Phoenix, Az

Big D had a business trip to Phoenix and he wanted me to come with him. It was initially suppose to be Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but it got changed at the last minute. I'm fine with that because I've never had the opportunity to explore Phoenix. I love going places I've never been, which would be just about anywhere outside of Idaho.



We tackled a lot of good food, let's face it when you're on the company dime you try stuff you wouldn't ordinarily be able to afford. Big D calls himself a connoisseur of burgers so he is always in search for his next favorite. I honestly didn't think he was going to be able to eat this one, it was huge. He ended up taking the onion rings off so he could fit it in his mouth.



One day Big D got out of work early so he was able to go to the Apache Trails with me. We went through a ghost town. I don't know if you can really call it a ghost town because it's still being used as a town. There are stores and tours and a saloon. I think the only thing that wasn't still in use was the brothel.



We got there after the town was all close up but we still enjoyed looking around. Big D got a little frisky with a cactus, I don't know if he thought those pokies were fur or what, but he learned real quick that there were no softies in that town.



The church even had a sign out front inviting people to come to their Sunday Mass.



Outside the brothel we found this cage, they had some massively huge birds back then.



On one of the days I went on a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West house. He used this house in the winters and ran an architect school out of it. It is still being used as a school. In the Summer he would stay at Taliesin East in Wisconsin. They used to require their students to live in a tent the first year of school. After that they had to build their own residence. They still have the students build their own residents but they don't require them to live in a tent for a year first.



Wright had an ingenious design, he had this pool in the front of his house and as the hot winds out come up the mountain it would glide over the water and cool and air conditioned the house. This picture is of his personal studio. It was the first room they took us in and I couldn't quit thinking about how it would make an awesome green house with just a few more windows. I bet it made a wonderful studio with all that natural lighting too.



One night we went to a Diamondbacks vs Yankees game. The Yankees won 9 to 3.



On our hike of the Apache Trails we found so many wonderful things to take pictures of.



We were in the mountains when the sun started to go down so we took pictures as we were heading out.



Then when we got out of the mountains the sun was setting over the desert floor. It felt like the sunset just kept going and going.



It wasn't quite a full moon but it was close. And that just gave us more to take pictures of.



On a mountain ridge it looked like a bunch on tombstones but they were cacti. I tried to capture it but I don't think it work they way I saw it in my head. But it's still a cool picture, I think.

Florida, Take One

The flight to Florida was uneventful. The boys both did great on the plane and it's a good thing Bud plays good with just himself. In all fairness, Grandma Honey tried her hardest to stay awake, but it was a long day.



Big D did NOT sleep the night before our trip due to allergies so he had no problem sleeping every time he sat down. I felt so bad for him starting his vacation out not being able to breath but once we got to Florida his allergies didn't bother him, YEAH!

Bear is just like his dad, he can sleep anywhere. He had a great time on the plane when he was sitting next to Bud but they were so loud with their wrestling and giggles we had to split them up on the next plane. It's amazing how crab nasty people can get when you shove two hundred bodies into a sardine can.



I suffer from a condition called "Kantsleepinmovingvehiclitis" so the girls and I played with all the stuff Grandma Honey packed in their goody bags. All the kids really enjoyed the free soda and cookies they got on every plane. Especially since mom, that's me, doesn't let them drink much soda.



One of the fun things we did was go snorkeling. We saw some Manatees on our way to Three Sisters (where the manatees have their babies) so we decided to jump out of the boat and see if we could get close enough to see them. Bud was real excited and was one of the first to jump into the water. But then something happened and he got freaked out and wouldn't leave the boat the rest of the trip.



Bug took to the water like a fish, I think she's related to Big D. Plus, I think she snorkeled last summer when she came to Florida with Grandma Honey and Papa Guy.



Beaner was so excited to get in the water, it was a little warm out, she jumped right in as soon as the boat stopped. Bear wanted to jump in, like he does off of our boat, but he opted to let Papa lower him in slowly since these were unfamiliar waters with huge animals swimming around.



We came back from snorkeling at the wrong time, low tide. So Big D and Vincent had to navigate us around big rocks and patches of underwater bushes. They did a great job and we promptly learned how to read the tide charts after that.



We also went hiking one day. In the middle of our hike we came upon a river and the kids wanted to look for shells. I was taking pictures of them when I walked over to the side and about a foot under Beaners feet (she's the one sitting on the wall) there was a huge snake. The only thing we could assess is it wasn't a water moccasin, that was a relief. Needless to say, we didn't stay there very long.

Give a Day, Get a Day

We decided back in February that we would earn a free day in Disney World. Grandma Honey helped us come up with the idea of what to do.



We decorated bags and filled them with goodies.



We also cut out and sewed stuffed monsters.



All this hard work went to a local hospital.



They hand them out to little kids who either have to stay in the hospital or are at the hospital a lot visiting a family member who is sick.



All the kids did great. It took us all day and none of them complained.



By the time we were done we had about thirty monsters and over a dozen goody bags. I think that's pretty good for a days work.

