Hair today...gone tomorrow

In sunnier news, Mia got a much needed haicut. Her hair is so fine and straight that it is always snarly and tangled. We are growing out her bangs and she is in self style mode. She has more fashion sense at 5 then I will ever hope to have...ever. The "earrings" picture was taken a couple of weeks ago (she would LOVE to have her ears pierced, but I am holding out for a few more years). The second two were taken yesterday. I love the new pixie cut and she seems to too. Or maybe it's just all the attention she is garnering. At any rate, the mornings go much easier and she can spend more time picking out her clothes (she picks out each outfit with care).

HSP

OK - the first thing you will notice about this blog is that despite living in near proximity to Brent for the last few years, I did not inherit any photography skills. In my defense, these were all candid quick shots. Ryan was recently diagnosed with Henoch Schonlein Purpura - an infammation of the blood vessels that is either not a big deal or really really scary depending on which internet comments you read. You can read more about it here:
http://www.medicinenet.com/henoch-schonlein_purpura/article.htm

We have been dealing with the intense lower joint pain that will make it suddenly really hard for him to walk, nausea, and a rash that covers his lower legs. Luckily the rash isn't itchy. Unluckily on the nausea front, I don't know how much more not eating his little bod can take. He was already skinny and I think I might have to go stock up on high calorie shakes in order to get him through the next month (we really need to perfect some fat transferring process so that he can take some of mine). My guess is that we will be starting the prednisone treatments and possibly some anti -nausea meds upon a followup dr's visit. Sometimes he does really great and we hardly notice anything and sometimes he feels like death is imminent. On the plus front, he is feeling so poorly today that all he can do is watch a little TV - thus giving me an opportunity to blog (which is RARE). We have to look on the bright side, right?

First stop = Phoenix

Where do you go when you don't have much money and even less time for a family vacation? Phoenix in summer! This was the kids request since we had done it the previous year. Castles and Coasters had about 10 rides - 5 the twins would actually go on (over and over and over and over and over...you get the picture). Ryan's favorite was the log ride and a ride that shot you up and short distance then back down again. They all thought the park was awesome and we pretty much had the park all to ourselves - can you guess why? Hint - AUGUST in MESA...

Results!

After the picture of the green grapes stayed for so long, I figured I would have to put up the fruits of our labors. The sweetest little purple grapes ever! The kids had so much fun picking them and we were suprised by the harvest after less than one year!

Phoenix Children's Museum

Probably the kids favorite stop of the trip, the Children's Museum was three floors and all kid fun. We started with a giant climbing structure and a vacuum tube that would suck up and spit out scarves that would then fly through the air for the children to catch. It was fun to see them jet through the clear tubes and guess which opening they would come out of. There were painting rooms, bike rooms, fort building rooms, play kitchens, a giant noodle forest, ball room, and more. We stayed there for 7+ hours before we dragged the kids out. At least it was air condidtioned...

Sea Life Aquarium

This was MY choice of stops during our quick Phoenix vacation - the new Sea Life aquarium that just opened in the Arizona Mills Mall. I loved it and it was very interactive. Unfortunatly it was also our last vacation day so the kids were somewhat pooped. Still glad we went!

Found: One lizard minus tail

My disclaimer is this: I did not come upon the scene until the lizard was already in the bowl. I am assuming that the tail was harmed in the capture since the tail was present - but I do not support the maiming of said creatures.
We see lizards ALL THE TIME. Big, small, quick, lazy-- but this was quite a distinctly patterned one and so they decided to trap it and have a closer inspection. After an afternoon of observation I casually mentioned that his family might be missing him so they let him go. Later that evening I find the tail next to the fruit bowl. Charming.