Our Tree!... is dead.

So, it's only Christmas eve and the tree is dead. Despite our best efforts to make the tree last for awhile, I don't think its going to make it until New Years. Its becoming a fire hazard to even turn it on. There's also a cricket that's taken up residency in the tree. We call him Kenny the cricket. He chirps his little heart out and Mallory and I are on a hunt to find him and dislocate him from our tree. You shake the tree and hope he falls, but he must be hanging on with his crazy legs, cause he's not letting go. I think we'll leave the tree up until the day after Christmas, then its got to go. Sorry Kenny.

Our Tree!

Even though it was rainy and cold this weekend, that didn't stop us from stuffing a gigantic tree into the back of the Jetta and heading home! Every year, I try to convince the kids that a Noble fur would be nice and every year we come home with a Douglas fur. Hmmm...next year I will try again!

Our tree looks slightly understated, as I've discovered we have very few ornaments and the tree skirt has been lost somewhere? Usually we split to PA for a couple weeks over December holiday, so its been awhile since we've had a tree. We'll have to work on that over the next few days! I dig this photo, the lights create a cool effect. Its kind of funny... I never noticed the windows looked so bare before? We'll have to work on that this week too!

The house looks great, it helps that our normal accent color is red anyway! Starting this week we've got some holiday parties and dinners, so things will pick up and we can enjoy the season! Happy Holidays!

New stuff!

This year, Nicholas has asked for a dining room table from Santa. What a selfless request from an 8 year old little boy? Well, Santa doesn't have to grant his wish, because the new table comes today! woohoo! it's been on backorder basically since we moved into the new house. I cannot wait to see it, I've almost forgotten what it looks like, its been so long. This table is such a big deal for us, with 8 chairs we can have guests over comfortably. It's just in time for the holidays and it's going to be so great when our house is full of family for the wedding in May.

New Friend

As a side note, Craig does not usually gravitate towards babies, he usually likes his kids older; ie.. Mallory and Nicholas. He just has not been around any babies, ever. So, going on vacation this week with Bodey Grosstick (5 months) and Bryce Powell (7 months) was a very big step for him! He held them, talked to them and even picked Bodey up when he started to cry. Even though this photo shows Bodey sitting in a seat, he really did hold him! In a couple weeks, Craig will visit his good friends, Matt & Laura who have a precious 2 month old, Anna - wearing him down... one baby at a time!

Rocky Point Vacation

After Thanksgiving we headed off to Rocky Point, Mexico to the beach for some fun. The weather was gorgeous sunny, but windy and chilly at times. That would be chilly for us Arizona kids. We stayed in a huge house with a really nice kitchen that had a bar all across the entire counter, there must have been at least 11 stools and it had a great living room area.

The kids had fun on the beach, it was a little different for them to be there when we wore pants and sweaters. There's no way you couldn't be out there though, the sound of the ocean and the sand under your feet is awesome, at any time of year!

There were lots of good things about our trip, going into town with everyone is cool. Talking the local vendors down for my Prada purse is always interesting and Rocky Point is starting to have some cool local spots along the water. Of course the seafood at the fish market is always amazing too. Huge shrimp for $5.50/lb!

Some other fun smaller things: Seeing the sweetest black cocker spaniel on the beach that reminded me of my little critter at home, seeing our friends' daughter Madi dig her little heart out in the sand, flying a kite with Mallory - "Run Forest, Run!" and collecting shells with Nick.

November Holiday

Mallory and Nicholas at home.

Thanksgiving table at the Whitelock's

Nicholas is proud of his turkey!

Every year the kids and I split plans on Thanksgiving. The kids go off to have Thanksgiving with their dad and grandparents Johnston and I go on my seperate way to other holiday plans. Here are a few photos from my Thanksgiving with the Whitelocks - Craig and I had a great day, we are grateful for their invitation; and photos of the kids before they left for dinner.

Nick likes to kick it up a notch for holidays; thus the tie.

