The Rockets Red Glare...

It's lovely in Arizona, in January.  Really, it's just about one of the only times I feel satisfied with living here. 

Pathetic, I know.

This is the month where I love to be outside with my family.  Last Saturday, with our homeschool group, we went to the park and set off...rockets!!

Last year, even though we didn't have a rocket, we went to the event.  Our kids were only a little sad, being happy to chase after the rockets as the parachutes had them slowly floating to the ground.  Unless the parachutes didn't open and then we parents were yelling at the kids to duck and cover, lest they get impaled by a Wal-Mart rocket.  Ah, what a story that would have been.

Some of my children were bigger fans of the whole sh-bang than others.

Ju-Ju did not enjoy it one bit.  This was his position almost the entire time.  It was a little precarious, with a little brother trying to kick him off, but he held on, nonetheless.

Ya-Ya, too, could have lived with a little less noise, please.  After awhile, though, best friends and silly band swaps pulled her away from mama's side.

 

Bubba and Gi-Gi?  Well, they were out there happily watching and chasing.  We would see them occasionally when they would come around for, what else?  Food.  Of course.

Pat worked hard getting our rocket together in record time.  When he opened the instructions, there were 54 steps.  54?!  Good grief.  What a good daddy he is.  He put this really big engine in our rocket for it's first test and then it when up into the wild blue yonder.  Where did it land?  We know not.  We searched...and searched...and searched.  No luck.  Well, at least we got to try it once.

Ju-Ju cheered up after awhile, after his BFF showed up.  He still came running at me everytime he heard a rocket, clambering up onto my lap, letting out a siren-like wail.  Sad, yet funny.  What kind of mama am I?

Ah, semi-happy at last.  Sandwich in one hand, sippy in the other.  Life is good.
Everyone came home pooped-out and ready for naps.  Oh, wait.  Maybe that was just me.

It was a great day!

Introducing George and Gracie!

Warning, warning!!  Do NOT look directly at the following pictures.  Your heart will melt and it will end up in a massive puddle on the keyboard.  That's never a good thing. 

Ah-ha.  Brave, are you?  Well, don't say I didn't warn you.

I will get to our Christmas to-do soon, but I had to introduce you to the newest family members toot-sweet!

This is George and Gracie:

George, a boy's dog all the way

Gracie, with a smitten Gi-Gi 

We had decided last month that we wanted to get a dog for the kids for Christmas.  You know, because we're not crazy enough around here.  Somehow, someway, someone convinced my lovely, adorable, heretofore pet-resistant hubby that it's better to get two than one.  I never, ever in my wildest, craziest, hormone-inbalanced pregnancy-induced dreams did I think he would go for it.

Go for it he did.  Hence, George and Gracie.

George, again

Gracie, again

And now, we're all smitten.

Especially Daddy.

It was a good Christmas.

Catchin' Up

Oh, my poor little neglected, mistreated family blog.  I haven't meant to ignore you.

Honestly.

But, it seems I have done it again.  Six months is shamefully too long as I well realize.

Let's get caught up, shall we?  Last we spoke was June or July.  What's happened?

Let's see...

First of all, we now have three homeschoolers!  Gi-Gi entered fourth grade, while Bubba and Ya-Ya started kindergarten.

Meanwhile, Ju-Ju had been getting a lot of beauty rest.

Bubba has been experimenting with "cool" hair...never thought I'd see the day I'd have a son with a mohawk.

Speaking of experimenting, someone decided to see what it was like to be a beautician.  Ahem.

And Gi-Gi gave her first presentation at the History Fair.  She studied Amy Carmichael and did awesome!  We weren't even up until midnight the night before!

As for Daddy and Me, well, things are just about to get more interesting.

More soon.  I promise.

 

We LOVE Grandma!

My kids love, love, love their Grandma.

Want to know why?

Because, for one thing, she buys these:



She'll always be beautiful to me.



What can I say? He's one handsome boy!



Ya-Ya needs to grow a little more, don't you think?

Oh, and her big kid loves her, too!



That's definitely not the ONLY reason we love her. But it sure is one!

As for me, well, I already have to wear glasses and wax. Why draw attention to it?

Desert Beauties

Even though I'm a native "Zonie", there is no love lost between me and this desert place that I call home. There are some beautiful mountains in Arizona (they even have this white stuff called snow sometimes), but I've never considered the metro-Phoenix area breathtaking (except after a rain, but that happens so rarely).

However, we did get to travel down to Tucson on Memorial Day to visit the T'hono Chul (I'm almost certain that's misspelled) Desert Botanical Garden and it was gor-geous!



There was an abundance of butterflies as well as secret little havens for women without children with them to sit peacefully, drink tea and listen to the water fountain bubble up vigorously. I took a peek before they hastily shut the gate in my face when they saw the stroller. Totally kidding here.



Really, who wouldn't trust these sweet, innocent little angels?



I wish my camera could have done it justice, but alas, it could not. Some things must be seen in person!

Ya-Ya floating her little leaf-boat in the canal they have in the children's area.



Oops, looks like she got a little too close. It bugged her for the rest of the day, poor dear.



Thankfully, Daddy was there to save Bubba before his imminent head dunking.



Checking out the streams in the desert, just like the Bible says.



I know that I'm totally related to this guy some how. Check out his big mouth! Look familiar?



Although, I think I prefer to be related to her! She's pink, sassy and has fabulous taste in shoes. She should have come home with us. Everyone needs a souvenir, don't you think?



Better a pink chicken than a rattle snake!

Wanted: One Brave Dog

Wanted: One doggy to snuggle, lick and play with two little boys and two little girls. We can promise lots of hugs and squeezes, pulled tails, and food under the table.

And this is why we need a dog:



If we had a dog, the five-second rule would be non-existent at our house. Oh, who am I kidding? It doesn't exist now!

Unfortunately, the quality of this picture is not so good because he wouldn't stop inhaling the cheerios long enough for me to get a good picture. He's like a human vaccum cleaner, that boy!

Do you see this, Hubby? Are you convinced yet?

How Does This Keep Happening?

I still haven't figured out how this keeps happening.

Somehow, year after year, the kids just keep getting older. And they like it that way!

Gi-Gi is latest of the kiddos to grow in age and beauty.

I keep trying to put the books on her head, but she keeps knocking them off, proudly declaring that she's up to my shoulder.

Hmph!



Honestly, though, I'm enjoying having a nine-year-old. I love that I get to watch her grow and learn every day. I love that I get to teach her period. What an honor, what a privilege, what a responsibility.



And yet, there is still some little girl in there.

I'm loving that, too.

Happy birthday, sweet girl.