Family Walk

The weather's been gorgeous here lately and we've had lots of outdoor time. This was right before a family walk through the neighborhood recently! Miranda was very deliberate in what she needed to have on to be "ready".

Sofa Dog

Ever since Zoe was little, she's loved to sleep in a huge pile of pillows like a little diva. The kids think it's hysterical!

Birthday Boy!

A few quick posts from Michael's birthday last month. Grandpa Gayle came out for Michael's birthday and brought a VERY exciting present ~

a new big boy bike!





Miranda also got a present sent from Grandma Gayle, the blanket that she made me when I became a big sister back in 1979. (Dude, is my little sister that old now?)

We put it on her bed that night and she won't sleep without it now. :)

We invited a few boys over from Michael's kindergarten class and the E&E cousins came down from Gilbert for a small all-boy party, so Grandpa got to spend a lot of time with Miranda that Saturday.

Grandpa was such a good sport to let Miranda bury him and then jump on him!

Meditation

Michael has a special spot that he likes to run ahead and sit at, and then meditate until Miranda and I catch up with him on our way home from the Rec Center. He's really quite cute about it. The spot is actually a cement access panel on top of a storm drain just across the street from our house, and it's surrounded by eucalyptus tree limbs hanging down all around. It's always shady there, and always a nice spot for him to relax at for 30 seconds or so, even in the heat of summer.



And here are both of the M&Ms in the tree behind Michael's spot. Technically in our neighbor's yard but I took the picture real quick and we got out of their yard before they probably even knew we were there!

First Day!

Had our first day of school yesterday and it went really well! Michael started first grade (gulp!) and Miranda started preschool. No crying occurred (well Mommy did a little bit) and everyone reported a good first day once they were home. Success!

(Note Michael's IBM lunch bag ~ we couldn't find his Lightning McQueen bag from last year so he was THRILLED to get to use Dan's IBM bag!)

Tadpoles!

We started swim lessons last week and the kids are having a blast. By the second lesson Michael is jumping in on his own and "swimming" (thrashing, really) over to the steps on his own, totally unafraid of dunking his head under the water. This is the kid who used to scream at getting his face wet in the tub. :) Miranda is a little more reluctant but by the end of each sessions she's in and doesn't want to leave. It's been super fun to watch them love this!






This is the kiddie pool that they can splash in all they want after their lesson. I have to drag them away every day!

Downtown Adventure

Went this week with the M&Ms and JT to the downtown library, and then wandered around the downtown area afterwards. It was hot but a lovely day, especially in the shade!

Picacho Peak

We had our first camping experiment with the M&Ms earlier this month, and we had a blast. We went for one night to the Picacho Peak State Park near Tucson, just in case we had to pack it up and head home in the face of disaster or little kids who couldn't handle it. I must admit it couldn't have been much better, and much fun was had by all (although I could have done with the swarms of gnats, but what can you do?).

Daddy setting up the tent! (I-10 and the train in the background)

A campsite visitor

Boulder-whacking behind our campsite

The beautiful sky

Camp dinner ~ hamburgers and hotdogs

Camper Daddy starting the fire

The palo verdes were in full bloom, and you could hear the buzzing of busy bees everywhere

Early the next morning, we hiked the Children's Cave trail. It had little postings all along the trail narrated by a javalina, who talked about his friends and how they eke a living out in the desert.

Daddy and the M&Ms in the Children's Cave

With Mommy too!

Dia de las Madres

We decided to get out of the house in the morning on Mother's Day and I headed over to Sabino Canyon with the kids for a hike! We made it about a half mile up and decided to turn off on the Bluff Trail, only to discover the Sabino dam, and Sabino Lake! The kids delighted in the off-road hiking and I learned the hard way what "Let's just get our feet wet, Mom" really means. :)


A snack before we took our shoes off


Michael came back from "just getting my feet wet, I promise, Mom" with his entire left side soaked!




Miranda found a little island


The dam had some great flow!


Michael tried and tried to find a spot to slide




Lots of squealing from Miranda


On the path back from the dam


The view of the dam from the trail we took back




Every prickly pear had one or two flowers open, and they're about ready to open 30-40 more each! Spring in the desert can be so lush!

Folk Festival Part 2

Our friend Bill snapped some nice pics of us at the Folk Festival that I thought would be fun to share! (Hope he doesn't mind me putting them up!)


Dancing with a festival wreath, her first ever!


Michael, who is "hiding"


Always with my mouth open!


Being sneaky with Bill's backpack

Tucson Folk Festival

Went to the Tucson Folk Festival today and had so much fun! (I really loved their poster this year.)



Not much is better than freshly popped kettle corn (yum) and grilled hot dogs (sauerkraut on Mom's, thank you) in the sun. The music was great too as was the company, because our pal Bill Ogroski surprised us and met us there. The kid's folk music was so-so but still fun.


Michael and Bill


Anti-camera Miranda


Michael and Bill playing around


Finally got a smile out of her...


The kids at the end of some neat architecture

Spring Training!

Went to a Diamondbacks/Dodgers spring training game here this month and had a ball. The Dodgers played with a split squad that day, and it turned out Manny played in the other game up in Phoenix. Bummer. However, this is the Diamondback's last season for spring training here, and there are lots of Dodger fans in Arizona so the game was sold out and the people watching was great. The kids made it through 5 innings, which wouldn't have happened if they didn't have the promise of jumping castles for good behavior. Whatever works!