On Sunday we got up and went to church. We decided the kids would be better off staying with us in the main service. They behaved very well and Millie actually fell asleep, which is not a reflection on the sermon by any means.
He's was so proud of himself.
Not that I love this picture, but it proves we have been swimming while in Arizona.
Sitting on the butterfly bench was a great place for a picture. 
While we were getting ready for the party, the kids were playing in Grammie and Pop's closets and dressing up in their clothes. We finally collected them around 2 pm and headed home.
Vicki took this picture when the boys went out to play in the rain.
After church we went back to my mom's house and had burgers. We needed to rush a bit because we were supposed to meet someone at our house who was going to buy our bicycle trailer. We then headed to the Green's house so the kids could play together, and we never need an excuse to eat.
Jack was so excited to see Lexi, one of their daughters. We have told Jack since he was 3 years old that he needed to marry Lexi one day. We even have it on video. I think arranged marriages are the easiest way to assure your in-laws are people you like. Call me crazy, but it seems fine to me. He wrote Lexi this note.
Once we got to their house the kids all hugged. We hugged Maytee and Ken, and then I noticed it. My love sick boy wasn't quite getting the reaction he was expecting. Lexi is very nurturing and loving to littler children, so she was more drawn to Millie, initially. Jack was following her around like a lost puppy. It was sweet and sad, all at the same time. As time passed Lexi got a bit bored with it all and the attention was back on Jack. All four of the kids played so nicely together.
We spent the evening talking and gossiping and it seemed as if we had not been apart for the last year. Now that is real friendship.
I love that we made sure we got a picture of the 4 of us and our unique beers, but didn't take one picture of the kids together. Egocentric? Maybe just a schoch!
I had messaged Sue (one of my faithful readers) on Saturday about coming over for coffee on Monday morning. Because we are only in Arizona for 16 days, we have to make the most of every moment. I knew Sue was officially starting school on Tuesday and probably wanted to spend the day in her classroom as much as possible on Monday. However, she did join me for coffee inspite of things she needed to get done. It was so wonderful to just sit and chat and laugh! We caught up from the last year and it was as if a year had not passed. Writing this blog and other technology has helped to connect people so that 'distance apart' is really not that big of a deal anymore. I love that we are able to stay connected.
Sue left around 9:30 am and we headed to see our tax guy. It was really a formality because we didn't earn any income in the United States so we don't owe any tax, nor would we get any refund. We paid him, signed the papers, and carried on our merry way. We had taken the kids to Grammie and Pop's so we decided to get some other things done on our 'while we are in Arizona' list. We shopped for a bit and purchased some more items that (I think) are cheaper here, or maybe it's just that I can't find some items in the UAE that I have to have!
On Monday afternoon a guy came by and wanted to buy some of the rocks from when we had our yard cleared last summer. We had listed them on a Facebook page, which was the easiest way I have ever sold anything. It beats a garage sale every day of the week. He came by to start collecting the rocks and had gotten most of them by the end of the week. We made enough money to pay our tax guy, so it was a successful exchange in my opinion.
In the late afternoon we went to Mack and Mary's for dinner. We found out when we got there that they beloved dog, Dandee Marie, had died about a month ago. I felt so sorry for them. Mack and Mary are animal freaks! They love their animals as much, if not more, than their own kids. Let's just say I never saw Dandee Marie eat dog food, and Mary wouldn't let us call her a 'd-o-g'. We had to call her 'princess'. So needless to say, that 'princess' left an empty place in their house and hearts.
We had a delightful evening with them. The kids swam while Mary, Stuart and I sweat out under the tree by the pool. We ate pulled pork and just relaxed. Millie, naturally, adored Mack and Jack just wanted to go for a ride on the 'rhino', which is Mack's larger version of a golf cart. As always, we had a fantastic time.
Tuesday we got up and decided to save ourselves some money by cleaning up our yard ourselves. My parents came over and helped, as did the kids. Well, Millie really just sat in her camping chair and watched us as we cleaned up. Jack did his best to help and although I wasn't thrilled spending 4 hours of my vacation cleaning our dead tree limbs and bushes, it was a good bonding time for us and also gave my kids a view of what manual labor is and the necessity of hard work. Plus, it saved us some money which was a good thing.
The workers were working hard.
Once the yard was finished we all cleaned up and went to Uncle Bears for lunch. We treated my mom and dad to lunch because of all their help with the yard. Jack and Millie are so many peanuts that once their meal arrived they weren't hungry.
After lunch we went back to G&P's house to swim for a while, ate burritos for supper, made a Sam's run for our party for Friday, and made an early night of it. I, personally, was wiped out from the day of hard labor. I am a total wimp!
Wednesday we lounged around our house in the morning, went to Home Depot to buy some bits for our newly renovated yard, and then headed to my mom's house because my brother Mitch was coming into town. Once he arrived we went....shopping! Shocking, I know!
Thursday morning we got up for our yearly breakfast at the Farmhouse with Julie and Steve Whitehead as well as Mary and Mack. We saw our favorite waitress, Candy, and had the best omelet in the world. The Farmhouse never disappoints.
