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Friday, November 30, 2012

Full House

2 Years, 32 Weeks.


Remember the family sitcom on abc that originally aired in the late 80's to mid 90's with John Stamos, Bob Saget, and the Olsen twins?

For the better part of the past month, our house was a little reminiscent of that show;  we had a very full house indeed!  A veritable boutique hotel, if you will.  And with a revolving glass door, constantly moving, as we hosted and entertained and housed numerous friends and family members over the last 4 weeks, starting with Lala helping me over the three weeks when Tangie would work out of town, then with Nana's two week stay, and finally with the entire Isidro clan staying over for the long holiday weekend.  Whew!

It's been great having everyone over, since both Tangie and I love visitors and have always had an open door policy, but it was also very nice this past Monday evening to get back to the norm, after the hustle and bustle of Thanksgiving and all the events leading up to it.


Gotta love the 80's!


Here are the highlights, starting from 2 Saturdays ago:

  • We had our friends Stacey and Susan McClarty from Collegedale over for dinner, as well as our mutual friend Richard Hickam and his family, previously from Collegedale but now live here in Orlando.  Remember, we had played golf together the previous Monday?  This was a chance to get together one last time before they headed back home to Tennessee, as well as to get the families and kids together as well.  It was a pleasant evening, chilly enough to roast hotdogs and s'mores, while the adults had "make your own" Pad Thai and Vietnamese spring rolls.  We enjoyed catching up and sharing in the trips we all had taken since we last saw them.  Braelyn had so much fun playing with Richard's two girls, as they also attend Orlando Jr. Academy with her, a few grades ahead.  

Gorgeous Sabbath day.  They played in the sandbox in their pajamas after breakfast.

Enjoying supper under the pergola lights.

Kohlden swinging with an older woman...that's my boy!

Braelyn hangs out with her friend Autumn and her mother Darlene Hickam.

Roasting marshmallows for s'mores.

Brae enjoyed Autumn and Allison's company.

All the kids together while the adults chatted outside.

Spring roll appetizer.

  • Sunday was a very special day.  We had been anticipating the arrival of Mike and Gen and baby Preston for a couple of months, and Sunday was the day they arrived from California.  They would be in town for just over a week for vacation and Thanksgiving.  This would officially be the first time we would meet Preston face to face instead of just Skype.  Braelyn and I picked them up at baggage claim, and immediately just fell in love with the little guy.  He is so cute, and looks a lot like his mommy, especially when he smiles or laughs.  His eyes disappear and his Chinese side becomes so evident!  They would stay with us the first night before heading down to Avon Park the following day to spend some time with Lolo and Lala.

Sunday pancake breakfast.

Team huddle.  Isidro on 3...!

Meeting Preston at the airport!

We made a quick stop by Chipotle.  Brae was already enamored with her cousin.

Preston meeting the twins.

Kohl trying out his old car seat, which we brought out for his cousin to use.

How fast did she grow?!?

Lolo very excited to see his other grandson.

He definitely had his hands full!

First picture of all the cousins together.

Maddy psyching herself up for the upcoming Thanksgiving feast!

  • Wednesday I took the kids down to Avon Park for a surprise lunch with the family, and then hung around my parents' house for the afternoon.  Tangie was trying to wrap things up at work since it was a short work week due to the holiday.  We met her at the Crackel Barrel for supper on our way back home.  Note to self:  No one cooks the Wednesday before Thanksgiving thus making restaurants very, very crowded!

We did a little Christmas decorating on Tuesday.  

Holding a little Chinese man on my lap.

Kohlden and I playing checkers at Crackel Barrel.

  • Thursday began with the annual Thanksgiving tradition:  an early round of golf with whoever is game.  This year we had six people, so two threesomes back to back.  Mike drove up early to meet me, Bruce, Duncan, and the Gregory's (Duncan's parents); Gen and Preston would ride up with Lolo and Lala later that afternoon.  Meanwhile, Tangie was taking a hand at making 3 different dishes for the Thanksgiving meal at the Grodacks that evening. Corey had graciously  extended an invitation to our entire family, and with everyone else invited plus their children, we totaled 23 very hungry individuals come dinnertime.  And the best part?  I didn't have to cook or prepare a single thing!  First time in 10 years I didn't make a turkey; I was happy to let Jennifer take charge of the bird.  And she did an amazing job! We were so stuffed afterwards, no pun intended.

Brothers goofing off.  Okay...me goofing off.

The hosts this year sporting a Thanksgiving turkey in their brand new house!

The long and beautifully decorated table.

Tangie got to hold the little guy.

Circle of welcome and prayer.

And let the feast begin!

The women discussing their Black Friday strategies and routes.

How many kids can you count?  Yes, and all on top of Corey and Duncan's bed!

  • Black Friday started very, very early for us.  Actually, for me.  I know I promised myself never, ever to get caught up in the hype of Black Friday after I left Banana Republic last year, knowing the craziness and potentially dangerous situations that could happen over a $5 fleece sweater.  But that's how they get you ~ $5 fleece sweaters just sounded like such a great deal for me...and for everyone else.  Because when I arrived at the parking lot to Old Navy at 12:30 AM and saw the line outside the store of all the people waiting -- WAITING -- to get in, I realized my error.  And why I even thought I could wait in that line in 45ยบ temperatures the Lord only knows. But I did get in line, and then quickly left after only 5 brief minutes.   Does tryptophan cause brain farts? The hilarity of that situation only caused me to want to go and see the chaos and pandemonium at all the other stores, so I drove by the ridiculous line outside of Best Buy and just laughed at everyone, and then I wandered into The Sports Authority so I could see firsthand the hour long line JUST TO CHECK OUT.  It was there that I realized my folly;  it was 1:30 in the morning.  So I went back home and crawled into bed, waking up with Tangie at 4:30 to begin the real Black Friday shopping spree.  I hit Home Depot and Lowe's; Tangie did her usual planned route to Old Time Pottery, Once Upon A Child, Old Navy, Joann's, Target, Bealls, Justice (a kids/girls boutique), Babies R Us, Costco, and Walgreens.  And all in 6 hours!  What a feat!  Afterwards Mike and I took our families to Sweet Tomatoes for lunch and then visited Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge to enjoy the weather and each others' company.  We had a nice bonfire for hotdogs for dinner.  Definitely a tired crew that evening.

