November 25, 2012

• Thanksgiving in Arizona – Week 4 & 5

  I thought I would take a few minutes this Sunday to update my blog to update all of you that follow my blog to what we have been doing.  When last I left you we were in Logan and was enjoying our family there.  On November 11th, Jenn and Taurean’s little Madison Ann was blessed in Sacrament meeting.  Madi was a doll during her blessing and Taurean gave a very nice blessing with lots of choice words just for her!  We were so happy that we could be there with them on this special day for little Madi.

  After Sacrament meeting and before the “family gathering”, I took the following pictures of their family and little Madi

  
  Madison Ann, Jennifer, Bentley, Taurean & Jaidyn

  
  Madison Ann in her “Blessing Dress”

  In the afternoon of Monday the 12th, it finally came time to say goodbye to Jenn and her little family and headed South.  We went as far as Provo that day because Judy Lynn had some craft stores that were on her agenda to visit on our way through Provo.  We parked the MH outside of Melissa and Troy’s new home.  They let us “borrow” some electricity.  They had recently had quite a snowstorm and had several inches of snow on their front yard.  But the skies were clear which allowed some REALLY Cold weather to settle in.  That night I had the furnace running and it ran practically all night just to keep us warm.

  
  Our MH parked in front of Melissa & Troy’s home in Provo

  
  One of the stores in Provo we visited to try to find the paper Judy Lynn needs for her stamping.

  We had a lovely visit with Melissa and her family.  Thanks to them for letting us “park” in front of their place.

  After Judy Lynn finished the shopping that she wanted to do in Provo, we again headed south.  It was a lovely day to travel, clear sunny skies and no wind.  We often encounter wind on that road and if it is a cross-wind, the “sail-like” profile of the MH makes driving a little less enjoyable.  But that day was perfect weather for traveling and we really enjoyed the day.  We got away from snow on the ground about half-way through Utah.  We had planned to stay in Las Vegas for the evening, but those plans did not work out so we went on to Boulder to a RV Park that we has stayed at a couple of years ago.

  

  After we parked the MH, we unhooked the Terrain and drove it into Boulder to look around and get us some dinner at their Taco Bell (And yes I know… that was a very original choice of restaurants in a far-away town!)

  The next morning we headed for Phoenix.

  
  New bridge over Colorado River & Lake Mead before the bridge.
  The picture of the bridge does not do it justice.  I think it is an engineering marvel!

   
  MH parked to the side of Jeff & Becky’s

  It took us most of the day to get to Jeff and Becky’s.  We did stop before we got there to fill the MH with Fuel.  The fuel price was so much less expensive than anywhere we have experienced the trip, so I decided to fill up in case the price went up for Thanksgiving.  We arrived at Jeff’s before he got home from his work.

  
  Shauna & Her Mom – Judy Lynn, Shauna, Jeff & Becky

  AS most of  you know, Shauna moved to the Phoenix area a month or so ago.  She transferred with Wal-Mart, so had a job waiting for her when she arrived.  She lives in Mesa and works at the Wal-Mart on the boarder between Mesa and Gilbert.  She did not have to work that following Sunday, so came and spent the weekend with us at Jeff’s.

  
  Jeff and his Brother-in-Law Josh at the shooting range

  Jeff arranged with his Brother-in-Law (another Josh) to take me to a shooting range and shoot some pistols.  It was quite a ways SE of Maricopa and was a nice range.  It was covered (from the sun) with several shooting stations.  The three of us went through a lot of ammo!  Thanks for the fun guys!

  We had quite an “uneventful” week prior to Thanksgiving.  Both Jeff and Becky have to work, so we just spent what time we could with them.  Judy Lynn and I drove out to San Tan Valley to visit our good friends Grant & Colleen.  They purchased a home there a little over a year ago and now spend their winters there.  Colleen’s Sister LaNae also purchased a home just around the corner and down the street from theirs, and LaNae and Niel joined us and we had a lovely dinner together at a Chinese Buffet (they had steamed shrimp… so I was a happy camper!)

  We were invited to enjoy Thanksgiving with the Widmer Family.  There were lots of them there along with some family members (in-laws) that we had not met until that day.  They put on a very nice dinner.

  
  Grant, Niel, LaNae, Beth (Grant’s Sister), Colleen,
  Krista, Jeff, Judy Lynn & Gene (Widmer… Grant’s Brother and our Jacki’s Dad)

  
  After Thanksgiving dinner, Grant brought out his “Train” to give the kids a ride.
  The kids LOVE this (as well as some of the adults!)

  Thanks Widmers for inviting us and sharing the day with us.  You are truly good friends and we love (and have loved) being so close to you and your family!

  When the kids were growing up we had a tradition that I would cook a nice breakfast on Saturday mornings.  Breakfast is probably my favorite meal and I have a myriad of choices to my liking.  One of Jeff’s favorite gowning up was “Egg-al-a- Golden Rod”, so one of his requests of my visit here was to make that breakfast for him.  So yesterday morning (and yes… it was a Saturday) I fixed the meal for him.

  
  Egg-al-a-Golden Rod, with Sausage on the side.

  On Friday I went for a walk around Jeff and Becky’s neighborhood and took these pictures:

  
  I walked over to their HOA pool and playground area.  I was interested in this because I have been trying to get
  The HOA where we live in Gresham to improve some of our facilities.  It seemed warm enough to swim in the pool,
  but Jeff says the water is awfully cold this time of year… which answers why no one was in the area.

  Today is Sunday and we are having another Thanksgiving Dinner today for Becky.  She had to work on Thanksgiving day, so she has invited her brother and some of her friends here for Turkey and the works.  Judy Lynn made three pumpkin and two cherry-O-cream pies yesterday, so it should be nice.

  So that pretty well catches you all up on what we have been doing.  We are REALLY enjoying the SUNSHINE.  Our kids in Oregon have been telling us that they have had LOTS of rain… and with encouragement (not) like that, the sunshine down her seems pretty nice.  We may leave this week some time, but have not set a date for sure.  Stay tuned and I will try to let you know when our plans develop.

  • 1:44 pm
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