The desert in bloom?

I had no idea that cacti actually produced flowers until I moved to Arizona. It is gorgeous here now. Here are some pictures from our neighborhood. I missed this prickly pear cactus when it was totally covered in blooms. It was amazing. The white floweres are from a Saguaro cactus (the tall ones with arms). Each bloom is only open for one day and then dies.

A Must See!

In May, we finally went to the Rooster Cogburn Osterich Farm. What a blast - it was so much more than I had expected and I can't wait to go back! Almost as good as Disneyland! We have been saying that we need to go ever since we moved to Arizona since it is near the freeway between Phoenix and Tucson and we must pass it at least once a month.
We got to ride a monster truck through the desert where we learned and saw all about osteriches, their nests and the surrounding desert. We stopped for a bit to "fish for osterich" - we dangles grapfruit from poles for the ostrich to eat.
After the ride, we fed treats to more ostriches, some deer and some lorikeets. Upon leaving we had to purchase an osterich egg to taste. They weigh about 4 pounds and are the equivelant of about 2 dozen chicken eggs.

We made omelets out of it (with tons left over of course!) It was very good and much fluffier than chicken eggs. Even the dogs loved it! You can be sure that anyone who comes to visit from now on will be taken to the Osterich Farm - it's a real unforgettable treat.

The Culmination of a Year

As many my already know, Noah has been growing his hair out and it is wuite long now. His whole reason for doing this was so that it could be as long as he could possibly get it for Crazy Hair Day at school. He has had this plan since last Crazy Hair Day a year ago. Well, today was the big day! We got up very early and went to a friend's house to have a Crazy Hair party - it was very exciting. At first, I was beginning to get very nervous that we were not going to get his hair to stand up (which is what he has been envisioning it would do). I was actually starting to think that we were going to have to keep him home from school since I was sure there would be a major breakdown about the hair not standing and also because he has been advertising this at school all year and I'm sure would never live it down if he went to school with not-Crazy Hair. His reputation was at stake. Finally, Aquanet to the rescue! All the gel in the world was not cutting it, but those people in the 50's knew what they were doing when it comes to Crazy Hair. It's amazing how happy a whole can of hairspray, tons of gel, and a little blue and silver (school colors) spray can make an 8 year old boy. When he got to school, his teacher and several others were all waiting at the door to see his hair. It was a big hit!




Here he is at the beginning of the day.

Here he is at the end. Still pretty crazy.

Karate master

Noah competed in his first karate tournament a coupple of weekends ago. We were so proud of him for finally coming up with the nerve to do it. He did great! He won first place in his group and was so proud of himself. Of course, Dave, Grammy, Pop and I were in knots watching it because Noah gets so upset with himself if he doesn't do things perfectly. I almost wish he hadn't gotten first to see how he would handle it - it's a problem we have really been trying to work on. It's this same attitude that kept him from wanting to compete until now - ifhe can't do something exactly right, he doesn't want to do it at all. Anyway, this was a huge step in his karate career to help him toward his eventual goal of getting a black belt. What a great confidence builder!

It's Official!

We are officially moved in now!

After a year and a half, a lawyer and suit, a new company, and three card tables and folding chairs, we finally have a real kitchen table! What a long story it has been - which I will not bore you with. Let's just say that it is so true that when you have to work at and wait for something, it makes that thing oh so much greater when you do get it. It's beautiful and we love eating at it. We had a party with several friends to celebrate the day we got it and even though it was a wonderful night to eat outside, we made everyone sit and eat at the new table.

We are back to eating outsde, but are looking forward to many meals to come at our perfect kitchen table.

Speeding By

Did I say things were going to slow down in March? I'm beginning to sound like Dave - "Oh, next month...this summer...after this and that...things will be slower and I can take a break" - which never comes. I need to take back all the things I've said about him and his inability to slow down and say no to people.

I realy don't mean to sound like a whiner. Everything that we have been doing has been fun and we are so blessed. I just keep feeling older and older and like my wonderful life is flashing before my eyes!

At the beginning of the month we got to spend some time with more missed friends from Utah. The Moeller family was in town and we had two fun meals with them. Also, the Sawyers were able to stay with us for a couple of days and we had a terriffic time with them. Of course, it didn't seem like long enough, but it was so nice to pick up right where we had left off, just like there was no time away. We can't wait to see everyone again in June when we go to Utah to visit! Here is the Sawyer family in front of our house as they were leaving.

We have had a gorgeous spring! Yes, Arizona does have a spring season - although it is very short. The front of our house is covered in yellow blooms.

In the middle of the month, I got to go with my friend Josie, my mother and my grandmother for a weekend in Phoenix at a scrapbook convention. We took tons of classes and of course did tons of shopping for more scrapbook stuff that I won't have time to actually use - but someday... It was exhausting, but so fun! I'm always so impressed at how my 80+ year old grandmother can keep up with all of it and us. It definitley reminds me that I have no room to be tired and lazy - if she can do all these things than I surley should be able to.

For the latter part of the month, we have all (Grammy, Pop, Dave and I) been helping Noah get his invention project done for school. He came up with a traveling chalkboard/whiteboard/sketchpad/game board for his GEM class at school. He has been working very hard sawing, filing, painting, sanding, and typing. We've all been able to add our own little pieces of expertise to it (which I'm sure Noah wishes he could do without sometimes). He is finishing up the presentation panel for it and will be presenting it to his class this Friday.

Noah was finally accepted to a school in town called the Sonoran Science Academy - he will start in third grade. We had applied there when we first moved to Arizona and he has been on a waiting list until now. Now that his time at the local public school is coming to an end (May 22 - yahoo!) I have mixed feelings about moving to the academy. It will be good for Noah - they do alot of hands on math and science along with learning spanish and all the other regular subjects. They have a Lego club and a robotics club which Noah is so excited about. I am more sad for myself about the move. I have made all my friends helping out at school and have become very familiar with the people and workings there. I will also really miss walking to school everyday. I keep saying that I will stay in touch there, but we all know how that usually goes - we all get busy and leave behind past parts of our life. I'm sure both Noah and I will make new friends, but hopefully we can work extra hard at maintaining the great friendships we have already made.

Spring Busy

Our spring break was the week before Easter and it was anything but a break. Although, it was all wonderful!

The first few days we went to Phoenix and stayed with my parents. While there we went to a big Renaissance Festival held there every year. We ate, threw knives, road rides (all powered by hand), and saw some joisting.

On Monday we headed for Disneyland in California - about an 8 hour drive. We went with friends and had a great time. The weather was perfect. We spent one day at Knott's Berry Farm where they have many major roller coasters. And after each one, Noah would yell, "That... was ... awesome!" Dave and I just felt like we had been beat to a pulp, but we all enjoyed it. Noah was such a trooper at the Magic Kingdom because the family we went with has a tradition of getting pictures with as many characters as they can find - both of which Noah cannot stand (characters and pictures). He hung in there however. Here is is at a character dinner, where there are lots of characters in one place that come mess with you while you are eating.

We were back home for Good Friday services and Easter. Here is the only picture I took on Easter (and I call myself a scrapbooker!?) It was a quiet day - Dave's parents came over and you know the spread was good because I was cooking - hahaha! We had build-your-own-sandwiches and potato chips out on our back patio. We were all happy to be lounging outside. I was happy to not cook. Dave was happy we had his favorite food. Noah fell asleep at about 4pm - exhausted from the previous week - and we could not wake him. So Dave and I got to catch up on all the Young and Restless we had recorded while we were on vacation. All-in-all, it was a very good day.