Saturday, January 28, 2012

A little bit of everything

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:
 
Kayley ready to ride Matt's gift to them, a John Deere Gator

Drew on last year's gift from Uncle Matt!

Drew loves writing numbers...this is getting a little out of his range but he did great.

Proud Grandpa and Kayley

Two buddies

Grandma and her two favorite kids

And they're off!

Mark is going to apply for a job here so he can keep up his tractor skills during the winter...

This track is in a beautiful setting in north central Phoenix

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Happy 5th Birthday to Drew!

Drew turned 5 on January 15th, 2012.  Mark and I flew to Peoria on Friday night to help him celebrate and are staying until this Friday, the 20th.  We had a family party for him on Saturday.  Matt and Grandpa Butch also drove over for the week-end celebration.  Drew received lots of toys and Mommy bought a delicious ice cream cake from Dairy Queen all decked out in a Cars theme with Lightning McQueen and Mater.  I think the birthday boy thoroughly enjoyed his day!  That evening we dined at Drew's favorite pizza place in Dunlap.

We are spending our days here playing with Drew and Kayley and getting used to cold temperatures and snow once again.  I miss these grandchildren terribly when we are in Arizona but I don't miss this god awful weather!  :-)  I am spoiled rotten now and can hardly function if I am not in flip flops,sandals or hiking boots.  The kids love it, though, and spent time outside with Andy making a snowman, snow angels and sliding down the hill.  We watched from the warmth of the window!

Some videos and pics of our time here and Drew's birthday:
 

Drew checking out his ice cream cake

Kayley getting ready to dig in!

Drew getting served first.

Daddy set up his construction site

Kayley enjoying Drew's tool kit...real tools.  Yikes!

One more sweet thing.

Kayley and Uncle Matt

Drew with Uncle Matt

Kayley and Grandma