Dylan's Weekend

Dylan's weekend was filled with hockey games. They played in Peoria on Friday evening, played in Gilbert yesterday, and had two games in Gilbert today. When we got there today, I asked about the three previous games; they had lost all three but played better each game so the parents were excited about their potential for this last game of the weekend.

Shelby, Rich, and I must be good luck because, not only did they win 2 - 1 this afternoon, but Dylan made the winning goal! And...they played a rough team so there were injuries; it was a hard-played, well-won game! Here are just a few shots...

Dylan #23 is near the center of this shot; his team is wearing white.

No, I did not catch the goal with my camera because I was watching and, in my excitement, didn't react quickly enough. Here his teammates are surrounding and congratulating him! His goal made the score 2 -1. That was near the end of the second period, which made for a long, nerve-racking third period for all of their fans!

His team skating over to greet the losing team at the end of the game.

Dylan was awarded the Game Puck!

Lovin' Life ~~ Thrilled to See Dylan's Goal

Ordinary Days

Perhaps I should set a new goal of posting on the odd numbered days of November for NaBlogPoMo? At least it would still be an objective!

After an appointment yesterday morning, where I confess to pilfering a magazine while waiting for MOAO. Wait just a minute! Have you ever done that? This was my first but it had a great article in it about the importance of STEM programs in education that I want to share with our grands. Besides that it was a few months old, the only issue of that particular magazine in the whole office, and was not addressed to that office. And that is how I continue to justify it.

Anyway, after his appointment we stopped at Elvira's in Apache Junction for a late lunch. I wish you all could eat here. The food is good and plenty but the booths, tables, wall art, benches...are all works of art. The backs of the chairs and booths are hand carved and everything is hand painted in a Mexican village, but I cannot remember the name. Vibrant colors and fun subjects...I loved it! The next time we go there I'll take my real camera, the phone photos cannot do it justice.

While waiting for our lunch, I checked FB on my phone and saw the following message from our friends Pam & Donnie. 

I dont know how to comment on your blog but have to tell you I so enjoy your blog page with all the pic and activities you, Rich and the kids take part in

I'm posting a copy of it here simply because it and the comments that followed meant so much to me. These are all folks who see my FB posts every day and yet still regularly check out my blog. As I told Pam, I know there are folks who follow but hardly anyone ever leaves a comment there. Without mom reading it, for a long time now I wondered if I was just writing to the atmosphere. It reminded me that you are there and to thank all of you who continue to follow me here!

Last evening was my Bunco night. It seems I am now a regular member! It is a great way to get to know a dozen local women, have a fun night out, and enjoy having dinner with them. My winning $10.00 last night was icing on the cake! Plus, while I was out Rich finished touching up all the sloppy paint in our bedroom! I believe that's called a Win-Win-Win for me! 

November 5, 2013

We spent a few hours this morning doing some long-term planning of projects on our dream list. Our realtor got us in touch with a retired architect who has provided initial views of three of those dream projects. If we ever get to do any of these I'll share some of those images. The level of detail in the images of architectural software is astonishing.

This afternoon we shopped for a couple more small pieces of furniture for the guest rooms. With guests coming for Thanksgiving weekend, we want them to be as comfortable as possible. Rich went for a short hike right after we got home. 

It is getting dark so early here now. The weather is perfect with warm sunny days and we can still sleep with fresh air coming in all night, but the days are definitely shorter. I hope you have all adjusted to the time change; it's weird to not be changing clocks.

Lovin' Life ~~ Thankful for the Sunshine

Day 18 - A Day of Rest

Today was exactly what we had planned...except for the rain that fell all day which kept us from the two...count them one, two...fantastic side-by-side huge swimming pools here and the miniature golf course too, okay, so maybe not exactly what we had planned. We had planned on doing all those things today, making it just a 'take it easy and get organized for the road' kind of day after all the walking and sightseeing we have been doing. You see, we leave here tomorrow morning for the drive back to Illinois.

While listening to the rain, quite a lovely sound on the roof of the motorhome, we read.

We played Farkle and Rummikub. Some of the day was spent on our computers and other electronic entertainments too. Some of us didn't even take a shower until 6:00 p.m. so just put on a clean gown and called it a day...no, that's not a confession...giggle

Except for Shelby's disappointment that we didn't get to swim, we all agreed that this was a great day and just what we needed after all the excitement of these past weeks!

