Spring is here and fun with the family!

We had a really fun last couple of weeks with Quinn's birthday and all of our visitors. We had our 2nd Annual "Strike Out PWS" with the Texas Rangers in which Megan, Garret and Owen joined us for.  We had a wonderful day at the ballpark and a great turnout.  My friend CJ visited for a few days, in which I don't think I even thought to get the camera out.  However, I think he and I have millions of pictures from back in the day that the loss of a few this last time probably won't hurt us!  Grandpa, Aunt Jenna, Uncle Dan, and Aunt Steph all visited last week and we had a blast.  We didn't do anything special other then play, go to a Cubs game, our traditional In N Out and Pei Wei vists, and enjoyed each other's company.  It's always so sad to see them go but we had a wonderful time and look forward to Grandma, Aunt Stacy, Jake, Anneke and Drew all visiting in a few weeks.

Happy Spring!

A Very Special 3 Year Old

Well, it's time I do some catching up.  We had a very busy, fun past 2 weeks of family and friend's visiting.  Now it's back to a quiet household :( 

Quinn turned 3 on March 13 and I just can't believe it.  He's such a little boy, although still loves to play "I'm a baby" when it's convenient for him.  He's fully potty-trained (if you don't count the times he just "forgot to go to the potty" anyway), he eats as much as a 15 year old boy, he's very smart and manipulative, and he's got the most contagious personality ever.  I just love it.  It's been so fun to see him transform from a sweet, innocent little baby into a very outgoing, so not shy at all, rambunctious little man.  He adores his two big brothers and holds his own when he feels like it, if he doesn't, he just whines and tattles :) 

We had a pretty laid back birthday for him - spent it at the good old Ostrich Festival with the family eating nothing but junk food, riding trains, and enjoying the sunny weather. 

Here's to another wonderful year with this adorable little man.  Mommy loves you soooo much, Quinn! 

Falling behind!

So I guess I'm not going so good at keeping up with this blog like I intended.  We've been so busy with birthday's, school activities, visitors and such I haven't had time to myself which is when I really enjoy blogging.  I'll take the visitors over time to myself any day though! 

I will post pictures soon - we have Grandpa here visiting as well as Uncle Dan and Aunt Jenna who are here visiting and home searching!  So exciting.  Aunt Stephanie arrives tomorrow and we have a weekend full of fun ahead.  A little late birthday celebration for Quinn hopefully, a Spring training game, and just enjoying the family.  Can't wait. 

Life is good :) 

Let's Play Ball!

Nice People.

I love nice people.  I know most people would say "well, of course, I do too" but really, I.love.nice.people.  Nice people make my day.  I actually seek nice people.  They can really make your day.  Just as I can really make someone's day by being nice myself.

I was out running a few weeks ago - I knew it was going to rain soon and I knew I wasn't going to beat the rain.  It wasn't just going to rain, it was going to pour.  I initially ran away from where the clouds were going but they came fast, quicker then I expected.  I thought the end of my run would be in the rain but pretty much, the whole hour was in a downpour.  I was drenched.  I was frozen.  I was ill-prepared to be running in the rain.  BUT, I loved it.  Every second of it.  It made me run harder, faster, and made me appreciate the weather here in Arizona. 

Anyway, about 1/2 way through my run, about to head downhill, I noticed a car slowly pulling up beside me but I wasn't sure what was going on, if I should stop or if she was really stopping for me.  I slowed down a bit and she rolled her window down, huge smile on her face, "Do you need a ride?"  I wanted to keep running b/c I was in the groove - but my heart melted.  Wow.  Some strange lady who probably had better things to do then stop to offer a moronic woman running in the rain still stopped to ask if I needed a ride.  I smiled, said "thank you sooo much but I'm doing just great!"  I think she thought I was nuts, but she then slowly went on her merry way.  I wanted to get her license plate number to tell her how much I appreciated it, although a small gesture for her, it was huge for me.  Huge to know there are still some really nice people in this world.  She did a U-turn though and I didn't want to look nuts following her back up the hill :)

I live near a very popular hiking trail.  I've hiked it for several years now and I've noticed that 9 times out of 10 nearly everyone on the trail is not friendly.  It's always bothered me.  Sometimes to the point where I don't even want to hike.  It's a busy trail - you meet people constantly, most don't turn their heads, few smile.  When I took Quinn last week it was a hit or a miss.  One lady walked passed us, I'm quite positive she wasn't hearing impaired or anything, but Quinn said very loudly and sweetly "Hi,you're my friend!"  The lady didn't even turn her head at him.  He said this to nearly everyone we encountered on the way up.  Some smiled, some commented, but many said nothing at all.  To be honest, the two couples that DID notice him and said something had "Iowa" shirts on!  No joke.  Go figure. 

