Wordless Wednesday - Hanging with St. Francis

Monster Jam comes to Phoenix January 25, 2014!

Nate and Lydia can name the model of a car from a mile away.  Nate has always been interested in cars, and I think Lydia picked it up as a way to be more like her big brother.  They have no idea that in January Bo will be taking them to MONSTER JAM in Phoenix at the Chase Field!  I know that all 3 kids will be excited and have an awesome time!  We have never been to a MONSTER JAM show before, so I can't wait to hear all about it (and I'll be sure to share what I learn with you after the show.)  They can expect to see 16 massive trucks, crushing cars and making the dirt fly!

If you want to attend the fun, here are the details:

WHERE: Chase Field – 401 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

WHEN: Saturday, January 25, 2014
Party in the Pits from 2:30 PM – 5:00 PM*
Event begins at 7:00 PM
*Event ticket & Pit Pass required for entry; Pit Pass available to purchase for $10 each

TICKETS: Ticket prices range from $20, $25 and $30 (Gold Circle); Kids tickets (ages 2-12) are priced at only $10 each for select seating (not valid for Gold Circle level)**

Total Access Pass - Avoid the lines, skip the crowds and enjoy VIP access including private driver meet and greet with the Total Access Pass for $125 (limited quantities available).

Tickets are on sale now and available at the Chase Field box office, online at Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

**Above ticket prices are advance purchase only; all ticket prices are $2 more when purchased the day of the event; tickets may be subject to service charges, facility and handling fees.

DISCOUNT: For my readers, use the discount code SMASH to receive $5 off the $20 and $25 tickets!

Watch for my screaming kids if you go!  I know they'll be yelling with excitement!

*Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.*

SuperCross Comes to Phoenix - January 11, 2014

Have you ever been to a Supercross race?   The Monster Energy Supercross FMI World Championships are making a stop in Phoenix on January 11, 2014.  Wouldn't that be a cool ticket to drop in a Christmas stocking this year?

Monster Energy Supercross is the world's premiere indoor supercross event!

When? January 11, 2014 at 7PM.  Pit Party starts at 12:30 PM with Pit Party tickets ($10)

Where? Chase Field

Tickets?  Lots to choose from:

$85 (VIP Club Front Row)
$67 (Club)
$42 (Gold)
$35 Adult/$10 Kids (Front Row B)
$30.00 Adults/$10 Kids (P5)
$22 Adult/$10 Kids (P6)
$15/$10 Kids (Tread-Head)

*Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.*

Disney on Ice in Phoenix -- Rockin' Ever After!

Disney on Ice is back in Phoenix with another much-anticipated show!  From January 8 - 12, 2014, you can catch Rockin' Ever After at the USAirways Center in downtown Phoenix!  My family raves about these shows, and Lydia can't wait to see the debut of an ice-skating Merida from Brave perform (as well as a collection of other Disney princesses.)  These shows are truly some of the highlights of our family outings.

WHEN will the show be in Phoenix, AZ?
Wednesday, January 8 at 7:00 PM
Thursday, January 9 at 7:00 PM
Friday, January 10 at 10:30 AM & 7:00 PM
Saturday, January 11 at 11:30 AM, 3:30 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, January 12 at 1:00 PM & 4:30 PM

WHERE?
US Airways Center – 201 E. Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004

TICKETS? 
Ticket price levels are $20, $25, $45 (VIP) and $75 (Front Row)

Weekday Kids tickets start at only $10 each for select seating (only valid for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday shows)

Special 50% Off discount tickets available for Opening Night performance (not valid on VIP/premium seating)

Tickets available for purchase online at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or at the US Airways Box Office.

DISCOUNT CODE?
Yes!  I have a discount code to share with my readers!  The promo code MERIDA will save readers $4 off the $20 and $25 tickets.

Watch for our review after the show!

*Disclosure: I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.*

I am Mom to a Teenager!

Tonight, I was texting my sister and talking about Colin's birthday and she said "Remember when he would make me draw toes on snowmen??  And now you have a teenager!"

She's right.  When he was very young, he absolutely loved snowmen, even though he didn't see snow until years later.

This morning, I wake up as a mom to a teenager.  This amazing young man who made me a mother turns 13 today.

He's passionate about the things he likes.  He's extremely smart, extremely kind, and extremely thoughtful. He is my most sentimental child, the one who loves tradition. He still loves to read, and still prefers fiction over non-fiction.  When forced to read non-fiction, he has discovered biographies of favorite authors (like Tolkien).  He is excelling in school, and while PE has been a least favorite class, he also discovered this year that he really enjoys playing tennis.

He and Nate are still the best of friends, and while they may not speak a private language anymore, they spend hours together talking, conspiring, and planning who knows what. He's a good big brother to Lydia, always making sure she is safe and taking time to talk with her friends and be a good sport when they coerce him into playing.

He's tall!!  I think he's taller than his aunt, and his feet are as big as mine. His voice is just starting to crack every once in a while, so I'm expecting more cracking as it deepens over this year. His legs are long, as is his hair.  Yes, he has a red mop on his head, but when he was little I always said there were more important things to take a stand on than hair. I'm trying to keep that in mind as I remember what an excellent young man he is, even if his hair is longer and messier than I'd like.

