Lessons Learned in Yuma

We've been in Yuma for two weeks now, with two weeks left to go. We've visited almost every park in town, gotten to know the local shopping centers quite well, seen camels, visited the pool, played by the Colorado River and jumped aboard a Southern Pacific railcar. Whew! It's been a great time, and there's still much more in store for our final days here. In the midst of it all something "hit" me the other day. We've done more here than we ever do in Jacksonville.
This is a town that doesn't look like it has much to offer. It really was just dropped in the middle of the desert. The shopping isn't that great and there isn't much in the way of attractions. Yet, I realized we have had a fun-filled time here.
I am always willing to admit that entertaining a toddler is significantly easier than entertaining an older child. However, I was worried when we came out here that we'd both be bored out of our minds. Robert is working 12 - 15 hours a day, six days a week. I don't have a house to "keep." Not much in the way of errands to run. No appointments scheduled, no time at the gym. All of the things that end up consuming our daily lives back home just don't exist when we live in a hotel. Knowing the potential for boredom I researched and talked to friends who live here. I committed to getting Collin out on the move for an adventure at least once a day. That's what we've done. So I'm left wondering what all we miss when we're in Jacksonville.
A good friend of mine does an excellent job at planning weekend adventures for her children. I've always envied her as I read a blog post about their trip to an art museum, or a Saturday morning farmer's market. She enriches their family time with such exciting, and educational outings. In my envy I just tell myself that it's because she lives in a big city where these are more readily available. What I've learned is that we can have the same enriching adventures, it may just take a little more research.
Since we live in Jacksonville I never felt the need to research fun adventures. We just go on about our daily lives, Collin goes to school, plays with his friends, and so on. Then, what will end up happening is that when it's time for us to move we'll be running around trying to "do" all of the things around to do. So, I've decided to plan adventures in Jacksonville as if we are visiting the area. I'm going to research parks, sites, aquariums, historical landmarks (there are a lot), nature trails, anything to give Collin a chance to know his home, have fun, and maybe learn something.
So, if you're bored in your town or just tired of the "rut" get online and then get out of the house. There's just got to be something to do.

Is it a zebra, or a donkey????

No, it's a zedonk. Yes, that is the real name of this animal. It has stripes like a zebra, but the gray coloring (instead of white) and size of a donkey. It was fascinating. So were some of the other "exotic" animals at The Camel Farm in Yuma. We enjoyed our Sunday with Robert walking through the park of animals, most of which we had never seen. It was all a little rustic, but we had a blast!! Collin loved running from one animal to the next with his cup of alfalfa cubes. He wasn't completely sure what he thought about the animals eating out of his hand. He thought it was better to just throw them into the pens.
We saw an ostrich, a coati, different types of goats, sheep, deer, and of course camels. It is supposed to be home to the largest herd of camels in the United States. I'm guessing there aren't too many camels in the US considering there were only about 10 at this park. All the same, just one would have been more camels than any of us had ever seen.
While I know it won't always be so easy, right now keeping Collin entertained and squeaking out quality family time is a breeze. $13 and a little over an hour and he was a happy boy, and we were happy parents.

Roxaboxen

Forever immortalized in a children's book, Roxaboxen Park sits atop a small hill in a neighborhood in Yuma, AZ. With completely romantic notions of taking Collin and having him pretend and play like the children in the book we went to Roxaboxen. I knew we would find a hill of rocks in the middle of, well let's say, a neighborhood in which I would not purchase a home. However, I thought my toddler's memory and imagination would spring to life when he saw it. We had read the book multiple times with him oohing and aahing at the pictures. I had excitedly and eloquently explained the art of make believe and what the children had been able to create in Roxaboxen. Yet, when we arrived all he could say was, "Ooh, cool, rocks!"


It was neat that there were still some larger rocks fashioned in the same way the children in the story had placed them. Though I'm sure it was the work of someone who has read the book and visited. Not included in the book was the man passed out behind a bench. Collin saw him and very loudly says, "Is he sleeping? Why is he sleeping there? Hi! What's your name?" All of that spilled out of his mouth before I could stop him. YIKES!












So, this is the famous (or not so famous) Roxaboxen park. In spite of its lack luster appearance it was well worth the trip. Just a neat little adventure, and the first of many times Collin and I can read about something in a book and then go see it first-hand.

Parks, Parks and More Parks

Maybe I really could have a future writing for the Yuma Visitor's Bureau. It really isn't that hot here :)
The weather has been gorgeous since we arrived; refreshing mornings, warm afternoons with a cool breeze, and cool evenings. Despite the gross overuse of the color brown the landscape is beautiful. Ok, so the dirt that is used instead of grass isn't that great, but the mountains that border the town are gorgeous. The varied hues that paint the sky at sunset and wrap themselves around the mountains are fantastic. But the best part, at least for anyone with a toddler, is the parks!
This city has spent a large amount of money creating and maintaing its parks. While we have only visited a few so far, they have not disappointed.
The Gateway Park is located on the Colorado River. Granted, this portion of the river doesn't look like anything special, but it's still the Colorado River. There is a swimming area, multiple picnic areas, plenty of room to run,

and a covered playground. Now, this is the most genious idea ever. Every town that gets hit with scorching heat and blistering rays needs these. The canopy not only shades the children while they play, but more importantly, shades the equipment. This way it's not hot to the touch. Did I mention I think this is genious!

