Spring Break...means being Sick.

We had so many plans over Spring Break. Play dates were scheduled for almost every day of the week, we were going to go to the zoo, and go to see the Thunderbirds out at Luke Air Force Base. We actually did get to go the zoo on Tuesday, before I realized that anything was wrong.

Katie's girl scout troop decided to go to the Wildlife Zoo and Aquarium on the west side of Phoenix (an hour away). Christian and I went with since it was Spring Break and all. Upon arriving I noticed many in our group were wearing green. I asked if I missed the memo and was laughed at...it was St. Patrick's Day. Somehow between the night before and that morning I completely forgot that part. All three of us got a sparkly clover leaf to put on our shirts from our ever so prepared leader Miss Cindy (with Scott here). St. Patty's Day was never a big deal at our house growing up...that's my story and I'm sticking to it!We were also lucky to get the group discount, because after we got into the zoo Katie felt awful and was stuck to me like glue. She didn't want to be without me. I kept on trying to get her to talk and walk with her buddy, thinking that she was just having a shyness attack or something. Then she started telling me that she didn't feel good. She had seemed fine that morning, but I imagine that was partly the excitement keeping the momentum going, so at first I wasn't buying it. I told Katie to smile for the picture. She held this face for as long as it took to take the picture, and then...

this is how she really felt...

I knew we were probably never going to come back to this place again, as for the distance and it was a bit spendy without the deal, so I tried to trudge on...

We went on a train ride and a boat ride and fed the Lorries...

and then Katie was officially done. She sat down on a bench and would not move until I said we were not going any further...in that direction at least. We had to go to the Aquarium! Christian really wanted to see the sharks. He was a little disappointed they didn't have a great white...apparently he didn't realize we are a bit inland for that type of acquisition. Even Monterey Bay Aquarium only gets the bigger sharks when they are hurt and then release them when they have healed. They had so many kinds of turtles, Christian really liked that. This alligator or crocodile turtle was huge...

We visited Dory...she found her family...

and the kids favorite part and what got Katie up off the floor was getting to touch the stingrays.

They would come up out of the water sometimes to look at you.

We did a (very) little log ride that was a fun little thrill before we left for home. Katie was just dragging and burning up. We got a slushies on the way home for a treat and Katie was officially done for the week.

We spent a lot of time in pajamas for the rest of the week. On Friday after three days of a fever we went into the doctor to get the official word that it was the flu. Katie got it at the tale end of the season, and a doozy of one too. The poor girl is still sick with a high fever and a cough. At least she didn't miss a lot of school... :)

So long, Mustang Sally...

We really haven't advertised it, but for the last 4 months or so, we have been trying to sell Mike's mustang. Yes, his beloved 1968 GT/CS Mustang of 18 years. He has had it a long time and has been working on it every once in awhile in his spare time. It is an awesome car, but Mike doesn't have a lot of time to work on it (we have had some parts for 6 years that hadn't made their way on yet), so he decided it was time to sell it. I am sure at a later date we will get another one...but for now it is with its new owner.

We could not have asked for a nicer couple to buy the car. Dave and Janis plan on sending updates of the car as it finishes getting restored. Dave came with his friend Jeff last week to look it over and spent 2 hours crawling through, around, and under the car to decide whether or not he wanted it. He fell in love and came over on Wednesday to show his wife the car. He had been looking for a mustang for 5 years that he wanted to buy and fix up. It is hard to express how cool these people are...just down to earth good people. They left after giving us a partial payment, got the paper work notarized the next day and picked it up (and all the parts) on Saturday.

Some may say we are crazy, but at this time in our lives it just felt like the right thing to do. Whenever Mike gets his next job it will get a little more crazy in his life and he will have even less time to spend on the car. It takes up a massive amount of space and is heavy to move when we need to go to our next location. Selling the car was a really hard thing to do, for both of us. Katie has fond "memories" of riding in car. The car hasn't been as mobile since Christian was born. In Idaho there was a registration nazi and she wouldn't register it unless Mike took off the dash and proved that the VIN numbers matched. Christian was actually glad to see it go, but I think he will eat his word in about, say, 9 years. The kids got pictures taken with Dad about a month before this when we thought we had another buyer for it. They each wanted to go around the block with dad on their own before it was gone.

Mike was really trying to be cheerful in the pictures. It is a happy/sad time.

Going around the block with Katie, listen to how good it sounds...

Christian was just a little bit excited about having the opportunity of going with his dad around the block.

Old Friends and the Shooting Range

Last weekend my family got together with my oldest friend that I have managed to stay in touch with over the years. (I know what you are thinking...that really is a miracle... :) ) Kindy and I have known each other since we were 10 years old when we were in the Hill Cumorah Pageant with our families in Upstate New York. So that is almost 24 YEARS. I can't believe it. It had been way to long since we got together even though we only live an hour apart. But with all the family they have in town and Mike's schedule...it really has been hard.

