Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Memorial Weekend Trip to Tucson

I just had the itch to get out of town. I didn't care where we went we just had to do something. So on Friday morning I put in a bid for four star hotels in Tucson and my bid got accepted so I called Clint and work and said, "Guess what? We're going to Tucson for the weekend!" We left Saturday morning and went to the resort right away. The kids were dying to get in the swimming pool so that's what we did first thing. After we got that out of the way we headed south to Mission San Xavier del Bac.
The Church was built in 1797 and is considered to be the best example of Spanish Colonial architecture in the United States. The kids thought it was pretty boring, but Clint and I loved touring the church and taking pictures.






Before we left Clint had to go get a tetanus shot and he was talking to the doctor who told him she was from Tucson and she said we had to go to El Charro for dinner and get their carne seca (beef marinated and sun dried on the roof top then double flash fried). We're so glad we listened to her recommendation! Although neither of us really liked the carne seca (it tasted like beef jerky in a enchilada) we loved their salsa and their tamales. In fact, I loved them so much we went back a second night to have them again!

On Sunday we had a busy day. We went to the Sonoran Desert Museum in the morning and then to Colossal Caves in the afternoon. The kids loved the museum especially the reptile exhibit with the snakes and scorpions. I think I really don't like snakes. Pierce especially loved the crystal cave exhibit with all the minerals that are found around Arizona.




At the museum we saw 3 baby hummingbirds in their little walnut sized nests. So cute!

The prairie dog exhibit. Cole asked if we catch one can we keep it for a pet. Sure, I said.

So here we are at the cave entrance. Pierce was really excited but nervous about the stalagtites falling from the ceiling when Cooper was yelling and got he got even more nervous when inside the cave our tour guide showed us a large fault line that runs right down the center of the cave. It was funny that Cole kept telling Pierce to stop worrying since he was seriously obsessing the whole tour. Inside the cave was 70 degrees which was a nice break from the 100 degree day.





Here we are. We made it out of the cave alive.
It was a seriously long night...Where do I start. As soon as we got back from dinner Cooper threw up everywhere all over Clint. I don't know if he had the stomach flu or if he just gagged on all the drainage he had from the cold he has but ewww. We thought he'd be wiped out and ready for bed so I took Pierce and Cole down to the hot tubs and Clint put Coop to bed. Apparently throwing up gave him a second wind cuz when we got back he was super happy and full of crazy energy from 3 days of little/no naps. So he was bouncing on the beds and off the walls and excited to show me his new trick...climbing out of the pack n play. So we had to baracade him in between the walls and the bed and a big chair. The problem with this arrangement was that he could reach me so he kept putting his blanket on my back and patting me and saying, "Dare da doe mama" (There you go mama said as one word). We were all trying to ignore him but he is so funny when he's yelling, "Hi Peh, Hi Boppy (Cole's nickname), Hi Momma, Hi Daddy" and I couldn't stop laughing when he finally laid down and then did some tootys and said, "Stinty"

The next day we went to Biosphere 2 the largest greenhouse science project in the world. Pierce was super excited for this tour. He was really wanting to see the rainforest inside. It was really interesting seeing how they manage this huge living science project.




I was trying to get a nice picture of the kids on the amazing rocks but there were so many wasps it was pretty much impossible!

Itty Bitty Pierce waving.




The Last Day of First Grade

How has it gone by so fast? I swear we just started school! Pierce has had quite a year in Ms. Piranio's class. He has made a lot of new friends and learned a lot. His reading has made dramatic improvement from first grade reading level when he started to above 3rd grade reading level when he finished. He loves science and art. He complains and says he hates PE but then when he comes home from school and tells me about his day he usually tells me about a fun game they played in PE (go figure). His favorite thing they have learned about this year is the rainforest. We have been calling him our little tree hugger since he's been coming home with stories about the rainforest and all the devastation. In fact one Saturday, Clint decided to prune one of our big trees and he got a little carried away and pretty much hacked the tree to pieces. So I was mad and was telling him how awful it looked and Pierce chimes in, "Yeah, I'm mad too! That is habitat for birds and animals that you destroyed!"

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Because I have nothing else to do...

I started refinishing furniture while Coopy takes a nap. I realize that I go in spurts with my hobbies and that this is probably the 3rd or fourth time I have been on the furniture kick. Usually I do it just to decorate our home but now I've been completing projects and selling them on Craigslist. I started a blog to show off what I've done. Check it out at newtoyouaz.blogspot.com

Sunday, May 8, 2011


A hike through the beautiful Sonoran Desert
Preserve by our home.




Ethan, Rhiannan, Taylor, Pierce, Jordan
Cole, Bailey, Cooper

Pierce's 7th Mad Scientist Birthday Party

Pierce was so excited about his mad scientist birthday party. He invited 7 of his friends to the park by our house on a very windy day. When the guests arrived we spray painted their hair blue and green and gave everyone a pair of goggles and a lab coat so we could get started on our experiments.
Our first experiment was to build towers or molecules out of toothpicks and marshmellows / gummybears/ gummy worms / circus peanuts / and gumdrops.
Then we divided the kids into teams to make cola and mentos fountains. The kids placed 6 mentos on a paperclip that we lowered into the diet cola and then stood way back to watch the fountain. The pop shot up about 20 feet in the air.
The best part of the party had to have been the cake. Pierce asked for a vanilla and chocolate cake all mixed together and Andrea found directions to make this beaker cake online.
Pierce got a lot of great gifts from his family and friends. He got pixos, a pillow pet, a disco light, a dragon toy, lots of art sets, a magic set, a movie, and his favorite toy--k'nex rollercoaster.
Pierce is at such a fun age. He is very polite and a big help most of the time. He is losing teeth all over the place! He loves rollercoasters and waterslides. He loves to do art and to build with his toys. He is very friendly at school and does really well with his studies.
April 30, 2011




Cooper said, "No! Dop Tat!" when I tried to get a bite.


The Mentos and Cola Fountain!