Rocket men and women

Back in June we took on the challenge to be as geeky as can be and build a model rocket and launch it. (Personally, I really did not think this was a geek thing, but anything for a free rocket.) Here is our previous post when we got the rocket.  Because of my vampire work schedule (graveyard shift) there wasn't really a very good opportunity to do this until recently.  Here are some pics as evidence that the mission was completed.

Putting it all together.  The box was missing the instructions so I had to pull them off the internet (thus, the computer on the table).
I made sure that everyone had a part in the construction. . . 
I even talked Emily into helping out. 
Believe it or not, Albuquerque actually has it's own Model Airplane / Helicopter /  Rocket park.  So here we are at the launch site / mission control.
Final prep.
10, 9, 8, 7, . . .  Lift off!!

The kids all had a blast.  I'm not sure what they liked best, launching or chasing the rocket.  Laura ran around with a big umbrella to stay out of the sun.  Windy even got into the act and launched the baby rocket.  I knew that one would not survive the landing, so we saved it for last.  There were a few hiccups along the way, like batteries that didn't work, but thanks to Leah Acton, we were able to get some replacements and have some fun.  The kids ran home with the photos and immediately made a slide show on iPhoto.  I tried to get them to use "Rocket Man" by Elton John as the music, but they didn't go for it.  Thanks Warren so much for all of the fun and good memories.  

-Shad

July Monthly Special

Last Minute Monthly Special

Here is my Monthly Special for July. This month we were asked to take photos of Architectural Detail. This is an area of photography that I really do enjoy so much. Sadly, Albuquerque is so monolithic when it comes to so many things (including architecture) that it is sooooo hard to find inspiration here. I wanted to use old photos from other locations, but I felt that was such a cop out that I struggled and struggled to get something local and new. That is part of the reason for the delay. In the end, I came up with a mix of old and new photos. Enjoy.

University of New Mexico

Museum of Natural History in Albuquqerque

Abandoned home at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico

Urban Middle School scene in Albuquerque

An old home right around the corner from Temple Square in SLC Utah

Lastly, our Temple here in Albuquerque

Hope you liked the Pics.  Here is the August Monthly Special. Hope you will join me in participating.  

-Shad

Self-Portrait Tuesday

I scream. You scream. We all scream for ICE CREAM - 

the final element of summer in Lelly's SPT challenge!

It was my birthday yesterday (35 - sigh) and to celebrate we went to Cold Stone Creamery. If you don't know what Cold Stone is, you're missing out. It's an ice cream parlor where you choose your ice cream flavor and some goodies and they mix it all together on a marble slab right in front of you. It's really yummy!

It's rather pricey, so we save it for special occasions. Cold Stone has a birthday club where you get a free Love It signature creation on your birthday.  Go here to check it out.

For my creation, I chose "The Pie Who Loved Me" - I substituted cake batter ice cream (my favorite Cold Stone flavor) for the cheesecake ice cream. They mix in fudge, Oreo's, and graham cracker pie crust crumbs. The only thing they could add to make it closer to my ideal would be brownies - but that might be too much of a good thing.

 

What's your favorite ice cream flavor?

Bizarre, but Sweet

For once, a Mother's Day tribute 

that didn't make me feel guilty!

(And yes - I realize it's another 9 1/2 months till Mother's Day, but the guilt is always there, lurking just below the surface.)

Self-Portrait Tuesday

This week, Lelly's Self-Portrait Challenge focuses on grass.

In New Mexico, if Mother Nature were left alone this is the kind of grass that would grow:

But no one really wants to leave Mother Nature alone, so instead we insist on trying to make grass grow in the desert. The city is the worst culprit, but we're the beneficiaries of all of the money they're willing to spend on water for that grass.

This is my little grassy nook while we're at the pool. (Emily was so immersed in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series that you couldn't tempt her to get in the pool.)

To avoid the frustration that comes with trying to grow grass in a desert (and to save our bank account from an insane water bill), we've opted for artificial grass. 

You can read a previous SPT where I talked about it.

Advice for Husbands and Laughter for Wives

Val emailed me this funny video entitled 

"Things You Don't Say to Your Wife." 

Fun Tag for Everyone!

Here is a fun little game... leave a comment on my blog of a memory that you and I have had together. It doesn't matter if you've known me for a short time or a long time, anything that you remember!

Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you.

It is pretty funny to read the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll assume you are playing and I'll come to your blog and leave one about you. On your mark... get set... blog those memories!

Self-Portrait Tuesday

Another week to discuss Lelly's challenge: the five elements of summer. This week our focus is on shade.

When I'm being a good girl, I exercise 4-5 mornings a week by taking a brisk walk around my neighborhood. There is very little shade on my route, so I'm grateful for this stretch of shade provided by the lovely (read with sarcasm, though these are better-looking than most) cinderblock walls that everyone uses here to fence in their backyards. I probably should reverse the route I take because I hit the shade at the very beginning of my walk, before I'm drenched in sweat. But, I'm a creature of  habit and therefore I'll never get to enjoy a shaded end to my exercise.

Right now, though, I'm not exercising and the only shade I care about is the shade my "shades" provide my poor eyes!

I had minor outpatient surgery a week ago and have been having a horrible reaction to the anesthesia. For some strange reason, it appears that it gave me a massive sinus infection which has been giving me ocular migraines. My eyes hurt all of the time. Hopefully the antibiotics will kick in soon and I can go back to normal life soon, including those walks with so little shade!

Wordless Wednesday - Still in Love with those Fingers and that Belly Button

Self-Portrait Tuesday

Lelly issued a feng shui SPT challenge for July: sun, water, shade, grass, and ice cream.

This week's focus in on water.

Despite the fact that most of New Mexico is a desert, there are parts (up north) that have water.

This was a gorgeous little stream next to our Girls Camp site.

I had to laugh because last Tuesday the SPT challenge was sun. I posted about how much sun we have in Albuquerque, but that day ended with a rain storm. (You can see some raindrops on the bottom part of the picture.) We even got a double rainbow.

We're always so grateful when water falls from the sky around here!

But this is my favorite type of water ... the kind that goes in my water bottle.

I'm the hydration queen! My water bottle goes with me everywhere. I even used to take it to church, until my kids started begging to take their water bottles to church, too.

Grateful Sunday - 4th of July edition

I'm grateful for this great country we live in. 

I love being an American!

To celebrate our country's birthday,

we had a barbecue at Ba and Nana Gail's house. 

Sorry - no pictures - I was too busy stuffing my face with delicious food to stop and use my camera!

After dinner, we went to the Johnson's for some water balloons.

Then it was time for the Mike and Shad Fireworks Extravaganza!

(Laura's showing off her handful of Pop-Its - those little firecrackers you throw on the ground and they make a popping noise.)

Self-Portrait Tuesday

Lelly came up with an awesome set of SPT challenges for July:

"to help channel our personal chi, let's take time this month to focus on the 5 elements of summer: sun, water, shade, grass and ice cream!!"

This week the focus is on SUN!

Living in New Mexico, I see plenty of sun. Albuquerque boasts an average of 310 days of sunshine a year! There's so much sun, that our airport is called the Sunport.

Our state flag consists of a Zia sun symbol.

Here's a self-portrait of me in front of my old street sign. In case you've never tried, it is really hard to take a picture of yourself and get the top of street sign in the same shot!

So here's a shot my daughter took.

We used to live on Flor del Sol street.

- which means Flower of the Sun,

AKA Sunflower!