It actually still snows in Flagstaff AZ

Just when we thought winter wasn't really going to show up.  It did!  A snowy day!  Enough to really make things messy and very very cold.  

Its pretty but as I had watched it fall on Friday at work I was worried about traveling to Phoenix in it.  Sara's volleyball tournament was on Saturday.  We were going to drive to my Uncle's after work on Friday.  I watched the weather online and saw how the road conditions were not looking good.

Today is Sunday, I sit here on my coach with the sun shining out bright and snow melting on the ground.  We didn't end up going to Phoenix.  Most of the parents decided we didn't want to risk our safety and voted to forfeit the games.  So this weekend has been time spent with my kids.  Ben stayed home, like the original plan since I was suppose to be in Phoenix.  He had things to get done around his house.

Yesterday was nice.  Karlee came over for part of the day.  We went out and bought some doughnuts.  We hung out and relaxed some together.  Marlee came over to spend the night here with Sara.  Kyle later went over to a friend's house.  I made enchiladas for dinner.

Today has been a very relaxing and enjoyable Sunday hanging around the house.  Soon we are going to go pick up Karlee and then we are going to head over to the Olive Garden to have dinner as a family to celebrate Kyle's 18th Birthday (it was Friday)

I enjoyed my weekend home with my kids.  Now to get ready for a new week.  We are suppose to have snow again on Tuesday. So will shall see what this next storm brings in.

Then after Claire came Benny Boy Jr.

Last Saturday after we had gotten home with Claire and got her cage and everything set up.  I hadn't sat down on the couch but for 5 minutes when Ben announces get up we are going back and we are getting a fish!  I was surprised!  He was serious, he thought I needed a fish and wanted to get me one.  So off to the same pet store and the same people were there that helped us earlier.

I pick this guy out!

We get in Ben's truck and he took a picture of me and my fish :)

Meet Benny Boy jr.!

We were heading back to my place and it started out as a joke but then it stuck.  Ben was talking about how when Karlee greets Ben, she always call him "Benny boy" so Ben is like lets name your fish Benny boy jr.

 I love watching him swim around.  He is so pretty!

Now we are a family that has critters, and pets in the household!

Feeling a little more complete around here lol.

A Fun Saturday

(last weekend)

I'm not sure how we ended up having the Saturday we had but it was fun and filled with laughter and smiles so that is really all that matters.

This past Saturday, Ben and I got up, headed out the door to go drop off my car at Big O Tires to get my oil changed on it finally.  Then we went to eat breakfast at Village Inn.  Then we went to walk around a bit at this place that sells storage buildings, Ben is thinking about getting one.

We headed home to find Sara wanting to go out and about and do something instead of stay at home.  Kyle was content with staying home, in his room playing video games.  I didn't want to be home either.  It was a nice day and I wanted to be out in it.

Sara asked if we could go to Sephora, she wanted to look for something that would help out her oily skin lately.  So we did that then we went to Good Will to see if I could find some pants and shirts for Kyle to wear to work at Walmart.  Didn't have any luck with the pants but found a few shirts.

But way before that.....which is what really started the "hunt a new pet story" that I didn't know that would unravel until the end of the day.....

Our apartment complex was hosting an event for adopting dogs and cats.  There were a few being shown out in an area.  My Sara bear loves animals.  We have always had a dog of some sort in our lives but since we have been on our own and in the apartment, we haven't had one.  Its not because we all don't want one, its the cost.  The cost to have one in the apartment is insane and I don't see how people do it!  I barely pay my rent much less add an extra fee on top monthly for an animal after paying a ton just to have it.  Just can't do it.

The kids want a puppy so bad.  Like I said I'd love to have one but can't do it right now.  Ben, Sara and I walked over to look at the dogs and there was a puppy there.  Sara crawled into the pin with a puppy and sat and enjoyed the puppy for a few minutes.  And then it began......

My heart really did ache as I stood there and saw all the joy that a dog in her life could bring to her but I had to stay firm in my decision.  

Sara was stuck!  She wanted to look at dogs and puppies as soon as possible.  So we went to the humane society and looked around.  All the puppies were taken already, thank goodness, but there were some really cute ones.  That wasn't enough, so we went to the pet store over by Safeway, all they had were cats, fish, and reptiles.  I thought I was going to walk out of that pet store with a fish for Sara but nope.  Instead the conversation with Ben took it to another level. Ben mentioned that it would be fun to take Sara over to the other pet store, where he and I had seen some hairless hamsters (we had seen ironically the evening before after we went walking around after we ate dinner).  The store we were at did not have any hamsters at all.  Then it hit Sara, she decided right then that she wanted a hamster.  She literally ran to the car as we were leaving the store that didn't have any, with excitement that she was going to the other store to get one.  I hadn't even said yes or no yet, but she had her mind made up.

We headed over to the other side of town to the other pet store that we knew had hamsters.  This one did not have any cats or dogs, just reptiles, fish, faretts, and hamsters.  We hadn't been in the store but one minute when Sara headed right over to the hamsters and picked one out right away.  She said she wanted a cute fat one.  We drove to the other side of town and came out with Claire, a long haired teddy bear hamster!

I didn't realize how happy this was going to make my Sara Bear....the joy and the happiness warmed my heart as I watched her interact and start boding and loving on Claire.

Valentines Day 2018

Karlee surprised me at work with some treats :)

Ben stopped by on his way home to give me a big box of chocolates :)

I gave him a card and a big bag of gummy worms :)

And oddly enough it looked like this outside for the day.

Despite the cold and wind, rain/snow this year Valentines Day was a good happy day!

1st Weekend in Feb

Started it with  Friday after work meeting with this guy! :)  We got Sara squared away with dropping her off along with a few friends off at Flag High to watch some intense high school basketball games against Coco and Flag.

