River Play in Gila Box

Rivers in Arizona have a tendency to slowly diminish until they are a mere glimmer of their former glory.  The Gila River almost disappears until the summer monsoons arrive refreshing it.  We decided to go to the Gila Box Riparian Area and enjoy a lovely swim before the river dwindles.  The water was pretty chilly but that didn't stop the boys and zany from swimming.

Quinton tries to talk Zany into going in the water

Declan in green, Quinton and McCoy bent down (Shadow Ash far left)

Finally got Zany into the water, she's shirtless like her brothers

Happy Archy

McCoy going for a real swim

Zany decides a piggy back ride is the way to go

While Archy was swimming he found a debit card in the water.  We actually knew the person it belonged to, we had bought our piano from her.  We contacted her and she had been there the day before swimming. She had already cancelled the card but she couldn't believe we found it.

Archy with found debit card

Zany didn't like the cold water for long so she spent her time on shore building a fairy house with sticks, rocks, and flowers

Zany with Fairy House

We'll have to go back sometime and see if any fairies have moved into their lovely home!

Fun at the Tucson Zoo

We decided to purchase a zoo membership since it was about as cheap as just going once.  Whenever we went to Tucson we would go to the zoo.  Pa went to this same zoo when he was a boy with his grandma LaVona Jones Hawkins who lived in Binghampton (which was the LDS community in Tucson back in the day) not to far from the Zoo.  We had talked about taking Pa to the Zoo with kids for a couple of years.  We picked a lovely day for it, and the animals were very active.  The Tucson Zoo is a perfect size and you can get quite close to the animals.

Part of the Zoo Party

McCoy, Zany and Archy getting a closer look

 Archy loves of animals of all kinds and was very excited to feed them.  When Archy gets excited he does flappy arms (his elbows are bent and his little hands and arms flap up and down).  Zany does the same thing but for her its when she is scared.  McCoy, Archy and Zany got to be a part of the feeding giraffe experience. 

Here is the experience in Archy's own words:

We wait in line, then we give them the token, Then we got our carrots, then we go to feed the giraffe. The giraffe was walking to us. Then he got a little closer, then the giraffe stuck his tongue out and he wrapped it around the carrot. Then he ate it. Zany was scared because she doesn't want to feed the carrot to the giraffe.  Dad help her to feed the giraffe. We pet the soft skin on the giraffe's side.  It feeled soft.  McCoy did it too. He feed the giraffe too.

Interview with Mom (Rhiannon) and Archy, again in his own words

Me: Archy would you do it again (feed the giraffe)?

Archy:  Yes

Me:  If you could feed any other animal at the zoo which one would you feed?

Archy:  Well the lions would be scary, but I want to feed the lion. Wait, would the zoo helper help me?  Would I have to climb in or get in to feed the lions?  Wait, I have to climb on the glass and drop it?

Me: They probably have a back door

Archy: Will I probably just throw it in?  I don't want the lions to get out.

Me:  What would you feed them?

Archy:  Lions like meat. I will feed them meat. I think they eat any kind of meat but I think deer meat.

Me: What is your other favorite animal at the zoo?

Archy: Peacock, because when you're eating french fries and walking it will follow you.

Me: Archy if you were in the zoo and people could feed you, what would you want them to feed you?

Archy:  French Fries and carrots, a ham sandwich, that's my favorite food

Getting carrots to feed the giraffe

Archy and Zany waiting for the giraffes

Brave Archy feeds a giraffe, while Zany and Eddy watch

McCoy's arm feeding a giraffe

McCoy (left to right), Archer, Declan, Zany and Eddy with a giraffe

We just love the penny stamps souvenirs and usually get them when we see them at various attractions. They are fun to crank and a cheap souvenir too.

McCoy cranking out his souvenir

Archy with a Zebra finally on display, most of the time the Zebra is in a back pen and Archy is disappointed but not today!

