This morning Mom, Mitch, Grace and I went to the Desert Botanical Gardens to see the Monarch Butterflies.
I think the pictures speak for themselves. It was so nice and peaceful there this morning. One of the volunteers said that this is the one week with out school groups coming through. If you have the chance, I would recommend taking a little time out of your busy day to sit with butterflies.
It goes from this:
To this, in a heartbeat!!
Justin went to Basha's Homecoming last night with his friend Victoria. Justin and Victoria met in Mrs. Crowe's afternoon kindergarten class back in 1998. We became fast friends with her family. Victoria has a younger brother who was Christopher's best friend until their family moved to WI in 2002.
Victoria called Justin a while ago and asked if he would go to Homecoming with her. The dance was over around 11pm and I was asleep by the time Justin got home. He is still sound asleep, but from what Dad says...he had a great time.
Here is one of the many reason's I haven't been blogging lately. Granny turns 90 on Sunday! I'll try to post other later. Blogger doesn't seem to want to work this afternoon, but then who really does?
Toby and I went to Heber/Overgaard this weekend to celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. Toby wanted to go out and do some looking around the area he will have his elk hunt in Nov. I thought,why not. I'll go and take some pictures and just hang out with my super cool husband. We had a great time. We stayed at Bison Ranch and really relaxed.
This was the view from our back door.
Dining Room
Living Area
Bed Room
Here is Alice. She is the only Bison at Bison Ranch....I feel sorry for her. She doesn't want to be in a little pen having all those flies around her.
I really did enjoy my week with Granny. It was hard and stressful at times to try to manage two households, but I do have the best partner in the world and he really took care of this end for me.
I'm thankful for the opportunity to have my mom and granny so close to me. I sure wish my cousins and my siblings were able to have conversations like we did.
I asked her if she would like me to stay around the house while she had her shower. She told me that when she was born they didn't have running water and that the water would have be brought in and so because of that, she didn't want to take a shower. I understand that she didn't have the conveniences growing up like we do now, but that is why they are called conveniences. Enjoy it!
One day I was playing around on the computer and Grace was watching TV. I heard my Granny call from the other room asking what a H O ( I was really starting to get nervous) O K A H was. Is that what they call hookers now? No Granny, it's a pipe. Why? Apparently, there was an article in the paper about a Tempe Hookah bar. She read the article and answered her own question.
Saturday afternoon we were looking through her mail order catalogs. She must get a few hundred a week. Anyways, I was looking at Dr. Leonard's catalog and I made the comment that I wasn't aware that there were so many feet products out there. She responds with " Oh, that catalog is full of feet and leg products. It also has a lot of sex stuff in it too. I don't even know how they use half that stuff"......well Granny, that is one conversation I'm not having with you.
We went to a Vandals BBQ on Friday night. Wow, the host and hostess have a backyard that was perfect for a baseball team to get to know each other better in. It had a swimming pool, basketball/tennis court, putting green and a BBQ grill that was nicer then most restaurants! I wish I would have taken my camera out of my bag and took pictures of all of it, but felt sort of funny showing off a friends back yard. Thanks to the Dorsey's and the Stills for a very fun night.
Here is the recipe for the salad I brought.
Fiesta Chopped Salad
1 med red bell pepper, chopped
1 med yellow bell pepper, chopped
1 med tomato, seeded & chopped
1 med cucumber, seeded & chopped
1 small zucchini, chopped
2 green onions chopped
2 Tbls minced fresh parsley
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 large ripe avocado
1 tbsp lemon juice
In large bowl, combine first 7 ingredients. In a jar w/ tight fitting lid,
combine, oil, vinegar,sugar,salt & pepper, shake well. Drizzle over
vegetables & toss to coat. Toss avocado w/ lemon juice, sprinkle over
salad. I doubled this recipe, used 3 large Costco avocados and tripled the sauce.
I heard this song on the radio today. I highlighted the text that really hit me today. It is about forgiveness isn't it.
Heart of the Matter by Don Henley
I got the call today, I didnt wanna hear
But I knew that it would come
An old, true friend of ours was talkin on the phone
She said youd found someone
And I thought of all the bad luck,
And the struggles we went through
And how I lost me and you lost you
What are these voices outside loves open door
Make us throw off our contentment
And beg for something more?
