MIM - Musical Instrument Museum Adventure

Today we took a drive to Scottsdale with my parents to check out the MIM or Musical Instrument Museum. The entire upper level is devoted to different regions of the world. Each continent has its own room and within those rooms many countries have a display of musical instruments. These amazing guitars, drums, flutes and rattles were made out of the craziest materials, from cans to human bones! As you walk from room to room you see the instruments displayed and then watch a video of people using that instrument in the actual setting where it is used. The audio plays automatically in your headset as you approach the exhibit.

Gianni was absolutely interested and asked the most amazing questions. It is amazing to me how much we have to teach our children. Things that you just don't think to do as you are covering the basics with your kids. Gianni was looking at video of an African tribe. They were dancing and banging on drums. They were outside of a little hut and were not wearing shoes. He looked up at me and said, "is this what they do when they go camping?" He was serious and very curious. I had to explain to him how things are in other countries or regions of the globe. It was a great educational opportunity for Gianni who if interested has the ability to focus but I could see how little ones could eventually grow bored in the upper level.

Carmen liked the music at first and then decided she was done. 

  It was great to be with Nonna and Papa.

 Finally we headed downstairs to a room that is really meant for kids to explore and play. The kids loved playing guitars, drums of all kinds, and some of the most interesting and unusual instruments I have ever seen. They loved the chance to be creative and put their hands on the instruments. So glad we saved it for last because they would never have wanted to walk through the galleries had we headed there first.

 John Lennon's piano behind a glass case. Pretty cool!

 After about 3 hours the kids had some milk and cookies in the cute little cafe and they each got to pick out an instrument from the gift shop. Gianni chose a "frog drum". It is a drum shaped like a frog and it really does sound like a frog. It is used in Vietnam. Carmen selected the "thunder tube." Ohh yah....the thing is loud and sounds exactly like the name. Thanks Nonna! My house was fun tonight.

One last picture here of our new herb garden. Everyone is helping as we take care of our basil, parsley, chives, thyme, oregano, and rosemary.



Our San Diego Vacation

 We began our San Diego adventure on Thursday at Balboa Park. We wandered on into the science museum where the kids explored and played for a long time. They played with geometric shapes, mirrors, physics demonstrations and illusions. They had a lot of fun.

 After the science museum we enjoyed the beautiful San Diego weather and played on one of the many playgrounds at Balboa Park. Gianni found a little caterpillar to play with at the park.

 Thursday evening, we drove north to Carlsbad where we checked into our hotel and dined on some Chinese food before we hit the sack. Friday morning, after playing at a local park, we headed off to Legoland. We did rides all day long! The kids had so much fun. I'm really glad that we could take this trip with Sydney.

 It was great to spend some fun time with my two kids. Having Sydney there was nice. No Gianni vs Carmen fighting!

 Mommy went on most of the rides all morning but it was finally daddy's turn. Off course I'm sure Abel wanted to ride this one so that he could shoot me and all of the other people standing by with water!

 We never did make it into the water park at Legoland. It is brand new and we were looking forward to trying it out but the kids didn't last long at this little splash play area. The temperature was about 68 or 70 and the water was cold. Maybe next time, but look how much fun they had at the splash area.

 This time at Legoland there were things that both of the kids could do that they couldn't do last time! Gianni got to practice his driving skills on a ride for 6-13 year olds. You have to raise your hand when you crash. Sydney stopped at every stop sign and looked both ways. Gianni blew through them all and crashed multiple times. I guess we know why boys have higher car insurance! I unfortunately am not proud of this, but I made Carmen lie multiple times while at the park. They changed the rules on many of their rides. Like most parks it is based on height but they now added an age limit to some rides. So it would say, "must be 36 inches and at least 4 years old." Carmen is mega tall...but not 4! So I told her she was 4 for the day. Does that make me a bad mom?

 After Legoland, we picked up some turkey at Boston Market and put the kids in the tub and to bed! They were exhausted. On Saturday we checked out of our Carlsbad hotel and drove down to Sea Port Village. We took a tour on the U.S.S. Midway. It was very interesting and the kids liked the planes the most.

 That afternoon we had some lunch and then headed off to the beach at Coronado.

 On Sunday, we walked around a local Coronado Park and enjoyed our last shot at cool weather. Overall, it was a wonderful vacation.

Back to the Arizona heat. 112 tomorrow. Yuck : (

Worth the Wait!

Tonight I made pulled pork for the first time! Now, I did not take this picture. My hands were full with trip photos but this is exactly what it looked like. Now as everyone knows, I HATE BBQ! What I mean by that is I hate the flavor of BBQ sauce. But, I think if I make it myself and can control the thickness then I may actually like BBQ sauce.  I was looking online the other day for a recipe and I was on the Bobby Flay site because he is GOD of the BBQ Grill. Gianni walked up and said, " mommy is that Bobby Flay?" I  told him he was correct. He then said, "mommy, I think you might have a tiny crush on Bobby Flay! Do you?" I admitted yes to my son and then quickly decided to go with my own little version of pulled pork which was interpreted from Bobby and the Neely's! Here is the recipe if you want to try it!

