05.20.2012: Solar Eclipse aka "The Ring of Fire"

This afternoon we were hanging out by the pool waiting for the annual Solar Eclipse.  For those of you that forgot your 3rd grade astronomy lesson, a solar eclipse is when the moon moved between the Earth & the Sun.  It creates a ring of fire (because the moon is smaller than the sun)....hence the nickname "Ring of Fire".  This eclipse happens once every year, but is only visible in certain parts of the world or country depending on when it happens.  This is the first time it has happened in the  entire continental US since 1994.  Pretty amazing that it has been that long...and I can remember doing this same thing then too!

Anyways, back to THIS solar eclipse.  The news had been talking this thing up for days....and we were the only ones out there watching it!!  At least here.  I was shocked.  There were some other people outside, but they had no clue what was going on.  I showed Vince and Drake how to make the box with the pin hole in it so that you can see the eclipse happening without looking directly at it.  It was amazing to watch the light change.  So, we shared our technology with some of the neighbors and showed them what was going on out there in the universe while they sat there and baked and drank.  :)

The next day at school, Drake shared his pictures and box viewing instrument.  I found it interesting that he was the only one in his class to do it...or to even observe it.  I think it is pretty amazing.  Arizona wont witness another total solar eclipse until 2205.  Yes, that is right, 2205!!!  They will be visible annually at different places in the USA over the years, but for AZ....2205!!  So basically we witnessed the last eclipse in AZ in all our lifetimes.  It was a moment.

 Creating our advanced technology...

 It is just starting...you can see a sliver missing.

 See the partial eclipse below

 Now they are just posing....with cardboard

 Almost there!!!

 Found these on my camera later....guess they got bored when I went to the bathroom!

So I couldn't get a pic of the final eclipse because the sun moved behind the building....we saw it though! :)

05.19.2012: The Future USA Olympic Kayaking Team

So, one of the whole reasons we came up to Watson Lake was that we saw we could rent kayaks and go kayaking around the gorgeous boulders.  Well, there was a little rental thing that rented them out of the parking lot....so later in the day, we did it.  Our original plan was to get a couple and spend the day out there on the kayaks, but once we were there, it didn't really seem reasonable to do that! Or like it would be as much fun as we imagined. Haha!  So we got one and took turns rowing out, and rowing back.  The boulder area was way on the other side of the lake, so we just stayed in our area, which was plenty for the kiddos.  So we all took turns on them with the kids....I think I lucked out with getting Nana....she seemed to know what she was doing.  She asked all the right questions right away....how to row, do you row together or separate, how do you turn....you know, all the logical things you need to know when you get into a kayak.  Once she knew, she was a pro!  We didn't go far though....she wanted to make sure everyone was in eyesight, just in case.  Both Vince and Brent came back at the end of their little excursion with that look of "I'm done!" And both were a tad wet haha!  Oh well! The boys both actually did really good...they got the hang of it!  And they LOVED it!

05.19.2012: Watson Lake Picnicing & Hiking

So one day I was googling new camping spots and lakes in AZ and found these pics of this amazing looking lake up in Prescott area called Watson Lake.  It had all these beautiful granite rock formations and just looked isolated and remote and pretty!  I also found that you can rent kayak's there and take them out on the lake and go exploring.  It was something we had not yet done and thought the kids would love it....so we planned a Sat to head up the road and check it out. 

Prescott is about 1 1/2 hours north of us....so not too bad for a day trip.  We headed up and got to the lake just before lunch-ish.  We were a little disappointed when we got there....as Watson Lake is more of a city parks lake.  Perfect for town people, but we were looking for something a little more desolate!  Oh well....at least we weren't planning to camp!  So, we found a nice picnic spot on this big grass area and set up shop.  It was in the 80's so was warm, but in the shade was perfect.  We ate, then just relaxed in the grass and let the kids run around and the boys all played catch with the football.  Avery was still new to the walking thing so she was happy to have freedom to run around...lots of stumbling & falling, but she didnt mind at all!

 During lunch Andrew noticed that one more of his teeth were missing!!!  He was panicing "I lost my tooth, I lost my tooth!"  We thought he meant right then....but he actually lost it sometime during lunch and more than likely swallowed it!  He did mention that his sandwich was crunchy, but we didn't really believe him, as there was nothing crunchy in it!  Oh well, I am sure the tooth fairy will come anyways....

 Snooze time......everyone kinda crashed on the blankets and rested in the sun.  It was sooooo nice and comfy....wish we could have napped!

 Brent decided to take the kiddos for a little hike/walk up the hill near us.  Didn't really look like there was a trail or way to get up there.....but Brent and the kids found one!

