend Andie for a night. This was her outfit for the Casteel football game they went to. Millie spent the rest of the weekend with Grammie and Pop. 

Chris, Kristi and I just hung out all weekend. 

Kristi is my boss and so much fun!  

While at the tournament, I met Will Ferrell. Yep! His son plays for an 18s team in California. I went up to him to tell him how much his Netflix special, Will and Harper, touched me. He was very gracious and lovely. 

Jack, Carter and Owen are three of the four boys who hang out together, as do their parents. 

The team! One of the moms is a photographer extraordinaire. 

These 5 boys all play at Casteel. They have three more school seasons together. 

Bronze!

He clearly did something that excited him!

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, our 5th grade classes had a feast. All the kids brought something from their home country. I was in a food coma by about 2 pm. 

Stuart had the entire week of Thanksgiving off, and I had Wednesday off. While our friends were in the Bahamas and having family time, we had serious faces as we were a bit jealous. We weren’t on a tropical island and our kids didn’t want to spend time with us. 

We hosted Thanksgiving for the neighbors and my parents. The food was amazing!

Millie made Granny Smith Snickers salad for Thanksgiving. It was delightful. I’m not sure why I have a hard time taking a picture of Millie with her eyes open. 

Friday we got up and all the humans helped put up our outside lights. It was actually quite nice. Although the kids were actually a bit sick. Both had colds and were coughing their heads off. Ick!

Stuart and I went to Wal Mart in the afternoon and here was who I saw. Turns out, Santa works at Wal Mart. Who knew?

The lights are up!

October 2024

These moments are few and far between these days. As the kids get older, their social lives are way more important than their families, so we were so thrilled when Jack joined us for a night of cards early in October. 

For Jack's birthday, Tatum, his girlfriend, bought him a zip lining experience. Because Tatum is only 15, an adult had to go with her. Well, I couldn't be left out, so both her mom and I went along. It was so fun!

Beach volleyball came into our lives this October. It was the inaugural year for all of the 6A teams. Jack and his partner, Will, had great success. Jack dreams of playing on the beach professional circuit at some stage. We shall see.  

This beauty third from the left is growing up too fast. This was her first junior high dance. She got ready at her friend Andie's house and then had a sleepover. It was reported that she had a blast. The following day Jack had a club tournament. I got a call in the middle of the tournament from Millie. She said that she and Andie were talking the previous night. She said Andie asked her if there was ever anything Millie hadn't told her. Millie said 'yep'. Andie proceeded to ask what it was. Millie said, 'Well, it starts with an 'a'.' Andie the said, 'Did Gia (Andie's cousin) tell you?'  Millie said, 'tell me what?' And then Andie said, 'that I am adopted'. Millie said, 'I'm adopted!' I guess from then on they just solidified their bond, and I think her mom and I did the same. What an amazing experience for her, to have a friend who is also adopted. Wow!

Ken turned 60 this year. For his birthday, we went to the Game Show Room in Tempe, which was a blast. Then we went to dinner at Smokin' Fins. Yummy!

Stuart came to visit my school and read my book to my book to my second graders. They loved it and he loved my school. 

Did we sneak off for a beer while Millie was at a volleyball clinic? We sure did. And how cute are my new specs? I got them from Pair Eye Wear, online. 

Did my Frankenstein and his wife and kid blow-up die the afternoon it rained? Yep. But Stuart ordered the sliders, the web and the ghoul and put them up the same day. 

We watched Beetlejuice, the original, one Sunday night in the middle of the month. Just after the movie, we made Jack go to Tatum's to tell her why he broke up with her via text. Dang this was a rough lesson and a very emotional weekend for sure. 

Vero's pizza night. We decided to go here for dinner one Friday night when both kids were out. 

This is Jack's club coach. We were twinning. This seemed to bind us, which was good because the way he spoke to the team the previous tournament was less than impressive. 

Chris, Kristi, Vicki and myself went to the Basha by Casteel for a meal prep class with Citrus Pear. There is no skill involved, you just fill your ziploc bags with ingredients and take them home to freezer for later meals in the crock pot. It's a beautiful thing. 

Jack's team dressed as the Minions for Halloween. 

My neighbor Elise and I dressed as witches and had very little traffic. I had so much candy left over. 

Here is a never before seen photo of the legal marriage Stuart and I had 18 years ago, on Halloween. We have told some people throughout the years, but kept it a secret from most. We had an actually ceremony 5 months later. But to be honest, he needed to get a job for his own self-worth, and this was the easiest way to do it. Surprise! Liz and Vicki were our witnesses. My family still doesn't know we did this. I think we will tell them in two years when it's our 20th anniversary. 

Millie went trick or treating with her bestie Andie and their 'friends' Walker and Beckham. 

Naturally, the day after Halloween you get out your Christmas decorations. And although I was due to leave for New York City for an impromptu trip with my sister in law Louise, it still had to happen. 

Saturday morning Millie had tryouts for her club team. There weren't enough 13s to have two teams, so they took a few girls from the 13s and a few from the 14s and made a 14-2s team. Well, Millie's friend Andie didn't make the 1s team, but Millie did. I cried because I wanted them to be on the same team. On the way home I asked Millie if she still would have wanted to play had she been put on that team instead of Andie. She said, 'I would, because I just want to play and get better.' Up until that moment I wasn't entirely sure she was convinced that volleyball was her sport, but those words changed my mind. 

We got home, I did some things around the house and then headed to the airport. My sister in law, Louise, had invited me to meet her in New York City for two days, actually more like 40 hours, so I jumped at the chance. Here's to two incredible days of adventure.