we're off to see the wizard!

We are home from Trick-or-Treating, candy has been sorted, and costumes have been put away. We have survived another Halloween! When I was a kid, if we were lucky, we got to wear our costumes twice; once for school, and once for the actual night of Halloween. When did it turn into a week long celebration? We have been to 2 trunk-or-treats, Ricardo's work party, a Lil' Feathers party, a school parade and the actual trick-or-treating. I'm exhausted! At least they got good use out of their costumes!

Rio Tinto Stadium

After 4 years of loyal support, dare I say fanaticism, we (and ReAL Salt Lake) finally have a home! Rio Tinto Stadium opened for the last two games of the regular season on October 9 and it is amazing! The stadium is gorgeous and we have super seats. The crowd is as fun as ever and we are looking forward to next season! Not only that, but if we can pull a win or a tie this Saturday, RSL will make it into the finals! Yes, we already have tickets for that possible game!

future careers

Anthony and Luca had some time to spare at my sister's wedding reception and decided to try their hands at modeling and photography, with very interesting results. Can you tell who modeled and who took the pictures? All in all it was very entertaining. Too bad they had to do it right where the bride and groom were greeting their guests!

requested video

As requested, here's Anthony dancing at a Lil' Feathers presentation 10.7.08

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Anthony and the grass dance

Since February of 2007, Anthony (and sometimes Luca), has participated in an Inter tribal Native American drum and dance group called Li'l Feathers. Earlier this year the family of another group member gave Anthony a set of grass dance regalia (special clothing) so that he could start participating in pow wows and other performances. He was in his first pow wow earlier this year in May. They took a break over the summer (Li'l Feathers is a Title IX program through Granite School District) but started back up in September. On Tuesday of this week they were invited to perform at a national conference on drug intervention held here in Salt Lake. The group was actually paid! Anthony did a great job and was excited because someone loaned him a roach (the special headdress he's wearing). It's been fun to see him gain confidence and learn more about the dances and the culture. Even Luca is getting into it. He participated a bit last year, but quit after a month or so. He has started going back and really enjoys the drumming. We're very proud of both boys!

elf child

Luca is an elf, well part elf, as evidenced by his left ear. Notice the point? Elf for sure! We've been telling him that since he was little. He was also born with kidney problems. Actually, he's got a blocked ureter and it's caused his right kidney to become enlarged and his left to be small. A while ago we were discussing his kidney issues with him and explaining the reason he was going to the doctor for yet another ultrasound. A bit later he came to me and told me he'd figured out why he had that small kidney. It was an elf kidney! Obviously (to him) parts of his body must be small, because he is part elf. He went on to explain that he was a little smaller than most kids his age because of his part elf status. He also can't say his "r"s, at least not in English, and apparently, that also has to do with being part elf! At least we know now!

my kids are growing up!

They are growing up, and too fast! I realized today, how far they've come and how much I don't want to forget the funny/sweet/silly/cute things they do. I wish I was a journaler, but I'm not. That's why I started blogging. So I've decided to start blogging my favorite kid moments for the month, and here they are for September/October:

Anthony: He is still such a little kid in so many ways, and yet sometimes scary glimpses of future teenageism come out in him. He's developed a bit of an "attitude" with me. Anything I ask him to do is putting him out. I'm trying to be patient with him, and I know we'll get through it, but it still really irks me on some days. Yesterday driving home from school was one of those days. I don't remember what I said to him, but his response was rude and disrespectful. I bit my tongue and didn't say anything. A few minutes later he said, "I'm sorry Mom, for being disrespectful. I'm really sorry". I was so proud of him! I told him that about a million times too! I am so glad that he's mature enough to recognize it and that he's "man" enough to apologize! Makes me not as worried about him becoming a teenager as before, well, for right now anyway.

Luca: This little guy is what I lovingly refer to as my "curse" child. My mom cursed me with having a "child just like you!", and his name is Luca. He is also a sweet, caring and compassionate kid. He loves to hear stories about when he was little. The other day I was telling him about how I use to say "okie, dokie shmokie" to him all the time and he would answer "oshikie, moshikie, moshikie". I told him how I loved hearing him say that, that it always made me laugh. A few hours later I asked him to do something, and his sweet reply was "oshikie, moshikie, moshikie!". When I turned to look at him, he cocked his head to the side and gave me the sweetest smile. He is so not a curse, he's a blessing!

Ella: Our little princess is blossoming. She's talking up a storm and is developing a very silly and sweet sense of humor. She loves to help around the house and often beats her brothers to complete tasks I've asked them to do. In Spanish, when someone is called for something, a polite way of responding is "mande", or "yes, mom/dad?". Ella has picked up on this and uses it all the time. When I call her in from the other room, she comes running, stands in front of me with hands on hips and says, "mande". I love it! I love how willing she is to help and I love the little smile that always accompanies her desire to serve.

Aiden: Man this kid is a hoot! He has so much energy. He's not a big talker yet, but he's getting there. I love listening to Ella and Aiden talk as they play in their room. Aiden is big into tattling. He'll come out of his room whining, "Ella push me". Not sure how he's picked up so much English. What makes me laugh is that he tells on Ella, and when I talked to Ella about what happened, she always lets me know she pushed because Aiden pushed/hit/stole first. I wonder when he'll learn that he's going to get punished too for being the instigator. He always goes to the Naughty Spot with a confused look on his face when this occurs. Ella always looks satisfied when she joins him there!

at least he got a shoe this time

We returned to PCMC's fracture clinic today for Aiden's check-up. Last Tuesday evening we took off his splint, as we'd been told to do, and had him walk around a little. I really thought he'd be good-to-go considering all of the running and jumping he'd been doing all week long. It looked like Aiden thought the same thing. After we took it off he jumped up ready to run after Luca, but slowed down and came back to me crying, saying, "hurt me". He pointed to his foot, and then touched it right were the problem bone is. We put the splint back on and he was off and running again! His x-rays today were, once again, inconclusive. The doctor took off the splint and began to examine his foot. Aiden became so stoic! He wouldn't look at anyone and just kept staring at his foot. The doctor started to laugh because every time she pushed on his foot, he would tense up. He was trying so hard not to flinch or move. What a tough guy! The doc decided that was enough for her and they cast him. They double wrapped the bottom of the foot because they felt there would be "excessive wear" based on the look of the bottom of the splint-ya think? Then they gave him the shoe so that I won't have to worry about him walking or jumping. We have another appointment in 2 weeks. I think Aiden has figured out this is a good way to avoid the bathtub! Anybody want to sign a cast?