Zoo pals: Archy, Declan and Quinton who happen to match

Maybe next time we will see if Quinton and Declan are brave enough to feed a giraffe!

Noon Creek Picnic & Ladybug Saddle Hike

Spring in Arizona is a glorious thing, not because we had a hard winter but because we know: Summer is Coming.  Hot, hot days like today where it got a up to a 117 degrees and all of us just stayed inside the whole day and didn't go swimming even.  It was just too hot.  I tried not to feel guilty about it; I figure when it is in the single digits back east during winter people just hunker down and stay inside too.  Thankfully days of 117 are not to often.

This day when we all (including the Germaine's) went on a picnic it was in the low 80's just right for a hike and a picnic.   Noon Creek Picnic Area is a short drive up the mountain.  It got its name from back in the pioneer days, when the women and children would escape the heat by traveling up the mountain for the summer and half a day's journey by horseback would land you at Noon Creek where I supposed the pioneers ate a picnic lunch too.

Pa and Nona enjoying the day

Eddy and Zany 

The boys has so much fun climbing over the rocks

Quinton center, McCoy right, Archy middle, Eddy back

Zany trying an acorn, rare where we live, but quite abundant at Noon Creek

After our Picnic, we decided to check out some hiking trails

As the boys hiked they looked for javelinas since they saw quite a bit of javelina droppings.

What's this hiding in the brush?  

Not a javelina but a friendly Quinton

When we came to the Ladybug Saddle Trailhead our party separated. Most went back to our pinic spot and the rest (Ashlee, Rhiannon, Declan, and Quinton) went on to hike.

Ashlee and Declan

A rare photo in the wild of Ashlee, who usually is the designated photographer but I seized the camera so I could take photos of her trying out her new black diamond poles.

Lovely specimen 

(You say that when you don't know what the proper name is)

Dec, Ash and Quint

Quinton and Declan (red shirt) considering the descent

Another photo of Ash

We were happy to discover running water and a waterfall.

Declan crosses after Quinton

You wouldn't kick a guy while his down would you Quint?

It was a very nice hike and would be even more beautiful in the fall with the leaves changing colors. I am always wanting Ashlee to take up hiking with some plein aire painting.  That's my dream we hike, then we set up our little easels and portable paints and companionably paint together and then resume our hike.  Don't worry I'll talk Ashlee into it one of these days, sisters who hike/paint together, stay together (I'm pretty sure)!

Eddy's Favorite B-day Cake!

Eddy is not the biggest fan of birthday cake, but he finally found a recipe he likes. 

Recipe Follows:

Eddy's Favorite Birthday Cake

8 oz. ground beef

2 slices American Cheese

1 hamburger bun

1/2 Onion chopped

1/4c. Jalepenos

2 T. Mayo

1.  Take a bun and toast it  2. Put on a hand-shaped, flat grilled patty, add melted cheese 3. Add another patty with add cheese 4. Top with grilled onions with jalapenos and the bun top smeared with Mayo  5.  Add candle and light 

                                   

Eddy with his Cake, and Scott

His best friend runs a grill shack that really makes the best hamburgers in town (Eagles Roost). Before Eddy got a job as principal he and Scott worked together in the summer as handy men.  They became such good buds that Scott can make Eddy's Favorite Cake without a recipe now!

                                                          Happy Birthday Eddy!

Super Bowl and New Lights

I am blowing the dust off this here blog, and finally making a blog post.  My sister (Ashlee) kindly photographed, edited, and put the photos in a draft so all I had to do was be the wordsmith.  Still I had a hard time blogging, terrible I know. Forgiving readers indulge me and imagine it is February, or was it January and the Super Bowl had just happened

We had a simple superbowl party with Pa, Nona, Ashlee, Eddy Rhiannon, Quinton, Declan, McCoy, Archer, and Zaynzley in attendance.  Our tradition is to not tell which team you are supporting; you just appear wearing the colors of the team you have chosen.  It adds a little excitement and makes sure no one can flip flop and change their team mid game.

