Homeschoolers in the Arizona desert (We have moved!) Mom: Jenne in AZ Dad: Kazrak Children: Bookworm age 11 Mister Man age 9, Energizer Bunny age 5, Sprog (16 weeks) and Mouse (19 weeks), Blinky (17 weeks) gone and very missed http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/ en-us Homeschool Blogger Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:41:00 -0600 Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:41:00 -0600 This morning we went to the Fountain Hills Thanksgiving Parade.  We did our traditional stop at the donut store and got donuts to eat while we watched.  The kids loved the floats and especially the ones that threw candy.  The most interesting 'float' was the one with the turkey.  It was a live turkey going for a ride in a cage.  The turkey didn't look very impressed, but it was very nice to see a REAL turkey in the parade. Then back to my parents place and turkey dinner.  YUM!  And finally we went to ZooLights.  It was amazing.  We got to see the Komodo dragon and a whole bunch of lights.  And the carousel.  We attempted to get a Christmas card picture at the zoo, but I don't know if any of them came out right.  At least some were...  messy.  The dim light and people that moved didn't work too well.  And I can't forget Jengo, the talking giraffe.  He was Peter's absolute favorite.  And the zebras that we somehow missed earlier in the week, Amanda loved them.  Michael spent the whole time taking pictures and movies.  Everyone had a good time.  I think my parents had a good time too.  ZooLights is great. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/747799/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:41:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/747799/ Today we rode the train in Scottsdale and it was wonderful.  We rode the carousel too.  And played in the sand for hours on end.  I tried to read my book but didn't get very far.  Anyway, it was a good day. Parade and donuts tomorrow! http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/747609/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:30:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/747609/ Here there be dragons.  Komodo dragons that is. We went to the zoo today and saw Komodo dragons.  They were really cool and very large.  An eight foot long lizard that thinks you look like food is impressive. We came home with  a stuffed dragon and five Land of Dragons t shirts.  We had a great time and almost opened the zoo and then almost closed it too.  The only difficult part was lunch.  My lunch.  First Brad forgot to order it so I didn't get my food at the same time everyone else did.  So I got to wait in line to order my food while they ate, then the place lost the order so I waited some more.  Finally I got my food about 15 minutes after everyone else did.  The good news was that the kids were very patient about waiting for me.  I am just sorry that they had too. Pictures eventually.  Especially of Gaia and Ivan.  (the Komodo dragons!) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/747377/ Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/747377/ We made it to AZ and are currently staying at my parent's house.  My sweet husband has spent the day unraveling the computer messes that have happened since we moved a year ago.  He was my parent's tech support and he just wasn't able to help as much long distance.  Anyway, the computers are happier, healthier and better behaved! The boys are playing Legos that Grandma bought them this morning at Target.  Happy little boys!  We have a new Agents robot and a Power Miners drill going together.  Amanda is being hard to buy for.  Grandma is willing to get something for her too, if only she would figure out what!!!  So far, happy everyone!  (Except that I wish I was going to see my sister while we were here.  Family relationships get so complicated sometimes.) Anyway I think we are going to the zoo tomorrow.  There is a Komodo dragon that we need to see and some sunshine that we need to enjoy. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/746989/ Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:27:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/746989/ Tonight we are in Palm Desert.  It was a very long day, but tomorrow will be much better.  We will probably get in to my parent's place sometime in the early afternoon. Good night. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/746647/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/746647/ I got a rock!  For real.  And I am happy about it too. I have played Neopets for a long time.  I checked it out years ago to see if it was a reasonable place for Amanda to be online.  It was.  She is.  And I kind of never stopped playing.  They have been running a plot, a kind of multiplayer story for the past week or so and today I received a rock in one of the games.  I received a muffin too, but somehow the rock is more exciting.  Anyway, happy me. Tomorrow morning we head south to the lower part of CA and then Sunday on to AZ.  I may be very late posting tomorrow or even not at all.  We will see. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/746436/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:38:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/746436/ Sorry for not posting yesterday, Brad had his normal Wednesday night gathering and I was on kid duty all day.  That isn't abnormal, just a reason that I didn't make time to type. Today he is at work, but not working.  His employer brings in folks to do talks and today he is going to one of those talks.  He got up early, left early and sat and waited for the talk to begin.  According to his messages he was one of the first 200 people there this morning.  And that means he got a book.  A free book.   By Alton Brown. Yep, that's right.  He is listening to a talk by Alton Brown as I type this.  I think that sounds pretty cool.  Maybe he will bring home some good ideas. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/745957/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:53:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/745957/ Our afternoon was spent out of the house today.  First stop, the library.  We dropped off all of our books in preparation for our trip to Arizona on Saturday.  I don't want to worry about library books going wandering across state lines.  Of course, on the way out Amanda spotted a book for me and we did take it home.  I am reading it now and it is NOT going to make the trip.  I have other books that are coming instead.  (In case you are wondering the library book is Food, Inc.  It is about how food is made and how it effects the people who eat it.) Next stop, recorder class.  The boys played light sabers on the front lawn.  Amanda played recorder inside.  I read my new book and talked with another Mom a little. Final stop, Alvarez Park.  Swings, sand, climbing, more light sabers.  I read more of my book.  It was good. Then the grand finale...  a trip to the shuttle stop to pick up Brad so he didn't walk home in the dark. Overall a pretty normal day. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/745555/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:26:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/745555/ So my last post about trying to meet up with my sister...  she read it.  For all I know she will be reading this one too.  I didn't know she knew this blog existed.  She certainly never made a comment or sent me email.   I suppose I should always remember that anything I put on this blog is public and anyone can read it.  I just didn't think. So to my sister... I love you.  I always have.  I always will.  I was looking forward to trying to get together with you over Thanksgiving.  I wanted to see how you were doing and maybe get a chance to talk to you.  But as much as our parents tried to get a day/time to meet, you didn't respond.  I called them three times last week trying to find out how to schedule our week in Arizona.  But they hadn't gotten a response.  Finally I got frustrated and made the post two days ago.  So here is my peace offering:  I am sorry.  I was frustrated.  I will be in Arizona soonish and would love to see you.  If you would like to meet up then please contact me and we can figure out a time/date and place.  The email address attached to this blog does work.  The comments section does work.  The email address from our Christmas letter works. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/745256/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:55:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/745256/ A week from now we will be on the road to AZ to visit my parents for Thanksgiving.  We are working out the details of what we are going to do when.  I know we are going to go to the Thanksgiving parade, the zoo, Zoolights and the train park.  The rest is still to be worked out.  I am hoping to meet up with my friends but I am waiting on a day and time to meet up with my sister first.  My sister's schedule is unknown and I will probably only get one chance to see her.  The last time I saw her was well over a year ago.  She didn't go to Thanksgiving last year and we moved shortly after that.  I really hope that she will give my Mom a day/time to meet tomorrow. Please let her figure out a day/time!  I want to meet up with my friends too.  I haven't seen them in a year and my sister is prone to canceling and doesn't seem to like me or my family much anyway.  It is hard to tell people you want to see and want to see you that you can't visit with them because someone who doesn't much like you and doesn't really want to see you has priority.  I guess that is relatives for you. (Mom, I know you read this and you won't like these comments, but that is how it looks from here.  I am very much looking forward to seeing you and Dad, just not her.  You like me and Brad and the kids.  She...  does not.) http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/744797/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:04:00 -0600 http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/JenneinAZ/744797/