Last Hurrah

Well we decided to get in one last outing before it gets to hot to do anything outside. Although it did manage to hit almost 100 here yesterday, we went to the Wild Life Park early before it got to warm, and since it was breezy, it was actually quite nice. The kids like the Wild Life Park, since they can get a little closer to the animals, and actaully feed some of them. Here are a few photos from the outing. Enjoy!

A day at the zoo!

Also since I seem to come home with more animals photos than I do photos of the kids, here is a link to my other blog with some of the animal photos... some are quite funny! Hope you check it out!

Dino-Mite!

Ok this will be short and sweet...
We went to the Natural history Museum this past Fri. We had a blast looking at all the dino fossils, and learning about some Arizona history too (Shhhh don't tell the kids they were learning, as they were having to good a time to realize it! LOL)
Anyway here are the pics...

The kids got to spend some time in one of the play areas... Tim and his friend had a blast fighting the dinos, while Lex chose a more calm activity making some beautiful crayon rubbings of the dinosaurs.



Here the kids are panning for (fools) gold.


Tim is fascinated by the dinosaurs


Looking at an old Arizona jail cell


Hope you all are having a good week... hopefully more stuff to follow, as summer is upon us here in the desert, and we are looking for ways to stay cool.
Check back soon!

Testing

Just testing to make sure my photos are uploading. Let me know if you cannot see the photos below. Thanks!

Mothers and Sisters and Brothers oh my!

My kids have been talking about Mother's day over the last week. My daughter pipped in with this idea just yesterday, sister's day and brother's day. I actually thought it was a good idea. We could make it a special day just for each of the kids... their favorite food and a special activity for just them.
My husband was not so convinced... he said we do that for their birthdays anyway. But don't we, as parents, also get that on our birthday. Yet we still get another "special" day during the year to celebrate being mom and dad... Why not give the same attention to being a child? I was told by husband that Mother's and Father's day was just another hallmark holiday, designed to sell more cards and stuff. Ok so I do agree that it is another corporate induced holiday designed to sell more stuff... but, so what? No one says you have to go all out. For me family time, homemade cards, and breakfast in bed are much more important. Just as I think all parents deserve AT LEAST one day to be appreciated (and let's face it, for most of us, if it was not on the calendar we would not take the time to do it properly)I think kids deserve a day to just be kids.
Think about it. A day to just play in the sunshine, eat nothing but chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese (Ok I know most of us would sneak in a veggie or two but still), and spend the whole day doing nothing but just being a kid. I think in this day and age, we try and get our kids to grow up to quickly. I read a few different parenting blogs, and although I don't agree with everything that they say, it does give me a moment to stop and think. This article was posted on one of the blogs just the other day, and it made me really stop and think about my own daughter, and the things I am teaching her. She is only 3 years old, and yet, I do paint her nails and indulge her in some lipstick every now and then, so she can be like mommy. But where do we draw the line? I know for sure there will be no hair coloring in this house until at least 16, and even then I'd like to think it will take a lot to convince me (especially if my daughter wants her favorite color purple). I just want her to be a kid. To not grow up to fast.
So all in all I think a day to celebrate just being a kid is a great idea. Especially if it allows us a parents to really stop and think about what that means. I know it will mean different things to different people, but if means slowing down and really looking at things from a child's perspective, then I consider that a good thing.

Sorry

Ok not sure what is going on, and why my pictures are not posting... I will try and figure it out soon.... keep checking back for updates! Thanks

New pics and updates

Ok since I have not posted any new pics in awhile and I am sure you all are tired of just reading about the kids and yadda, yadda, yadda... so here are some current pics. LOL! Here they are making a cake... Messy but fun.



We went to the AZ Science center this past week with our good friend from Canada. It was a blast! The kids love all the hands on activities... Tim even made a "blueprint" of a house, and Lex loved the dino coloring.





Well we have been busy, as the past weekend we were in Yuma, for my grandmothers 80th Birthday. It was a nice excuse to get most of the family together, and it was great to catch up with people I had not seen in many years.
I can only imagine the things my grandmother has seen and done in her lifetime. I hope and pray that she is around for a long time, so as to share her stories and wisdom with my own kids.



Here are the kids at the party. They were sooo good. For not really knowing to many people and being stuck at the table for most of the party, they were exceedingly well behaved. Needless to say Mike and I were pleased, and when we got home they got a nice treat of ice cream sandwiches, and much running around and rough housing with mom and dad.



Well I guess that's all for now. It seems like things may slow down some over the next month, but in June things will pick right back up again as we get into summer... that means, Vacation Bible School, hopefully a family vacation up North, as well as lots of water pictures. Anyway hope you all like the pics and I will try and post as things come up. Thanks for stopping by!

Changes

Ok, so I know the blog looks a bit off... LOL
I am in the process of trying to learn how to code in HTML (basically I am learning how to write web pages), and thought the blog would be a good place to start. I am still trying to figure out a few things, so I ask for your patience while I find the right codes to make it look pretty (and still be functional). :)
Thanks!

The way it should be...maybe

You know when you first get married, and start talking about having kids, and the future and the way you want things to be...
Here is the way I had imagined it: We would have at least two kids, and they would be sitting (quietly) at the table coloring, while I made dinner. They would talk nicely to each other, you know, please and thank you etc. The house would be clean and tidy. I would have a wonderful dinner cooking. Mike would come home and the kids would be so excited to see Daddy, they would run to him and jump up and down. It was a wonderfully romantic family scene.
Sickening isn't it? What was I thinking...
Most days are just the opposite. Children noisily running around, toys everywhere. Although the the kids are excited to see Mike, they usually just want him to play superheros and rough house with them. Dinner is my one strong suite, as I do like to cook.
Well then there was yesterday...
The kids were content to sit at the table and color pictures for various family members, my house was at least somewhat picked up, and all the while, I got the dishes done and made dinner, with out so much as a fuss from the kids. When Mike got home the kids were excited, and really wanted him to sit with them. It was kinda... surreal. I like it and all, but it was so different form the way things normally are. It was WEIRD!
Anyway, maybe now that they are older there will be more days like that, but I am betting on just the opposite. Especially as we prepare for the arrival of a third child. If this next one proves to be anything like his/her brother and sister, we are in trouble.
Please pray for us... We will need all the help we can get! LOL