Lunch to do, places to go, people to see!

It's no secret we are a family that loves food.  What could be more fitting than lunch together, often.  It's also no secret we love it when Papa can come along.  We get to visit, the kids get to harass him and give kisses (when they will).  Two lunches this week - Red Robin with Tawna, Chance, Taya, Lauren and Granny; then Matta's the next day with Tracy, Duke, and Sherry.  If we play our cards right, naptime follows lunch, and I don't mean just for the little ones!  I wish I had a tenth of their energy.  Lunch is the best!

By the way, I had a Sasparilla, I don't know what Tracy had…Duke looks concerned.

Happy Birthday to Carsen!

Carsen turned the big “3”.  First it was dinner at Oregano's in Gilbert.  They gave the kids a lump of pizza dough on an 8"pizza pan and let them create whatever. Dinner was good, but dessert was their favorite: a deep dish chocolate chip pizza a la mode.  Then the actual cake and ice cream night complete with Carsen's request for a dirt bike cake.  Between Richard and Stacie, it turned out just right.  Presents are always a hit, even Chance was happy to play with a dirt bike off the cake.  Of course he had to lick it clean (?).  

The absolute coolest thing of all (just ask the kids) was the mini “Rhino” that looks just like Dad's big one!  I hope he learns to steer soon.  Meanwhile we stay out of his way.

I love the happy chaos of family having fun.  I know its not possible for everyone to be at everything, but people come to what they can.  The playing together and celebrations are the glue we need to stick together.  I know serving one another is important too, but the fun times are …well, fun!  

Pics from the Trip!

Honey, sometimes you just plain scare me!  Grumpy doing the jump and learning how to land.  He has so much fun.  I am just fine with all four wheels on the sand.  I jumped once last year, not on purpose.  It was enough.

Tawna watching the jumpers!

Stacie and Jade about to go over the edge!

Here they come, cameras are ready.  This was an especially good wall for jumping over.  No wonder everyone is sore!  Nathan, Aaron and R.B. on the dirt bikes.  Stacie and Tawna clicking!

 

Dunes, The Grown Up Trip?

Well, we try to plan a grown up dune trip once a year, usually around Stacie's birthday.  This was our annual trip this year…after I messed up my camera disk and only got a very few pictures.  I'm really having some kind of electronic melt down this year!  I hope I get better - I'm gonna get a complex if this keeps up.

We arrived at different times, but were eventually all there by Friday nite.  We rode around a lot on Friday, did a ride all together and had a great time.  The wind was so bad that nite that we didn't sit around the campfire much.  Too bad - that is one of my favorite parts about the dunes.   Woke up to a beautiful, sunfilled day.  Not too warm, just right.  We rode all over the place.  Everyone rode and we all had so much fun, I wish we could go more often.  We went to Yuma for dinner on Saturday nite for Stacie's birthday.  All I can say about that is I always apologize to the waiter in advance and say, “can you imagine what we would be like if we drank?”  We are a crazy bunch.  Jeff, Jade and Nathan in this first pic.

Tag, I'm It!

Okay Taya, I'll bite on the tag, here goes:

What is his name? Richard AKA Honey, Grumpy

How long have you been married?  It will be 35 years in December.  

How long did you date?  5 years, but I have known him since 5th grade.

Who eats more sweets?  This used to be a no-brainer, but I think he has grown a sweet tooth in the last couple of years.  I probably still have him beat though!

Who said “I love you first?”  He did.  He has always been more romantic than me.  I love that about him. 

Who is taller?  He is.  That was one of my dating requirements.  Had to be at least 6' tall; he is 6'1".

Who can sing better?  I don't know about better.  I think we both have nice voices, and sing well together.

Who is smarter?  He is definitely smarter.  I don't know which side of the brain does what, but he is smarter and I am creative.  Together we get it done.

Who does the laundry?  I do most of the time, although he is happy to help.  

Who cooks dinner?  We both do.  We like to cook, and love to spend time in the kitchen together.  More opportunity to kiss now and then!

Who pays the bills?  He does.  I just make them.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed?  He does.  We traded a few months ago. 

Who mows the lawn?  He does, and tells me he actually likes to.  That's fine with me.

Who drives more?  He does, no contest.  And when he's not driving, he's flying.  254 days last year.  More miles for us!

Who is more stubborn?  I think I am most of the time, but he does have his moments.

Who kissed who first?  He kissed me, finally.  I was beginning to think it was never gonna happen, but it finally did.  It was worth the wait!

Who asked who out first?  He asked me out, but I used every ploy available to me to get him to. He just couldn't take a hint.

Who proposed?  He did.  That is a story in itself.

Who has more siblings?  I do.  

I tag Tracy, Jacque and Sydney.  Enquiring minds want to know…

As You Wish…

For Christmas 2007 we decided to give something that would make a memory with our grandchildren.  We came up with customized dinner plates.  The idea being that those at least 5 years old could go to the As You Wish pottery painting place and make their own plate.  We would then figure out a way to display the plates and when the kids are over for dinner, would have their own special plate for their place setting.  I'm sure judging from the confused looks upon opening their gift on Christmas, they were not quite getting the full picture.  I decided I better go and learn a little bit about pottery painting, so Jordyn and I went last night to check it out.  We had lots of fun.  She is so wonderfully creative.  I can't wait to see the fired pieces when they are done.  It was great to spend the time together and have something to remember it with.  The real upside for me is not only the time together, but I get to enjoy the dinner plates (for awhile anyway) with their precious artwork.  I suppose they will eventually inherit them, but for now it's a win, win for all concerned.  I can't wait to take a few more kids in to paint - As You Wish will never be the same.

