Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is amazing.  Today makes it three times that we have been there are we still haven't seen everything there is to see.  This indoor and mostly outdoor museum exhibits plants, animals and minerals of the Sonoran Desert.  In the heat today we were only able to explore for a couple of hours.  The restrooms are equipped with sunblock dispensers! Here is a view from one of the paths.

Nature boy.

There are so many different kinds of animals int his desert.

My favorite part of this museum is that along the paths there are volunteers at a little set up table showing an animal to talk about, fossils to show, etc.  Here we were learning about the "boots" in the Saguaros.  Gila woodpeckers build their homes in the cactus and years after the cactus has died and rotted away, the boot, or little woodpecker home, is left.

We also learned from a "table person" about the Mountain King Snakes, Pack Rats, Fish Fossils, and here were are learning about "eyes in front, ready to hunt" and "eyes on the side, run and hide."  Meaning, if an animals' eyes are in front of their skull, they are predators if their eyes are on the sides they are prey.

It is truly a whole other world here.  And speaking of different versions of classic stories, The Three Little Javelinas is a Three Little Pigs story with a Sonoran Desert setting.

The heat was great because there weren't very many people there, but I think we will wait until the weather is cooler before we visit again so that we can stay all day.

Homeschooling with Grandparents

When grandparents visit, we throw any kind of schedule we have out the window and spend our time playing games, going fun places, and reading.  Around the house we've been doing puzzles, lots of read a loud books and Luke and grandpa played a game of chess.

We have been to see the bats come out at sunset, the Mini Time Machine Museum, and here we are at the Botanical Gardens.  Tomorrow we are off to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

Sylvia is Five!

For Sylvia's birthday, grandma and grandpa Oldham came! Sylvia thinks that grandpa calls her "Upsidaisy" since that is what he says when he helps her up into his van.

Sylvia had Indi and Josey over for some freeze dance, hot potato and thimble.  And for some cake!

After the party Sylvia wanted to stick her face in some flour.

It made me realize that I should have made her whole birthday be about what she loves.  Making messes.  (I would say, 'oh well maybe next year' but I am hoping that next year will be the year she decides making messes isn't that much fun.)

Yesterday morning, she thought that she should be taller and was happy that her swim suit still fit her.  Also, I asked, "How does it feel to be five?!"  She responded, "Not so good, my head hurts."Joey and I are constantly saying how boring our lives would be without our crazy, loving and fun Sylvia.