For his 13th birthday, he requested Pei Wei, so we're headed there tomorrow after he competes in a trial game for the National Academic League.  Saturday he begins private tennis lessons, which are one of his birthday presents.  He's also receiving books.  Many books!  As well as a Lord of the Rings Lego set and a few other things.

Today, we will celebrate Colin Jeremiah.  My eldest.  My first-born.  My son.

But, there are plenty of times when I still remember him just like this:

Minted Holiday Cards (Review)

Pretty much every year since we've been married, we have sent out photo holiday cards.  Especially since we now have 3 kids, and have family and friends all over the country, I like to send photo cards so everyone can see how the kids are growing.  I also love to receive photo cards!!

One site that has an amazing selection of photo cards is Minted.  A couple years ago, I ordered our cards from Minted and they were amazing!  I loved the heavy card stock they were printed on, and how our beach photo popped from the card.  Such a change from photo-paper thin cards we've sent in the past.  I also loved that they sent a proof of the card within 24 hours for my review.  This is our card from them in 2010:

I was recently looking at their new designs and was very impressed. One of the designs that I thought very clever was their minibook cards.  These cards are 5x7" and are made up of 7 pages that can be customized with both pictures and text.  One of the hardest things is choosing which pictures to include, and these minibooks would make that process so much easier.  They also don't cost any extra postage to send.  I also really like the ornament cards!

I haven't yet chosen a design or even a picture for our holiday cards this year.  I usually try to have it done by Thanksgiving, which is in just a few weeks.  I know that Minted is one of the places I'll visit to make that final decision about this year's card!

Do you send photo cards?  Have you taken your holiday photo yet? Let me know in the comments!

**Disclosure: I received credit at Minted.com in exchange for sharing information about their site with my readers.**

Wordless Wednesday - Peace

Legacy

A couple years ago, Bo bought an ATV.  And then a buggy. And then another ATV.  And another buggy.  (Okay, I don't really know all that is in the side yard -- suffice it to say we have a few of each.) He was excited; he had talked for years about wanting them to ride with the kids. I pretty much stayed out of it. He & the kids have gone riding tons of times since the first one was purchased, and they all had a blast.  For some reason, I steered clear.

Until a month or so ago. Last August, Bo and the boys took a camping trip with a bunch of buggy enthusiasts Bo met online. They had a blast, but I still wasn't interested. This year, we have the RV and Bo asked if I wanted to go. I agreed and we went as a family.

We arrived in the evening, and in the morning Nate asked if I wanted to go for a ride. I climbed into the 2 seater buggy and let my 11yo drive me out on the Cinders. (really amazing area near Flagstaff that is covered in volcanic cinders that makes it great for driving buggies & ATV's.)  He hit the gas and took off!  We flew over bumps and hills and I couldn't stop laughing.  It was an absolute joy!  The harder I laughed, the faster Nate drove, and later I heard that Bo was getting a bit concerned when he saw how fast Nate was driving.  There was no need to worry, as I was having a blast, but he couldn't hear me laughing.

During the weekend, I rode a few more times, and I drove a few times.  It really is fun, and I'm looking forward to the next time we head out.  The video above is one of the rides I took with Bo.

While riding, it brought back a vivid memory of my Dad.  When I was little (I'm thinking 3 or 4?) my parents took me to a small amusement park.  There was a roller coaster and my Dad and I took a ride.  Looking back, I'm sure it was one of those small, kiddie, roller coasters -- but to me at the time it was pretty exciting!  The roller coaster had sharp curves (as roller coasters do!) and I was convinced for years that the only reason the car made those turns was because my Dad was driving and controlling the little car.  I don't remember ever talking to anyone about it, but I knew that I was safe and I remember thinking at the time that I wouldn't ride with anyone but him since I knew he would keep me safe.   It was a great memory to have.

Today is my Dad's birthday.  He would have been 65 years old.  Nate served at Mass this morning, and the homily was about the kind of legacy people leave behind. While it brought many tears this morning, it was also fitting for the day.

I guess I'm not sure what kind of legacy my Dad hoped he would leave behind. But I do know the legacy he left.  He left a legacy of loving your family passionately and unconditionally.  He left a legacy of romance towards my mother. He left a legacy of learning and curiosity. He left a legacy of always doing your best and trying your hardest. Above all things, he was guided by love.  And, I think that's a pretty amazing legacy to leave behind.

Time for an Oil Change

My Ford Expedition warns me when I need an oil change.  It gives me early warnings, then it tells me when I MUST change the oil.  I admit that I like that feature very much!

Recently, I learned about a site called "Motor Oil Matters" that includes a ton of great information.  I admit, Bo takes care of a lot of our car issues, but I am not helpless.  I liked the fact that the site includes an informative checklist -- which was useful last week when I had my oil changed in my truck.

One of the things I never thought about was the viscosity of the oil!  For the first time ever, in response to reading through the checklist, I looked into the owner's manual to find out what was recommended.  This time when I went to have the oil changed, I knew more about what to ask.  In the past, I just hoped they would take care of me.  Thanks to the information on the site, I knew I could take care of myself!

I felt more empowered and prepared when I took my Expedition in for an oil change.  You can, too, if you visit Motor Oil Matters!

*Disclosure: I received a gift card to get my oil changed and the information about oil changes from www.motoroilmatters.org.  No additional compensation was provided.*

Wordless Wednesday -- Selfie