Projects and wonderful kids

 This is a painting I have been working on when I get a minute. When I first moved here to the desert, all I saw was a brown landscape.
Just after we moved here we would often visit the desert museum. While there we once saw a couple from Switzerland, they were talking to one of the workers. The worker was talking about some of the vegetation and proceeded to tell them that this was some of the most beautiful landscape that they would see in this country.
At that moment I realized that I was either looking at a different landscape or that she saw something in it that I didn't. From then on out I began to find the beauties. First the only thing I liked was the purple prickly pear, because at least it added color. Anyways as I've lived and walked in this landscape now for a couple of years I find it absolutely beautiful and full of suttle vibrant colors all around. I wanted to capture a little bit of what I see. That is why I decided to do a painting.

This is another recent project. I made this wreath out of our Christmas tree. Originally I was determined to not spend a penny on it and made it a Valentines wreath with things around the house. (Needless to say it didn't look so great.) With fall here I wanted to put something on the door and decided to give the wreath another try this time I spent just a couple dollars on flowers from the dollar store. I think the couple dollars was worth it, because I like this wreath much more than the previous one.

As far as the wonderful kids goes...
I will often ask them what they think of different things I do around the house and especially decorations. (It's nice to have someone else say, yes that looks good or no Mom that doesn't work.)
When I made the wreath, Calvin came over and said, " Mommy that is beautiful! ". Then just sat by me to look at it for a little while.

When I hung up the painting, I asked the boys what they thought. Alden took a big gasp of air and said, " that looks perfect! "

My sweet little boys can often change a hard day to something great! So grateful for them.

Sabino Canyon and other things

We found water!! We have been to Sabino Canyon a couple of times, mostly because everyone has told us about all of the water that the kids can throw rocks in or play in.  The first time we went for a hike and never saw anything that gave hints that water would be there at some time. The next time we went to the visitor center and asked about a hike that would lead us to water.  The lady looked at us strangely and said, "water? I don't know of any short hikes that will get you to any water".  The last time we went we went a day after a big rain storm and their were little puddles that the kids threw rocks in. This time we took the tram and discovered their is tones of water, we were just hiking on the wrong side of the canyon. These pictures were taken when we first got to this spot, we stayed here for a little while.  By the end Alden, Calvin and I had pretty much been swimming in the water! It was a perfect Labor day activity.  We will probably go back and this time we will know where to go!

These pictures below were part of a history lesson.  We just finished up the Roman empire in history.  The boys each made the city of Rome with cookie dough, they then became the Vandals and the Visgoths and destroyed their city! 

I couldn't help but take this picture of Benson. He loves to snuggle, and is almost always found snuggling with one of us or one of his animals.  He especially likes this bunny that Grandma bought for him when she was out here.

This is Benson at the swimming pool. He often gets out much sooner then the rest of us and will go sit on a chair. This time he was playing peek-a-boo with his towel.

Benson in normal clothes!! Almost everyday Benson wears one piece PJ's because we have found it really helps his skin stay clear.  Even one day in pants can cause eczema on his legs.  His body has really been looking so clear for quite a while now that I've decided to dress him in normal clothes every now and again and see how it goes.  It sure is nice seeing him in normal clothes even if it is just for a little while.

Alden's birthday!

Last year on Alden's birthday we went to Peter Piper Pizza. The reason we did it was because Alden and Calvin's dentist had sent them gift cards for free pizzas.  This year we didn't have gift cards but Alden still really wanted to go back.  The boys had a lot of fun.  They played a couple of arcade games, then they got to spend their tickets and ride the carousel. It was a simple and inexpensive activity but the boys loved it!! Below is the boys pretending to play the driving games.  Those games always cost more and the boys pretty much fill like they are doing it as the demo plays.

This is Alden first thing in the morning by all of his presents.  It is fun to see their excitement and to be part of all of it!  The other pictures of him when he has his 6 year old shirt on were taken later that night when he got to open all of his presents.  His big gift this year was a new bike.  He was ready for one! It is amazing how much faster he can go and how much easier it is for him to ride now that he has a bike his size! (His last bike he got on his 2nd birthday and he has been riding it ever since.)

Bits of random

This picture I took of Benson with the dirty shirt, I took simply so I can remember what it is like having toddlers. I am pretty sure he couldn't have been outside for more than two minutes.  When I came out to join him, he was ready to come inside covered head to toe in dirt.  I don't know how many times a day where I walk into a room and say, "Is it really humanly possible to make a mess that big in such a short amount of time".  I have discovered that yes, yes it is, and it is part of all of the fun of having small children.  It's finding the same joy in the mess that they find.

The picture of Benson below is a picture of the day the birthday package from Grandma came in the mail.  She sent all of the boys birthday presents together.  It was fun to see them all open their gifts but was especially fun to watch Benson.  I didn't capture it well here but he was so excited.  The other boys had received cards and gifts for their birthday's that are so close together. He never had seemed as though he felt left out but it was fun to see him beam when he realized that he had a number of little presents that were just for him to open and enjoy!

These last couple of pictures were when we did letter h with the preschool class.  The key word for H is hair so we made hats with hair.  I couldn't resist getting a picture of everyone with there hats on! 

Calvin's birthday!

 This was the day before Calvin's birthday. I had the boys get on their matching birthday shirts one last time!  This is us in the morning during school. I decided to homeschooling Alden this year. I'm glad I did! It has been a lot of fun, it's especially fun to see how much Benson gets into it. He sure is a little cutie!
As for Alden I am glad we are doing homeschooling because it allows him more play time, being a young 1st grader I'm glad he gets that.  Also it's given me more time to work with him and already he is reading a lot better!

 Three handsome boys! It's fun to watch them learn and grow but also crazy how fast it all happens!

 We started Calvin's birthday celebration the night before his birthday. We knew that the night of was going to be full of a few different things and that Austen would be heading back home so we decided to start celebrating early.
Calvin's big gift was receiving a new bike. (Really it's Alden's old bike but we fixed it up and put training wheels on it and he couldn't have been happier!)
Having pettles really was a new experience and did take some getting used to but Calvin just kept on trying and now his doing quite well with his pettles!
Fun to see him work so hard for this new skill!

 The day before Calvin's birthday I put up the streamers and had balloons ready since we did a lot of the celebrating that day. It was fun to see him come downstairs, so excited to see everything and so excited for his big day!

 The morning of his birthday he opened the last couple gifts. Here he is wearing his 4 yr old shirt, he's been waiting a long time to put on that shirt! I still have a hard time believing my sweet little Calvin is 4 yrs old.

 The day of Calvin's birthday we threw both him and Alden a birthday party. Alden and Calvin are friends with many of the same people and since their birthdays are back to back we decided it would be easiest to do a combined party.
It was things that fly themed. Alden and Calvin are big into making paper airplanes. I am constantly finding paper airplanes everywhere. (It brings back many fond memories of teaching Jr high.. those kids also loved making paper airplay. ;)
Anyways so that is what we did, they colored paper then made their paper airplane. We then played pin the airplane on the runway. After that we took a break for cake and ice cream.
(We did a no gift party which I kind of enjoyed. Mostly we chose to do this because the party was for both Alden and Calvin which would be too much in the way of gifts. I was surprised at how much the boys were for it, they were just excited to have a party and have all their friends over, which is the best part of a party anyways.)

 After cake and ice cream everyone got a rocket and we practiced shooting them and then had contest shooting them off the top of the stairs. Everything turned out really well. It seemed like everyone had a good time and the birthday boys couldn't have been happier!

I have to admit I think I look forward to their birthdays just as much as they do. It is such a joy to see the excitement on their faces!