Botanical Gardens

It doesn't get any better than this.......who can be in school buried in books when it looks like this outside? Time to learn about the Sonoran desert, baby!!!!! I have to admit before we ventured out I wondered how the kids would do looking at primarily plants with just a few opportunities to see animals. Boy was I pleasantly surprised! The kids ran in with their usual positive attitudes and energy and left with big smiles. Even Jonathan enjoyed almost 3 hours of exploration - trying his binoculars, checking off boxes on his scavenger hunt sheet, and looking for "boods"..... I was realizing how nice it is for the older kids to be able to read the signs and study the displays for themselves - and it warmed my heart to watch them interact with the younger ones and take joy in their interest. They were hilariously thankful for the treat - with Allie yelling out as we left to Mima and Pop, "thanks for paying!" Oh my.....

Planning our route.....

Young explorer and backwards binoculars!

"Grinding beans into flour" according to Allie

Always full speed

A stroll with Pop

She just had to have those sunglasses

Big sister, little brother

Looks like Mima and Pop have thawed fairly well, don't you think? Too bad they have to go back to the Michigan cold.....we will miss them.

Choo choo

McCormick Train Park, Scottsdale

Everyone is happy!

February is good as gone......but man have we had gorgeous weather! So good that we have been spending so much time outside I have been too exhausted to sit at the computer and compose a post! Well I guess I have also been distracted with the "Limpics" (Olympics as Jonathan would say).

Weather in the 60's and 70's + the freedom to be flexible + Mima and Pop = fun times! Our dear friends, Sue (Mima) and Ken (Pop) are in town thawing from the Michigan winter so we are taking a little time off of school for a few "field trips". Our first outing was the McCormick Train Park in Scottsdale last week. Jonathan was thrilled with his first train ride (well that he can remember), and the older kids never mind a repeat. It was so fun to get out and relax and enjoy the "winter" weather! Sometimes I think I forget to plan adequately to get out and take advantage of the perfect conditions here in the winter months. It helps when people come into town! So come one, come all! Help us count our blessings!

Budding photographer, Madison took this shot....

"Jail"

Plain cute

Plain fun

Contemplating a long and fun day!

Birthday double feature (Part 2)

Since I was blessed to have a party coordinator for the first, this freed me to plan another! Ryan actually was fortunate to celebrate his day in many ways this week. After celebrating the actual day with one set of friends, Ryan went to Amazing Jakes on Tuesday with his little buddy Matthew since their birthdays are the same week! He also wanted to have some time with two other friends from church and their family so we decided to have them over for dinner.

The boys came early though and enjoyed an outing with Ryan, his dad, and grandpa to the Bass Pro Shop and then a viewing of Star Wars (The New Hope). Ryan has been waiting over a year to watch Star Wars. Ryan chose his favorite meal, Broccoli, Chicken, Pasta and I attempted a lego brick cake........Great friends, fun times!

The cake attempt

Friends enjoying a chat over dinner!

Two boys and a cake!

Drinking "yoda sodas" and listening to "Cantina Band"

Goofy!

Birthday double feature (Part 1)

Sometimes I am called crazy when I throw one birthday party - but guess what - today we had 2!!!! Count them up! It has been interesting over the years to talk with different families about how they celebrate birthdays. Some people throw very big parties with a lot of guests, others go special places, and some of our friends have neat traditions of letting their child choose a friend or two to spend the day with. I really like making each of our kids feel special on their day - and including our family and friends when we can. Since the girls' and boys' birthdays are so close together I have to resist the temptation to combine their celebrations every year.......Each year looks different.

Early on Madison came to me and asked if she could plan Jonathan a party since he hasn't had one before. I thought that would be great so I gave her a small budget and off she went. Wow did she do great! She and Jonathan decided on a Thomas the tank engine theme. She planned the activities, schedule, cake, goodie bags (stocked with crayons, toothbrush, 1 sucker, and stickers), shopped and kept track of her expenses. It was fun to watch her make decisions and see her joy in creating a fun day for her brother. I am not kidding when I say I barely did a thing but drive her around. She even baked and decorated the cupcakes, and did all the decorating with Allison! (Not to mention she came in $5 under budget!)

We invited two families from church and grandma (grandpa came later) and had a fun and simple little party. Jonathan seemed to really enjoy himself. I thought it was a very classic 3 year old part with lots of smiles. Thanks so much, Madison for your efforts!

Madison decided our Ikea plates, cups, etc. were a better value and just bought special Thomas napkins for the table. She used some wrapping paper she had for "place cards".

The boys could have played trains the whole time!

We did a "pass the Thomas" relay

Madison drew this cool train for "Pin Thomas on the track."

How cute was this?

Some kids gotta crawl on the table to blow out their candles!

Jonathan and friend Sam

birthday "scooter" boy

Number 3 for Jonathan today! Where does the time go? It goes and you never get it back - that's what I know. It is unbelievable our baby is a big BOY - and what a year he has had. This year Jonathan has absolutely mastered the razor scooter and I am not kidding. Check the pictures out - they don't really do him justice - but I tried. He has amazing balance! Jonathan keeps up and scooters when we go on rollerblade/scooter/bike excursions through the neighborhood for almost a half hour! Jonathan has learned to be still too - he loves to "read" and do puzzles while we are doing school - not to mention play with his train or playdough. He has also learned to sit and color for a little while during our read alouds. Jonathan was able to start going to his own PE class like all his brothers and sisters too! He loves it and feels so important. And finally he is TELLING us what he thinks and cracks us all up! Gotta love him, Happy Birthday little buddy!

Finally he gets to blow his OWN candles out! (Cake on Saturday, morning french toast will do).

Stinker!

Barefooted scooter boy (I know not safe, but has worn holes in his tennis shoes from using them as a brake!)

Yes, he still has 2 legs - the invisible one is sticking straight out!!!!!

See ya, 2 - hello 3!

the second gunman

Someone just cannot wait until his birthday! Jonathan has really been enjoying the recent birthday celebrations we have attended or thrown ourselves. In fact - he has been beside himself trying to blow out the candles! At the first birthday party - I was completely unprepared when from across the room I saw him lean over and totally blow poor little Sam's candles out! Ahhh! He did it again when we lit a candle for Ryan and then flew out of nowhere to try and blow out Emma and Amanda's! He didn't succeed in the last two scenarios.....Boy will he be happy on Wednesday when he realizes it is finally his day to blow out all 3 candles!

Incident #1 (the birthday boy Sam doesn't know what has hit him!)

Incident #2 (the gunman moved so fast he is blurred in the picture!)

Incident #3 (I promise that when I framed this picture, Jonathan was not in my view!)