A Praying Mantis!

While watering tonight, Luis discovered a grasshopper, and then...a praying mantis. The bugs were collected, documented and (reluctantly, of course) returned to the wild. It was an exciting evening for our budding scientist!

Garden Time...

The garden has really come into it's own this past week- the kids have enjoyed picking the peppers and lettuce we eat, plus it looks like the tomato plants are going to be awesome this year!!
Ben took a "photo shoot" with his dinosuars out there yesterday:).

Happy Birthday!

Our little girl is two today. Sigh. All week long I've been asking her, "How old are going to be?" to which she always replied, "Cake!" :) So, needless to say, the cake seemed to be what was most looking forward to...though balloons came in a close second place.

Meet "Cinco"

Here is Cinco, the fish we got Ben when we arrived here. He's been alive over a month now, so we optimistically included it in the family blog! Ben took the pic himself.The kids have been busy. Sophia has this new fascination with her purses (she has 5, and insists on wearing all five at the same time!:) This self-created costume on Ben is called "The Desert King"?? They both are enjoying our little pool, sandbox and and visits to the library and new friends.

Keeping Cool

It's been in the nineties this week, so we took the kids to this park with water fountains. We used to go there when Ben was Sophia's age, now it is fun to watch them together!

Summer Lovin'

It's amazing what a little blue plastic pool can do for a little girl's spirit!

First Dance

Sophia decided yesterday that she wants to try on these princess outfits she's had for a long while...she told Ben "dance" and he obliged, dear boy.