A Weekend With The Grodacks

1 year,  21 weeks.

Is it Thursday already?!?  You'd think the week would've seemed longer with the addition of an extra day for the holiday weekend, but I swear it flew by a lot quicker than usual.  Probably because since my post last week each day has been full of activities and events.  So here we go...

On Friday, as usual, the morning was frantic and rushed as I dropped the twins off to Starchild and raced back home to mow the lawn.  This has recently become my Friday chore as the entire process can take upwards of 3 hours from mowing, weeding, trimming, edging, and air blowing.  Afterwards it's literally a jump through the shower and then out the door to pick Braelyn up at one.  However, instead of going back home to take her nap like previous Fridays, we took a small trip to the east edge of downtown to drop off more of her uniforms that needed the school's logo emblazoned on.  Then it was back to the north part of town to Costco to get ingredients for Sabbath lunch, as we were to host my parents and some family friends from Chicago that were in town on vacation.  By the time we were done running errands it was time to pick up the twins from school, so alas, naptime wasn't meant to be.  The evening weather cooled down considerably and allowed us to have dinner outside in the backyard, as the kids enjoyed the playground.

Prayer at school before dismissal.  Can you tell which one is Braelyn?

Dinner by the playground.  Fall is just around the corner!

This is Maddy saying "Cheese!"

Kohlden has a big grin on his face after going down the slide.



Sabbath brought us to church to attend Cradle Roll.  I had done a lot of the lunch prep earlier in the morning, so that we wouldn't have to wait too long to eat once church was over.  Smart, huh?  We met my folks and the Cabanilla family at church as they attended service and Sabbath school, and then made their way to our house.  It had been 8 years since we've last seen the Cabanillas, and that was at our wedding in Colorado; They drove to attend all the way from Chicago.  And it had been even longer since we've seen their kids, my former classmates and playmates.  It was great to catch up and re-connect, now as adults and parents.  Amazing the journey life takes you and sometimes comes full circle.  It was a very nostalgic moment.

Baby Brady always sleeping on the job.

So serious.  So stoic.

Sabbath lunch spread for the Cabanillas.  My favorite was the cheese display.

An impromptu birthday cake for Dale who turned 5 that day.

Old friends from way back when.

After they had gone we hosted the Grodacks over for dinner.  Ever since the births of our eldest daughters we have become very close friends and they have become like a second family to us.  We always try in include them in most if not all of our plans and activities, and this weekend was no exception.  We enjoy hanging out with them because we seem to be very similar in many aspects, as both families and individuals.  It also helps that we have the same number of children and they have been growing around each other as well.  That, and every time Duncan and I get together we become a couple of goofball dads.  I can just see Braelyn and Calleigh in a few years just rolling their eyes and beet red from embarrassment, just like their mothers!  The children played on the splash 'n slide pool while Corey made some homemade veggie pizzas for the evening meal.  We topped the night's activities with a campfire and s'mores, and then the kids shared a movie while the adults caught up with each other.  Check out Corey's version on her blog:  http://grodacks.blogspot.com/

The 3 older girls discuss the evening's plans...

...while Maddy waits by the putting green.

Duncan leads out the s'mores endeavor.

Braelyn got a chance to hold baby Brady just seconds before he spit up all over her.

I remember when my babies were your size!

Braelyn gets cozy watching her movie.



Sunday morning was one of those lazy ones where you stay in your pajamas drinking coffee and reading the paper while the kids kept busy playing with their toys and bugging one another.  We did take a short trip out to the carwash for the minivan and then to Target to get formula for the twins as our supply was running out.  Here are a couple of videos of the morning:

