Children's Museum of Phoenix

At the beginning of the summer, I saw an ad for the Children's Museum of Phoenix on PBS. I thought, we need to go there, but it wasn't open, and it wasn't open (brand new museum) then I forgot about it. I remembered after I started reviewing the things I wanted to do, but didn't get done with my boys before they go back to school, mental list. So, yesterday was the day! I told them to hurry and get in the car we were going somewhere -- they complied and were pretty good about just being patient to find out where we were going until the airport -- we did arrive to the museum safely, though.

The museum was super fun! They have free parking (big plus) and things for all of the boys to be entertained by. Ryan really enjoyed getting into the art things, and would have liked to do more, but brothers and time did not permit yesterday.

 

 

Spencer LOVED the kitchen and grocery store! They have a really fun conveyer belt that you can run your groceries along and then an area where you take your purchases after you are done shopping, unless you want to clean up == the kitchen has a great big brick oven that you pretend to bake your pizza.

 

Jacob LOVED the magnet wall that allowed you to figure out different paths for the golf ball to travel through the different pipes down to the basket -- I think he probably would still be standing there if I would have allowed him!

 

Anyway it is super fun and we did get a year membership if you decide to go and want some company, give us a call!

Railroad Park

Last night, we went with my mom and dad and brother and his family to the Railroad park in Scottsdale.! The boys had so much fun!

They have a really cute little train that goes around the park and Spencer and Cooper really loved riding this -- they were so excited!!

They also have a fun little carousel that the boys really enjoyed -- I don't think Cooper had ever ridden a carousel as he kept looking at the horse, and me with wide eyes just trying to figure out how it all worked.

We went to play at the fun playground, and Lauren used my camera to experiment, I told her and my mom some tips I learned in a photography class I had taken so it was fun to watch them going around trying to use the tips -- the only problem I think was the lighting wasn't the best and the shutter speeds were slow so they were a little blurry.

While Jake took Ryan and Jacob to a different play area Spencer and Grandma went exploring and found a really fun train table in a store, I had to beg him to leave when we finally were ready to go -- he had a blast! It was a super fun park, it is a real bummer that it isn't closer, because we LOVED it!

Cousin Visit

Owen and Jenell came to Arizona while Jacob and Ryan were still in Utah -- they brought three of their four children and entertained Spencer. Or, should I say Spencer taught them about water and any other rather naughty activity he could think of. One night, I was making a really yummy dinner that needed to be BBQ, well Jake was in and out of the kitchen while I was getting the rest of dinner ready -- I figured he was keeping an eye on Spencer while outside at the BBQ -- oops, not really an eye -- Spence got his cousin Luke and him totally soaking wet with the hose and then filled the swimming pool so they could really play -- needless to say they were soaking wet when we were ready to eat -- they ate at the table shivering with towels. They had a really fun time, so I am glad that they enjoyed themselves.

 

 

 

One of the things that Owen and Jenell really like to do when they are in Arizona, is go to garage sales. I went with them and laughed at the "Grapes of Wrath" truck that they had to drive home in -- Owen threatened to say he was helping us move back to Utah -- to make it all clear, NONE of the things they took home was ours! It was fun to see them, and we are glad that they came!

 

Ryan and Jacob, when they got home Saturday night, were excited to see their cousin Jed. He went with his dad to pick the boys up -- Jake and Owen said that it was fun to see the reaction of the boys to each other -- Jacob ran up and gave Jed a big hug, while Ryan gave him a noogie and maybe punched him -- boys will be boys.

Monday, all of the boys were not quite sure what to do on their own as they have loved having the cousins! Thanks everyone for "BRAVING" the Arizona heat and coming to visit! We LOVE seeing any and everyone that wants to come and visit!

Family Reunion 2008

We are HOME! We just (well last night) got home from Jake's annual family reunion! We went to Palisade Lake just outside of Manti for the reunion this year. We had a lot of fun at the Lake and the boys enjoyed playing with all of their cousins.


Jake swam a little, but I although I thought I might was too much of an Arizona girl and chose to stay warm rather than get to wet in the frigid Utah water (I am too used to the bathtub temperatures of the water down here). We had a great time visiting with all of the other (chickens) -- We did enjoy going out on paddle boats and Jake enjoyed throwing Jacob and Ryan in the water!

The kids enjoyed jumping off a floating island with all of their cousins, and a couple of uncles and an aunt.



That night we had a talent show and almost all of the grandkids sang a rousing rendition of Popcorn Popping!


