Funny mistake

I looked at my blog several times over the last week and new something was wrong but I just couldn't put my finger on it....today it dawned on me what it was. The pictures in the header were from two years ago not last year, hahahahahahaha! I've since updated the header with last years pictures. We'll be having new family pictures made soon so they'll be updated again in the next few months....silly me.

Nathan has his MRI this afternoon. I'm sure it will be several day before we know anything but as soon as we do we'll let everyone know the details.

Kinzi broke her big toe last week at school during Kempo (like Karate) class. It's getting better this week but it's very sore and a lovely shade of purple with some swelling.

This week we really saw a turn around with the kids socially at school. Nathan has 3 boys that he's made friends with that all eat lunch together. Kinzi started making friend this week as well and has even invited someone over. I hope we can get that arranged for her.

Scruffy got 70% of a haircut. He gets grumpy about it after a while.

Chuck is busy as usual. He going through Air War College and as a part of that has to take Spanish. He's using the Rosetta Stone series. He's el loco when he chit chats in spanish...hehehe sorry honey. He's playing lots of golf in the afternoons in this terrible heat but it's tons cheaper so he just makes the best of it. He's also been working out like crazy and he's in terrific shape.

We have had some crazy thunderstorms the last couple of nights. Sahuarita is a mess, some of our tiny levees broke and debris is everywhere.

My time isn't my own all the sudden. Depending on the day, I spend 2 to 4 hours on the road getting my kids to and from school in town. We have high hopes it will all be worth it.

Updating Blog Look

I'm in the process of updating the look of my blog....so if things look a little funny....I've made a mistake and am working on it! You see pretty much the basics but I have to reload some things on the Sidebar and many things are not cooperating. All will be normal soon!

School Started

The kids started their new school last Monday. The first week went very well. We're still happy that we made the move and as we expected the only "bla" part is the drive into town. Once we get into a groove it'll be better. The kids schedules are pretty rigorous. Nathan has Algebra II, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Art, Social Students, English, and Latin. I may be forgetting something but right now I don't remember. Kinzi has AP Math, Language Arts, Science, Geography, Latin, Kempo for PE, Art, Music and a class called Classics. They study Greek and Roman culture....perfect timing since we were just in Rome. They are busy but not horribly so. I think Kinzi is planning on trying out for the theatre group.

This weekend they both has miserable colds to end their first week of school....poor kids.

They spent the weekend playing game and having fun. Kinzi made an animation that I can't wait for you to see.

http://

My best friend, Diane and I went to see Mama Mia for the second time this weekend. We love that movie. If you haven't gone to see it take a bunch of girls and go have a good time. It's really good!!!

Meet Brutus

Well....you met some of our tiny froggie friends in previous blog entries... now meet the opposite end. This is Brutus, he greeted me this morning by jumping at me while I was closing the door when I was leaving to take the kids to school. I spent all day in town while the kids were in school and when I came home, he was still here.....snoozing by the cactus.

This sucker is the size of the small Chihuahuas that live down the street. Not only is he huge, he's poisonous. He's a Colorado River Toad. Don't know if you can see the white pockets on the side of his face, but that's what's poisonous. If Scruffy was to get him....it wouldn't go well for Scruffy. I was going out tonight with the bucket to send him on a flying leap over the fence and he was gone.

The kids started school yesterday but I'll wait until the end of the week to update everyone.

Live in Arizona?

You know you're from Arizona when...
1. You are willing to park three blocks away because you found shade.
2. You can open and drive your car without touching the car door or the steering wheel.
3. You've experienced condensation on your butt from the hot water in the toilet bowl.
4. You would give anything to be able to splash cold water on your face.
5. You can attend any function wearing shorts and a tank top.
6. "Dress code" is meaningless at high schools and universities (picture lingerie ads).
7. You can drive for four hours in one direction and never leave town.
8. You have over 100 recipes for Mexican food.
9.. The four seasons are: TOLERABLE, HOT, REALLY HOT, AND ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME??!!
10. You know that the heat you feel when you walk outside is comparable to what hits you in the face when you open your oven door.
11. You think someone driving wearing oven mitts is brilliant.
12. Salsa is a part of your daily diet.
13. You can listen to a weather report of 117 and not flinch.
14. You notice your car overheating before you drive it.
15. You can pronounce San Xavier, Saguaro, Tempe, and Cholla
16. You no longer associate bridges or rivers with water.
17. You know a swamp cooler is not a happy hour drink.
18. You can be in the snow, then drive for an hour...and it will be over 100 degrees.
19.. You can make sun tea instantly
20. You run your a/c in the middle of winter so you can use your fireplace.
21. The best parking is determined by shade.....not distance.
22. You realize that "Valley Fever" isn't a disco dance
23. You actually burn your hand opening the car door
24. Sunscreen is sold year round, kept right at the checkout counter.
25. You put on fresh sunscreen just to go check the mail box
26. Some fools will market mini-misters for joggers and some other fools will actually buy them. Worse.....some fools actually try to jog.
27. You know hot air balloons can't rise because the air temperature is hotter than the air inside the balloon
.28. No one would dream of putting vinyl inside a car
29. You see more irrigation water on the street than there is in the Salt River, and, on that note, you have to go to a fake beach for some fake waves.
30. You can fry an egg on the hood of a car IN THE MORNING!
31. You think a red light is merely a suggestion.
32. Most of the restaurants in town have the first name "El" or "Los."
33. Your house is made of stucco and has a tile roof.
34. You think 60 tons of crushed red rock makes a beautiful yard.
35. Vehicles with open windows have the right-of-way in the summer.
36. People who have black cars or black upholstery in their car are automatically assumed to be from out-of-state or nuts.
37. You know better than to get into a car with leather seats if you're wearing shorts.
38. You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from Arizona