My Tennis Girl

Mallory has been in tennis lessons for about 2 months now and she just started another session this Saturday. Coach Ranger is a great guy, he's really good with his students and for some reason he likes to say "Rock-n-Roll" when the kids answer his tennis quiz questions correctly. Sounds unusual at first, but it grows on you.

San Diego with Dad

For the longest time, I've been trying to get some photos up of the vacation the kids took with their dad and his friend Amy. But he gave me the hard copy photos and so now I've been having trouble getting them scanned. Even harder now that I don't have access to fancy office machines anymore. But, I managed to get a few, check them out. Good times.

They were able to go to Sea World and hang out on the beach a bit, before the fires flared up and it didn't seem right to occupy hotel rooms in a city where the actual residents needed them.

I wonder if that's the real Shamu. Doesn't Florida promote Shamu also? Who has the real Shamu? And hasn't Shamu been around for what seems like an incredibly long time - what's the normal life expectancy of a whale? ... these are the questions...

Playstation Party!

Nick's Crew (-1)

" Bring it On!"

The kids playing Playstation (big kid on the right!)

I thought it would be a good idea for Nick to have a couple friends over for a playstation party. We ended up having 7 boys over that night. One Playstation console is not enough apparently. Boys were everywhere in the house, running up and down the stairs like maniacs, and bugging the girls every chance they got.

I also didn't realize that boys are rough. Because Nick has a sister he doesn't really hit or punch anyone. Well, these boys apparently have brothers; brothers who hit. And boys wrestle too. What's with that? Even Craig didn't know what was going on when the WWF brought the match to our dining room (he's an only child). So, the kids had fun, they didn't want to leave at the end of the night and Nick was happy. That's all that matters. :o)

Halloween - its in my blood!

"Britenstein" - she hates us I think...

Notice the rat... nice touch....

Mike's Halloween/Birthday party

Creepy Vampire(ss)

When I was a kid, my dad was involved with a community organization that would do a haunted house every year. I remember cleaning out trailors, painting black and white slanted floors, strobe lights, my Uncle Sam made into Dracula and stashed in a real coffin (creepier to me now that I'm grown up!) and getting my nose cleaned out with Q-tips because of all the construction 'yuck' my sister and I would breathe in.

It was my mom who always took us out trick or treating, while Dad and others in his group patrolled the neighborhoods for T.P. and egg pranksters; inconvenient for me when I became of that age. I remember making glitter wands in elementary school, a Rubik's cube in Jr High ( oops, I dated myself there) and mom even sewed me and a friend some green M costumes for high school.

This year all of my family Halloween 'training' paid off. We went all out scary for Nick as a Vampire and Mallory as a Vampiress. The kids looked downright dead this year and I hope I've done the Pulli's proud. I also hope that Mallory and Nicholas will continue to have seriously spooky fun on this night as they grow up.

Next year Dad, I will need your recipe for fake blood, the stuff you get in the store just isn't any good!? Check out our photos!

`

Blah on Blog

For those who read our blog, I must apologize for not updating. Our family (well, just me - the kids were in San Diego with their dad) has been a little 'tilted' the past two weeks.

My company has decided to "close or divest" our division. They've basically given up on our technology and they're cutting us loose. We found this out last week. Being with the company for almost 10 years, I've got a great severance package and can't complain, but its the end of an era for me and is a bit stressful. I know I'll be completely fine, but as a first time manager of actual staff, telling your team the news is not ideal and I can't help but be concerned for them. They have not been with the company as long as I and their packages are not so good, so I worry - especially knowing each of their personal circumstances so well. We're a tight team.

We've got some cool things coming up though; Halloween, pictures the kids took while on vacation and things like that. So keep checking back!

Love,
Victoria, Mallory & Nicholas

Sandy, The Bearded Dragon

So this week, the kids are on fall break. I know the teachers work hard and deserve time to get plans ready, but it sure seems like they are really good at finding random days off?! This is followed by a week long early dismissal for getting grades together for the qtr. Sheesh?

