nice day for a hike.....

Our goal as a family during the cool months in Arizona is to try and hike once a month......We've done fairly well with it - though I think we might have missed January. Anyway - this time we decided to combine our outdoor time with connecting with our friends "across town." They live just a mile or so from Dreamy Draw Recreation Area so it worked out great! We had a nice hike and then pizza at their beautiful little place. It was a fun family night with friends. The kids enjoyed the hike, cool backyard grass, Drumstick ice cream, and plucking on Greg's electric guitar......it's the simple things!

Mr. Energetic......

Christine and her "niece"....

Merl and Greg "in discussion".....

of butterflies and lizards......

It's spring so that means butterflies, flowers, and such! We took a quick trip to the Desert Botanical Garden for a free admission day along with everyone else in Maricopa County! Oh my....lots of people but beautiful views......

Awesome view of the butterfly's proboscis....slurping that fresh orange juice!

Desert Spiny Lizard (photo courtesy of Ryan)

another literature club........oh boy!

Not sure what I was thinking - but volunteered to host book clubs for the boys and girls two weeks apart. Mental note to self: that was a little crazy! But it was fun! And oh how the groups are so different! I was remarking to Merl that the preparation for girl's club is long and detailed but the actual meeting time is relaxed and easier. Ahem.....prep for the boys was not bad at all - but I am not kidding - those boys wore me out! When Daddy got home a few minutes after they all left I was sitting with my eyes glazed over in a chair unable to move! Wise and wonderful husband that he is, he immediately said - "Let's go out to dinner!" I love that man!

It is so interesting to watch the dynamics of the boys together and how they interact. Their discussion about the books are lively and energetic and they are always ready for the next activity!

This year Ryan chose "The Book of Three" - so our meeting was all about fire and "munchings and crunchings....." After our book discussion we dove into a "Hunt for Hen-Wen" aka treasure hunt......Ryan had drawn a map of our property and labeled landmarks to match the book. We tore the map up and hid the pieces for the boys to find......

Making sense of the first few pieces.....

One or two of the boys was faithful in trying to piece the map together......

Eventually the boys assembled the map and found Hen Wen - Zach wanted me to take a picture from above of them studying the map.....

After the hunting success if was time to make a fire and roast a feast!

Hot dogs and S'mores!

Matthew enjoying his S'more....

Next we made "fire-starters" out of melted candles, sawdust, and egg cartons.....

What boy doesn't like melting wax and pouring it?

The boys and my Mom pouring the wax....

When the "planned activities" were done it was time for cosmic keep-away....

It is a blessing to watch these boys form friendships and grow into young men. They are polite and delightful boys to have in one's home! After it was all done it was fun to hear them buzzing with conversation over legos in the bedroom......I love their versatility at this age. One moment they can discuss plot, setting, conflict, and resolution and the next stuff their faces with hot dogs, to the next just relaxing over legos.

They are such boys and so different from their sisters who keep nice notebooks with their story charts and stickers......On the way out the door one mom asked her son, "Do you have your story chart?" to which he replied, "No, we burned them in the fire pit!" "Naturally!" she said without pause and we just laughed......though later I did find a few that escaped the fire.......

Literature club ....... for the young ladies

It is all about the food, activities, and sharing of stories for these girls......an afternoon to look forward to each month when these friends share treats, talk about the month's book, learn something new, and chat.....and giggle.....and chat some more.

A few years ago when we started this literature club the moms dreamed of girls who would grow up together in friendship - learning to listen, share, and love one another in community.....through good times and hard. It is rewarding to watch them laugh and talk - encourage and embrace one another.

We have welcomed fresh faces this year and for this we give thanks! And yet it is bittersweet as other girls have moved on to other endeavors or we miss dear friends now moved away from us - their place in the group forever empty......but yet - this is real life too, isn't it? Sometimes we think things will stay the same always - but it doesn't. The girls learn to open their hearts to new friends - to love like Christ calls them to. Some of these buddies are even starting to volunteer together for the cause of Christ. This what we yearned for - these mothers......

When we host club...... Madison now plans most of it. It is wonderful to work alongside her......she is amazing. It blesses me to see Madison include her younger sister in the festivities which Allie loves. The book she chose this year was "All of a Kind Family" which is about a Jewish family at the turn of the century (1900's). She especially wanted to emphasize and teach the girls about Purim - one of the Jewish celebrations.....and so we did!

Lunch was rice soup, raw vegetables, and fresh bread.....

Every time I walked in the dining room several girls would hold their bowls up for more!

Simple dessert.....

The girls compare their story charts before discussion....

Tradition says that while reading the story of Esther for Purim when Haman's name is mentioned, the children are to boo, hiss, and make noise. I think this was their favorite part!

Part of the fun of Purim is dressing up.....this is Allie and Rachel....

Madison found a unique way to make flowers out of fabric and so shared the craft with the girls

Another Purim tradition is filling baskets with goodies for the children and neighbors....

The girls' baskets....

That's a wrap on our turn hosting "Girl's and Books" for 2012! A fun time was had by all!

biosphere 2

A few weeks ago our science coop ventured down to the Tucson area to visit Biosphere 2. It is a unique research facility that is used to understand life on Earth and the effects of climate change. It has an interesting history in that at one time several people sort of locked themselves inside and tried to "sustain themselves"- not even letting air in from the outside. Didn't sound like a good time to me....and when the tour guide said that their coffee bean plant only produced enough beans for one cup of coffee per person per month that sealed it: Not for me!

It was a fun day with wonderful friends.......

The crew....

The rainforest....

"Ocean"

Two silly boys and one looking on!

Tunnel to "underneath"......

Over the top view of things....

Interesting place in the middle of the desert!