field trip

One day we went on a field trip. It was really more of an adventure. I convinced two other moms and their kids to go with us. We headed East towards the thriving metropolis of Superior, AZ (yes, we did feel quite superior when we arrived).

Rumor was that though this arboretum was well over an hour away, it was so much better than the Botanical Garden (of course not better than the Missouri Botanical Gardens - 'cause really, is there any garden superior to the BoTan? I think not).

This place was great. And we managed to only see 1/3 of it. It had birds galore (poor Nate, the ornithologist, he was sad to miss out.) We're going to have to take him back there with us (but we'll have to wait about 7 months until it is cool enough for me to handle). (Yes, it is now officially summer here). (Heaven help me).

Look, it even had some petrified wood. And a toad who looks remarkably like Jimmy.

There were also very informative maps (which helped us determine that we had in fact only seen 1/3 of it, and that we had best turn around and leave to find lunch before the younger crowd melted away from dire hunger) (turns out fruit snacks will only get some so far).

I would love to have this tree in my backyard.

But I'll take these instead.

All in all, a fun adventure. I'm so glad I found some friends out here that I can call and ask them to traverse to the unknown to check out an adventurous spot.

Yay!

the weekend and its recovery

Poor Nate had to go to San Diego this weekend. He had to miss our first two days of 100+ weather.

He also had to miss Jimmy's first REAL baseball game  - it was Little League night at the DBacks. So grateful to Grandpa Jeff (really known as Poppy around here) to accompany my slugger to the game. There was an on-field parade of Little League-ers (and their grandpas!), a dinner of hot dogs, popcorn and Sprite (the nectar of the gods for some little boys), and lots of friends in the bleachers. Speaking of the bleachers - when I was telling Jimmy of his good fortune to go to the game with Poppy, I mentioned that he got to sit in an excellent section call The Bleachers. Grace broke in and said, "THE BLEACHERS!!! You are so lucky!!!" She really meant it.

That left Friday night as a GNO for Grace and I. We dined as only one dines with Grace, on pasta. Then we perused the pet store and admired the kitties, guinea pigs, hamsters, parakeets, lizards, snakes, and more kitties. Then it was movie time - Mirror, Mirror. So fun!

Saturday morning was lacrosse - not just practice this time, but a real scrimmage. Grace plays hard. Its so fun to watch. By the time the game was over it was over 90 degrees. So we "opened" the pool for the summer. In the afternoon, the three of us went to see The Lorax, took another dip in the pool, and then had make-your-own pizzas for dinner. Our after-dinner entertainment was The Best of Boris and Natasha and the Best of Dudley Do-Right.

All was well until Sunday morning when everyone woke up with terrible coughs and sneezes. So we spent the day as a sick day and the fun continues today - Grace has a fever and Jimmy won't stop coughing. The Disney channel will be on for hours and after that I'm afraid there will be a repeat of Boris, Natasha and Dudley!

Lucky for us, Nate is back. That always makes everything better.

monkey see, monkey do

egg-actly serious

Our egg-doing this year was a serious evening. The bunny ears were donned, yes, but all were serious about their tasks.

the flautist

pour some sugar on me

Its a sliver bullet - a Charger to be exact. Its sound system is blasting Def Leppard (which is unsettling to other drivers on their way to the pick-up line at school). Its driver is a ravishing blonde, who can't believe her luck that the only car at the dealer available to drive while the seal is being replace around the windshield (which had to be shipped in from Detroit) is the Charger. She may have had to control her giggling as she was issued the keys. Her manly-doctor is sad he is not the driver. But this mama can drive. And she can listen to her music loud. The streets of Scottsdale won't be the same (that is until the seal is replaced and the Charger returned, but it sure is fun while it lasts).

favorites

Jimmy just informed me he has three favorite sides - front, back, and right. Apparently left is just not as favorite as the others.

remember when...

One month ago, we returned from our Spring Break trip. Unlike most Spring-Breakers, we decided to go cold instead of going warm. At the time it was tempting to go beachy, but we knew the reality of the heat would soon be on us.

And it is. This weekend the highs are expected in the mid-90s.

This weekend I will be looking at these pictures again and again, trying to embrace the cold that once was.