Look what I've been doing!

I've had an incredibly relaxing weekend of just scrapbooking. Here are some of my results!

Credits for above 2 pages: Paper: Lindsay Jane Designs, Seascape kit, Tortuga Template #15 by Kellie Mize, Messy Stamped Alpha by Katie Pertiet, Font: Scriptina(Free)

Journal: The Pantheon was built by Agrippa in 27 BC and replaced by Emperor Hadrian in 117 - 125 AD. The famous artist Raphael's tomb is on display here. The Pantheon is still used as an active church today.

Credits: Papers and Elements by Limabean Designs, Kit: Organic, Template by Yin, Fonts: Scriptiva and Bernie Condensed

This fountain is in the heart of Rome and gorgeous! Legend has it that if you throw a coin into the fountain with your right had over your left shoulder, you will return to Rome someday. You both want to go back....so we will see......

Credits: Papers/Elements: Holiday in the Sun Kit by Dani Mogstad, Template by Yin, Fonts: Scriptiva and Myriad Pro

The Vatican is beautiful. They own the most art in the world Christian and Pagan. Even the Vatican has an Egyptian obelisk in the courtyard. We visited everything....St. Peter's Basilica, Sistine Chapel, Vatican Museum and the grounds.

Credit: Papers/Elements from Travel Album Kit by Digital Scrapbooking Premier, Template by Yin, Alphas from Autumn Potpourri by Jeann Jeann G, Font: Scriptive and Bernie Condensed

The Roman Forum is where ancient Roman civilization developed. It is unknown how old it is because not everything has been excavated. It did house the royal residence, the complex of the Vestal Virgins, and governments. It was the economic hub of the republic and empire. There is a temple to Julius Caesar, whom the senate deified posthumously.

Credits: Paper/Elements Kit: A Place Called Home by Misty Cato, Template by Yin, Fonts: Scriptiva and Bernie Condensed

The Colosseum is one of the most ancient ruins in Rome. It was built in 70-80 AD. It has quite a sordid history. Mock naval skirmishes were conducted here as well as oratory performances, animals shows, gladiator battles and Christians being fed to the lions. Today the Pope leads a torchlit procession call the "Way of the Cross" to the amphitheatre.

Credits: Papers/Elements Kit: Road Trip by Dani Mogstad; Template by Yin; Fonts: Scriptiva and Bernie Condensed

This is the last leg of our European Vacation. We all loved Rome. Here you will see typical streets as well as Piazza Novana and the Fountain of the Four Rivers and Fontana de Nettuno (Neptune). Gian Lorenzo Bernini was the architect and sculpture of the Four Rivers Fountain. The fountain also has an Egyptian obelisk in the center. Il Vittoriano, the wedding cake building, is also shown. Military honors are given out here.

Credits: Paper/Elements Kit: Wanderlust by J. Billingsley; Template by Yin; Fonts: Scriptiva and Bernie Condensed

Invasion of the tiny frogs

Meet our little froggie friends! Yee gads! We have tons of this little critters running around our yard. We counted 26 on the driveway and sidewalks....we're sure there are just tons more in the rocks. These guys are no bigger than 1 cm. Today, at lunch time, I caught one in the garage and showed the kids. We oohed and ahhed over how tiny it was and then let it go. At dinner, Kinzi came in from getting a soda out of the garage and told us the little froggie was back with a friend. We proceeded to show Chuck (he wasn't home earlier when I found the first one). Chuck and Nathan laughed over it really being a nano frog....geocachers will get that comment. Anyway, after dinner, when I went to put out the garbage, I found three by my front door, turn around saw two more and then looked up and everywhere you looked little critters were jumping everywhere. The kids came outside and counted 26 on our side walk and drive way. We also saw one that might me mom.


Freddy
Billy
Cindy
Bobby
Patty

Lucy Mom decided to pose for me right as I snapped the picture!

Just kidding...we really didn't name them I just didn't know what else to put on the captions.