Another beautiful hike!

Peralta~a new favorite hike!

Jan, Kelly, Carol, Kathy and I decided to hike this week before the heat set in and while the flowers were still in bloom.  It was the most beautiful day ever and we were surrounded by desert flowers. I love these women, they make everything fun.  At the top we had a beautiful view of the other side of the valley with weaver's needle in the background.

That Tricky Rabbit

This year the Easter Bunny let the games begin with a new tradition ( a good friend of mine shared with me at quilting group called follow the string), so I told the Bunny and he had so much fun with this one. Each person had a different colored string with their name on it sitting on the table. The strings went out the front door and engaged themselves all throughout the woods, under logs, through tree tops, across streams and up and down hills. The object was to follow the string to their Easter baskets. I think the Easter Bunny had as much fun or more than the participants and Nana and I had so much fun watching it all play out. After they found their baskets then it was time to hunt for eggs.  That Tricky rabbit...hid them in the craziest places.  Nana always helps out the rabbit by putting money in the eggs which makes the hunt that much more competitive. Joslyn surprises us all with finding the grand prize egg way high in a tree.  This year she couldn't say that she isn't a good hunter because she walked away with the mother load of cash!

Easter Bunny impersonators! We had such a wonderful Easter at the cabin.  Nana always makes holidays so special with her traditions. She has every possible egg decorator and gadget, along with all sorts of contests.  She made the most amazing dinner and we enjoyed the beautiful talks that were given a conference.

The boys played war in the forest with their new guns, as you can see by their faces they took it very serious.  They love having fun with Grafton, he fits right in!

Quoting Nana, "Happy Easter, Happy Spring, Happy Happy Everything!"

Happy St. Paddy's day!

The last two years we have been on the slopes on St. Patrick's day and we have decided to let our green spirit show. It was the most perfect weather conditions!  It was so warm that we all shedded our jackets, and I skied with no gloves. As you can see the boys shedded more. It was a great day to be all together and we all had the luck of the Irish with us!

The best part was I could always spot my family on the slopes and no one got pinched!

Our traditional Shamrock shakes at McDonald's. They even taste better after a hard day of hitting the slopes.

Awwh, soaking our muscles in the hot tub!

Spring Break

Our Annual Spring Break ski/snowboarding trip was spent in the white mountains of Arizona! This was a record breaking snowfall year with a 100 ft. base of snow. I think this has to be one of my all time favorite things to do with my family. This year we went with our friends the Breinholts and stayed at their cabin and Grafton was able to come along with us. We had such a wonderful time on the slopes, enjoying their cabin, playing games, movie night in their theatre, celebrating St. Paddy's day, relaxing in the hot tub, and going out to dinner. Thanks Breinholts for spoiling us with your hospitality. They are such a fun family to hang out with.

The last day was spent snowmobiling. It truly was a highlight and a memorable day. We had all snow conditions, sun, snowfall and even a white out. I could get a little addicted to snowmobiling it was definitely an adreniline rush!

My favorite thing about living in Arizona

All in a three hour drive we went from this Beautiful Scenery...
To this Spectaculr Scene!Can you believe how diverse the Arizona terrain is! I love the desert and the mountains and being able to see them both in a few hours drive always thrills me. The desert has never been so green (with all the rainfall we have had this year) We also have broke records in the U.S. with snowfall! I Love Love Love Arizona!!!

Laurisa's Engaged

I posted my word for 2010 and had no idea that shortly after I would be experiencing one of the greatest Joys. No words can describe the joy that comes from knowing your child has found their eternal companion. We are so happy and celebrating big! We had an engagement party for Laurisa and Grafton Milne and his family! We all can see how perfect these two are for each other. Congratulations you two and we are looking forward to May 28th to celebrate with the biggest party ever!

I left my heart in San Francisco

Wade and I got away to San Francisco for a four day weekend. My buddy pass was about to expire so we had 2 weeks to plan a get-a-way. We chose San Fran because it was warm this time of the year, and I have always wanted to take my husband there ever since I went with my college roommates. I love the sights and smells of this romantic city. I took Wade to all my favorite places, Ghiradelli square, Pier 39, Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown, Union Square shopping, Alcatraz, Sausalito, Aquarium of the Bay, and a tandem bike ride across the Golden Gate. The weather was absolutely perfect for a tandem bike ride across the Golden Gate bridge. It was a strenuous up hill ride that together we made it. Both are calves were burning when we got to the top but the exhilaration and view made it all worth it.
It was so hard to leave our little romantic get-a-way. I now know why people leave their heart in San Francisco, because I left a part of mine with all the sights, smells, sounds and feelings of such a memorable city.