It has been a little over a week since we returned from Peoria, but it seems like months! I guess I will never get over missing our grandchildren until they are too old to care if we see them or not! I doubt that will even help me!
We were welcomed back to Arizona with picture perfect weather. It has been non-stop beautiful, making it great for hiking, walks around the neighborhood for Mark, and yard work, etc. I just wish this weather were everywhere so no one has to suffer bitter cold.
Yesterday Mark and I went to Turf Paradise, a horse track just several streets from our home. I had purchased a VIP package on Living Social for half price which got us into the Turf Club, bottle of wine, dinner for two and $5 to spend in the gift shop. (I bought a Turf shot glass). It would have cost $70 for this total package but I paid only $30. Well worth it as we had a blast. We had a gorgeous view from our table and we placed bets on every race without having a clue to what we were doing. :-) I won a couple of races but Mark was the big winner! $51.80 on a $2 Box Quinella bet. That more than covered our expenses. We are always happy to leave a gambling establishment with their money in our pockets rather than vice versa. :-)
This morning I met 7 gals at Cave Creek Park for a hike on a new trail just recently finished. I have usually hiked the Go John Trail here but this new hike was very beautiful, but shorter. It is called the Quartz Trail as it went by...quartz rock. :-) I enjoyed it! The hike was followed by brunch at Venues Cafe in Carefree. Delicious but we decided that the GPS monitors rated us as not hiking far enough for the calories consumed. :-) It was a very fun morning. (Sharon, we missed you and they all asked how you are doing. The hikers were Betsy L., Marilyn, Edie, Sharon R., Mary Anne, Jane and Carol.)
This week is the Phoenix Open. I would like to go two days but we are going to go Thursday for sure. Megan always had some pull to get us free tickets when she worked here so guess we will have to pay this year!
Well, that catches us up since our return from the birthday bash. Still had some videos to edit from Peoria so will include those along with some more pictures.
Shawn Johnson, eat your heart out:
Misc. shots:
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| Kayley ready to ride Matt's gift to them, a John Deere Gator |
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| Drew on last year's gift from Uncle Matt! |
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| Drew loves writing numbers...this is getting a little out of his range but he did great. |
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| Proud Grandpa and Kayley |
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| Two buddies |
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| Grandma and her two favorite kids |
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| And they're off! |
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| Mark is going to apply for a job here so he can keep up his tractor skills during the winter... |
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| This track is in a beautiful setting in north central Phoenix |
