Aloha

Here comes another travel log...from the beautiful island of Oahu! Brick and I went with his parents this last week to Hawaii, where we went snorkeling in Hanauma Bay and swimming and shopping for pearls in Wikiki. We even went to a Luau and enjoyed seeing the sun set over the sea...It truly was paradise on earth. Since I have been married into the Flammer family, I feel like I have seen more than most people get to see in a lifetime. I feel pretty spoiled! I love all the traveling, especially when the places we go are some of the most romantic on earth and I get to enjoy them with the love of my life! I can't wait to see what adventure I get to share with him next!

Wash Day

I just wanted to take a minute to say how grateful I am for the life of ease, safety and opportunity that we enjoy. My parents are on a mission in the Philipines, and my dad sent me this picture of a Philipino woman doing wash in an irrigation ditch. How many times have I complained about having to do laundry...the tedium of switching it from washer to dryer, then the endless task of folding one pair of underwear after another...I think I will complain less often. I could say I won't complain anymore, but then I would just be lying to myself. Isn't that the story of our lives? We get so used to how easy life is, then we forget that there are those out there that do not enjoy the same ease, and complain when we face the most minor obstacles. And to take it even further, how many times do we forget, as we do the seemingly mundane tasks allotted us as housewives, that we are lucky to be women in today's world. Sorry, I realize this is getting a little preachy, but I'm not preaching to anyone but myself.

I may eat my words later when Brick reads this post and tells me to go do the laundry...

It was another busy weekend for us. I'll tell you what, if I could have just one weekend at home this summer, I'll be a happy camper. Brick always tells me I'm such a home-body, and I readily agree. But I digress. This weekend I travelled with Afton and Melissa to Boise, Idaho for my cousin, Brent's wedding. It was fun sitting in the back seat with their two kids, holding a pacifier in the baby's mouth with one hand and Kenna's hand with the other so she didn't feel left out.

The wedding was beautiful, and so was Brent's bride, Janelle. They were so cute. They both sang songs to eachother, which was just so romantic...it made me want to get married again. I also spent the reception chasing a gregarious little girl around the place...I love Kenna, but man she wore me out. I felt lucky to get out of changing the many blow-outs Cooper had, so I guess I can't complain too much about chasing Kenna around, since I could have been nominated for the other job.

We spent our nights at my cousin, Marshanne and her husband Josh's condo. They were so sweet to let us crash at their place, and we had a lot of fun with them and the rest of the gang, cooking breakfast, staying up late laughing, and just enjoying family. So, while I am excited to be back with my honey, who I missed so much, it was a fun, eventful weekend.

Memorial Weekend Festivities

It was quite the memorable Memorial Day weekend in beautiful Eden, Utah. Brick and I spent the holiday with our friends at his parent's condo, where we enjoyed eating amazing BBQ (thanks, honey!), playing tennis, swimming, boating, and Brick's favorite,

watching many a basketball play-off game. Don't ask me who won what, but I can't complain about the overload of basketball because we watched it in good company.

Brick's parents joined us the second day, bearing good food in bulk for our big group, and I even learned how to fry fish (Mahi mahi in orange butter sauce, breaded and fried...I'm pretty proud). We were also entertained by Peyton, Jessica and Jeff Bennedict's one-year-old boy, who is, by the way, a scam artist and ladies' man. We laughed at him every time he said the word "ball," even though it was the only word we heard him say the whole weekend and he continually repeated it about a thousand times, calling evey object in his vision a ball. It was a loud, crazy, crowded weekend, but we enjoyed every minute of it.

Thanks to all who joined us!

On the Road Again...and Again...and Again...

Ryker liked watching the ducks through his binoculars.

Dax eating his pinecone

Arizona sunset

Dax let me cuddle the heck out of him for a whole hour while Hans and Cassi were sleeping in.

For those who think Arizona is all desert, EAT YOUR HEART OUT!

Watching the ducks

Isn't he going to be a heartbreaker?

Cassi, Hansy, Ryker, and Daxy

Ryker at the lake.

My three buddies.

