Flat Stanley in San Diego

In the car with Andrew on the way to San Diego.

Christine and Maggie at the entrance.

Andrew thought it would be cool for Stanley to get his picture taken with the giraffes.

Stanley hanging out with the kids at LaJolla shore.

Stanley was upset he couldn't get in the water with the kids.

The kids waiting for the waves.

Flat Stanley

Suzanne came to visit for a few days when we had Flat Stanley. Here we are hiking the SanTan Mountains by us with Stan.


Stanley posing by the cactus.


Stanley posing with me.



We couldn't get Stanley to walk, so he hitched a ride with Suzanne.




Stanley watching Andrew's flag football game.





With Maggie at the game.






Stanley hanging out with Andrew and the team after the game.

Our teenager!

Can't believe she's 13 today!

SNOW!

Only in Arizona can the temperature be close to 100 and get a "snowfall". Two big trucks full of ice, a bunch of workers, a big machine to crush it all into "snow"...and voila...a few hours of fun for the kids-and the adults!


Maggie with some hot chocolate, a tank top, standing in about an inch of snow....nothing wrong with this picture....

What Andrew will think of now when we mention snow.

The rule was not to go down head first...but as things were winding down Andrew realized that no one was paying any attention.

Kayaking

Last weekend, Steve and I went kayaking with a group of people from Seville. We took off from Saguaro Lake Ranch. We had a lot of fun. The Salt River is pretty high right now. Chris, the guy who set the whole thing up, said that he's never seen the water so high. It is only a "river" during the months when the farmers need water. The dam is opened for the farmers and none of the water makes it Tucson. It is all used for irrigation.

Our crew of kayakers. Steve and I before we took off.

Gorgeous views.

Because the river was high, we figured jumping from the rocks was relatively safe.

Jennia and I figured we were safer holding hands...

Swim Team Banquet

First Day of School

Christine off to Junior High, Maggie to 4th grade and Andrew to kindergarten!

School Days

The kids have been in school for four days and things have not gone quite as smoothly as I expected. The first day Maggie got up way too early, which resulted in her thinking she should touch up the nail polish on her toenails. She ended up somehow spilling almost a whole bottle of red red polish in the bathroom....on the toilet, vanity, down the wall, all over the tile floor. I will be repainting the wall and I can not get it off the vanity.
Today was the first day that Andrew was happy to go to school. Every other day he has told me that he wanted to stay home with me.
Christine has had somewhat of a rough time. First day of school her tank top strap ripped, so she had to change her planned outfit. We also have not been able to get her cleared to pass her physical. She is having problems with her left eye. We are hoping to get things under control and because she is missing volleyball tryouts she is just going to continue on the swim team for a few more months. Coach Jenny will be happy to hear that.
All the kids are having a good week other than that. Maggie is in class with a bunch of her friends. Christine has lunch with people she knows-there are about 1000 kids at her school so I was very happy when we found out she knew people in her lunch. Andrew has a few people in his class that he already knew. He also has a little boy in there that someone told me was "really wild." I just had to laugh. That was the boy that Andrew hit it off with on "Meet the Teacher" night!

Summer!

Not sure where the summer is going. I thought we would be less busy when school was out but we have been running around to swim practices, tennis lessons, hanging out with friends, movies, basketball camp, library, junior lifeguard classes, swim meets and fitting in a workout whenever possible! It's much better than being bored!

Andrew with his creation.

Hanging out at the pool where Christine has junior lifeguard classes.

Taylor and Maggie going off the diving boards.

Lazy river.

First home swim meet. Maggie, TJ with sign and Taylor.

Brad, Andrew and Trent.

Mag.

Christine

Christine, Allison and Alexa.

Maggie making cupcakes for a "fry fest" at our neighbors.

Maggie, Anna, and Taylor

Greg and Steve at Gokey's Mexican Martini Night.

Senoritas at Mexican Martini Night.