What is in the pool?

When we moved to Arizona I had only one request. I would not live in the heat without a swimming pool. I still live by that statement, I love having a pool. But you would be shocked at what ends up in the pool. We do have a cleaner that skimms the pool each day but you always have a few things that stick close to the top.

Ok, part of it is our own fault. We wanted privacy from our neighbors house so we planted Oleander trees around the South West corner of the pool. Oleander trees have wonderful white and pink flowers all summer long. Well, the flowers fall, of course, and end up floating in the pool. It looks sweet to see the open blooms floating on top of the water. But not so sweet when the same blooms get waterlogged and sink to the bottom. But then again, it is our own fault we planted the trees.

However, we also have 3 very large Fan palm trees in the south east corner of the yard. That is as far away from the pool as you can get and still be in our yard. This time of year the palm trees seed. The kids call the seeds fireworks because that is what they look like. They get spiky seed heads all around the palm fronds, then the seed heads burst into little tiny flowers. The flowers (seeds) fall in the breeze and end up in the pool. We have a net to clean the pool, but the little seeds are so small they just go through the net most of the time. It is like swimming with hundreds of little Knats floating it the water.

With the normal stuff that just happens to end up in the pool, these flowers and seed are becoming a real nuisance. Of course, it could be worse! We could have another suicidal bird floating in the pool. Luckily, this only happened once. The bird tried to land on the hose the cleans the pool to get a drink. 2 pound bird, small hose full of water????? Drowning bird...... Who knew birds couldn't swim!

Harpers Harry Potter week.

I think the boys and I are excited for the new Harry Potter movie and book to come out. We have had a Harry Potter week. The first Harry Potter book came out when Jaron was very young. He couldn't read on his own yet so I had to read it to him. I think I read it to him 3 or 4 times. The boys grew up with these stories. When Jaron started reading he would always read the Harry Potter books. (Of course, we didn't realize he had them memorized and wasn't reading them at all until he was in 4th grade.) On Monday Jaron started playing the books on tape again. He started with the Half Blood Prince so when the new book comes up he remembers everything. Yesterday we had a Harry Potter movie marathon and started all the movies. I am surprised at how much I have forgotten. I guess the boys will always love these stories. Not just because they are great stories but because the 4 of us always read and watched them together.

We haven't bought our tickets for the movie yet but we will within the next week. But we already pre-ordered 2 copies of last book, and the book on CD. :)

Fathers Day, Harper Style!

Sunday was Fathers day and of course, we took the boat out. It was a beautiful day and the water was cool. It was so nice. We took the new wake board and tube. The wake board didn't get used much but we all loved the tube. This is Jay and Jaron out for a spin!

Jace has to captain the boat while Jay is in the tube. I have to admit, he is as good a captain as his father! Jay didnt' stay in the tube for long, being so tall it is hard on his neck.

And yes, that is me in the middle with both my boys. I am afraid this is how we spent the most time on the lake. Poor Jay was on the boat by himself most of the day. Jaron was so funny, he was the one that was always getting thrown from the tube. We all got launched once but Jaron took the most "AIR". I don't know if it is because he weighs the least or not but he did take off the most. The most dramatic == Jaron did six summersaults on top of the water when he was thrown while riding alone.

When we arrived home from Utah this is what we found. Now that is one cute husband I have! Jace and Jaron thought it was entertaining.

After the hours on the boat yesterday, today we are all home with various aches and pains. Jaron has a sunburn on his face... Or he could just have a water burn from landing on his face too many times. Jay can't move his neck from side to side, and me == I am just trying to care for them all.

This is what Jay did while we were in Utah

Jay took a bunch of people he works with out on the boat while we were gone. Jay is the one in the water... "Toes Up, so the fish won't nibble on him!" He loves the boat but decided it is harder to take a group out on the boat without the rest of us to maintain order.






The captain of the ship!@!!!!

USU Bound!

Last week the boys and I made the trek to good ole' Utah. We left on Saturday, June 9th because Jace had to be in Logan for the Freshman "Outdoor SOAR" program on Monday, June 11th. (Don't know what the acronym SOAR stands for, you will have to ask Jace.) It was an easygoing trip although I missed Jay going with me. I don't know why but for some reason I really wanted him to go. He stayed home and babysat the dog instead.

Jace had a great time at SOAR. He spent 3 days at Bear Lake and then one day on campus at USU. He got all registered for class and mom/dad received the sticker shock that comes with the bill! :) I was just glad he had a good time. He is so excited about being on his own: his own man, the big cahuna, independent! I think he is counting down the days. After registering though, he realized that with this independence still comes CLASSES! Like English, Math, Social Sciences.... Now who needs all that.

It was fun to see Logan again, well, what I was able to see of it in the short time I was there. It hasn't changed much since Greg was in school there but Wellsville looks a lot different. And of course, Sardine canyon is the same. I got a speeding ticket in Mantua. I didn't notice that they slow you down through that sleepy little town and was pulled over. I haven't got many tickets but it was my fault so I just told the police man "thank you" as he handed me the ticket. He looked at me with a smile and said, "Don't thank me for giving you a citation!".... I had to laugh. I won't forget to slow down through the little sleepy town in Sardine Canyon again.

Jaron spent the week in Utah with his friends there. He spent most of the time with Winters but saw all the boys in the old neighborhood when they were collecting flags for "Flag Day" with the scouts. It is always interesting to see the reaction when people see how grown up Jaron has become. In some ways people expect him to be more grown up than he is because of his size, but he is just Jaron.

We came home from Utah on Saturday June 16, 2007. We had to be home in time for Fathers Day......

Lazy White boy walks the dog.

Jace and Jaron are responsible to walk the dog once a day. When summer rolls around in Arizona it gets really hot. It isn't just too hot for the boys to go outside but the road and sidewalks are too hot for the dogs feet. During the summer, the dog is usually stuck with the swimming pool or being chased around the house. (Jaron plays hide and seek with him too.) Recently we watched the dog behaivorist on TV as they put a dog on the treadmill. He decided to try it. After one day, this is the results. Jace had him trained after only about 10 minutes.

It really is a funny thing to watch, Gandolff on the treadmill. I don't think he likes it but he does get exercise. And he does walk!

Jace doesn't get much exercise though.... :)

Who says there are no flowers in the desert?

Well, I made such a stink about the freeze this winter I had to add these pictures. As you can see, the blooms are back. Granted, some we actually had to replace to get them back but I love that fact that we have flowers in June. Just like everywhere else I have lived.
This is for you Anita... remember India?



Purple has always been my favorite color too....



Such a beautiful bloom on such a mean looking plant. Jace and Jaron call this the jumping cactus. They call it that because if you brush by it at all, it will leave a whole branch stuck to your clothes. We placed the cactus by the side of the front yard, just were the elementary school kids pick up the school bus! Great planning. hee hee :) The blooms are only open during the day, they actually close at night!



It is hard to tell but these blooms are about the size of my hand, on a cactus that is at least 6' 5" tall. And they are only open at night. Part of the reason it took me so long to place this blog! I had to keep trying to get this early in the morning. Finally got it today at 6:00 a.m. (in my pajamas - sorry neighbors.)




I love these little spikes... And the color is amazing







Up close look at the bloom in the 6' 5" cactus. It really is amazing.







The kids are out of school and I think their "vacation" from summer work keeps extending. And Jaron is celebrating right now that Mom is a pushover - or marshmellow as he calls me. Jay is in Toronto for a Rail conference. I know it isn't good for the boys, for me to be so lienient. I just can't seem to stick to the rules when Jay isn't around. Poor boys! I guess they will just have to learn from my mistakes.