Brother scores with Christmas gift!

My brother, David, had my name for Christmas this year and I have to show you what his gift to me was ~

It's a denim apron that has "petals and thistles" along with a barn and windmill painted on it ~

is that cool or what?

AND Ethel gardening gloves, a pruner, tea and chocolate!  At first I wondered how he knew I would like all these things- duh, he reads my blog! and I'm guessing he had a little help from his wife, Chris, who is a fellow blogger (Ruby in The Garden and Ruby in the Kithen).  So, thanks, Dave and Chris!

Lounging by the pool...

Aahh, Arizona was nice.  Nice to get away.  Lest you feel too jealous, you should know that the temps were not scorching, not sure if it even reached 70 degrees.  But except for one day the sun was shining.  We spent time at the pool/hot tub a few days.  It was warm in the water but chilly getting out!  I tried my darndest to get a sunburn but was not very sucessful.

What a welcome home!

At the airport before we left Mesa, Arizona on Christmas day.
Happy campers...

Boarding the plane from the behind....

Above the weather...

What we came home to...

One has to wonder.. why do we live here, anyway??

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....

I'm leavin' on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again, Oh babe, I can't wait to go!!  As I was sitting on our bed watching my husband pack his suitcase, I felt myself finally starting to relax and it felt good.  For lots of reasons the last month or so has been really stressful for me, thistle-y actually.  Mostly little things, some hard things, even got pulled over on the way to school/work one day for expired tabs.  After forking out $150.00 for the fine and tabs, the next day the car decides to not cooperate and refuses to move.  Grrr.  I need a vacation!  Here is where I will be in a few hours..........

Whooo Hooo!  Arizona or Bust!

Let's play dress up!!

What young girl doesn't love to play dress up?  I have some great memories, even still have some of the dress up things I had as a little girl and Leanne enjoyed them too as well as many of her friends (even the boys occasionally)!  Here's a few memories....

Grandma Kathy sewed these matching dresses for Leanne and I...

Getting ready to go on a date with Daddy...

Isn't she precious???

A dress-up tea party for friend Em's birthday...

Leanne as one of yes, 11! flower girls for her cousin Michelle's wedding...

Another dress-up tea party....

Leanne was flower girl for her aunt and uncle- they had a beach wedding...

Again for her other aunt and uncle- they had a Christmas wedding...

American Girl Doll birthday party with friends...

In a restroom at Tortilla Flats near Mesa, AZ.  All the doors were painted (and not very private!)

And aren't these some lovely ladies????  I had to put this one in-this is one of my all time favorite photos and I love to share it....

Just last week, Brian and Leanne attended the Alternative Winter Formal- it is for 9th-12th graders and put on by our youth group.  This was the day before, they were trying out their duds...

Another bunch of lovely ladies... (if you click on the photo it will enlarge)

Now this is more like it!

Isn't she precious???

Mom and Dad even dressed up a bit!

Brian and his friends- handsome, indeed!

I have lots more dress up photos but this is all for now!  If you ever get the urge, I have two large containers of dress up stuff!

Again?

Leanne and I couldn't believe our eyes when we came up the road to our house today around 5:00 pm.  Directly in front of our house (a quarter mile from the accident four days ago), were several patrol cars, a firetruck, an ambulance.  My jaw dropped and my heart sank.  The knot in my stomach formed again.  I may have said a swear word.

The outcome of this accident, however, was not tragic, THANK GOD!  We learned a little later it was one of our neighbors- she had lost control, went into the ditch, and hit the trees with the passenger side.  We heard she was okay!  I hope so. 
I wonder what tomorrow will bring?

SEATBELTS SAVE LIVES!!!!!

Please wear your seat belt EVERY TIME you get into a vehicle and don't move an inch until all are buckled up.  Bill and I were both working from home today and this afternoon witnessed something very awful, another accident at the intersection south of our house.  I was mixing up a cake in the kitchen when I heard a loud noise and the power went out. I looked up and saw out in the field a huge billow of snow and dust and a pickup.  I knew the pickup had left the road and taken out the electrical box.  I didn't see the other vehicle yet.  We were there within minutes.  Three men were involved, two were thrown from the vehicle and were lifeless when we approached them.  I placed my blankets on the men.  Our neighbors were also there.  We felt incredibly helpless while we waited for emergency workers to arrive.   Bill was able to talk to the one man who was responsive and was able to call his daughter and let her know what was happening.  We are most certain the two who died were not wearing seatbelts.   What a very sad Christmas it will be for their families.  A similar accident happened at the same intersection about two years ago, someone ran the stop sign, and one woman died that day too.  I'm not sure when the knot in my stomach will go away but it has put life into perspective once again for us.  Please drive carefully and BUCKLE UP!!