2015 recap and 2016 resolutions

2015 went by so fast! Like many years, it had its highs and a few big lows. Unfortunately nine weeks after losing my grandpa, my grandma passed away in January. I'm so grateful we got one more Christmas with her after losing my grandpa but it was so hard to lose them so close.

There were a lot of bright spots in the year though. In the spring we finally felt like it might be time to have a third dog again. We had been keeping an eye out at the Welfare League's website to see if it looked like any dogs would fit in with our current crew. While we were looking, we learned about a dog who needed a home from one of our family members. We agreed to meet her and it was love at first sight. Foxy joined our family - a two (now three) year old chihuahua-German shepherd mix. She is everyone's little love puppy and I couldn't imagine not having her here.

I'm still chugging along in year two of my job and I got promoted this year! It's been such a great move for me, both in terms of my career and the amazing people I get to work with. J started Kindergarten; C is in third grade and tested into the gifted program!

We took a leap and bought an RV, which we took to San Diego for what is turning into an annual vacation for us. It was so great having a place to chill, with a kitchen to cook in instead of having to go out for every meal. The boys had a great time hanging with their cousins and riding around on bikes and hanging out at the beach. We took them to the San Diego Zoo for the first time too!

As in years past I also tried to keep up with a goal list, so on to the list:

• Blog three times a month - nope not even close. Things were so hectic and yet so ordinary that I didn't have a lot to say
• Make stockings by Christmas for each member of the family - 50% done. C and J both got to use theirs this year, but I still need to do E's and mine.

• Knit at least three pairs of socks - yep, in under the wire. I finished E's Christmas socks two days before Christmas. Funny enough two of the three pairs were for him this year. But he appreciates them so much.
• Make a shawl/stole - not quite. I'm about 2/3 done with a scarf/stole thing
• Sew an item of clothing - yep. Made four bow ties for the kids in my sister's wedding to wear.
• Make bread - yes!!! After being on my list every year, I made some on Monday! So worth the effort - especially now that I have my kitchen aid
• Make caramels - nope
• Make truffles - nada
• Lose 10 pounds - not even close
• Read at least seven books - blasted through this. I read at least 11; I think it was more but that's all I wrote down
• Learn to play guitar - nope and I think this will end up waiting a few more years
• Learn a new cast on/cast off - no. Most of my knitting was types of things I know how to do.
• Finish office/craft room organization - Almost. I got a new desk that can change heights so I can use it for typing on the computer or sewing, then raise it up if I want to cut fabric. I also got a new (old) file cabinet from my grandparents house when we were cleaning it up. It's super functional and nicer than mine but very 1980s wood and gold finishes. Doesn't match the room. So I sanded it down and am repainting it "Oxford Blue" aka Tardis blue. The handles are painted silver. It's actually sitting in the garage waiting for the last coat of paint. Then my beautiful office/craft room is done!!

So four done, six not and three half done or more. Not too shabby. I wish I had done a little better but c'est la vie. Now onward to 2016. I'm guessing grad school will be a time suck so this is a short but hopefully reasonable list:

• Get accepted into and start grad school
• Sew a skirt for myself
• Lose 10 pounds
• Finish the last two stockings
• Read 8 books (Honeymoon Suite - 4/12/16; Babyland - 4/15/16; Heart of the Matter - 4/19/16)
• Make truffles
• Blog 24 times
• Knit 2 pairs of socks

Happy 2016!

 

 

San Diego Vacation

Last week we took a vacation to San Diego. My MIL and FIL and my SIL and her family go every summer; last year we went for a long weekend but this year we wanted to take a little more time there. My BIL and his wife were able to get up there too so for a few days we had the whole family there.

Our first day was a travel day so we didn't get to do much but we did get there in time to see fireworks. My in laws were close enough to Seaworld that we were able to see the nightly fireworks. C used my phone and took a few pictures (okay a lot of pictures).

 

Day 2 was a trip to Pacific beach with most of the family. The boys and I had a great time, although I did take a tumble and scraped up my knee (still messed up a week later!)

The boys also learned how to fish - sort of. My mother in law tried to teach them but it mostly resulted in squeals over worms and tangled lines, no fish.

Day 3 was our Legoland visit. One of the new features is a behind the scenes feature of the Lego Movie, including the actual set. Plus the boys got to meet Wyld Style.

We also found a cool Mexican food restaurant to eat at in Carlsbad after we left the park.

The next day we took a tour of the USS Midway, then hopped aboard the Coronado Island ferry. Plus that evening we grabbed some froyo!

Our last full day was another day back at the beach with family and friends. After we got cleaned up the boys went to hang with my mother in law while E and I got to go out. E was nice enough to stop in a yarn store with me (the Grove) while I picked up some locally dyed yarn - my souvenir! Then we headed to Gaslamp. It was a bit nutty as Comicon started the next day but we still managed to find a good Italian food place and then a pub afterwards for drinks. Plus we stopped by the Ghiradelli store and got some chocolate.

Unfortunately we had to head back to Phoenix and the 116 degree temps the next day. But I had so much fun while we were there!

 

Vegas!

This past week E and I went to Las Vegas. We had already done quite a bit of traveling this year between Iowa and San Diego but this time we had a chance to go somewhere just the two of us so we seized the opportunity. It was so nice to get away, even for a few days. We spent most of the time just wandering from hotel to hotel but also had a nice dinner each night and also went on the Effiel Tower Experience. A few pics from the trip:

The view from our room. We stayed at Paris.