Then we put gas in my car to make sure I had a full tank for tomorrow's trip to Prescott with Sara.  Then we went to Del Taco to grab some food for dinner and to go back to my place to eat, cuddle and watch some Netflix until he left to go home.

I enjoy and make the most out of every chance we get to spend time together.  We always end up smiling a ton and laughing lots.

 Saturday morning I got up at 4:00 a.m. to get things ready to go so that we could leave by 5:00 a.m. (I think Sara had gotten up around 4:30)  We had to head to Prescott and get to the volleyball location at 7:30 a.m.  This club volleyball is really challenging me to drive more out of town and such.  Prescott I'm okay to drive to and actually it ended up being a straight easy shot getting to where we needed to be, the only thing that was a little uneasy was driving so early in the morning when its still really dark out but I used my brights when I could.  Sara had gone back to sleep while I drove of course, but it was a nice drive and I was okay.

All the parents set up a "camp" for our players to come by and rest and grab food in between their playing and reefing. 

of course there is enough down time for social media.....oh my.

This is their pre-winning game photo.  They said that they wanted to take a "winning" photo to have ready in case they won a game.  This one is a little silly since one of them just wouldn't give up the bagel in her mouth.....

Sara serving....

At one point while the girls were reffing, I went for a walk around the college campus.  It was a beautiful day in Prescott, I think it ended up being 70!  The sun felt so good!  On my walk I found the purple cactus.  It caught my attention with the color, it is so pretty!  

Also I was thinking of Karlee when I saw it, she is into cactus and I wanted to send her a picture to cheer her up some.  She's a little down and out with the pressures of being an adult and living on her own but I talked to her with encouraging words (while praying in my head for the Lord's help) and told her how much I loved her and how proud I was of her and that things will be alright for all of us.  We just have to hang in there, believe and have some faith.

But seriously have you ever seen such a pretty purple cactus!!

Now ironically here is the "real" winning team photos!  We ended up winning our last game of the day!!! It was so great!  The girls have really improved and played really good!

It was a long day and everyone was tired and we had to travel back but it was a good one!

Sara and I grabbed some food at In and Out Burger and headed back to Flagstaff!

Sunday, the girls and I head to the mall, to walk around and browse.  It was nice getting to spend some time with both of my girls.

That is Karlee sleeping on my couch, she spent most of Sunday here at "home".  It all felt complete.

It was an enjoyable weekend, thankful for all the moments shared with my loved ones.

The New Year is in Full Swing

Here it is the 3rd day of February 2018!  The new year is in full swing, we have a month into the year under our belts!

Well we started January off, in fact this on the 3rd of January, so a month ago Kyle rear ended someone after he had a job interview with Walmart.  We are finally starting to order the parts needed to get the truck back together.

Then I used some of a gift card from Amazon that I had gotten for Christmas and got an air fryer.  It is so awesome!  I love it!

Kyle, wow my son is turning more and more into his own person.  He will soon be 18 and he will graduate from high school in May.  This is a picture I grabbed from instagram that he posted when he went on a hike with his buddies in the middle of last month.

This is a my package that I received from Thrive Market.  I tried out a little service of buying grocery/pantry type stuff online and had it sent to me.  It was neat and interesting at first but I will not continue.  Its too much money.  The one I tried offered a discount for a trial order.

We had a brief encounter in January with snow.....I think we still know what it looks and feels like lol....its crazy  how mild this winter here in Flagstaff AZ has been this year.

This is on a day that Karlee wanted to get together and hang out with me.  I love spending time with her, she has blossomed this year with going to school and living on her own with room mates.

Sara and her club volleyball teal with the YMCA.

Yes, even silly 44 year old "girls" still like to play with their hair and try new styles.....

Ended January with changing up my bedding in my bedroom/living room.  I want to bring the outdoors indoors so here is phase one with a new bedspread and pillow.  Its a pretty green, prettier than what comes out in the picture I think.

All in all January was a good month.

The year continues......

onto the next month!

The "Plated" experience

Plated is one of those meal planning services that you can have everything you need, fresh and ready for you to cook with a recipe card and all.  Its neat and the idea is great but its rather costly.  I was able to enjoy the service for 5 meals due to my boss at work making a mistake in his delivery time.  He goes back and forth to Phoenix and Flagstaff, every other week between the two businesses.  He scheduled his service to deliver the week he was going to be in Phoenix.  He called the office at work, I answered the (because thats what I do lol) and he said that he had an odd question to ask.  Then he asked if I would be willing to go to his house to pick up the box and take it home and cook and enjoy the meals that were inside the box.  I was surprised and excited and said sure I would do that.  

There were 5 meals in the box.  I ended up cooking three out of the 5 meals.  I have to say it was fun!  It also was great to come home and pull out the bundle of ingredients right from the fridge, ready to go and then prepare and cook it.  I didn't have to go to the store, I didn't have to plan it.  It was great!  I felt like a real "chef" lol.....I learned new techniques to prepare the food or chop and item.  I learned new ways to combine different seasonings to get an amazing flavor in the dish.

This was the first one I made.  I even "plated" it before serving it to the kids.  I liked this one the most and the kids didn't mind it.

The last two the kids were not very fond of but they tried it at least and that made me happy.  The meals were a little on what I would say the "fancy" side.   It was wasn't your normal idea of an every day meal for a family.  I did enjoy trying the new recipes.

Well I helped out being able to enjoy the service for that week but I it did wear me out too.....all that actual cooking :)

I enjoyed and would love to take advantage of a service like that but it is expensive so its not something I can do at this stage in my life.  I recommend trying it out if you can, even if its just a one time gift to yourself go for it!