Noah and the Plane Museum

Right before school started my dad brought Noah to a plane museum for a man-date. Then a couple of days later they went to see model airplanes fly.

Noah has always loved spending time with my dad and they have always had a special bond! So when I decided to marry Brandon and move to Arizona, I mentioned that they should move here too as a joke. I never thought they actually would after living it the same town for 28 years! But they did!! And at the beginning of June they moved here...just two blocks away!!! It has been such a blessing having them here and so close to again!! The kids get to see them at least every other day, and it has really helped them to adjust to moving here.

Family Nerf Gun Fight

 

 

One of the many things that I LOVE about Brandon is that he is always happy! Always.

Back in July he came home from work and started a NERF gun fight with me and the kids. And as we predicted, Noah and Ashlyn held their own, and Lily ended up being a little dramatic and crying. Story of our life. But we had so much fun that we had another fun NERF gun fight just a few days later. We had so much fun, and it wore the kids out good! SWEET!

Noah Turns 10!

Noah turned 10, on July 9th...yes, I am really far behind on blogging!

The birthday kid always gets to pick all their meals on the their birthday, complete with Breakfast in bed. So, per Noah's request he got a hot breakfast in bed, complete with pancakes and eggs! After the birthday boy got breakfast in bed, we chilled out at home and then got ready for the day.

Brandon surprised Noah with his present right after lunch...indoor LASER TAG!! Brandon took Noah and his 19-year old cousin out for a manly afternoon of indoor laser tag! Noah was so EsTaCtIc!!!! He has always wanted to go!! Plus, he adores Brandon's cousin.

After the boys went to play laser tag, we headed home where the birthday boy got steak and potatoes cooked on our new grill (I love wedding presents!). Than after presents were opened, we had cake and ice cream.

I can't believe my boy is 10!! I remember when he was born. I remember the day vividly, and every moment about being in the labor. I remember holding him all night right after he was was born. I didn't want to lay him down, and he didn't want me too either. He was fussy when he got laid down, and he slept like an angel while I was holding him. He was such a great baby, and such an easy-going kid. He's always been healthy and happy. I am so blessed to be his mother, and to have him as a part of my eternal family! I can't imagine him not being in our family!!

Some of his likes:
Nerf Guns
Xbox
Long, raw carrots
Sprite
Spiking his hair up
Playing outside
Cars, planes...anything that has an engine
Scouts
Football
Building things
Yard work
Reading
All animals
Brussel Spouts-all veggies really

What he Dislikes:
Going to bed when he is told...he is a master procrastinator!
chores
Germs-his is obsessive about this!

 

 

(sorry for the lack of photos)

4th Of July

I will always be a HUGE fan of holidays! I LOVE traditions, and spending time with family.

The thing with being newly re-married, is that some of the traditions I previously had were from the Tate side, and so now I have to try to create new traditions with my Speth family. While not completely changing too many things and disrupting what the kids and I have always known either.

It's the blending of two and a half families. Harrington, Speth, and some Tate.

One thing I loved about the Tates, was that every 4th of July we would get together to do a big cookout at their house, play games outside, set off our own fireworks in their driveway, and then all of us would head to Purdue University to watch the fireworks on Slater Hill. They were the best fireworks...only because when you would lay down, you could look up and the fireworks and it looked as if they were coming down right on top of you! I went there for about 20 years, I never realized how much I missed it until I moved here to Arizona.

Well, here in Arizona they charge you to go and see the fireworks. Yeah, you read that right...you have to pay money to celebrate our country's freedom. Plus, there is no grass because we are in the desert, so we would have to watch them in a dirt field. We had only been home from our honeymoon about 24 hours, and we were still really tired, and were quickly trying to adjust to being a family. I had the best plans of a big cookout, with friends and family, and then off to see the fireworks. Well, it didn't happen. First off, I was new here and had no friends. Second, the Speth family doesn't do cookouts on the forth, and third, we had to pay for the fireworks, and my new sweet hubby didn't want to spend the money just to fight the crowds. So instead Brandon and Noah headed out to buy some fireworks, and we set them off in the driveway with just our little family of 5. It worked.

It was uneventful, and to tell you the truth, I was a little homesick all at once. I missed my traditions. And I missed family.

I was/am so grateful to be married to such an amazing husband, but clearly blending two families all over again, and starting off with our own new traditions was going to be harder than I thought...as least emotionally.

Next year I will plan a little further ahead and make it a GREAT holiday and start some of our own new traditions!