Trip to the zoo and Snake attack

We had some events to talk about to everybody.

Approximately two weeks ago Ann and I went on a date to a restaurant in Benson. Ann has to now meet me in Benson or I have to drive home by 6:30 and then we would have to drive back to benson so we did this way to save time. After arriving home with some groceries, we encountered a suspicious noise as we were taking the groceries into the house. Both of us thought that someone had turned on the drip system and that could explain the noise. But it wasn't that because no one had turned it on. The other possibility was that it was a deadly Rattlesnake (okay I didn't have to use deadly, but it does help the story a bit).

The rattlesnake happened to be 4 feet away from the stairs that we use to go into the trailer house. We were able to enter the house and leave without too much danger as the snake appeared to only be 2 feet in length. Ann turned on the outside light. In retrospect I figured that I should have gotten a nearby shovel and just whack it to death. We didn't do that, but called a Cruzer, a sister in law to me, and she proceeded to try and toss huge stones at it. The snake took one hit and slithered into some weeds around a nearby tree. We had to then get a vehicle close for better lighting. I eventually did get the aforementioned shovel and started to carefully remove the weeds. We found the snake again and by this time cruzer had procured a hoe and proceeded to whack at the head. The snake finally slowed to a point that I was finally able to take the point of the shovel and cut his head off. Phew! Ann and Cruzer then told me to bury the snakes out in back to avoid local coyote and havalina activity during the night. I finally got some exercise. :) Also it did pump the adrenaline some to be face to face with a live rattlesnake after hearing so many stories.

Unfortunately we did not take pictures.

Last Saturday, the company that I work for hired the Reid Park Zoo after hours for the workers and their families' enjoyment. The zoo was quiet and peaceful, but not a lot of animals were active after the park's normal closing time. We did get to see the polar bear playing with a ball in the water. Those animals are huge! Laur'l and I got to feed a Giraffe and we got to eventually see a tiger and some jaguars. The zoo prepared a meal for us which was quite good. My family and I sat next to a Senior Tax Manager and Ann was pleased to start a friendship with her. We were able to help the manager when she experience a low blood sugar moment familiar to those who suffer from Diabetes and help with her nephew. After the meal we sat down in a grassy area to watch the movie Madagascar. It was so worth the heat and trip into Tucson on a Saturday. Our family had so much fun and we are waiting for the next event that will happen on Halloween with the Company.

That is all to report.

Finally I got in to reward the faithful bloggers who watch us

Well this is quite a forum to post family news. The last posts were made by Ann and now I, Cory, will take the reigns as we don't have easy access to a computer nor the internet at home. Our computer's adapter bit the dust as has our laptop battery months ago.

Our routine has finally become normal, if normal can ever be achieved. We live in Saint David, Az and that is approximately 60 miles from where I work. It is a quiet town with a small school and a church that houses three wards of the LDS Church. The church building is white. There is one service station where we are faithful in buying gas. Our almost daily routine, for Ann, is to drive to Benson, Az, a trip of 15 miles round, to buy groceries and other items. There are two stores to pick from including a small super walmart and Safeway. We have found after one month of purchasing that Safeway still has the highest grocery expenses of Arizona. Our wish pick would have been Basha's, but the closest one is in Tucson. Life stays really quiet when Ann can stay home with adelle and rest. That can be accomplished with a little planning and is the most enjoyable for her. As to her pregnancy, it is a lot more fatiguing than has been in the past two pregnancies and the rest is necessary.

My day starts at 5:30 in the morning with a 45 minute routine that takes about an hour when the kids wake early which has been happening more of late. I jump in to the car at 6:30 and drive into Benson where I merge onto I10 for my morning commute. Many of my collegue believe me to be lacking in judgement for living so far away, but are satisfied when I enlighten them with my excuses. I love books. Anyone who has observed my behaviors growing up and as an adult know this. Raising kids and working has made it very impossible to accomplish any reading, in fact I have finished 3-4 books of leisure since getting married four years ago. My passions has been resurrected in the form of Books on CD. I listen to these books the whole time I commute. This is my saving grace and the opportunity to have a great job yet still live in the slow easy feel of a small town. All those who are envious are welcome to move to Saint David and work in Tucson with me. :) I am currently working on Dune the book. I read this in High School and it is wonderful to be reading it again. One of my next books will be the seventh Harry Potter, and all of these books come from the Pima County Library. I am now a tax accountant following a dismal career in education. I work for Beach Fleishman P. C. in Tucson, Az. They are local to Southern Arizona and have no need to leave. So I will not have to travel as a result of business.

Ann enjoys living at home to be with our children. We live next door to her parents, and still at home youngest daughter. She enjoys books as well, but also doesn't find the time to read. Her birthday present came early this year, it is a book on CD. :) She will now start to read during the day in the same way I do. Her time is spent caring for adelle.

She is shown here at our labor day vacation at Alpine, AZ. Ann also enjoys some children programing on the TV during the day. Ann excercises by walking to and from the bus stop (1/10th of a mile) to drop off and pick up Laur'l. This happens every school day at 8am and 2:30pm.

Laur'l, after a consultation with the special education director of St. David Schools, was put into 1st grade. She was, at the time of consultation, able to read a little bit and write most numbers and alphabet. She was hurt at first as she had to leave Kindergardon with a good friend that could not advance with her, but she sees the friend at recess and at lunch and on the bus. She gets homework every night except fridays. We as parents get to sit down with her to do them. Sometimes she is even willing to do her homework without our bribes. :) She loves spending time with us and her Grandparents next door, but all know that she loves the latter a little bit more. :) Laur'l loved going to Alpine this year as she always loves to spend time with the Webers. She is getting big enough and responsible enough to be able to go outside by herself. She also got to hold a new cousin there.

She is shown with Morgan Weber, Gary's first daughter.

Adelle is most happy when we are all at home together. She is bored somewhat when Laur'l goes to school and is really excited when she waits at the bus stop. She has said before "waurel, waurel" when she sees the bus coming. How cute! She is always excited when I get home from work at 6:30 pm and enjoys her Daddy time. Even more cute! [I recognize fully the bias of the writer:)] She almost has all of her teeth and has earned the nickname 'piranha' from her grandfather. During the Alpine trip I took her on a ride on the Quads that my father-in-law owns and provides during our vacations there. She loved the first ride yelling excitedly when I prompted her as we rode. She must have been tired when I took her out the second time shown here.

Here is a recent family picture from the same trip. Thankfully my mother-in-law took pictures and emailed them to us so that I could update our blog.

Here is the end of out post and updating of our blog.