Snow Day

This past Sunday, February 27th, we woke up to snow!!! Tucson has been having record breaking lows this winter. People's pipes have frozen and they have had shelters open at times because some people don't even have heating systems. My kids don't even own coats. Today the high was 78 degrees. When it gets below 60 degrees I break out my flannel jammies. Snow covered cacti is just plain weird!

This shot was taken in Tucson after a lot of snow had already melted.


We drove about 20 miles north towards the mountains to Oracle, Arizona where there was probably around 7 inches of snow. The kids had a blast playing in the snow even though they did not have snow boots or proper snow gear. I for one hate to be cold. They were all wet but we still had to drag them away.


Snow covered cacti?!? Craziness!

I think Gavin was the most excited about the snow. He refused to keep his hood or hat on, driving me wild.

Landon eating some snow. Yummy!

Someone else put in all the hard work of making this snowman we just took advantage of the photo op.

Poor Landon was sick and not feeling his best. Really this was Ashlyn's and Landon's first time playing in snow.

Snow Angels!

Awhile back I made the mistake of watching America's Next Top Model while Ashlyn was in the room. She was mesmerized! This was months ago but she still has spells where she likes me to take photos of her while she does her top model poses. The middle pic is my favorite of the day.

We had quite the battle over her pants. I put her in boot cut jeans so she could wear pajama pants underneath. She has only wanted to wear skinny jeans for some time now. She kept sobbing and telling me that these pants were not her style!

Starry Snow Night

There have been several events around town where they truck in snow for all the desert kids to play in. We went to one at the AFB called Starry Snow Night. They brought in 15 tons of snow. They used bales of hay to make two play areas. One for kids under 8 and one for kids over 8.

Ashlyn was so excited as she has never experienced snow before. She kept talking about how she was going to make snow angels. The above photo is her initial reaction. She said, "It's COLD"! There were a ton of kids and between the fact that it was melting and kids were tramping all over it quickly turned into a hard mound of snow. Ashlyn kept trying to eat the snow. Yuck!!! Landon did not want anything to do with the snow.

Notice the palm trees in the background? Snow and palm trees? They just don't belong together! Gavin misses playing in the snow so he was pumped! He did not appreciate the no throwing of snow rule. He got in trouble a couple of times for throwing it anyways. I felt bad for the lady that had to try and keep the kids from throwing it!

Trip to the Museum

On Wednesday we made a trip to the children's museum. We started out with a pizza picnic on the grass outside of the museum. The kids loved it when the sprinklers came on and showered us. They said, "it was like something that would happen in a movie." :)

Whitney was very proud of her tower she built. We named it the Lopsided Tower of Whitney.

Ashlyn working on some puzzles.


Gavin in the dog pound. Whitney told him to chew on his shoe and he DID! Little brothers do have their uses.

Whitney and Gavin thought this was an ideal spot for Landon.

When I saw the giant projection of rainbow squares on the wall I knew Whitney would love a picture of herself in front of it.

She then asked to take this picture of me cause she loved the effect of the projector's lights in my hair. I have always had clownish hair but now I even have the rainbow stripes to boot! More and more as I get older I am struck by how much I look like my Dad. When I saw this shot, I was a little blown away because all I could see was my Dad. He makes that exact same expression. Family does it not just scream Glen? Or is it just me? This shot is called, "Just Call Me Glenda!"

Tucson Botanical Gardens

My two handsome boys. Love'em in their matching shirts!

The kids have been out of school this week for fall break. Since Chris had the day off on Monday we decided to go to the butterfly exhibit at the botanical gardens. There were lots of beautiful butterflies to see and enjoy.

Ashlyn & Mama



Landon spent the whole time throwing everything that wasn't nailed down into the pond.


Whitney found a friend.

Gavin trying to figure why these two butterflies were stuck together.
Notice the perplexed look on his face.

My Ashlyn girl, taking a break from the hot & humid greenhouse.

Chris trying to keep Landon out of trouble.

Sometimes it is hard to believe that Ashlyn is over 3 1/2 years older than Landon. He is big and she is small. He is the stronger of the two and is starting to beat her up when she makes him mad.

A Day in the Country

On July 5th we were invited to come out to the Layton family's property in Willcox, Arizona. The Layton family showed us a great time! We enjoyed a BBQ and wagon rides. Our city kids were loving life! They had several mules that Whitney and Ashlyn both loved. Whitney has now added a mule to her pet wish list.

Look at those five little piggies! Joni's brothers made a giant mud pit. Chris threw Gavin and Whitney in the pit. I never know what Ashlyn will do but she decided to join the fun. They romped in the mud for a long time. Some people pay big money to have a mud bath!

Come on in!!! The mud feels great!!!

Joni took Wit for a ride on an ATV. She even gave her driving lessons.

Gavin was torn between his desire to go for a ride with Melody and the knowledge that Chris would tease him unmercifully if he did so. He decided to take the teasing.

Joni's Mom was worried that the day might be a little too redneck for us. One of the first things I told her was that I had a cattle trough/swimming pool when I was a kid. I hope I put her fears to rest.

Phoenix Zoo

I think I mentioned that Heidi is a huge animal lover so we had to check out the Phoenix Zoo also. It is an awesome zoo! Of all the zoo's I've been to, I would rank it #2, right after the San Diego Zoo. Though June would not be the ideal time of year to go. It was HOT!

Ashlyn playing at the Fisher Price Farm park.

Ride'em Cowboy Rocky!

This was Landon's first carousel ride. He started off loving it but as it picked up speed he got a little scared and started clutching at me.


Ashlyn loved brushing the goats.


Rocky riding the shark.


All the kids loved this fake cow you could milk or should I say water?



My little Joey is getting too big.


Gavin was wearing the perfect shirt to ride the tiger.


Chris and Carlos were just glad to find someone with a bigger head than either of them.


The rare two-headed tortoise.

Landon liked the goats too. Now that's a goatee!

Checking out the flamingos or Mr. Stand-On-One-Leg as Heidi and I like to call them. Does anyone else remember that Wee Sing song?

Crikey!!! Gavin's caught himself a real beauty this time!

My Island Girl

Doesn't this elephant look real at first glance?!?

We kind of regretted getting the kids snow cones because they all made such messes of themselves with them. In the intense heat they started melting and dripping like crazy. They sure enjoyed them though!

Tucson Children's Museum

The museum was a great way to beat the heat and pry my kids away from electronics for the day! I was able to get a membership for the next 6 months for only $25.00. I couldn't pass that deal up. I foresee many trips to the museum in our future!

Welcome to Fort Carvin!

Officer Whitney is on the job.
Dr. Tobler and Dr. Weaver consulting on a puzzling case.

Rocky the Firefighter

Honk, honk!!! Fire truck coming through!


The submarine area was a big hit.


Ashlyn the animal doctor.


Landon was literally in the dog pound. =)


Carlos patiently playing store with Ashlyn.


Man your positions! Iceberg ahead!!!


Landon loved these stacking rings. He stacked all the rings onto the pegs.


Ashlyn loved this light/sand box thing. It entertained her for a long time.

Bubble time.