Guess who's coming to dinner?

Grandpa Mark is flying in Thursday afternoon. Megan and Andy decided to give me a wonderful Mother's Day present by getting him a ticket out here Thursday night through Monday morning. I am so very much looking forward to seeing him and giving him a huge hug! I am assuming he is also excited about this present. :-) We have not been together since March 31 so it has been a long separation. Every time I do get lonely for him I think about all the young wives and children whose husbands and dads are in Iraq for months, even years. It pretty much puts it into perspective. But, I can still miss him!

It is nice and warm out here. Near 100 again today but it doesn't compare to the discomfort that temp would bring in Iowa. It is not bad here at all. Now, when it gets to 115, THAT will be a different tune. :-)

Pics of a happy Drew on a Monday morning. He seemed happier on a Monday than his mom and dad going off to work after the week-end!! Cheers, Marla

A hike, a football game and a prime rib dinner

Now doesn't it sound like I had a delightful day from that title? In fact, I did. The morning started out with a 5 mile hike with an organized hiking group and it was just great. We hiked though some of the most beautiful and rugged terrain I have seen out here to date. It was really warm today so was glad the hike began at 8:30. By 10:30 it was already 96 degrees and we still had about another hour to hike. One gal became over heated and they had to truck her out before she could finish. Sharon and I did not get that hot and we finished the hike with no problems.

Following our hike we went to Sharon and Arne's grandson's little league football game. Taylor and his Outlaws were going on their third season of being undefeated! Today's game ended in a 12-12 tie. They are STILL undefeated, just have a tie to tag on after the won-loss record. :-) The game was delayed by one of Arizona's famous dust devils followed by rain. My white shorts were anything but that following this game.

After the game, Arne took us out to dinner at his favorite hangout, the Scottsdale Health Care Facility cafeteria. I have never eaten dinner on a Saturday night in a hospital cafeteria "on purpose" but then decided it was a great place for us three geriatrics to dine!! Actually, Arne is a caring clown there every week for the patients and he wanted to give us a tour of their beautiful medical center. The prime rib was really very, very good and the tour was likewise. Thanks Arne!!

The pics with this post show the hike today. The really big saguaro is supposed to be the biggest in Arizona with an estimated 30 "arms". It is way over 200 years old. One picture has me standing beside it to give perspective to the cactus' size. The other pics are thrown in for grandpa of Drew.

She just "looks" dead.......

Sox the dog was totally pooped out after our walk late this morning. It is getting warmer in the desert but not that bad yet so she was fine. I think I will keep pushing our walks earlier and earlier in the morning. Sox and grandma need it a little earlier. Grandson Drew, in his shaded and high tech stroller, is doing just great. He starts snoozing within about one fast paced block. It is so wonderful taking the dog and Drew for a walk.....it is my favorite hour of the day. Fresh air and beautiful scenery. What more can one ask for?

My friend's son who was injured in Iraq is making what sounds like great progress. My heart goes out to the family. I cannot imagine going through this nightmare. Just horrible. If someone from Ogden would send me a pic of all the yellow ribbons around that town I would greatly appreciate it!!

Megan and Andy are at a Diamondback baseball game tonight. Megan gets tickets and I think they really enjoy the great seats and the night out. They took Mark and I to a game last summer. It was great fun but it was the one night in the desert that it rained...and rained profusely! I have never seen it rain like that in Iowa. We were drenched beyond belief and had to look for alternate "unflooded" routes home!

If I don't get back tomorrow, everyone please have a great week-end! Marla

Computer woes

My Mac laptap shucked out it's hard drive over the week-end. This will be the third drive this computer will have as I just put a new drive in last fall. Fortunately, that drive is still under warranty. Unfortunately, I must send the laptop to Heartland Tech Solutions in Ames for the warranty work. I am looking at 10 days to two weeks without a laptop. Yes, I can always use Megan and Andy's as I am doing now, but it is a PC and everyone knows what heartache that brings to a true Mac lover like myself. :-)

I was just recovering from all the sadness of the VT murders and then I get word that my friend and former co-worker's son was critically wounded in Iraq. He is in Bethesda now and dad and brother are there with him. Keep this family in your thoughts and/or prayers, as they need it.