Anywho, this means that the 5 pets in Mallory's classroom need to find homes. Of course, Mallory, the new self-professed lover of all creatures creepy and small, (why not furry and fluffy?), volunteered to babysit the bearded dragon. Her name is Sandy, and Mallory says she's cute. Huh? Our fuzzy cocker spaniel is cute, I would not put this semi-fat, lizard creature in the 'cute' category. She really digs Mal. She closes her eyes when Mal reaches in to pet her lizard-y head. Interesting.

Since I will not touch the dragon, Mallory holds it while I change out its dirty newspaper. I figured this would end up being my task? But if I have to pick between touching her and changing the paper, I will change the paper. Even Nick won't go near her. We've only had her a day though, maybe he'll warm up to her. And, it is better than the baby snakes they have in the classroom. I wonder what lucky family gets to babysit them? =)

Go Diamondbacks!

The last thing we want to do is jinx our team, but we are ahead in the series with the Chicago Cubs 2 games to none (!!) This has made for an interesting dynamic when we watch the games. Craig is bummed out on the couch pouting, then decides he can't watch anymore of it - but then there's the rest of us who are rooting for the Dbacks and want to continue watching! What about us?

Nick is crazy excited and when the games run past 9:30pm on a schoolnight, I hate being the bad guy who has to drag him to bed.

So, we wish our team well in Wrigley. Hopefully it wasn't just an Arizona thing, we're on fire!!

Getting Ready for Halloween

So, we've started looking for Halloween costumes. Because in Phoenix, if you don't get them the first weekend they're out, you're stuck being a pencil, or a giant whoopie cushion (seriously).

Nicholas is in his second year of "real heros" - firefighter, policeman, that kind of thing. It started last year. He ended his 6 year run with super heros and went as a fireman.

Mallory has decided its time for the scary, perhaps bloody costumes. Something sweet, like a cheerleader or something with blood, is how she describes it. Maybe this means she's ready to go through the entire haunted house this year! Her and her friend Marisa ran out of the house crying hysterically. Seems like yesterday she was cornering the costume market on princess outfits! (Last year's photo is posted)

Finally... Science Camp

Today, Nick and I shipped Mallory off to Science Camp! Woohoo... 300 6th graders heading into the woods for a few days of fun! ~ God Bless those who got selected to be chaperones! When I left them, Mallory's cabin leader was trying to figure out who flung the cooler lid across the front parking lot of the school. Good luck.

I sent her away with a camera, so we'll see what she brings back for photos. They have lots of fun things planned for the few days they are there, including skits.

Sending her off today, made me think of going to Science Camp when I was in 7th Grade. I had a blast with my best friend Jenee Rodgers. We were in the same cabin and on the same square dancing team. We were so sad to leave there that a bunch of girls actually cried -we were a little dramatic back then. Of course I'm over that now.

Psycho Brittany

Brittany is completly loosing her mind. This weekend mom and craig went out to dinner on Sat. night. Even though they were only gone for 3 hours, they had to put her behind the gate in the kitchen. When they got home, she chewed through most of the phone lines, like never before. She chewed the power cord to the phone, the cord that plugs into the phone jack and mom's cell phone charge cord for her blackberry.

This is probably the 8th time we've had to replace the cheap phone cords, but this time, she's chewed some important cords that will cost more to replace. The cell phone charger is a big one.

Friendly Rivalry

Recently, Craig and Nick went to see a baseball game at Chase Field. They went to see Chicago Cubs vs. AZ Diamondbacks - Craig's Cubbies and Nick's Dbacks.

Nick actually has several sports items from many different teams. He's good at cheering for whoever you want him to cheer for. When he's with his dad, he likes the Boston Red Sox and wears their hat. When he's with Papa and Aunt Steph, he likes the Phillies and wears that hat. When he's with Craig, he likes the Chicago Cubs and wears the hat and the jersey (Derek Lee of course!).

