Monster Trucks

A few weeks ago I was given 2 free tickets for the NAPA Auto Parts Monster Truck show at the Firebird Raceway. I just KNEW that Jordan would love this show but he had trouble finding someone else who would, and so because I hate to see a free ticket go to waste...he took his Dad! Brent was NOT interested at all and said it was a very hot day to be sat in the bleachers with no shade. Jordan, on the other hand, thought it was one of the most wonderful things he had been to and took over 70 photos plus video to remember the event by.
Here are just 3 of them!

Jannetti/Marriott Scholarship Presentation

Last month I went to the Desert Ridge Marriott hotel to be presented with a scholarship award. It was a lovely event. I was lucky enough to be one of the 9 winners from a total of about 50 applicants. I applied last year too but wasn't successful, but I still thought the essay I submitted was pretty good and submitted it again this year. It worked! I received a check for $1500 and a bonus of a 50 minute spa treatment at the Marriott which I have every intention of redeeming later on in the summer.

This is the Baywood crowd. On the left is Melissa Morrisette who also won a scholarship. Next to her is Joanna, her manager, then Kathy Werner who is the Director of Professional Practice and then it's yours truly!

Waiting to be presented with my scholarship from Anthony J. Jannetti himself.

Check in hand!

Mr. Jannetti with all 9 recipients of the scholarship awards.

Images from Easter 2011

Easter has a special meaning for me. It's a time I reflect upon the events in Jerusalem all those years ago and what my Savior did for me. It's also a time to gather as a family and that's just what we did yesterday. Having little ones means all the typical Easter fun. Having big ones means lots of food! Together they made a great combination.

Click on the collages to see what we all got up to on a lovely sunny Easter Sunday.
We did an Easter egg hunt. Thanks Heather for preparing all the eggs and to Daniel for "hiding" them.
Relaxation, splashing and lots of fun.
More of the same!
Jordan being grumpy and not wanting his picture taken. What's happening behind that towel?

Cooking marshmallows on the fire pit and some more evening splashing about.

Mad dogs and Englishmen...

...go out in the midday sun!

On the rare occasion that I go out in the sun to lounge and read my book, I always smother my self with suntan lotion and wear a big floppy hat. On Friday, I was out planting in the garden and the thought to do those same things never even crossed my mind. It wasn't THAT hot, but I knew I might get sweaty from the work so I put on my shorts and an old swimsuit top and set to work.

It wasn't until the evening that I noticed myself a little red on my back and not until the next day that I noticed a LOT of red on my back! Quel stupido!!!! This picture was taken yesterday, two days after and let me tell you...it's sore!!! I can barely stand to have lotion put on it and as for wearing a bra...well, right now, I feel liberated!!!

Summer's Coming!

You can tell that summer is on it's way when the dog needs to wear his hat.

Actually, it's his daddy's hat, but he looks way cuter in it!

Getting ready for Easter

Yesterday we took Katelynn and Christopher to my work to meet the Easter Bunny's helper and enjoy a little Easter Egg hunt. They enjoyed it, but Katelynn also liked that one of our "resident" babies was out at the nurses station and she have a good look at him. My camera batteries were dead, but we did manage to capture the moment with this Polaroid shot that we were given. A little yellow, but it's better than nothing. I'm just surprised that Polaroid's are still in existence.

Later that evening, we took Katelynn to see the Easter Pageant at the Mesa AZ LDS Temple. Christopher didn't want to go so he stayed at home with his mammy. Danielle and her family were sick and I missed not having them there. We got there early because I wanted a front row seat. Brent hates sitting near the front and every year we've been near the back, but this year, I put my foot down. We sat on the grass and had a picnic before the pageant started. The weather was perfect. We walked around the grounds, looked at the pictures of Jesus and the Christus statue in the Visitor's Center and looked at all the actors (and sheep) as they wandered around before the start of the pageant.

Olivia and Christopher showed up just before the start of the pageant but he was especially hyper and so Olivia had to walk around with him from 5 minutes into the show. I boo-booed as it was Spanish night! I got a translation device but didn't like it and relied on knowing the story and my limited Spanish. I was actually amazed at what I did know and the Spirit speaks an international language anyway. Katelynn got really upset when they were beating Jesus and when they crucified Him, but it was a happy ending, so that's all that matters in her eyes. Every now and then she would cuddle up to me and say "I love you, Grandma". What a precious spirit she has.

These are just a few of the photos I took at the pageant. Click to enlarge them.

Easter is next week and hopefully the family will gather at our home for a bite to eat and just plain old family time.

At the Zoo...Again!

What a day!!! Today was Olivia's birthday and we promised her that we would take the kids for a few hours as a treat for her, and them. So, we went to Phoenix Zoo again. Spring break meant that all the kids in Phoenix were at the zoo, but we did manage to get a parking spot and so safari hats on, and off we went.

It was super hot, super crowded, but we went to see some of the animals we didn't see the last time.

The Terrible Two...actually they were very well behaved!

I thought these were pretty good shots, but I would have liked a better one of the tiger who was eating his joint of meat at the time.

The zebra were so close and breathtaking. The giraffe, well I have a 12x zoom on my camera. The little monkey was asleep in the tree and the baboon came to look at us through the glass.

We managed about an hour or so in the heat, and then went to see Daniel and Danielle who live close by and spent some time there. What a surprise! They were going to the zoo when Heather got back from work, so we went too! Twice in a day. The beauty of being a zoo member. Anyway, by the time we went again, it was a little cooler and more bearable.

The only way to travel. It was girls only and Grandma was sorely tempted to jump in!

Christopher decided to join in. Plenty of room for three.

Save a horse...ride a warthog!

Desert Botanical Gardens

We were going to go to the Phoenix Zoo, but when we got there, a huge flashing sign said that the parking lot was full and so we decided to go down the street to the Desert Botanical Gardens instead. We'd been once before, and thanks to a Groupon coupon which I bought a week or so ago, we got in for $14 instead of $30! What a bargain!!!

Brent had his mandatory hat on and of course just had to object to having his photo taken. He really does dislike that, always has. He's pictured beside his beloved Prickly Pear Cactus which he always tells me has wonderful healing qualities besides being edible. He actually has a jar of prickly pear in the fridge which I can't bear to eat. He rather enjoys it though.
Me in front of a typical Arizona cactus scene.
Some of the wonderful plants to see. The cactus are always the most dramatic.

Phoenix Zoo

Grandad and I took Katelynn and Christopher to Phoenix Zoo this afternoon. It was a beautiful day, sunny but not too warm, and we had so much fun that we decided to get a year membership pass for us all. We didn't get round everything, but we still saw a lot.

First we looked at the reptiles, then we saw some eagles, cattle, deer and javelinas. Katelynn immediately said she thought they looked like Grandad. She said it really loud, of course! We rode on the train, played on the tractors, milked a cow, petted the goats and even saw some of them pooping. The kids were fascinated by that!

It was really hard to get good photos of the kids as they were running all over the place, but at least the animals cooperated. :)

Menopause

Laurel, myself and Bev before Menopause, The Musical. It was hilarious. I haven't had face ache like that in a long time.