Our trip to Arizona

Once in a while Chrsitian has to travel for work.  There is a manufacturing facility in Tempe, Arizona that makes some of their lotions.  He had to go there to make sure the final stages of a project was working correctly.  (interesting fact about indoor tanning:  The season starts November 1st - all new products roll out then, etc.)  He asked me if I wanted to go - and it coincided with our Fall Break from school.  (although I had to take Monday off)  So I asked GREAT friends to watch each of the boys and off we went!

We had a GREAT time!  We got there Thursday - and we were a little early to check into the hotel.... so we stopped by the shipping facility.  I got to meet some great people that, despite their busyness, were very kind to me.  The weather was fabulous!  (70 degrees the high that day!)  While I waited for Christian I read a book and soaked in the sun. 

That night we went to a restaurant called "Rustler's Roost".  It is on a mesa near Phoenix.  I have never been to Arizona and I found the landscape fascinating.  Anyway - the restaurant was very rustic and fun.  They had a slide from the floor that you come in to the floor you eat - of course I went down the slide instead of the stairs! 

It was pretty fun!  They have rattlesnake as an appetizer.  I HAD to try that.  (Christian had already eaten it a previous trip)  This is how it is served:

Tastes like the breading, pretty much.  It was chewy - texture kind of like Calamari.  :-)  For dessert they have complimentary cotton candy!  How fun is that?

The seriously sad thing is these are the only pictures we took the ENTIRE trip!  (I have GOT to get better about this!... which is part of the purpose of the blog! Grrrrrr....)  But we had a fabulous time!  We met up with friends who moved to Arizona (Cindy Willardson, the Marbles - went to church with them! - the Lanes)  It was a great time to see all our friends and catch up.  Such amazing people! 

The highlight of the trip was attending the Mesa temple.  Beautiful!  Such peace and comfort is found in the temple of the Lord.  One day I may post about the many blessings I receive when I attend the temple.  I did take one picture of the entrance:

It doen't do it justice.  It is modeled after Solomon's temple.  Next door some Native American festival was taking place.  It was loud when we were outside due to the drums and singing.  :-) 

Loved the cactus and landscape.  The trees were so interesting.  Luckily I did not see any native wildlife.  (rattlesnakes, scorpians)

The manager of the manufacturing facility gave me a tour.  Wow!  I have never thought about how much goes into the manufacturing of lotions.  Simple things - like the water base.  It has to be filtered and microbe free or it might develop bacteria.  It was eye opening.  I really enjoyed learning about it.  It was really obvious how much he (the manager) loved his job - because he was so enthusiastic about sharing the processes.  I love to watch people teach me about something they love.  It is fun to learn.

Our Halloween

This year we were just getting back from Arizona on Halloween day. The boys had each stayed with a different friend. We were happy to be together. We ordered our favorite pizza (Wise Guys - yum!), turned out the lights, and watched a couple of episodes of "Malcolm in the Middle".

Before that we played our own game show (kind of like "Let's make a deal") where we gave then the things we brought them. We brought them three Thor commemorative cups from 7-11, three hats from In-n-Out burger, three puke bags, a tie (Christian forgot his - so he bought a new one to wear to church while we were gone), three "dirt" shirts, and a package of a** kicking habenero microwave popcorn. Christian was the host and I was the announcer/model. We put three things in a box and the they would choose one of the boxes. Then they had the opportunity to keep it, or trade. Stirling went first. He got the Thor cup on the first try.  I would then explain the item - "This Thor cup is from 7-11, originally filled with Dr. Pepper that has been consumed, but it has been washed and you may fill it with whatever you would like!"  He was quick to trade it for another box. He got the hat. Then it was Liam's turn. I took the boxes to change them. I put a puke bag in each box. (Liam has gotten sick in the car a lot!) It was funny as he traded a puke bag for a puke bag! Then Payne went and got a shirt - but after a little "help" from us traded it and got the popcorn. After the game we did give each of them one of each. The popcorn Payne kept - and Liam got the tie because he only had 5. It was fun though. They had a good time playing it. It was a lovely Halloween.

Here is a picture of them in the hats - with the popcorn, puke bag and Thor cup.  I will have to post another pic of the tees one day!  (yes, Stirling has his eyes crossed!  It is honestly IMPOSSIBLE to get a good picture of all three boys!)

My blog!