We also have various treats and candy that is tied to the game. Touchdowns, Coaches Challenge, Field Goal, they all had various treats.

Who is this motley crew supporting?

Bronco Fans: Declan, Pa, McCoy, Archy, & Zany

Before the game starts laundry has to get put away!

We also have a kitty, (a buck a person) whoever guesses the score closest to the actual score gets to keep all the money.  It adds a bit of excitement to the game!

Archer and Peyton are the big winners this day!

In more recent news . . .

I went out of town for the weekend with my sister so she could do a half marathon (hopefully another blog post? if she took pictures) and when I returned I discovered Eddy had added recessed lighting to the livingroom and kitchen.  Let me tell you I am a person who loves light! First thing I do in the morning is go around opening all the blinds and turning on lights.  I can't have too much light, it drives me crazy when Quinton closes the blinds in the playroom in the middle of the day.  He is more troll like just like his grandpa Quinton (Pa) who also doesn't like a lot of light.  So I was thrilled to get more light in the livingroom and the kitchen.  I replaced  the light fixture in living room lovingly named "Head Cracker."  I had purchased it online without taking into account how low it hung.  Ashlee was always cracking her head on it and nearly passing out. She was glad to see (feel) the last of it.  I got this current fixture below for a dollar at a yard sale.  It was to small to light up all the area the previous light fixture had so the dimmable recessed lights are a perfect team!

New Recessed Lights

There may be some more catching up post from the past year but I am sure your imaginations are up for it!

First Time Thespians

We live in a town that is all about sports.  My kids enjoy sports but I also want them to be well rounded and do more than just athletics.  The local community college sponsors plays for the children and youth several times a year.  The intermediate childrens play (11-16 years old) happened to be in the winter which was perfect as it landed between sports seasons.  I originally was just going to have Declan do the play as he has been begging for years to do them and he is naturally very dramatic.  

When I told Declan about it, Quinton overheard and he thought it sounded fun and he wanted to do it too.  I was so surprised, I never in a million years thought Quinton would want to do it.  They both went to auditions and had to sing a solo, do some improv, and a cold reading of scene.  The next day they found out what parts they were cast for in the play Into the Woods, Jr.  Declan got the part of Cinderella's Father and Quinton was the Wolf.

Six weeks of rehearsals came and went, and before we knew it, it was time for the play!  In the days leading up to the play Quinton was very nervous, and wished he could quit.  Too late he had to stick it out.   The parents were in charge of their own kids costumes, so I got to put together costumes which was fun. They had two different casts and they were in Cast 1 and had three performances.

For the Thursday night performance they had quite the support group. 

Back Row: McCoy, Eddy, Zany, Archer

Front Row: Pa, Grandma Parke, Aunt Rebecca, Aunt Jeanine, Rhiannon, Ashlee

Program and Ticket Stub

Quinton, center stage, as the Wolf, he even sang a solo!

Quinton and Little Red Riding Hood

In one scene, the wolf is suppose to howl.  Quinton due to his voice going deeper was completely unable to howl. He tried and tried for weeks but couldn't do it at all. He made arrangements with another cast member to howl off stage while he acted like he was howling. No one was the wiser not even the director!  Now that's acting.

Grandma Wolf in bed, soon to have a death scene

Declan as Cinderella's Father had one line but he performed it perfectly! 

Declan in "old face"

The grandma and the big, bad wolf

The finale had a lovely dance number

Declan in the swirling back capelet

Fan Club

Selfie time with dad

Brothers that act together . . .

Forks up!

The great thespian in his first role

Takes a bow!

They both did a great job for their first play, and it was so fun to watch them. I went to all the performances and each one got better and better.  Despite Quinton's reservations I finally got him to admit it was fun and he may even do it again.  Declan, of course, is totally doing it again and is hoping for a few more lines.