Im learning to live without you now
But I miss you sometimes
The more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought I knew, Im learning again
Ive been tryin to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thoughts seem to scatter
But I think its about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you dont love me anymore
These times are so uncertain
Theres a yearning undefined
And people filled with rage
We all need a little tenderness
How can love survive in such a graceless age?
The trust and self-assurance that lead to happiness
Theyre the very things - we kill I guess
Pride and competition
Cannot fill these empty arms
And the work I put between us
You know it doesnt keep me warm
Im learning to live without you now
But I miss you, baby
And the more I know, the less I understand
All the things I thought Id figured out
I have to learn again
Ive been trying to get down
To the heart of the matter
But everything changes
And my friends seem to scatter
But I think its about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you dont love me anymore
There are people in your life whove come and gone
They let you down you know they hurt your pride
You better put it all behind you baby; life goes on
You keep carryin that anger; itll eat you up inside, baby
Ive been trying to get down
To the heart of the matter
But my will gets weak
And my thought seem to scatter
But I think its about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you dont love me
Ive been tryin to get down
To the heart of the matter
Because the flesh will get weak
And the ashes will scatter
So Im thinkin about forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, even if you dont love me
Forgiveness
Forgiveness - baby
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
Even if, you dont love me anymore
Grace and I went to The Healing Fields again this year. 
It still amazes me how many lives were lost that day. If I had a family member who was lost that day, would I be able to forgive the terrorists? I would like to think I could, but I'm not so sure. 
Something that was different this year was that stuffed animals were placed on the flag pole that belonged to the children that were lost. Talk about heart breaking. Grace of course found each and every one of them.
I don't recall seeing pictures along with personal information last year. Another personal touch.
I hope you find sometime today to remember all that was lost 7 years ago.
I saw the most amazing thing this afternoon. Grace finished her lunch, walked to the dish washer, opened it up, put her dish IN the dish washer and shut the door. Amazing.
I wonder if the boys would ever try such a thing?!
Toby and Grace "glassing".
Rainbow on Sunday afternoon!
There were so many butterflies out!
Mineral Creek. Water flows from Ray Mine.
I liked this guy. I have about 200pictures of him.
I hope everyone had a fabulous 3 day weekend. We sure did. We went to Toby's parents house on Saturday afternoon and stayed till Monday afternoon. Toby's sister and husband also came for the weekend, so they and Toby's parents went to the Casino in Globe for Saturday night. We stayed back at home and ordered pizza and watch ASU football.
Toby and the kids were up super early on Sunday morning to go out deer hunting. They were gone for a few hours and then came home to a yummy breakfast cooked by Aunt Jen and Grandma. It seems like all we do up in Kearny is eat, but it's hard not to when Patty is such a great cook.
I helped get dinner in the roaster and then I headed out doors with my camera. I took so many pictures that it is taking me a long time to go thru them all and edit them. I'm learning so much, but, one thing is for sure. I take to many photos!! I promise to have the photos up tomorrow.
Toby and I snuck out for a hour or so and went exploring down my Mineral's Creek and then took the back roads around the desert. It is fun to see the desert alive and green in August.
Be back tomorrow with photos....
Yesterday Shelley and I were able to take our friend Kirsten out to lunch to celebrate her birthday. We really enjoyed the kid less time we spent together and had some great conversation.
Kirsten, I hope you have a wonderful day today and I hope your family spoils you. Thanks for being such a good friend to me.
Justin had his first scrimage on Saturday night. The JV played the Freshman team and were suppose to take it easy on them to help build their confidence. I don't think they went to easy and the "score" was tied. I'm thinking the JV team has a long ways to go still....anyways it was totally fun sitting out there in the 110 degree heat cheering on the boys.
Justin is the player with the black socks pulled all the way up. I'm glad he did that,so I knew which one he was. 
I won't be able to go to all his games since they play on Thursday night and I will be at work. I'm hoping Toby can figure out the new camera by then and get some good shots for me.
Toby bought me a present this weekend. It was a surprise and you will all be able to reap the benefits with me. Toby was the stud and got me a new camera. Yes, it's a big girl camera with 2 lens. I went out to the desert with Toby and his brother yesterday and was able to get some cool pictures. 
Who knew that moth's tongues coiled like that?
That is my very handsome, very wonderful husband! Thank you baby! I love it.
Next up, Justin's first football scrimage.
Why do the women have to wear this?
And they guys have to wear ALL this? 
Seems a little unfair that the guys have to be fully clothed. Why couldn't they play shirtless?
Just saying.....