Pork Preparation:

1. Buy a 7lb pork shoulder

2. Make rub mixture: 6 TBSP paprika, 3 TBSP sugar, 1 TBSP onion powder, and lots of salt and pepper.

3. Rub the pork shoulder with the dry rub, place in a deep roasting rack inside a pan with the fat side up, cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.

4. Cook pork at 250 F for 6 hours or until the center comes to a cooking temp of 165F.

5. Once the pork is cooked, let it rest for a LONG time until it is cooled to handle by hand.

6. Remove fat and shred by hand! This takes for ever but it is worth it.

7. Prepare BBQ sauce.

BBQ Sauce Preparation (Neely's Recipe):

1. In sauce pan mix: 2 cups ketchup, 1 cup water, 1/4 cup light brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, 1 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1 1/2 tsp dry mustard,  2 TBSP lemon juice, 2 TBSP Worcestershire, 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar, 2 TBSP light corn syrup.

2. Bring to a boil.

3. Reduce heat and simmer for two hours. (I did not simmer for two hours! Didn't read that part until the end so I only did about 30 minutes. I liked it because it was thin!)

I served with Cole slaw! We loved it! Not sure what to do with the leftovers. Tomorrow will either be pulled pork tacos w/ tomato and avocado salsa or just more BBQ pork!

At this moment 6 years ago

I had been up since Tuesday morning preparing to have a baby. On that Tuesday night 6 years ago I went about my day packing my bags for the hospital. I went to school that evening and then showed up at the hospital to be induced. My mom said, "Kristin, you created such a wonderful environment for him for the last 9 months and that is why he doesn't want to come!" As many of you know, I didn't have him that Tuesday night. I was sent home discouraged, sad, and tired from being up all night. Upon arriving home on Wednesday morning with all of my bags, I cried some, tried to keep busy, had some dinner, and took a walk. At this very moment, 10pm (or so) exactly 6 years ago it was a Wednesday night like tonight. I finally let my head hit the pillow. I was exhausted! I should have taken a nap. Why did I stay up all day? I have been awake for 36 hours or more and I need to sleep. That is when it happened. Six years ago tonight is when I felt my very first contraction. This was it, this was the real thing. This is not what I felt the night before at the hospital. Abel raced us to the hospital because the contractions were strong and were getting closer. Labor was intense because of the induction maybe? I thought it would be fast. Gianni still decided that he would stand his ground, either that or my mind would just not let it happen because I was so scared. What is wrong with me? Why can't he just come? I am so tired! Finally, around 5pm on Thursday the mention of c-section was whispered and it was a best words I had heard since waking up that Tuesday morning. Gianni was born at 5:36pm on Thursday, June 16th 2005. Being up for over 48 hours was worth it! He was perfect and still is my little baby boy. Tonight we celebrated his birthday a day early. We are taking Gianni and Sydney to Legoland and the beach for their birthday and our cake represented our trip!

As many of you know, I am a firm believer of doing birthday parties BIG! But, tonight was small because of the trip. Just a few friends, a slip-n-slide, water balloons, and some pretty awesome pizza.
My other pride and joy

As I watched Gianni blow out his candles I thought back to that Wednesday night 6 years ago. I was so excited and ready to have him. I am so pleased with the little boy that Gianni is turning into. He isn't perfect but no kid is! He is curious, caring, fun, outgoing, intelligent, witty, sensitive, and talented. Most importantly, he is mine! I love him so very very much!

Happy Birthday tomorrow Gianni. Mom and Dad love you!

Week #2 comes to a close

Week #2 of summer vacation has come and gone. This week was the end of swimming lessons. They will be taking two weeks off and then we start back up again at the end of June. We did some fun new things this week. Swimming and art projects wore the two of them out!

We went to the gym so that mommy could exercise and the kids attempted the rock wall with Sydney. Who climbed the highest??? Yup...the 3 year old! Carmen has no fear!

One day around 6pm or so we had just finished dinner and I was reading Carmen a book. I asked her a question and there was no response. Sure enough...out!


One last minute thing that happened this week was spending time with the Pearson family. They invited us to attend a Vacation Bible School at their church in the evenings. The kids had a great time on Friday as they sang on stage and played on water slides. We really like their church and plan to return!

Gianni and Jonah on stage.

Carmen singing songs on stage. Right up front of course.

Yesterday the Pearson boys and Casillas boys joined forces on the golf course and then it was over to the new Pearson pad for a dip in the most beautiful pool! We love their new house.

Gianni, Carmen, Jonah, and Sophia had a blast playing in the pool. The water slide was great and even all of the adults went down it (except Abel....chicken).

Today we are low key just playing in the house. It is 12pm right now and somehow Abel and I have kept the children oblivious to the fact that we are having a yard sale out front and have been since 7am. They would be horrified if they went out front and saw everything that was for sale. They still have not asked why we keep switching off. I wonder how long we can keep this up!