school supplies

This week we went out and bought J's school supplies. It was fun and Jake got a kick out of picking out what he needed and then of course his favorite part was the lunch bag......
He also was allowed to get a new backpack and of course he picked Buzz Lightyear for both. O not quite understanding why J was getting all this 'stuff ' . We had to explain that it was for kindergarten.
They were having great sales at Target so most of it we got on sale and it was a lot of fun. Although- the list said they needed 4 black dry erase markers and various sized ziploc bags????? Oh and stickers??? Interesting list......

packages packages

The boys love receiving something in the mail-- it makes their day.......

Plants and a move across country.....never a good idea

So, before I begin, I just want this out there.... I wasn't thinking.

I mean come on, 4 plants and a move to the Southwest??? Not to mention, leaving the midwest when it was hot and humid!!!

Needless to say, I had managed to keep 3 out of the 4 plants alive.... barely

The one that perished was my beloved Bamboo- it was an awesome Bamboo plant ( see previous post) but the heat and harsh life in those 3 1/2 days took it's life.....
Seriously, it was brown and fried from it.
I tried to revive it- but no such luck- I had to let it go
However, I have managed to save the other 3- one is an indoor palm tree type houseplant and the other is your run of the mill, rubber plant- not sure what the "technical" name is
Of course, I had to remove all of the brown, fried, dead leaves and water them and hope they would come back.

Oh- and the third plant is a Christmas cactus- so it is tough- the right climate- it looks great!!

You would think the way I was raised with an outdoor vegetable garden, 4-H - which many of my special projects had to do with planting/gardening, and our solar room, I would have a GREEN thumb- but no, I do not have the knack-
In fact, I have killed many plants in my day- even the hardy cactus....

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It's that time of year I love- fresh strawberries!!! Anyone have any really good or unique recipes with strawberries out there??

Monsoon is here....

Tonight on our way up to G and G Gus- we drove through a dust storm, some giant rain drops and then a rainbow on the other side.
The monsoon is here and with it are some cool looking lightening.
We celebrated the end of my birthday week with cake and ice cream and
the boys got to see Grandma and Grandpa G's house- J hasn't been there since he was a baby, and O, has never been there before.....

I read a really cool quote this week and it really spoke to me---

"Always take responsibility for your own happiness"

This is SOOOO true- and so simple! I guess what it says to me is to not let anyone or any thing ruin or control your happiness

There has been so many changes recently and now, I feel like I can relax for the first time in a long time. Not that I really can relax- I have goals, and the kids have needs, and we still have our day to day routines, but I feel like I can relax in a way that I can just have fun and I guess relax is equal to happiness....
It must be the sun, and all of the extra vitamin D I am getting - LOL- but I am really excited about this time and even though, I turned 37 ( which when I think about it, seesm old) I am really excited- Maybe it is the heat- you know, the low for last night was 92...

Also- I found out some great news- one of the benefits of where I work is a free gym membership for me and anyone in my immediate family!!!! We have a gym here, but that will not always be the case.... but if we go 4 times a month- we can earn $100 each - what an incentive!!!
Enjoy some recent pics and will be putting more up of our recent adventures later this weekend

Gotta love IKEA

We are a little tight for space here in our rental. The kids have been eating at a plastic art table, and we have been eating in front of the tv- but on our laps- not an ideal situation.
Rob and I went to IKEA and we ended up finding this very space, efficient table and chairs there!
All 4 of us can sit here with plenty of elbow room since we are each sitting at the rounded corners- and the chairs, although they do not look sturdy, they are very!!!
They are heavy chairs and pretty comfortable.

Now, we can actually eat at a table, and still have plenty of room for the wicker chair in the corner and the table and chair were not that expensive.......

We are still unpacking if you could believe it... It is taking my some time, and we are still trying to get some things settled around here too- so I am taking my time. I have to say, though, I am getting tired of walking around boxes and "stuff" so this weekend, I am getting it done!!!
We have been down to the pool, and O is getting use to the water- I need to find swim lessons for both of the boys.
Even though, I put on sunscreen, I still manage to get a little tan?? What is with that?? I guess that just tells you how intense the sun is.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July- I hope everyone had a safe and happy one.

We decided to go out and see fireworks, even though, we really should have stayed home to unpack, but what is the fun in that???
The place is SLOWLY coming together, but we still have much to do

For the festivities this year, we went to Rawhide- it is a place that is set up as an old town with cowboys and shoot outs
They had a special thing going on for the 4th and so we decided to go there and watch the fireworks there too.

O and J loved the town, the jail, the cowboys and the General Store
Enjoy the pics !!

well, we are in the middle of unpacking, but we also have to add in a little fun

where we live, they have a playground for kids on the grounds of the complex- we took the kids there to check it out
then, of course, we had to check out our old house- it looks pretty much the same- the palm on the side of the house was removed- and solar lights were added to the sidewalk- it was such a nice first home
then- R and I took the kids to In and Out Burger- they weren't that impressed, I guess because it isn't McDonalds- but hey, we love it!

Today, we went to the pool here- the kids had fun- it has a sand beach and the kids can walk into it like the ocean
Now, I guess I have to get back to the unpacking- still not quite finished.....

Arizona Bound

We are here finally in Arizona- what a journey to get here.... things just fell into place.... very quickly
We were a traveling caravan- R driving the truck, me following with the kids, and Grandpa following in our second car....

After being gone for almost 5 years, it is pretty much the same as it was. The cool part is, I know where I am going and am familiar with the area so it is kind of like stepping into our past lives...

Getting here, was it's own adventure- after having truck issues- which ended up being 2 bad batteries, we were finally on our way out- then , in New Mexico, after leaving our hotel, R had a 'brake pressure light' come on with some alarm- this didn't last, but sure made me nervous.
He assured me that the brakes were working fine, the alarm and warning light went off, so we carried on- all I could think about is driving down to Phx from Flagstaff
After the driving down from Flag, the truck started to overheat- no alarms- just the truck temp up to 225 ( it had been 180- 200 the most during the trip) so R, turned the air off, the heat on, and with the windows down, drove down I17 t0 I10 into 115 degree weather!!!

The kids did very well- O, was the best- he played in his car seat, they had their doodle pads and their view masters, J, on the other hand, a little more antsy, but he also did pretty well considering the long drive. They usually slept after lunch, so I was able to have a little quiet during that time.
I enjoyed my Jack Johnson music ( I recommend his latest) and imagined myself at his concert coming up in October!!!
All in all, we are happy to have made it here safely- and thankfully Grandpa G, drove our other vehicle with us!!!
We are unpacking slowly, trying to get use to the 2 hour time change, the heat, and the new place- So far, we only had one thing break- it was one glass- not bad!!!!

PS- a trip wouldn't be a trip without making the kids put on some fur cap, and take their picture, right??