We had a great time in Disney World, how could you not. We split the day up, Big D and I took the boys and Papa Guy and Grandma Honey took the girls and then we switched.



We had a hard time getting the boys to go on any rides. We tricked them into going on this airplane Goofy ride and both boys were hanging on for dear life.



Next we went on the tea cups and that was a mistake for Big D, he got queasy afterward.



Both the boys enjoyed this ride because it didn't leave the ground.



When they saw the speed way they wanted to go. After we were done with the first go around, and a thirty minute wait in line, Bud wanted to go again.



Bud got his wish because halfway through the ride Big D and Bear's car broke so they let us all go again without having to stand in line. I wonder if they wrecked their car because the driver couldn't see over the steering wheel?



When we got to trade I was super happy to ride some more "grown up" rides. So we went on the magic carpet...not so grown up if you ask me.



The girls were getting on my nerves so I locked them up for a bit till they had an attitude adjustment.



I don't know what kind of special powers Grandma Honey had but she could get the boys to go on rides, fun rides. The first time she took the boys on Pirates of the Caribbean Bear got a little freaked out when the went over a little waterfall. He grabbed Honey and screamed, "I thought you said this wasn't a fast ride!" By the end of the evening Bud was saying, "Man, I sure wish I could go on the pirate ride just one more time." So, of course, Honey took them one more time.



The hats were super cute but I couldn't spend $40 a hat for four kids, so we took a picture of them. Oh, and Big D too. Some times I swear I have five kids.



This isn't the best picture, but we were on Splash Mountain. We got to ride this one back to back too because it was while everyone else was watching the fireworks. My philosophy is: you've seen one firework show you've seen them all, lets ride.



It was great being able to take our kids there. I hope it was a magical place for them. I feel a little bad because they didn't get excited to meet any of the characters because they didn't know who any of them are. That is one of the draw backs of not having a TV.



By the end of the evening we were all toast, my big toe was in a coma, and Bear didn't think he could walk anymore (thank goodness for the $15 Wal-Mart stroller we picked up). I hope they look back and think to themselves how great it was to give service and get two wonderful days full of fun memories in return: one serving and one playing.

We Didn't Forget The Kids

With all the festivities going on, we didn't forget to let the kids have their Easter. Granted we did tell them the Easter Bunny wasn't coming until noon, that bought us slacker parents a bit more time.



I might be a mean mom but I make my kids wait in the other room while the Easter Bunny is delivering his goods. Big D and I hop around the living room hiding eggs. Big D even does a weird bunny voice like we are talking to him. The kids go crazy with anticipation.



After the torture is over we release the hounds and they pounce on their goods. The kids are fascinated with pregnancy right now, go figure, so Bug had to show us her belly.




Beaner pounced a bit quicker than everyone else so she found the most eggs. As you can see she is not about to share, too bad for her. She finally relented and gave one to Bear who is the slowest and shortest egg hunter.



Despite the fact he didn't find the most eggs, Bear is still happy with his finds. And thanks to Aunt Kathy they got SOME candy in their eggs instead of the boring $$$ that mom always puts in. Aunt Kathy also spoiled each of them with a book that they love. Thank You Aunt Kathy!!!



After we were all done we got down on the floor and counted out their $$$ to make sure everyone got the same amount, $5. More $$$ for them to spend in Florida, YEAH! Unless the $$$ burns a hole in their pockets first, darn those school book fairs.

Surprise! Happy Birthday Renea

Itch asked us to watch his kids overnight. We tried to think up ways to entertain all eight kids. Discovering it was Renea's birthday we decided to throw her a surprise party.



Everyone had their duties to get ready. Big D and Bud were on cake duty, Beaner and Bear were on present wrapping duty (we went to the dollar store and everyone got to pick something out for Renea), and Bug and I were on decorating duty. Bear really traveled from on responsibility to another, depending on who was having the most fun and how soon he got bored.

Shopping was interesting trying to keep my four kids focused buying for Renea and not themselves. But they thought they should give me ideas for when I do this for their birthday's, Bear's being next week and all.



To say Renea was surprised would be an understatement. She is not one who likes being the center of attention so when she walked in she looked mortified and immediately looked for the nearest exit.



Her brother's, on the other hand, were a different story. Even her little sister, Jo, was giggling, but not Renea. Now all the are excited for when I do this for them too. I'm going to be throwing a LOT of surprise parties this year. I probably can't call them a surprise anymore, can I?



After we found where Renea was hiding we dragged her in to sing "Happy Birthday" to her. I think this is the first smile we got out of her.



We filled every one's bellies with nutritious food first: pizza. Then we had some cake and ice cream.



It was a good thing other cousins came to the party so we could see just how many people we can fit into my tiny kitchen.



After we sugared everyone up it was time for the hot tub. It was perfect weather, thank goodness. Just thirty minutes before the kids went outside the wind was horrible and it was more slush/rain than snow. But when they finally got out it was big juicy flakes just floating down.



The kids had a great time jumping on the tramp in their swim suits, making snow angels, having snowball fights, and jumping back into the tub. All in all I think it was a success.