Children's Museum of Phoenix 8/22

On Friday our family decided to have our first field trip.  I have heard of this museum from some friends and decided to check it out.  I can honestly say that my all of my kids had a great time.  It entertained my two year and those in between up to my ten year old.  Hayley loved the kitchen room.  They had lots of different fabric cut in various pieces that are used as they cook. They had a brick oven for pizza and every pot and pan that you can imagine.  
In the art room Seth and Jared had a blast painting this house.  Just so you know the house is painted a different color everyday.  This day happened to be blue day.  I don't know how many times my kids of asked to help paint the house, and because I somewhat value my carpet, I say NO!  Here is a place where that dream for them can come true.
Emilee loved this part of the museum.  They had cones and different color balls, and she used a scooper to put the "ice cream" into the cones.  Then she would sell them to customers.  Another favorite was the grocery room.  They had fruits, vegetables, and boxes galore that the kids could put in their grocery carts that are their size and checkout.  They would take their full carts to a lighted up check out counter and check out their groceries.  They loved it.
Tank's favorite part was the track area.  They had three different long tracks in this area.  He would get a car and let it rip and then run and retrieve the car and do it again.  It was very hard for him to leave this area.  Next to this were some instruments on a pulley system and he had a great time making music stomping his feet on the pedals.

Samantha loved it all!  She really liked the kitchen area as well.  Here she is making a pizza to be placed into the brick oven.  She loved the trike wash, and the art room where she could paint and glue and everything else.  We came home with alot of completed art projects.  She also loved the ball maze room.  Here is something interesting - the kids were painting the Olympic Flag and I was reading the meaning behind the flag.  It said that the five rings represent the 5 inhabited continents of the world.  HMMM!  Aren't there six?  Curious!

1st Day of School

This year we are trying something new.  We are homeschooling through Arizona Virtual Academy.  Last year Hayley wanted to try homeschooling and loved it.  Her brothers and sister decided they all wanted to do it this year.  So I will be teaching my four kids this year.  The first week was insane, but the second week was alot less stressful and enjoyable.  I love having my kids home, and feel lucky that I get to spend more time with them now.

Mighty Mud Mania 7/18

We went to the Mighty Mud Mania held in Scottsdale.  The kids had so much fun and we also invited their cousin Kolten.  Jared, Seth, Hayley and Kolten went through a huge mud obstacle course with rip lines, and 4ft. deep mud pits.  They were muddy but had huge grins on their faces.
We met up with other cousins as well.  My sister and her six girls joined us in a mud pit.  Hayley and Becka decided to pose for the camera as mud was flung all around.
Here Jared and Emilee give a new meaning to bathtime.  They were having a contest to see who could wear the most mud.  I'm not sure who won.
Samantha took to the mudpit like a fish to water.  Her favorite position was this one.  She would lay on her stomach and pretend to swim through the muddy water.  She loved it.  
Tank liked to watch all the craziness but preferred the playground.  He spent most of his time here playing with all the equipment.  He left being the cleanest, if that were possible.

White Mountain Vacation 7/8-7/14

We decided to escape the heat and drive 5 hours to the White Mountains.  We had a wonderful time in the 55 degree weather.  Matt decided to kick back with Samantha and Tank in the hammock.  They loved the feeling of floating above the ground.
Every day it would rain for awhile.  We would gather together and play games until the rain stopped.  Some of our children were more adventuresome.  Hayley like to go out in the rain and catch the raindrops on her tongue.

Riding Quads through the Mountains

Another thing we love to do as a family is to ride Quads.  I am always the last to make sure no one is lost.  Matt is usually in front leading the way in his new Jeep.  The kids love riding and are really good at it.  Emilee will be getting her very on sometime this year.  She is excited, and wants a bright pink one.  We rode all over, but my favorite time to ride was at dusk.  The animal wildlife was out and easy to spot.

Camping in the White Mountains

We decided to let the kids fish the old fashioned way.  We put hooks and line on wooden poles and let them try.  Needless to say they did not catch anything, and neither did Matt.  I think the noise had something to do with it.