Outside Fun (Before it Gets Hot)

The heat will all-too-soon be upon us, so we decided it was a perfect day for a picnic and outside adventures!

This picture cracks me up ... it is a pine cone, but looks like she pooped.

The New Table

To me, our home has always felt somewhat like a frat house.  We don't have much furniture - we don't have end tables, or coffee tables or shelves and arm chairs, etc.   We don't have much on the walls, either.

Since getting married, our tables have been an old, small set of blonde wood nesting tables that came from Jonathan's apartment.  The were all too small for the living room and just never looked right.

It took me years to find a table I like.  Years, I tell you.  We wanted something attractive, something unique and something indestructible.   Many tables out there have glass, and that is a "no" in our house.  I also didn't necessarily want wood, which could get scratched, dented, etc.  

I finally found the perfect table with brown iron base, with a shelf on the bottom and a lovely travertine top and it is HEAVY, so it won't budge when the kids will inevitably climb on it. We simply had to seal the travertine and VOILA!   A table we love, and a table we needed!   

Now we need to find the perfect lamp.  That might take another few years. :)  

The Lucero Men

Two of the Most Excited Kiddos You've Ever Seen!

For years (yes, years!) Christian has coveted "Remote Control Gordon" from the Thomas the Tank Engine collection.   And Jonathan decided the time was now!

Of course, Scarlett needed something, too.  Given her obsession with my iPad and smart phone, an age-appropriate electronic gadget was right up here alley.

Enjoy this video of the two most excited kiddos you've ever seen! :)

The Pledge Of Allegiance

I recorded Christian reciting the Pledge of Allegiance back in November, and Jonathan has asked me to post it on our blog, but I keep forgetting (bad mommy!).

 

So here it is! 

 

 

Little Freckles

Just look at these precious freckles which now adorn Christian's face!

100 Year Old Man

To celebrate 100 days of school,  the kiddos were asked to dress up as a 100 year old person.  Here is out take on old age ... along with a poorly tied tie (even with a step-by-step chart, Mommy cannot toe a tie!).

A Sweet Lil' Visit

Our nieces from Colorado came for a visit this weekend, and along with them came our adorable nephew, Montese.  What a happy, happy baby he is!

Christian and Scarlett even got to go swimming!

Sunny with a Chance of Rain

Those of you who have experienced a rough winter in other parts of the country will get a kick out of this:

The weather forecast for this weekend calls for an 80% chance of rain in the Phoenix metro area. That area is so large, that different sides of our large metro area get different weather. For example: It might be raining cats and dogs in the East Valley, but here in the far West Valley where we live, it is blue skies and not a single drop of rain.

It hasn't rained... here in the Phoenix area for months. Can't remember the last time it rained, in fact. And while 80% chance this weekends makes for great odds, in my experience it might mean absolutely no rain for my own community.

Nonetheless, our son's school has canceled it's golf tournament scheduled for this weekend. Not postponed to see if we REALLY get rain. Canceled.

Nonetheless, the U Pick Citrus Farm has already announced it will likely close, and to check their updates before heading out to get some fruit.

That is how things roll here in Phoenix, I suppose! Now, back to your regularly scheduled winter storm in other parts of the country ...

Can You Share?

As often happens, my children are having sharing problems. There is lots of competition for treasured toys, books, objects d'art, etc. Lots of screaming from Scarlett when she doesn't get what she wants, etc. 

Each day, my kiddos have to take something to the car with them. Christian has always been this way, and Scarlett has picked up on it. Today, she grabbed a tiara and held onto it for dear life. Christian had a Mickey Mouse hat which his is always very reluctant to surrender.

A few moments into our drive, I hear Scarlett sweetly say to Christian, "Can you share?" as she handed him her coveted tiara. He hadn't asked for it, and I didn't prompt her to share. She simply decided, on her own, to share her tiara.

For his part, Christian decided he could then share his Mickey Mouse hat with her. And that was the dialog for the drive: two siblings happily sharing over and over again.

And ... my work here is done (No, not really ... but I AM very pleased with my children's behavior this morning!). 

A Trip to the Phoenix Zoo