Part II- Christmas/Computer

Most of Curtis' family came to Chandler for Christmas.  His mom and his sister Audrey stayed with us for a few days.  The family is mainly Born again Christian, they invited us to go to their Christmas Service.  It ended up being on Derek's actual Birthday.  I felt bad about that, but he was a good sport.  I told the kids if they went to this then they wouldn't have to go to our church service on Christmas.  That ended up not being true, but I had good intentions. I forgot that Derek was supposed to be ordained that day, so we showed up. It was Sacrament only that day.   Once again they were good sports.
The Christian Christmas service was nice, very different.  A very loud band (I'm glad we took ear plugs) a nice message and some rockin' Christmas hymns.  I thought it was a good experience for our kids and we don't spend much time with extended family so it was good.

After the Christmas service, we drove through this neighborhood that has a street of houses with amazing Christmas lights synced up to music.  I have seen a house or two like this on YouTube, but this was an entire street of houses.  I don't know who was the electrical engineer nerds that figured it out and coordinated it, but it was spectacular.  There were a few people not too excited to go on this adventure, but once we arrived everyone was amazed.

Curtis' mom, Shauna, and his sister Audrey came out from California. Shauna's longtime partner, Yosef, passed away in October.  Audrey has had a rough year as well.  Coming to Arizona was a nice change for them.  They shared their time between our house and their sister, Alisa's house.  We had them for Christmas Eve and Christmas.  It was fun to have something (someone) new on Christmas day.

Curtis Family at Rock Point Church.  Somehow we missed the picture.

Christmas Eve opening matching Star Wars Pajamas for the boys.

Our boys with Grandma Shauna.  Getting ready to tear through the paper, a tradition started by Shauna's Mom.

Herman popped by to see Curtis, Audrey and Shauna

Christmas Morning, the fun is about to begin.

Lovely Ladies in the bath robes and Christmas Stockings.

A few months back Dax came to us and said he would like to buy Derek a really nice gaming computer for Christmas, and asked if we would go half with him.  Although he was willing to put in as much necessary to get him a decent set up.  It is a fairly large gift considering what we were giving the other kids, but it is also Derek's Birthday and we knew he would be finishing his Eagle Award about Christmas time.  We agreed.  Dax searched it out and ordered it way in advance.  He was very excited to do this for Derek.  Dax is a giver.  The box sat in Dax's room for a few weeks before Christmas.  Christmas finally came, it was one of the last gifts opened.

This picture makes me laugh, Dax looks like he is about to mug smiling Derek...

Actually, he went for the hug.

Derek's birthday gifts were a bit sparse, but we had to hold off on the computer.  He opened up the big box, saw a computer mouse, possibly the keyboard.  Not sure how far he got when Trey announced: "It's a computer"  that stole a bit of the thunder.  Derek was still very pleased.

It was a great day and we enjoyed having Shauna and Audrey.

Eagle, Teacher and a computer

December was an exciting month for Derek.  He submitted his Eagle project paperwork, had his Board of Review on the 14th and he passed.  Such an accomplishment and happy to have that done.

Derek loves the Star Wars Movies, for the past 3 years a new one came out right before Christmas.  Curtis usually takes the boys for Derek birthday.  This year Curtis told the boys he needed them to go with him to go help someone move a piano.  The boys reluctantly went, but Curtis had also pulled this move before. Telling them they had to go help someone "move" but they end up at a "movie"  As they were very close to the theatre Curtis said "Those are the Death Star apartments we need to be at"  He took them to the Alamo Theatre where they bring you a full meal as you watch the movie.  They all had a great time, but they are not falling for the let's go help someone move anymore.

Derek was actually very sick the week leading up to his birthday.  He had the flu and missed the last week of the semester at school. Finals and all, he was miserable. The Dr. told him just stay out for the week, I'll write you a note. Most of Curtis' family were coming for Christmas.  There are several Christmas birthdays on Curtis side of the family so Aunt Alisa Zoccoli planned a mini Bday party at her house.  Derek was finally feeling well enough to leave the house, but not well enough to stay for very long.  It was nice, we celebrated Birthdays for Derek (12/23), Grandma Shauna (12/24), and Raquel Suarez (12/24), Alyssa Suarez (12/20) couldn't make it. The birthday people all had some of their favorite dessert (Derek chose pumpkin pie) They played a fun game where they had a big box wrapped extremely well and tight.  Lots of wrapping paper and layers of tape.  It was difficult to unwrap but they eventually removed all the layers until the large box was eventually the size of the gift card, that it was, one of the Suarez twins won it, but the twins were in cahoots with each other to win it.  I made Derek the Han Solo Birthday cake.  He also got the mega big 1000+ page book (Oathbringer) from the series he was reading, move tickets to go see a movie with his Bro's.  I made him a sheath for his sword.  Now that he is 14 they presented him and ordained him to be a Teacher on Christmas Eve.


To Be continued......

Disneyland-2

We love Disneyland.  It is pretty spectacular as Christmastime with all the lights and decorations.  We really wanted to go one more time as a family, since Dax will be graduating and moving on to other adventures soon.  We try to be strategic about Disney.  We want to enjoy it without the crowds and lines, which means we usually have to miss school.  Fall break is usually a great time to go, but we couldn't fit it in this year.  The best we could come up with was to take the kids out of school for a few days.  There was a slight problem.  Derek has been very sick this year with sinus infections and other obnoxious ailments.  By the beginning of December Derek had already missed about 12 days.  The school district doesn't like kids to miss more than 10 days the entire year.  We were beyond maxed.  Derek himself said, "I don't want to go, I have already missed school, and I get behind and my grades suffer.  I don't want to miss more school, and then I get in trouble when my grades are bad."  I was proud of him for being so responsible, I didn't like the idea of him missing even more school unnecessary.  I had plenty to do to get ready for Christmas, I was already planning to go to Utah the following week. so I was ok hanging with Derek.

Curtis, Dax, and Trey took the minivan and headed to Disneyland.  Derek and I had a great time at home together.  My favorite Derek moment was when he went out for a bike ride.  He came while I was out running errands. I received a text that he was home and he had gotten us a treat"it's a surprise".  When I came home that kid went to Fry's (grocery store) bought 2  pumpkin pies and a box of Ding Dongs.  I thought it was very thoughtful, but also a lot of treat for just us two.  We had a good time eating that for a few days.

Disneyland was great as usual.  During the ride "Star Tours" Trey was picked as the "Rebel Spy"  meaning they picked someone out of the crowd and flashed a picture of them on the screen and called them the Rebel Spy.  Trey loved that.  Of course when the ride ends they dump you off in the gift shop.  Trey convinced Curtis to buy him the T-shirt that says "I'm the Rebel Spy"  genius on the part of Disney.  Over the past few months, Disney shut down the Tower of Terror and converted it to Guardian of the Galaxy ride.  It just opened back up again. Trey loved it, Guardian of the Galaxy was his favorite ride.  Everyone agreed Tower of Terror was good, Guardian of the Galaxy was great.
As always, it was a magical time.  I just wish Disney would quit raising their prices.  I'm glad I stayed home with Derek, it was a nice one on one time with him, and he got sick the following week and missed even more school.