So when we had actually nailed a day down to get together, Mike told me to ask if they would like to go to a shooting range and I did, not thinking that they would bite. Our original plan was to go hiking. But it so happens, that Kindy's husband Vern is a gun man himself. So plans were made for the guys to take to the four oldest while Kindy and I took their three youngest over to Usery Mountain to the playground. Kindy so happens to be one of those people that it may have been forever since I have talked to her, but it seems like it was just yesterday. I love that about her! We had a blast. I really wish my scanner was working, because I would totally put a picture of a long time ago on here.
Here is a picture of our boys together. Mike had a great time with Vern. He said it was like hanging out with one of his Brookings friends...a very high compliment since they are the closest thing he has to siblings. I think Mike would love to go shooting with Vern again.
My kids had only visited a shooting range once before when Mike wanted to shoot his Christmas present and break it in really fast after we had gone hiking one afternoon. They weren't to sure about it at the time. But when they found out that the Vern was bringing some rifles for the kids to shoot they got really excited. (Thanks for sharing!! Now Mike has told the kids we will have to get one for them too...what a bad influence ;) ) You can see that Christian revved up a bit of his testosterone while shooting his gun. The great thing about shooting ranges, is they are very safe places to go shooting. I was impressed the first time we went there with the rules and the procedures that they had.

Mike got a "shot" of my little girl shooting the rifle. Look at the concentration.

Christian loved it too, although not a real great shot at this point. He was just so excited about shooting the gun he apparently didn't pay attention to the target per se.

It was a fun day that went by way to fast. Thanks Kindy and Vern for driving all the way over to the East side. Our turn next time!

Pinewood Derby

Mike has waited years for this day. No, he didn't get another Mustang or a Harley. You would think in his profession, that he would have done this before. But, no. There is no Pinewood Derby car requirement in becoming a professional scouter. I am not sure how he never did it as a Boy Scout, but he didn't. So here was his chance, finally, to do it with his son.
They didn't really like the noise. Both Katie and Christian made one, so they were out helping dad...

Learning to sand the pinewood derby car...the evening was a little cool, so Christian had his blanket...

The requisite funny photo...

After "painting" Christian's car. It was a peel and stick "skin". It looked really cool, but I think that we will paint the car next year. (Notice the U of O colors duck fans...)

The day of the race. The cars are actually passing the finish line in this picture. They were going so fast I couldn't get them to be in the picture. But you can see Christian standing to the far left taking it all in.

He had a fast car, thanks to a dedicated dad that wanted him to do well. (He sanded the axles). He got a trophy and was on cloud nine. The first 5 runs he was 1st four times. But the computer wasn't registering them correctly, so they ran them all over again. He still ended up in second place, and he could have cared less at this age. He was just glad to have a trophy.

Look at that face...

A fun day for Dad and Son.

Katie got overall first place in the Exhibition round if you don't count the car that belonged to the boy scout that had already competed. And we're not. So she was first. (Okay, second, they did let him race...) She was pretty happy too. Not sure what happened to the pictures for her...but she was ecstatic. She wishes the girl scouts had a pinewood derby too. :)

3 Years in Arizona

Today is officially our third year in Arizona. I am sitting in my living room with orange blossom breezes wafting in from outside. It is gorgeous here this time of year. This is the time of the year that makes me especially grateful to be here. The sun is ever present and is not yet beating your brows like it does in the summer. The skies are almost always clear. The flowers are blooming in the backyard. (I will have to add a picture later). The kids are making chalk pictures on the driveway, because it doesn't yet fry their legs and riding their bikes and scooters around the block. I love it.

The move here was a real blessing for our family. It was time to move from Idaho, we were going one way or another, so there is no loss of love for Idaho. Coming to Arizona instead of somewhere else at the time was just so right for our family. It has been an oasis in our life of moving around. Mike's boss has been fantastic. A friend and a mentor. He has had great bosses that have helped him see how to do different things fantastically. We have had more balance here for family. Not to say he isn't still gone...a lot...but still, more balance. Some how, when we move again, we will have to find balance again. You only get your kids once and you just have to make sure life doesn't swallow you up and squander those times together. This next time Mike will be the boss, and it will be intense. We don't know when or where it will be, but it is coming one way or the other. I am peaceful about it though. I haven't always been lately. But I am now. Once you put your trust in the Lord, it is "easy". We haven't gone anywhere yet and still have many plans in the making, so don't write me off.

For now, I am just grateful I am here. Smelling the orange blossoms through my window at night. In Arizona. Life is Good.