Monster Truck Maddness

In early October, Groupon had a great deal for VIP tickets to a monster truck show. You not only got to see the show, but got in early so you could ride in a monster truck, get autographs from the drivers, and get to see those monster trucks up close. It was little boy heaven--and lots of fun for mom and dad too :)

 The boys loved watching the demolition derby, and all those high-flying trucks! They were excited to be on the front row of all that action.

Before the show we checked out all the trucks

 And we ate some good, redneck food--smothered nachos and a giant snow cone

Those great autographs

                                            

 Riding in the truck and meeting the drivers. Joey asked them how they got into their trucks since they were so tall. Some go in from underneath, most through a window.

Happy Birthday Sahuarita

Joey and I snuggling after a long day of water slides. He kept me company while I listened to the Relief Society Broadcast. (Our ward was right next to the huge party so I didn't want to fight traffic and walk 30 minutes from parking to the chapel)

I think our little valley is really pretty! Surprisingly green for the desert, especially with the Pecan Groves right down the middle.

To Celebrate the town birthday, they put on a great party with HUGE water slides. The first time we went down Kimball and I were a little afraid. But we soon got over that and had tons of fun going down over and over.

Dare-devil face first Joey

                                           
The kids got to play in a real ambulance and see the bug car--Truly Nolen is a big exterminating company here that drives around in bug cars. They brought some big old scorpions--which are not nearly as scary as the little ones.
                                           


                                 

Crazy critters--after learning about the tarantula hawk (and it's "most painful sting in the world", I was a little amazed and freaked out when we found one in our garage. Luckily it was dead, because it was huge!

One of the many spiders we had to exterminate from our backyard. (We should have just sent Joey out there with the BB gun :)

When the boys went to Anza (before we switched schools), they loved riding their bikes to school. It was fun to do that for a while.

 Kimball's Pirate Day at school

Releasing all the little boy energy after school. Trying to "jump over" each other's heads.

Family Fun

For Labor day we got some cheap, inflatable boats and rowed around the neighborhood lake and then came back and had a BBQ feast. The boys were so happy to get doughnuts too.

The next week we took the boys out in the desert near our house. Peter was so excited to teach them to use their new BB gun. Before we drove out to the desert Peter told Joey about the surprise. On the drive, Peter said to joey

Peter: Joey, do you want to tell Kimball about the surprise?

Joey:  Kimball, Dad got us a bebe gun!

Kimball:  Dad got us a pepe gun?

Joey: No, a bebe gun, it shoots bebe's

Kimball:  It shoots babies?

 Poor Kimball, he just doesn't hear well.  We quickly resolved that confusion.

The boys got all the targets lined up

Then Peter went over gun safety

Then the fun began. They boys got so excited when they would hit something! They would ask to run over and look after every shot.

Kimball proudly showing off what he hit

When it wasn't Joeys turn to shoot, he liked to collect old shot-gun shells off the ground.

The desert near our house is actually really pretty in the summer monsoon season.

Joey and I went on a walk and found a cow pie.

Joey showing off his sharp-shooter skills--showing the holes in the milk jug and the when he shot the wing off a fly (no, we don't encourage shooting animals or even bugs, it was just pretty amazing that he could do that--he is the fly ninja)

At the end Peter got our his shot gun and got to "blow-up" a few containers 

before we packed up.