But the kid also just loves his hometown team. You can see from the photo he's pretty happy to be wearing his new AZ Diamondbacks hat on this day! Can't argue with that.

Weekend Update, No Photos

Didn't do anything much this weekend. Nick and Craig went golfing and Vic and Mal went for pedicures. That was pretty much the highlight. Didn't get any of the necessary items needed for Science Camp yet, I guess the week will be spend doing that.

This weekend we'll be at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Apache Junction, while our dad is in London, England visiting family. Grandpa is said to make the best french toast in all the land, so that is one of the perks we get by staying with them. Yum!

Another dead pet?

No, its not Brittany, our cocker spaniel, Thank God!

This blog could just be the Pets Obituary column, as we mourn the untimely passing of our female hermit crab. (I'm not sure what Mallory named her?) In total, I think she survived probably 2 months. Not a great example of the hermit crab's lifecycle, which is said to be about 9 years. The male hermit crab has responded by moving into her abandoned shell. Typical.

This weekend will be pretty low key, running errands for all the stuff needed for 6th grade Science Camp and taking advantage of what we hope will be the final days of the scorching summer heat at the pool. ...and watching sports on our 65" LCoS TV (that's for you Papa).

Nick's Golf

Me & my dad like golf. I've been doing it since I was 6 years old and I think its time to start golfing on some more real courses. Also, this weekend Grandma was talking about signing me up for the Jr. PGA. I think it would be fun to be in some tournaments.

Here's a photo of me golfing. Mom likes my golf shoes.

Record Highs & 2 Fish Die!

So, as some of you may realize, Phoenix is still really hot!! - Even for this time of year. We are hearing things on the news like, Heat Advisory almost every day. Because of this, we really can't go outside for very long (and we can't ride our bikes home from school either- what a shame!). But its getting boring inside the house. There's nothing to do.

Also, last night, we went to the store to use some gift cards I got for my birthday this month. I bought two goldfish and a castle and a bridge to put in their bowl. We got them home and I tried to put them in the bowl and they died in about 2 seconds. Mom came in and tried to save them but it was too late. This is not the first time we bought fish from this store and they died. So, we put the dead fish back in the bag and returned them to the store where mom got my money put back onto a gift card for me. We left the dead fish on the counter inside the store and as we were leaving Nick turned around to say good bye and waved.

Cool Photo

Last night we were looking at the photos from our summer vacation in San Diego with Uncle Robert and Aunt Steph. We saw this photo again of Nick in front of the sleeping hippo and just think its pretty cool. Wanted to share...

6th grade classroom chaos!

Today was so chaotic!!! My teacher has 5 PETS in her classroom. She has a green 15 year old iguana, a turtle, a bullfrog, a tarantula, and a really fat bearded dragon. We were taking their food dishes out so we could feed them so their lids were off. The iguana was so hungry that he climbed out of a 15 inch glass case 2 times. Then the bullfrog jumped out of his huge tank. We thought he was hungry so we fed him and then he jumped out of his cage again and he started hopping all around the room!!! We got him and put him back and the rest of the day was normal. ~ Mallory

Poor Brittany!

Our dog is cute, but she's getting to be a bummer. She is supposed to be behind the gate in the kitchen during the day, but every day we get home we find her sleeping on the floor right under the ceiling fan. And usually she has one of our socks in her mouth. She's so old that if she doesn't stay behind the gate there's a good chance she'll just pee on the carpet. Nobody wants that!

First Day of Blogging..

Since mom won't let us have a myspace.com page, we've started this blog to let our friends and family know what's going down.

Last week we celebrated my 11th birthday! We had a sleep-over/spa party at our new house with 4 friends (and poor Nicholas who wasn't able to escape!). We did nails, facials, a pinata and made smores over the gas grill. It was pretty cool, we stayed up until 4:30am when mom came downstairs and turned off the lights. She didn't say a word to us, but we got the point! I got some cool stuff too, so thanks to Katy, Kacie, Kirsten and Kiana :o)