The Super Smithsons!

It has become an annual tradition... The Ka-POW Superhero Adventure Run.  The first year, Melanie and I ran together and Melanie was dressed up as super girl.  In fact, that year, so was Noelle.  Brandon was Captain America and I had a Superman shirt on (Oliver was wearing red, white, and blue, but was just little).  The next year, we were super, but Melanie was Super Melanie, Noelle was Super Noelle, and so on.  This year we were a super team.  The Super Smithsons.  For fun, we made matching shirts.  We decided to try this tie dye spray and made an activity out of it.

 I made a stencil of an "S" so we could add that to the front.

 On race day, it was the girls that participated in the event while the boys cheered us on.  Here we are pre-race.  This was Noelle's first race, ever!

 Here I am with my ultimate super hero husband.  I love him!

 This year, we talked some of our favorite people to join us!  Liz signed her daughter, Morgan, up.  Then, during packet pickup, was informed that she would need to participate too.  At 38 weeks pregnant, it was definitely proof of her super mom powers!  Ethan had super powers of his own... he sneaked into the race and had fun with us!

 And we are off!

 The event had several obstacles to prove our super-ness.  We had to go through a room that looked like it was rotating (we all agreed that was the worst), through some bounce houses, down a water slide, through "dangerous" foaming bubbles, over and under, and pretty much everything you could think of.  It was 2 miles of crazy adventure... and we loved it!  All to protect Gilbert from danger, of course.

  The very last obstacle was a water slide in the form of a bounce house.  It really sent me flying...  then I hit the mats, feet first.  My feet stopped instantly (rubbing on the rubber), my top half did not.  This super girl crashed!  Thankfully, I barely missed taking Noelle out.

 We got WET!

 Running through the finish together!

 It's the Super Smithsons to the rescue!

New Years Eve at the Phoenix Zoo

Today is the last day to make new memories for 2013.  We decided to start the day with one last trip to the zoo.  We met our cousins, Liz, Morgan, Ethan, and Blake.  It was a beautiful morning for a zoo trip.  We got there at 8:30 am and did the African Route and then checked out the Elephants and Dragons before we left.  Our visit was nice.  There wasn't too many people on the trail, and we got to see a lot of the animals interacting, not just laying around or hiding.  I'm under the assumption that they were hungry and stalking around waiting for food.  It was fun.  I took some pictures, mostly of the Circus we brought to the zoo than the animals on display.  They were my favorite part anyhow.  

Here is a picture of Melanie and Noelle eating their breakfast while watching the Giraffes eat theirs.  (I brought mini muffins that I made quickly this morning with us to the zoo.)

 Oliver was really funny.  He kept shouting "I see it!"  (even at some of the displays where there was nothing to see but the zoo keepers cleaning the exhibit).  It made me smile.

 Here are all 6 of the kids looking at the Rhinos!  It's kind of fun to think that soon this group will multiply and be 8 instead of 6.

 Four monkeys looking at the Lions!  The lions were in a feisty mood this morning.  It was fun to watch. 

 I tried to get a picture of my little man with me... but he was more interested in the Lions.  I guess I can't blame him.

 This is a picture I took of little Blake while his mom and siblings were in the bathroom.  He was really sad to be left behind, so my girls tried to cheer him up.

 Here are all 6 monkeys looking at their fellow brother, the Mandrill.  Poor Blake was being pressed against the glass by Melanie and Morgan.

 Later, Blake crashed.  It was a catnap, as he didn't stay asleep long.

 The final exhibit we checked out today was the "Land of the Dragons".  Oliver really enjoyed looking at the "baby dragon".  They also have a Chinese Alligator on display, but he wasn't as easy to see as the dragon.  If you look closely, you can see the dragon through the glass.  

The zoo was definitely a fun way for us to start the day today!  And I'm glad we went early, as it was becoming a mad house when we left.  I'm glad we got one last visit in during 2013.  Now to start making a few more 2013 memories while we have the chance.

Water Day

Yesterday was Water Day at Melanie's school The kids had school as normal, but the last 30 minutes were all about getting wet and having fun. Family was invited, so Noelle was able to join in on the fun.

Olivia's dad kept spraying me with a squirt gun, so I told Noelle she had better splash him good for me. She decided on throwing a water balloon at him.Melanie really got into the water balloons as well. I have never seen someone so excited at the ability to pop one (even if it popped on the ground, no where near a person). It was precious.

30 minutes just wasn't enough water play time, so I surprised them with an outing. We met up with cousins Liz, Morgan, and Ethan at the zoo for some wet and wild splash pad time. To say that Noelle was excited would be an understatement.

Oliver and I kept cool on the side lines watching all the fun.

Hooray for water day! I think this means summer is upon us. (I'm looking forward to all the fun we'll have together this summer... I'm not looking forward to the heat).

Arizona Historical Society Museum

I has taken me a while to post because I'm not quite sure I like the new format. Well, regardless, I decided to give it a go.

Last Tuesday we ventured over to the Arizona Historical Society Museum.  Before getting the pass from the library on a whim, I didn't even know this place existed.   Now that I know it does, I can say, it's really pretty cool.  We will be going back, and I think I'd be willing to pay the 5 bucks to get in (yep, that's it.  Kids under 11 are free).

 Here are a few of the pictures I took while in the museum.  My lighting was all off on most of the pictures.  The museum had signs saying to turn OFF the flash, but the pictures that turned out were actually the ones when I had my flash on.  Irony as it's best.  This is a picture of the girls standing by a wagon gun the had horses pull during the war (though I can't remember which one).

 There was a section devoted to Arizona's agriculture, and all the kiddos got to try out the tractor.  It was very neat.

 

Being a geeky engineer, I had to take a picture of a piece of wooden pipe. 

 "Hello!... Hello!"  The kids got to try out af old phone. 

 In the following picture, the kids are sitting by a picture of the entire crew on the U.S.S. Arizona.  They had a little area devoted to WWII and about the Arizona. 

Then they were off to the Vetenam...

There was so much more at this museum.  Infact, we didn't get to see it all.  It was a lot of fun.  I would reccomend it!

 Afterwards, we took all the kiddos (boys in one stroller, goofy girls in the other) for a picnic.

It was a good day!

Playing Dress up At AMY

To celebrate one of my favorite cousin's birthday (Liz!), we decided to meet at the Arizona Museum for Youth (AMY) to play with the new exhibit (Fairy Tails, Frogs, and Fables). I have to say, so far I have liked all the other exhibits, but this one is by far my favorite! My girls LOVE to play dress up!!! And Friday, they had a lot of opportunities. So, here are a few pictures.

Noelle, as Alice (from Alice in Wonderland)

Three "Little Red Hiding Hoods" (no one wanted to be the big bad wolf)
Morgan

Noelle

And Melanie!

Noelle is a fairy princess

So is Melanie...

They made paper frogs and fairs. It was a fun craft.

Then Morgan decided she wanted to be a fairy too.

Queen Melanie

Queen Morgan

Princess Noelle

Princess Noelle turned into a PIG!!! Oh NO!

And so did Queen Melanie!!!

They had so much fun, they were so sad when he had to leave. The exhibit will be leaving soon, so we will have to check it out a few more times, and SOON!

Thank you Liz for having a birthday so that we had an excuse to go play! I hope you had a wonderful birthday!