LIFE IS ABOUT CHANGE

The best laid plans did not pan out this time. Unfortunately, the weather in Northern Arizona did not cooperate and we had to cancel the family camping trip to the rim. Possible snow, 20 degree night time temperatures and high winds did not sound like a fun weekend, especially with Jamie, Therese, Samantha and McKenzie sleeping in a tent. We will try again when return to Arizona in the fall. We have readjusted our plans and route and hope to be on the road east on Monday. In the mean time, I thought I'd share some of our activities since leaving all our friends at Superstition Lookout on April 10th. I couldn't resist and headed back for a morning with the remaining "ducks" at the pool. I've really missed the water aerobics. After our workout we headed to Gold Canyon Golf Course for a wonderful lunch on the patio - perfect day, beautiful view, and a wonderful visit with the girls. Glenna was taking the picture. I did manage to spend a "girlie" weekend with my daughter (Kelly) and grand daughters (Breanna and Alyson) in West Phoenix. I got to try some of the fitness exercises on the Wii - quite a work out!! Kelly, Alyson and I wandered around Scottsdale Fashion Square - window shopping and people watching - while Breanna went the movies with friends. We had a nice weekend. I left poor "Goldie" there for the summer and Kelly dropped me off at the light rail Monday morning after dropping the girls off at school and on her way to work. Robert picked me up at the end of the line in Mesa. It takes about one hour to get from one end to the other and it worked out great.
We were lucky enough to be here at Stephanie and Rob's to share in Aiden's 4th birthday party. I managed to catch a picture of him relaxing in mom's new lounge chair before the party started. Steph made him an awesome birthday cake with dinosaurs, a dinosaur train, pond, rocks, and lots of jungle foliage. Dinosaurs are one of Aiden's favorite things right now and he, Connor, Samantha and McKenzie were thrilled with it.Steph does an awesome job decorating cakes. She also smoked a wonderful brisket and with all the other goodies, it was a great picnic party. Rob made Steph a barrel smoker and it is amazing how tender and flavorful the meat is.She is having fun trying different meats in the smoker.
We also managed to catch up with with my son, Kevin, Romana, Christian, Juliana and Natalya in Claremont, California last weekend. We had an uneventful trip over on Friday and back on Monday, but I don't like all that heavy traffic around the LA area! Natalya was part of the cast for "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" put on by a local theater group on Saturday. This was her first time performing and she did a bang up job in the chorus. Her mom and dad gave her flowers after the performance.
Sunday we were up and on the road to Newport Beach for the day. It was partly overcast and "cold", according to our Arizona bones, but we were looking forward to a day at the beach. Around noon, the sun finally burned through the haze and Christian, Juliana and Natalya were finally brave enough to venture into the waves - not grandpa and I. We were still bundled up in jackets and sweatshirts - 64 degrees was a far cry from the 100 degrees we had left in Queen Creek! Of course, the surfers had been out all morning "catching the waves" They were fun to watch. We also saw dolphins swimming off shore - just past the surfers. We headed back to Webb in the afternoon after a picnic lunch on the beach. Oops forgot that Saturday evening we went out to dinner at a Japanese restaurant where they cook at your table and do tricks with their knives, etc. It was pretty neat and the food was plentiful and delicious. We had to take half of it home - way too much!!! Kevin - sneaky little devil - had told the wait staff when we got there that it was my birthday, so.... after dinner here they came with a kimono for me to put on and they all stood around singing happy birthday. Talk about embarrassed - the restaurant was packed! I'm not sure that I will forgive him for that part. I told him pay back time can be a bitch! Just kidding, it was a very nice evening and we had a great time. Here we are - Romana, Natalya, me, Robert, Christian, Kevin (the rat) and Juliana.
We have spent this week getting ready for our trip East, catching up with an old friend from Meridian RV Resort and visiting Robert's mom. It has been a busy few weeks. We have enjoyed our visit here with Stephanie, Rob, Connor and Aiden. I have a great appreciation for parents of 4 and 6 year old boys. They have kept me busy and on my toes!! It has been fun talking with them, reading books with them, and, of course playing with them. I even picked up some pointers on playing basketball from going to the basketball camp that Connor attended. It seems impossible that we will be on the road shortly, the winter went way too fast and summer came way to quickly. So many plans and so little time - guess there is always next year.