A little bit of BALANCE

Trying to maintain a good balance of activities during the summer in the heat of the Valley is not always easy. But I am a determined mom! Determined to keep these kids SO busy that they don't have time to fight, whine, play video games, eat all day or be subject to the wrath of "MOM".

My kids love science, the boys actually want to be Scientist's when they grow up. So when I came across this Science Museum at the library activity I was stoked. This is where you learn just how much I will sacrifice for the kids I love. The location was deep in the city of El Mirage (the old El Mirage) located next to "SCARY" at the Dysart Community Center. I am being dramatic, I lived in El Mirage for 3 years (the new El Mirage) and it is really not that bad.
The kids learned Scientific terms, performed experiments and got to see a Diet Soda erupt. VERY COOL!!


There was also some good homemade entertainment that did "NOT" consist of a game device. We had Michelle's clan over and with the help of Levi the kids made 1 awesome fort. It wasn't until a few days later when I was helping the kids take them down that I found the posters. The fort was called the Astros and their oath was this: "As an Astro, I will study space and all it's inhabitants."
There were also books ALL OVER the floor which I was NOT happy about but come to find out through a poster that the fort actually doubled as a Library and Spencer has a Judy Blume book he still needs to return. I love kids!!

There is one thing that I feel like my kids are deprived of and that is "NATURE". I try my hardest to view the desert landscape as beautiful but I NOT secretly want to live in the Pines. I think this has put a little wedge between my kids and nature. So I am making my own oath (so kid like, how fun) "As a mother with children living in the Valley Of The Sun I will grasp the beauty of the desert and provide my children with good healthy outdoor experiences." Also the pines are only about an hour and a half away and there is no reason me and the kids can't take a little break from the desert.
Today we took the desert by the horns and went for a hike. My kids actually stop and read EVERYTHING, it actually makes for a pretty slow boring trip (they must get that from their dad). And for the remainder of the trip Matthew has to retell, point out and out smart all of us with his newly found knowledge.
Everyone was hiking great with Maggie as the exception. I guess her legs were partly broken and she wasn't sure what was happening with her feet (maybe experiencing nature has little to do with the desert). However we hiked on (ignored her until she stopped) almost making it to our intended destination, THE WATERFALL. We were very close when a nice couple let us know that there was a little bit of water and a LOT of bees.
I didn't even have to ask the kids what they wanted to do I just turned and started walking back down the trail. According to my kids (some of you may know this already) bees are a natural disaster and everyone must run and panic at the sight of them. It was only about 5 minutes of what ifs and then the bees were forgotten. What if we got there and they surrounded us? What if they stung us in the face? What if ....... what if............ what if..........

So you see this week of summer I tried to establish BALANCE. Some Science, swimming, library, sprinkler park with friends, movies, nature hike, homemade forts and ice cream and of course VIDEO GAMES.

Funny of the day

ALAS, the true Mecham creek swimming experience.
Thank you grandma for the pictures.
Spencer

This little bugger is so strong! I could not get him off of me and when I finally got him off and threw him into the creek he got up and gave me a big slug in the arm. Can't say that I blame him, I was laughing at his expense. I mean he did say he saw a water lizard.

TEE-HEE!!

Matthew

This kid was so freaked out that he was to easy to over throw and he was in the water quite quickly. However he was right back on me just as quickly frantically looking around the water for whatever it was that was killing those Crawdads. I think it was mostly the Crawdads.

Maggie

No pictures of Maggie's frantic swimming but dang that girl can swim. Not sure what she thought she was swimming away from and I don't think she knew either. Just a precaution based on the reactions of her older brothers. They must know something that she doesn't, right?

Kendal

Look at the face on that little girl! She loves the water, even horrible water dwelling creature water. According to my 9 year old, "she is a baby and doesn't know any better and that is why she is able to enjoy the experience." Well one thing is for sure she definitely enjoyed the experience.

Now some of you may be thinking how mean it is for me to be throwing them into SCARY water but the intention was not mean my plan just back fired. You see I thought that if mom fully dressed would get into the water with them they would feel more comfortable and enjoy themselves. NOPE, I am obviously no match for the "CREEK CRITTERS".

Loving Summer

Every week of summer brings new adventures and fun memories. Last week will be hard to beat as it was particularly busy with fun.
On Monday grandma invited us to go to Sedona with her, Uncle Philip and her friend Susan. It was so beautiful and such a great break from the desert. After Sedona we went and had dinner and yummy (some experimental) smoothies with Amber's Clan.

SEDONA

Where are the boys? Aren't boys suppose to like mud? Maybe it's an age thing and they are to old to get DIRTY. Or maybe mom took all the fun away when she said "No throwing mud". I personally think that girls just know how have more fun. GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN... THAT'S ALL THEY REALLY WANT....SOME FUUUUN!

These pictures are very deceiving. Upon looking at them you may think, wow those Mecham kids really loved the water. But alas NO they did not. Matthew was not worried so much about the Crawdads but what may have been eating them (the two we found were dead). Spencer swore that he saw a Water Lizard and Maggie was concerned based on the cries of her older brothers concerning water creatures. Kendal was the exception, she loved it. Matthew says it's because she doesn't know any better. TEE-HEE!!

This may not be as big of a deal for you as it is for me but THIS IS ME!

All in all it was a great day that brought us all closer together. Just look at these siblings loving each other.

Wednesday we spent the entire day with Me-Ma and Pa-Pa. It was a beautiful day once again beating the almost heat of the Valley.

Hanging out with Me-Ma and cousins

Me-Ma raises baby bunnies and we love baby bunnies. Watching the girls with the bunnies brings back so many memories of being a little girl. I remember dressing the little bunnies up and pushing them around in my baby doll stroller. As soon as I have a baby bunny in my hands their soft precious fur pulls me in and I am a little girl again. Kendal was especially loving them, look at her smile. She called them Meows.



Friday daddy came home from work early to hang out with his family that he missed so much. The boys finished yet another reading expedition and we were off to Chuckee Cheese. We had the best time, really we did, I was surprised too. It was early enough in the day that it was not busy and we all had such a good time. On the way home we stopped at the park and then stopped at Golden Spoon to finish the day off with some YUMMIES.

Chuckee's Place

Of course I feel bad that I was only taking pictures of Kendal. BUT the other kids were frantically trying to win tickets and everything is just SO much cuter when they are little. Just look how HAPPY she is!

Exactly my point, not so cute when they are big.

The kids actually did end up earning LOTS of tickets and two rocket launchers, two sticky frogs, lots of candy and a page of stickers later we were on our way to the park.

The Park




You need to know that lately Spencer has been trying to peer pressure me into doing things. He chants my name and tries to get me to do things like my crazy dance in front of others, he tried to get me to eat a hot pepper at lunch and here it is he got me on top of this mountain. I always cave under peer pressure I have the past to prove it. Oh yeah and this picture.

Kendal loves the park. We refer to it as the "SLIDE" and she always lights up with anticipation. Despite my experiences as a mom and negative behavior I taught this little princess to......"Put up her DUKES". She even has the face of intimidation to back it up.

So you see it was another GREAT week of summer. The best part is that it is June and we are still playing outdoors. YEAH FOR SUMMER!!