Lovin' Life ~~ Relaxing Together

Easter Weekend

The kids decided to stay with us again Saturday night which led to some interesting conversations about the Easter Bunny and how it finds out (and why do we refer to it as a 'he'?) where they are that night (or does it know where they are staying?).

Shelby and I worked all morning on Saturday. She cleaned out cabinets that I couldn't reach by standing on the counter tops, actually she cleaned inside most of the cabinets and drawers while I put things away. Then she ran the dust mop before wet mopping the floor with my brand new dual purpose mop. She enjoyed doing all of it and she did a great job too so there was a little extra in her pay envelope this week! Can you tell what her brothers are doing? They are playing games on my computer, which is what they did most of the morning.

At some point while we were slaving away at housework, Dylan took my camera and went on a "shoot" around the house. Here, I have curated a few favorites from his collection.

What do you think? Does the young man have a promising future as a photographic artist?

The boys did go grocery shopping with me while Grandpa and Shelby stayed home and played Farkle. It was such fun getting to color Easter eggs with them since we have rarely been with them at Easter.

Rich had to go to WalMart and returned with the game Scattergories; we had hours of fun playing that this weekend!

Easter Morning!

When they heard we were awake, Shelby & Dylan came in to excitedly tell us that the Easter Bunny had left three chocolate bunnies at our house!

After I fixed breakfast, we had an Easter Egg Hunt, the first of several throughout the day.

Greg and Jenny called not long after our first Easter Egg Hunt! Since the Easter Bunny fills the kids' own personal baskets which they leave out the night before Easter each year, their mom and dad brought the filled baskets when they came.

Rich, Sandee, and Shawn took a tour of the property, checking out all the cacti in our own little desert botanical garden. It will be something to see, we hope, after all the wild brush and dead stuff is cleared out.

Right now though some of our cactus are in bloom, like this flowering hedgehog cactus out front next to the driveway.

Aaaaaw...how sweet is love in bloom?

Back inside, there was a game of Scattergories with everyone sprawled on the floor in a guest room. Shelby was sitting on the window seat.

During another egg hunt, Shawn came up with this clever "hiding" place!

It was such a gorgeous day that they moved the picnic table outside for dinner. Shawn and I will be right there!

After dinner, Shelby and Dylan both jumped into the still chilly pool. Again, Jackson politely declined...ahem!

We finished the afternoon with a third game of Scattergories...so fun, so glad Rich bought it yesterday!

It has been a while since we have had such a perfect day...perfect in every way!

Lovin' Life ~~ And Family Holidays

A Family Weekend

The Evening of June 8th through Sunday, June 10, 2012

When we got back to C'ville Friday evening we were all so excited to see that my niece, her husband, and their three young sons had arrived at my brother and SIL's place only moments before we did.  This was the beginning of an entire week of fun, fun, fun for our grands and their three cousins. They were all so excited to see each other.

Our son and DIL were already there too! Greg and Jenny had spent much of the afternoon visiting with Mom and were getting ready to set up their ladder toss game, which was a big hit with all ages throughout the weekend.

Early Saturday morning, my cousin Kathy arrived to drop off homemade cinnamon rolls, sticky buns, coffee cake, fudge ribbon cake, cookies, apple pie...are you on a sweets high just from reading this? She is an amazing baker and we all overindulged the rest of the weekend. She, her folks, and her sisters, niece, and nephew all came down to visit in the afternoon. Mary made all the great food to balance out all those delicious treats.

I had made these "Cousins" t-shirts for the kids. There are so many great backdrops at the WM Campground and Amber and I took advantage of the setting to get some great shots of the six cousins.

That evening my group got to the nursing home first. When the kids walked into her room and she saw their shirts, Mom said "They're not cousins!" Then when Amber's kids walked in, she thought it was all so cute. There were fourteen of us and she kept counting us over and over, recalling the time years ago when her dad looked over at her mom and said, "Just look what we started!" at a gathering when we were all together. It was an amazing evening...the end of an amazing day.

Here is Mom with all of her great-grandkids.

This is a favorite of mine. At the end of the day Saturday, after so many photo shots, lying on the floor of the nursing home family room, the kids were all still smiling and cooperating...what an amazing group of kids!

Sunday was more of the same fun...

Ladder Toss competitions...

and cousin time...

and Grandpas visiting under the shade tree...

before Amber's family left to spend the night with Ross' folks on their way up to our place, 

and Greg and Jenny headed back up home.

Lovin' Life ~~ And Lazy Family Weekends