Monst....I mean Mookster Chronicles

My daughter is a stealth bomber.

I know, hard to believe, but she is.

She strikes very silently, in the dead of night.

She's like Garrett that way.

She is too excited about life to sleep, and is considerate enough to be quiet about it.

This morning I got up to go running (yes, running...that's another story) and put on my shoes in the dark. When I closed the closet door, there she was standing in my room illuminated by the dim light of the bathroom down the hall.

I think there are tread marks on the ceiling.

When my heart slowed to it's normal pace I picked her up and tucked her back in bed. She didn't say a word, just curled up and went to sleep.

I guess it's a good thing I have been getting some exercise lately, my heart couldn't stand it otherwise!

Ah, rain. We love it. It's the kind you can splash in and not catch pneumonia.

After several pleas of "Mom, can I go get wet?" I gave in.


Makes for a happy, happy boy.


This little one didn't want to get wet, she just wanted to pose for the camera.


I love seeing stormy clouds here in the desert. Makes us hopeful that we will have enough water for another year.


We did a recent (and much needed ) haircut for Mookie. Just a little bang trimming and it turned out completely crooked. I guess it's okay since her hair is always messy in the first place.

It's suppose to warm up for us here. Our Winters are always too short for me. I love having an excuse to light a fire in the mornings, make hot chocolate and snuggle under a blanket. Sadly those days are numbered.

Par-tay!

After all our fun parties this week (and my, oh my, there were parties) we decided to have a little chocolate party of our own.

Adam went for the "whole banana dunk" idea.


I think Mookie overdosed on pretzels and mano-mados (marshmallows).


Dallin was in heaven. This kid is a junkaholic. There is no such thing as too much chocolate for this kid.

Chocolate makes every party better!

Valentine breakfast

Adam let me sleep in on Valentine's day (thanks honey). When I finally got out of bed, this is what I found.

He and Maura shared a special Valentine breakfast.

Awww, isn't that cute?

Mountain Pass Trail at Usery Park

This past weekend we went with my Uncle Ron and his family on a 7 mile hike at Usery Park. It was so much fun! We started the day at 8am loaded with plenty of water, snacks and sunscreen.



Off we went in single file down a rocky trail. We went all the way around the base of the mountain that is in the background.

Adam carried Maura in this baby backpack 90% of the way...I tried to help for a bit, but he's just a lot tougher than I!


Here we go, off into the rising sun!

We took our time stopping for water and stick gathering. It's very important to have sticks when you hike.



Maura found a little one first,

Then upgraded.


I had to post this picture of Dallin's hat. It's so goofy, but he looooves it! He wears it any chance he gets; to school, to a friend's house, hiking...

Pausing for snacks and waiting to see the fountain at Fountain Hills turn on.

My Aunt Jan and Uncle Ron. I should have said 'quarter'.

Maura and Adam hiding from me as I came up the trail.

What a hunky man!


Pausing in the shade to have some lunch and look at the map. While sitting there we saw quite a few bikers going up and down the trail...I couldn't believe the terrain they were riding on!!


Mmm peanut butter and honey.

Cousins Jill and Kylan


I brought along a secret weapon in case Maura got bored in the backpack. It was great!! (Thanks Christy for the Tinkerbell Valentine treats! They were perfect for this hike!)

She had blue lips and a blue sweater for the rest of the trip, but it was sooooo worth it!


Dallin and Kylan (Ne hao Kai Lan!)


Ah, yes, we made it to the top.


I took a turn with the Mookster. If I were going to do this again, I would get a backpack that fit me better. It was really uncomfortable. I could handle the weight, but my shoulders and back were so sore from getting rubbed wrong.


Mookster finally took a short nap so Adam and I walked as far and as fast as we could for about an hour. We got way ahead of everyone else, but we didn't want to stop with her sleeping.



About 100 yards from the vehicles Adam stepped over what he thought was a rock. "Turtle, dad!" Maura said, and sure enough there was a desert tortoise in the middle of the trail.

Maura watched it and touched it for a long time.


When the rest of the gang caught up with us we all got to look at the tortoise. Surprisingly, he didn't seem scared of us. He didn't ever pull his head into his shell even when we touched him or picked him up. It was really fun to see.


When we got back to the parking area Dallin and the other kids were complaining how tired they were, then off they went to climb in the trees and run around the picnic tables!


It was such a fun day and a super great hike! Thanks for inviting us along! We'll have to do it again soon!

I love Boys

Boys are so fun.


Especially neighborhood boys.


I love that at any given time several boys are available to come over and play.


And when they come over to play they play so well.


There is always plenty of running and shouting, guns and throwing, balls and grass stains.

Yup, I love boys.

Gampa boots!

Yes, Grandpa Jonesy, Maura has boots.

They are pink.


They are a little too big.


She looooves them.

Now we just need a grandpa to come take us horseback riding!

Monst....I mean Mookster Chronicles.

The twos have arrived with all the drama of a girl. WOW! Seriously, was I like this?!? I'm surprised I survived my childhood.

Maura is whiny and sometimes mean and when she doesn't get her way she falls on the ground and cries. My boys were never like this.

Maybe they were and I've blocked it out...

BUT, today was a good day. I decided maybe she just wasn't getting enough attention from me. So, the house is a wreck, but we had a fun day inviting over a friend we hadn't seen for a while, running errands at the school, feeding the ducks at the park, coloring, feeding Parker treats, and playing in the back yard. While pulling out the coloring books we found some stickers she wanted to play with.

I got busy helping our friend get a drink and when I got back to helping Maura she said:

"Happy face, momma!"

Ohh, yeah! You do have a happy face!


She left them on for a loooong time.


This is the face I got when I suggested we take them off to go to the store.

So, we left them on and let the rest of the neighborhood see her happy face.

(**Side note** The stickers DO hide the HUGE bruise on her forehead she's had for a week. If you look carefully you'll still see the dent and a little bit of the green bruise left from falling onto her head-board mid jump.)

What the heck is a Nanaimo bar??

Come to book club tonight (8:30 at my house) and find out!

Just in cast you can't make it and have never heard of Google, I'll tell you...

Nanaimo Bars (or N.B.s for short) are one of Canada's favorite confections. The beautiful City of Nanaimo, British Columbia lays claim to these squares, telling us on their website that it all began when a Nanaimo housewife entered a recipe for chocolate squares in a magazine contest some 35 years ago. She called her recipe 'Nanaimo Bars' and when she won the contest, not only did her dessert become popular throughout Canada, so did the town they were named after. These no-bake, three layered bars are delicious; they start with a crumb base, followed by a layer of light custard buttercream, topped with a smooth layer of chocolate.

I had never heard of these until my Canadian Mother-in-law brought a couple of box mixes from Canada when she came to visit.

I have one box left.



After tonight, I'll have none.

My thighs will thank me.