Our Back Yard

This is the back yard in the early stages -- we laid the grass last May and planted the trees shortly thereafter. Mike worked on the deck into the fall. This picture was taken from my office window (through the screen). The tree in the back is our apple tree.

Here is the partially completed deck during a late summer monsoon. We were out chasing stuff that was blowing around the yard, and collecting the power tools to bring inside. I think it only took about 10 minutes of rain to collect that much water.

The garden boxes. Mike has to finish them somehow, probably in the same pattern as the rest of the yard. In the corner is an orange tree, and you can just see the tomato plants in the tallest box. There was stuff planted in all of them, but the dog got to most of it first (Mike just finished building a fence to keep her out, I guess I need some newer picures). I think we have carrots, one squash and one watermelon plant that made it -- and lots of tomatoes!

Here are the tomatoes, when we first planted them. They are huge and overgrown now!

The orange tree.

A grape vine.

The apple tree.

The pomegranite tree ... before it started really blooming. It's all green and full now.

This is a mandarin orange tree, but it's a lot smaller than the others.

Strawberries. Steven actually picked a handful and ate them early in the spring. Hopefully next spring we'll get a whole bunch more.

I saved the best for last -- the nectarine tree. This was in the spring when it really flowered.

After the blossoms wilted, we had nectarines. We picked a bowl full this week -- they're not very big, about the size of a golf ball, but they are juicy and delicious. I've never tasted anything so yummy!

Hiking CG Mountain

Here is a brief glimpse of what it looks like here in Arizona, from Kylie and Steven's hike last spring up nearby CG Mountain. Just ignore the date on the photos; it's wrong. And Kylie took the majority of them so we have lots of Steven.

I think this one is a self-portrait.

Steven seems to attract the jumping cactus. Apparently he stepped on one on purpose to show Kylie what happens, and got it stuck to his thumb. They don't pull back out, either; they break off and remain embedded for a while. Ask us how we know that!!

Sunset on Sunset Drive

One of the things I've really enjoyed about living in the desert is the sunsets! The steeple in the center of the first photo is from our stake center, where we meet for church on Sundays. The elementary school is at the end of the street, we just walk through the school yard and across the street and there we are!

Here's one of the moon. It's not quite even dark yet, but the moon shone through the wisps of clouds in a bright, shiny sliver.

And here is our house at dusk. Huh, I just noticed ... this picture was taken before Mike put in the rose bushes! Notice the clear blue sky.

Steven, the Mad Scientist

One of Steven's chemistry units in his science class through Arizona Virtual Academy (AZVA) showed how to decompose water into oxegyn and helium gasses.

First he drilled holes for two long nails through the bottom of a gatorade bottle and sealed them in with caulking. Then he filled the bottle a little more than half full of water and added salt to help conduct electricity.

When he touched the 9-volt battery to the heads of the nails, the electricity split the water into its separate parts. It was fun to watch the tiny bubbles; it just looks cloudy in the picture.

We think the green band at the top of the liquid indicates that the nails had copper in them that reacted to the separated oxegyn molecules.

In another version of this lab project (yes, we had several versions over several weeks), he got enough hydrogen to partially fill a balloon.

Hey, Yeah! She's a Track Star!

I was hoping to get better pictures from Kylie's first season running track, but I didn't make it to any of her races. Mike took these.

Kylie ran the 800m and the 4x800m -- just like her mom did in High School. She's already begun summer training for Cross Country in the fall.

This is the medal her team won in the 4x800m at an invitational meet. She was thrilled her coach had included her, and I think they took 2nd place over all. (Yeah, I know, she needs a haircut).

My Honor Student

I just thought I'd brag, just a little -- Kylie was recognized as an Honor Student for having a GPA over 3.5. These are pics from the Academic Awards presentation. I was 2/3's of the way back in the auditorium and it was dark so they're not the best pics but they work well enough for me.

This is Kylie with her friend, Lorenzo, who would not look at me for a picture (goofy boy!).

The View From Signal Peak

Earlier this year, Mike and Steven hiked up Signal Peak, near the Central Arizona College (CAC) campus in Coolidge. Here is the campus below, as seen from the top.

Mike, Steven and Archie.