Sunday Afternoon

What a strange week last week was! Early in the week we spotted something suspicious in the evening sky. It was glowing orange, stationary, too big to be a star, and too small to be the moon, which was out and beautiful anyway. We found out it was a NASA weather baloon launched with student projects aboard. OK, not a UFO! Well, we still found a little green man attached to our backyard window a few days later. Just a praying mantis - not an alien!



Jason always wondered what the back of his arm looks like - now he knows.


Say a little prayer for me, green man!


We were checking out our rose bushes as well one day. We thought they were looking and smelling great, when Jason discovered a strange cactus looking stalk growing in the middle.


Look close - it looks about an inch wide and is flat. It is also covered in rose buds - very unusual - I wonder what caused such a thing - weather balloons, green men, or the harvest moon?

Labor Day Hike

We found this pretty guy on a Sunday hike with Jason's parents and brother. We followed a river for a while before heading up the mountain on another path.


This was one of our favorite trees - cool hang out spot! Jason's dad forged the river to get pictures - Thanks!


Who's in charge of this here hike?


Jason's niece wins the award for the best way to enjoy a hike - I like her style!


Do you think this is a leperchaun tree - I wish I could check it out in March.


Fording the stream with Ma and Pa Woodland.


Now we know who's in charge of the hike!

Wedding in Baltimore

Let's get this party started! (Does my hair look ok?)

How do you work this phone?

I think I got it now!

The happy couple - congratulations!

I would like to order a large pepperoni please!

The next additions to dancing with the stars!

Botanical Gardens

It's gonna take a lot o water to fill that can up!

Jason found this zebra buttefly in the butterfly house.

I think that carrot is ready to pick!

Yeehaw!

Can anyone guess what I got to walk inside of? Hint - they make great pies.

Jason - watch out!

I think this ruler is upside down.

Can you tell what my favorite partof the gardens was? The kids garden - of course!

The Zoo

How did you get that giraffe on your shoulder, Jason?

We were both moving about as fast as this guy by the end of the day. In fact, I wish we could have bummed a ride!

The polar bear was our favorite animal at the zoo. I really wanted to do a few laps in his pool. It looked very refreshing - it was over 100 on Saturday. Too bad I forgot my goggles!

This guy reminded me of Aslan from Narnia.

We also ran into Tina the llama. How about some casserole for lunch?

We had a great day at the Albuquerque Bio Park. After the zoo we rode the train over to the aquarium and botanical gardens. They had scuba divers in the shark tank for feeding when we got to the aquarium. They must go through a lot of divers - what would you rather eat if you were a shark - dead fish or a cute scuba diver? I think I will tell my students that they will have to clean the shark tank if they are naughty. Good idea!

Merlin

Holly's buddy Merlin came over for a pedicure last week. Jason has a new job - Creative Claws by Jason! Merlin is Glen and Angie's puppy. He was adopted by my friend Charlene from school. Jason clips his nails for her. He is a great wrestler and even wore out Holly! When she lay down, he would run circles around her taunting, "You want a piece of this?"

Backyard Shenanigans

It all started with this flower. Grandma Connie wanted to see what it looked like, so I went on a photo trip to the backyard. Well Grandma, here's the flower. I also found :


a naughty puppy, digging up the pretty flowers. The naughty puppy found:


a large, poisonous toad, which she chased into the corner. Then, the naughty puppy kissed the toad. I am pretty sure that's what she was trying to do - not! She began foaming at the mouth(the vet said she would be O.K.) - I guess she thought the toad might turn into a prince, but :


the poisonous toad turned into - a garden gnome! Hooray, I have always wanted one of those!