The Desert Botanical Gardens

Seriously... one of the most beautiful amazing places I've been.

It's all desert plants, every kinda you can imagine. There are paths you walk through, boards to read and learn, wildlife to see. It was just so very relaxing! The boys loved it, John and I loved it maybe more! LOL
The main reason we went was because there were having a butterfly exhibit where you could go into their netted "cage" with them and see them up close. They were awesome, and huge! I had NO idea how big they were. The people in there to teach you about them told us that they don't really land on people. He said they are the "cats" of the butterfly world, they just don't really care that you're there, kinda just whatever about people, lol. He said they have other butterflies that will land on people are just very social but the Monarchs, not so much. Now of course not 5 minutes after they tell us that, what happens? One lands right on Tristans shirt! He has this insane attraction to animals, or I should say they have an insane attraction to him. He's just got a special something about him with animals of all kinds. And not 1 minute after the one came and landed on his shirt, one landed on his EAR! He was in HEAVEN!!
Jacob on the other hand... took a few to get used to it. He started crying when we got in there, ugh! So the mother I am (my friends will understand) I say quietly in his ear as I kneel next to him, "Jacob, they are flippin butterflies, what do you think they're going to do, attack you?"... suck it up child, lets enjoy! lol. He got over it pretty quick and once it was his turn to take pictures, he was all over them :)
Anyway here are some pictures from our day, it really is a great place. Would be fun for a romantic walk :)

Tristan's Birthday!

How does time go so quickly? Can someone please answer me that? Just yesterday it seemed like I was sitting in the hospital being a Mom for the very first time, and holding a brand new sweet baby boy. And now... he's 8??? Seriously ?!?!?!?!?!?!



Wow... it seems completely impossible.

This child has brought so much joy to our lives. He is sweet, caring, sensitive and just an all around good boy. He's an amazing son and a super brother! I am so glad that we were chosen to be the parents of this great kid. On his actual birthday I brought cupcakes to his class but this past Saturday we had his Party... and at my most favorite place (NOT) Chuck E Cheese. We had a great turnout, if I remember correctly I think 17 kids total were there. Lots of playing, eating, singing to be done at Chuck E Cheese, 2 full hours of fun!!
Anyway, here are some pictures!

Halloween, Friend visits and School Festivals, OH MY!!

Well the boys' Fall Festival at school was this past week, last Friday. Now that I am part of the PTSA I helped set it up. It was fun and its been great getting to know the girls in the PTSA. They are a great group.
They did the CUTEST pictures for the festival to raise money. They set up hay and fall decor, it was super cute! So of course, being who I am... we had a couple pics done! (and I snuck in a pic of my friend Linda and I at the Festival)




We also had our friends, the Johnson family, that came out to go to the Science Museum and spend the night at the house here. The museum was having a Halloween special so we all met up and went there then hung at the house for the night. I made pumpkin pancakes the next morning for breakfast and they were on the road mid morning. It was great to spend time with them!! And we hope to do it again soon :)











And now just a few from Halloween night when we went trick or treating :)