Fun in the Sun - Part 2

So, now on to Part 2 of our "Fun in the Sun" adventure. We travelled south to Tucson, to visit friends we hadn't seen for more time than we want to think about. Funny though, we all look exactly the same as we did forty years ago in University (we wish)! The terrain was markedly different, even in the short distance from Phoenix south.
We were taken to a gorgeous canyon, where we rode the tram to the top and hiked down. Some others out that day ran to the top! I was thankful that wasn't on the itinerary.

We also visited the Desert Museum, and saw all kinds of creatures and cacti. I learned so much about the different vegetation, and have it written down, if anyone is interested. Suffice it to say, I had never thought of a forest as being a cactus forest, but we drove through the Saguaro Forest, which is hill after hill covered in those "reach for the sky" cacti we see in wild west movies.
This is a different type - I loved the bushy part on the tops. I must go back in April one year to see all the cacti in bloom.

Our hosts really wanted us to stand in among the "Pipe Organ" cactus, but we wisely decided against that idea.
And yes...in February, we enjoyed a lovely dinner on an outdoor terrace overlooking the city lights. It was very beautiful, and delicious. Our friend is drinking Flat Tire, or Fat Tire, (I can't remember) beer. Strange name, but he liked it. We stuck to red wine!
Thanks to our friends for a good visit. You may see us again, and we really hope to see you here as well!

Fun in the Sun - Part 1

This year we were lucky enough to get invited to another 60th birthday, but this time in a warm climate! We drove for three days, only getting to temperatures above zero in the middle of the third day, in New Mexico. It was worth the drive! Our friends are in a retirement community in Phoenix. The days were sunny and warm by 9 a.m. Still, some of the locals wore toques and mitts for their morning walks!
Here is the back of the house our friends rented (what you see here is the "Arizona room"):

and the view from the back. Our host golfs most days on this course, which is in the centre of the community. Who wouldn't? We watched a few golf balls land in the water (none belonging to our host, of course).
Here is the front of the house. Doesn't our car look happy to be warm? This house had more than enough room for us, our hosts, and probably a couple of dozen others!
On Saturday we went to the "Swapmeet" (think of the flea market in Texas, kids) and bought some interesting items. I now own two of the sharpest knives made!
You thought the car looked happy! How happy do these two misplaced Manitobans look? As the one belonging to me said "What's not to like? It's warm, I'm golfing, and the company is good!"
We also took in a Phoenix Suns game at the U.S. Airways Centre. Phoenix has a new Light Rail Transit system, which made getting in and out of city centre a breeze.
The city is getting ready to host the All Star Game. Here is Yao Ming, expanded a bit. We thing there will be two more players displayed on the other two sections of this building.
This is the view from our seats - kidding!!!! Anyone could sit courtside for the pre warm-up (none of the starters participate in this one). Tickets at this level were going for about $900 on line.
Here is the view from our seats in the nose-bleed section. Actually, they were very good. We could see everything clearly. Phoenix lost to San Antonio, unfortunately, but it was a close game.
But...the real reason for the trip was my childhood friend's 60th birthday! Here we are with her "Freedom 60" cake. As a recent retiree, she was thoroughly enjoying her time in the sun, and was not a bit bored!
I decided that she needed a memento from each decade we have known each other. Marking the first and second decades - a copy of her valedictorian speech and a high school sweater. I wondered why I had kept that all these years!
The guest of honour and her hubby prepared a wonderful dinner for us and two other couples. I thought you weren't supposed to have to cook on your birthday!
And, just to show that we never really grow up, here she is enjoying the candles on her cake! Honestly, I didn't know they were trick candles (didn't have my glasses on when I bought them). I think the giggles are as much a result of the amount of wine consumed as they are a result of enjoying the surprise!
Many thanks to our hosts for a great time!

Fun in the Sun!

We are having a great time here in Phoenix with our good friends. Watch in the near future for another 60th birthday celebration, golfing great shots, terrific purchases at the swapmeet, and sunny skies without end.