1. I guess the baby gate is useful for more than just safety!



      2.  Kohlden didn't seem to enjoy the carwash as much as his sisters did.





After Planet Smoothies for lunch we traipsed back home for naps before our expedition to Deland for dinner with the Grodacks and the Whitakers.  I say expedition because it truly is one of those longer trips we spend in the van, at least an hour from our house to theirs.  We met the Grodacks en route and then we caravaned together the rest of the way.  David and Ashley Whitaker are our friends who are expecting their triplets very soon, to add to the two daughters they already have.  Apparently The Isidros and Grodacks had set the new standard in our group of friends with 3 kids, so as they tried for their third, they ended up getting 3 more, so 5 in total!  They always have to one up us, or two up us, as in this case!   Ashley has been house bound and officially on bed rest for some time now and was going stir crazy, so we thought it would be nice to come up and visit and give them company.  It was nice to catch up and see the nursery with the three cribs, and of course talking shop with all the parents in between cries for help from the children.  We had haystacks for supper and stayed until it was past time for the twins' bedtime.  We changed them into their pajamas and brought them home sound asleep.  We called it a night as we had big plans for the Labor Day holiday bright and early the following morning.  It would be a very short night as Maddy was feverish from teething and didn't want to sleep.  Tangie resorted to taking her into bed with her and was up a good portion of the night.  Kohlden had his teething fever a couple days before and was also very restless.  Needless to say, not a good night for everyone.





Ashley gets to know her recliner very well as David preps dinner in the background.



Looks like the children are ready to eat!

Kohl likes hanging out with girls a little older than he.



Up, bathed and dressed, we were out the door by 9:15 to meet (you guessed it!) the Grodacks and the Bergherms for brunch at the Peach Valley Cafe in Lake Mary.  This was something we had planned the week prior so we were all looking forward to it.  The Bergherms had been out of town through Sunday evening, but had made plans to join us on Monday for the day.  We've always liked the restaurant and we would frequent it on the days we would go to the zoo, and it is always jam packed.  Knowing this, I called ahead prior to leaving the house to put our name on the call ahead seating list.  Good call, as it was a good 45 minute wait for customers when we got there.  After about fifteen minutes after arriving we had our table set and ready to go.  The weather was spectacular and we ate outside, under large shade trees with glimpses of sunlight in between.  Many of the patrons at the restaurant frequently glanced at our large table, amazed at the sight of 6 adults with 8 kids.  It was a very relaxing albeit rather rushed meal as you all know how it gets when there are children involved.

Our group at brunch.  Man, that's a lot of little people!

After brunch we caravaned up to Lake Monroe in Sanford to have the children spend some time at Fort Mellon Park, a very nice playground and water splash park.  By that time it was close to noon and it had become very hot, and we were spending most of our time there in the shade.  The bigger kids enjoyed the splash area (Good! 'cause it cost  $8 just for them to get in!) but the twins not so much, in part because they were in some pain for teething over the weekend, and Maddy just woke up from a short nap in the van very cranky.  We spent about an hour there and then made our way to the Central Florida Zoo with the Bergherms to try out the junior ropes course they have there.  The Grodacks had decided they needed to bring the girls home for naps and to feed the baby so we separated from them for the first time in 3 days!  Too bad though, Braelyn would've enjoyed Calleigh's company!

Kohl enjoys the swing with views of Lake Monroe in the background.

Braelyn had fun on the playground.

Braelyn strikes her famous pose.  Calleigh wasn't so sure about that.

Can't seem to enjoy the water today.  Teeth hurt too much.

Kohl hanging out with the bigger girls again.

We bumped into a former collegue and friend Rosa and caught up on things.

Our group staying in the shade.  Boy was it hot!

Can you tell which child is ours?



Maddy plays peek-a-boo with Mommy while Kohl takes his nap.  Braelyn is too engrossed with Toy Story on the DVD.



I was amazed and completely blown away by my 4 year old's fearlessness, strength, and balance.  This was her first time ever trying something like this and she made it look like it was nothing.  I think the only challenging part was her trying to clip and unclip her carabeeners each time she completed each section, as the rope would sometimes be a little too high for her reach.  But she managed to tackle each challenge with focus and determination, of which I was extremely proud.  Mommy and the twins watched her as I walked beside and beneath her each step of the way, giving words of praise and encouragement, but she did it all by herself.  The entire course took about an hour and a half to complete, and though she started getting a little tired and waned near the end, she finished it with both arms in the air and a huge smile on her face.  Way to go, big sister!  She would be ready for bed and would sleep well that night!

Braelyn and Blake show off their bands before they head out to the course.

The first of 18 sections on the first of 2 courses, a total of 36!

Here she is about 10 feet off the ground crossing a creek.

Midway through another challenge 10 feet up.

This was a hanging and swinging tunnel she had to crawl through.

Effortless.

