Arizona Science Center

Sometimes working for Honeywell has its benefits. One of these times was when Adam came home and asked if i wanted to take the kids to the Arizona Science Center. I asked him how much it would be and he said "FREE!" Reduced is better, but FREE is BEST. So, of course I did! It is pretty expensive for admission prices so I have yet to take them there. We had a great time exploring the different levels of the center and seeing all of what is to offer. I think if Howie was just a tad older we could have spent all day there and the kids would have been just fine to do so.


These lights on the floor were really neat. When the light was interrupted, a musical note, an animal sound, car/truck sound, etc. would play. They had a blast "playing" the musical scale of these lights. Around and around they went until they got dizzy.

I'm hoping we didn't catch a preview of a future career choice for Caroline as she wanted to "swing" around and around on the pole. She could not get enough of this pole and just wanted to keep going around and around. It was a basic model of how centrifugal force worked. She didn't understand that. They only thing she understood was how fun it was and how fast she could go around and around on the pole! (Oh boy - look out!)

Owen and Howie were "working" together to see if they could understand how this lever worked. I think Howie was getting upset because Owen wouldn't let Howie have a turn. All Howie kept saying was "Me do! Me do! Me do!"

Going back to my brief days of chemistry, this was fun for me to see the kids in the Play lab. One day they will understand the concepts that are put forth in this fun play learning environment, but for now, it was just cute to see them playing around in the lab.

This picture reminds me of the movie Megamind. It was a series of cameras and mirrors that would distort the face and head and come up with some pretty silly and hilarious images, much like a "house of mirrors" at a carnival would do. It just cracks me up to see this picture of Howie with this big head and him sucking his thumb.

We had an enjoyable day at the Arizona Science Center. It cost us a total of $1 for parking to enjoy the day together as a family and "learn" all about science and how it works.

Week #28 - Can't Deny Your Heritage

In my late teens and early twenties, whenever I was doing something I KNEW to be wrong, my dad would just look at me with hurt in his eyes and simply say, "You can't deny your heritage." I'm not sure, to this day, whether it was what he said, the way he said it, or the look in his eyes that hurt me the most.

Today, being the 24th of July, is a huge celebration in a small population of the world, but particularly those in the U.S.. No, it's not the celebration of our country's independence, but an independence of another sort. It's the independence and the courage of the pioneers that helped to settle the Utah Valley. The courage those men and women had along with way, pulling handcarts, walking mile after mile, losing loved ones to weather, illness, or who knows what else along the way, causes me to reflect on my own heritage.

I don't know if I have "true" pioneer heritage of those that walked across the plains of this country in my family, but I do have pioneer heritage. My mom is a convert to the Church. She is the only member of her family that ever joined the Church. SHE is a pioneer! If it wasn't for her, my life - if at all - would be very different. She had the courage to blaze her own trails in this life, join the church (even when her mother tried to talk her out of it), and take a leap of faith to join a religion (and lifestyle completely different from anything she had known before) that some in her family thought she was foolish for doing so. Even though she had this criticism and ridicule coming her way, she still went ahead and became a pioneer. No else has joined the church, in this life, because of her. But, she has had several opportunities to set examples, answer questions, and help others to understand what it is about our Church that makes us different or "peculiar".

I'm grateful that I've had cause to reflect on my heritage and what has happened in my life over the years. I'm grateful for my mother and the pioneer heritage she has given to me. Most importantly, I'm grateful that my dad was (and still is) wise enough to remind me when I was taking up more of the "straight and narrow" path than what I should have, to remind me that no matter how hard I try I could never "deny my heritage".

Week #27 - Clear Sailing

This week has been nothing but clear sailing. The laziness of coming back from being gone for two weeks has left the calendar with nothing scheduled and nothing to do. Perfect! Just the way I like it sometimes, but especially after coming back from vacation.

It has left me with the opportunity to get caught up with the housework, work on some projects, get the kids back into some sort of routine, lazy mornings with all of us crammed into my bed watching TV, swimming in the pool, lots and lots and lots of play time.

I know soon enough there will be the homework that needs to be done, the music lessons to go to, the dance lessons to be driven to, my own homework to be done and study time to squeeze in, chores to be done and strict routines to be adhered to all in the name of school.

Until then, I am grateful for the free, nothing scheduled, nowhere to be, clear sailing calendar. I wish you all one of these kinds of weeks.

Week #26 - Good Times and Summer Vacations

This past week as landed us in Idaho. It was a remarkable visit with my younger sister, Mindy. The weather was beautiful and about 30-40 degrees COOLER than what some were experiencing back in Arizona. Sorry for you, but oh so glad for me.

We've had some good times (which I will expand upon in a later and recaptive post), some fun times, lots of cousin time, and TONS and TONS and TONS of memories.

Some of my most treasured and fondest memories growing up were of the good times and summer vacations I had as a child. Whether it was in Mexico, Arizona, or Northern California, I remember them fondly. I am grateful for the opportunity to help my children have these good times and summer vacations so that maybe, quite possibly, and hopefully they too, will have the same fondness and memories of their own good times and summer vacations.

Week #25 - Phone Calls With New Beginnings

Adam told me he had a job interview a couple of weeks ago. I didn't think much of it based on what he was telling me about the job. He said he was flattered to get the interview and wasn't hoping for much more from there.

He was out in Kansas the week that the interviews were being done and absolutely had to be back in Arizona for the interview, the last day of the interviews. Of course, it was the only time something mechanical happened to the plane and he couldn't make it back. Of course, right?! He called the gentleman he was going to interview with and told him what had happened. He was kind enough to give Adam the option of either interviewing over the phone or doing it the next day, Friday, at the gentleman's convenience in person. Adam was not scheduled to work Friday, but was willing to jump through hoops for this interview, regardless of whether or not he wanted the job or, even heaven help me, got the job. It just wouldn't have reflected well on Adam. Needless to say, Adam opted for the less convenient in person interview on his day off - the day we was suppose to help me pack the car and get things ready for my drive with the kids to Idaho with the stop off in Utah.

When Adam got home from the interview, I asked him how it went. He said, "it went....uhhhh, okay I guess. Not great, but not bad." I was heartbroken for him, but tried my best to be positive and optimistic. Something deep down told me he was getting the job. I didn't want to get my hopes up, so I didn't voice this feeling just in case the hopes got dashed.

On Tuesday this past week, Adam called me while I was in Idaho to say he had a late meeting. When I asked him who schedules such late meetings, his reply was "the guy who just offered me a new job!" I was thrilled and began screaming into the phone and squealing with joy. It seems his "not great, but not bad" was better than he thought and just what the gentleman was looking for. He was offered a new job!

After discussing the job and finding out more of the particulars, I told Adam that he had my 100% support to accept this new job. He said he was happy with the offer and was grateful for my support. He had to let the new boss know the next day whether or not he was going to accept the job. Adam is still with the same company, Honeywell, but no longer in the Aerospace Division. Now, he has moved over to the corporate side and is in the Honeywell Information Technology Security ("HITS") Division.

This new job means no more traveling to Kansas! That alone made the job extremely appealing. It is a step up the "corporate ladder" with a new job title, a teeny tiny bit more money (who couldn't use that right), obviously more responsibility, which really means more stress, but in the end, he is HOME every night with our family.

I wasn't anticipating this phone call with this new beginning. But, believe me you, I am sooooo incredibly grateful for it, and grateful for a man who is smart enough, educated enough, works hard enough to be recognized, and qualified enough to get the job. Congrats, my Love. You've earned it and deserve it!