Sunday, November 22, 2009

Grandbabies!

Chris and I had the chance to spend the afternoon
with our oldest grandchildren. We went to the
Extreme Playground or the "bouncy place" as
the kids call it. It is indoor and has large bouncy
toys and they love it - it is our second time with
them. We spent several hours there and then
to Costco for rides on the cart while Grammi
shopped and a great dinner! Loads of fun!

Kaitlyn at the top of the big slide


Love these babies!



Papa giving rides at Costco!


Is there a better dinner than Costco food court?

Colby's Soccer game

We had a momentous occasion! It was the first
organized sporting event of a grandchild!
Colby is playing soccer and we got to attend a
game! He was SO cute! They all just run
around the field in a huddle and try to kick
the ball. Hilarious! Chris's old coaching skills
surfaced and he was able to give Bryan a few
pointers. Chris as an amazing coach!
Colby did so well that he got the game ball
afterwards for listening and working hard!
We were so proud!

Colby in action


Proud Grandparents

Dad helps coach


Run Colby Run!


Game Ball!

Phantom of the Opera


After the show


We got goodies on Mill Avenue


Me and my sweetheart!


I found a former Dairy Fairy working at Phantom!


Before the show - Tim was running late
We were all able to attend the "Phantom of the
Opera" at Grady Gammage Aud on the campus
of ASU in November. We had "nosebleed"
seats in the balcony but most of us still had a good
time. This certainly was not Chris's favorite
broadway production! We have seen Wicked and
Mary Poppins in the past few months and he
enjoyed those much more! But it was great to
be with the boys and their beautiful wives!



Sunday, October 18, 2009

Ellie & Bucky










We had my neice Lynsi and her husband Joey
over for dinner last Sunday. They have a new
little angel Ellie Jo and we had a great time
having them over. Bucky was quite interested
in her and her carrier. He was really quite
gentle with her. We love family!


Balloon Festival


Headed out for the adventure


Getting inflated


Some up - some trying!


The sheer numbers!


A few weeks ago Chris and I decided to take a
trip to Albuquerque New Mexico for the balloon
festival. We like to try to find something to do
on his days off so this time Chris was filing a flight
plan and saw something regarding the balloon
festival that would be affecting the air space
around Albuquerque. I started researching it
online and we decided to go. It was AMAZING!
We have lived this close all these years and have
never been! I can't believe it! It was seriously
one of the coolest things I have ever been too!
There were over 550 balloons and 75,000 people.
You walk right around the balloons while they are
inflating and really feel a part of the whole thing.
We had a great time. The trip home however was
a bit scary. It was windy pretty much the entire
time which isn't too much fun on a motorcycle.
We were doing pretty well until we got to
Springerville. That last 45 miles home were the
worst 45 miles I have ever spent on a motorcycle!
It was simply terrifying! The wind was 40-50 miles
per hour! I do not know how Chris was able to keep
the bike upright - but he did I was ever so glad
to be home!


Tuesday, October 6, 2009

2nd Day in New York!


Central Park


Brooklyn Bridge


Ground Zero


Manhattan LDS Temple



Waiting for Mary Poppins to start
Day two was great as were the others. This day we
went on a walking tour of New York City. I had found
this company from recommendations on TripAdvisor
(my favorite travel place!) and it was great! We
saw so much of New York and learned all kinds of
interesting trivia and memorabilia about the city.
At the end of the day we had been all over the place
and had walked 10 1/2 miles in 7 hours! Incredible!
That night Ray came into the city and we all
attended Mary Poppins together on Broadway.
We got in at 1:30 am again and this time we only
had two hours of sleep before we had to be up to
make it to the plane. It was a great trip and we
saw alot - but we sure did not rest!



Tuesday, September 29, 2009

New York City - day one


Times Square!