Later that evening after the children had gone to sleep I went to the airport to pick up my brother Mike and sister-in-law Genevieve from California.  They are on vacation and will be spending a week here in Florida with the family.  It was nice to see them as we haven't seen Uncle Mike since March and Auntie Gen since October of last year when they had come down for their Florida wedding reception.  It's exciting to see them too, with all the new changes that will be taking place for them early next year.  Definately the best adventure they will have so far, and I'm talking from experience!   Braelyn was thrilled to see them but the twins had some warming up to do, as expected.    But soon they were waving hi and blowing kisses, so we're all good.

Brae wakes Uncle Mike and Auntie Gen before she heads out for school.  Mind you they are 3 hours behind on California time so it was actually 4 AM for them!

They indulged me with eating lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant before picking Brae up from school.

We swung by an Oriental market to get some food supplies for the weekend.  Brae just enjoyed hanging out with them.

The two goofballs.

They're twins if you couldn't tell.

Warming up to Uncle Mike.

Brae gets a special treat with Auntie Gen helping her with her homework.

Maddy can actually pass off as their kid!

Lunch at the French restaurant in downtown Winter Garden.

Today Braelyn had her first visit to the dentist.  We had been preparing her for this by having her watch the Berenstein Bears Go to the Dentist movie, where they talk about loose teeth and cavities.  She was very excited to go and for the past couple of days would open her mouth and say to us, "Look, I have a cavity."  A small premonition of things to come, Tangie picked her up after lunch and took her to the dentist.  Sure enough, there was found to be a couple of cavities, particularly in the molar region.  So we have another appointment for filling the cavities in November, and no more lollipops!  Tangie did say that she was a very good little patient and listened well to the dentst.  NO MORE LOLLIPOPS!

I couldn't figure out why she was wearing sunglasses.

Excited about her new toothbrush, she gives it a test run as soon as she got home.

I quite enjoyed sharing some conversations I've had with the children on my previous post entry last week, so I think I'll do the same and share my favorites quips from this week.  Who knows?  Perhaps another weekly tradition.

• The twins regularly get into things and make messes.  That's a given and we've accepted this.  In this particular incident they had gotten into our cd tower and proceeded to take several cases and scatter them across the living room floor.  So I tell Kohlden from across the room:

          Me:  "Kohl, put it back please.  Clean up, clean up!"
          Kohl:  "Bok."
          Me:  "Yes, back.  Put it back."
          Kohl:  "Bok."  (brings me the cd instead)
          Me:  "No, back.  Put it back."
          Kohl:  "Bok."  He hands me the cd.  I take a look at it and burst out laughing.

          The title of the cd was "Bach: Greatest Classical Masterpieces".

• I was playing with the kids in Braelyn's room while Mommy was snoozing early one morning.  They were playing with the toy kitchen and toy food.

          Brae:  "Would you like some breakfast, Daddy?"
          Me:  "Of course!  What can you make me?  Pancakes?'
          Brae:  "No, we don't have pancakes."
          Me:  "How about some fruit?"  (I point to the toy orange)
          Brae:  "Yes.  Here, you can have the orange."  (hands it to me)
          Me:  "Hey, aren't you going to slice it for me?"
          Brae:  "I can't.  It's fake."

• For breakfast the twins were barely touching their meal, again, probably because they were teething and it hurt.  So I tried to make an example of Braelyn, who was sitting at the table eating her eggs.

          Me:  "C'mon guys, eat your food!  Don't you want to grow as big and strong
                   like this one?"  (patting Braelyn)
          Brae:  "My name is Braelyn, not 'this one.'"

• We were heading out to pick the twins up from school and leaving the driveway when I realized I had forgotten something.  It was also starting to rain and the drops were filling the windshield, so I decided to just keep going.

          Me:  [big sigh]
          Brae:  "What happened Daddy?"
          Me:  "I forgot my water bottle in the fridge."
          Brae:  "Oh no..."
          Me:  "That's okay.  There's plenty of water outside."  (it's raining pretty
                   hard now)
          Brae:  "Why?"
          Me:  "What do you call water that falls from the sky?"
          Brae:  "Rain!"
          Me:  "And what do you call water that's on the ground?"  (I'm thinking
                   puddles, lakes, rivers, etc.)
          Brae:  "Dirty!"

Twins ready for picture day.

Braelyn put herself in charge of taking the twins' shoes and socks off as soon as we get home.

Have a great weekend!