Arizona's Birthday

February 14th, a day to celebrate your love for good o'l Arizona.  You know, I used to wear black on this day to show everybody who was boss, that Valentines was a sappy, fake, made up blah blah blah.  The point being, I needed to get over myself :)  I think I did for the most part, but I still don't get into it.  Zander could care less and so could Ender.  Cora might like it; I know I did when I was a little thing because my mom was my sweetest valentine. 

I forced my family to Hunts Tomb, though, for a picnic commemorating 102 years of statehood and just to remind us that we love this land.  Zander was sick, Ender was getting on my nerves, and Cora was starving by the time we rolled into the park.

None of that matter,though, and besides, the children whipped into shape and Zander, eh, he didn't complain.  The air was electric, my head was buzzing with the view and perfume of all the plants. 
And as the fiery chandelier diminished, the moon appeared in the east, perfectly round and proud to traverse the sky. 

There was another family up there and Ender, no questions asked or insecurities known, started to play with two of the kids.  The two young strangers ran around the pyramid to try and escape the clumsy boy.  Ender was confused, but having a blast.  I think he proved himself, because the kids finally initiated conversation and they began to play more mutually and soon were teaching Ender how to play hide and seek.  He was still confused but having even more fun.  What a guy. 

dragon lair exploring

Sometimes you tell this kid stories to get him to eat his breakfast.
Such was the situation one morning a couple of weeks ago.

In a nutshell....

There was once a terrible and cruel dragon named Pico Paco who stole a precious baby girl from her crib just before dawn.  The heartbroken and panicked parents were led by un hombre misterioso to a large tree in the desert.  There they enlisted the help of Ender the Dragon Slayer.  He and his steed (a very large german shepard) rode under the blazing sun to the foothills of Pico Paco's mountain.

blah blah blah

he met his buddy Niko, they snuck into the cave, the dragon laughed, mocked, and tried to torch the boys.  They ran and tumbled down down down into a dark cavern.  When Ender lit a match, Whoosh!  the rocky room was dazzling with wall to wall sheets of crystal.  The surface of the crystal was so pure and clear it mirrored perfectly the startled boys.  A whole army of Ender's and Nikos stood dumbfounded. Ender had an idea.  They taunted the dragon down into the secret room of "the Many".  When the dragon landed with a clumsy thud into the darkness, Ender yelled "Now!" And niko lit a match which revealed a host of brave 3 year olds with shiny daggers.  The dragon (and Ender at this point) was very confused which allowed fictional Ender to stab Pico Paco in the soft flesh of his belly. 

So forth and so forth.  They found the precious baby (cora) asleep in a golden cradle and returned her to her parents.

"Tell it again mama!" 

"Um...no"

Instead we went to Papago Park to explore an old dragon lair.

These two again

Even the sun glows palely in the face of their happiness.  There is never, I repeat, never a dull moment with either of them.  I don't even think Zander, certainly Cora, knows that boredom exists.  But I do, and I think Ender might too.  His brain grows restless as it flexes and pumps eager to muscle through the next mind boggle.  Its getting increasingly difficult to challenge him. Anyway....

 

Zander and Cora. Ambassadors from another planet where joy literally comes from the food you eat and the air you breathe.