Recent Happenings

Matthew had his 7 year old doctor visit. He weighed in at 40.6 lbs (4%) and is 45.25 inches tall (10%).

Here are Megan's 7 year stats (since I'm not sure I ever put them in): 47.8 lb (40%), 49 inches (70%).

Sarah did a science fair project on the effects of different liquids on nails. Here is one nail from each of the groups after sitting for a couple months in the named liquid. (The control nail wasn't in a liquid.)

Super Matthew!

Game night! We played one month of Pandemic Legacy, Tenzie and Clue (Colonel Mustard committed the crime in the Ballroom with the Conservatory).

Some cute elves showed up in our home so we invited them to stay.

Lovely drawing Megan did.

Megan loves puzzles!

We helped take down the Christmas lights at the Mesa temple. Megan found some leaves in which to play.

Matthew with the temple.

U is getting older all the time!
(We really have no idea why he gets all this Medicare mail, but there are some businesses that are very concerned he has not yet signed up.)

Brave U let Matthew and Megan help cut his hair.

Megan's picture of the moon.

Matthew's picture of the moon.

A Visit from Cousins

Me's cousin and his family came for a quick visit. It was really fun to see them.

Matthew and Megan loved playing with Emmy. She's almost 5 and loved all the toys.

Of course there were games. We played one of theirs and one of ours. And U and Garth connected so they can play an online board game in the future.

They brought sparkly unicorn cotton candy to share.

Rachel, Garth and Emmy in their matching outfits.

Matthew's 7th Birthday Party

Matthew had a birthday party last weekend. He invited his Primary class plus a few other friends. He wanted to do a space theme.

Matthew and Megan with the Death Star cake.

Jedi Training was a favorite activity although it kind of turned into everyone hit everyone else with their light sabers. Here two of the Jedi Padawans take on a Sith Lord (U).

Pausing for a quick picture.
Nolan, James, Ashley, Matthew, Fayth, Sara, Megan, Edward, Sean, Ethan. Evelyn came a few minutes later.

The kids tried to navigate a maze without hitting any of the obstacles.

Megan was one of the few kids who successfully navigated the course.

Matthew with his cake.

Blowing out the candle before destroying the Death Star.

Matthew uses a tractor beam to catch a ship.

Megan catching a ship.

What a party!

100th Day of School

Today is the 100th Day of School. Megan and Matthew got to go to school dressed up like they were 100 years old. They were excited to get gray hair and wrinkles!

Our eccentric professor and studious librarian.

Tucson

We went down to Tucson for a day trip. Our first stop was Old Tucson Studios, were we saw the Old West. Old Tucson Studios has been used in many western films, TV shows (including Little House on the Prairie) and commercials. It's in a beautiful location and there are shows and some kiddie rides. Unbeknownst to us, the weekend we went was kids' weekend which was awesome! It meant the younger kids were $1 and Sarah was the rate of a kid instead of an adult, there were some games for kids and a number of the concessions were $1. We definitely enjoyed our time there. The younger two wanted to go again right away.

Me, Matthew and Megan on the carousel.

Matthew and Me driving around the Wild West.

Just hanging out in the tub.

We took a train ride around the park. It's quite large.

Look who we caught in jail!

The Reno has been used in many films.

U got to help the medicine man sell his elixir. It'll cure whatever that ails you!

U with the elixir.

Sure glad they caught that horse thief!

U got roped into coming up on the stage.

One of the kids' games. They took off their shoes and the workers mixed all the shoes up. The kids had to run a short distance, put the shoes completely on and run back. Every kid who participated got at least $1 to spend in Old Tucson Studios which meant they could get a popcorn or sno cone or cotton candy. Megan and Matthew participated. Here they are running to go find their shoes.

Megan racing towards the finish line.

Matthew racing towards the finish.

We went on the carousel again.....

And again.

The next kids' game was musical chairs. Sarah decided to participate this time so she'd get the $1.

Matthew waiting to play.

Megan eager to play.

We visited the petting farm. Megan really liked the little cow.

Matthew with a pony.

Me on one of the stages.

Sarah and Matthew not being in the picture with Me.

Me and U.

It's such a beautiful location!

Look who we found in jail now.

There's a haunted mine tour that the kids all loved. This is their favorite part--it swirls around and it makes you feel like the whole room is turning and you are falling to the side. It's a weird sensation.

One more time on the carousel. We also went on one more train ride around the park.

After Old Tucson Studios closed, we went to Subway for dinner and then to the Flandrau Science Center on the University of Arizona campus. (As an aside, Sarah decided that she likes the feel of Tucson and the UofA campus and so it's where she wants to go to college.) The museum was nice, with an exhibit on space, on ecosystems and on mind games. They also had a mineral exhibit. Our kids really enjoyed that exhibit. Here are a few of the 42 pictures they took.

Definitely a fun family day!