To top it all off the Gateway Park is home to a Southern Pacific Railroad engine. Collin loved this! He thought the train itself was much more fascinating than my history lesson. He could climb, and sit, and pull levers, and run, and could even fit underneath. He's pretty sure this train is Thomas (even though it's not blue), and that Yuma is the coolest town ever.

The next park we found is the West Wetlands Park, or the Castle Park (as Collin has now named it). This was unbelievable. I have never seen anything like this that wasn't in some sort of an amusement park. Built for children from tots to teens (ok, so the teens might be a stretch unless they got a good game of hide n seek going with their friends) this park is great. The castle and fortress behind are built like mazes on the inside that lead to slides, monkey bars, swings, bridges and jumping boards.

One of the slides even opens up as a dragon's mouth.

There are trails that lead to "nature" sites in the surrounding wetlands. Plenty of places to go on a nature walk and other, less interesting equipment configurations.

So, next week we are off to a local park which was memorialized in a children's book. We'll be reading the book together then off on our adventure to see it in person. We'll also be scoping on the exotic animal park, the territorial prison and a wild west show. Stay tuned.

A Dream Deferred

Every now and then my still burning passion for television journalism and that "fab" career flares up unexpectedly. Sometimes it comes from watching a reporter who should really find another career field, other times it comes from hearing the stories of friends who are "making it," and still other days it might come from the question of an old friend asking, what have you been up to?
For those of you who know me well, you remember a time when motherhood was nothing more than a fleeting thought for me. Something to check off on the list of things "to do" in a successful life. For years my career was my driving force and focus. As far back as my senior year of high school I remember plotting, planning, taking careful steps to insure that one day I'd be swinging through studio doors in New York City, or working on Capitol Hill. I could hear the Kelly Clarkson song ringing in my ears - "Buildings with a hundred floors, swinging with revolving doors, maybe I don't know where they'll take me, but I gotta keep movin' on, movin' on. Fly away, breakaway...I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly."
And fly I did, off to school, a White House internship and the fast track to a career that, even on the worst day, was still great.
As I sit here, not a television reporter, but very blessed to have experienced it, even if for a moment; I wonder what happens to a dream deferred. Does it really shrivel up like a raisin in the sun? Does it really rot? I contend that it does neither. I think a dream deferred grows and matures. I think takes root in things more important than impressions, fame and self -importance. Sometimes, it may even change.
Today I am in a hotel room in Arizona, trying to squeak some family time out of a crazy, military life. I realize that now another song is ringing in my ear - "I'm letting go of the life I planned for me and my dreams. I'm losing control of my destiny. It feels like I'm falling and that's what it's like to believe. So I'm letting go. This is a giant leap of faith. Trusting and trying to embrace."
What I couldn't have imagined as the focused college student or driven professional is the joy and satisfaction that comes from being a wife and a mom. As simple as it seems, and almost embarrassing, in this "she woman, hear me roar" world, it is what it is. I am happy and mostly fulfilled with my current job - wife and mom. I can say mostly fulfilled b/c even on their best days no job is completely fulfilling. No one thing was ever meant to be, but that's a post for another day.
In the end, it's hard to believe that before I've even turned 30 (yes, i'm NOT there yet) that a dream could be completely gone. There is no telling what the future holds. I couldn't have imagined being where I am, and maybe that's part of the excitement. I can sit and plan all day, and still not have a clue about what is going to happen next. Do I think this burning desire that I still have is just to inflict pain? No. Do I think I'll be anchoring the network evening news? Hmmm....probably not. Do I think that this drive and passion will go to waste? Not a chance. I do know this, my experience and education makes me one of the most over-qualified stay-at-home moms around, but it also makes me good at my job. Because without hesitation, any day of the week, I can tell you, I am a mom and I am GREAT at my job.
So, what happens to a dream deferred - we'll just have to wait and see.

Football Season is Here

It's a beautiful sight to behold. There is not much better than Carolina football, and there we were for the first game of the season. I still get chills when they play 2001 and the players come running onto the field. It's amazing just how electric that stadium can get during a game.

We are loving our new seats and so excited to make it back for the Arkansas game. We did realize that we are going to have to get more than 2 tickets soon, because Collin loves to watch football and neither mom nor dad are willing to give up a seat :)

First Day of Preschool

It's official - Collin has started school. Ok, so it's only 2 days a week for a few hours, but it's "real" school. We went and met his teachers, and got a little list of things he needed. So, it was off for school supply shopping. Mom wanted to get the cute Pottery Barn Kids bookbag with Collin's monogram on it. As you can see below Mom lost that battle. Standing in the middle of Target Collin picked up the Toy Story bookbag, squeeled as he put it on, then with a huge smile, shrugged his shoulders and said, "This is just right." How do you say no to that??

Just a few days later he was off for his first day of school. It was way harder on mom than Collin. As much as I joke about him never looking back (which he didn't), I'm glad he is so confident and comfortable that he wants to experience new things on his own. I also know it means that he is certain I am coming back for him. Oh that we might all have someone we love and trust that much.

Collin is learning new songs every day and is studying the number one, the color red and learning to use scissors - aaahhhh!!! Don't ever dismiss the job of a preschool teacher she/he is doing something most of us would never do - teach ten 2 1/2 year olds how to use scissors, and so much more.