Official Teenager

We had a milestone birthday this week. Trey celebrated his #13 Birthday, he is officially a teenager. He wanted to try the escape room again. This time the theme was a murder mansion. Pretty much the same crowd as last year, except Derek felt good so joined us along with their friend Zaiden. Zaiden has actually been Derek's friend since elementary school, but Trey has joined their group in online games. Now Zaiden is a friend to both of them.

Hamilton and a Few weddings.

 Hamilton the Musical was finally coming back to Phoenix after COVID and the world being crazy last year.  We bought 4 tickets a few months back, not knowing if our kids would want to go.  They didn't.

Curtis invited one of his employees Kristi and her husband, Brian to use the extra tickets.  When Curtis first asked Kristi if she wanted to go see Hamilton, she declined-she thought Curtis was talking about the Hamilton High school JV football game.  She made up excuses that it was her husband's birthday, etc.  They were busy Thursday night etc.  Curtis said "really you don't want to go? It's really good, tickets are hard to get etc. "  Then it dawned on her which "Hamilton" Curtis was inviting her to.  Suddenly it sounded like an amazing way to spend her Husband's birthday.  We had a fun time.  Kristi and Brian loved it and were most appreciative of the tickets.

Marilyn, Curtis, Kristi and Brian Pengraft

Hamilton Cast

Apparently, October is the time to get married.  We were invited to three weddings in one week.  We went to the first two but opted out of the third.  We were busy that night.

The first wedding was with Andrew and Britny Franklin.  Andrew is Curtis's Real Estate friend from Houston but they chose to get married in Scottsdale.  Very convenient for us.

Me with the Real Estate Wives, Amber and Trica

Curtis with Andrew the Groom

Curtis with his Real Estate Friends, Fred and Kevin.  They cleaned up well.  All they ever wear is shorts and flip flops, Kevin only wears black.

The Bride and Groom Mr. and Mrs. Franklin.  It was a beautiful wedding.  I loved that they didn't accept gifts, they just asked for donations for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  They have friends with twin boys who have the disease.

Wedding #2

A niece from one side of the family married a nephew from another side of the family.  No blood relation, but it was very convenient for all the guests who knew both sides very well.

Jessica Suarez marries Nick Zoccoli, and wears her mother's wedding dress.

Here we are with Andy and Amy Ibach, Curtis' childhood friends.

Andy and Amy Ibach, Gus and Raquel Suarez, Alisa and Mike Zoccoli

The family tree and how this all ties into us.

Gus Suarez, is Curtis' step brother.  Alisa Zoccoli is Curtis' Sister, who is married to Mike Zoccoli.  Mike's nephew Nick (son of Tony Zoccoli), married Gus' daughter Jessica.  All the Zoccoli and Suarez kids grew up together.  I think Jessica and Nick actually thought they were related most of their lives because the families were so intermingled.  Mike Zoccoli officiated the wedding which was very fitting, he did a great job.

It was a formal wedding at the Knotty Barn, with a hint of Disney thrown in.  It was very nice, guests were asked to wear green.

Both weddings were very different but equally nice.

Halloween is Back

Last year Halloween was pretty much a bust is Covid 19. I think for the most part people have just accepted COVID and we are going about our lives. Trey finds his costume inspiration of the Halloween store. We paid them a visit and I told Trey in the past his costume has evolved by the accessory he chooses, The Hat, or Cane or whatever prop he loves that year. He didn't necessarily believe me until he found this.

Trey was all about "Go Big or Go Home" There were other '70's afro's but he wanted the most "afro-ist" Biggest, 1970's hair they had. So we had to find the perfect 1970's outfit to go with it.

Trey went to Trunk or Treat all Disco'ed out. I think his costume was a hit. Then on Actual Halloween, we had some fun Halloween food.

Derek's girlfriend Jocelyn and her younger sister came over. Derek and Jocelyn passed out candy, Trey and Verona went trick or treating and they got some loot. Everyone had a great night. It was nice to see my kids socializing Dax dressed up like Wyatt Earp because he already had the mustace. A suggestion by his friends. He bought the hat at the "Cowboy Store" down the street. It is actually called shoppers. He loves that authentic hat. He wears it every time he goes out for a walk. He says it makes him feel powerful.