Sucky Baby Special Summer Tour 2013

I took the kids, and my Mom on a road trip to Missouri  a few weeks back for a mini family reunion.  We went to stay with my Aunt Carolyn, as did my cousin Preston and his 2 boys, Simon and Dante.  It was his idea to go, and her sent out the bat-signal high in the sky for all family members to meet up there.  I answered the call, asked my Mom to come along, and off we went.  My Aunt Becky and her husband came down from Jacksonville, IL as well, and we had a grand old time with the family.  As for the name, a few weeks prior, the boys went to hang with my Mom while I took Rose to Hebrew tutoring.  Mom, aka. Granna, has orange trees in her back yard.  She told them how when she was a little girl, she and her brother and sister would pick oranges off a tree, make a hole at top and suck all the juice out.  They called them Sucky Baby Specials.  On our first day on the road, the name came up again and the trip name was dubbed.  When we got to MO, Joey said the words sucky baby special to Auntie C and she remembered exactly what that was.

Our route took us along the I40, following along the old Route 66.  It took 4 days of driving to get there, spent 5 days at Auntie C’s, then another 4 day trek home, this time taking the southern route through Texas, which I don’t recommend.  Auntie C lives right next the the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, and it is BEAUTIFUL!  It was a great trip, and for the most part, the kids were GREAT in the car.  I have the best memories of childhood summers spent on road trips all across the U.S. and I would love if my kids can create some great memories of their own.  This time we spent our nights in hotels, but would love to start camping with them in the future.  We’ll see!  Here are a few pics, but will post more soon. 

         

Happy 8th Birthday Dave-O!

David turned 8 on the 15th.  All he wanted to do for his birthday was to spend it at home.  We had come home from our 2 week summer road trip the day before and he was ready to spend some quality time at his own house.  It’s his favorite place on earth.  So, that’s pretty much what he did…. boring for most, but what he most desired.  He had been told he couldn’t get an iPod until he turned 8, so for a few weeks prior, he kept mentioning that’s what he was getting…. so that’s just what he got.  He and I went and bought it together while Joey and Rose hung at Aunt Karen’s.  He was so excited with the purchase he didn’t take me up on the offer to get lunch together, he just wanted to get home and get that bad boy set up.  A few more highlights included Uncle Dale (who was in town after he and Riley rode their bikes down from NoCal) and Granna coming over for dinner, Tyler and Lexie coming over to help celebrate for dessert, and a visit from the tooth fairy that morning, who happens to pay $5 instead of her usual $2 if it’s your birthday.  (All other family members were busy with other commitments….it’s not that we didn’t invite them.)  Happy Birthday Big D!

   

Knock knock, Who’s There? Orange. Orange Who?

Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?

David became an orange belt yesterday, officially becoming the highest ranked karate kid in the west coast Heffernan-Stitzer family.  (that I’m aware of anyway…)  In your FACE Dave Heffernan!

Lost

Mom….I can’t find the Wii remote.

Have you checked in the fridge?

Zoo Field Trip

I went with David and his first grade class to the zoo for his field trip.  It was the day before Joey’s kindergarten trip to the fire station.  Each parent was assigned a few kids to chaperone.  I had David and a boy named Antonio.  I volunteer on the classrooms each week, so I know these kids pretty well.  I have to believe that is why I was lucky enough to be chosen to have Antonio.  All the kids were asked to wear their UCLA Bruins shirts so they could be easy recognized.  Antonio did not.  Not only did he not wear something easily identifiable, his Mom must have painstakingly researched what colors would camouflage best with plants, animals and 100,000 other kids and tourists.  As a matter of fact, I can’t even tell you what he had on that day.  I spent my “fun” time at the zoo looking for this kid who would be RIGHT NEXT TO ME one moment, the GONE in literally a few seconds if I stopped to look at something.  I have no problem losing my own kid….in fact,  have done it on several occasions, but it’s unnerving when you lose someone else’s.  At one point in the day, I started to panic a little when the boys decided to play hide and seek.  Antonio said he would hide first.  David counted to 50, in his slow, deliberate, articulate way.  I watched Antonio as I knew this wasn’t a good idea.  I WATCHED him hide, and damn if that kid didn’t pull a Houdini trick when Dave went to find him and he had completely vanished.  GONE.  The short story is we found him, and that ended that game.  We did have a good time….. at least I know Antonio did!  Here is the 1 and only picture I got of the day….at the point when I was no longer responsible for Antonio.  Enjoy!

Fire Station

Joey’s class recently took a field trip to the fire station.  It’s not too far from school, so we walked there and back.  It was a lot like trying to herd a large group of kittens.  (Why do men seem to look so much more attractive when they are wearing uniforms?  I know what I’m getting Andy for his birthday…)  Here are some shots of the excursion. 

 

And this is what the trucks look like when they are parked out in from of your house!  The quick version is Paul (my father-in-law) had a mild stroke when they were here in the spring.  He is fine! 

Tired

The true definition of tired.  Joey age 5, summer 2012

Oh When the Saints....

David and Joey May 2013

Hi Aunt Helene!

Hi Aunt Helene!  I LOVE YOU!!!  -Rosie

Hebrew School and Passover 2013

A quick post about Hebrew school and Passover.  We decided to enroll the kids in Hebrew school last December.  The decision came after our trip to Chicago for nephew Ian’s bar-mitzvah.  The kids were the ones who asked if they too can be bar and bat-mitzvah’d, to which we had a serious discussion that it wasn’t just all about a big party.  They started classes half way through the school year and just finished up for the summer and so far, so good!  Can’t say I was as enthusiastic going to catechism.  I guess it didn’t hurt that they started right before Hanukkah, and did all the fun holiday stuff in class.

We hosted Passover again this year at our house, but all the credit goes to Helene for doing ALL the work.  She planned, shopped and cooked the entire meal.  (not to leave out the Stensbergs, who brought a delicious turkey and all the fixins)  We had a houseful of good friends and wonderful family.  Thanks Helene for all your hard work and spending the week with us!  We love and appreciate all that you do!