Viva Las Vegas Baby

Grandma Tiger and Cousin Emmarie came to visit earlier this summer. We were not even in the house for 24 hours and Miah went to pick them up at the airport. The house was a mess. I had no time to unpack or organize. Luckily my mom is an angel and helped out. Bells was so excited to see them both. She adores more than anything seeing and playing with her cousins. She really doesn't get to do that much which breaks our hearts. 

Well the next morning we got up and us girls headed to Vegas. Miah is studying for National Dental Boards and he needed some time to study. 

Grandma Tiger wanted to make sure and take lots of pictures, in front of every cactus and rock on the way. Have I ever mentioned we live in a desert? Do you know how many rocks and cacti there are on a 4-5 hour drive? Lets just say this picture says it perfectly. When it is a 112 degrees outside and the drive is long...nobody wants to prolong the drive and keep stepping out in the heat. 

But we love you Grandma Tiger and we still got out to take your pictures. 

We even stopped at the Hoover Dam. Seriously though, it was way too hot. 

But the girls did find it pretty interesting. 

Really, they were just having fun hanging out with each other. 

I found this bug and it was about the size of my fist at least. 

Hello beautiful!

We finally arrived to the hotel and the girls were in awe of the craziness and people. They loved the pools. Bells thinks Vegas is a place to go and ride the escalators. 

I really loved having the girls hang out with each other. Emmarie is such a good cousin!

Bells liked having somebody to be goofy with and she couldn't of had a better partner! Emmarie's middle name is Goober!

They loved all the fun entertainment and sites in Vegas. Amazed at how a building could look like this. 

The Rain Forrest Cafe was a blast. Definitely their favorite place to eat. They could of spend hours throwing coins into the crocodiles mouth. 

She really isn't afraid of anything. 

Did these fish come from Hawaii?

They sure do love their Grandma Tiger!

How could you go to Vegas and not stop at the M&M World?

We were able to watch a movie while we were there. 

Poor red lost his M.

They wanted this car to take back. 

I really do love this girl. I wish she lived closer to us. 

She promised this was the last picture. 

This sign made me laugh. It sums up the drive in the desert, there is NOTHING around. 

When we got home Miah took us to a park he found. We fed some geese and Emmarie wasn't too impressed. 

But Grandma Tiger...she could be a bird lady!

We are thinking we want all the cousins to come and visit and for Grandma Tiger and Papa to hurry back from Hawaii. We love spending time with family. It really gives Bells and I somebody to hangout with because Miah is always studying. 3 more years....3 more years. 

Morning With The Peacocks

We love The Sahuaro Ranch Park! 

If you haven't been please check it out. 

Lots of fun historical buildings, tractors and farm stuff. 

Beautiful flowers, corn fields and best of all....

PEACOCKS!

We left the house around 7am because we wanted to be the first there and well it just gets so stinking hot fast! Being the first people at the park means, picking up the peacock feathers. These guys are pretty tame and love to eat goldfish, bread, animal crackers and probably anything else. 

The first ones we found were pretty funny. They came right up to us and were begging for food. They would surround me, apparently they were ganging up on me or trying to at least. I swear I just missed a poke in the rear end because I wasn't feeding them fast enough. 

They will just eat right out of your hand.

Bells is a tough cookie. She went right on ahead and fed them too. 

Have you ever heard the call of a peacock? It sounds scary, like a baby crying. Those cries echoed through the park. Way up in the trees, under the cars and even in the corners. 

This guy was giving Miah a tough time.

I love their colors. It also reminds me of Hawaii. Bells and I would run along a huge field that peacocks lived in. We would sometimes bring bread and feed those too. Once we scared a male and he walked right in front of us and spread out his tail for us. Seriously, 5 ft in front of the stroller. I wish I could of captured Bells' face on camera when she saw that. 

This guy wanted a photo session all to himself. 

I'd say he has a pretty good end of the runway pose. 

What do you think?

These peacocks seem to have the most brilliant colors I have ever seen. The pictures really don't do justice. 

The females are more friendly or should I say hungrier? The males will set back a bit and watch you and slowly come up to you. 

This guy begged for a close up but mentioned his right side is his best. 

Just look at the colors of the tails. You really have to go visit! But don't forget to invite us along too!

Bells throwing up the Shaka next to the fence.

I love this picture. She had picked up a few feathers and sat down on the steps just waving them in front of her face. Telling me how beautiful they were. 

Now this guy was getting a little jealous and wanted some attention too. 

Not really, it was getting hot and he was taking a break in the "shade". 

But goodness, he sure is a handsome guy!

This park is also a great place for family pictures. Lots of green grass, yes we have that here in the dessert. The buildings are so amazing and the kids will never get bored. 

That was our morning and we loved it with just the 3 of Us and the peacocks. 

Visitors!

We had some visitors from the North!

Perfect timing in the middle of the heat wave. 

Grandma and Grandpa Taylor.

Bells enjoyed getting to spend time with them, she hasn't seen them in over a year.

We were able to spend a few days with them. We went swimming, to see a movie and had a great time. 

Bells laughed at how little hair Grandpa had. 

Grandma reading Bells a story before bed. 

Bells making them laugh with silly faces. She is such a goof!

Ellah sandwich!

She is such a silly kid!

Wrestling with Grandpa. 

Bells wanted to take a picture, not too bad!

Why are all of our group pictures of Miah and I hunched over? 

We have a similar one like this in Hawaii....weird!

We received a great present...

A Pergola in the back yard for some shade. They are pouring the cement to put the posts in the ground. 

We are almost done with it, we just have to add some shade.

They had to be hosed down after this.

I did not want them in my house tracking cement everywhere. 

A hard working crew for sure. 