This is the scene that greeted some Jake's mom and dad and a few of his siblings that went straight back to Kanosh. There was a brush fire on the mountain just East of them and the wind was really whipping around -- I guess it was fairly serious as there was a tanker truck parked outside there house and they were told to be ready to evacuate. They lost power for several hours -- we missed it all as we were visiting Dan and Lisa in Aurora.

On Monday, Jake helped build Emmy's house with his Dad and two brother in law's and nephew.


Ryan and his cousin Jed got FILTHY dirty and he enjoyed playing with him. Ryan and Jacob are actually still up in Utah for a few more days and they will fly home on Saturday by THEMSELVES!! The little girls and Luke were all playing with Owen and Janell's puppies as they tried to get some cute poses for there website and then we got a picture of them before they went in twenty different directions.



This picture of Spencer is just a cute snapshot that I got while we are at the lake -- he wasn't so into his cousins for the most part, preferring to hang out with mom and dad -- but all in all I think he had a blast too.
It is good to be home, though.

Chuck E Cheese

 

 

 

So, I am not what you would call a cool mom, and I hardly do exiting things with my boys, but every once in a while, I live on the edge -- one of these once in a whiles came last Friday -- I took Jacob. Ryan, Spencer and four of their friends to Chuck E Cheese for pizza and fun. The boys mostly had a good time -- there are always things they like, and things they don't but the ticket thing was "the BEST" part, and deciding on which prize they would take was such a dilemma -- but they had a good time, and I got to be the "cool mom" -- I will enjoy those quick glimpses of what the cool mom does every once in a while!

Need YOUR Help!!

All right, I am desperate! I am trying to figure out how to print this super cute calendar that I created in Adobe Photoshop Elements -- it will be standard paper size. I need to have the design bleed to the edges. My Problem, is that my printer that I am using currently doesn't let the design bleed to the edges and makes it way off center. I decided that I would just have the pages printed at Costco or Sams, that isn't going to work either because it wants to blow up the size of the document and make the document 11x14. I am so stumped, and hopefully one of my wiser friends will have some kind of advice! Thanks!!!!!

Dirtworker Jacob

All right, I guess there is a theme right now, or at least each of the kids have been featured the last couple of days. I know that Ryan said that he wanted to be a dirtworker when he grew up, well, today, we got to go watch my parents front yard be leveled in preparation of a new front yard and the men driving the tractor offered to let the boys ride. Remember how Ryan wanted to be a dirt worker? Well, he must have changed his mind!!! He didn't want to go anywhere near the tractor (Shoo whee!):) -- Spence would only ride with me holding him (it is kind of fun to ride on one -- but Jacob was my one brave one!

Our Cowboy

Spencer has a stick horse that he just LOVES. In fact, he rides it about every day at least once a day and this horse has a special home in the stall aka our coat closet. I have been saying for a few days, I wish I knew where our video camera was (haven't been able to find it for a few days) so I could video him. Well, today, he told me to get my camera, he was going to ride -- here is a quick bit of my cowbor Spence!

Spotlight on Ryan!

 

Yesterday, I got to sub in Spencer's primary class. In sharing time, they spotlighted Ryan. His spotlight was cute, and they gave it to me to do as I please, so I will put the questions and the responses -- enjoy!
What person in the scriptures would you want to meet? Nephi
How are you a helper to your family? Vacuum, good brother
What is your favorite hobby? Jump on the trampoline
What is your favorite thing to do with your family? Movie time
How many brothers and sisters do you have? 2 brothers 0 sisters
Share something unique about yourself. Playing in the sandbox
Who do you want to be like when you grow up and why? Dirt worker, Loves getting Dirty and it's Dangerous! :)
The last question is so Ryan! He has wanted to be so many things through the years, last night when I was reading it to Jake he said he didn't think he wanted to do that! I am sure whatever he does he will do it with all the passion there is! We are glad to have Ryan in our home!

Happy Fourth of July

 

 

Happy fourth of July! These are pictures are from our annual neighborhood picnic that the ward does every year -- my kids, that got up, Jacob slept through it this year, had a blast! Spencer loved playing with his friends on the playground and in the WATER! Ryan had a good time playing some of the games! Thanks Perry's for another GREAT party!

July 4th 2006

 

 

 

These are a few blasts from the past of the last fourth of July we were all together for. It was two years ago today, we were in Kanab Utah on our way up to Fish Lake for the DeGraffenried family reunion -- we got to watch a parade on the fourth in Kanab and then get up there. I met a neighbor of ours in Kanab, whe an dher family stayed at the same hotel as we did, the Gardner's in Bridlegate -- what a small world!

Memories

I got this from a friend's blog. I thought it would be fun! I hope you will play along. Here are the directions:

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. If you don't want to play on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, I'll leave my memory of you in my comments