Tarantula

We saw 2 giant tarantulas crossing the road on our weekend trip!! Loren nearly hit the first one. I shudder to think about any type of spider, and the size of these was enough to give me nightmares. Sorry, no pictures of the tarantulas.

Weekend Trip

This weekend, I did get my gyro I've been craving, at a little shop across from the Tumacacori National Historic Park.
We also stopped and toured the Village of Tubac. They had an underground exhibit at Tubac where you could see chicken bones in the bricks, they guess the builders had chicken for lunch one day and just incorporated the bones into the building.
We were supposed to drive down to Nogales and walk across the border into Mexico, but we were rained out. It really poured, you can tell it is monsoon season in the desert. Many roads we crossed had dirt washed across the road and piled up at least 6-8 inches.
I missed church yesterday because my little clan is sick, including Rebecca. They have sore throats, runny noses and low fevers. I really hate it when everyone is sick. I pray tonight is better rest for everyone.

You know you're a Maritimer when..

I found this on Facebook and thought it was too funny. For those non-Martimer's. the Maritimes are the provinces of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.
You know you're a maritimer when . . .
1. Your idea of a traffic jam is ten cars waiting topass a tractor on the highway.
2."Vacation" means going to Moncton for the weekend.
3. You measure distance in hours.
4.You know several people who have hit a deer.
5. You often switchfrom "Heat" to "A/C" in the same day.
6. You use a down filled comforter in the summer.
7. Your Grandparents drive 100 kmthrough 13 feet of snow during ragingblizzard without flinching.
8. You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events.
9.You install security lights on both your house and garage and goandleave both unlocked.
10. You think of the major food groups as: Meat, Fish and Tim Hortons.
11. You carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them.
12. There are seven empty cars running in the parking lot of theCanadian Tirestore at any given time.
13. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.
14. Driving is better in thewinter because the potholes are filled with snow.
15. Your lingerie consists of tube socks and flannel pajamas.
16. You knowall 4 seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter andConstruction.
17. It takes three hours to go to the store for one item, even whenyou're in a hurry because you have to stop and talk to everybody intown.And Finally: You know you live in the Maritimes when...
18. You actually understand these jokes andforward them to all your friends from the Maritimes.

My Dad, heart update

My Dad got a call yesterday (Thursday) morning from the heart specialist telling him he had an appt today, (Friday) at 8:30am.They wanted to admit him for IV medication to reduce his fluid build up, and to run tests. Dad, of course, hates hospitals and asked if the tests would be run on the weekend, when no was the answer he opted for the new pills over the weekend and a check in on Monday. If the pills haven't worked he will be admitted Monday. He has a lot of fluid on his heart and lungs and possible blockage. If he has a blockage they said he would be sent to Saint John hospital which is about 5 hours from home in the southern part of the Province.

Vacation Bible School

Cynthia and Jesse have attended Vacation Bible School this week, there is a closing ceremony, of sorts tonight at 7:00pm. I had volunteered to help where I could, but John had other plans and didn't want a thing to do with the nursery. So, we had a fun week together. We went shopping for clothes for Cynthia. Found this cute place called Polly Wogs and got some awesome outfits for a steal! John found a Thomas Puzzle that is really neat, it is a puzzle within a puzzle. There are big pieces that fit together and then smaller pieces that fit inside the big pieces. Oh, we've put it together many times this week. I've enjoyed spending time with just my two youngest, but it was a bit harder getting out with a 2 yr old and 3 month old, imagine that, I 'like' shopping with my 4 children!
Last week was emotionally rough for me, not sure if it was thinking about turning 34, the increase in humidity or just being so exhausted from the trip to Flagstaff and thinking about the frailty of life... maybe a bit of everything. This week I'm feeling re energized, but still hot.
Loren wants to go across into Mexico tomorrow and then off to Phoenix on Sunday to visit his relatives. Think of me at the border crossing, I still get chills thinking about crossing borders, even though I have my green card and passport. Guess it's leftover fright from being denied entry and being declared an illegal alien.
We have less than a month left in Tucson, in some ways I'll be glad to get back home and see my home and my friends, but I'm really going to miss this place. Tucson has a lot of neat features, even if there isn't grass anywhere except at golf courses, Soriety houses and cemeteries. Hmmm, do those 3 things have anything else in common besides green grass? $$

Birthdays and milestones

I have added another digit to my age since I last posted. My birthday was Monday. Today is Cynthia's 7th birthday and Rebecca is 3 months old tomorrow. Where does time fly? As usual, I have had good intentions of blogging but I let myself get overwhelmed with everything. I will post more pictures if I ever manage to wade through the volume that has accumulated.
Rebecca is rolling over, she has grown 3 inches in length which means she has outgrown many of her newborn clothes. Mama isn't ready for all the milestones.
We had a good trip to Flagstaff, made pretty good time considering we didn't leave as early as we had planned and then having 4 children with potty breaks, diaper changes and having to nurse Rebecca. It was great weather to camp out in. When we stopped in at Munds Park to see Loren's Uncle and Aunt, we were shocked to hear their son had died in a house fire early that morning. Most of the family had been together for 4th of July so Loren got to see cousins he hadn't seen in 20 years, it was a very bittersweet time.
On our trip to Flagstaff we saw another of Loren's Aunt and Uncle and his Grandmother. We also went to the Grand Canyon and to Sunset Crater. Loren is really getting the itch to hike the Canyon.
Saturday night dinner with 4 children in a nursing home has created many interesting memories. John decided that lying under the table was the best place to eat his french fries.
As I type, John is putting the thread spools from my travel sewing kit on his fingers. He is really starting to miss home, has become almost inconsolable crying that he wants to go home at times. We have less than a month left, I can hardly believe it.
Cynthia and Jesse are at Vacation Bible School this week, yesterday and tomorrow are extended water days. They feed the children and let them play on inflatables and slip and slide. They have a blast. I'd better go get ready to pick them up.

Roadrunners

Yes, I know, I know, I'm procrastinating, but Rebecca fell asleep nursing on the Boppy pillow in front of the computer.... okay I'm going to pack.
But I forgot to post that we saw Road Runners, not 1 or 2 but 4 on Saturday night in different parts of the city. Very cool!

Off to Flagstaff

We have decided to leave tonight for Flagstaff. Loren worked yesterday, on Independence Day, so he could have Friday off. We plan on camping somewhere around Sedona tonight.
So, as usual, I've procrastinated and need to get everything packed and then put in the car before Loren gets off work. At least I don't have any dirty dishes piled up and all the laundry was done yesterday.
It's funny how this big adventure has settled into ordinary life here in Tucson. I think the children being sick caused me to retreat a little and after we've been sick I have a tendancy to avoid other people and especially children for fear of more germs! Illnesses last longer when they travel through more than 2 children.
Off to pack. If you see me online remind me I need to pack, haha

Happy Canada Day and Happy Independence Day

Happy Canada Day and Happy Independence Day
I trust everyone has had a good week so far. I forgot about posting, our church here in Tucson has been holding revival this week. It's been very good. Tonight is the last night. Monday night the balcony was filled with Chinese students from the University and the service was translated into Chinese. Very cool.

Haha very cool, Tucson is NOT cool these days. I'm finding it very hot and have been hibernating during the heat of the day. The forecasted high is 112 today.

Yesterday, I discovered notebooking after a good friend sent me to Homeschool eStore, we're going to have some fun with this for our homeschooling year. Now if only I had a working printer.