It was a great time having the in-laws here. Camille and I were able to sneak away to Jo-Anns for a bit. I like having somebody to go with. I think they were finally getting used to the heat and then had to go back to the cold....no thanks!!

We will post pictures of the Pergola next post....we just have to hang the shade.

Thanks for visiting Camille and Sam!!

We had a blast!

Chocolate Pizza Time

It is hot here in Arizona. I not talking about, go outside and play baseball kinda weather. I'm talking about constantly dripping with sweat no matter what you do weather. Like 116 degrees hot. 

I love the warm weather, ask anybody. But seriously...here in Arizona, not so much. I think a huge reason is, there is nothing to do. I wish I could tell you I could hear the waves crashing against the shore because that would make this heat tolerable. I wish I could hear the ice cream truck song but the ice cream truck melted months ago. I can't hear a thing. The wind is hot and burns your eyes. 

We swim in the pool every day but that can get old because there isn't shells or fish to find. 

We are getting by though, thanks to The Chocolate Connection. 

They had a fun little thingy for the kiddos. 

They go to the shop which has lots of wonderful treats, they get to pick an apron and hat. 

First they decorate with whatever they wants. Bells was so excited because there were dinosaurs.

I had to keep her on track because with all the treats as distractions, she was getting lost!!

Hat and Apron complete. She is ready to bake.

She was able to fill her own plate with chocolate from the fountain. She told me she wouldn't mind this in her house, ummmm no thanks. 

Taste testing the chocolate pizza. 

It was great, they gave them lots of goodies that looked like pizza toppings to decorate their pizza. She had so much fun. Then she had to let it bake in the cold fridge. 

Story time. These ladies were awesome. 

The story was about a girl who had chocolate socks. It was so cute. Then they were able to make our own chocolate socks out of paper. 

She loved using the scissors herself. 

The best part was getting to fill their chocolate socks with goodies of their choice. 

Bells and Joseph smiling from ear to ear.

I loved this event for a whopping $5, you really can't go wrong. 

But more importantly, Bells loved it.

Now getting the chocolate home, that is a different story.

My Sewing Desk

As you all know Miah is talented, I am bragging I know but he really is. I grew up with a talented Dad too, so I thought the just came that way. I had a friend tell me the other day, her husband doesn't know how to use a power tool, what? Maybe my Pops and husband are just that special. 

Well our new home has a room for the office and a sewing room! I am way excited. 

I had one problem, storage space. So what did I do? I talked with Miah. So we found some plans and he tweaked them.  He came up with this desk and I came up with the top. I love it. I really really really love it. 

This is the view from the front. Lots of cubbies for my "crap" as Miah calls it. 

The side has cubbies too. They are perfect size for my fabric stash. 

I love the top. I didn't want just some piece of wood. I wanted a design, one that I can call mine. So here is what I did. 

I went and picked out a stencil. I grabbed some white paint too. I placed the stencil on and rolled the paint on. I let it dry and I wanted a darker stain so after I let it dry, I stained it. Then my heart skipped a beat. It was better than I had envisioned. I added a clear coat to make sure it was smooth as butter so my fabric doesn't catch. The swirls remind me of the ocean but then what doesn't?

I added all of my crap and grabbed my husband and gave him the biggest kiss ever.

There is a rule. I have to keep my stuff on my side, he office is the other side of the room. 

Thanks Miah. 

What would I do without you?

I'd have to find somebody else to make me a desk....

This Family Pledges Allegiance to the Flag

If that bothers anybody, well that is just too bad!

 Happy 4th of July America!

We had  a wonderful day. We woke up to work on our yard. We added some pavers and grass. So far it looks great. We played some games, Bells had a nice nap. Then we headed to the baseball game in Surprise, which had fireworks afterwards. 

I was bored the other day while Miah was studying at the school. Bells was taking a nap and I was left alone with some extra pieces of wood. As I have said before, I always have crafts stuff around. I needed a 4th of July decoration for the door. I put a few things together and ended up with this lovely decor for my front door. Wood, paint, power tools, stickers, cereal boxes and galvanized wire. 

I love it!

The baseball games was HOT! When I say HOT I mean sitting right about 111 degrees at least. We sat in the shade, hmmm, shade helped drop it to 110 degrees. We sat sweating the whole game. It was so much fun and Bells loves to watch and play baseball. We had lots of yummy treats like pieces of pineapple shaped like stars on a stick. They were giving those out for free. 

Miah and Bells just chilling. She is into funny faces. I actually don't think it is much of a stage, just her personality. She is crazy and goofy just like her mommy!

Happy Happy Happy!

Point right there....funny face, funny girl with a green tongue. 

I just like this shot. One of my favorite shots in baseball, not of a baseball players bum, geesh. But just of the crowd, home plate, the batter and of course his number was 3. 

We went to the Texas Rangers Spring Season field.

I love living right by 4 MLB teams spring season fields. 

Baseball is just awesome!

The game and all the proceeds went to the Granite Mountain HotsShots. 

That made it even better. I tell you, that has rocked me. 19 heroes have now been laid to rest. God Bless them and their families. We will always remember you. 

Seriously....this girl!

We went to the grass afterwards to watch the fireworks. It was the best show we have been to. It lasted over 15 minutes and has 3 fireworks neither of us had ever seen before. They belted out patriotic music the whole time. I couldn't think of a better way to spend the 4th of July. Watching baseball, fireworks and spending time with the 3 of Us. 

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

 I  would have to say that the 4th of July has become one, if not my favorite holidays. There is no receiving or giving gifts. This is  a time to just spend with the family and friends, celebrating our Freedom. Showing how much we love our Country and just being thankful. I love looking around and seeing all the red, white and blue. 

We love you America!!