Some toys never go out of style!

This is just a quick entry. Yesterday number one grandson came over to play, so we dug out some of the OLD toys from under the stairs. I think Grandpa is looking forward to when this boy really wants to play, not just throw things over his shoulder.

Thanks Uncle who lives down east, for leaving these toys here!

"Christmas Morning" Three Days Early

I know, two entries in one day- are you impressed, Jen? If you are looking for wedding pictures, check out the first entry I posted today (right after this one). After the wedding, we had an early Christmas morning so the three cousins could open the presents they had all carefully chosen for each other. They had been very good at ignoring the gifts underneath the tree, and actually spent the first half hour chasing each other down the hall. The two girls played down to the young man's level. He crawled, so they crawled. They really aren't unhappy here, just in their favourite corner in the hallway with all the closed doors.

This picture of the youngest young lady was taken a few days earlier. Reminded me so much of my own at that age. The hearth is just the right height for a rest (with a snack). Love the pjs.
Great grandma and Great Grandpa came for breakfast too, and had a perfect opportunity for a photo shoot with their three great grandchildren before the excitement began. The young ones don't look too thrilled, but this is a picture they will treasure in years to come.
Seems like yesterday that our three were the age of the little ones in the picture above. Here we all are, all three, monsieur, missy and petite, married and on their own, and grandma and grandpa enjoying every minute of the festivities and the fun.

The first little video gives you an idea of what the gift opening was like (still quite civilized actually). In the second one, you see that one grandchild has inherited grandpa's Christmas morning "cleanup" gene!

Thanks all for being here. This was our best Christmas yet, and it's not even here yet!

A Wedding at Christmas!

It is hard to believe, but the day arrived almost before we knew it. Not the perfect day weather-wise, but not as bad as is possible when you live in the middle of the prairies. No one got much sleep the night before the event (a little too keyed up after the rehearsal and the party following), but there were no yawns when the morning arrived. The women of the group (all from age 4 to 59) were at the hairdresser on time, ready to be styled. Some were happier than others with the result! Here the bride makes big-time adjustments for her sister.Back to the house for make-up. Even though all these women are naturally gorgeous, their features were enhanced just enough to make them look spectacular! The finishing touches on the last one were being done just as the Limo Lounge arrived to transport them to the church.


The ceremony was beautiful, touching, and very meaningful. It was made very special by the attendance of all four of the bride's grandparents. She knows she is very lucky.
The wedding party took off in the Limo Lounge for pictures, and most others headed off for the hotel. Keep in mind that these pictures are candid shots taken by the M.O.T.B. and others. More professional shots will be posted later. Here is the venue, taken from the D.J.'s perch, prior to the dinner. The room was elegant; probably the most perfect place in this city for a winter wedding.
Here's what everyone wants to see...the bride and groom! This was one of the first group photos - with the bride's immediate family.
With the groom's parents.
With the bride's maternal extended family.
and with her paternal extended family.
The young attendees behaved exceptionally well. This young man, nephew of the bride and groom, was enjoying himself immensely.
One of the nieces had travelled some distance to be at the wedding. Here she is, looking much older than her four years.
Her younger sister couldn't last quite as long as the others. She slept while...
others danced the night away!
The event was wonderful from beginning to end, and I know all wish the couple much happiness. We have many things for which to be grateful, among them that these three in this video weren't providing the music for either the ceremony or the dinner and dance!

Happy Birthday! (x 60)

It's a good thing our friends have birthdays and our children get married, or we would have no social life at all. This weekend we celebrated with two friends who have reached that magic "six decades" mark. Above is the friend we have known for almost 30 years, and with whom we attend the theatre during the winter.

And here is our long time friend, and the second half of the "Telegram Twins", who also celebrated this milestone. Below, one shot of some of the delicious desserts on the table
Congratulations to you both. Of course, being much younger than you, I have no idea how you really feel about being 60, and won't understand for at least another 10 months!