I am beginning my third week of being a nanny to grandson Drew. I am enjoying each and every mintute with him! He still sleeps a couple of hours in the a.m. and afternoon so during those times I try to help the kids out with some housecleaning, laundry and having dinner started for them when they get home. I am thinking I wouldn't have minded something similar when I was their age!! But, I am not a "sitter" and need to be doing something especially if my ritalin hasn't kicked in. :-) Here are some recent snaps of Drew, mommy, etc.

A big pair of hooters.....

Now that I have your attention, just wanted to show you pictures of two big owls that have made a nest in a saguaro cactus at Terravita where Sharon and Arnie live. If you look closely you can see them in the middle on the flat "shelf" of one of the arms. Sharon said they have become quite the tourist attraction, with cars stopping and looking, photographing, etc. We caught them on a walk through the development last week-end.

I have been watching the horrific news from Virginia Tech. So very, very hard to understand how someone could snap that severely. Terribly sad and tragic.

Mark tells me that the Iowa weather has finally turned for the better!! About time, right Iowans? I am hoping all the farmers can now finally prepare to plant their crops and get the growing season underway. The faster Mark gets it in the ground, I figure the faster and earlier he takes it out in the fall and then can join me in AZ for the winter. :-) It appears a selfish reason, and it is!!

Of course, besides the hooters I will throw in a few pics of you know who.....
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More pictures for Grandpa

Mark and I were talking on the phone and he told me how much he enjoys seeing pictures of Drew on my blog and he said to "keep putting them on." I am going to do just that for grandpa!

I am spending the week-end at sister Sharon's so Megan and Andy can have some time without their mother/mother-in-law always hanging about. Their townhouse lease is up the end of June and then I can move into that and give them some space on a daily basis!

The weather has been cool, in the 70's. Next week it is supposed to be in the upper 80's so that will feel quite nice. Mark said the weather in central Iowa has been basically pretty awful. Not conducive to spring planting preparations. :-( It is time that Iowa starts getting some decent weather! Wish I could send you some of AZ's sunshine.

Megan and I just finished hiking Pinnacle Peak. I couldn't believe how busy the trail was today. Must be the pleasant temps that sent everyone out for some fresh air and exercise. Tomorrow morning after Sharon returns from church we are hiking Black Mountain.

I want to wish brother Larry a very happy birthday today. Here's hoping you have a great many more!

Well, it's Saturday so that means I must go explore some new, unique shops in Cave Creek and Carefree. Have a grand week-end!!
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Home schooled :-)

Drew is watching a baby einstein DVD after his morning bottle. There are some that say these DVD's may not be good as it lets infants start watching TV too young. I agree, but at 3 months there is not a lot he can do and he really seems to enjoy them and kicks and flails his arm so I figure he is getting a little education and a lot of exercise. It has to be better than "Grand Theft Auto" video game. :-) When he tires of his "education" today it will be time for recess, our morning walk with the dog. Sox likes recess the best. Actually, so does granny nanny....
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A walk in the park

Sox and I take Drew for a walk every morning. Megan and Andy of course have a regular stroller but they also have a jogging stroller and it is wonderful for long walks and traveling over different terrain. I cannot really "jog" with him until he is at least 6 months old so we only go for brisk walks, no running for another 3 months. :-)

The pictures show what the jogging stroller look like and also Drew's shirt in honor of his father today. There is a grandma shirt and it is going on Drew very soon!
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Mommy's back at work!!

Megan started back today for the first full day since she had Drew on January15th. I think it was a little hard for her to leave him, but hopefully it helped that I was here with Drew and she didn't have to haul him off to some day care center with lots of kids. He and I got along just grand today. I dressed him in this special blue shirt and took a picture and sent to his mommy. She enjoyed receiving that, as I bought this a few days ago and he hadn't worn it yet. A few other pictures are included and also two of Drew after he discovered what great fun it was to suck on two of his newly found fingers! Every day will be a learning experience for Drew and I look forward to watching him discover his new world!!
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Desert in bloom.....

I went for a hike yesterday by myself up Black Mountain and took more time actually looking around and taking pictures of the desert in bloom rather than just hunkering down and sucking wind as I climbed the trail! It really is beautiful out here this time of year but not certain that my pictures give it justice.






Today I am at Megan and Andy's home on my first day of officially babysitting Drew. Megan went to work for a 1/2 day today through Thursday and then officially goes back full time next Monday, the 9th. He is sleeping right now so thought it a good time to update my blog.

The pictures are from my hike and two pictures are from this morning when I got Drew up to feed him. He slept all through the night, but has been doing that for awhile now. That makes mom and dad especially happy....