Phoenix Zoo for FREE!!!

The Phoenix Zoo is a fun place to visit. It has a great variety of animals and quite a bit of land to explore. It's been well over a year since the last time the boys and I were able to go to the zoo. So when I found out we could go to the zoo for FREE on Friday, we planned our trip! (Show your Fry's VIP card and get 2 people in for free at the zoo. That means you don't pay $16 for an adult or $7 for kids. It is completely free!!!)

Unfortunately, Mitchell was unable to go with us to the zoo. Bummer! He had to work that day at the last minute. We invited our neighbors to come with us to the zoo. Lindsay and Haley were eager animal explorers. Everyone had a specific animal they wanted to see.

We checked out the Arizona animals first. The prairie dogs loved to pose for the camera. These creatures are very social. There were a few babies running around in the cage too. Very cute!

These are golden eagles. They don't look too scary in this picture; however, you have to understand that there are two eagles on this branch. The one in the back is 3 feet or taller. He is thick and heavy. He is HUGE! (for a bird). He could easily devour Max and any small child that was with him. I would not want to run into this bird in the wild at all!

Wolves aren't all that exciting. Usually when we go to the zoo, the wolves are hiding somewhere in their cage. Today we were in for a treat. The two wolves were on parade. They were walking the perimeter of the cage. This means that they would stroll right by where we were standing. Wolves are quite a bit bigger than a coyote. Wolves are a little bigger than a German Shepherd. Grant tried to make friends with several animals at the zoo. Here he is talking to a peacock and trying to offer him food. There are several peacocks that roam freely around the zoo. They are such beautiful birds.

Grant, Lindsay and Haley taking a break with the lion. Since the zoo doesn't open until 9am, we had to find places in the shade to take breaks so we didn't get heat exhaustion. On the "Children's Trail" there are several shady spots with statues to climb on while you take a break.

We thought this was a funny pose for Grant

This is an Egyptian Goose who lives in the Rhinoceros cage. She has built her nest right by a stump next to the watering hole. I wonder when her little eggs will hatch?

We had more fun at the zoo than what our little blog posting can describe. So if you are looking for a hot summer activity to do this summer for free, call the zoo and make sure that Fridays are still free and go! Have fun!

Mitchell's Trip

Mitchell was invited to go with our stake's Priest Quorum on a trip to St. George, UT. They only do this trip once every three years. Since Mitchell graduates high school in less than three years, he was able to go.

Mitchell left town at 7AM Friday, May 22nd. It was a long 8 hour drive. They group stayed in the dorms at Dixie College. Here is Mitchell's room and deluxe bathroom.

Mitchell shared his room with his friend, Brandon. The room is joined to another room through this common bathroom. Chris and Jeremy were in the other room. With this group of boys, I wonder how they ever got any sleep for this trip.

On Saturday they went to the St. George Temple and hung out there all day. They pretty much did stuff around town that day. In the evening they went swimming. At the pool there were these Styrofoam Lilly pads going across the pool that was about 25 feet wide. The goal was go run across these floating Lilly pads and get to the other side without falling in the water. This reminds me of a Japanese show I watched last week where the contestants had to get through several stunts to win the show. I think it would have been hilarious to watch several priest age boys and their leaders try to run across the Lilly pads and then fall into the pool. Mitchell says he was one of five boys that could make it all of the way across. I think I should get Mitchell signed up for one of these Japanese game shows!

On Sunday they did church stuff and went to church history sites. On Monday they were able to go hiking in Zions National Park. Mitchell says the park was amazing. The cliffs were really huge and seemed to touch the clouds. His group went to Angel's Landing and had a great time.


While taking a break from hiking, Mitchell and the other boys had fun feeding the wildlife. Those who have queasy stomachs should not watch this video clip. There are dangers in hand feeding animals.

There were plenty of streams for the boys to cool off in. It makes me want to go hiking there someday. Mitchell will have to show me around. (Ha, Ha on the video. Mitchell's finger is not chewed off and he doesn't get rabies. I was just messin' with you that it would be terrifying!)

On Tuesday Mitchell came home super tired. Him and his roommates stayed up all night and didn't get any sleep until they were in the car driving home. He should sleep well tonight!

Happy Mother's Day!

We spent Mother's Day in Kingman. My boys, with the help of Brent, got me Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, a funny card and flowers. I also got hugs from both of them. It's hard to believe that I've been a mom for the last 15 plus years. It is such a challenging job and such a privilege. Sometimes I wish they were grown up and gone because it is so frustrating and other times I wish we could go back in time to when parenting them was easier and I could do a better job. But it is what it is.
I pray for inspiration on how to teach my boys so they can reach their potential. I pray for wisdom to know how to handle all of the surprises that come my way. I pray for psychic powers so I can see into the future and be able to prepare better for the road to come. But mostly I pray to find a way to positively interact with them so they know that they are deeply loved by their mother.

Fathers and Sons Outing

This last weekend Brent took Mitchell and Grant on our ward's Fathers and Sons outing up near Strawberry, AZ.

Grant spend most all of his time hanging out with his buddy Price. They played around the fire and danced around the fire and did whatever they could do around the fire.

At the center of this picture is Grant's tent. Price camped out with him in his tent. Grant came home absolutely exhausted so I don't think the boys slept much.

Mitchell had his own tent and Brent had his own tent. No late night snuggling with these guys! All of their male bonding had to happen during the car ride there and back.

Cinco de Mayo!

Tonight we celebrated "Cinco de Mayo" as a family. I know today is only "quatro de Mayo" but Grant will be on a school field trip tomorrow and won't be with us to celebrate the official holiday. So to get things going we had taquitos, refried beans, Tostitos chips, nacho cheese sauce, and other fast Mexican type foods for dinner. It was really easy to put together. Next we watched "Three Amigos."

Do you remember that movie from 1986? If not, you probably weren't born yet. I must have seen it in the 80's but really don't remember any of the details. It was so funny! There are many great lines from the movie that we just cracked up about!

For example when they are trying to plan an attack on El Guapo, Steve Martin says "We are just going to have to use our brains." Then Chevy Chase says "Damn it!" (don't let your kids read that last line!!!)

Oh, just go watch the movie again. To my surprise Brent happens to own the VHS of it. He has everything. Mitchell and Grant were quite suspicious of what we were going to make them watch. But we told them it counted for FHE, so they stayed and thought it was pretty funny.

Unfortunately, we did not get a pinata for our celebration. But you have time to run and get one for yours! Have fun celebrating Cinco de Mayo! (P.S. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the end of European rule in Mexico (1862) but its not Mexican Independence Day. Mexican Independence Day is September 16th and is the day that Mexico declared their independence from Spain in 1810.)

Poetry by Grant Ward

Here are some poems written by Grant.

Balls
Basket balls
Soccer balls
Big, round, kick balls
Colorful, soft, beach balls
Those are just a few.

Volley balls
Bouncy balls
Small, crazy super balls
Oddly shaped foot balls
Soft balls too.

Blue balls
Yellow balls
Don't forget silver balls
Last of all, best of all,
I like tennis balls!

Dog Sense
I smell...
Wet fur, dirt, dog food
I feel...
Soft fur, wet kisses, warmth
I see...
Flopping ears, wagging tail,
A wet black nose.
I hear...
A jingling collar, a whacking tail,
Barks of joy.