Tucson's Desert Museum

Shortly after I took Tammy back to Tucson I was turned on to this awesome website called Groupon. For those of you who may not have heard of it yet- you sign up and they email you awesome deals daily. You totally choose if you want to accept the deals- if you don't you don't have to do anything, you just don't respond to the email. So far I've used two of their offers and they totally rock! One is a secret because it'll be a Christmas present but the other was half off a family membership to the Desert Museum in Tucson (I only had to pay $25!!) I actually ended up paying less than I would have had to pay for the normal rate on our very first visit! Sweet! We are visiting Tucson all the time and will totally be able (and want) to take advantage of the membership (which also came with 3 free guest passes) at least a couple of times in the next year. If you're interested in hearing about some awesome deals click here: http://www.groupon.com/r/uu8715930

Like I mentioned in my last post, my visit with my sister was so great but it wasn't long enough, so I drove down to Tucson again to squeeze in some more time with her before she left. This time we used the new Desert Museum membership and we had such a wonderful adventure :) And it FINALLY started to cool down! In fact, it started to get super windy around the time we were leaving and it later stormed pretty heavily both in Tucson and Phoenix.

Learning about the Harrison Hawk.

In the Reptile House. 

Digging for fossils. They have actual fossils stuck in this lump of cement and if a kid can dig one out they get to take it home. The boys thought that was super cool. 

They even let the girls get in on the action. 

They kept at it for at least a half an hour- giving Tammy and I plenty of time to chat. 

Shazer eventually gave up but Shule was persistent. 

We had told him that we'd meet up with him later because we wanted to move on and he wanted to keep chipping away, when a few seconds later he came running up to me with this little beauty in his hand and a huge grin on his face. Perhaps we've found a future line of work for Shule?

Checking out the minerals in the cave. 

Sally was really into those Pringles. 

Shazer was all ears ;)

Shule wasn't.

The super fun cave. This was the main highlight of everyone's experience- the temperature was cooler and it was super fun to climb through the tunnels! 

Watch your step!

Still has the Pringles.

We saw and took pictures of some amazing butterflies- but I'm already posting too many photos. 

This sign is for REAL! They aren't joking. 

Proof that the above sign is serious. I was pushing the stroller when I spotted this lying perfectly still just a foot in front of Sophie's little feet. Totally freaked me out! I jerked the stroller back as fast I could until we could see that it wasn't a dangerous snake- just a King snake, according to a docent. We gave him some space and watched him slither his way up into the rocks and plants on the side of the trail. The adrenaline rush lasted for a good fifteen minutes later. The kids loved it!

Bird in a nest.

Look closely (or click on the image to enlarge) and you'll see an awesome shot Shule took of a hummingbird. I was a little disappointed that the Hummingbird house was closed for renovations but we were able to see a few in the regular aviary. I'm looking forward to visiting the new Hummingbird House soon :)

Look even more closely. Can you see a lizard?

Following the leader...

We LOVE our Tammy!!

Getting pretty windy!

After the Museum, we had lunch and sundaes at Little Anthony's Diner.

Yum!

Sally flew the rocket ship.

Sophie didn't do such a good job driving the car- just kidding, Pop-pop is fine. 

I forgot to mention that one of the things the kids liked best about the Desert Museum was before we even arrived- the twisty, hilly road of Gates Pass that leads out to the Desert Museum. The kids put their hands in the air like they were riding a roller coaster and yelled, "Whoaaaa!" as drove up and down and up and down. Since then, every time we're in the car and we make the slightest turn or dip Sophie puts her hands up and yells, "WHooaaa!" So funny :)