Thursday, June 21, 2012

I got a call this morning from my visiting teachers at 9:05 right after I got out of the shower this morning.  They wanted to come by for a visit at 9:30.  My visiting teachers are Alicia Hunsaker and Linda Price.  I love both of them.  Sheri, Adrienne, and Christy were working out upstairs to Jillian Michael during our visit.  Afterwards while the other girls went to take a shower I introduced Linda and Alicia to Christy and Robyn.
Most of the day we watched Downton Abbey, ate, and took catnaps.  Adrienne's carmel corn was a BIG hit.  This bowl was totally empty by the time the morning was over.

At least she didn't drool!

 James had a doctor's appointment in Show Low today.  He brought home some Pappa John's pizza, a BBQ chicken and a supreme.  It was delicious.  After lunch we had to finish  Downton Abbey season two.  James took Adrienne and Christy on a Ranger ride down Christmas Tree Trail.  I took Robyn and Drea yesterday but we didn't have enough gas to go very far.  It was sad when everyone left.

Goodbye to the Del Rio 2nd Besties, until next time!

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

We slept in after our late night gab fest, but not too late.  I made my famous buttermilk pancakes for breakfast along with fresh fruit and turkey bacon.  I also made a whole wheat version of the pancakes for James.

After breakfast we may have watched an episode or two of Downton Abbey.  In the early afternoon we decided to go to Greer via the Springerville way.  When we got to Springerville we were hungry so I looked up what was supposed to be a four star restaurtant called Booga Red's.   Like Sheri said, the company was better than the food although the food was pretty good.  I had a green chili burro but it didn't compare to the Burger House in Miami.

How did I miss getting a picture of Robin?  After lunch we were ready for Greer.

Thanks to Christy for taking some awesome pictures.  We parked in the parking lot of The Greer Peaks Lodge owned by our friends Brian and Amy Lemmerman.

After Greer we come back to the cabin and had a delicious dinner.  James cooked steaks and we also had sweet potato fries, corn. grilled asparagus and sour dough bread.  Now it's time for more Downton Abbey!!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Another early morning trip to the grocery store in north Scottsdale while the boys sleep in.  James was gone early again, this time to help Alex Braddock with his Eagle Project.  I washed towels and sheets before leaving the resort because Stacy and Paul and coming over to stay the rest of the week.  The boys (Joe, Max, Alex, and Michael) got up and ate some breakfast and we left the resort a little after ten.  I took everyone home and then headed for Sears to get my car lubed.  I have never experienced such poor customer service in all my life. I know I am used to Lexus where they treat me like a queen but this was ridiculous.  There were three guys in the place and I was the only customer and no one could seem to wait on me.  A cute girl came in and one of the guys immediately waited on her.  She came in way after I did and I complained and the guy waiting on her said: "Oh Phil (to the old guy who can't hear) could you wait on her, pointng to me."  They wanted me to take a survey but I told them I was in a hurry and it wouldn't be favorable anyway so that was the end of that.  I will only go there again because they are cheap.

While waiting for my car to be lubed I met Sheri, Ben, Evan, and James at the mall for lunch.  I had the grilled shrimp tacos from Rubios and they were delicious!  After the lube and lunch I went to Costco and picked up some steaks and I was on my way to Vernon.  James called me before I got to Payson and said he had just left.  He was pulling a trailer with his tractor on it.  A few minutes later he called and said he had a blowout just outside of Apache Junction and he needed me to look up a nearby Discount Tire, which I did. (Thank goodness for my iphone).

Because I was falling asleep while driving I stopped at a Circle K and got a diet Dr. Pepper, Good and Plenty candies and some popcorn and I ate and drank my way up the mountain.  The smoke from the fire near Young was so bad I had to stop on the Rim and take some pictures.  I was so happy to finally arrive at Vernon around 5:30.  James called again and said he got stopped in Show Low for not having lights on the trailer.  He finally made it around 8:30.  Sheri and the gang called and said they were finally leaving around 9pm.  They arrived around 12:30.  I waited up for them and didn't go to bed until 2 am.  The gang: Sheri, Drea Boles, Adrienne Ellsworth, Robyn Rogers, and Christy Wanlass.  They call themselves the Del Rio 2nd Besties.  What a fun group! 

