My Favorite Dog at Dogtoberfest

Cutest Dog at Dogtoberfest

Downtown Prescott where sleeping dogs lie

Sixty Degrees In Prescott!

Dad and I planned all week to go to Prescott on Saturday and maybe even stay the night if we could find a hotel that was affordable. That's about as spontaneous as we get these days. Any-way we went, we stayed, we came home!

It was great fun! Mostly just nice to have some alone time with dad. The drive there was so nice. I LOVE Arizona.......unlike my older boys! I think Arizona is beautiful. I love the landscape, the mountains, the sunsets.......I love it all. I also love Ontario.......but right now we're talking Arizona!

It's neat watching the landscape change from desert to high desert. And every half hour or so I like to roll the window down and check the weather outside. It's so much cooling in Prescott than Phoenix. And the closer we got the more cloud cover there was.

At one point, dad and I were sitting on a bench on the cornor in Prescott and within 15 minutes the temperature went from 78 degrees to 66 degrees. We even sat in the rain for a couple of minutes.......more of a hard sprinkle than a rain, but it was fun. The clouds turned black, there was a bit of thunder (or as I like to call it, Funder), it rained a bit, and the temp dropped!

Anyway, we walked downtown Prescott for a couple of hours and enjoyed being outside in the nice weather. Dad even bought himself a hat! How unlike him, eh? Our day was fun, relaxed, and very enjoyable. We even went shopping at Target! My kind of day!

When we got up on Sunday morning, it was much warmer than the day before. We went to "Dogtoberfest". That was really cute. Dogs all over the place.

Sam stayed home on his own and had a good time also. We got home in time to take him to church. Then I called Sarah and her and I were on the phone ALL evening! Over four hours talking, sharing photos, and playing pool on the computer. It was great fun. By the end, poor Sarah just wanted to hang up, shower, and go to bed. But Sam, who was now home from church, convinced her to play one game of pool with him so he could beat her (I couldn't). Long story short, SHE WON!

Cheri called last night and told us that Jim had a heart attack yesterday afternoon. I think he's ok now but keep him in your prayers.

Now it's Monday morning, dad and Sam have gone to work, and my day is also beginning. I'm looking forward to a great day! Love you all.

Happy Birthday, Heather

We had a really fun and nice day today. Heather's family threw her a surprise birthday party this afternoon. It was fun being around her family and seeing some of her friends that I know. Her parents are great and they always make me feel so good. And I love her kids. It's wierd to think that when we first met, Griffin was just a newborn baby! Now look at him! Her daughters are more beautiful every time I see them. I can't believe that Meghan is getting married in just three weeks...how freaky is that? They are all great kids and it was fun being with them. I seemed to be the only one with a camera so I made sure that I got a picture of Heather with all seven of her kids. It was a great time. Heather and I have been through so much together.....

the best of the best and the worst of the worst. I'm so thankful for her friendship.

Dad's New Towels

I've been trying to download this pictures for three days now...hope it works this time or I may just call it quits!

And The Winner Is....VALERIE!!!

Congratulations, Valerie! You have just won a fun filled day with mom! I know you're busy and probably don't have the time so.......instead, you get to pick what I serve for dinner on your birthday! It's on a Sunday this year, so it works out perfectly. Let me know what kind of cake you want too. Sorry Theresa, you'll have to have what Val's having. Next time be the first to answer the quiz question if you want to pick! So, this is an open invitation to all the kids, dinner at my house on Oct. 19th to celebrate birthdays for Theresa, Nathan, and Val.

The New Bedspread

OoooAhaaa, Target, my favorite!

I went out this afternoon to Target. All I needed was a "ring" for the quiet book I'm making for Lolly. Of course, I can't go, get just what I need, and leave. Target isn't just a store, it's an experience! Especially when they have lots of new mark-downs! So, as usual, I walked the circuit! What fun. Backpacks are 75% off...let me tell you, it's hard to walk past and not buy one when the price is SCREAMING at me! But I did...not without first texting Theresa and Valerie to ask if they needed one (birthdays are coming up and "clearance" stuff is always a big hit!). At least for the credit card! Oh, no! I should have texted Nathan too as his birthday is also on the horizon! Nathan, if you're reading this, let me know!

Ok, pay attention, there's going to be a quiz at the end of this post...

Also, all their linens and bathroom stuff was on sale. So, I bought us a new bedspread. First off the old one is getting ratting...really...the stuffing is coming out! Also, I'm tired of it. It's been around for over five or six years now! BORING! Our bed needed a facelift! Naturally, I've been keeping my eyes on the look-out for a while now. Well, you guessed it, today was the day! Unfortunately, the selection was pitiful at best. Two colors to choose from. BUT, I found a fairly nice, much needed bedspread. Regular price, $49.99. My price, for being at the right place, at the right time, $12.48! That's right, boys and girls...$12.48! You heard me correctly, I said $12.48! Let me say again, also, I LOVE TARGET!!!


