something interesting

Our condo is located in a really nice part of Phoenix, and we have been enjoying walking in the neighborhood. Today we went a different way, toward 'old litchfield', which is a stunning neighborhood with well kept yards. We kept seeing what looked like 'lids' in the ground near peoples driveways, and finally Scott stopped at one near the sidewalk and opened it. It was a garbage can! There was a handle attached to the can, and then the lid hinged over it all. We stopped to ask some people how the empty it, and they said the garbage men do it by hand! Scott figures they must be the strongest garbage men in history!!

Anika's turn

Today was Anika's turn for 'date with Daddy'! After Scott and I did an hour walk this morning to a new section of town, we came home to have breakfast and get Anika ready for her date. Then Daddy headed off with a very excited little girl! They went bowling, and the lanes were 10 pin!!! It sounds like they had a terrific time - the bumpers for the gutters came down for Anika's turn, then up for Scott's, so she ended up beating him! How exciting for her!! Then they used a coupon to go to Baskin and Robbins for ice cream treats, but they could only get through 1, so they brought the other home for the rest of us! According to Anika they shared an 'ice cream flit' - she came home extremely happy! The rest of us had a nice swim while they were gone! When they came home we did some running around, then home again to swim 'in the dark', as the kids have been wanting to, and we ordered pizza to be delivered POOLSIDE - are we living the life or what??? Sitting in the hot tub in the dark, looking up at the stars framed by palm trees and our kiddos splashing and laughing and playing in the pool, we are feeling VERY blessed today!

kick back

Today we just had a total kick back day. We swam lots and had tons of fun playing games and fooling around in the pool. We ate lunch poolside. Scott barbequed for supper, and then him and Tia headed off for one last hockey game. They can't resist these cheap seats!! They were cute heading off in their matching coyote hats! We're planning our escape on Friday, when we will head for new territory! We are planning to hit Sedona on our way to the Grand Canyon, after Scott found a book about Sedona at the bookstore the other night!

Going to the zoo, zoo, zoo!

Today we went to the Zoo!! It was completely awesome! Here were some of our favourite things! -Petting sting rays!! -Feeding giraffes - their tongues are totally long and they are blue! -Feeding baby lamas in the petting zoo. -Feeding baby deer in the petting zoo. -Trying to avoid being butted/bitten/eaten by the goats in the petting zoo! (Also watching Scott attempt to reprimand the butting goat by grabbing its horns!) -Watching the tiny baby goats playing with each other in the petting zoo. -Petting (and being chased by!) giant tortoises. -Seeing an 8 month old Joey, 2 baby cougars, baby warthogs in a playpen, and baby tortoises in the baby animal nursery. -Feeding a lemur! All around the zoo were little 'candy machines' of food to feed various fish, turtles, ducks, etc. At one of the duck ponds there were lemurs in the same containment, who were scared of the ducks, yet interested in the pellets. When we threw the pellets close to where he was sitting, he would scoop his little hand in the water and fish out the pellet and pop it in is mouth - SO CUTE!! -Walking on the 'Kangaroo Walk', which was an enclosure with a path fenced off with only a rope, on the other side of which hopped various kangaroos! One of them had a little joey in her pouch, his head and feet were sticking out!

Cactus Man

Okay, so this is a confession. When my brother and sister in law were here they wanted to buy a 'cactus man' for a friend of theirs, who used to have one. In the first days of being in Arizona, it seemed 'cactus man' was everywhere, but we couldn't find one. So I promised to buy one for them. I bought one, but then I sort of got attached to him...and now he is attached to my antena...and he's so cute with his little cowboy hat, and he waves his little cactus arms when we drive. Also Shaina is horrified, which makes him even cuter. So hopefully we come across another cactus man before we leave. Sorry Gerry!

Walked to church!

This morning started just like every other morning here has, with a little 3 year old whispering, "Mommy! Mommy! Can I go to the bathroom in your room? Mommy! When it's morning, can you get me something to eat and drink? Mommy! Are you getting up now??" After some totally delicious toast, made with the Farmer's market bread from yesterday - my favourite was the dark chocolate cherry - can't wait to try baking THAT! Scott and I jumped (yes, we jumped), on his motorbike to head just up the street to check out the Litchfield Farmer's market! It was just a little tiny one, but sooo cute, on the front lawn of resorty country club or golf course or something. There weren't a lot of booths, but we had coffee and wandered around on the lovely lush green grass. Then we walked into the hotel to buy a Sunday paper, and peeked at the beautiful pool/waterslide area, marvelled at the beautifully decorated building with dark wood floors, tile, rough wooden furniture and unusual light fixtures! We went home to grab the girls, and headed off to walk to the same church we attended last week. Anika and Madie rode their bikes, it was lovely to wear shorts/capris/sundresses and walk to church in March! It was a beautiful day with not a cloud in the sky! Madie went to her own class this week, about 20 grade two's! Tia went with Anika, and the rest of us listened to a sermon on Revelations! After church we walked back home for (turkey)bacon and tomatoe sandwiches, and then Scott gleefully headed off on his planned afternoon motorbike trip! The girlies spent the afternoon as women of leisure. We swam for a long time - it was HOT this afternoon! This weekend was really busy at the pool - way busier than we've seen it! Our noise/toys are much less noticeable than they were a couple of weeks ago! haha! After that we walked to the park, (the 2 little bike riders rode), and I learned how to fix a bike chain...twice. Yes, it's true - after 14 years of parenting, this was the first opportunity I have had to fix a bike chain. How we grow, hey? On the way back stopped at the amphitheater which is in our back yard. There's a concrete stage, in front of cool 'bleachers' made of concrete with grass tops, so I saw a bike show, then a tap dance, then a trike show - awesome!! Scott joined us as we were performing! Chili's for supper, then we walked over to "Barnes and Noble" - as I wanted to buy the girls a book about the grand canyon before we see the real thing!

Farmers Market

This morning we headed for the farmers market in Scottsdale. It was fun to see the beautiful breads and other offerings! We bought some cranberry orange bread, some chocolate cherry bread, and some neat little buns that were baked into a big stick sort of like a baguette. We also bought apples, tomatoes and we shared a couple of homemade donuts that were amazing!! We had researched a dance store down in Scottsdale, so we stopped in there to get Tia some tap shoes, then stopped at a big antique mall. It was really fun to poke around - they had a huge array of things, it was like a crowded museum!! After lunch at the ever popular and totally packed out In and Out burger, we headed back to the condo for swimming and relaxing! As I write this Anika is in bed, and the rest of us are watching "Megamind".