After breakfast we went to Butterfly Wonderland in Scotsdale.
Uncle Mitch is always a character.
A few weeks before we came home I had expressed the desire to do some things in Arizona that we had never done, and this place was one of those things. It was spectacular. The butterfly house is in an atrium, so it's outside and a bit muggy. We were told to be careful and not to touch the butterflies. We all had butterflies land on us and so of course we had to take pictures. Jack was the only one of us, after our tour around the butterfly's home, that hadn't had one land on him. He was so distraught, but Grammie and Pop came to the rescue and walked him around one more time in hopes of getting a butterfly to land on him. My dad even broke the rules and tried to touch the butterflies. It's incredible what a grandparent will do to make a grandchild happy. The rest of us were waiting in the air conditioned cafe when he came in just happy as can be. He announced that two butterflies landed on him. Whew! That might have avoided counseling. My mom then ratted out my dad for trying to touch the butterflies. Ha!
One very happy boy!
It was very fitting that Millie wore her butterfly dress, and then a butterfly landed on it.
We made a lunch stop at Portillos in Scotsdale and then headed back to G&P's for a swim. Our theme seems to be centered around the pool and food. I guess that is what vacation is all about.
Thursday evening the kids had a sleepover at G&P's while Stuart, Mitch, Liz and I went to eat sushi at Kona Grill and then went to see the movie Trainwreck. The sushi was as good as I remember and the movie was beyond hilarious! Prior to the movie, we shopped a bit and I picked out my birthday gift from Stuart and the kids. It's really no use trying to surprise me. I would rather pick it out and get what I want. Although I have to give Stuart some credit. He usually picks out what I want for gifts. He's very attentive to my likes and dislikes. But this time, I picked it out and will be very 'surprised' when I open it on my big day, which seems less of a big deal the older I get.
Friday morning we got up and started getting ready for the party. Prior to that I met Diane Wells, my former boss, and Lisa Reynolds, a teacher friend, for coffee at Starbucks. Again, trying to sneak in time with people I want to catch up with. After coffee, I went to get some bits we still needed at the grocery store. I also might have purchased some cute skirts while I was at Wal-Mart. They were necessities. We went to G&P's to have some waffles once I was back from shopping. We then decided to leave the kids there until later in the day, closer to the party time. We came back to the house and put the finishing touches on the party atmosphere. Actually, I just sat and did nothing while Stuart got everything ready. It was nice!
Our first guests arrived right at 4 pm. It was Joan and Traci Sawyer and Traci's husband, Brian. They are friends of mine from when I first moved to Arizona 23 years ago. Joan is Travi's mom and she also had another daughter named Terri. Terri was my friend who died of breast cancer 11 years ago. I still think of her often and love her family dearly. It was great that they showed up so early because it gave me a chance to really talk with them, which meant the world to me.
People rolled in as the night drew on. I know that large gatherings such as that party, sometimes makes Stuart's skin crawl, but he indulges me because he knows I LOVE to have all my friends gathered in one place at one time. Most people don't let their friend worlds collide, but I say bring it on! I love it!
The party was a huge success. The kids totally wrecked the upstairs, which was evidence of a good time. No one had to get stitches and there was no blood, also evidence of a good time. We didn't have a ton of food left, and what we did have left will go to good use over the next week. It's possible that I may have drank a bit too much sangria, but I survived...a bit on the fragile side Saturday morning, but again, evidence of a good time had by all. Our last guests left around 11 pm. The kids went to bed dirty and I didn't care.
Saturday morning the clean up was minimal. All the house needed was a mop to the floor and a little bit of tidying. The vacuum needed to be turned on, but that's Stuart's job so I can only assume he will get to it on Sunday. Liz had emptied the dishwasher and also washed some of the bigger items. The kids watched a movie and after I mopped I needed a nap. I did mention that I may have had a little too much sangria at the party, right?
We went to my mom's around noon for a birthday party for the 4 of us. We had ribs, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and BBQ beans. We have not been deprived of good food since we came home. The kids opened their presents and, as usual, received more than they need. They both thanked Grammie and Pop, on their own, with no prompting from Stuart or myself. It warned my heart for sure.
In the late afternoon we took Jack to Gavin's for a sleepover.
Millie ended up staying at G&P's for a sleepover as well. Mitch and I decided to hit the casino around 7 pm and Stuart stayed home and watched television with Liz. Ha! Everyone did what they wanted to do. Although Mitch and I didn't bring home the jackpot from the casino, I was $10 ahead when I got home. That has NEVER happened. I never come home with more money than I took. So, another successful evening.
I can't believe how fast our time here is going. It has been a phenomenal week and we look forward to another wonderful week in Arizona, but we are a bit sad that our time will soon be over in our home. Boo!
Sorry this entry was 'late'. In the UAE I am 11 hours ahead of my Arizona readers, so I always have until
Sunday afternoon to finish each entry. I was up this morning at 6 am giving it the final touches. Hope it was not too boring.
No comments:
Post a Comment