Monday, June 18, 2012

James left early for a meeting with someone about some work at a golf course.  I went out while the boys were still asleep to find a birthday cake for Ruby.  I went to the Fry's Marketplace on north Hayden Rd., a very nice store I might add.  James's sister Carmen sent the cutest Hello Kitty fondant cutouts for a 9" round cake.  The cake I got was a little small but the finished product looked something like this:

Thanks so much Carmen for sharing your talents and making a little girl very happy.

The boys and I went to IHOP for lunch at Alex's request.  I had a veggie omlet which was very tasty.  The boys got a kick out of a group of older women next to us who were playing some kind of board game.  They thought it was funny for them to be in a restaurant playing a game.  Alex had biscuits, gravy, bacon and eggs and Michael had the grand slam breakfast with pancakes.  

Ruby's party started a 3.  Here is a picture of her staring at her cake, which she did for about 30 minutes.

More random pictures of Ruby's party.  The most fun was had out in the pool.  The following people attended: James and I, Stacy, Joshua, Michael, Kim, and Joe, Sheri, Alex, Ben, Max, and Evan, Darrel, Trina, Ruby, Addy, and Rowan, Trina's Mom Suzy, Lacy and baby Emma, Bryce, Alexus, Kylie, Kayla, and Kreed.  

Ruby was very shy when everyone started singing to her.

After the party was over Michael, Alex, Joe, and Max spent the night with us.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

We had a high councilman and his daughter speak in sacrament meeting today.  Her name was Brooklyn Brown and she spoke on infinite worth and overcoming adversity.  From "Once upon a time to happily everafter" requires some adversity in between. Jesus Christ understands all that we are going through.

Morgan Brown of the high council reminded us of our challenge from the stake president to memorize the family proclomation.  He also gave an outstanding talk on charity and used several examples from the Book of Mormon.  He admonished us to read and study Moroni 7 where Moroni reminds us that charity is the pure love of Christ.

The lesson in Sunday school taught by Brother Wilhelm was taken from Alma 5-7 where Alma asks: "Have ye Received His Image in Your Countenance?"

The lesson in Relief Society was on missionary work and was taught by Tamara Applegate.

After our meetings we came home and had some lunch.  James opened his father's day card from me and his gift, the two Robert Downey, Jr. Sherlock Holmes movies.  We took a nap and then got ready and left for the valley.  We stopped in Chandler so James could get his truck and to pick up Michael and then we headed for Sheraton Desert Oasis in Scottsdale where Alex was waiting for us.  We have one week here in our timeshare and we are staying in rooms 1055 and 1056.  Sheri's family stayed last night and we will stay tonight and tomorrow night.  Tomorrow we will have Ruby's birthday party here. 

Saturday, June 16, 2012

Today was a major work day.  I changed the sheets on all of the beds today in preparation for next week's company.  I cleaned the bathrooms and waxed the upstairs floor.  I went to bed quite late.  James was a little sad.  I did read to him today though from our new Victoria Holt book "The Pride of the Peacock", and made him some chicken enchiladas in the crockpot.

I'm not sure I even went outside today but here is a picture from one of our Ranger rides earlier in the week.

Friday, June 15, 2012

It's official, the monsoon starts today.  Hopefully that means we will be getting some rain up here pretty quick.  Everything is so dry. 

I finished waxing the wood floor in the living room and family room.  I am very slow and easily distracted. 

James got some good news today from Allied and from Britt Law.  It looks like we will be collecting money from both of them.  The city of Scottsdale signed a paper saying they never charged Norquay any liquidated damages which means Norquay can't charge us like they said they were going to. 

Here is some haze from the Young fire.