This was the view from dinner the first night - we ate at a place with an outdoor patio and spent some time people watching while we ate. Plus the Bellagio fountains went off while we were there.

This is a view of the strip from the Effiel Tower. Kind of scary for me when we were going up but I really enjoyed it when we were up there.

Gardens inside the Bellagio

Walking on the bridge between New York New York and Excalibur

Inside the M&m store. I've got to admit that a store devoted to chocolate is right up my alley!

Speaking of chocolate, this was dessert the second night. Chocolate and vanilla mousse with a ladyfingers crust and chocolate curls. E went with the strawberry cheesecake.

I had a lot of fun on our trip. I think we will have to make this an annual event!

 

San Diego

We took a trip to San Diego a few weeks ago for a long weekend. It was a blast. We stayed near Mission Bay and went to the beach one day. My in-laws were there so we stayed with them. It was great - we pretty much spent the whole time relaxing!

J at Mission Beach

C watching the waves

E made sand castles with the boys (and their minions). This is one of my favorite pictures.

We stayed right by the bay!

We were close enough to see the fireworks at Sea World

It was so great to escape the heat and relax!

 

Vacation Part 2

Here's the rest of the vacation story...

Monday night we decided to stay in Des Moines so we wouldn't get back too late plus we thought it might be fun to visit the Capitol (my niece had done a history of Iowa report during the school year so she was interested in the building)

It's a beautiful building with a gold plated dome.

That is looking up to the ceiling from the middle of the first floor.

C in the House chambers

After that we went to the State History Museum. E and I took a picture in American Gothic. They had a lot of interesting history there.

Next it was time to visit my aunt's farm. C with the cows.

J checking out the tractor with my dad. We also went over to my cousin's house and had brats and hot dogs. The kids got to play and visit the chickens.

Wednesday we went and toured the town I grew up in.

Here's the hospital I was born at

And the house I lived in.

We also stopped at our old pizza place. Later that day was one of the more exciting (aka scary) adventures. We went to the mall by our old house and while we were there they issued a tornado warning. We actually had to take shelter in one of the hallways. Luckily the storm went straight east above us. But I was still a little anxious - it's not something I deal with in Arizona.

The next day we were on the road again, heading to South Dakota (another state I had never been to).

We stopped at a place called the Corn Palace, which basically is a tourist trap revolving around corn. Here we are acting corny.

The next day we went to Mount Rushmore. But first we stopped at a place called Wall Drug. The entire route along I90 is covered with signs advertising what amounts to a giant drug store and restaurant in Wall, SD.

Then it was off to Mount Rushmore!

It's really amazing how they were able to construct it.

They had a neat pathway with flags from all of the states at the entrance. Of course I took a pic of the AZ one.

After we left we stayed in Cheyenne for the night. Wyoming was the other state I hadn't been to before the trip.

We encountered another storm and I managed to get a picture of the lightning.

The next two days were primarily travel days, although we did stop at a place called Casa Bonita for lunch one day. It's a unique restaurant - they had divers performing while you eat.

On Sunday we finally made it back.

Hello Arizona! Glad to be back!

 

Vacation part 1

A few weeks ago we took a big vacation with my family (12 people total). The best way to sum it up would be 11 days, 8 states (including three I had never set foot in before), 3700 miles, 6 hotel stays, 1 family reunion, 1 amusement park, 1 national park, 1 flat tire, 1 tornado warning and lots of family. It was so much fun!

Now for the details! Our trip took us to Iowa for a family reunion. We also some sites along the way - I went to Mount Rushmore for the first time. The first two days and most of the third were all traveling. We took it slow with lots of breaks since we had five kids under the age of ten with us, stopping in Pueblo the first night and Grand Island, NE the next.

A bit of rain greeted us in New Mexico but we got a beautiful double rainbow out of it.

We played Simon Says before leaving the second day so we could get the sillies out (we also did the hokey pokey at one stop).

This sign was hilarious since we were going to our family reunion.

My first new state. We used to always take the south route when driving but this time we went north.

The third day we reached Iowa (that's what the sign says). Unfortunately about two hours from our destination we had a flat tire - while it was raining and we were about 20 miles from an actual city. So after rearranging kids, luggage, putting a donut on, and stopping at Costco for a new tire we were back on the road, arriving at my Grandma's house two hours after we expected to.

This was breakfast the next morning, which was the day of the reunion.

E and I at the reunion. The reunion was great! It was for the descendants of my great grandparents (so my grandma, her siblings, their kids, etc). We had about 55 people there, with 27 of us belonging to my Grandma's branch of the family tree. It was the first time my cousins and I had all been in the same room since 1996 and my grandma had all her kids, grandkids and great grandkids in one place. The trip was worth it for that alone.

It was a potluck with lots of socializing and games for the kids. (This was the rubber chicken relay.)

This is Flip the Rock. Years ago (I have no idea how many but at least 20) my cousins and I signed this rock. Every time we go back we have to check that it's still there. It's a bit (okay a lot) faded but it was still there!

The day after the reunion we went to Adventureland, an amusement park outside of Des Moines. Think Disneyland but smaller with shorter lines.

This is J, E and me on the train. J was absolutely fearless, wanting to go on any ride he could. Luckily his dad and aunts were more than happy to take him since I hate roller coasters and spinning rides. C and I were much more content to do the tamer rides. The nice thing about having so much family there is we could split up and go on the rides we wanted even if it meant I had my one year old nephew on a baby ride while my sister took my fearless three year old on a much more dramatic ride.

So that's the first half of the vacation!