Outsmarted 4 to 1- Field Trips

We have had two weeks of field trips and Science fun. We have been filling our days with Science Fair projects and History. The past two weeks have gone by so fast and have been extremely fun and exhausting for all of us.

We have been on the go and on the know.

I will post about Science projects another day but be prepared for a magnetic experience, with creepy crawly things that will bring energy from the sun into your day.

Our first field trip was the ballet where we experienced storybook history. The kids have a hard time understanding the writing of this time period but enjoy the crazy antics. We have tried to find an abridged version or video that goes along with the ballets we attend. We find them much more interesting when we know what is going on and why it is happening. For Don Quixote we relied on the great story telling of the Wish Bone book series.

The ballet has been an awesome experience for all of us. The kids have enjoyed seeing a story told with dance. They were surprised at how much can be said without saying a word. We will definitely be signing up for the ballet again next year.

Our second field trip was a celebration of the Chinese New Year. This field trip was for the benefit of a Boy Scout requirement, now that I have a smart handsome Boy Scout. We signed up for the school day activities and participated in crafts and watched the arts of their culture. It was a fun day and the Chinese Cultural Center is beautiful.

Our third field trip was a celebration of Arizona's 99th birthday. We went to the Arizona Pioneer History Museum and explored the history of AZ before it became a state. I was surprised at how much history is packed into that place. We learned so much and enjoyed the sites and gun sounds of the day.

There is no privacy in these parts. Even Kendal is straining herself to get a good

look at the creepy guy using the can.

Maggie and Kendal are trying to get a good look at the prisoners of war.

Like father like son!

(Watch it Witty Gal you may be crossing the line with this one.)

We loved the Victorian House, it was so beautiful and the antiques were incredible.

The Black Smith offered a lot of good historical facts about tools, horses and electricity.

The inside of a school house, it's been a long time since we have seen one of these.

The shoot out.

Q and A: Was it girls against boys?

Yes! Girls were shouting kill the boys and the boys were shouting kill the girls. I am so glad they had a gun safety lecture before the show.

Was the acting good?

No, however I appreciate the volunteer work these fine people do.

Was their any kissing?

There was fake kissing, AKA making out, by the Sheriff and the town hooker. I wanted to barf!

Was it loud?

Ask Maggie, she was very serious when she said, "That was not worth the noise!"

Who won?

Despite the actual reality of the era women prevailed.

The whole show was actually extremely mind boggling, seriously you could really loose your head.

After the show we made a little stop at the bank.

And then the jail



And then the Gallos
(morbid I know, Matthew's idea)

 and then the church

And this is where we ended up.

Makes you wonder what we did at the bank, DON'T IT?

Our fourth and last field trip was to the Estrella Wars. Wow, what a trip into an entirely different world. There were hundreds of families that stayed for the entire week dressed in their time period garb. Matthew was convinced that we could just put up a tent and fit right in. We decided to explain to him why that wouldn't work for us when he gets a tad bit older or at least until we were out of ear shot of the mass of people carrying weapons.

This was actually a wonderful learning opportunity. They had booths set up with volunteers to show and tell about the life and arts of the Renassance. I was very impressed with the authenticity and seriousness of character that was involved in this event. I have to admit the idea of dressing up and pretending was really speaking to my inner child.

The wars were just as it states, "WARS", with men and women dressed in battle suits swinging weapons around and hitting each other. I have to say the idea intrigued me, maybe Matthew is right we could fit in, I could get rid of a years worth of aggression and built up agitation in a week.

Here is a list of some of the things that we encountered:
Falconery is such and interesting art. A big turn off though when you find out how much time you have spend with the bird.

We spoke to a pioneer women who spoke much about her position in her community and restrictions of her position as well as fun facts.

Making your own yarn from a sheeps dirty crapped on wool. Very interesting! How to turn it into a beautiful purple by squishing up bugs and boiling them and how unspoiled kids would use their free time to spin yarn.

Black Smithing was a fun art to observe. The kids had lots of questions and enjoyed watching.

The art of baking bread and cooking in stone ovens.

We learned about the weapons and the gear of battle.

We observed horses and jousting.

Fencing was fun to watch but Matthew was a bit upset that he couldn't participate. Truthfully I think we would all have liked to poke someone with a sword a few times.

And then there was the actual war. From a distance we saw them WACKING each other and dirt flying. When we went over to watch they were having some kind of face off with a castle and it was hard to see. Very serious stuff!

We all were looking forward to sharing one of these.....

I have had such a great time with the kids during the past two weeks of "not at home school". However, each trip has sucked the energy clean out of me and I am looking forward to a nice quiet week of home school.

Just in case you are wondering I did have a favorite field trip. It was absolutely without a doubt the best one of the bunch. For what reason did I like it the best? Well, because MY LB came with us of course. We wouldn't have been a complete "SUN DRAGON FAMILY FROM THE SURPRISE REALM IN THE KINGDOM OF ATENVELDT" without him.

Wait Up!

Why won't the world slow down a little so I can catch up on my blog?  Everything keeps moving, quickly at that.  Do you know what I mean?  If I don't blog at least three times a week I end up behind.  Only, I don't have three times a week to blog because life keeps moving. 

That is why I have to keep coming up with these clever ways to  shove a bunch of events into one awesome blog post.   Lucky for me we are "Outnumbered" and a bit crazy, which makes coming up with  clever ideas so much easier.

