Tailgating ... Sinclair Style!

We arrived 4 hours before the game with our subs and a stocked cooler. We've eaten lunch, had a few cold beverages, played catch and even watched some DVDs. The sun is hot, drinks are cold and life is good. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Go KU!

Grammy and Grandpa

We had fun with Grammy and Grandpa while they were here. We enjoyed another Christmas, went to a Coyotes game (of course), saw Christmas lights and spent quality time with the boys! We even took a trip to Build-a-Bear thanks to the cousins!

Phoenix METRO Lightrail

We took our first train ride while Grammy and Grandpa were here. You can't tell from the photo, but Brody loved it! :-)

Early Christmas photos

These are just a couple of quick photos from my phone. I'm sure we'll do a more comprehensive update later. Merry Christmas!

Coyotes 2, Blue Jackets 0

Corey and I went to the Coyotes game Saturday night, so I figured I'd share some photos. As of tonight, Carrie "officially" is on vacation ... although I'd argue she's been on vacation since Thursday. :-) Tomorrow Corey is "helping" the staff at Brody's daycare while I'm working and Carrie is running errands.

Busy Week

It seems every week is a busy week in the Sinclair household.

I uploaded pictures today and found a cute one of Corey on a horse, but it's from the Hope Kids' party that was Dec. 7. They had pony rides, a full buffet of turkey and fixings, carnival games and a present for each Hope Kid. It was very nice. Corey wrote them a thank you note and they just might be able to read it. (But it's the thought that counts, right?)

So our kids have grown up so differently than we did. For example, they don't understand why anyone would watch commercials, and they can't understand when they can't instantly see the exact show they're wanting to watch. And also, they demand to have their picture taken pretty frequently.

One such demand was in the bathtub recently. They posed like little models. I believe Brody is trying to rest his head on his hand like Corey is, but who knows.

Brody also recently demanded his picture be taken at the rink during Corey's practice (I mean, why should Corey get all the videos and pictures, right?) Lately I've been walking to the rink with Brody, and he doesn't understand that Mommy's camera doesn't take pictures!

On Tuesday last week, a coworker invited Corey to skate with her son, Richie. Richie is a PF Chang's hockey player (a competitive team), and he was just drafted by the USHL, meaning that he'll play for the Sioux Falls team for a year or so before college. It was really nice of them to invite him, and I think it was Richie's idea, not his mother's, which is even cuter.

Richie tought Corey some "moves," according to Corey. So I sat on the sideline and talked with Perri, while Corey skated for over an hour. Then he and Richie were the last ones off the ice to go get pizza, and Corey ate pizza (though he'd had dinner less than two hours earlier!) and was back on the ice in a flash. Where he proceeded to skate for another hour!!! I've never seen him so excited to skate. He looked a little ticked off when I dragged him off the ice at 8:20. (Past his bedtime!) He talked and talked in the car, and I finally had to do the "silent game" to get him to stop talking so he'd fall asleep. Corey had a great time with the older kids, who also gave him a practice stick they'd all signed! (His third stick, he informed me.) Also, one of their coaches works for the NHL and happened to have a game puck from the Coyotes-Red Wings game we'd been to, and gave it to Corey.

Corey has had such a great week at school (behavior-wise, he's always good at schoolwork!) that he's been able to play more Wii, and he's been playing Aunt Kristin and soon-to-be Uncle John. (That's a good story too: Kristin called Corey during the Coyotes' game last Saturday and asked if John could be his uncle, and Corey said "sure" and they got disconnected. It was minutes later when Rob pieced together the story and could call them back and congratulate them on their engagement, and I didn't get the story until later in the evening because Corey "forgot" to tell me.) No, they haven't made any trips to Phoenix. We've been playing on the Nintendo "network."

Friday night we had a babysitter so we could finish up some shopping (yes, we're DONE!) and had a nice night out. Then last night, Corey and Rob went to the Coyotes' game and Brody and I went shopping. (He loves shopping with mommy!) Actually, we had a quick dinner at the mall, and walked around until the "snowfall" at 7 p.m. It's probably bubbles, but it's enough to get a lot of Phoenix folks excited! Brody liked it until it fell on him, and he said "snow hurt Bobo," but I can't see how.

That's your update! We have a new blog to link to - Melinda and Gary are expecting their son/daughter any minute, and I put the blog links in a new format so you can see when they are updated!

