the Heard Museum

I learned my lesson to do my research before taking my kids to a museum after taking the girls to the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art the other day.  We used free passes from the library again and this time I checked to make sure the Heard Museum is kid friendly and it passed! :)

If you want to learn a little bit about the history of Arizona and Native Americans this is the place!  I had low expectations taking the kids but they genuinely had a great time!

 

Admittedly the fountains were their favorite thing there.  This is one of two near the front entrance.

 

Sooo many Katsina dolls.  The top row are the oldest all the way down to the bottom, the more contemporary dolls.  It's amazing seeing how they developed in color and detail over the years.

 

 

We took a snack break outside in the sculpture garden.  I've been making baby steps about having better snacks ready for the kids lately.  Normally they just want all the carbs; pretzels, crackers, etc...  This time I grabbed some grapes and homemade wheat bread.  What are your go to snacks?  Grapes, apples, and guacamole with chips are among our favorites.

There was a gallery dedicated to these beautiful handmade woven Native American rugs.  There was also a room for kids where they could to crafts and activities like a rug coloring page.

 

There was a cool gift shop where you could buy your own Katsina doll.  Elliot and Avery especially loved looking at and learning about the rocks and shells used for Native American jewelry.

The kids asked if they can come back some time so I'd say that's a win!  I think the museum has a free day or night so we'll probably do that next time.

Avery turned 10

 

Sunday was Avery's birthday and she is now 10!  It's a little crazy having two kids in double digits. 

 

Eyeballs are a thing at our house right now.  

 

We started of the day singing to Avery and opening presents.  Andrew and Elliot went early to set up seating at the inner stake center for our special meeting in the afternoon.  Then we skyped my in-laws to wish each other a Happy Anniversary.  Yes, we share our anniversary with Avery's birthday and Andrew's parent's anniversary.  It's a big happy day!

Church was at 11:00, choir practice at 2:00, special stake meeting at 4:00 (Andrew and the kids broke their fast right before), cake making and family gathering at my parents ended the day.  It was a suuuuper low-key anniversary for us this year (more than normal) but we did go on two dates last week!

 

The girls went a little nuts with Avery's birthday balloons and it was hilarious!  I really want to hold onto this fake belly picture for when they really are pregnant some day.  Wouldn't be amazing if they were pregnant at the same time?!  I always loved being pregnant with my sisters.

Avery has a big heart and a bigger need to just have fun!  She tries my patience and likes to do things her way and in her time and that's why I learn so much from her.  Avery has the most beautiful freckles and a twinkle in her eye whenever she smiles.

As for the changes in the stake boundary every single ward gained or lost members, every ward changed names, another ward was added to the stake so all three buildings have three wards now.  Our ward time went from 11:00 to 10:30.  We were one of the wards to gain new members.  We also go a new bishop and 2nd Counselor.  We loved Bishop Speakman and we will love Bishop Ashcroft.  The Lazona Ward is now called Dartmouth Ward.  Change is good and exciting!

So grateful for amazing church leaders and revelation.

a girls night

This weekend is Father's and sons campout which means Andrew takes Elliot and Rupert and I get to spend time with only Avery, Zara, and Beatrix.  Girls night!  With Avery's birthday tomorrow I knew I wanted celebrate her a little bit all weekend because Sunday birthdays can be a little disappointing without a little planning.  No food freebies on Sunday.  We started out at the Hallmark store before dinner.  The girls really love this place!

Next we went to Bath & Body Works.  Another favorite!  The girls especially love to try all the soaps and spray some glitter spray on their arms and hair.

 

^ ^ Look at those toes! ^ ^                         ^ ^They were handing out these cute bunny headbands. ^ ^

 

We are signed up for Grimaldi's free birthday pizza so this is a regular on birthday weeks.  This pizza looks as big as Avery!  I got myself a gluten free pizza which I've tried a couple times and can recommend!

 

After pizza Zara fell asleep on the way to Scottsdale to check out the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art.  We went because I got a free pass from the library but I thought it was a different museum until we got there.  I should have known by the name that it wouldn't have kid friendly.  Even I wasn't that impressed.  The exhibit was a series of rooms with video art.  I can see how it would be interesting to an art student or a philosopher but it wasn't the light, fun activity I was looking for.

 

The lobby was by far the highlight of the experience!  These spinning chairs and accent wall were so cool!  There was also this dome room (in the photo with the concrete wall) where you can look up at the sky above.  It had amazing acoustics!   We were glad we went but mostly looked forward to cozying up on the couch for a movie (Spy Kids).

