Thursday March 10 to March 18 2011

Addy getting her manicure

Larry enjoying his GREEN Beer on St Patty's Day!

Addison trying to pull both her Dora suitcases into airport


Addison ready to hit the swimming pool!



Mommy and Addison swimming at Silveridge
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Thursday March 10, 2011

Went to my painting class this morning. Audrey and Glennis joined Dorothy and I today. It's been about 3 weeks since I've seen either of them. It was a very relaxing day and all except Dorothy painted Iris's. Dorothy choose to paint a bird but I don't remember what the name of the bird was. Dorothy did a wonderful job on her painting. She has steadily improved since I've been painting with her over the last two years. She enters her paintings in the little county fair in Colorado where she lives and this past summer she won first place. I always enjoy being with Audry and Glennis as they are just easy people to like. Everyone did a nice job on their Iris's and each of us choose a different color background. I used a beige with the Iris's in a purple but some used more of a pinkish purple which was a nice color as well. This is the second painting I've completed since I've been here that turned out well. The other four paintings need work when I get home as I did not have time to finish them in our class.

Tonight we grilled steak and fish and dined in for a change. I have been doing quite well lately about cooking at home. Actually it is more enjoyable than eating out because every place we go is packed with people every day of the week. I imagine there are many places that suffer greatly when the 'snowbirds' leave town. We had a nice relaxing meal with our wine!! We pretty much drink wine with every meal we have at home. We bought a case of '2 buck chuck' the last time we went to Trader Joe's but I think we are going to have to make another trip back for more before we leave for home!

Friday March 11, 2011

We got our showers and did our normal domestic duties and headed for the airport to pick up Taylor and Addison. They arrived at 11:30am and their flight was on time. Addison came running to Larry and I when she saw us and had a grin on her face from ear to ear. Taylor looked good but felt terrible. She came down with the flu on Wednesday and didn't know if she would be able to come she felt so bad. She said she felt like she had a little more energy this morning but her throat is sore and glands are swollen. Addison went to the doctor last Tuesday and she had a bad ear infection so she is on antibiotics and ear drops. I asked Taylor if she wanted to go to the Urgent Care but she decided to wait till tomorrow to see if she felt better.
We retrieved the luggage and headed home. We stopped at Fuddrucker's for burgers on the way home. This is always a great place to eat as well. We have several favorites that only exist in Arizona, unfortunately. Addy ate fries, which is her norm. She doesn't eat enough for a bird. She is very tiny and petite but very healthy.

Came back home and Addy was so thrilled to be at mamaw's! She is such a joy to have around. She brought her Dora suitcase so she had to pack and unpack it at least 10 times during the day. It was packed with her toys so she rearranged them several times. We all laughed when Larry said she was training to be a professional packer.

We went to Red Lobster for dinner and Addison was excited to eat Crab Legs. We scarfed down 4 1/2 pounds of Crab Legs between the four of us. We were stuffed and even Addy ate a fair amount compared to what she normally eats. We came home and everyone was so stuffed, we watched a little TV and hit the bed.

Saturday March 12, 2011

When we got up this morning, Taylor felt terrible so I told her to get dressed and I was going to take her to the Urgent Care Clinic. We drove through Mc Donalds and got Addison a breakfast sandwich, which she finished two bites of. We went into the clinic and Dr Ty was working. I saw him the last time I came in for my cold, cough, nose issues. They took Taylor right in and he told her she could have strip throat but the antibiotic he was giving her would take care of it so he didn't bother with a throat culture. He asked how I was doing and she told him not good so he came out front and told me to come back so he could recheck me. When he checked me he said he was going to give me a steroid shot. I told him since none of the antibiotics seemed to make much difference that I was convinced it was allergies. He said he'd give me the shot and some sample allergy tablets to take to see if it helped. He also gave me a prescription for another nose spray. He is such a great guy and he played with Addison a lot. He and his wife have five children and the last time I was there, his youngest was in the office with his wife so I met them both.

We left the clinic and took the prescriptions down to Walgreen's to drop off to be filled. They said it would be about 30 minutes to pick them up. We went to Fresh and Easy to pick up some groceries and were going back to get prescriptions but Walgreen's called to say they were waiting for insurance approval. We brought the groceries home and went to Kohl's to buy Taylor some capri's since she only brought jeans down. She said she was so sick, she couldn't even think when she was trying to pack her things. Kyle did most of the packing for Addison did a fine job. Taylor found a couple pair of Capri's and we bought Addy and Morgan a pair of sandals. Addy's were flip flops but the ones I bought for Morgan were adorable. They were gold and came up around the ankles like a gladiator style.

