Blizzard 2009

Spring in Oklahoma is a surprising season.  We can go from sunny, summer weather to frigid snowy weather in an instant.  This week was proof of that absurdity!  

Our trip to Arizona in pictures

The boys (Papa, Chandler and Ben) went Quad riding and the girls had a Real Tea Party.
Ben, Chandler, Kaylee, Papa and I went to Superstition Mountain for the day.  It was beautiful!
Ben and Kaylee got into a bit of trouble!

We even got to swim several times.  And by "we" I actually mean "they"!  Too cold for me!

Chandler, Kaylee, Ben and I went to an Indoor Amusement Park.  These things have to exist in a climate as hot as Phoenix!  
We made several trips to different parks .  Wonderful weather the whole time!


Chayse's first time to be in sand.  Papa had to help her clean her hands and she had to learn how to "walk" in this crazy stuff we call sand!

We had a great time and really enjoyed Phoenix a lot more this time then when we were there last time in the heat of the summer!  We had sun each day with temps in the 70's and 80's and there is really more green in Phoenix than one might think.  It was beautiful!  I highly recommend visiting Mom and Dad there!  

Just call ahead for reservations!

My Princesses and The Kazoo Player

My Princesses - complete with Purses, Pets and Wands. (and Heels that you cant see)

They just come down the stairs this way, proclaiming their beauty the whole time.  I assume Kaylee helped Keira with her ensemble,  but rest assured, that girl can do it ALL on her own too!

And this is my Kazoo player and dancer.  Multi-talented, I tell ya.  

And yes that is Mexican Standoff by Elbow playing in the background from my Eclipse playlist.  (my Twilight Addiction continues on... and on...)

Our Solar System

This was Chandler's 3rd Grade Solar System project.  We did it completely from scratch.  Apparently there are some Solar System Kit's out there, but I had no idea.  It wasnt any harder, I dont believe, to just buy separate parts.  We bought styrofoam balls and we used wooden Shish-Ka-Bob skewers and some paint that I already had.  Ben cut up a diaper box and spray painted it black, and I hot glued the "rings" on saturn, but the rest was completely done by Chandler.  He did the painting and the assembling in the order of his choosing. It was kinda optional how you wanted to display them, in order or just around the sun in various "orbits", but he chose to do it in order from the sun.  

Great job, Bubba!

Keira the Talker

So Keira is quite the talker.  She jibbers all stinkin' day long.  Today while they (Keira and Chayse) were eating their lunch, I was munching on some Cheetos and saw Chayse watching me.  The little stinker caught me.  Then of course Keira catches me too.  Then comes the barrage of questions from Keira.  

What are you doing, Mommy?  Are you eating?  Having chips?  Mommy?  Yummy chips?  Can I have some?  I want some chips.  Mommy, can I have some? Mommy?  

So, since my mouth was full I hoped that a nod would work to hush her for the moment.  I nodded yes to "Are you eating?".  One nod for "Havin' chips?".  One nod yes to "Yummy chips?".  One shake of the head for "Can I have some?"  

Well, Chayse thought this communication method was quite funny.  She starts nodding and shaking that head like crazy and laughing.  

A new barrage of jibber from Keira ensues.

What is Chayse doing?  Mommy?  Is Chayse laughing?  Mommy, Chayse is laughing.  Silly Chayse.  Whats so funny, Chayse?  Chayse is nodding yes, mommy.  Chayse said yes.  Chayse nodded no, mommy.  Chayse said no mommy.  See Chayse?  Mommmy, what is Chayse doing?  Is she laughing?  Mommy?  (seriously, this goes on all day.  All day.)

So I started nodding again in response to both girls.  Now it is more of a game than any sort of actual question answering.  Nods yes and shakes no are abound in the house.  

Keira says  What are you doing?  Are you saying yes?  Are you saying no?

I said yep.   And then I returned with a question of my own.  "What if I do this, Keira?"  And I rolled my head all around in Shake-Nod fashion.  

That stumped her.  She sat there silent for a while.  She just stared at me. (YES!  I did it!  I silenced her!!)

Then she says " Mommy, that means Yo!"