Fourth of July 2011 

Arizona Style

Kimball got a little carried away with the fireworks and personalized our patio of pavers. He was able to lighten the color with a scrub brush, bucket of water and some cleaners.

Our first 4th of July in Arizona, away from family, and the fun festivities of Utah seemed a little anti-climatic, but we planned some activities and enjoyed the day together. 

After a big breakfast and some household necessities, we went to the movie (funny I can't remember the name just now...maybe it will come to me later). On the way home we stopped at Walmart to buy some fireworks. Kent and I spent some time reading a fun book together (our first and maybe only, by Carla Kelly) while the kids did a pre-firework show for themselves. 

After dinner and some cleaning (that caused a little grumbling), it was dark and a little cooler, so we went outside in the backyard and had our own firework show. Kenzly had fun trying to carry on a tradition started in the Andrews' family, by lighting a sparkler then trying to run around the entire backyard before it died. Kimball was mostly interested in lighting the fireworks and I'm pretty sure he didn't even watch most of them. Our backyard has a nice view of the city lights in the evening and tonight we had the added bonus of being able to watch several other fireworks, including a long production put on by the city of Gilbert that was entertaining.  Karsten thought the sparklers were fun, but the fireworks were too loud for him and he either covered his ears or buried his head in mine or Kent's lap.  He was the best sport about cleaning up the remains afterwards and helped Kimball.  

The night ended perfectly with the Monsoon Season's Nature show of lightening, thunder and a sudden downpour. 

Something Wicked This Way Comes!

It was a nice warm and quiet summer evening.  

Kimball was outside driving his remote controlled truck with Karsten on his heels.

Kent was home from work and I was circuiting the house, trying to get it clean before Kent's mom arrived.  As I went outside to check on the kids, gather some toys and see if the laundry hanging on the rack was dry, I looked to the mountains and saw a giant wall of something in the distance to the Southeast.  Because of some red color, I thought maybe it was smoke from a very large fire.  But, it was growing in size and moving toward us quickly.  By the time I summoned Kent to come and have a look (something so cool it just had to be seen) and grabbed my camera, most of the existing mountain was nearly covered and it was moving fast.  After bringing in the laundry and shutting all doors, we gathered on the front porch to watch as this giant wall of wind and dust came soaring towards our house.  We stayed outside as long as we dared!

It was about 7 pm and still very light outside, but as the dust storm surrounded and pounded our house, it was dark (the picture didn't show it justice).  

The wind knocked our garbage cans through gate and into our backyard and broke the lid off our hose reel, blew dust and dirt into our entryway and left a layer of dirt in nearly every windowsill.  I still haven't finished cleaning the dirt (weeks later).

Susan was on her way here and on the 202 freeway when the storm hit.  She couldn't even see and thought about stopping, but didn't dare.  By the time she arrived at our house, the worst of it had passed, but it took every ounce of strength I had get the dead bolt off to open the front door with the wind still blowing.

Welcome to the wide open desert spaces of Arizona!

May Madness

Concerts. Parties. Dance. Mother's Day. Carnivals. End of School...

May seems to get busier (if that's even possible).  Busy is relative, but with the "wrapping up" of the school year, it seems to bring an extra excitement and added activities to an otherwise packed schedule.  For Karsten it was the beginning of swimming lessons (and unfortunately not the end of his daily "five" disasters), Kimball had a piano concert and a school class family pizza party at Peter Piper Pizza and ended his first season of playing basketball.  Kierra had a school Mother's Day program and a last day of school family program.  Kenzly had a dance competition, dress rehearsal(s) for the June show, orchestra concert at Payne Jr. High, a Friday evening carnival (she and Ali Ray attended) and hung out with friends a lot!  Kimberly got to meet and talk with Country Music Vocal Artist Collin Raye at her "Amazing Grace" concert at the Mesa Arts Center. Kent had a scouts camp-out in preparation for their June week of hiking, biking and camping with the Young Men.  Never a dull moment...

Karsten Daily Disaster(s)

Mr. Stubborn independent likes to pour his own milk, often in the whee morning hours and sometimes even in the middle of the night.  Unfortunately it always gets spilled, if not the entire jug, then from the cup that gets screwed on crooked, not tight enough, or without a valve.  He has poured an entire gallon onto the carpet in the family room before and several cups in the family room and playroom.  Thankfully, most of the time it goes on the tile and at least that can be cleaned more easily.

A fetish with toothbrushes still (Kimberly and Kent's most often) and the dishwasher does a great job of resurrecting them, even after they have "played" in the dirt outside. 

Patterson Elementary

Art Showcase Evening

Tonight we got to see some of the art work Kimball and Kierra have created.  The third graders set up booths outside and painted fingernails and toes (with donated supplies from parents :) Kimball got to paint the fingernails of both Kimberly and Karsten.  

Kierra's teacher told me she takes her time and does the very best artwork possible.  Since she was little (about 15 months old) she could hold a pen properly and used to draw the most tiny intricate circles.  When she turned three she colored on the walls and up and down the piano keys a couple of times with a Sharpie Marker.  Thankfully, now she colors on paper (most of the time - every once in a while she forgets....).  Maybe she will be an artist!

Kimball was presented with the highest reader award - top of the entire third grade - at the end of the year.  He was in Utah the last week and missed the presentation.  Way to go Kimball!!!

Piano Recital

Kimball's 2nd - teacher Sister Mortensen

Mother's Day School Celebration 

Kierra's Kindergarten Class

Kierra's class prepared a fun Mother's Day Celebration.  It started in the morning before school with "Donuts for Diva's" in the lunchroom.  We moved to Mrs. Sisson's room and were serenaded with some cute songs and a few handmade gifts (Kierra had taken extra care in coloring and making it beautiful) and a flower with a colored butterfly.  It was a fun spending the morning with Kierra! 

One of the three C's....Choir

It's a little joke around our house that started with Kent.  Since moving to Arizona, leaving my family and long-time friends, exercise partners, neighborhood social club and comforts of home, and now raising four kids - including a KRAZY KARSTEN in tim-buck-too...

there are three C's necessary for my survival...

Chocolate, Choir and Crazy Juice (Diet Coke)!

not necessarily in that order:)

 Choir rehearsal with guest artist Collin Raye.  

Since I was young I have loved country music and Collin Raye's hits from the 90's were some of my favorite.  It was so fun to sit in the cultural hall of the church and hear him sing - not a pleasure I often get to experience!  He sounded really good, considering he was in a cultural hall with terrible acoustics using a church microphone.  

Collin Raye and Kimberly

Right before our first concert of the evening after we had finished the run - through, Collin just happened to be standing in the hall talking to a few people.  I felt like a silly "school girl", but decided 

I would take my chance to say hi and waited.

When it was my turn, he was prepared to give me an autograph, but since I didn't even have a piece of paper, I opted for a picture.  He was SO nice and personable easy to talk with, complimentary of the choir and said he would love to do the show again.  

It was a great concert and a neat experience to perform with Collin Raye!

Mr. Hopall's 3rd Grade Class

Peter Piper Pizza - Family Party