Time for Two

In July, my mother was wonderful enough to take Noah for a few days so that Dave and I could go somewhere alone together. No dogs, children or church. Unbelieveable! We decided to go to Sedona, AZ because we had heard so much about what a gorgeous place it is and its not too far - about 4 hours from Tucson. It was fabulous. We spent the time wandering around the rocks and taking in the scenery, lounging in bed in front of the tv (a real treat because we don't have a tv in the bedroom), and getting pampered with a massage. We even got to have a great Indian meal, something we do not get to do here in Tucson, especially with Noah. He is very sour on Indian food because we dragged him to Inda Oven in Logan at least twice a week. Even two years later, he still cringes at the mention of it. Dave and I savored every bite and gorged ourselves on it in Sedona. The time together was much needed, we should definitely do it again in another few years! We always say we need to do it more often, but life takes over and we don't make it to happen. Many, many thanks to my mom for forcing the issue. Parents do know best. I would highly recommend this as a destination for anyone in the area. We will be back for sure, maybe with Noah this time.

Here is some local wildlife

Up, Up and Away!

I had misplaced some pictures and just found them. Among them were these pictures of Noah and dave in a ballooning adventure this past May. They had gotten invited to help "chase" the balloons that go out every Saturday. This meant helping them get into the air and getting them put away after landing. So they got up before the crack of dawn one weekend and wnet to help. As luck would have it, someone who was going to ride did not show, so after quickly signing their lives away (leave it to a dad to allow this for his child), they got to go for a flight. Noah said he was amazed how quiet it was up in the sky. What an awesome experience! Now I wish I had agreed to go help. I am up for any exciting thrill, but the early morning scared me out of it. I guess the early birds do get the worm.

Here is Noah standing inside of the hot air balloon.

A Souvenir!

Other than the wonderful memories, a few extra pounds, and some Farmer's Market soap, we brought back another souvenir from our trip to Utah.

Eli Johnson, one of Noah's best friends, flew back with us to Tucson.It was his first time flying and he was a trooper. His visit was great - we went to the Discovery Children's Museum in Phoenix, the Saguaro National Park, Speedracer movie at the Imax and did a ton of swimming. Eli says he likes the heat, so maybe he can convice his parents to move here....

He and Noah got along wonderfully and we will definitley have him back again sometime.

Back to Utah

The day after I got back from Cedar City, Noah and I hopped on a plane to head back to Utha, this time to Logan. Again, I did not take very many pictures - will I never learn? However, my wonderful friend Emily Zebarth did and she has already posted them to her blog site. She's much better at this than I am. Here is her site where you can see several entries of our time in Logan - http://www.zebarth.blogspot.com/. Check out her entries titled "Rocking Rollercoasters", "Peace Train", and "Crazy Photos from Photobooth" to see some of out goings on there, or check out her whole blog - you might make a new friend.

Anyway, the time flew by so fast and I really wish we had had more of it. I feel like I did not get to spend wuality time with all the people I wanted to, ut we did get to spend some very wonderful time with several of our favorites.

We began with a three day stay at my Grandmother's in Ogden. It was so nice for Noah and I to really be able to get some one on one time with her. We went to see Indiana Jones and visited my cousin and her children. The kids had a great time together and I always appreciate how hospitable Michelle is when we come visit. She made us lunch and showed us around her amazing place in Honeyville. I am completely amazed by what she is able to handle and accomplish. She is one of those people who has 42 hours in her day while the rest of us only have 24. And she never complains. Taking care of three children, 2 house dogs, several labs they are breeding and 4 horses! Not to mention, at this time, the neighbors pets and lambs. And it's all clean! I'm not even on the ball enough to get pictures of it all. I'm so ashamed and in awe!

Once in Logan, the Sawyers were gracious enough to house us again, for the rest of the week. We love staying with them and are grateful to them for keeping us. As soon as we got there, it was like we had never left. Lauri, Andrea, and Emily put together a fun girl's night hosted at Laura's - it was like old times with all of us together again. Many thanks to Jay who took this kids to a a movie for us. I love being with these girls! We always have so much fun and I hope that no matter how old we all get or where we all end up in our lives, we will still be able to get together regularly for Girls Night.

It was definitely a trip full of favorites - friends, food and fun. Other highlights included: eating at the Indian Oven (my favorite, not Noah's), eating at Firehouse Pizza (Noah's favorite), going to the demolition derby (a Logan must), going to the Summerfest (a Logan tradition), going to the Celebration Center and Salt Lake city on the train(see Emily's blog), and having the privilege of spending the day with our friend's the Deberards on Marta's Momentous 40th birthday.

Marta is 40 and pregnant and smiling! Another amazing woman who puts me to shame.

Here are Matty and Noah comparing their height. I think Matty is slightly taller, even without hair.

