exploring

When we moved here to Arizona it was sunny and 120 degrees outside...all day every day. 

So, even though it was the middle of summer, it felt like we were back to Idaho winters due to the fact that we had to stay inside and couldn't really go out. 

It was so crazy to me to have to turn on my car for the air conditioner to cool it off before we could get in it to go anywhere. 

We had to stare out our windows at the back yard and the park right next door longingly. The kids asked if they could go outside to play ALL THE TIME. It was sad to have to say no.

Although we were told cool weather did exist here, we were inclined to not believe it. It was too hot to ever imagine it not being so! 

However, during the last month or so the temperature has finally started to feel less brutal. The car thermometer has begrudgingly given up about 20 degrees and I think we are also acclimating, which helps. 

The last few weeks of this October have lingered in the high 90's but a couple of weeks ago there was a rare few days where it was actually nice enough during the evening for the kids and I to venture out around the city and try out some places we had seen out the car windows during our summer hibernation. 

One place we really wanted to visit was the duck pond right next to the library. Its a man made fishing pond that is stocked about every week. 

(Im told residents here really do eat the fish they catch...after this post is over you might understand why I say the word...ew) 

We packed a picnic dinner, some old bread for the ducks and we headed over. 

I had insisted the kids wear sandals, since it was beachy and thought they might like to take them off and play in the water. 

(The ducks there had absolutely no fear of the kids, they came right up to them!)

Man, was that a mistake!

After about five minutes of being there, we realized most of the "beach" was covered in duck poop!  I swear about 5 feet from the edge of the water and up was pure green slime. 

Their feet got covered and it was all I could do not to freak out or puke every time they tried to move around.  They were sliding in it and falling. yuck! we tried to wash our feet in the pond, but it was pointless. 

Oh, and not to mention the dead fish hanging out everywhere. 

So after our bread ran out we thought it would be best to get away from the water front and check out what else the park had to offer. We also looked for some grass to try to wipe as much poop off as we could!

There were a few fun things along the beach. Baby girl had just biffed it in the sand about one minute prior tot this picture, so she is not very happy! ha ha

We finally cam upon an awesome palyground that was so much more fun (in my mind) than the slimy, poopy duck water. 

 We stayed until dark and got some Ice cream on the way home. 

It was fun to hang out, but we sure miss our daddy sometimes. 

He is just so busy studying, its insane.

So, we find things to do to pass the time. 

Today the temperature is in the mid 70's and it feels amazing. I can finally start to see why some people would want to live here permanently. If it stayed this nice all year, I might consider it. 

Unfortunately, I know too much about the hell heat to ever be so deceived. :)