We finished at Kohl's and went over to the flea market. We walked a lot and sat down to listen to the music. They always have live music in one of the buildings. Addison was really into the music--she sat and listened for a long time. We walked on and Taylor found a nice pair of flip flops for her as she only packed shoes so needed something cooler to wear. Addison had seen a Dora suitcase when we first arrived at the flea market and wanted it but I told her to look around to see if she liked something else better. On our way out of the market she said she wanted the suitcase so I bought it for her. She is such a riot as she pulls it behind her swinging one arm like she is really on a misson. She was soooo- pleased with her new purchase. When we got home she emptied everything out of the other Dora bag and repacked the new one with her things---SEVERAL TIMES!!

We grilled steaks and Addison and I had fish. Had a good dinner and sat around and visited and laughed at Addy. She is so funny and always in a good mood, much different than her sister Morgan. Addison's first words out of her mouth when she wakes up in the morning is 'let's go bye bye'. The kid loves to go ANYWHERE! Morgan is so different as she is a 'home body' and does not like going away.

Sunday March 13, 2011

Got up this morning and sat outside for awhile while Addy played with her play doh. She loves to set and play with it for hours. We decided to clean up and go for breakfast. We went over to the Village Inn on Signal Butte and had a nice breakfast. Stopped at Walmart to pick up a few things and also went to Kid R Us to get Addy a pair of sunglasses.

We came back home and put on our swimsuits and walked down to the pool to swim. It is very warm this week in the high 80's and forecast is for 90 a couple of days this week. We swam for awhile and Larry came down, We all sat around the pool for quite awhile and Addison swam for a long time.

We came back and showered and drove over to Power Square. Taylor has a Miche purse and she was wanting a new cover for it. Larry and I had been in a little shop at Power Square a couple of weeks ago and I noticed they carried Miche. Addison fell asleep in the car so Taylor and I ran in to look while Papa stayed in the car with Addison. The guy at the shop told us if we bought four covers we got one free. Taylor insisted that she was going to buy me the purse and covers for my birthday. She bought me the bag and two covers and bought two covers for her bag and got the free one as well.

We left Power Square and went to Organ Stop Pizza. This is such an interesting place as they have the world's largest Wurlitzer Organ. It is always so packed that if you don't arrive shortly after they open at 4:00pm, you do not get a seat. Patty, my painting teacher told me that one person has to get in line to order the pizza while the other finds a seat. Addison and I headed upstairs to try to find a seat by the railing so she could have a spot that she could see. Before Taylor and Larry came up the first show began. This guy who plays is so amazing and watching all the things he pushes and changes constantly on the organ is unreal. The organ is on a stage that comes up out of the floor. The entire room is filled with pipes and percussion parts of the organ and most of the pipes are glassed in. When he plays each note, the glass opens for that pipe to be heard. It is the most amazing thing I have seen with the exception of the pipe organ in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. We sat and listened to it a couple of years ago and it also provides an amazing sound. I set and wonder how anyone learns to play something so involved and massive. The interesting thing about the Organ Stop Pizza is he takes request and plays each of them without music. Again, I wonder, HOW you become that proficient!! Addison and Taylor both enjoyed the show as did Larry and I.

When we left the pizza place we drove over to Fresh Market in Chandler for Taylor to pick up Sea Salt. We shopped around over there for awhile and bought a few things. The market is huge and has so many unusual things all you want to do is look. Taylor said they only have two or three around Chicago and none are as large as the one here in Chandler. We got there about 8:00pm and the place was really busy - especially for a Sunday night.

Monday March 14, 2011

We designated today as Larry's day as we left Mesa early this morning to drive up to Jerome. This is about an 85 or 90 mile drive. This is Larry's favorite thing to do. Drive all day and see NOTHING! We stopped at Montezula Castle on the way, which was ok but Larry and I had been there before and Taylor was not so much impressed with it. It is a dwelling built on the side of the mountain that was occupied by the early dwellers of Arizona.It is amazing to think that the people actually lived in this dwelling because to get up and down from it must have been a major accomplishment. The reason it was built into the mountain so high was to keep out predators and unwanted guests. They carried water from a stream about a block or more away and then had to hoist it up to the dwelling. I guess Americans today are very 'soft' as I can't imagine having to exist this way.

