25th Anniversary Weekend

We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by flying to Phoenix on Friday morning. We stayed at The Boulders Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Scottsdale. The place was absolutely beautiful with Adobe style casitas and gorgeous golf courses and lush cactus scenery.

Saturday night dinner at the Roaring Fork in Scottsdale.

Before we left on our vacation, we stopped by at Zija to see everyone's Halloween costumes. Kelli was a Rod look-a-like. Good job Kelli.

Friday night we went to see a football game at Desert Vista High School. Our old friend, Danny Hinds, is the coach and we wanted to go see coach his last game of the season. Desert Vista beat Chandler 38-31. This is Rod talking with Danny's dad, Benny. His 77th birthday was that Friday.

Old friends, Danny and Rod after the game. They both used to have hair.

The resort grounds.

Our casita

Our casita.

Entrance to our casita.

Rod studying the different kind of cacti.

Trees and cacti

The Main Lodge

7th hole of the South Course. Right outside our back patio.

The Boulders

Tree Tunnel along my morning walk

10th hole of the North Course.

We had a great weekend, just two of us again kindling our love.

So grateful for Rod for putting up with me for the last 25 years. Love him more than life itself.

Sadie Hawkins - The Answer to McKenzie

"I know it was hard to POP the
question,
but it will be easy to POP the
answer"

Balloon, that was taped to the poster, is full of glittered confetti and Alex's answer "Yes" on a small piece of paper inside the
balloon. Alex also provided a pin to poke the balloon with. I would hate to see the floor after McKenzie pops the balloon. Hopefully she did it outside.

I drove Alex to McKenzie's house last night. He took the poster to her front door, rang the door bell and ran back to the car.

Sadies is on Saturday with a theme "Cirque du Soleil". I think the boys are supposed to be lion tamers.

Nappy Hair is Gone

Alex's hair cut day was yesterday. He complained about his "nappy" hair. The older he has gotten, the more curl he is getting in his hair.

Pauly D hair from Jersey Shore

Big relief. Looking and feeling good again.

Then (1986) and Now (2011)

I think we get better with age.

25 Years and I'm Worth It

We are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary this weekend in Scottsdale, Arizona. Before our trip on Friday morning, Rod surprised me with the most beautiful new ring(s) that he had custom made for me.

Yes, I cried when he slipped the rings on my finger and when I saw them for the first time.

Put your sun glasses on folks because they are blingy and shiny.

Kentucky Comes to Utah

Alex's girlfriend, Courtney, arrived from Kentucky on Thursday afternoon to spend a weekend with us. Alex had a fall break so he was free to spend quality time with her.

Courtney arrives to Utah from Kentucky

Courtney and Alex. So cute.

Friday morning we hiked to the Y with Alex and Courtney.

Me and Courtney, half way up the mountain

Courtney and Alex climbing up and up.

Alex and Courtney on the big rock.

Looking over Provo

Ready to hike down?

We are done with the hike.

Saturday morning we showed Courtney the current Zija building. (Courtney's parents are Zija distributors)

Zija's new building. Will be done right before Christmas.

Then it was time to stuff Courtney into Rod's new golf travel case. She fit in it just right.

We went to Park City and took the Alpine Coaster. Last time when I was riding in the sled with Rod, I swore that I would never go with him again. And here we were. He promised to brake at corners.

Courtney and Alex came behind us. She was scared.

Still smiling when we were going up the mountain. It was screaming all the way down.

They survived.

We were waiting to go to dinner at Sundance.

Courtney and Alex having dinner at Sundance.

All finished with dinner at Sundance.

Sunday morning we took Courtney to the airport and said good-bye to her. She made it safely home. We had such a great time with her. She is a lovely young woman with a funky accent.

Throw Down, Smack Down, Cook-Off

Craig and Whitney hosted an annual chili/dessert cook-off yesterday at their house. Craig and his nephew Clayton were the official judges. When I walked in, I asked Craig if I can bribe him, although, I was quite confident that maybe one of my dishes would win something.

The tasting began.


Two amateurs, Whitney and I and one professional chef, Kris took part in the chili cook-off. My chili, white bean chicken chili is in the front. Whitney's in the middle which was so yummy with chicken, bacon, corn, tomatoes, green chilis etc., and Kris, the professional chef made two. Let me describe those two chilis as I heard him describe them. "The first chili is a deconstructed chili, with the basic compotents of spicy tomato gelee, beef consomme and black bean foam served in a shot glass with a chili oil crouton". At this time I was thinking, damn! I just opened a bunch of cans and put them into the crock-pot and let it simmer for 7 hours. The second chili Kris brought was "a Creole inspired chili with an aromatic bath around the chili, so when you eat the chili, you need to smell the aromatics at the same time". Again, I was thinking, I read a recipe and opened some cans...


Clayton and Craig are judging the chilis. Craig thought that Kris was the winner of his venison chili (I liked it too) and Clayton thought that Whitney's was the best, like what his mother would make. Some people came to tell me that mine was the best. So clearly we were all winners.

Craig and Clayton still tasting.
Whitney and Rayder and Kris in the background.

Innocent by-standers waiting for the judgment.
Alex, Elle, Kenna with Melanie's baby Rome, Megan and Kendall

Then it was time for desserts. Desserts were more bountiful than the chili.

Melanie brought a Pumpkin Cheesecake

Kendall and Megan brought Strawberries with Heaven on a Cloud

Ashley and Chris brought Pumpkin Chocolate Brownies

Elle brought Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies

Kelli brought Maple Bacon Cupcakes

Stephen brought Butter Cake

I brought Lemon Mousse

Craig thought my Lemon Mousse was the best. YAY!!!

Clayton thought that the Pumpkin Chocolate Brownies were the best.

So I took one win home. Good job me.

48+70=Holy Crap=Birthday Luncheon

My old co-worker Nancy and I share a birthday, which is today. We have always gone to lunch on our birthday since we got to know each other in 1991. That's 20 years ago, folks. She turned 70 today.

Rod Down Under (Australia)

Rod traveled on business to Sydney, Australia this week. After a brutal 14 hours and 50 minute flight, he finally got there. He tells me that Sydney is absolutely a gorgeous place and wishes that I was there with him. No kidding!

On Sunday he continues his trip to Tokyo, Japan.

We miss him already.

BYU vs. San Jose State

T-shirt
Turtleneck
Zija jacket
Ski jacket
Long johns
Jeans
Socks
Winter boots
Hat
Mittens

That's what I wore to the BYU football game on Saturday night. And needless to say, I was freezing. I pointed out to Rod that it was probably 20 degrees (-7 C) and Rod pointed out by blowing into the air that we couldn't even see our own breath, so most likely it was still in the 40s. Well, I was still freezing.

We left at the beginning of the 3rd quarter and got home 10 minutes later to see BYU beat San Jose State 29-16 (at the time I was in bed and a cup of hot chocolate in my hand)