Land of the Lafrancas: July 2012

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Flight of the Lafrancas

We went to Seattle for a Hjelm family reunion, but I was desperate to see my family and went a day earlier than Jeremiah. I actually wasn't too nervous to fly with three kids, it was the long flight that had me feeling nervous. I get antsy and need to walk around and I swear I have more ADHD than Hayden does. While the kids were fine watching a movie, coloring, or sleeping (mostly sleeping), I couldn't stop coming up with an excuse to use the restroom or stand up. But I couldn't sleep, not unless I used the stranger sitting next to me as a pillow.

After arriving at the airport in Albuquerque, we grabbed a snack to wait for our flight. We happened upon Josh and Dana, Jeremiah's boss and his wife, who joined us for snacks. They were on their way to Vegas! Just then I got a text from the airlines stating that our flight was delayed by 4 1/2 hours. I immediately had Josh and Dana watch the kids while I ran to the gate to reschedule our flight. Because with the delay, we wouldn't meet our connecting flight in Los Angeles!

Luckily we got a different flight but we still had a four hour delay and then an hour stop into Phoenix before heading into Seattle at 1:30am. First, I was upset that we weren't going to LA and my dreams of running into David Beckham were smashed. Second, poor Carissa had to pick us up at 1:30 in the morning!

Redbox and my phone saved the day! We ate dinner and they watched tv or played my phone while I read magazines and called Jeremiah to complain about our delay.

Ready to go! We changed into jammies and have our pillow pets and I've given them melatonin :)

Friday, July 27, 2012

Roman's Six Pix

Roman turned six in June. Six. He thinks he's 20, but really he's just six. Going on 20.

I love my sweet little boy, even if he's developed a bit of an ornery streak. It happens to th ebest of them, right?

He initially wanted a Mario birthday party this year. Just like Hayden. I'd Pinterested away for weeks planning the best party, but of course they both changed their mind. Roman eventually became stuck on a Lego party. We couldn't have the party in our little apartment so we had it at the park where he used to have his soccer practice - yes, the same park we had Hayden's party the Saturday before. But this time it was "Juneteenth" which I'm not sure what that is except that a bajillion people were at the park for a car show and a Christian church gathering and the only place available to have our party was the gazebo area. Plus side, nicely shaded.

Roman didn't seem to mind. We started off with Lego cupcakes (with Hershey's bars frosted in Lego colors with mini M&Ms for the bumps). They could have looked better because, honestly, Roman dropped most of them on the way to the gazebo but I wasn't about to have a cake-less party, so we brushed them off and now everyone knows our dirty (literally) little secret.

While we waited for everyone to show up Railynn babysat for me. Not that I needed it, but Aubrey loves being babied sometimes.

Chad and Tai were on baby patrol while we passed out cupcakes. Don't worry, there was enough for everyone, even the babies.

See, Dana is sharing with Jaxon. Not that the kids needs it, he's as cute as he is big!

Roman got Beyblades for his first gift. The boy loves his "Beys". And, as obviously noted in the background, Aubrey couldn't care less :)

I'm not sure what to call this...velcro ball with velcro catching mitts? He wasn't sure what they were, but once we had them opened up they've become his new favorite outside activity. I love playing with him because it doesn't require a whole lot of skill on my part!

Water guns for the whole family! Thanks Chad and the Carpenters! They must know that Jeremiah loves to double fist his water guns and drench the kids (and me if he's feeling like getting into some trouble!).

A Beyblade stadium...he was in heaven. Finally they aren't using my entryway floor anymore and I'm not tripping over them!

A Cars scooter from Jeremiah and me. He's been borrowing Hayden's forever, it's about time he had his own.

His own Skylander...I'm not even sure which one. But it's a fave game of theirs and the only game they can play on the XBox.

Finally...Star Wars Fighter Pods. In my opinion, a mix between Squinkies and Bakugans, sort of. But he loves them and I think he's learning the rules because apparently it's a game, not just a toy!

