Indoor Kid Friendly Places in Phoenix - Part II

Still in the mood for trying out new things we ventured to the new Arizona Aquarium.  We were very excited about this as both mom and dad love aquariums, fish and all things ocean.  It turned out to be somewhat fun, but in all honesty now we just really want to take Q to a more complete aquarium, preferable located somewhere on the Pacific coast!

Sea Life Arizona - Grade C+ (but good effort considering we do live in AZ)

Q did get to touch a sea star, which is pretty cool by itself!

Having fun checking out all the different fish in the windows.

 

 Interested a little more in the brightly colored coral than the cool sharks swimming towards him.

 They did have these cool port holes the kids could climb into to get a closer look.  Of course half the time you had to wait your turn because some adults think they are for them as well, despite the obvious size.

We had fun and the shark talk was cool for mom and dad to listen to, but I think we'll hold of on a repeat visit for a while.  Hoping we can hit an Oregon or California coast aquarium next time!

Indoor Kid Friendly Places in Phoenix - Part I

This month seemed to be filled with finding ways to escape the hot, hot, Arizona summer heat.  We continued with our Music Together sessions (which Q loves) and then took to exploring some of the other indoor treats this Valley of the Sun offers.

First Up: The Phoenix Children's Museum - Grade A+!

 Playing around with the Plinko-like games

Getting a kick out of standing on the air vent!

 

Playing in the toddler/infant room

Going grocery shopping just like mommy does!

Time to check out!  Look at my healthy eater, avocados and milk!

Time to cook.  Mommy never lets me touch the hot stuff at home.

 Muli-tasker in the kitchen.  Hmmm, wonder where he learned that one?  Careful mommy, that's how dinner ends up disastrous!

 

Time for some messy art projects.  They had this giant paper-mache castle set up that the kids get to paint.  A new color for each day.  Such a great idea!  We'll have to try it next time.

 We opted for the slightly less messy chalk board instead!

Mom, Dad and Q in the birds next after climbing up to the top of the crazy architectural sculpture that graces the center room on the main floor.  Guess this kid isn't too afraid of heights!

We had a great time at the Children's Museum.  Thanks for going with us Grammy and Grumpy.  We'll be repeat visitors for sure!

Big News...

We had fun this month telling our family the wonderful news....

Quentin is going to be a big brother!
We are due February 9th and have decided NOT to find out what we are having this time around.  Here is to a healthy and uneventful 9 months!


Lots more outdoor play has kept us hot and busy.

An early morning experience with cantaloupe.  The bed head indicates a nice solid night of sleep which is always appreciated by mommy.

Mayweather, Mother's Day and Messing Around

May 31st, 2010

A business friend of Scott's hooked us up with some amazing tickets to the big MGM fight between Mayweather and Mosley in early May.  It was a great little trip up to Vegas for just the two of us and a unique experience to see a big ticket fight up close and in person.  The fight was a crazy event.  All the build-up, the celebrity, the show, the sport.  I went in a little nervous, apprehensive about how I would feel about the brutality of the sport, but the whole event sort of whisks you away in the excitement.  We were pulling for Mosley, so we were a little disappointed with the outcome, but had a great time enjoying a once in a lifetime experience.

We got there early so we could watch the undercards.  It was a great learning experience for me and made me appreciate the level of boxing once we worked our way up to the title fight.

Our seats were amazing.  We weren't on the floor, but it was actually preferable as being up a few rows gave us a better vantage point.

 

We celebrated Mother's Day at the Farm at South Mountain.  It was a beautiful day surrounded by my beautiful family.  I don't think I could have asked for more!

It's getting hot, so we are cooling off in the public splash parks with friends these days.

Messing around with play dough in doors is another way to stay cool!

Q had a great time playing at My Gym at little Cole's 1st birthday.

Once Q spotted the basket ball hoop it was next to impossible to drag him away.

A Visit Before the First Day of Day Care

April 30th, 2010

We kicked off April with a visit from Oma and Poppy.  After a great trip to southern AZ for some yummy wine tasting we relaxed back at the main casa watching Q play with his new sand and water table and drinking our purchases from down south.  We took a trip to the McCormick Railroad Park one day which Q loved, especially going on all the features with his "Om" and "Papa".

Poppy making a squeaky clean grandbaby...

At the RR park with Oma

Climbing around at the RR park

After a ride on the 'choo-choo'

Having a ball riding the "neigh-neigh"

After we said goodbye to Oma and Poppy we had to get ready for mom to go back to work more regularly.....which meant Q had to start going to day care.  Here we are on his first day.  I think it was harder on mom than on the little guy!

Q has adjusted great to day care and he's also taken quite a liking to one of mom's old teddy bears.  I love that this is the same teddy my "Oma" gave me many years ago.

We got a wonderful visit from baby Grant (and mom got a unique learning experience to babysit for 'two')!  Q had such a great time with the baby.  He didn't always like it when I would hold Grant, but mostly he wanted to share all his toys and books with the little guy, not quite recognizing that Grant can't grip much yet.  The two cutie pies were so great together....it's going to be fun watching them grow up as friends.

Mish-Mash

March 31, 2010

Our spring weather has been beautiful, as such we've been spending as much time outside as possible preparing for the hot summer ahead.  Q-bug and I found an urban farm on our way to the library and so we stopped to feed the goats, sheep and ponies a selection of celery and carrots (which they love)!  Q gets quite a kick out of this!

Q and the ponies...

Sometimes we run out of veggies and end up feeding the animals handfuls of grass from the other side of the fence!

Q has been loving all things daddy these days, which makes both of us happy (but especially mommy, as it gives her a bit of a break!).

Q loves trying on daddy's hats....

This month also gave us the opportunity to celebrate Passover which was great for me because I got to host it and go through the process of recipe searching and planning and meal preparation.  All things I love!  We had Scott's parents and his sister and brother-in-law over for the festivities, and I would have had more photos to share, but my camera battery died after this one "pre-meal" shot.

Sidney's Song

Last Friday this world said goodbye to one of the most wonderful souls.  Sidney was an amazing man who had led a long and fulfilling life.  He brought so much joy to all those who knew him.  I only had the pleasure of knowing Sidney for the past nine years, but it was throughout this last year and a half that I really felt that connection with him strengthen.  As I watched him light up whenever my son (his first great-grandson) enter the room I got a glimpse of who Sidney was many, many years ago.  He was an intellegent man, a kind-hearted man, a man who took the time to enjoy the littlest things in life like his daily cigar and a man who loved to sing.

Sidney will be missed by those who knew and loved him.  We will remember him and his wonderful ways.  And it is through his grandchildren and great grandchildren that he will live on forever.  In our hearts I hope to always hear Sidney's song.