Birthday Threads

Matt got a sweet smoking jacket from Sandi for his birthday.  I need a swanky dress now to wear next to him!

  Ariana made him a little birthday art.

15 Years Ago Today...

 I took Matt on a surprise date to celebrate our first meeting 15 years ago today.  As many of you know we were introduced by his ex girlfriend who brought Matt to church to meet me.  That same day we each attended the evening worship service and volley ball afterwards. This is where we started getting to know each other.  He even took me for a little ride on his motorcycle around the church campus and then we went to his place and watch So I Married An Axe Murderer- on VHS.  On our first date was later that week.  We went to his soccer game and to PF Changs for dinner afterwards.   So to memorialize all this my secret date took us to PF Changs- via motorcycle- for lunch and then over to Anthony's Cigar Lounge afterwards for an after meal cigar digestive.  We had a lot of fun talking about our memories of all of this over lunch and cigar.  Then we ended the evening by watching Axe Murderer which I had gifted to him at lunch.  Good memories!

Dad Would Have Been 70

 My Dad would have turned 70 today!  

These are some pictures my sisters and I shared over text today as we remembered him on his birthday.  

The first picture is one of my favorites of him.  It was taken at my wedding.  

The second picture is taken around that same time. (As a side note my cute little nephew Jace, pictured on the left, turns 18 next month!)

The third and fourth pictures are of him and the different bands he was in, Dave Dudley's Road Runners and then his own band, the Country Squires.He was a drummer and a singer.

I miss him so much.

Happy Mother's Day, McMom!

Flowers, Mama's Pizza, and a bottle of Sangiovese for McMom!

Guess Who?

Matt's Grandfather recently died and as McMom was going through his things she came across this great picture which we now possess. 

Can you guess who?

Sandi and Bill when they were first married!

14 Years!

Happy Anniversary to us! We decided to celebrate at home because I had to work during the day and we didn't want to be rushed in our evening.  We started out on the patio having a very special bottle of Champagne, Krug Grande Cuvee, to celebrate our marriage with as we exchanged gifts.  Then we had a lovely dinner with thick cut filet mignons that Matt grilled to perfection.  We accompanied such a fine piece of meat with an equally fine wine- a 2005 Souverain Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.  Praise be to God for 14 years!

Valentines Date

Pizzeria Bianco is purported by Peter Reinhardt (my favorite baker and bread expert) to be the best pizza in the country.  It is located in Phoenix, Arizona and has recently opened a new location in Tucson.  I have been wanting to go there for months and  this is where Matt took me on our Valentines date.  Afterwards we went out for a night cap at Tap & Bottle and followed that up with hot tub and our favorite Baskin Robbins ice creams at home.  A wonderful evening. 

Visitors from Frozen Tundra Seek Refuge in Arizona!

My Mom and my nephew Levi finally came down for a visit.  Levi was here with his family last Christmas but my Mom has not been here in 3 years so it was great fun to have her and show her all the things we have done to the house and yard since she was last here.  

We spent most of the time relaxing, eating and watching movies.  We didn't want to put her to work too much but we did need a few Mom treats like what you see pictured here: her famous chicken salad and her delicious beef short rib and dumpling soup which I have named "Soup of the Meaty Bones."  When we could get her out of her chair and away from crocheting dozens of dishcloths we took her and Levi to the Gaslight Theater to see a fun production of "The Cisco Kid" which we all enjoyed. 

Levi, who is turning 14 in a few months, is almost as tall as Matt already!

Good Sports

Ariana came over to play with Bandito and new toys she got for Christmas.  Bandito was a good sport and played a good horse/cat in the stable. 

After dinner we played dress up and even got Uncle Matt involved!

Our Christmas Morning Tradition

On Christmas morning Matt and I have biscuits and gravy (his Mom's recipe which is a bacon gravy) and a bottle of nice Champagne while we open presents.  A great tradition indeed.

Minnesota Summer

Desert Museum

Christmas Surprise!

As usual I am way behind on blogging but I have to post a few pictures from this past Christmas when my sister Regan and her family (minus Jax) made a surprise visit to Arizona for the holidays.  It was one of the most surprising moments in my life when I came home from work one night around 7, entering through my garage into the house and I heard loud Christmas singing.  At first I thought Matt had the TV on really loud and there was a Christmas movie on but when I looked into the living room the TV was off and Matt was not even in there.  Then I thought I must have Christmas carolers at my door- how strange because I live out of town a bit.  I slowly peeped around the corner to look at the front door and to my GREAT SURPRISE I saw my sister, her husband and their kids with Matt singing "We Wish you a Merry Christmas" at my front door.  I was utterly shocked and confused!!  It took me a minute to realize what was going on.  They had a great laugh as they came in and we had welcome hugs.  Apparently Matt knew the whole time of their plan to come stay with us over Christmas and New Years and never let on a thing about it!  It was very nice to have them here and share our Tucson life with them.  It was also heart melting to have my two nieces playing together.

Burn Baby, Burn!

A few days after my exam Sandi came over and made me a celebration dinner of my favorite dish she makes- Yorkshire pudding and roast beef which we enjoyed with Michael David's Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi. 

 The next day I headed out to the backyard, lit up the fire bowl, and proceeded to burn all my study guides, papers, and flashcards from the last 3 years of wine tests I have taken.  It took about 30 minutes.  Oh so satisfying!