We've Got Rats!

Hi there! This is Maddie, on the blog for the first time to introduce the newest members of the family, Peanut and Jasmine (or Jazzy for short). While it may sound like these two twins are dogs or maybe even cats, they are actually two super sweet rats! Yep! You heard me! Rats! I had been wanting a rat forever, ever since I saw one at the Catalyst for Change fair in the spring of fifth grade. Luke had been wanting hamsters, but at the time, it didn’t seem like it matter which pets we wanted, because Dad did not want any more pets. After six months of convincing, researching, and asking, Dad finally agreed to let us get rats. Luke wasn’t to hard to convince. All I had to say was “Rats can climb like monkeys,” and he was sold. After that followed another six months of doing pet-related chores to prove I was responsible enough to take care of not one, but two rats. (Rats are social and need to be kept in pairs.) In addition to that, we had to wait on an 80 person long waiting list (apparently rats are a popular pet here in Arizona) to get our rats. They were born on April 10th. Finally on May 21st, the day had arrived to pick them up! After taking the rats home, we began the bonding process… in the bathtub to ensure the sneaky little babies didn’t escape. But enough of my boring dialogue. Time for me to show you some adorable pictures of our little rats!

Peanut crawls on me. I look a little uncomfortable holding a rat, don’t I?

Another photo of me with a rat. I think this one is Peanut, Luke’s rat. He wasn’t in the bathtub on the first night, we didn’t want to overwhelm the rats.

Two sleepy rats do not want to get up the following Monday. We all feel your pain little rats. We all feel your pain.

A slightly blurry photo of Luke and the rat I put on his head

Jasmine giving me the stink eye.

Me with Jasmine and Peanut on my shoulder.

Luke spending some quality time with Peanut.

We found out the hard way that rats chew everything, and these two especially love to chew fabric. This is a picture of them peeking out of the giant hole they chewed between two layers of fabric in their favorite hammock. Yes, they sleep in hammocks.

2016 Summer Vacation in FL

This summer we did vacation a little different.  Mom and the two kids started their vacation trip one week before Dad (who stayed back for work and a weekend of yard work).  The destination: Florida's gulf coast... more specifically Grandma's house!  As usual, Grandma rolled out the "red carpet" to make sure our every need, wish and desire was fulfilled (thank you Grandma).

Not surprisingly we all had a great time.  Some highlights of the trip included:

• Visiting with relatives whom we don't see often (and some the kids have never met)
• Witnessing the wonders of nature (i.e. hermit crab shell swap) from Grandma's dock
• Watching beautiful Florida sunrises and sunsets over the bay in Grandma's backyard
• Having a private boat tour of the bay from Grandma's neighbor
• Swinging on the new swing in Grandma's back yard
• Eating smallcakes!
• Celebrating Luke's birthday at the beach and birthday party at Grandma's house
• Watching 4th of July fireworks over the bay from Grandma's dock
• Eating lunch at Stinky's Fish Camp (Dad loves this place - kids love this place... not so much)
• Splashing and laughing at Big Kahuna water park
• Having an awesome day riding a wave runner in the bay

Enjoy some of the photos from our trip!

Kids enjoying the crystal clear waters and white sand beaches

Mom and Luke enjoy a boat ride around the bay

Maddie and Luke on the boat ride around the bay

The sun sets on another fun day

I'm not sure if this is a loving embrace or a head lock?

Another fun day at the beach

All smiles

Maddie checks her net

Maddie searches for hermit crabs

Luke enjoys the new swing

Luke, Cousin Rosalyn and Maddie watch the hermit crabs from Grandma's dock

Mom and kids

Maddie enjoys some ice cream

Luke works his way through the ropes course

Maddie rings the bell at the top of the ropes course (Luke did too!)

Luke gives thumbs up for the ropes course

Birthday celebration at the beach!

Playing in the sand at the beach

Birthday boy is ready for cake and ice cream

Opening birthday gifts... what could it be?

Hot wheels!

Luke sits with his impressive birthday haul!

Maddie and Dad prepare for a ride on the wave runner

Grandma and Maddie cool off in the bay

Walking in the bay

Luke and Dad are ready to go!

Fireworks viewed from Grandma's dock

Ka-Boom!

2015 Year In Review

A look back on the laughs, love and great memories from 2015...

Halloween

The whirlwind month that was October wrapped up with Halloween night and several Halloween-related activities at both kids' schools. At Luke's school there was a Halloween party and trick-or-treating to the classrooms. At Maddie's school there was a Halloween movie night on the lawn. The actual Halloween night was enjoyed by all of the neighborhood kids. We met together to gather a large group of kids at one neighbor's house before sunset. The kids run around and play, asking if it's time to start trick-or-treating every 10 minutes. Finally it was time. Maddie's night lasted for hours, first gathering candy, then trading candy, then playing into the late-night hours with neighborhood friends. Luke has less endurance and is ready to call it a night after about an hour (with a 20 minute break between two 20 minute trick-or-treat sessions). Enjoy some photo highlights below.

Luke's class in Halloween costumes

Luke plays Halloween bingo at school party

Luke in partial costume

Maddie in Perry the Platypus Costume

Maddie with girlfriends at school

Luke and Maddie prepare jack-o-lanterns, notice the focus and concentration

Luke in full Minion Costume, with fake banana

Minion and Rock

Paper, Rock, Scissors

The neighborhood kids count down minutes to darkness

Pumpkin Patch 2015

Our October wouldn't be complete without our annual visit to the pumpkin patch farm, or so I thought until Maddie pointed out to me that we didn't go to the pumpkin patch 2 years ago and last year it was "boys only" because she was sick and Mom stayed home with her. Oh well, so much for annual family traditions. Our pumpkin patch visit is a family tradition even if it's not annual! (For the record, we've only skipped the pumpkin patch 1 or 2 times in the past 10 years). Several weekends ago we took advantage of our beautiful fall weather and continued our "annual" tradition. It was a fun-filled day. Enjoy some photos from the day!

A late afternoon photo of two tired kids

Mom and Luke ready for the train ride

Maddie and Dad are on the train too

A field of sunflowers

Notice the looks of joy on the kids' faces and the look of sheer terror on Mom's face

As parents we discourage running with sticks, however running with "magic wands" is totally acceptable

Maddie and Mom on the hayride

In the pumpkin patch

While wandering through the corn maze, Luke became obsessed with making a "film" to document our adventure. Every few steps he demanded that I turn on the video camera to record him giving status on our progress through the maze or just to see himself on camera. You may notice he even refers to me as "the camera man". I eventually had to remind him that Mom was waiting so we could stop "filming" and find the corn maze exit. I've put together all of the clips without editing... it's amusing.