Okay sorry about having to leave you all hanging in my last blog...life got in the way, you know how it is...

Now I am going to inundate you with lots of pictures from the trip.  Sorry to those of you who are still using the phone line to connect, it will be a while, you might even want to just give up waiting to see the pictures,  it will take a while to download for you. 

So here are the pictures with some captions under them to tell you about our trip to Arizona.

Heading down the highway....looking for adventure...

Texas Canyon in Arizona, these "rocks" were amazing!

The Grand Canyon:

I was so nervous that Jake would take off and go over the edge!     Here are Aunt Patty and Uncle Mike...so in love!

                                                                                                                                                So sweet!

This is Sedona, it was so beautiful with the sun going down.

We went to this petting zoo:

San Xavier, the oldest Catholic Mission that is still active.

Relaxing at their house.  Unfortunately it wasn't warm enough to use the pool.

A rare picture of mom and son.

So this is my photo blog of our trip to Arizona, I hope you enjoyed it!

So here I am more than a week later and I still haven't blogged.  What is the deal?  I keep thinking I am so busy but then when I think about what I have been doing it doesn't seem to be that busy that I can not blog more than once a week or so (unlike my unnamed friend who hasn't blogged for ages...but still reads everybodies blogs and does not leave comments!)

I wanted to make some cute video movie of Jakes birthday party, did not get around to it.  Sorry.  I also was going to make some great slide shows of our trip to Arizona but that did not happen either.  I also have something to share with you that was a BIG surprise for Jake.  I will do that soon.  Back to the Arizona trip...I have decided to just share with you some of my favorite pictures and tell you what we did.

We had a great time in Arizona.  I already knew that the desert was not a place that I really want to end up living in, however after visiting Arizona I do see why Bob's aunt and uncle really are enjoying themselves.

Well got to go...I will write more later.

I'm back!  I know, sigh of relief huh?  Anyway, I have lots to say and of course need to find the time to say it, so it may take a few blogs to say it all!

First, I promised a while back some pictures of Jake's birthday. I have received a few comments wondering where they are and so almost a month later (How did March go by so fast?) here they are:

Wondering where I am?  Me too! LOL.  Time is flying by, I feel so busy, yet when I sit to think about why I haven't had time to blog I can't think of what I have done that is keeping me so busy.  Guess it is life in general.  Oh well...

But the real question is doI know where I am going?

YES!

Casa Grande, Arizona!

We are going to visit Bob's Aunt and Uncle and go see the Grand Canyon.  I can not wait.  Now I will be able to add to my list of things I have done this year for the 1st time.  (It is there on the left of my blog, sad really...all I have done is make lumpia!)

I will write and tell you all about our adventure when we return. 

Yesterday a beautiful 77 degrees.  Today this...

Yes, it is snowing out.  Since taking these pictures and posting them here, the ground is covered.  Crazy place I am living in, I tell you!  Tomorrow's high is suppose to be 64 degrees. 

My parents left today.  We had a great visit.  Jake loved having them both here.

This next picture is for my sisters:

Yes, mom is on the floor playing with Jake!

For those of you who know my mother, know that she does not have the energy usually to do this.  Jake loved that she played with him.  It was a special moment for me too.

Jake's little birthday party was a smashing success if I do say so myself.  He did not cry or get upset and his four little friends were well behaved.  The weather was perfect so all the games were played outside and then the kids loved playing on the swing set.  The cake was a hit too.  Jake received some very nice gifts from friends and family.  All in all it was a good day. I have some pictures and video that I hope to get to edit and post soon. (sure all you loyal readers are just dying to see them!)

After the grandparents left I took Jake for his 4 year appointment.  He is in the 97th percentile for his height, 90th for his weight.  He is 41+ inches tall and 36 pounds.  The doctor tested him on his numbers and ABC's which he did very well on, she was very pleased with his development.  He had to get 5 shots today, so needless to say, it has been a long day.  He has done pretty well, besides crying all the way home, which who can blame him.  He is being a little needy wanting to be held, but I am enjoying this neediness because one day he won't want me to hold him anymore.  However, my "kissing it and making it better" did not work this time... I must be loosing my touch!

Leap Year Birthday!

Tomorrow is a very important day for me (and Bob too).  It is the day that our son was born four years ago.  Well, technically he will only be one, but he has been around for 4 years.  I can not believe that he is four.  Minus a few moments in these four years, he has been a true joy to me.  I have truly enjoyed watching him grow and develop into the young, dashingly handsome, preschooler that he has become.

My parents are coming into town to help celebrate this special day.  They should be here in about an hour.  Jake is very excited about that.  Today he took cupcakes to school to celebrate with his classmates.  He felt very important since he brought the cupcakes to share with his friends.

