Our Visit to Arizona, Nebraska and Iowa

We had a great time visiting our kids, grandkids and Bud's dad last week. We are grateful we could take part in Rachelle's blessing day. What a sweet girl. We were dopes and didn't take a camera this trip, so we relied on other's cameras and our cell phone for a few photos to document the journey.
I must say - if you want a lot of attention on your birthday - travel! I got so many celebrations and 3, yes, 3 birthday cakes (too afraid to get on the scale to see how many birthday pounds those 3 cakes added).
I promised Bud we would go to Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert, AZ and we did, but when we showed up it was temporarily closed due to ventilation problems, so we headed over to Joe's BBQ. It was good, but I was disappointed I couldn't have the Fontina Cheese Burger. Here's some pics of us with our Arizona kids. Lacey like the little chef guy, who was the same size as she. Grandpa enjoyed his snooze with Rachelle. I will do another post of some pics in Des Moines/Omaha.

Newest Grandson - Caleb Ephraim

We welcomed our newest grandchild on Wednesday night. His proud parents are Jared & Debbie Stubblefield with even prouder siblings, Hannah and Ben. We are so grateful for this new blessing.
Here's grandma with the new little guy.

 

Proud brother and sister. Caleb won't lack for lots of attention!

 

Sweet baby - he seems like a real mellow fellow!

 

Then there are those feet. They are HUGE! Because of all his hair and those big dogs, I think I may call him Sasquatch.

 

Congratulations to mommy and daddy for a job well done. You can visit their blog to hear more about their at home birth and see a sweet video.

Joe's Farm Grill - Gilbert, AZ

So . . . here we are at Joe's Farm Grill in Gilbert, AZ not far from Schmicah's house. The Fontina Burger was seriously the best burger I've ever had. It boasted Fontina Cheese, roasted red peppers, grilled mushrooms, pesto, fresh tomatoes and arugula - grown at the Farm Agritopia. The fries were pretty tasty too! We will definately go again, the next time we visit Micah and Sarah - unless it is summertime and a bazillion degrees outside! We took a grilled BBQ chicken pizza home to Sarah, and she said it was pretty good too. The Fontina Burger and Grilled BBQ Chicken Pizza were featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri.
Here's me with Jackson and Lacey - out front.

 

There was a cool tree the kiddies could climb on, but it had a warning sign "Beware of Scorpions!"

 

Micah - the new daddy chowin down. Can you believe this kid has 3 kids now!!

 

Grandma chowin down. Can you believe this young lady has 25 - soon to be 26 grandchildren (27 come October!)

 

Welcome to the Family, Rachelle

Our Newest Granddaughter, Rachelle Anita Stubblefield, was born on March 1st. Her parents are Micah and Sarah, with proud brother and sister, Jackson and Lacey. I had a great time visiting them in Arizona. Rachelle is a sweet baby, and well loved by her sibs. While I was in AZ, Micah and I took the kids to Joe's Farm Grill - featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Dives and Drive-Ins." The place was packed on a Saturday afternoon, with the order line going out the door. I had the best burger I think I've ever had which was worth the wait. Photos are on my cell phone, and as soon as I get them off, I will post here. I had a great time with the kids and got some nice cuddles with the new baby. Being a grandma is the BEST!

King Cake & Jambalaya

I keep hoping someone else will get the baby in their slice of King Cake, so I don't have to make it again. At least Bud got it, so maybe I will be the recipient of some fall-out good luck. Maybe next year I'll have more people over to improve the odds of someone else getting the baby. The Jambalaya was yummy. I just don't care for de-veining the shrimp. Whoever thought such ugly little things would be good to eat.
Happy Fat Tuesday to Everyone. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. Biblical foundation for this practice comes from Job 42:5-6 "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

 
The Lyons joined us for Fat Tuesday Celebration.

 

Snow Days/Los Alamos

Unlike many we know, Snow Days in California consist of rummaging through the garage for old snow gear, collecting beat up sleds, maybe even wrapping your feet in baggies and then putting on your shoes, then heading for the mountains for a few hours in the snow. We "go" to the snow, rather than it coming, and coming, and coming to us. Chili and Hot Chocolate are usually involved at some point, as well. We spent an afternoon at LaPorte with the Lyons - kind of a preview day for the upcoming Church Mutual activity. The kids had a great time.
Then last weekend we traveled to Los Alamos, NM to visit the Tripps. They live in one of those places where the snow comes to them! On Saturday, we spent an hour or so sledding at a local park with a nice little hill. It was great fun! The one nice thing about living close to the snow, or in it, is once you are cold, you hop in the car and drive a few blocks home. Where we live, there are winding roads involved - but oh the views!
We reminisced about the "K-Mart Hill" that was behind our house when we lived in Iowa many years ago. I think it was more of a ditch than a hill, but our kids sure had lots of fun there with their sleds.
We sure enjoyed our weekend at the Tripps. When we visit our family across the country, we usually like to see at least one thing of interest in their locale. I recently read about these statues placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution, across the USA. They were done in the late 1920's and are mostly along the old route 66 and I-40 and are intended to pay tribute to the pioneer women who sacrificed so much to settle the west. There are 12 Madonna of the Trail statues from Bethesda, Maryland to Upland, California. This one is in downtown Albuquerque, so we stopped to see it on our way to the airport.

Me and My Meat

Yes, I'll admit it - I've gone rogue. Sarah Palin has inspired me. If men can pose with the meat they have hunted down and killed, then surely I can pose with the good deals I've hunted down and scored on.
Actually, my daughter, Emily, is my inspiration. She is a champion couponer. The best I've ever done with coupons is to cut them out and watch them disintegrate in the bottom of my purse. When I do remember to dig them out, alas, they've expired.
Well, not this time! I bought 10 Healthy Choice meals with a $5.00 off coupon at Bel Air. At that time, as a "thank you", ConAgra generated two $3.00 off cash register coupons. I saved those puppies in a safe place, then waited for another good deal to present itself. One week later, Bel Air/Raleys was offering a $5.00 coupon off $20.00 of Black Angus Beef - for two days only (one being Sunday, so Saturday was my "hunting" day).
Yesterday, I went to Bel Air armed with my $5.00 store coupon (must register at Raleys.com) and my two $3.00 off ConAgra coupons. I scored $20.00 of fine Black Angus Beef for $9.00.
Too bad I am a Vegetarian!! Not really, but we do eat very little beef.
Today for dinner we had Chef's Choice Filet of Beef from Walmart that cost only $.68. Emily told me about the online printable coupon for $3.00 off these little guys. They were yummy!
Thanks to my husband for humoring me and taking my pic with my meat. At least he didn't have to take me on a helicopter with an expensive rifle to shoot these suckers. Or, I suppose we could have gone with Weezer into the wild and let her scare up some meat. I prefer hunting deals shrink wrapped in cellophane and gleaming under fluorescent lighting.