Saturday, March 29, 2014

Farewell to four Sweet Sisters

We had a nice breakfast at the Camerons home. 

Waiting in line

Enjoying the sunny warm day on the patio

Lovely ladies

They preferred the inside

Elder Ballard, Elder Andrus and Hermana Hourrutiner 

Stopped for a pose on the way back to the center. So beautiful inside and out!

The whole group

Sister Cameron, Sister Andrus, Hermana Valladares, and Sister Ballard

The same seniors with Sister DeMille

and with Sister Brownell

next Sister Hamstead

Group Hug and some tears!

Group hug chaos

Sister Brownell, Hermana DeMille, Sister Hamstead and Sister Vallarares all return home
having served valiantly. We will miss them so. 

Couldn't resist this pose of Sister Tingey, Sister Smith and Sister Weedman.

We had a picture with all the sisters but this was the only
one on my phone. I didn't get the rest. It is amazing
how we grow to love these sisters so fast. What a blessing
in our life.

St Patrick's Day Party with the Condo

Our condo is great. These people have so much fun doing simple things. They are an
example of enduring, finding joy in life, service, and friendship. They also
love to decorate the clubhouse, making things feel festive.
And they can cook! Yum!



This is Helen Christensen reading us a fun story about little
people in her Irish accent. She also brings treats around to
everyone on the holidays. She is amazing.


This was the entertainment, the man had an accordion and his wife yodeled.
The son was there for support and dinner. They look a little like mardi gras too!
Very talented! We all sang along to some good old tunes.

The two sister missionaries our ward feeds were also invited for dinner,
Sister Fry and Sister White. We enjoyed them. They even knew some of the songs.


These sweet people asked us to speak at a Family Home Evening. We talked
about ourselves a little (per their request) and on enduring. They were so
gracious. We brought an activity of questions to get them to share some of 
their life experiences. We asked the first question, "What was or would be your 
dream vacation?" A sister about 80+ answered saying lying on a beach in her bikini. 
The laughter just went on from there. I am going to be like these people when I 
am their age. I will still be dragging Richard but he'll enjoy it! (HaHa)



Harris Family Comes to Arizona

Lilly ran right to grandma and remembered her "papa" too!
.

They arrived and we were so excited to see them! 

Visited the Phoenix Zoo. Lilly found a comfortable seat.

Lilly and Karen rode the camel


Bennett enjoyed his first ice cream sandwich from grandma! He liked it.

Lilly with dad on the most active animal we saw at the zoo.

Love that look. Bennett likes his cereal!

The traditional picture at the Christus.








We visited the Stillman McCormick Train park in Scottsdale, it was a beautiful park
and great for little children.





We rode the kiddie train.


The train museum was fun to walk through and see the old rooms with beds
no Ballard could fit in unless they were 10 years old or younger. (They were short)


The model train exhibit was impressive.

This lego train station was interesting and we thought our lego boys in the family would
enjoy it.



All aboard!

Two great playgrounds. We had our picnic lunch and then Lilly played.

Grandma hasn't lost her touch. Bennett warmed up to us quickly.
He was so lovable. It was easy to get to laugh and a squeal. He was the
best snuggler!

Lilly loved to watch grandma get ready and play with her makeup.
She asked question about the fan and badge and we had fun
together. She wants to be a missionary like grandma. She
has the badge and the fan, she is all set to go!

In the bridal gardens at the Mesa Temple, they are beautiful.

We went to the aquarium at SeaLife in Tempe. We saw some species
we have never seen before, really strange looking ones.
 Maybe Tyson got some pictures, ours were not good?

Tyson took Bennett to look at the fish in the 360 degree tank.
Fish were under us, on top of us and all around us. Fun!

They hatched!

That's some teeth!

Lunch at the Rain Forrest. It was amazing to watch. When the growls
started every once in a while Lilly wasn't so sure. The gorillas were loud.
She did get used to it after a while and said the gorillas were just dancing
crazy! She called the elephant (that made a lot of noise) a baby elephant. She is
great at coping, however...




....she didn't ever like this one above our table and his loud growling, it sounded so real.
First she tried to hide from it saying it couldn't see her and then she just totally ignored it
and would  not look at it. No crying, she was very brave.

We ate a nice dinner at Tia Rosa's in Gilbert. The time went too fast. We enjoyed evey hug and kiss we could get!
Lilly was sure we were traveling on with her but we had to say goodbye. All good things come to an end
and of all good things you always want more! Such is life.




Thursday, March 6, 2014

Fine Art Expo with Keith Dagley

Keith Dagley doing what he loves. The Dagleys come down each year in January until April. Keith paints and gets to spend time with other artists, at the Art Expo in Scottsdale, what could be better. We enjoyed seeing all the different  styles and techniques displayed. Another plus is that many of the artists are working and you can watch them create. The Expo is huge! They have painters, sculptors, potters, wood carvers, photographers, stone carvers, metal sculptors, oil painters, clay sculptors, bronze works and more.


This bear and the buffalo are made from nails only!



We visited with Keith Dabb from Ogden as he was working. 


Nice horsey! 

These pieces were covered in little ceramic tiles, so colorful!


Keith's work is so amazing! After the show we went to dinner with Keith and Pat.  It was wonderful visiting with them and  catching up with friends.