At first I debated because the color wasn't exactly what I had in mind. But the price was right. And I figured for $12.48, I couldn't go to wrong. Well, I got it home, put it on our bed, and I think I really like it...now I just have to make sure dad likes it. Not that he really has an opinion on this sort of stuff, but it's always nicer if he likes it also. I'm sure when he finds out it only cost me $12.48 he'll LOVE it!

I'm also posting pictures of a couple of towels I've made dad in the last little while. Mind you, they weren't as expensive as the $12.48 I paid for the bedspread! I found these at Walmart for $2.00 each. Dang, I'm good! No wonder dad keeps me around!

Ok, quiz time. How much did I pay for our new bedspread? The first one to comment back on this blog with the correct answer, wins! This is NOT an open blog question so you'll be on the honor system!

UPDATE: Pictures not downloading right now for whatever reason so I'll post them later.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JON

Just a quick happy birthday greeting going out to Jon! When we talked to him he and Sarah were eating Mexican food...his favorite! He did manage to get Sarah to a real restaurant as Sarah would have taken him to Taco Bell! She's her daddy daughter! Actually, Barron is always really sweet at taking me somewhere nice for my b-day.

I was looking at different blogs today and came across a very neat quote. I wrote it down so I could blog it! This is to my family...

If I know what love is, it's because of you.

I love you all! Happy Birthday, Jon.

Remembering

Until an hour ago, I hadn't realized that today is 9/11. I happened to turn the TV on and I'm watching the History channel..."The Day The Towers Fell". I've seen it several times and it never ceases to amaze me how those images put me right back to that day. I remember thinking how surreal it all was. How could this be happening in the U.S.?

That morning Barron and I were still in bed. Val and Sam were getting ready for school. The phone rang and I answered it. Sarah, who was living in New York, called to tell us that a plane had just crashed into one of the Twin Towers. It was a short conversation as we immediately turned the television on. I don't think we had it on more than five minutes when we saw the second plane hit the second tower. It was so hard to digest what was going on. Suddenly there was talk about it being a terrorist attack and no one knew if or when another plane would target another place. We debated about having the kids go to school. I don't remember how we came to the conclusion to let them go, I just remember that they went. I don't remember the time frame but then the Pentagon was hit. Then the first tower fell and I remember thinking that if the first one fell, the second one was going to fall as well.

I was glued to the TV for the next month or more. I must have watched that plane hit the second tower a hundred times. It was so unbelievable. The news reports were bleak at best. The hospitals were expecting hundreds of patients and they waited and waited and waited. The hospitals never got the flood of patients they expected...there were few survivors. That night I heard a report that there were children who hadn't been picked up from daycare.

I hate remembering that day. It's so sad. Our country changed. I hate to admit it but that day I learned not to trust anyone who looked like a Muslim. Even when we went to Vegas a few weeks ago, I noticed that there were several young guys that looked like they were Muslims waiting for the same plane as us. I got myself into such a panic! They ended up leaving and I felt better. I HATE that I think and feel that way.

Anyway, I just wanted to remember and pay tribute to all those who died or lost loved ones that day.... to firefighters and police who died trying to save others...and to the human spirit that helps us to move on. I don't know anyone who died or anyone who lost someone from 9/11 but I do feel like I mourn with those people. I think in some small way, we all lost someone that day.

I haven't really been able to capture my thoughts very well....maybe there are no words. I'm thankful for my testimony of the gospel. That testimony helps me to understand why bad things happen to good people. I do love this counrty and I'm proud to be an American!

What The.....

I've been waiting for two days for a comment on my blog....I live for comments! So I got on this morning and found this comment from Sarah (AKA "poopie").

poopie said...
FINALLY!!! Yeah photos are great, but it was getting painful waiting for a new blog from one of you guys!! I miss you!

HELLO!!!!!!

I can't believe you, Sarah, of all people would write that!! According to my records, you haven't posted in.....

4 weeks!!!

I'm not complaining.......oh, wait, YES I AM COMPLAINING!!! Post a blog every now and again or at least pick up the phone and call!!! Did I mention that I love you too? Well I do.

This blog is also intended for THERESA!! Val...good job with the blogging!

"Hail" Freezes Over In Tolleson!

"

WOW...It's been a while. How time flies. I've thought about posting many times over the past couple of weeks but I think I figure I need a picture to go along with my post...so I haven't. Not that nothing has happened because it has...just no pictures.

Yesterday, however, I got pictures! I hope they work out on this blog. Anyway, Sam and I were sitting watching a movie ("Grace Is Gone", very sad but really good) and Barron was on the computer. I noticed it had started to sprinkle a bit and by the time I informed Barron to the time he acknowleded my comment it was POURING! Then we realized that there were little pieces of hail in the rain. Then the wind started and there were these little tapping sounds on the windows...just as we figured out the hail was now large enough to make a noise when hitting the window the speed and intesity of the hail picks up. It was a bit scary because they were hitting so fast and so hard that we were worried that a window might break! The storm only lasted for about 5-6 minutes but the rain was heavy enough that it almost crossed the road in front of the house and there was enough hail that we could scoop it up in our hands...it was the size of a large pea. I've never seen hail that big so it was exciting...especially to see it here in the valley! Anyway, hope you like the pictures!