Top of the Rockefeller Center


Avenue of the Americas


Classic Central Park carriage ride



Times Square after "Wicked" on
Broadway - it was totally Wicked!
Our first day in the city we were commuters
on the train from New Jersey into the city.
Good thing Carla had done it before - whew!
We probably would have been lost! It took
about 1 1/2 hours to get to Times Square.
We were starved - so we found lunch and
then headed to the Top of the Rock for
amazing views of the city. After that a walk
to Central Park, the classic horse carriage ride,
a stop at the Museum of Natural History (where
Night at the Museum was filmed) dinner at
a great Italian place and then Wicked on Broadway!
Carla had already been so Rustin Reidhead met us
in Times Square and used his student ID to buy
her a ticket for Shrek - thanks Rustin! It was
great to see him - I can't believe we forgot to get
a pic with him! After a full day, back to New
Jersey and into bed at 1:30am - back up at 6:30!



Niagara Falls


Simply breathtaking!


Ready for the Maid of the Mist boat ride


The boat gets very close to the falls - you get wet!


Read for the "Cave of the Winds" tour - cool
sandals that they give you to wear!

The walk way on the cave of the winds - check
out the rainbow! You could see both ends!
This part of the trip followed the Palmyra Temple.
It is about 2 hours from Palmyra to the falls.
Following the day there, we had to drive
6 1/2 hours back to New Jersey and Ray had to
be to work the next morning!



Palmyra New York


At the airport excited to go!


The house my Mom grew up in - Port Byron NY


Hill Cumorah


In the sacred grove


Palmyra Temple
The day after our Holladay Reunion, Chris and
I boarded a plane for New York. We have never
been and we took the opportunity while Ray
and Carla are in nearby New Jersey on temporary work
assignment for Ray. Bridget flew in from Kentucky
and we began our journey. We arrived on Monday
night. After dinner at a local NJ hangout, we bedded
down for the night and got up early the next morning
to head out. We drove first to Port Byron New York
where my Mom was raised. We saw the house she
lived in and the town. It was great for me to see as
I had never been there and I was able to connect
stories from her childhood to the actual location.
We ate lunch at the little local diner which was classic
and had the daily special menu handwritten on a
piece of notebook paper - classic! After lunch we
drove on to Palmyra. We first stopped at the Hill
Cumorah. There is a beautiful visitor's center there
and we walked up to the monument on top. Following
that we went to the Smith Family farm and took
the tour with the sisters there and saw a replica
of the original log cabin home and the actual frame
home that the family lived in. Then on into the sacred
grove - such a peaceful spirit there. We stayed at
a lovely new motel in Palmyra and enjoyed "hot
tubbing" that night and visiting with other folks
touring the area. The next morning up early again
for a session at the Palmyra Temple. Another
wonderful experience. We changed clothes and hit
the road for the next part of the adventure - Niagara
Falls.



Holladay Reunion 2009


From whence it all stems!


Ummm those nachos are yummy!

Swimming buddies
The boys minus missionary baby
Gorgeous daughters
Kaitlyn cannonballs!
Best buds!
Papa and Mackey
The whole group (I know tiny pic!)

Jet skis on Canyon Lake
We had a little family reunion a few weeks ago in the valley.
In the past we have gone to Mexico (7 years running!) Due to
a lot of different factors we decided to change it up this year.
I rented a huge house in Gilbert where we all stayed together.
Every family had their own room and some privacy and we had
alot of large common spaces to share - it also had a pool, pinball
and other games - lots of fun!
The first day we rented jet skis and spent the day on Canyon Lake.
I had never been there - it is a beautiful little lake and the weather
was perfect and the water refreshing - it was amazing! We had
a super fun time and B engineered a ghetto knee board out of a
boogie board and Kenny got up for the first time ever! It was
a fun day all together. I forgot my camera that day and I imported
pics that B took but I am not so competent so I only posted two as
they are tiny - I have to work on that skill!
The next day we went to a live production of "Jack and the Beanstalk"
for the grandkids - it was a fun time. The afternoon we spent enjoying
the pool and hanging out. Sunday morning we were up and out to
the boy's ward at 9am - lunch following at Tim and Cara's completed
our little get together.
I am so grateful for the wonderful family that I have - such amazing sons,
daughters and grandbabies - thanks to all of you for the success of our
reunion!