MLK day at the Zoo

I had MLK Day as a holiday this year, so William and I headed to the zoo. As much as I despise the caging of animals, I love the baby Orangutan. Kashih will be three next weekend and we have been visiting her since we moved here and she was just a few months old. I also love the monkey exhibit they have here and I learned only four such exhibits exist in the world. You enter the exhibit and the monkeys are running free, they are climbing on the trees right next to you, walking on ropes over your head, swing from limb to limb right in front of your face. It is really a neat exhibit, it is fun to walk through and just be cautioned not to stand underneath where they are swinging and climbing or else............

Hiking South Mountain

It was a bright, sunny, warm Sunday so we decided to try hiking again. South Mountain is, well, a mountain south of Phoenix, really it was more like a big hill than a mountain. The trail was short only a little over a mile, but there are many other trails on the mountain that can be taken. It was popular with cyclists,and I am pretty sure you won't catch me doing that. There was a nice view of Phoenix from the top and allegedly this is the place to go to view spectacular sunsets. We will have to try that one day soon.

Rocket Launch

The fifth grade class has been studying rockets and so for the end of lesson field trip, there was a rocket launch. Luckily for all the launch was postponed from a rainy day in December to this bright beautiful day in January. The entire class and teachers and chaperones walked to the High School to launch the rockets at the Soccer fields. Each rocket was different and went different heights, some zigged and zagged, some went so far they ended up in the yards of people living near the school. It was a lot of fun, the kids had a blast and I was even able to help assemble the engines and parachutes. (Apparently I didn't need to be a rocket scientist.) After everyone had shot off their rockets once or twice and all the engines were used, we headed back to the school, making a stop at the park for lunch and to run off some of that excess energy.

Mike's Games

Mike is all about Video Games and here is his collection of games he received for Christmas this year. Mike also received generous gifts from his grandmothers, so I am sure this is not the end of his new video games for this season. Merry Christmas, Mike, ENJOY.

Merry Christmas

Mike on Christmas, heck make that Mike all Christmas break. William on Christmas morning.

Mike and Pat in a dessert competition.
William deciding the winner.

We had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at Chilis (don't ask, no one knows how these "traditions" start) and then drove around looking at Christmas lights. Christmas day was pretty quiet, filled with presents, Christmas Story nonstop on the TV, and relaxing. We had a "traditional" ham dinner. The menu was planned by William and executed by me. For dessert there was a competition between Pat's famous Bananas Foster and Mike's not-so-famous Brownie Batter. The Judge was William and while he had a hard time picking a winner, he eventually went with the bananas foster as that was the dessert on his dinner menu.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Chihuly at the Garden

A cloudy Sunday morning was spent at the Desert Botanical Gardens enjoying their newest exhibit - Chihuly: The Nature of Glass. We first saw his work at Garfield Park Conservatory in 2001 and I was totally amazed by his talent, so when I saw there would be an exhibit here I quickly renewed our membership to the Gardens so we would not miss out on seeing it. It is truly something that cannot be described and has to be experienced firsthand. I am sure that before it leaves here the end of May, I for one will be visiting the Gardens a few more times. I will definitely be doing a night tour, as the pieces will be illuminated and I can only imagine how cool that will be. Each of the pieces are designed to blend in with the landscaping and look almost a part of it. The Desert Botanical Gardens is such a peaceful place to begin with, the glass exhibit has enhanced the natural beauty and makes it somewhere you just want to sit and reflect. If you are coming out west to visit us this winter you can be assured that a trip to the Garden will be on my list of things you must do.

Just for Fun - I am a Marilyn!

You Are a Marilyn!

You are a Marilyn -- "I am affectionate and skeptical."

Marilyns are responsible, trustworthy, and value loyalty to family, friends, groups, and causes. Their personalities range broadly from reserved and timid to outspoken and confrontative.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be direct and clear
• * Listen to me carefully
• * Don't judge me for my anxiety
• * Work things through with me
• * Reassure me that everything is OK between us
• * Laugh and make jokes with me
• * Gently push me toward new experiences
• * Try not to overreact to my overreacting.

What I Like About Being a Marilyn

• * being committed and faithful to family and friends
• * being responsible and hardworking
• * being compassionate toward others
• * having intellect and wit
• * being a nonconformist
• * confronting danger bravely
• * being direct and assertive

What's Hard About Being a Marilyn

• * the constant push and pull involved in trying to make up my mind
• * procrastinating because of fear of failure; having little confidence in myself
• * fearing being abandoned or taken advantage of
• * exhausting myself by worrying and scanning for danger
• * wishing I had a rule book at work so I could do everything right
• * being too critical of myself when I haven't lived up to my expectations

Marilyns as Children Often

• * are friendly, likable, and dependable, and/or sarcastic, bossy, and stubborn
• * are anxious and hypervigilant; anticipate danger
• * form a team of "us against them" with a best friend or parent
• * look to groups or authorities to protect them and/or question authority and rebel
• * are neglected or abused, come from unpredictable or alcoholic families, and/or take on the fearfulness of an overly anxious parent

Marilyns as Parents

• * are often loving, nurturing, and have a strong sense of duty
• * are sometimes reluctant to give their children independence
• * worry more than most that their children will get hurt
• * sometimes have trouble saying no and setting boundaries

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at