They had already been opened for half an hour and this was still the line to get inside.
They were letting 1 person in for every 2 people coming out.

My view from the end of the line.

"What am I doing here again?"

Preston checks out Aunt Tangie's loot.
This does not include 12 poinsettias and 15 boxes of diapers in the garage.

Our table at Sweet Tomatoes.

Getting held by Aunt Tangie.

Our family in front of the 50 foot Christmas tree inside the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Taking advantage of the resort playground.

A breather.

Soaking in some sun.  Gotta love Instagram.

Enjoying a nice bonfire to end the day.

  • Sabbath we all attended Sabbath School and caught up with everyone there. We had been invited to Jared and Marlissa's for lunch and had another wonderful Thanksgiving meal Dominican Republic style, complete with turkey, habichuelas, and maduros!  Afterwards we had a mini photo session courtesy of j michael media for some family portraits.  That evening Lolo and Lala treated us parents by watching all the kids while we (including the Clarkes) went out for a date night.  A quick stop to h.h.gregg to buy Lolo a new 40" TV, we had Thai for dinner before splitting up ~ Clarkes went back home, Mike and Gen went to go see Skyfall, and Tangie and I went back to Toys R Us for more deal shopping for the kids.  I know, so romantic.

Cousin Preston joined us at Cradle Roll.

At least he was cooperative with the shepherd's headdress. 

The twins not so much.  Kohl would have none of it.

Sharing a moment during story time.

They love their snacks!

Tangie and I sporting our Fall colors.

Lolo and Lala with all 4 grandchildren.

Great setting for a family shot.  Thanks Jared!

  • Sunday morning was a very lazy morning.  We didn't leave the house until past 1 for lunch, at the new Hibachi grill restaurant Crazy Buffet.  After eating to our hearts' content we went back home so the kids could take their naps, before heading back down to Disney with Mike and Gen and the Clarkes to see the holiday trees and lights at the resorts.  We were treated to a nice fireworks show before heading back home.

Using the dining room table as a fort.

Kohlden trying to make friends with a pigeon.

Maddy pretty adept with using those chopsticks!

Not being very cooperative for the picture, she was starting to get real tired and sleepy.
I ended up having to carry her in my arms for the last hour we were at the resorts.

Isidro3 in front of the Magic Kingdom.

  • Monday both Tangie and Braelyn were back to work and school; Lolo and Lala headed back home to Avon Park.  I was in charge of bringing my brother and his family to the airport for their trip back to California, before heading into town to pick Braelyn up from school that afternoon.  And then it was on to cleaning, laundry, and picking up around the house.  Back to the norm, before we start all over again with Christmas!

Enjoying a beautiful afternoon to work on some chalk art.

We planted some poinsettias in the pots out front.  They seem happy, don't they?


Braelyn and I eating some artichokes for supper.

Her class had a special project with their favorite stuffed animal so Marge was able to accompany her to school.
What a special treat!

Sharing secrets at Costco.

And then their usual hug.

Isn't she just beautiful?



Quotes:

  • For some reason the twins get real excited whenever they hear the dump truck coming down the street to pick up the trash.  They always like to see it, usually through the glass at the front door.  On this one particular incident they started arguing about who was going to raise the very fragile window shade, to the point of almost ripping it between themselves.  Obviously this led to me reprimanding them:
          Me:  "Guys!  No fighting!  We have to be gentle!  If that gets broken you'll get
                   in big trouble!"
          Maddy:  "Big trouble?"
          Me:  [trying to suppress a smile]  "Yes.  BIG trouble."
          Maddy:  "Time out?"
          Me:  "Yes."
          Maddy:  "Maddy?  Or Kohldie?"
          Me:  "Both of you."
          Maddy:  "Both?"
          Me:  "Yes.  Both."
          Maddy:  "Okay." [pronounced Oh-tay]

          As if she was going to get out of it.  Nice try Missy.


  • We were driving home from picking Braelyn up from school when I noticed a huge pillar of smoke billowing from the distance.  I commented on how big I thought the fire was, to which Brae replied, "Maybe they're roasting a giant marshmallow?"  

We drove closer to get a better look, but it was still pretty far off.
Definitely not a bonfire for marshmallows...

  • Coming back from our Costco run, we drive by a fenced pasture that usually houses several horses.  I always try to slow down enough for the kids to see them and count how many:
          Me:  "How many horses do you see?
          Kohl:  "1, 2, 3, 4, 5!"
          Maddy:  "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12!"
          Me:  "Twelve?  You saw 12 horses?"
          Maddy:  "Yes!"
          Kohl:  "No, it's not!" 
          Me:  "I saw 9."
          Maddy:  "Oh...9."

          What an exaggerator!  


Excuse me, I ordered the LARGE cup of coffee?...wow.  That's actually a pot for plants!



Have a great weekend!