 After they got back from their jaunt up the hill, we took it to the lake.  We wanted to see some of these granite boulders we had seen so many pics of.  So we walked down to the water and started on a short hike around the lake....

 Avery didn't really like being all trapped in the backpack carrier thing.  She was constantly trying to fight her way out!

 Lots of the desert life was blooming and active.  We saw lots of birds, lizards, plants & flowers....no snakes thank goodness!

 Avery is distraught!!!!  Wants to walk by herself!!

 So halfway thru the walk, Andrew started getting really bad stomach aches....aka, he had to poop!  Poor guy...there was no where around to go....so Brent took him off in the brush and did it Lake Mead style.  He had no problem with it...but poor Piggy!   Brent consoling him on the walk back to the group.  I really want to mention the "hot rock" that was used to wipe...nice improvising there Brent.....but afraid that might come back to haunt Andrew one day...but definitely something we never want to forget...so it stays!! He sure is a trooper though!!  I am sure they had a great father-son moment right here....

05.18.2012: Dinner with Leary

Vince and his really good friend, Leary, from WAY back in his Air Force days recently got back in touch with each other.  Kinda funny because Leary now lives in Temecula....basically down the street from where we spend half the year!!  And Leary travels to Phoenix quite often for work!  So we had him over for dinner the last time he was in town. It was so nice to finally meet him after hearing so many stories about him over the years!  It was great getting to know him and we look forward to seeing him out in CA next time we are out there!

And yes, Vince has been growing a full stash & beard....unapproved by me! :)

05.15.2012: Happy 1st Birthday Avery

Happy 1st Birthday lil' Tubbers...aka Tubba Wubbas...aka Tubs...aka Tubs of Fun....aka Tubbazilla....aka Puddin'....aka Puddin' Poppers...aka Missy Blue.....and of course, aka Avery for those that actually call you by your name!

Yes in just a year you have developed many, many nicknames.....some of which we will have to soon retire as I am sure you wont appreciate them as you get older.....but you are one cutie-patootie!!  I might always have to call you Tubs though and I apologize in advance!  You have brought so much joy and laughter and happiness to all our lives in just your first year.....

We all love you baby girl!!!! :)

05.12.2012: Avery's Smash Cake Photo Session

On Saturday, Alisa and I held a "Smash Cake" photo session with Avery! Before I go any further I have to say this was one of the funnest photo sessions ever!  It was so cute and funny and poor Tubbers did really well!!  She wasn't too happy about wearing her dress....as it was pretty snug around the mid section and very "girdle-ish". Basically she wasn't having it...it was very uncomfy!  However she powered though....and she did look too cute.....way to train them young on sacraficing for fashion!  At least she doesn't have to worry about the shoes yet!

She wasn't too sure about this whole sweets thing....took her awhile to adapt to the cake.  She wasn't quite sure what to do with it.  Alisa had to prompt her quite a bit....and "help" her eat it...aka shove pieces in her mouth....but once she got the hang of it, she was all about it!  I still say she is a carbs girl over a sweets girl....but only time will tell! :)

I think Alisa and I had just as much fun as Avery....we took about 200 pics though....and I am sure Alisa had a tough time sorting thru all those to get the best ones!  I think I would just want them all!   Here are just a few samples of what she selected!!  I love the squishy face one personally :)

05.10.2012: Andrew's School Play

Andrew's school play was next!  We were really looking forward to this one because Andrew actually had to sing his part....which I thought would be hilarious!!  However, Vince got sick and we spent the entire day in the ER.  He was having really bad chest pains (Man Scale of 8 on a 1-10....which is like a woman's 2...but that's for another day!!)...but since it was chest pains we figured better safe than sorry and take him in.  So we spent the day in the ER....luckily Vince was perfectly healthy and they did every test you could imagine on his heart and chest and all was absolutely perfect!  So, that was good to know at least! 

Anyways, since we missed the play, Alisa taped it and I stole the video from her :)  I was watching it on her phone and went ahead and forwarded it to myself since it was too hard to hear on the phone and thought the computer might be better.  So thought I better make good use of it.....posting my stolen video here :) 

05.09.2012: Drake's School Play

Drake's school play was the very next day.  His play was a Roman/Greek theme, so they all had to wear togas, and Roman garb.  The kids had a ton of speaking parts....I still don't know how some of them memorized all those lines!!  Drake had a few parts in the play, with a few speaking parts, but I only got pictures of it....the play was way to long to video it all!!  He did a great job though!

05.08.2012: Brianna's School Play

Brianna had her end of the year school play today....so Vince and I took a break from work to go watch it.  She was dressed up as a French painter.  It was really cute...she painted a painting (pretended) and had quite a few lines within the play....that she didn't even need help remembering!!  See video below! :)