We drove on to Jerome and I actually thought it would be something to do that Taylor might enjoy. Jerome sets very high on a mountain and the road going up is narrow and winds around and around until you reach the little town. It was once an old mining town and the buildings are very old and there are lots of little art and gift shops. We drove more than 2 hours to get there and when we arrived Addison was asleep. None of us wanted to wake her to stop so we basically drove through the town and went out the other side on route 89A. This is a very scenic route but takes a long time to reach the next town, which is Prescott. By the time we got to Prescott, we were starving. We ended up stopping at Coco's for lunch and were somewhat disappointed in our food. Larry and I ate at Coco's here in Mesa a week or so ago and it was wonderful. I guess they are not all created equal.

We left Prescott and by the time we got to Phoenix, we were lucky enough to hit rush hour. What a zoo this place is during rush hour. The main highways are four and five lanes in one direction and the traffic is bumper to bumper! It's worse than Chicago traffic by far because there are only 3 major highways connecting Phoenix to the suburbs. I think everyone in the area drives their vehicles alone--not much carpooling even though a fast lane(known as an HOV - high occupancy vehicle) is provided for vehicles with two or more passengers. Surprisingly, we made it through the traffic rather quickly because we drove in the HOV lane coming home.
we got home and everyone was worn out. Taylor and I both said it was an absolute waste of time driving up and back. Larry had mentioned that tomorrow we would go to Payson, which is east and north of Mesa. The doctor at the Urgent Care Clinic had told us we should go to Payson to see the 'Natural Bridge'. After we rode all day today we decided the Payson trip would wait for another year. If I would agree, Larry would drive us someplace every single day. I just hate getting in the car and driving forever to see nothing!

Tuesday March 15, 2011

Taylor, Addison and I went to get a pedicure and manicure. We assumed that the gal would just paint Addison's toes and fingernails but she gave her pretty much the whole treatment. She had her set with Taylor and put her feet in the tub. She cleaned her feet good and then massaged lotion into her feet and legs. While Taylor was getting her pedicure, Addy sat there like she was really enjoying it all. The girl painted Addison's toenails and drew a flower on each of her big toenails. After we got our pedicure, we all moved over to the manicure tables. Again the girl had Addison put her fingers in the soak bowl, trimmed and cleaned her nails and massaged lotion into her hands and arms. She painted her nails and drew a flower on her thumbnails to match her toes. Addison was in Heaven! She was so good and never got restless at all.

After we finished our pedicure and manicures, we pick up groceries as we were running out of Addison's favorite things--like orange juice and yogurt. These are her mainstay as she eats very little of anything else. We came home and sat outside for a long time and Addy played. We were going to go to the pool but was getting late so decided to go ahead and cook dinner.

Wednesday March 16, 2011

I cooked breakfast for everyone and then Larry had an appointment to take the car over to Mitsubishi to find out why our inside lights no longer work. After Larry left, we changed into our suits and went to the pool. It was very hot today so the pool felt good. The water in our pool here in Silveridge is like getting into bath water. It is so warm it is hardly refreshing! The old people love the warm water. On cool days,the warm water feel great but when it is 90 degrees, not so much! Addison had a good time swimming and she played a little with a couple of small children that were swimming.

We came back to motor home and Larry was home. He said they found a short in the wiring and fixed it. It is probably from bouncing around on the rough roads pulling it behind the motor home.

We took our showers and sat outside and let Addison play for awhile. It is very comfortable setting in the shade, even at 90 degrees as their is no humidity. If I were setting outside in Illinois at 90 degrees, I would sweat like a hog as the humidity would surely be 99%. I love Arizona because it is so dry but my hair and skin take a beating!

We went to Applebee's tonight to eat. Taylor wanted Fajitas so she and Larry had that. I had a chicken pasta, which I guess I was not in the mood for. Addison had fries and mac n cheese--BIG SURPRISE! Her four foods are yogurt, OJ, fries and mac n cheese. She would starve to death if they were no longer available!

We came home and all took a walk. We stopped at clubhouse and Larry and Taylor played a game of pool. We walked outside and decided to try our hand at pickleball. Larry and Taylor did pretty good and Addison and I mainly chased our ball. Addison was determined to play with Mamaw but as I said the biggest event was her and I chasing the ball. I so enjoy watching her as there is nothing she thinks she cannot do. No one helps her dress or eat as she knows how to do it and no one needs to help. She really makes me laugh. She loves to sing and now that she is going to preschool, she knows the 'Pledge of Allegiance'. She amazes me that she knows how to count and her ABC's when she just turned 3. She is like a sponge as she picks up everything. I took a video of her saying the pledge so I could play it and laugh!

We came back to motor home and everyone was tired and ready for bed. Addy has been so good about going to bed at night and even a nap or two during the time they have been here.

