Pumpkins 'N Pillars

This title is actually Dax's idea. Dax took both of these pictures. I think I deleted the wrong caterpillar picture. This one is a bit blurry.

For Cub Scouts Dax Planted a pumpkin seed and surprisingly it sprouted. Between Dax and Derek drowning it in water almost daily, I didn't think the plant would have a chance. Once it sprouted it started to grow really fast. We had to re-pot it in just a few days. It got Derek excited so he planted some sunflower seeds in the backyard. I had the seeds laying around so he didn't have a choice. We checked them the other day and one had sprouted. 

They are pretty excited about these plants so I plan to start a container garden in the next few days. It will give them something to do this summer. I'm starting to think taking care of plants is better than taking care of a pet. :)

On the last day of spring break, I sent them outside to entertain themselves and they found these caterpillars. They kept collecting more and more and played with them most of the day. For some mysterious reason, they sleep constantly now. That is what the boys are telling me. I think they are actually dead :(.

Gooey Gunk & More Gooey Gunk

Over Spring Break I checked out a book from the Library on making concoctions for kids. This green goo is called "gooey gunk" It's pretty much like slime that you can buy in the store. It's made from Elmer's glue, and borax soap. It was good entertainment for the day. 

 Then Dax ended up getting sick for most of the spring break. On and off fever, throwing up, 2 trips to the Dr. and finally finished out the week with an ear infection. I was glad, we could finally get some antibiotics and end it. I'm glad we didn't have any big trips planned. Just one quick trip to Flagstaff at the end of the break.

RENT

Last night we went to see RENT. One of the magazines that Curtis' advertises in, (one of the few that are still in business) gave him tickets to see the Broadway show RENT playing at Gammage. We didn't know much about it so we read about it online and it had rave reviews. We read the storyline and we were not sure if it was our type of entertainment., The story is about AIDS and everything that goes along with that. All the reviews from ordinary people of all ages, not critics, loved it and loved the music. We kept reading it was a "rock opera" but didn't quite get what that meant. We decided to check it out because everyone loved it so much, and we would go with an open mind. 

On the way there we decided that if we didn't like it we would not stay and sit through it and punish ourselves. Curtis always watches the end of a movie even if he hates it. I have no problem not finishing a movie. I had no problem walking out of this if I didn't like it. We had a little mishap with the babysitter. She got sick at the last minute, but we were able to find someone else and got there just as it was starting. Three songs into it we looked at each other and realized we didn't have a clue what was going on, felt like we were in a bad dream. Figured out that a "rock opera" meant there was NO dialogue and only singing.

 As soon as we got to intermission there was no question we walked out. Then we went to sonic and had a fun time anyway. I think Broadway Plays have left a bad taste in Curtis' mouth. We have seen 4 together and he has hated 3 of them. I have seen some good ones, so I know they can be amazing.

Skiing

Do you see these cheeks? This is why I don't live in Artic Flagstaff anymore

The first time in snow pants, hat, gloves, and coat.

I hardly recognize this kid in all this snow gear. I think it's Derek.

Last weekend we headed up to Flagstaff to ski and visit Papa and his broken leg. Dax and Derek had a half day Thursday for Student Led Conference. I have to say I was proud of Dax. His handwriting and writing have really improved. He did a great PowerPoint presentation about his favorite things (I still don't know how to use PowerPoint). Friday was the last day before Intersession (fancy word for 2 week Spring Break) so he wasn't doing much in school anyway. We left Thursday after his conference and met Curtis in Flagstaff who had been in Las Vegas all week for some meetings.

I'm such a CA (my mom's term for Cheap A**) I was hoping to rent all these ski clothes instead of buy, but they only rent adult ski clothes. It worked out ok because it was so late in the season everything was 50-75% off and I have 3 boys that can pass it down and use this stuff for years. Dax and Derek were pretty excited to be getting all this stuff and to actually be able to play in the snow without getting soaking wet and freezing cold. Derek wasn't convinced he even wanted to ski until he got these cool mittens with Spiderman on them and Dax got a glow-in-the-dark Spiderman hat.

Curtis (the experienced skier) took the boys skiing for the first time on Friday. He put them in ski school and they both did a great job. Derek took off like a rocket and left Dax and Curtis on the mountain. By the time they found him in the lodge he had already taken his skis off and gone to the bathroom. They all had a great time and look forward to doing it next year. My Dad thought they would be home within a few hours. They got there when it opened and stayed until it closed and came home exhausted. Derek just found out his buddy Sean across the street is in Colorado skiing this week. He thought that was cool.

D List Celebrity sitings

In the last few weeks, sometime between President Obama and now Curtis has had a few Celebrity run-ins

First, he met Dan Patrick at KFYI where Curtis does his radio show. Dan Patrick used to host Sportscenter on ESPN. When we were first married our TV was constantly on ESPN, so I feel like he is an old friend. Dan Patrick & Keith Olberman were a standard fixture in our living room for quite some time. Dan Patrick now does his own sports radio show. Curtis had heard around the station that he was quite arrogant, He didn't disappoint and seemed very ungrateful to ESPN who first put him on the map. I think DANICA Patrick is a bigger name in sports right now. He needs to cool it.

The following Saturday he went to an all-day Seminar put on by Robert Kiyosaki. Curtis was able to talk to him one and one and snap this picture. He said he rambled on and seemed a bit senile. Very odd from what you see on TV.  Curtis said his wife is definitely the brains of the operation. I don't know if you can see in the picture but Robert Kiyosaki's suit is electric blue with a yellow plaid print, along with the tie and his yellow hankie in his pocket maybe to some he is a sharp dresser.  I think he looks like a clown. Curtis said that was kind of how he seemed throughout the day. I was shocked, I have seen him on Oprah and Larry King being interviewed. It must have been a few years ago because Curtis said he couldn't do an interview like that now. Maybe he was on medication that made him seem that way.  Very sad.