We also got to spend time with Debbie and family who made us a very good dutch oven meal (again a woman who puts me to shame with her cooking and working and three kids). I'm glad I have surrounded myself with such inspiring people - now if it would just inspire me to do something! Here they are selling thier glass creations a t the weekly Farmers' Market.

We also were able the Reddigs and the Thimmes family. Although very short visits, we were thankful to have gotten to catch up a little. Again, no pictures though. Some things we did not get to do, but will next time for sure: spend more time with Debbie (I feel like we did not have adequate time), go to Charley's Ice Cream, attend VBS at First Presbyterian (which we were very sad to miss this year) and take more pictures!

Here are Noah and Sophie Zebarth saying goodbye to each other. We really miss all our friends in Logan and so look forward to seeing all of them whenever we can. And even though we wish we could all be together all the time, we were glad to be coming back to Arizona, which is beginning to fell like home finally, and our family and friends here. We hope you can all come visit sometime, and if not, we will see you next year! Can't wait!

And I call myself a scrapbooker

The following weekend after our trip to Las Vegas, my mother and I returned there - this time we flew. We met my cousin Gerri (who lives there) and my aunt Bobbie (who works there) and drove together to Cedar City, Utah where Bobbie and my uncle Keith live. Mom and I have not seen them for over a year. We had a wonderful weekend just eating and watching movies - 7 to be exact! It was so fun to be able to spend a weekend doing such lazy things. I really hope we can make this a regular thing.

The only bad part of the whole thing is that I took one single picture. How pathetic is that? I should have gotten a picture of all of us surrounded by food and growing into the couch. Here is the picture I did get however - Keith and Gerri (and Tulip and Junior). Thanks to them and Bobbie for providing us such a perfect and relaxing few days.

Viva Las Vegas - 50's style

The long awaited surprise arrived without suspicion. Dave and I put together a surprise trip for Barbara nad Charles for their 50th anniversary and on May 28th we left for Las Vegas. We surprised them in Phoenix by picking up my mom (my father was meeting us in Vegas - coming directly from a business trip). We stayed the first night in Wickenburg, AZ as a stopover to throw them off course. On May 29th, we arrived in Vegas at the beautiful Bellagio hotel and told them to be dressed and meet us out front at 4:10pm "and don't be early" (because Charles always is and he may have run into the others). This started them questioning, but still they had no idea what they were about to get into. All was running smoothly except that my mother had forgotten to pack my father's clothes which he asked her to do because he was at the aforementioned business trip. So, he had two "outfits" to wear (which were dirty) for the next 4 days.

At 4:00pm, in front of the hotel, a limosine picked up 4 other couples we had invited to come and took them to the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. Shortly after, another limo picked us (Barb, Charles, Becky, Brent, Dave and I) up and took us there also. Upon arriving, Barbara's stomach began churning and she did not look so happy. We tried to assure her that it would not be bad and all be worth it - she did not believe. After a bit of anxious waiting, we were led to the "Doo-Wop Diner" where 4 other couples - all very good friends from their past who had traveled from PA, TX, TN and AZ - entered. This shows a bit of the emotion and excitement that filled the room.

After the guests got seated, The Fonz came in and performed a vow renewal ceremony. It was just the right amount of cheesy and sappy and funny. He did an awesome job - it could not have gone better! And even though Barbara was ready to never speak to us again, she admitted afterward that it was a wonderful surprise and she would manage to forgive us somehow for putting her through it all.

We spent the rest of the weekend touring Las Vegas together. We ate at some great restaurants - Marrakesh Morrocan, Wolfgang Puck' @ MGM Grand, and Maggiano's. We also saw some great shows - Cirque du Soleil's KA and Spamalot (a spoof on Monty Python's Holy Grail). We rode the rides on top of the Stratoshpere hotel (300+ feet off the ground) and had coffee at the highest Starbuck's in the world! Dave and I watched the fountains in front of the Bellagio for hours - my favorite. And my dad did some clothes shopping. We were all sad to see it end. We want to thank all the couples for traveling so far to be a part of this joyous occasion. We really appreciate their participation - Linda and Paul McMinn, Clyde and Eliza Walls, Brent and Becky Hardcastle (notice his spiffy new clothes), Richard and Helen Kelly, Ken and Jeri Guthrie, us and the happy re-newlyweds. Can't wait to do it again 50 years from now!

Too cold?!

To celebrate the beginning of summer, we planned a trip to Phoenix with a couple other moms and kids. Originally, our plan was to go to a giant water park in Mesa, but as the day approached, the temperature was dropping. We couldn't believe that on May 24th in Arizoan, the weather was grey, cloudy and 65 degrees! But it was no damper on our fun. We instead went to a place called Castles and Coasters and rode rides, went to dinner, and the Imax theater. We had a blast! Even the hotel room was fun - here the kids are "swimming" in the giant bathtub in the room.