I purposely went into WalMart today (I'm a Target fan) - but I just love those old people who stand at the doors to greet you in WalMart.  I just needed that. I love their zest for life.  I always make sure to look at these people and smile, if they are looking, and always say hello.  Always.  They appreciate it.

I was in line at Hobbly Lobby the other day with just a few items.  An older woman came up behind me with just one tiny little thing of paint or glue or something so I asked her if she wanted to go ahead of me.  She was shocked at my kindness just as I usually am with random acts of kindness others show.  She gladly went ahead and it just so happened she was in a hurry to get home to babysit one of her grandbabies.  It made MY day to know she appreciated it.

I was in Target about a month or so ago with the three boys and we were there to spend some money that my Dad had sent each of the boys.  Konnor and Hunter chose their treats wisely and Quinn of course wanted some gigantic, expensive train table that we already have.  I of course said no.  Quinn, being a 2 year old, threw a fit.  One of those where you literally just want to throw them all in the cart and run out the door hoping you'll never see any of those people again.  I didn't want to cheat Konnor and Hunter out of their finds so we made our way up to the counter to pay, all the while, Quinn being a little turd screaming.  I apologized to the lady checking us out who had no problem with the way Quinn was behaving...and as I was paying I noticed this older woman coming towards us, who, to be quite honest, looked like one of those mean old ladies with nothing but mean things to say, so I thought to myself  "Shannon, just bite your tongue and walk away" and the poor old lady hadn't even said anything yet.  Anyway, she slowly creeped up to us, finally had a small smile on her face, looked at Quinn and said "oh honey, you have the most wonderful Mom ever" in the quietest, sweetest voice.  I just melted.  What a nice lady and how horrible of me to assume she was going to say something ridiculous.  What a random act of kindness.

Moral of the story:  Smile.  Be kind.  Even if you're having a bad day, look up and smile at others.  You never know whose day you just might make and I can guarantee you it will make you feel good about yourself.  It's the little things in life that count.

Olympic Pride

I can't believe the Olympics are over already.  They come and go so quickly.  The boys absolutely loved watching them this year.  We sat on my bed over 2 weeks ago and watched nearly every second of the opening ceremonies - they patiently sat through all the countries walking in so they could see the USA.  They even noticed that India sported only three Olympians - but they were proud.  Proud for their country, proud of where they come from.  Every day we had to check who had the most medals.  They were so sad to watch the closing ceremonies tonight. 

Every night (and I think I speak for both houses) they've been able to stay up late just to watch whatever sport was on.  They loved skiing of course, more specifically the moguls.  They thought the luge was out of this world.  Yesterday they caught a glimpse of curling, whatever the heck that is, and they were flabbergasted that it was an Olympic sport so we had to come "google" it to see what it was all about.  Konnor and Hunter sat at the edge of their seats every time speed skating was on.  Konnor's been practicing on his roller blades. 

We were at Makutu's Island today and for a good portion of that time Konnor and Hunter sat in the Cafe keeping a close eye on the hockey game.  They cheered loudly for the USA, especially after they made their 2nd goal, and very intently watched into overtime when the USA lost.  Konnor was "pissed out." 

It's been so fun to see them so proud and excited for their country.  They've learned a lot over the course of the past two weeks not just about sports but about what the Olympics is really about.  It's always so sad to see them end, to see the world go back to normal.  It's such a great feeling to see everyone come together, if even for such a short period of time. 

Cheers to the Olympics from the Gopal Boys - they are already counting down the days until the Summer Olympics in 2012.

Once upon a time....

 

there was a boy who wanted to go for a hike

so he and his mom gathered their backpacks

trekked up to the trails

 

the boy got tired so he opted for a ride.....took a break halfway up to take in the view

 

attempted to use the cleanest porta potty on earth and failed....so they continued up a long winding path

needed a break to accidentally pee in his pants......hopped back in the pack pantless....yet insisted on continuing on up

 to the fort at the top....close to heaven....to take in the sights....look for Mom's house....take enough time to wave and say I'm ready to go down....

 

while the mom prays she doesn't fall into one of these with a 50 pound load on her back...and she didn't....

 

and the boy who promised he'd walk a little on the way down so mom didn't slip.....fell asleep within seconds of starting their decent....

and the mom hiked it back down 

met lots of nice people

who thought she was amazing

when all she was doing

was carrying her boy

sleeping and cute

whom she'd carry any load big or small for

because she loved him 

to the heavens and back

and back again 

and again.....

The End .