Set Back for a Special Occasion

Celebration 101:
Enjoy an incredible bottle of 1997 Terra Valentine Cabernet that you have waited to sip for a LONG time. We got this bottle on one of our fabulous trips to Napa...this vineyard is off the beaten path on Spring Mountain Road. Along with Terra Valentine, we found many wineries that became some of our favorites along Spring Mountain Road-- Pride,Cain and Smith Madrone to name a few. Smith Madrone has a grassy lawn area perfect for a picnic lunch with dramatic views of the Napa Valley. A special place.
Actually, most folks think that Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth.
I say it's Napa.


Our celebration was two-fold.

10/2/1999
11 years ago I met Joe at an ASU football game. I recall it was a day game against UCLA and about 150 degrees in the stadium. The rest is history.

We also celebrated our newest pride and joy,
Kennedy Elise Moreno
Born Sept.24, 2010 in Boulder, CO.

Besides being beautiful, she is extremely intelligent.
Grandparents are the first to notice these attributes.

Here's To New Life.
Good Life.

No, Thank You

Our last full day with 16 month old twins:

Saturday.
You know what that means.
Candy Day.

But not just an ordinary old thing will do...we all load up and make our first stop at Dutch Bros. where the line was long so Pappa Joe just walked up and got our java.


On to our destination. But first a quick stop into CLEAN FREAK CAR WASH.
Not a real good way to show your grand daughters you love them...They DID NOT LIKE IT a bit. So we cranked up Eric Clapton REAL LOUD and made it thru! Good bye and no thank you very much.
Were they still talking to us???



Our supremely trendy and uber cool spot where the in crowd shows fashionably around 10 am on Saturday..... La Grande Orange
They have quite possibly the best scone in America. In addition, many other tasty morsels of deliciousness and a great spot to people watch.

Back at the ranch and time to clean up the house. How was I to know that to Teagan and Boston....this is "The DEVIL"

The Dyson Devil they DID NOT LIKE at all. Ah, No Thank You.

We survived all of that to go to Partay with our good friends from Oregon, Ron and Barbara!
New friends, just my size!

Grill and Chill
Hostess Connie
It was a fun time, chasing the dog, no one fell in the pool, Boston put a handful of potting soil in her mouth, and burgers, too. Makes me tired just thinking about it! Mom and Dad come back tomorrow. I am so blessed to have had this time with them.

Pappa Joe & Ninny-8
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It's All Good

Days 6& 7 in a life with 16 month old twins:

Everyone seems to be adjusting to our new schedule....so curiosity brings Boston to the big dog kennel! Compared to Tater's, this is the Taj Mahal!


Ninny discovered a great Direct TV station called "Playground" for playtime today! Background music just makes the day go better! Wow, it's been a while since she heard Happy Happy Joy Joy or Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

Daily run to Dutch Bros.
BMOC - James--- Big man on Campus

Who got pudding for dessert?
Here all 3 decide to bang their cups on the table at once....over and over....and over.
The War Zone
Somehow the glass of cabernet at the end of the evening makes it all good.




Day 7 was Pappa Joe's day off, so Ninny got to go to work for a while and he held down the fort. A few errands in the afternoon and Mr. James came over to play again.
All three were pretty darn happy with the Orange Creamsickle drinks Pappa Joe made them with orange juice and ice cream.

Ninny & Pappa Joe-7
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Think Fast

Day 5 in a life with 16 month old twins:

BFF Linus and morning get together


An early wake up and nap took us to 'Tarshay' about noon time. Now, when Ninny showed up in the parking lot and got the big wake up call that the shopping carts only had 2 leg holes she immediately jumped into her survival mode and figured out that the stroller in the back of the Beast would be the only way she would be able to corral these girls once inside. Her cat like reflexes got the stroller opened all on her own without any help from strangers- absolute Mensa material. So- Teagan had a dupe a dupe (the correct name for a messy diaper -a la Poppy--THE TEAGUE) which was changed at the back of the Beast in record time. But the wet wipes she pulled from the diaper bag in the front seat were antibacterial for face and hands....yikes...would this work for diaper areas??? She had the bare butt out and had only seconds to make an executive decision. Boom.
Good to Go
Got to hear from all the shoppers how cute the girls were all thru the store and back in the car....AHHHHHH....Mensa Ninny had left the previous dupe a dupe diaper in the car. 92 degrees in Phoenix. Get the drift?

Apres Shopping we stopped at....you guessed it.....
Dutch Bros
Home for naps----then------Cousin James!!! 2.5 years of F-U-N !

He showed off his physical skills for the girls-- PUSH UPS!!

He's Home!!!!
Pappa Joe's Gonna Get You!


Then a little "Monkeys Jumpin On the Bed" time

3 Men in a Tub
I will tell you right now that Boston holds her own in any splash contest!


Whew!
Ninny & Pappa Joe-5
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Dueling Pianos

Day 4 in a life with 16 month old twins:

Introducing Ferrante and Teicher


I see a darling piano recital with these two playing four hands in my future!















After the concert, we went clubbing!...--- Ahwatukee Country Club that is! (Just to show off their cuteness to everyone).
Nancy didn't pinch Boston...although it looks that way.





On the way home....just a quick run thru Dutch Bros.


Then just play until pooped!



Teagan only put one rock in her mouth.


I get a quote a day on my email....todays was fitting:
"Many times, when I was having a hard time with one of my children, God would always remind me that He was having a harder time with me than I was with them." -Charlie "Tremendous" Jones

Ninny & Pappa Joe-4
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