Really Mechams?  For real?  Get serious!

Reality One:  Kids are sponges and sometimes they suck up "dirty" water.

White Tank Mountain Hike
It was a beautiful night for a hike!  If you ask me it was a bit dark to read all of the signs.  If you ask the kids, well, don't ask the kids.
Look at the wonderful pictures we took!  I love Arizona at night.

This last picture with the cactus and the city lights, amazing.  I wanted my peeps in the photo.  So I lined them all up stepped back, a little further, a little further and I was off the trail.  My family was in the view finder ready when I heard someone approaching, "Go ahead and pass I will wait."  A very firm, "NO, you go ahead."  As you guessed it was a ranger.  As he escorted us out he had a mighty fine chat with the kiddos.
"Their are Mountain Lions in the area." stated the ranger.
"Yeah we know we saw the signs."  said the cute innocent 11 YEAR OLD.
"You can't be on the trails after sunset."  stated the ranger.
"Yeah we tried to tell our parents but they didn't listen." said the innocent 8 YEAR OLD.
"We're home schooled!" came the excitement of a six year old.
MY LB and I stayed quiet through this humbling experience and waited until the car was quiet and we were on our way home before we laughed and vowed never to make the same mistake again.  Children should be seen not heard!

Reality 2:  Double dipping and spoon licking.

We enjoyed the White Tank Mountains two nights in a row.  The second time we went with Leslie's Clan.  The weather was a bit chilly but perfect for hot dogs, smores and hot chocolate around the fire. 

As we snacked on chips and veggies we noticed dirty hands, runny noses and double dipping.  As moms we tried to control it and keep it down to a minimum.  Every time we turned our backs it would happen again.

After dinner we had hot chocolate.  We had two spoons and again as responsible moms we had a scooping spoon and a stirring spoon.  Turned our backs and, "He licked the spoon!"  We rinsed the spoon and all was well.

Now dads they taken a different approach.  After a number of declarations about licked spoons and double dipping Paul decided that the theme for the night should be, "Don't sweat the small stuff."  Leave it to dads to find a solution of this magnitude.

Reality 3:  What goes up MUST come down.

We went to our third and last ballet of the school year, Don Quixote.  We went with our cousins again and had a great time.  The ballet has been such a great introduction to arts and the different way artists express themselves.  You might be thinking that the reality, for real? question would be the tights and the fact that their costumes leave nothing to the imagination.  However, after the first initial shock and "Are they naked?" question, all was well, REALLY.

This however, one of their favorite things to do concluding an amazing production of the ballet is where the trouble comes.  Escalators, do you love them or hate them?  They scare me!  The kids love them, as if they haven't been to Disney Land and gone on some of the happiest rides on Earth.
This particular day after a most amazing ballet performance the kids went up the up escalator, tried to go up the down escalator, played, laughed, got hurt and all while a very large security guard stood watch at the bottom of the escalator.  He did not look happy and unfortunately there was only one way to get out and it was right past the large intimidating security guard.  He didn't say anything to us (he didn't have to) and we didn't say anything to him.  Just keep walking and do not make eye contact.  He made his point!

Reality 4:  No that was my wife!

Wow, I can not wow enough over the most amazing Blue and Gold banquet ever.  I love when people magnify their callings, they provide a great example for my children and I. 

Can I just say that being LDS is awesome!  Their are so many different cultures and talented families that are members of the true church.   They are so willing to volunteer sharing their talents, abilities, and culture with others.

So, for real, right?  The father is beating his drum, singing and being totally unbelievable.  His son is dancing and sharing another musical art filled with dance and story.  It was so tantalizing and I just wanted to clap, cheer and holler.  So I did!  I don't know if I was supposed to, everyone else was so quiet, but it just felt right.  I may have been, O.K. I was the only one that felt the feeling.  After the Blue and Gold one of our friends asked Jeremiah if that was his kids clapping and yelling. 

MY LB looked at him and said, "No, that would have been my wife." 

Thankfully our friend is of the nice kind and replied, "She is so cool!"

This whole experience has got me thinking, how many times has MY LB had to admit that,

"No, that would have been my wife." 

 "Yes, that was my wife." 

 "No, you were right that was her, my wife." 

Poor guy, he should have known that I could not be tamed.

Reality 5:  You get lazy with the last kid.

The children have been told that "16" is dating age and that is from the mouth of the Prophet and we follow the Prophet.  However, they were also told that they had to try everything on their plate, she doesn't, but they do.  They had to take naps until they were 5, she doesn't, but they did.  They got spanks, she doesn't, but they did.

So what can I say when this cute boy showed up with his "sweet" red, Lightning McQueen convertible, we couldn't say no. 

She's getting older!!

So you see the reality and humility of being a Mecham.  For real, we are "Outnumbered" and "Out of control", but as usual it makes our story interesting and worth hearing.

REALLY!

Hello Blog Spot

I had a friend ask me to help her get her blog started and much to my surprise I found out that I am living in "old school" blog spot land. 

I feel like a little kid with a new toy!  Must change, must do it now, can't wait. 

Can I change it now please, please, please? 
No, wait until tomorrow. 
How about just a little bit?
 Fine, but don't loose anything or mess it up!

OH THE POSSIBILITIES!

I am not going to sleep tonight.