Just me - Dayamarie: December 2008

During my trip to Arizona in November I made my friend Cassandra drive me by my old house on Spur. It looks so different now. This house has been through many changes over the years. I remember it started out brown. Then Dad let Mom pick out the house color and it turned pink. He was such a good sport about it at least for a few years. I remember telling friends how to get to my house by saying, "It is the pink two story house you can see from Broadway". That did it every time. Finally Dad had enough and had siding put on the house. It was white with sea foam green trim. Since we have moved a new porch has been added, the garage has stone work and the front is painted a green I would not have chosen. To each his own. It did bring back lots of memories but Spur will never quite be the same as it was back when I was young. I think all of the old Spur dwellers would agree!

In November I took my annual trip to Arizona. I had such a good time. I was able to relax, see new sites, visit with friends and eat good food. It was really hard to come home. The weather was beautiful.

Here are some of the things I did:

1. Visited with Cassandra - I was finally able to visit Cassandra and family at their newest house. Cassandra, her husband Mike and I were able to do a session at the Mesa temple. Then we went to Cassandra's house and she made the best Lasagna. My mouth is still watering. I really enjoyed catching up with Cassandra and playing with her kids. I was a little attached to the youngest before I left.

2. Visited Vanessa - I met Vanessa and her family at the Veterans' Day parade. Jen and her kids came too. Afterwards Vanessa and I snuck away and had lunch at Rancho de Tia Rosas. I had been looking forward to good Mexican food for awhile. I wasn't disappointed. Vanessa and I shared a cheese crisp. MMM...Utah doesn't know what cheese crisps are. Then Vanessa and her son Ryan and I went to see Madagascar 2. I thought it was better then the first one.

3. Visited Jen - My cousin Jen and I have been best friends since I was 3 months old (she is older). I wish that we didn't live so far apart. Jen and I stay up all night talking (okay, until she crashes), do scrapbook projects and go out and about. She understands me so well. I am so thankful she and her family let me stay with them. With 3 kids, 2 birds and 4 Yorkies, Jen and HP already have a pretty full house.

4. Went to the Veterans' Day Parade

Luke and I. He is growing up so very fast.

Jen and I enjoying the parade.

Jen and Sophie.

Here is my elementary school Longfellow.

My high school Mesa High.

4. Went to the Zoo - It has been years since I have been to the Phoenix Zoo. Jen and I took Luke, Brayden and Sophie. We strapped Sophie in the wagon so she couldn't escape and then let the boys walk around. My favorite animals were the sting rays (we got to pet them) and the wallabies. We let the kids walk around the petting zoo to pet the goats. Sophie thought it was quite entertaining to poke and kick the goats. Jen and I had to watch closely.

Jen and Sophie at the petting zoo.

Luke and Brayden petting the sting rays.

5. Went to Sedona - In all the years I had lived in Arizona I don't remember going to Sedona although I may have when I was really little. Sedona is such a gorgeous place. The weather was so nice. The sun was beating down on me yet the cool breeze kept me from getting hot. We walked around the shops, ate outside at a cafe, drove up the canyon and took a trolley ride.