Here Comes Santa Claus

On December 6th I got up early with my sister Taunya and her two kids Stephanie and Heston. We headed to Main Street in Tooele to see if we could find Santa. Soon that quest was no longer important as candy was being thrown in the streets for all to catch.
Those two kids were so happy to have collected dozens of broken candy canes. They were having an absolute blast. How often does one let their kids run around in the middle of the street? As you look through the pictures notice the smiles of Stephanie and Heston. It is amazing how soon smiles become frowns when one's balloon falls off the wrist and floats to heaven. Wait, I think I was the one that tied the string to Heston's hand.

My Childhood Home

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!

Arizona November 2008

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.

Teapot Rock

Jen and HP

Dana and Jen...hmmm...Jen looks taller then me.

So we can be a little goofy from time to time.

I am taking a picture of...

Snoopy. He is laying on his back. Isn't he cute?

We decided to take a trolley ride to check out the scenic views of Sedona.

Jen, Sophie and HP.

Me

When I came upon this church I was amazed at how it sat in the rock. It was so beautiful.

6. Played with the Yorkies

Brayden with the littlest Yorkie Gizzie.

Bruce all dressed up and nowhere to go.

Count them...1...2...3...4

Cheese!! Chewbacca's middle name is Smiles.

Snow...snow...snow...

I would rather be outside playing in the snow then inside working. Or better yet, I would love to be sitting at home curled up on the couch reading a good book with the fire place going. The snow has been non stop today. The drive home tonight will be rather interesting. This summer I downsized from an all wheel drive Ford Explorer to a small 2 door Honda Civic. So far my little car seems to be holding her own out in this weather. These shots are not the greatest but you can get the general idea. This is the view from the back door of my office.

Happy Early 7th Birthday Stephanie!!

On Halloween night I brought Stephanie back to Sandy with me to spend the night. Since I will be in Arizona on Stephanie's birthday I decided to have a sleepover. We slept in and then went to breakfast at Ruth's diner. It is this cute little diner up the canyon. We got to sit outside under the heat lamp and had a great view of the mountains and trees. Afterwards we found Steph a new outfit and she had to pick out a new toy. She went with the Barbie Zoo Vet set. She told me to go into the other room while she played so I couldn't hear her talking to the doll. Later when I picked up my camera this is what I found. Stephanie's very own photo shoot. Oh how I love my little niece. Happy Birthday Stephanie Marie!!!

Happy 2nd Birthday Payton!!!!

After trick-or-treating we had a little birthday party for Miss Payton. It is hard to believe that Amanda brought Payton home from the hospital Halloween 2 years ago. How time flies and how fast kids grow. I love this picture of all the cousins together.

Amanda has this rule of no characters allowed on Payton's clothes except for pajamas. Taunya took that literally and provided Payton with a full set of pajamas complete with slippers of Spongebob. I think she looks so cute here. She loves her strawberry milk or as she likes to call it "strawberry cake". Since she loves strawberries so much I got her a strawberry ice cream Dora cake. MMM...it was yummy.
Here is Payton still in her PJ's but with her Dora mermaid play dress over the top. What a sight.

Grandma and Payton playing together.
I love the party hat over the wig.

Amy, my dog, had to be in the center of it all to make sure she wasn't missing out on anything. She looks so cute curled up on Taunya's lap. She is waiting for someone, most likely Patyon, to drop cake on the floor.

I love, love, love this picture. Patyon loves her mommy and you can tell.

Here is Papa and his little girl. They really do love each other and are great buddies. Happy birthday Payton Jade!!!!