I wasn't going to do a birthday party for him because he gets so overwhelmed and emotional.  I figured why put him and me through all that.  But Bob and friends convinced me that I should do some kind of party for him.  So we are having a VERY small group of kids over.  Four of his neighborhood buddies are coming for cake and ice cream tomorrow at 11:00.  It will be short and sweet and then they can all go home for a nap.  I feel kind of bad because we did not invite all of his friends, but last year when we did, it was crazy and Jake cried, and it was just to much for him.  So hopefully, since this will be a much smaller affair, Jake will enjoy it and have fun.  We will see.  I am very excited though about his cake.  I made it yesterday.  Here are a few pictures of it and my helper:

Jake really wanted a mountain cake with a train on it.  He thinks it is awesome.  I will post a few more pictures after tomorrow.

Besides being sick lately, we were able to get a few more house projects done.  First we changed the look of the front of our house:

So what do you think?

We also painted our laundry room cabinets and walls.  I love it, so if you don't keep your comments to yourself please...

Well got to go and work on dinner so it is ready for when the folks arrive.  Have a good weekend!

We had family photos done on Monday.  I got the proofs back.  Scanned them...oohhh...illegal, but oh well.  Bob of course was still sick and Jake's face is all splotchy and I...well I am just a bit to big for my britches...oh well.  Some of them actually turned out okay so I am not complaining.  The guy was super with Jake and his price is right...25 dollars for 48 proofs, which are just 3x5 pictures, doesn't even have the word proof on them or his name...so it is great.  Here are a few of my favorite...

Other than that not much new.  Busy weekend ahead.  My parents are coming into town next weekend.  For Jake's birthday...it will be his first real birthday!  Can't wait to actually celebrate it!

This past weekend was a perfect weekend, weather wise, here in Texas.  Low 70's with no wind.  Perfect.  Guess how we spent the weekend...

With the FLU!!!!

First, Bob, then Jake, then me.  Jake and I are still having a hard time shaking it.  But I guess that is what happens when you don't get the flu shot.  Bob got his and so he wasn't as bad as we were.  Oh well, live and learn.

The flu really took its toll on Jake though.  Poor kid was exhausted...

He would just pass out no matter what position he was in!  Poor kid!

Hope you all had a better weekend.  This coming weekend we are suppose to be getting snow, sleet and cold weather!  Figures!!!

Wow!  Seven days since my last blog entry...I am falling behind here!

Today is a really special day for my dearest and "oldest" friend.  She will love me for saying that. Today my dear friend, Deedee turned 40.  We have been friends since we were 15 years old.  So not only is she older than I, she is my oldest, longest lasting friend.  Here is wishing her a super birthday and welcoming this new decade with open arms!

Here is a picture of us almost 20 years ago.  Unfortunately it isn't great, pre digital.  I think most of my pictures of us are at my mom's house. Anyway...

And here we are almost 2.5 years ago in Italy:

Well at least Deedee still looks the same!

We have shared so much together and have had so many good times.  I am thankful to have her friendship.  She has been one constant in my life since I was a kid, which is amazing for a military kid, friends come and go, but she stuck around!

Other news:

You all know how I am constantly saying that I do not like living here in Abilene, that it just doesn't offer much for me...well, I still feel that way, but I have to tell you that I have never met people as nice as some of the people in this town.  I should say trusting.  Twice this week I have had to have some service done and both times I was told not to worry about paying for it until the service is complete.  Let me explain. 

I had to get my wedding set fixed, it broke in two places and prongs were bent, plus I lost a diamond in my anniversary ring.  So I took them into this hometown jewelry place that was recommended by some local folks.  I also took my grandmothers ring in to get it appraised.  When my wedding set was done they called and told me I could get it now if I wanted to.   When I went and picked it up they told me not to worry about it, until my other rings were done.  Of course they have my rings as collateral, but that  isn't the point.  He let me walk out with the most expensive ring with out paying for the work that was done.  Trusting. 

Then today we had to have a repair man come out to look at the dryer.  Making a horrible sound, which Bob has not been able to fix.  Guy tells me it will be 89 dollars an hour.  Only one in town, of course, who does this work, so I had no choice but to have him come out.  So he drives over this evening, yes after 6:30, calls to let me know he is on his way.  Took him 20 minutes to get here so I know he came from the other side of town because that is how long it takes to get from there to here.  Towns not that big, but it is to some people, so we are considered out of the way.  He arrives, listens to the sound, does not look at anything, and tells me what it is and what needs to be done.  Of course he has to order parts and will come back.  So I am thinking great I have to pay you 89 dollars now for a 2 minute visit and then your coming back to actually fix it so I will have to pay that again.   He then tells me not to worry about paying anything that he will just charge me for the work he does when he comes back and not for this visit.  WOW! This place really is the friendly frontier....seriously that is what the motto is for Abilene! HA!

Okay enough making fun of Abilene.

Well that is it for tonight, need to go and do some work and get Jake ready for bed.  Having a girls day out tomorrow with no kids.  My friend Suzana and I have a babysitter and we are going out for the day to do some shopping, pampering and eating!  Should be a good day.

I am a global know-it-all.

Are you?

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