Friday, March 30, 2012

Homeward Bound

I've been desperately ill the past couple of days, much more so than Rich was even and he was very sick. It was definitely the flu, not food poisoning because others in our park have had it too. Finally today we are headed homeward.

This first photo is the back of the Welcome to Apache Junction sign as we left town this morning.



And this was my last look at the Superstitions this trip.


I'll be resting now.

Lovin' Life ~~ More When Well Though!

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Our Final Four Days With The Kids

If I'm going to get caught up before we leave here, I'm going to have to just post very few photos with short descriptions of our last four days.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

On Saturday, their day started very early with Sandee and Shelby going with Dylan to opening ceremonies for his Little League season while Shawn and Jackson went to the first training/organizing session of Jackson's spring flag football team that Shawn is coaching. Rich and I went to their house in time to hang out with them before Dylan's baseball game. Shelby and Dylan were getting things ready for a garage sale they hope to have soon.








Dylan's first game of the season was a great one! His team, the Angels, won 12 to 11 after a nail biter finish. There was even a home run hit with the bases loaded...you don't often see that in Little League! His first time at bat, he was walked and there was a hit by the batter after him. Here he is at bat, running to second, running to third, and heading into home.








Just look at the ball in this next shot! Incredible huh? The last is one of Dylan after the game...a very happy guy.






Sunday, March 25, 2012

Sunday was another day of relaxing at their house. No one could even decide what they wanted to eat. So, Rich, Sandee, and I went to Sauce....good food and such a treat to have some time alone with our daughter!



The kids did spend the night with us, for the last time this trip...so sad.






Monday, March 26, 2012

Even though we got a late start on Monday and Rich was seriously ill throughout the night before, we had a great day! We swam at our pool...great pool, perfect water temp...why did we wait so long to try it?!?!?!











After swimming all afternoon, we ended our evening with dinner at Red Robin.



Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Tuesday we fulfilled the last item on our "bucket list" for spring break. We went to Organ Stop Pizza which I had written about here. Luckily Rich was able to go with us, but barely. This is the first time that the kids had been there. Shelby was enthralled and entranced by the rising stage, the immense organ, the lights, and especially the music. The boys and Sandee came a bit later after the performance had started and they all really loved it too making it a great last evening together.


It was so hard to say goodbye Monday evening but we are all well aware that we are one very lucky family...to have each other and to have all these great times to be together.

Lovin' Life ~~ And My Family

Children's Museum of Phoenix

Last Thursday we took the kids to the Children's Museum. The first or second year it was open was the only other time we have been there; it has grown up quite nicely! The entrance has always made me smile as we approach it. There are many public places that would be doing us a favor if they just painted big, colorful "Here is the DOOR" for all to see.



I may have been the most excited of all because I couldn't wait to see The Climber that I had read about on their website...it did not disappoint...to say the least. Adding to its perfection for me was a conversation I had with a group of folks, including the museum designer, during which I mentioned City Museum in St. Louis and he replied that that was the inspiration for The Climber...loved that! Here it is...reaching to the top of this massive three story former school.



The museum has lots of stuff for kids to do and ours took advantage of most of it. That made it challenging to decide what to put in this post. I've decided that I will only include photos of The Climber...since I'm in love with it.




















Ah, yes...in the afternoon, when the crowds had thinned out, Rich and I explored The Climber too. Now do you understand how massive this structure is?













Love this photo of Jackson and his Grandpa...name that movie!

I have so many perfect, cute, funny photos of the kids playing in other areas of this great museum too, but if I don't stop with these, I will never get caught up. And catch up I must because we plan to leave on Thursday and that means that my internet access will suffer even more. Before I close though, here is one last photo of the kids at the bottom of the wide staircase that leads to the second floor, taken just before the museum closed.



Lovin' Life ~~ And Children's Museums Everywhere

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Flowers on Dutchman Trail

Rich had lured me with the promise of abundant flowers on the Dutchman Trail hike. Of course I wouldn't have missed that fun time with the kids for anything, but the chance of shooting some spring blooms was an added incentive. Here are some we saw on our hike Wednesday...










Some, like these blue and the white below, are so delicate and tiny that you could easily miss seeing them as you focus on your steps on the rocky trail.







Lovin' Life ~~ And the Flowers of a Southwest Spring