In honor and memorial...

Of all the Tucson shooting victims.

We drove to Tucson for a funeral, to pay respects, show support, and join in the Tucson community organized human barricade love. The human barricade was not needed, but the community showed up strong for the family and loved ones.

As a politically active supporter of Gabby Giffords, I would have jumped at the opportunity to take my children to meet her. This tragedy hit too close to home.

The kids made this at the memorial...it is a smiling sun...





The family asked for no picture taking or media. It was very sad to see that in the midst of a very respectful, quiet, show of love and support- the media was very present and disrespectful to the family.

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Roadtrip Day 2

Redlands- coffee bean & tea leaf...





Much needed rest area....

















We made it to Phoenix just in time to listen to President Obama's memorial on NPR - we pushed through to Tucson and watched it 3 more times before bed. It was a much needed much appreciated memorial.
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Random hotel drawings...

Ira drew a cat...


Then she drew a dog, but wrote the letters backwards....


Then she decided to draw god..... An Egyptian god....


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Summery September 1!

Happy September!!!

We have started reading our autumn themed books and doing fall crafts.... But today it's hot! Gotta love it here- highs of 62 in July and august and 90 degrees in September.

We had ice cream....



We made popcorn





And played with water...

A penny toss...


Liv knocked one over- so they jumped in the puddles...





They measured, used funnels, etc...


Gave the ponies a bath...


We read this book....


When I turned to this page, Ira said, "mama, I miss tucson" :(


This page made mama miss Tucson....

Tucson....

It was an amazing visit!
We saw amazing friends/old neighbours and ate amazing new Mexican food in Albuquerque,NM.... Then we drove through really gorgeous monsoons and scored a room at a really great hotel with amazing views.

We had dinner with friends at a new local place, WILKO. Delicious. We got froyo two nights in a row with two separate, but equally magical, families.


Here is a funny impromptu color mixing lesson for liv, taught by Ira....


Our beautiful view...


Tucson was so hot! But we enjoyed ourselves anyways....


But it was really hot!


Side note! Liv can count to 12, and is trying to spell her name and other words! It's so crazy fast! I guess that's what having a bug sis does!

More Tucson, a wedding and hotel fun

I didn't have my phone at the wedding, so no pics of that until I contact the photogs.... But here are some from the rehearsal-











Photo session in the foothills...


Trying to stay cool in the too hot state-


Hiram is growing a virtual garden on the ipad.


And keeping a picture journal...


The girls played pinball for the first time...


We watched a bunch of documentaries. This one was the family favourite, about Siberia. Did you know the Siberian salamander can freeze itself for YEARS then revive itself to survive the extreme climate?


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Phoenix & Tucson

Yep, we are back in the dry heat! Look at Ira praising the mister gods!


We stopped at an awesome outlet mall north of Phoenix... Live didn't seem bothered by the sun.


FROYO!!!!



Then we got to what had to be the hotel in Tucson, we are only staying here one night, but the girls were quite taken by the decor... Including this fountain.




They made forts....





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Arizona!!!!

I love being back in the desert!





Ira drew me flowers...








Emers in love with liv's babydoll...


Flagstaff....


The girls were happy to run off some energy in the breezy mountain air...








Thai food.... We had eaten here with Dianna over a year ago....



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