Our friends gave Hayden a pocket knife and utility knife for turning 8. It's a tradition in their home to give these to the boys when they turn 8 so they can use them in scouting. Hayden cut his thumb within minutes of receiving it, so yes, it's tucked away in a secret spot. Only Jeremiah knows where it is. And Hayden will get it when he needs it for scouts! He felt "so old" - in a good way - after getting these.

Luckily there were some benches next to the gazebo. It's no fun sitting on the ground the whole time.

Aubrey "Pizzaface" Lafranca throwing a fit. Her fits are usually pretty quiet but you do get the occasional "I-hate-you" look which is rather adorable.

We played one whole game during the party. The kids had to guess how many Legos were in the jar. Tai, who guessed for her baby, won. Unfair? We don't think so. Tai loves Target as much as I do :)

Things Roman Loves:

Lovey, of course

Video games

Playing on my phone

Legos

Smoothies (like Jamba Juice and Keva Juice)

Getting tickled

Going to the movies

Broccoli, tomatoes, any fruit

Pizza, quesadillas

Beyblades (including the tv show)

Things Roman Doesn't Like So Much:'

Cheese by itself (yet he's Italian!?)

Bugs

Being yelled at

Scary shows and stories

Time out

Being too hot or too cold

Friday, July 20, 2012

Eight is Amazing!

I cannot believe my oldest son is eight. Eight. Like two away from ten. Like baptism age.

Holy freak.

I'm old. So is Jeremiah.

And so, in his mind, is Hayden.

Hayden wanted a Mario birthday party for.ev.er. A week before his party, after I'd Pinterested a gazillion ideas and was pumped for everything (and I mean everything) I had to do, Hayden came into my room in the early a.m. and stated he no longer wanted a Mario birthday. "Eight year olds don't have Mario parties, Mom." I couldn't argue with that, although I'm sure it's not true. So he chose a soccer party.

Remember, this is the boys whose goal is to play goalie for the US Olympics one day.

Pinterest wasn't super helpful. And I'm SO not good at drawing soccer balls, so soccer ball cupcakes were out of the question. Luckily, the Dollar Store, as usual, came through.

I found little sports flags on toothpics that served as "Go Team Go" style flags on a white frosted cupcake with mini chocolate chips. About as "soccer" as we were going to get. See...

I was lucky enough that he chose a soccer theme because it meant he really had no games he wanted to play. Just to practice soccer with his friends. Easy enough. I wasn't going to argue that one.

Of course, in any soccer game you have to include some wrestling.

Funny story. The weather was HOT and WINDY during his party. It was so windy that no matter who blocked what wind in any direction, I could not get the candles to light. So I made him pretend to blow out the candles just for the sake of the picture. And yes, I stuck 8 candles on a cupcake.

Presents...the whole reason kids have birthdays...

Beyblades and candy...two of his fave things...oh, and girls. Oh wait, he's not into girls. But Rai and Jocy were so excited for him :)

More Beyblades, or as he calls them, "Beys". BEST BIRTHDAY EVER! And a muscle tee. I was always against these until he got one for his birthday. He's kinda cute in them!

The anticipation is killing me...what is it?!

Legos! From Nana! He's been asking for Legos but I'm not a big fan of spending money on something with such small pieces that he's bound to lose. He's taken good care of his Batman Legos (so far)...

Jeremiah and I got Hayden a skateboard. He's getting better at it but still not a pro by any means. He knows all the skateboard lingo :)

Baby Mia eating the pizza crust. The best part.

How does this girl always find my phone?!

Putting together their Lego Batman stuff. We let Roman open his from Nana and Papa a week early so that they could do them together.

On Hayden's actual birthday (Sunday, June 10) we had him open the rest of his presents from us. Legos and Squinkies. Don't know what Squinkies are? Don't worry, I know what they are and I still don't see the appeal. Tiny little creatures (Avengers for this one) that are squishy and live in plastic bubbles. I'm pretty sure I vacuumed up Iron Man :)