...right before Christmas!! Little Bro Mark was graduating from ASU on Dec. 17th and we could NOT miss this momentous occasion.
Mark is going to be a biology teacher. Pretty awesome. You are awesome Mark and we are so proud--you are all grown up!
We also had some great adult bonding time because we didn't bring the kids! Gasp! I know, I know--I can't believe I left my children right before Christmas. But honestly, they barely gave a 2nd look as we left the house because their Grammy was taking care of them. She is major fun--what can I say?
We hiked Camelback Mountain in Paradise Valley (where Stephenie Meyer lives--I was tempted many times to hunt down her place of establishment and still can't believe I was right there and didn't try harder to meet her!) NOTICE: I am wearing flip-flops. No one told me to bring hiking shoes! If you know me at all, you know that I wear flip-flops everywhere. This was no exception. I hiked a mountain, up one side and down the other, in my flip-flops.
I must confess that the best Christmas present I received this year was The Whipples! Our kindred spirit friends from Las Vegas meet us in Arizona for some ultimate good times.
Like Brett going down the slide at the restaurant. He was the only adult I saw doing that. Hey Brett, I think that is for the kids!
And getting really messy with b-b-que sauce and such.
We also stopped by the Mesa, AZ temple grounds--twice! because the first night we got there right as they turned the lights off. So we tried again the next night. Very festive.
Okay so another one of my favorite parts of our trip was getting to see some of our oldest friends, Dustin and Maddy! Boy, they are doing great as you can see. It was so good to see them. Their children are adorable and so full of personality. I often tell myself, as I read Maddy's blog, that I wish we lived closer to them because they are so much fun! I wish we could hang out with them all the time, but we will have to settle for every so often; unless we have to suddenly leave for the wilderness, right Maddy? It was also funny how comfortable I felt calling Dustin, D-Rog, just like old times. Thanks Guys! Love you guys (and that delicious french toast breakfast dish you made, Dustin--YUM!)
4 comments:
What a fun trip! I am so jealous the Whipples got to see you!
I love your new picture!! You all look fab! Miss you guys, looks like all is well. Good ol' Whipples. That must have been nice to see them. Will looks so handsome in his Christmas solo picture. Don't they grow up way too fast? I love his glasses too. Loves to you all!
That trip definitely tops the list of "Little Christmas Miracles."
I'm looking forward to the next trip...was it Greece? Maybe the cruise to Shreveport will have to suffice:). It doesn't matter though...we could hang out on the couch of a hotel room and still have a fabulous time!
Thanks for squeezing us in! We just loved getting to see you. Love you guys lots and lots. We will definitely have to make a trip out to Texas one of these days. It would be fun. Plus we could get our wilderness planning in. Maybe Ellie and Wil should meet first?
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