So I am SUPER new at this - and I have no idea what I am doing.  Yesterday I had the brilliant idea while taking a shower (where all brilliant ideas seem to be born) of starting a blog.  Lately I have been addicted to blogs - especially craft blogs - and have found some great ideas.  I have also been meaning to keep a better family record.  We are actually pretty bad about that.  However, I type fast - and I can be a little bit of a tech nerd.  Hubby is honestly the tech guy - but since I am married to him - I might as well make him proud and enter the blogging world.  :-)  Here is a little about each of us:

I listed my likes and dislikes in the about me section... which I will probably add to often, as I post.  I will remember something I love... and forget things I don't.  I have been married for 20 years to a wonderful man.  (although we have helped each other through the years become as wonderful as we are!)  He is the perfect companion for me.  I often like to think of myself as a strong, capable woman - but recently realized that I am because of him.  He helps me be who I am - and I love him a great deal.  I like teenagers.  I am strongly considering going back to school to get a teaching certificate to teach High School or Jr. High.  History.  I really like history.  I like to learn a little about everything - which doesn't make me an expert in much of anything.  :-)  I love to hear people's "stories".   I love to decorate, sew, crochet, garden, and serve others. 

My husband is a Tech guy - a geek.  He was born in the 60's.  (a fact he hates that I use - because it was Nov. of 1969 - but I was August of 1970 so I always let him know I was born in a different decade!)  He has always loved computers - and he works magic with them.  I say that because I have no idea how they work.  I don't think I will ever understand how binary code works until the eternities.  :-)  He has tried and tried to explain it, but my mind does not work that way.  He likes geocaching, Star Wars, cars, computers, movies, paintballing, animals, teenagers (so closely related!) and me!  :-)  He is a good man - with a great sense of humor.  ... a fantastic smile!  One reason I married him is because I knew we would always laugh - and we have.

(This is picture is 2 years old! Liam is as tall as Camden now!  Stirling is much taller!  I love this pic though, because it displays their personalities so well.  Christian is off on the side and he just said some smart aleck remark.  Too cute their expressions!)

Daughter, Camden - is living in Atlanta now.  She is working two jobs.  I wish she were going to school.  :-)  She is getting pretty serious with a boy.  I am not sure how ready I am to think about that.  She will be 20 in February... which just cannot be possible.  She is an amazing lady!  She is artistic - and so talented.  She is beautiful.  (although she doesn't know that!)  She is funny.  She is caring - often concerned for others and their well being.  She LOVES cats.  She is a strong woman - even though she is only 5ft 1in (and a HALF)  She is smart and she is a lot of fun.  She likes Star Wars, cars, graphic design, paintballing, colors, and clothes.  (I know, for our only girl there are not a lot of "girl" things in that list) 

Stirling is almost 16 - in December!  He is very talented - and seems to be naturally good at almost whatever he tries.  He is a great singer and participates in the show choir at school.  He is a good pianist.  He has only had lessons about 2 years - and does very well.  He is a diver for the school as well.  He just took that up November before his Freshman year and he does well in the sport.  He is very social.  He likes Star Wars (trying to collect enough shirts to wear each day for an entire week), cars, music, diving, girls, talking, vocabulary, math, playing, and food... mostly cereal and fast food. 

Payne is #3.  He is names after Payne Stewart - the golfer from Australia.  He is also extremely talented - but in very different ways from his brother.  They have often been best of friends/worst of enemies their whole lives.  They are very competitive.  Payne has developed a great propensity for leadership.  He is a good leader - and great with people.  He loves others.  I have watched him jump in and serve without promptings.  I am so proud of him.  He is good at building stuff.  He has a mind that just knows how to fix things - or build them.  He is a great "lawn mower" - with amazing lines in the lawn.  He has just started to make a "green" in the backyard.  He is witty and extremely funny.  He likes cars (REALLY likes cars), wrestling, animals (especially snakes and cats), hamburgers and pizza.

Liam is #4.   He is very laid back.  We have often called him our "Amber Alert" kid because he will wander off - because he just has always thought he was an adult - and more than once has given us quite a scare!   He loves to read, and can be found often with a book.  He also has started diving - and really enjoys it.  He is a good diver.  He is kind, and sensitive to others.  He likes to spend time playing... and is VERY good at "going under the radar" so he doesn't have to work when the whole family is working.  However, if it is just the two of us he will work very hard.  (so I suspect a lot of it has to do with his brothers)  He likes books, music, movies, cars, blue, Star Wars, and watermelon. 

We have one kitty - Ollie, and two snakes - Veron and Sheila.  (a Mexican milk snake - I think - and a Ball python... I know, I know I am a little crazy letting them have snakes - but it did earn me some great "mom" points... and once I got over the "ick" factor they are really great pets)

Well, that is about the introduction of us!  I will talk more about us at each time.  This is just my first post - and my first ramblings!  :-)  Now I am going to go and sew!