I am expecting a lazy day today before my final day of work this year, and then I'm off until Jan. 5th!

Weekend Update, part 2

When Make-a-Wish called last week and offered us a few Tower Suite seats (which seats 50-60 people) for the Coyotes' Saturday night game vs. Detroit, we figured a company had rented it out and donated some of its extra tickets. Well, as it turned out, WorkInSports.com actually put on a special event for Make-a-Wish families!

When we got there, they handed Corey a backpack FILLED with Coyotes gear ... including a brand new home sweater, which Corey was able to exchange for the black alternate third jersey!






During the first period, Howler came up to the suite and got his picture take with the kids (Corey's eyes were closed in his), and during the second intermission Daniel Winnik stopped by and talked to the kids. Corey actually wasn't very shy for a change, and talked about playing hockey that morning. The great group from WorkInSports.com also took great care of us!

Brody made a new friend ("Bob-O," not to be confused with Bobo) and had MORE than his fair share of pizza. They showed the suite on the videoboard during the game and Todd Walsh from Fox Sports stopped by and did a live interview with the owner, John, on the telecast during the game. The game even was exciting (unlike Corey's actual Make-a-Wish game against the Red Wings), although the Coyotes lost in a shootout.

It really was a great night!

Weekend Update, part 1

We certainly had a fun and exciting weekend! Corey had FOUR "green lights" last week, so we rented a movie and Wii game Friday. The family all watched "Horton Hears a Who" that night, and Corey played Legos Batman most of the weekend (when he wasn't playing MarioKart online with Kristin and John)!

Saturday morning Corey had hockey practice and scored two of his team's goals during the scrimmage portion. Our coach also said they're trying to schedule a home-and-home series with a team from Flagstaff. Everybody knows, "Bobo LOVES Canaroon!"

Saturday afternoon was spent at Kaden's birthday party (where this photo was taken). The next post will include photos from the Make-a-Wish event at the Coyotes on Saturday night. Stay tuned!

Classic Corey

Corey and I went to the Coyotes game last night (we've seen the last TWO Wild losses to the Coyotes ... spanning 758 days!), and he was almost as entertaining as the game:

1. At one point, I told the Wild to do something, and Corey said, "You're not the boss of them." It led to a whole conversation about the hierarchy of Wild management.

2. Also, the kid who loves goofing off and talking all day long, was as shy as a mouse while the Pack Squad was TWO FEET IN FRONT OF HIM during the T-shirt toss. His explanation? "I have lots of T-shirts."

3. At one point during the second intermission Corey turned to me and said, "Aren't we leaving?" I said, "Well, yeah ... after the game." He thought it WAS over. I finally convinced him when the players came back out on the ice.

4. At the end of the night, I gave Corey a piggy back while he gave the backpack a piggy pack (aka wearing it) and the backpack gave his program a piggy back!

Tom and the Boys

I think it was ROB who most loved meeting Tom and his son. Tom is a big supporter of Hope Kids. The kids' shirts say "Got Ho-Ho-Hope?" on the back.

Best Family Photo Ever!

We had a busy, but fun weekend. Saturday morning Corey had hockey practice, followed by his third (and final?) birthday party at the ice skating rink for the year. Last night we went to Mind Over Splatter in Chandler, and then hung around for the parade of lights in historic downtown Chandler.

Today we went to the annual Honeywell on Ice Christmas gathering at the U.S. Airways Arena, followed by a great Hope Kids Christmas party, where we met Tom Lehman (PGA Tour golfer from Minnesota) and got a family photo with Santa!

Nana and Papa's Visit

We had a great week over Thanksgiving with our guests, Nana and Papa. Not sure which movie we're all watching here - probably Wall-E (Brody would say, "no, no, like this: Wallleeeee!") We also watched Kung Fu Panda while they were here, ate out (of course), had a night out without the kids, courtesy of our free babysitters, and went ice skating!


Here Papa looks very happy. It must have been pre-falling down. :) Brody had some ice time, as did Corey (who does wear the helmet and hockey gloves whenever he ice skates, by the way.)

But all good things must come to an end, and Papa ended up on the ice!

We had a great time with our visitors, and we're wondering how many visitors we might get if KU makes the Insight Bowl as we hope they do!

Brody's on skates

How cute is he!!!