This is me being frustrated.  I took this picture of me complete with bad hair day, when I locked my keys and cell phone in my truck.  You would think that after that episode I would have made an effort to write down phone numbers, maybe even commit a few to memory.  But NO, not me.  I must need more grief to finally get it.  In January my computer suffered a quick and painful (only to me) death.  I thought everything was backed up, but lo and behold - not the address book in my email program.  Now all the emails, phone numbers, birthdays, anniversaries, businesses, etc. are entombed in the hard drive.  I don't know about the possibility of resurrection there, but I am praying.  The third and I hope the final electronic blow came yesterday when I went to plug my cell phone in to charge.  Nothing happened.  No little beep that it was charging.  No little flashing battery in the corner.  No amount of jiggling the cord, repositioning the phone, or cursing would breathe life back into the dead cell.  I jumped in the truck and rushed it right to the cell phone store.  Even they, with their expertise could not get any vital signs.  What is it about things with circuits that makes you want to stomp on them, or even better, run over them with your car.  (It also has circuits now).  New phone.  No saved numbers.  There is a lot to be said for good old fashioned hard copy.  Of course you have to remember where you put the hard copy.  Please feel free to call me so I can once again get your numbers into memory.  Please, email me with your addresses.  I will even try to write them down this time.

Slow Learner…

I still can't quite believe it…

Yes, it's true.  Richard's long time dream of having his own plane is finally realized!  He just can't wipe the silly grin off his face - the perfect Valentine for him was a red and white Cardinal.  Of course the trip to pick it up with R.B. was memorable, and they had a great time airport hopping home.  He has already taken Papa Harmon to Bullhead City and is planning more trips for the near future.  Just like a kid in a candy store…he just can't get enough! 

So Many Classes…so little time!

Another week coming up filled with opportunities for more knowledge.  I am having so much fun learning new stuff, remembering old stuff (I must have forgotten) and talking about all the stuff to anyone who will listen!  I have also been sewing PJ bottoms for all the grandkids, except Kaitlin and Daron who are in Texas.  They will get their new PJs at spring break when they are here to visit.  It was so fun to sew them, and give them (mostly on Valentine's day) so they could all be cuddley and warm for the bout of cold weather we just had.  Jade and Jeff's boys are all partial to John Deere.  We had Cheetah Girls, motorcycles, Sponge Bob, Winged Electric Guitars with Skulls, Hearts and Pixar “Cars”.  PJ's are fun.

We have OCD's for a reason!

You know the OCD's we all have that keep us on track - you only put your purse in one of two places so you can always find it; everything in it's place so you know where to look for it (in a perfect world of course); the habits that we all have that when we deviate it feels strange and ends badly.  It happened on Tuesday.  I did things all wrong.  I don't know why, I must have had some kind of mental breakdown.  The day started out pretty well, I was doing errands and feeling good about actually accomplishing something when things went horribly awry.  I went to SanTan Village to go to the Apple store and plead insanity because I had lost the CD to one of the programs I bought.  I'm explaining to the nice young man that I had looked everywhere for the disk and simply could not find it.  He smiled (I like to think kindly) and said there was no disk for that particular program.  It was an on-line registration only.  The relief I felt for not losing something was overshadowed by the feeling of total foolishness.  I apologized for being such an airhead and thanked him for being so nice.  I then left the store and called my sister Tracy to tell her I hadn't lost the disk - and the rest of the humiliating story.  She said, “well as long as you are there, go in and get your fonts program”.  My phone was dying, so I put it on the car charger.  I got out of my car and went back in to the Apple store.  A little humiliation wasn't going to keep me from accomplishing another thing on my list of to do's.  About 3 steps away from my car and I realized I didn't have my keys.  You know, the keys I ALWAYS put in my purse, or my pants pocket.  OOOOPs!  Oh yeah, I don't have my phone either!  So there I am standing on the sidewalk with no keys, no phone and wondering who to call when I find somewhere to call from.  I am sorry to admit that with phone books in our phones, I really don't know very many numbers.  I do know my daughter-in-law Stacie's phone number, and since she lives next door to me, she was the best shot at getting some keys to me to open the door.  I figured if I couldn't get keys I would call one of my sons in the glass business and ask them which window to break.  So now I go back into the Apple store to see if I can use a phone.  They are more than helpful, and lead me to an iphone.  I guess humiliation is just on the docket for the day, because they have to do everything for me because iphones are not your average everyday cell phone.  (and we all know I am device challenged) I finally get Stacie on the phone and we work out a plan.  Thanks Stacie - now all I have to do is wait.  I have now locked myself out of my vehicle twice in my life.  I hope there is never a third time.  But I have learned to never say never!!   

Okay, I'm not great yet, but I am learning - Hey, at least I got the pictures to post!  February is going to be interesting.  Classes to take, things to make, people to see, house to sell (we hope) and most importantly memories to create.  The memories we make are by far the most valuable thing we do.  Got a new Bernina sewing machine today, so yes, there will be classes.  I once thought I could do anything I put my mind to (a mantra well ingrained by my loving parents), so we will see if it holds true for new sewing machines.  Add that to an upgraded computer and the classes just never stop!  And oh yes, there's the cooking classes that will help me build a year's supply, know how to use it, save money at the grocery store and make me a better chef all at the same time.  Did I mention the many projects I fully expect to start and finish this year?  I always did bite off a lot to chew.  I may be yelling HELP to anyone that will, so beware of phone calls at odd hours of the day or night.

Papa Kanaga

Glad Papa is getting around so well.  We had lunch and then spent some time taking flowers to Nana for their 56th Wedding Anniversary yesterday.  If you haven't seen the headstone - it is beautiful.  

Staying on track…

It always amazes me how many times the kids go around the track and never seem to get tired of it. Just the the energizer bunny!

The Talerico kids at the Sand Dunes.