Curtis also did the Richard Petty NASCAR experience at Phoenix International Raceway a few weeks ago. This is his second time to go compliments of KFYI again. Thankfully I didn't get to go with him either time. I didn't think I would enjoy the noise or the smell, so he took someone who would. They take him feed him and let him tour the place. Then the great thing is they get in a race car with Ricky Bobby and he drives them around the track at 150 MPH (the part I know I really wouldn't enjoy) and they wear all the NASCAR gear while in the car. Curtis said it is terrifying and it is still not as fast as they go in a real race. He is not normally a NASCAR fan but after this, he can at least appreciate the sport.

Garbage Day

Last week as I was getting ready to take Derek to school, we had to get the garbage out. Derek made some comment about there not being very much garbage in the bin and not worth putting it out. I told him there was something special in our garbage even though there wasn't a lot of garbage the Garbage man was going to love what we gave him. 

He could not imagine anything special about garbage he was very curious and asked what was in our garbage. I whispered to him "poopy diapers". I have never seen him laugh so hard, he about fell over and he laughed all the way to school. He kept saying "we played a prank on the garbage man" and still giggled when he thought about it. During the week he was even excited to take poopy diapers out to the garbage so we could "play a prank" on the garbage man again. Tonight we came home from running an errand and I told Dax and Derek I had to get the garbage out to the curb for Garbage day. Derek dropped everything and came running to help me put the bin on the curb. He couldn't wait to play his prank on the garbage man again. I had no idea taking out the garbage could be so much fun, especially poopy diapers.

Harry Potter

Ever since the Harry Potter frenzy hit, I always said I would wait until Dax was old enough to read them and I would read them with him. I've been saying this for about 8 years. For about 9 months I have been asking Dax if he had any interest in reading Harry Potter. He never was. Only interested in Star Wars, Pokemon, and video games. It got to the point that it was unbearable to even talk to him because the only thing out of his mouth was Pokemon. There are so many painful things I would rather experience (like poking a needle in my eye)than hear one more thing about Pokemon. I keep telling myself when he is an obnoxious teenager, I would wish for the Pokemon days to come back. Every night he is supposed to read for homework, every night he would read the Pokemon index, or Pokemon encyclopedia, or whatever it is. A few weeks ago someone gave Dax some money as a gift, of course, all he wanted to do was buy a new Pokemon video game. On a side note, Dax is so obsessed with video games we finally had to say they were only allowed to play video games on the weekend. It was consuming both Dax and Derek's lives. Anyway, I told Dax he could only buy a new video game with his money if he read Harry Potter first. He was not excited about that. Then he started to act a little excited just so he could get it over with and get his new Pokemon video game. Finally, I got the Harry Potter books (the first 2, long story) and we started reading. The first few chapters were ok. He didn't hate it, but he also wasn't thrilled to keep reading. Finally, we got to the good part. He loves it. The other night after we read together I told him good night and left. He told me the next morning he was sorry but he started reading ahead without me. I didn't mind a bit, I would be fine catching up on my own. Tonight it happened again. We read for a bit and then I had to get Trey to bed etc. I went back in 20 minutes later because I heard him laughing, he was still reading. I asked him if he was going to stay up all night reading the book without me. He said "no, but I wish I could" Hallelujah I LOVE HARRY POTTER. I have not heard one word about Pokemon in a week and very little mention of his other video games. I'm so happy we still have 6 more books to read after this one.

Moving Forward

After much deliberation, and several long meetings with "Teamsters" Curtis took control over his Mesa office again, moved the Chandler office to Scottsdale and got rid of three thorns in his side. He did what he had to do to keep his business moving forward. He felt there was probably going to be some backlash and possibly be taking a step back to eventually take two steps forward. Little did he realize that many of the people in his company were relieved and estatic to see the "Teamsters" leave. There was celebration and literal dancing in the streets.
The Mesa office is thriving again and the Scottsdale office is starting to take off. We just feel blessed to still be in the game in this horrible housing market. One Teamster straighted out, another one seems to be a fence sitter meanwhile tt will be interesting to see the fate of the other three Teamsters, who we are happy to have them out of our lives.

Obamanation

President Obama came to Phoenix last week to present his housing bill, I guess because Arizona Housing is such a mess with all the foreclosures. Curtis was able to get a press pass from the radio station where he does his Real Estate Show. He was right up with the White House Correspondents and recognized many from TV. He was able to go into the Press conference with Timothy Geitner, Treasury Secretary, and talked to him for a bit. Sheila Bair, head of the FDIC, and AZ governor Jan Brewer, who was less than impressive. He is not so much a fan of Obama but thinks the housing bill is necessary to turn this mess around. He said Obama looks much better on TV. Jan Brewer couldn't talk in complete sentences. He just loved being in the thick of all this Political fanfare.

Soccer Sub

Case Lueck, Derek, Britton Platt, and Westin Thomas. Britton and Weston are two of Derek's good buddies. 

 Derek was asked to fill in on his friend's Soccer Team. We knew the coaches and 4 of the 5 kids on the team. Some of the players were missing and they knew Derek had played before so they asked him to be a sub for a day. The team was actually quite pathetic. This was the second to last game and they had not scored one goal all season. Some of the kids wouldn't even go onto the field, and there was just a lot of drama on that team. Derek was a great soccer player last season. He was actually a ball hog and wanted to be the only one to score. Having Derek on the team made all the difference. They scored 4 goals and won. Derek scored one of them. Everyone had fun.