Arizona

Eric and I had the opportunity for a little just us getaway to Phoenix, Arizona.  It was a business mixed with pleasure for him and all pleasure & relaxation for me!  We had a wonderful time, and I always enjoy these spring trips with this particular group of dentists and oral surgeons.  Everyone is so nice, and I really enjoy the wives' company even if we only see each other one time a year.

 

Our dinner on Thursday evening was amazing, and after a few notes of business at the beginning, we were able to chat and catch up with everyone.

 

Dr. D giving a few introductory items of business.  He also happens to be the oral surgeon that took care of our sweet Amelia back in January.

 

On Friday evening, we had another group dinner, and it was also fantastic!  This cake was so yummy!  I needed to share it with someone.

 

On Friday and Saturday mornings, all the doctors were talking shop,

 

listening to an informative lecture (NO sarcasm - this guest speaker was great!),

 

and doing some hands-on dental implant stuff (yep, that's the official term!)

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, on Friday and Saturday mornings, I explored the beautiful property while going on a morning run after going to the gym.

 

I spent a couple of hours having my feet and hands pampered.

 

In the afternoons, all the doctors had a chance to play and relax too!

Dr. C loving the Flow Rider

Dr. C, where are you?

Dr. H lost it on this surf.

 

On Saturday evening, Eric and I had a casual dinner out.  

 

Afterwards, we came back to the resort and had a few drinks.

 

When Eric and Brock (the Columbia rep) started up with pool, I left them to their man time and retired to the bed.

 

What a fantastic getaway from the day-to-day grind.  My parents kept the house and the girls with no troubles and had fun with their granddaughters.  Win-win for everyone!!

Rookie Gardeners

I have been wanting to dabble in gardening for quite a few summers now, and this summer, I finally wrapped my brain around it and bought the stuff for it.  I had high hopes of "researching" what would do the best in our space, but time got away from me, and I decided to wing it this year.  I wanted to include Madeline in this project since she's not really napping in the afternoons, and I thought it would be a fun way to help her learn about vegetables, where they come from, and most importantly, tasting what we grow.

 

Madeline was really into helping me.  She enjoyed seeing what I had bought for our garden, learning how to dig a little hole, plant the plant, and admiring our work in the end.

 

My sidekick was distracted after the first couple of plants when these little fellas showed up.

 

However, when I brought the hose out to water, I managed to bring her back to the garden.

 

Our finished product (minus the fencing we have up now): 2 tomatoes, 4 green bell pepper, orange bell pepper, jalapeno pepper, sweet red pepper, zucchini, squash, and cucumber

 

The final product poses, and please take notice that my little helper is doing a curtsy or something hilarious in each photo.  She's a hoot.

 

 

Let's hope for a bumper crop!

What?!?!

It's no secret that my husband is a hunter, and we have guns in our home.  Eric and I decided it was time for me to take some lessons at the armory, so I can be less anxious around guns as well as learn how to shoot & handle them properly.  Prior to this lesson, I had never held a gun much less fired one.  To say I was a little nervous and unsure of myself would be an understatement.  However, my instructor was awesome.  He was very calming and extremely patient with my shaky, fumbling fingers.

 

Once I was given all the loading, unloading, gun safety, etc. practice and talk, I took my first few shots.  Wowzas!

 

My instructor brought my target to me at the end, and we talked about what I did (correctly & incorrectly) to make the different shots.  He and Eric were both really proud of me for going WAY out of my comfort zone to handle and shoot a gun.  Considering I am a total rookie, I managed to settle down by the end of the lesson and actually enjoy the target practice.  

 



 

Eric was a proud hubby this day.  Slowly, but surely, he's bringing me into his world of four wheelers, guns, and hunting.  And, he was right, it's fun to challenge yourself to try something new and out of your comfort zone.  It was a fun "date" for us, and I see target practice as a new date night for us in the future.