Thursday March 17, 2011

Taylor and Addison flew home today. We took them to the airport and their plane left at 11:50am. Addison had both her Dora suitcases and was determined to pull them both behind her. She did quite well but I finally asked her if I could help so she let me pull one of them. Everyone we meet while walking just smiles at her because she is so confident acting and acts like she knows exactly what to do when they travel. She is no bigger than a minute but insists on pulling her own bags. Even the neighbors here at Silveridge got a buzz out of Addison as she is so little and walks like she's got the world by the tail! They all try to talk to her and then she usually clams up, of course.

We stopped at Camping World on the way home from the airport to check on an electric cooler. We spend a fortune on ice for our ice chest. We sometimes get it up at the clubhouse but when the weather gets really hot, sometimes the ice gets low. Taylor and I brought home two large bags of ice on Tuesday afternoon and by Wednesday morning it was melted. Camping World didn't have much of anything we wanted. We stopped at Village Inn and had breakfast and then went to Walmart and checked on both the small refrigerators and electric coolers. We ended up buying the 40 quart electric cooler but wasn't sure where we wanted to put it so for the time being, we put it inside in the kitchen area. Larry is going to check on trying to put it underneath in the storage area to keep the sun off it. There is a plug in area that he should be able to use. It does keep things very cold inside--not sure how it will work out in the heat.

We came home and I started my 'mounds' of laundry. Sheets and towels and quite a lot accumulated of our normal laundry over the past few days. It's really not bad when I can do it all here at home. I thought about taking the sheets and towels up to laundromat but decided I'd just work on it here.

When Taylor was here we were playing a scrabble game on our phones called 'words with friends'. It's a lot of fun and Larry and I can play it on my phone by passing it back and forth. We decided we'd buy a scrabble game and play it together so while I did laundry we sat outside and played scrabble and drank beer! Was kinda a fun afternoon.

Today being Thursday, is wing night at The Native New Yorker. We got ready and headed over there about 6:30 and I actually thought we would stay for Karaoke which they have every Thursday at 9:00pm. We did stay a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it. We ate our wings and had a pitcher of green beer-which happened to be Miller Lite and was so terrible that we could hardly finish it. Then we switched to MGD bottles and had a couple of them and by then, we were really tired. I think the fact that we drank a couple before we went over kind of slowed us down some. We also have had a big week with Taylor and Addy being here. Anyway, around 8:30 we decided to come home. When we got home I was really tired so I cleaned my face, brushed my teeth and hit the bed to read. I think I made it almost 45 minutes of reading before I was sound asleep!

Friday March 18, 2011

Well I sure miss my girls! Taylor sent me a message last night to say they made it home and the flight was good. Addison was perfect on the flight home and she was really happy to get home to see daddy and Morgan. I talked to Taylor this morning and she said Addy was a little upset because she had to sleep alone last night. She had been sleeping with Taylor in the bedroom each night. Larry and I slept on the hidabed out in living room. Taylor said Addison also said she was sad to not be with grandma and grandpa. She was torn between staying here and going home to see Morgan. When I talked to Taylor, Hannah, who is Taylor's friend Aurora's little girl, was there playing with Addy. It sounded like they were having a great time. Taylor, Kyle and Morgan are flying in next Saturday for three days. Kyle and Taylor are going to Tucson for a night and day to see one of Kyle's club members so Morgan will stay with us. I'm sure it will be easy to entertain Morgan as long as she can lay in the pool as she can never get enough of swimming.

Didn't do a lot today except finish laundry and clean the house a little. Went over to Patty's (my painting teacher) to take my paintings for the resident craft fair tomorrow. This is where everyone involved in any type of crafts here in the park display their items. The last couple of years it's been quite interesting to see all the items made here in the park. There were beautiful quilts, pottery, stained glass, paintings -- there are at least two painting classes here in the park--and items made by the woodcrafters. There is so much going on and so many things to do here --just depends on how much you want to get involved. I keep saying I would love to do pottery and stained glass but as with all hobbies, it gets very expensive.

Larry just came home from his shopping trip to one of the sports stores so guess it's time to wrap up the gab and start dinner.

I attached my cell phone to my PC tonight trying to download pictures off my phone and realized that I can get an internet connection via my cell phone!!! That is truly amazing to me that I did not figure this out before. Anyway, I am posting my blog using my cell phone as my internet connection. Now we will have to wait and see if it ups my minutes or whatever on my usage. Oh well --sure is convenient to set here at home and work on blog.