Right now the girls are wrapping up Saturday chores before heading out for some more girl time fun! I hope you have some fun weekend plans.

Jr. High is around the corner

Yesterday Elliot, Beatrix and I met up with Andrew at Heritage Academy to do a tour.  We're hoping to make a final decision on Jr. High this weekend!  While waiting for Andrew we had a little impromptu photo shoot.  Elliot impressed with me his photography skills.

This 10 minute photo shoot was the highlight of my day.  I'm trying to pay more attention to what brings me pleasure so I can create more of that.  Sometimes life just passes us by and we don't stop to think what made us happy or brought us joy that day.  Here's to living a but more intentionally!

 My oldest and my youngest!  You know, all these photos are just form my iPhone.  Crazy amazing, right?!  It's amazing how far technology has come in my lifetime, in the last 10 years, in the last 2 years!  

One of my favorite hobbies is editing photos on my phone.  I have several photo apps, and have purchased several filters as well.  I was thinking about making a post here about some of that.  It would be nice to have a lot of my favorite photo editing tips and apps in one place. :)  What do you think?

Hard to believe Beatrix will be ONE in a couple weeks.  Nooo!  My babies' first year is always my favorite and with Beatrix being my last it feels like an extra big milestone.

Just for fun here's my outfit deets:
shirt - Target - critical mom uniform staple
pink bandana - Madewell (mine was clearance!)
bag - Fawn Design (I got this on a big sale!)
jeans - H&M - Yep! mom jeans
yellow shoes - Old Navy
Beatrix swaddle - Clementine Kids

General Conference

      Do you watch General Conference this past weekend?  It's one of my favorite weekends of the year!  It's exciting, inspiring, and has a way of bringing a balance back in my life.  It gives me direction and focus on what's most important.  Having said that I also walk away feeling a little overwhelmed.  So much to do.  Such a long way to go to be who I want to be, etc... 

       For the next 6 months I decided to focus on what the prophet, and other speakers talked about: repentance.  It's a word that often as a negative connotation.  Repentance sounds hard and dirty.  Well, it's actually a beautiful thing.  We can use the Atonement every day if we choose to help heal us!  We can do this!  We all sin and need the Atonement. :)

While watching conference it's nice to take it easy.  We painted nails, the girls did my hair, they did paper crafts and I made cinnamon rolls!

 
Andrew had some summer sausage left from Christmas he brought out and everyone went to town eating sausage, cheese, grapes, and apples.  We might need to make a charcuterie board a regular every conference weekend.  It would balance out the cinnamon rolls. ;)

It looks like Avery cut Rupert's hair but she was actually just styling it after I cut it.  Not pictured is our date we squeezed in between the sessions.  Best idea ever!  And of course, this was Dillion and Elliot's first time at the Priesthood Session.  We had pulled pork potluck at 4:00 and the men/boys left and got a treat after per usual.

So excited for Elliot in this new season in his life with the Priesthood and being a Deacon and going to the temple.  What a blessing!

April is here

I sure do love this bunch!  Elliot struggles with wanting to take these #freemankidselfie photos and as much as I don't like it I understand.  They all take turns not wanting to be in a photo.  In the photo above Elliot was showing me how to snap since I was failing at trying to get Beatrix to look up.  Well it worked! :) 

It's a little hard to believe that Elliot won't be in elementary school next year!  We still haven't decided which school he's going to and it feels like a big decision.  We want Elliot to be a part of the decision process and so far we have it down to two schools.  He and Andrew visited one already and the three of us will visit the other one next week.

 

A couple weeks ago I can across this app I've heard of before called One Second Everyday.  It's exactly what it sounds like it is!  You pick one second from a video each day and compile it at the end of the month.  Videography is something I've wanted to tap into more for a long time but it left me feeling overwhelmed. Thankfully this app is super user friendly!

I still feel new to this video world but plan to make a least one a month from here on.  I know it's something me and the kids will appreciate down the road.

This weekend is the much anticipated General Conference weekend!  That means I get to bake homemade cinnamon rolls and the kids color while we take notes on talks given by our prophet and general authorities.   Out prophet Pres. Nelson has been in over a year now and so many changes have happened in the church since then.  There have been so many rumors about what new things might change in the church this weekend but I'd rather wait it out and see!

These are exciting times to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  If you want to know more go here!