This past week was a busy one with something going on every day (and very little time for blogging).
Monday, our oldest daughter, husband and three sweet children came for a visit.
She is moving from California to Maryland soon, and wanted to go through some things she still had stored here under our stairs, so we got all of her boxes out....
and our daughter and her husband spend several hours going through all of the things she had left here at our house when she got married. She took some things home with her, donated other things, and threw the rest away.
While mom and dad went through boxes, grandma got to spend time with the grandchildren, which was a special treat.
We played with Play Dough.
painted bird houses,
played Wii Guitar Hero,
and colored eggs (this is one of my granddaughter's favorite things to do, whether or not it is Easter. Since it isn't Easter time, we called these "August Eggs).
I got to hold my youngest granddaughter a lot, and was so pleased that she didn't cry at all when I held her, even though I haven't been around her very much.
This sweet grandbaby is so precious. Here she is taking a quick nap on the couch while here mom and dad are nearby going through boxes. (The lovely blanket covering her is a weave-square blanket which was a gift from my good friend Karen aka Happy One).
She is sure growing up fast,
and we all enjoyed getting to know her a little better.
It was wonderful to be together again,
and share time and love with our daughter, her husband and children. It was a great day.
Tuesday was back to school night at the school where I teach. Son Josh had an activity with his church youth group to go on a little tour of the campus of ASU (since most of the boys in the group are seniors in high school, making plans for what comes next in their lives). In the middle of the night, we got a marvelous, heavy, monsoon rainstorm, with spectacular thunder and lightening.
Wednesday Josh and I were home, but Charly had a professional development class to attend at his school. He did get home in time for an evening walk.
Thursday we attended a wedding reception for our bishop's (pastor's) daughter.
Friday was our usual grocery shopping night and when we were finished with that, I was exhausted from a tiring week!
Saturday hubby and I were both up about 5 a.m. to spend some time at the Mesa Temple, as we try to do each week. Later in the morning, we took both of our cars in for oil changes, and I spent some time I sorting through more boxes of books and baby clothes that my daughter no longer wanted. I made another donation run to the local Deseret Industries thrift store. Later, we had some yard workers come and trim the trees in the yard. It was a huge job because we had let the trees go too long. The yard workers toiled several hours in temperatures of over 110. I am not sure how they handle that, but I am sure grateful that they are willing to do it, because I don't think I could!
The trees looked much better after their "hair cut" but we did lose a lot of shade.
The yard worker's trailer was overflowing with limbs and branches from our trees. It was a big job and we are happy to have it done and thankful for those hard-working guys who spent a very hot afternoon getting our yard in shape.
Super tired from a very busy week, we decided to retire early Saturday night. I had been asleep for a while, when both hubby and I were suddenly awakened by the sound of the squealing tires of speeding cars coming around the corner that our house is situated on. Moments later, we heard the sound of rapid gun fire. Hubby went to our upstairs bedroom window and witnessed someone in a car shooting at someone else about thirty feet from the edge of our back yard. We called the police, as did numerous other people. There had indeed been a drive-by shooting in our usually quiet and uneventful neighborhood, in what has been acknowledged as "one of the safest cities in America." It surely wasn't safe Saturday night!
Sunday, we found that the The police remained on the street at the side of our house all night Early Sunday morning, we woke up to these scenes. Police tape cordoning off the crime scene, with white markers (you can see them if you look closely in the area where the police officer is walking) showing where all of the bullets fell. The local news reported that 20-30 shots were fired and one person was hit and injured at this location. A few minutes later, the shooter went to a nearby gas station, less than half a mile from our house, and shot someone else!
The police did a very thorough investigation. They were in the area for several hours after this picture was taken, and later, after church, an investigator came to our home to take our statements on what we saw and heard. Keep in mind that our back yard wall is literally inches to the right of this picture. All of this was happening on the street that runs right to the side of our home.
This is the news van that was parked at the side of our house. The reporter filed her report from right behind our house, where the camera was set up in the last picture. All of the excitement was actually pretty unnerving. We found out that the shooting was connected to a house party going on down the street from us. Two people were shot and injured and the police later caught a suspect who confessed to the shooting.
It was good to be able to go to church mid-morning to experience the peace that was there, but the rest of our Sunday went pretty much like the entire last week. Josh actually got up before 5:30 a.m. to attend a breakfast and early morning meeting just for the young men that took place before church, so that meant another early day for all of us, even after a very late night. I had to teach a lesson to the women's class. Later there was the before mentioned visit from a detective, calls to and from family members and another youth gathering tonight for Josh. A call from our mechanic (remember the oil changes for our cars yesterday?) informed us that hubby's car has a hairline crack in the oil pan and the repair shop cannot get the part until Monday, so we spent at least an hour trying to figure out how we could both be at different schools miles apart at the same time tomorrow morning. Our situation was saved by a kindly older woman from church, who is an early riser and volunteered to give me a ride to my school in the morning so that my husband can take our remaining car.
Whew! What a week! We will start all over again tomorrow, but we are hoping for a week that is at least a little less hectic (with a little more time to blog).
Hope you have a great week (and a little bit of time to relax and blog)!
I finished one excellent book and started another one. I would recommend either or both.
I have a new favorite drink that I have been meaning to share for a while - coffee creamer in Diet Coke or Diet Cherry Cola. (Diet Dr. Pepper is also good). Anyone who likes ice cream floats will like this - it has that ice cream float flavor without the calories of ice cream. It is a tasty little afternoon pick-me-up.
Saturday mornings at the Mesa Temple are always peaceful and inspirational and this morning was no exception. This is quickly becoming a part of my week that I look forward to and miss when I can't attend.
I had my very first blogger luncheon today with blog friend Roe, AKA Arizona Wild Woman. I had been reading and following her blog for a while before I realized that she lived quite close to me, in fact, she is just down the street from the school where I teach. We finally got together for lunch today at one of my favorite Mexican Restaurants, Tia Rosa, pictured above. We had a lovely lunch and I found Roe to be just as friendly, fun and interesting as her blog is. Today might have been my first blogger luncheon - I hope it isn't my last. 
This sweet young lady, who just happens to be one of my precious granddaughters, started kindergarten this last week. Here she is all ready for her very first day of school! Kindergarten - now that is quite a milestone!
The mother of my sweet granddaughter, our daughter Tiffany, shown above with her husband and the rest of her cute family, is celebrating a birthday this weekend! Giving birth to Tiffany gave new meaning to the term Labor Day Weekend ;-) She has always been a blessing and a joy! We love you so much Tiffany! Happy Birthday!!!
