The Museum

Grandma Hileski took us to a museum downtown Phoenix to see a few exhibits last week. The kids were frightened a little by the Lightning Bug room, but eventually warmed up to it. There was also a room of miniatures and a children's play area that they enjoyed quite a bit. I think security at the museum got a little uptight to see us coming with four little ones but, except for thinking one sculpture was a play gym, the kids did a pretty good job of not touching anything!

Waiting for Grandma.

In the play area there were blocks to build with. Jack built this maze. It goes around the corner, too.

Anna (mostly) and the kids managed to fill up the art display section with original pieces created on our visit.

The kids with Grandma.

SOLD!

After less than three weeks on the market, our house is under contract with a buyer. There are so many things in this that I am grateful for, but I am so tired that I am not going to list them all :).

We'll probably close escrow around June 16 and will be back in California just in time to miss the worst of the summer heat here in Arizona. Which reminds me of one of the things I'm going to miss... the summer thunderstorms here. I grew up with thunderstorms and love them.

Overdue

These pictures were taken a week ago Wednesday when we went to the Zoo. That week was The Week of the Pati's because we saw them so often, which was a treat!

It seems like I am posting a lot of pictures of the zoo. It isn't that we go to the zoo that often, it is just one of the few places I almost always remember to take my camera!

Emma and the Goat.

Our combined offspring waiting for the animal Meet and Greet.

This is the only hippo I'd recommend trying to ride!

Lunch.

Riparian Preserve

The Pati's invited us to a bird walking tour at the nearby Riparian Preserve yesterday. It was unusually cool (we were shivering in our jackets) but that is something I can enjoy more now that I know what is coming (it'll be in the 90's by the weekend). We both had to leave a little early from the walking tour but the kids enjoyed it and it was a nice change for our mornings.



Jack, Anna, Elise, Emma shivering together. Anna and Luke on the far left. Elise is 7, Anna is 6 and Emma is 5. They are all close to a year apart in age, but Anna is about the same size as Emma, if not shorter! She is the petite one in our family.

Luke likes to be a big kid and drink out of a water bottle. He does a pretty good job not spilling.

Emma was/is very swee with Luke. She was playing with him and helping him yesterday, it was really cute!

They provided binoculars for all the kids so they got to check out the birds. In the short time we were there, they saw quite a few different ones.

Sidewalk Surfer Boy

The kids were in the pool again today. It is still much too cold for reasonable people (or adults). We were out front saying good-bye to some visitors (Derek's mom and old middle school teacher and his wife were down to visit) and Luke was running on the sidewalk in his pool gear and looked so grown up

Ta-da!

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We woke up this morning to find this sign stuck in our front yard. Kids do not convey...

PE Class

We have really enjoyed our PE class this year. It is specifically for homeshoolers and the kids have enjoyed it a lot. They have learned the rules to the basic games, played them, done Presidential Fitness training and scoring, and learned a lot of fun new games to play as well. Water games were the most fun for them, I think, but not for me. Luke, Leah and I sat in the shade sweating while they got to run around throwing water at each other! That was back in September. We'll miss most of the May water games (when it gets around 100 again for the highs) because of our trip to WI. I'm not sad about that part, but I think the kids will be a little disappointed when they find out!

Here they are on their run. At the beginning of the year Jack didn't like this part too much but he bucked up and did it when he realized he had to do this before he could play any fun games. Now he does it cheerfully and pretty quickly. He is one of the youngest (as 4 is the bottom age limit) in the class.

Anna does everything in class cheerfully, whether she wins or not. She is always trying hard with a smile, it is a joy to watch!

Luke and Leah always find something to do. Leah and I sometimes do the stretches with the class. Luke absolutely loves this golf club and swinging it around at anything resembling a ball.

Jack attempting to become more agile.

I had a hard time picking my favorite pictures from that day, so I just put up a few representative ones. They are fun days for all of us!

The House

We love our house and are sad to leave it and the wonderful layout (and marvelous school room!!) that we have enjoyed. It is also sad to know how much we are selling it for (translate: giving it away)!

I put the pictures below up more to make a memory for us someday if we want to look back and remember our Arizona 'mansion'. And of course, we'll remember it this clean. :)

Want to buy a house... cheap?