Rocky and Smokey

Teen 2 got two new little baby dwarf hamsters today. They ate so cute!!

Chrysalis Time!!

They've been in this state for a few days. Hopefully we'll have butterflies by the end of the week or first of next week!

It's Official!!

Teen 1 is 15 now, which in our great state means he's old enough for a driving learner's permit. I refused to take him in until he took at least 2 practice tests online. He did those yesterday morning and asked to go in, so I took him and he passed!! He now has his learner's permit. I had some errands to do yesterday, so he drove me around. Holy Cow!! He's not too bad, but he will get better, right?! If I don't die of a heart attack first...

Caterpillars

Bedums got a butterfly habitat for her birthday. I finally got around to ordering the caterpillars. They came a few days ago. They've already grown a lot--I forgot to get pics when they first arrived, but I'll try to do better. 

Almost ready for a chrysalis

They should be making their chrysalises soon.

Happy Birthday, Jon!! On July 2nd...

Jon had a birthday, shout hooray!! Or not. He wasn't too excited to turn another year older. I try to make things fun, but it doesn't work well when you get older. Ha!

See if you can guess how old he is? Teen 2 did the candles in a tricky way and Bedums did the words. Fun. The flames were a little out of control because of the ceiling fan, but it's all good.

Vacation Day 7

This was a fun day!! We drove along the Historic Route 66 for a bit. We also went to the Four Corners and Mesa Verde. There is a famous ancient city there and we toured another less-known one. I could tell we were getting tired by this point though...

In 4 states at once

Buggins

Teen 1

Teen 2

Bedums

Each kid in a different state. Bedums wanted to be in UT and was mad she wasn't. She was in New Mexico. Teen1 in Colorado, Teen 2 in Arizona, and Buggins in UT.

Me

Family shot--I had to get a foot in a different state. :)

Ruins

AMAZING!!

Vacation Day 6

Day 6 was a lot of driving!! We drove to a Petrified Forest and then on to New Mexico. We didn't even have dinner until 10:30 pm!!

I always pictured AZ to look like this! This is how it looks along the freeways on the outskirts of town.

Neapolitan colored hills in the petrified forest

Newspaper Rock

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Petrified wood that is now rock

Vacation Day 5

We spent Day 5 with at a museum and then with some good friends in Phoenix. They just barely moved and had a pool. They had a cute little dog that was scared of us, but before we knew it, he latched on to Bedums and wouldn't leave her alone, which was heaven for her and entertainment for us!! She's hide and he'd be frantically looking for her. Cute. That night, we went to our first Major League Baseball game--the Diamondbacks vs the Marlins. It was tied until the bottom of the ninth when the Diamondbacks got a home run!! What a great game!!

This is how I picture the desert!!

Museum

Briscoe the famous dog. :)

Wahoo!! Chase Field!!

The coolest baseball field ever--it has a roof that closes up so they can air condition when it gets too hot.

Great game!!

Good friends. :)

Vacation Day 4

Loved the horse in the playroom!! Rocky.

Swimming in the cousins pool!!

No escape from the Phoenix heat.

Keeping cool with a water fight.

Mesa AZ temple

Gilbert AZ temple

New friend!! A 7 year old cousin who is actually a 2 cousin once removed--if I figured that out right.

Day 4 was a day spent with family and just hanging around the Phoenix area. It was about 109*.