Dax is into everything...I mean everything.

Ryker fell in-love with Uncle Brick after he discovered Brick can make practically ANYTHING out of silly putty!

I love Arizona. Brick laughed as I jumped up and down when we came into sight of the state line.

Purple fields in Fredericksburg, TX.

Burgs, we took this picture for you. How could we pass it up?

Yes, we are back in Utah, after a week and 2000 miles of black top. What can I say? The heat did us in, and the traffic, and the (ahem) crappy job. But, as Brick said when I asked him what we learned from this ordeal,

"We still like eachother after spending 50 hours in the car together."

Austin is beautiful, New Mexico is not. We saw Kevn and family in Colorado, the aliens in Roswell, looked across the border from El Paso to Mexico,

and crossed into my beloved Arizona on the way home.

We were even lucky enough to see Hansy and his awesome wify in Pinetop (which is also AWESOME!). We fell in-love all over again with the White Mountains, and with their adorable little boys, Dax and Ryker. Thanks, Hans and Cassi, for the great hospitality and company. I wish we lived closer, so Brick could at least get to know my big brother while he watched sports. We also visited with Grandma and Grandpa in St. Johns, which was such a blessing...Grandma Maxine looked great and seemed to be feeling better, but she forbade me from taking her picture because her hair wasn't done (She still looked beautiful to me!) So, while things didn't quite turn out as we planned, they seldom do, and usually it's because
God knows better than we do...
As NieNie, my favorite blogger would say, this is the beginning of God's "big plan" for us...
...It is so good to be back in beautiful Utah.

(For a great lesson on life, read nie nie's post: http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/2009/05/big-plans.html)

Grandma Maxine

TOP TEN THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT GRANDMA MAXINE...

1. Her stories

2. The beautiful things she has always loved making and surrounding herself with...quilts, butterflies, flowers.

3. Her cooking! Baked beans and sweet-potato pie that will knock the socks off of anything else on the Thanksgiving table!
4. Her smile...look at her, she's beautiful.

5. Her sense of humor...she's quite the tease, if you didn't know it.

6. The way she puts Grandpa Delbert in his place...especially when he tries to take her on at the gin rummy table. That's the only time you'll hear her swear is when she calls him a little sh** if he goes out too early.

7. How much she loves her old westerns.

8. The way she so lovingly talks about her dad

9. The way she always knows what you need when you are sick...usually golden seal will do the trick...if the taste doesn't kill you it will make you stronger.

And 10. She always has time to visit with her granddaughter...

Happy Birthday, to the sweetest Grandma around! We are glad you pulled through... You're strength is amazing! We love you even more than we did a year ago!

Watch Out World, Here He Comes!

Congratulations on your graduation, Honey!

Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. I love you!

Summer Rain

A lot of people get depressed when it rains. The sun goes behind the clouds and out come the frowns. Not me. As an Arizona girl, I can appreciate a good rain. In Arizona, the rain brings a unique smell, a smell that is my favorite and the freshest above all of God's smells. It comes from the creosote bush, and is only found in the desert. So when you smell the creosote bush, you know rain is coming, and that means green. Green trees, green grass, green, green, green. Sorry if that sounds overly-enthusiastic, but unless you grew up in the desert, you won't understand. And if I'm going to talk about the rain in Arizona, I have to mention the incredible thunder and lightning. It takes your breath away, the way the veins of lightning spread out, like spider webs across the sky, the sound of the thunder making you jumpy.

Another thing about Arizona rain is the warmth that usually accompanies it. The sun looks even more beautiful when it is slanting through rain drops. And the interesting thing is, you could be standing in a perfectly dry, sunny area and you look to your right, and there is the rain, ten feet away. But as I mentioned before, my favorite thing about the rain is the freshness it brings. It makes everything seem a little cleaner, a little less daunting. And how could anyone possibly find the dreariness in that? It comes and goes, and that is the beauty of it. It makes you more grateful for it.

So, while here in Utah, the rain may be a little more chilly, it reminds me of what the earth can be...

Fresh. Beautiful. Clean. A Blessing.