The Artist

I love how Amy draws. Notice the hands in relation to the sleeves.

Trains!

There's a train enthusiast's place not far from our house that we finally got around to visiting today. Acres and acres of model trains, a museum, mock old west town and even free train rides on some of the larger scale trains. It was pretty amazing that these hobbiest had put all this together for  the enjoyment of the public. The trains we rode on had a very elaborate track. I think there were at least 4 tracks and the ride lasted for over a half hour. Great fun. prairie dogs scampered around our little train, and Karianne even spotted one in a tree! I had no idea they climbed trees.

Saturday fun

On Saturday, The local library was having a book fair/ festival. This is the 100th year since Arizona became a state, and so begins the celebrations. there was several booths recognizing Arizona's past. The kids got to pan for gold, meet some cowboys, and see and hear how life in the dessert used to be. There was also fun stuff like a bounce house, free ice cream and several shows and crafts. A very well done event by the Peoria Library. Bravo. Peaks give it 4 little sticky ice cream thumbs up.

That's the leader of the gang in the middle, watch out she's tough!

Date Night

Brent and I got a rare evening out thanks to a sweet neighbor who offered to watch our girls for the evening.  Dinner and a Concert.
  
We went to the historic McAlpine's Ice Cream Parlor in downtown Phoenix for dinner. The restuarant has been around since the 1920's. The wait staff dress in 1930's attire, and the fixtures are original. You can get a float from the same machine they've used since the '40's. They had a 3 column small print page of all the different soda flavors you could get from the soda fountain. Anything, ANYTHING from pickle juice, to bubble gum, chocolate, coffee, tiger blood, cotton candy...

 Brent ordered a chocolate peanut butter soda, (yuck!) I ordered a red velvet cake soda. Mine was delicious, his was terrible. Now he knows that there is a form of chocolate and peanutbutter that he doesn't like.

After dinner, we went to a christian concert. We were supposed to buy our tickets at the door, but we didn't realize they meant literally, at the door. We didn't have cash so we had to walk over to the closest place to see if we could find an ATM. Closest place, Coopertown; Alice Cooper's restaurant. Check that off my to do list. :-P

 By the time we had cash in hand, and got our tickets, there were only seats left at the very top of the stadium. For the first hour I was so dizzy from the height we were at, I didn't have the nerve to stand up. The concert was great though and it was so nice to be out together and not have to take any little ones to the restroom.

We Sled

We took the girls to Flagstaff yesterday to play in the snow. It's pretty cool to live in Paradise, and make a day trip to the snow and then return to our nice 80 degree weather at the end of the day. It works well in the summer too.

Happy 6th Birthday Angie!

Sigh. What a cute kid. Happy Birthday baby.

We hike

After school we decided to go hiking for a little while. The kids had a whole lot more energy than we thought and we hiked and hiked. Straight up the mountain, on over to the next mountain and down again 2 hours later. The trails were very rocky and steep. I was very impressed with my little girls. At the top of the first mountain is a stack of stones that you are supposed to add to to show your accomplishment. They all put a rock on and Lucy found a piece of gum and popped it in her mouth. Oh yuck!

Public Enemy No. 1

The garbage truck came today. Lucy heard it and started yelling that it was too loud. I explained to her that it took our trash away. I expounded and said they're taking your poopy diapers away. She cried out "they taking my poopy diapers?" Yup.
 "Whaaaaaa!" She started crying and said over and over, "They taking my poopy diapers!" Bring back my diapers!"

I have no idea so don't ask...

I got her sidetracked and she got over it after a while. When Lucy and I were walking home from dropping sisters off at school she saw the trash truck again and started wailing.
 "Garbage truck! Bring back my diapers! They take my diapers! Waaaaaaa"

Being a good momma, I just laughed.