False Chinch invasion, water harvesting co-op, Anna scores!

Unfortunately this week we found out what a False Chinch bug is. They are tiny little bugs that look like ants. They don't bite or carry diseases but cannot be killed. They live off the Mustard Seed Plant. That plant grew like gang Busters with our winter rain. Once the plant dies the bugs head for shelter.....eek our pool and house. It's a plaque people!!

They are prolific!! I called the exterminator and they said give them a week and they will move on. They won't even come out and spray... So now we wait.

On Saturday, Benjamin, Bella, Olivia and Holman and I went to help a neighbor we don't know for a water harvesting co-op work project. We arrived at his house at 7am. We shoveled rocky dirt for nearly 5 hours. The kids did awesome! We managed to help install 3 large water tanks and sweat like pigs.

Meanwhile Nana and Papa took Anna and Parkin to Anna's basketball game. She scored!! So proud of her 👊!! She has improved so much from the start of the season.

Sunday pic, we getting old!

Grandpa Ronnie Retires!....well sorta

Grandpa Ronnie by the end of this month will retire! They asked him to stay on for one more month until his replacement could be there. Like a good worker he obliged. He retired from the Air Force many years ago but has been working as an independent contractor on Base scheduling the A-10's for years. He works at the temple and has been for years, has a church calling and is one of the fearless leaders of his very large brood. He deserves a much earned break!!

To mark the occasion, Jeremy, his son Issac and Sarah Potter all flew in from Alabama! The family went to Gaslight had pizza and ice cream there. We had everyone over for a Sunday night retirement potluck dinner and then the next day we went to Mount Lemon to get out of the heat a keep the party going! All told it was a very enjoyable packed weekend.

We love Grandpa! He is fun, at times inappropriate, and loves his family fiercely. He told everyone at the dinner that he is the richest man that he knows.

 Issac and Parkin

 Ron with his hands up enjoying the mountain breeze..

 Sarah and Bekah, the only picture that isn't blurry from our Sunday dinner..

Mo Pro 2019!!

Prom, formally known as Mormon Prom was this past Friday. The girls had quite the weekend!! Emma brought dates down form Gilbert for Bella, Olivia and herself. Emma's foreign exchange sister Tanita, also came and Bella arranged a date for her, a guy from our ward. When Emma got out of the van with the three most eligible bachelors we were all impressed! Talk about a good looking posse! Another guy form the ward joined the group with his girlfriend for dinner at our place. The out of towners spent the night in our guesthouse. They partied hard. They went hot tubing and swam in the pool after the dance. I think they all went to bed at around 3:30! The girls made breakfast and then went to Sabino Canyon to hike and play in the creek. They came back to the house to have lunch and finish the movie they started the night before. The Gilbert crew rolled out at 3. We asked Bella how was the weekend...Epic.

 We got Liv's dress at a steep discount all we had to do was have Grandma Howe sew a zipper, thanks Grandma!

 Bella's dress was more expensive but when we bought this dress the store donated a dress to a girl in need. We call that a win. I had to add sleeves, but I think I did a pretty good with it!

 Cousin love.

 Bella made the cake at work!!

 Bella went with this super nice foreign exchange student form Brazil...how exotic. She had met him before and was excited he could come down

Hillary added sleeves to Tanita,s dress, well done Hillary!

 So beautiful!! Emma went with one of her adventurous friends.

 Liv's date is a really good friend of Emma's (in fact he will be Emma's date for their prom up in Gilbert). Its nice to have cousins that share..

 3 blind dates...one amazing dance and a  night full of memories.

Glass blowing!!

Benjamin bought me a glass blowing class for Christmas. We went to the studio to make our flowers. It was so fun and so hot!! 

Funny twin sympatico story. I texted Lindsey a picture of me at the studio saying look where I am, she texted me a picture of her at a glass blowing studio....what are the odds?!

Basketball and Honor roll for Anna!

Anna got the award for most improved. That's my favorite award!!

This is her Upwards basketball team . It's her first season and she is doing great!

Friends visit and April Fools!

Our dear friends, Justin and Kim Crump,  from our early parenthood days came to Tucson for spring break. It was great to catch up with them. I think we last saw them 10 years ago. It's great when you can pickup where you left off and remember why you liked them so much. They hiked and explored all their old stomping grounds, we of course took them to the creek and hot tubbed.

 The Crump's oldest is Kaylee who is  two weeks older than Bella, both are feminists and anti gun...so fast friends. They have a son, Benjamin who is 15 just younger than Olivia. We love the name! 

 Kelsey is 9 just like Anna, this was the first time they met and true to kid fashion instant buddies.

Bella and Parkin played "what are the odds". Bella lost andand  to get submerged in the creek. Bella did it!

We had dinner with the Crumps and the Elders on April Fools day. Bella and I dipped brussel sprouts in chocolate to look like cake pops...we thought we were hilarious. We decided that the real prank is on the pranksters. It took entirely too much time 😅.