06.30.2010: Going Back to Cali....

On Weds, Vince, Drake, and I drove out to Riverside in preparation for the Hearn Family Reunion in San Diego over the weekend. We got the bulk of the drive out of the way Weds so that we could get up early Thurs am and get down there to meet the rest of the crew. This was a much-anticipated trip, as it was the "First Annual Hearn Family Summer Vacation".

06.27.2010: Hearn Family Dinner

Charles (Vince's brother) and his family drove into Phoenix late Sat evening. They came out west from Texas on a 2 week roadtrip. Sunday evening, Glenn & Jan hosted a potluck dinner at their house for all the AZ family members. It had been a while since we had seen Charles, Patty, Katrina, and they brought her cousin Brandon....so it was great having them in town! As always, the food was delish...the wine was wonderful (after Vince's harrassing Glenn to actually poor some!)...and the company was very enjoyable! After dinner, Glenn put on some music videos & concerts in his movie room...the guys, of course, all disappeared for dancing & singing. Thelma crashed the party after a while for a little of her own dancing! :) After we left there, Vince and I went over to Eric & Karissa's for a little after-party glass of wine & some chit-chat. Great evening with the Hearns!!!

Glenn controlling the music & Thelma showing her moves:

Makenna snuck in a big bite of ham....she doesn't mind pics while she has a mouth full!

Jackie's wonderful husband Will:

Charles...and his distinct laugh :) Wish these pics had sound!

Glenn showing off his new shirt...yes, those are butterflies:

Uncle Vince with Eric & Shay...she loves some Uncle Vince!!

Sis's-in-Law's....Jackie & Patty:

Thelma...I think this was right after she snuck a sip of wine!

Pretty-eyed family!!!

Karissa, Eric, Makenna & Shay

06.26.2010: CDG's Office Move

Vince and I have been working for a long time on CDG, one of our companies, and for the past year have been sharing an office with another company. This week, we moved into our very own office!! We had the interior rebuilt, basically from scratch, and exactly how we wanted it. It is awesome! :) Brent offered a little "free" labor to hook up our conference room...and it looks great! I had no idea how much work it takes to do what he does!! It was an all day affair just for our little room! But we are up and running now...and are loving it. We only have the office partially outfitted with furniture...still room for growth...but we are ready!

Alisa and the kids came over to help out....and we had Drake there as well. Brian Greene & Taylor came by too for a little assistance. The kids spent most of the time running around the office playing. Andrew took people on "tours" as they got there. It was very cute...he remembered all the little details of the office, and was very serious about his tours.

Drake & Nana hiding....while Andrew is somewhere seeking:

Nana playing "office" with the boys. She is in charge (sitting at my desk)...telling the boys how to "run their businesses". She looks very inquisitive:

06.18.2010: Las Vegas Weekend

Vince and I spent the week in CA for work...then headed to Vegas with Mom & Dad on Friday for the weekend. We followed them up...so got some pics of the Vette in action...haha! :) Friday was our first night....however we actually paced ourselves and turned in early...very unusual for Vegas!!

Saturday was Mom & Dad's 34th wedding anniversary!! For dinner we went to Joe's, a famous steakhouse in Ceasar's. We tried to go here once last year, but couldn't get reservations. So, we got a table, and enjoyed a great dinner! Although everything was really good, we probably wouldn't go back there. We all thought it was a little overrated. Oh well...it was a good dinner & we think Mom & Dad enjoyed it! Dad started telling stories from when he was younger...and it was great because Mom hadn't heard a lot of them before. We need more nights like that....I love old stories!!

On Sunday, we spent the day visiting other casinos. We drove over to the new one, M, which is off the strip....and kinda near South Point. It was a REALLY nice hotel...and casino! Definitely going back there!! For dinner that night, we went to Serendipity 3. I wanted to go to the original one in New York when we were there for our honeymoon, but didn't make it. So, luckily we got to visit the one in Vegas. It is one of our new favs. Loved it! The food was fabulous!! And they are famous for their "Frozen Hot Chocolate". Too bad we ate soooo much dinner, we had no room for dessert :(

06.13.2010: Sunday Pizza Party

On Sunday, we went to Brent & Alisa's house for a homemade pizza party!! Alisa made the dough & sauce from scratch and it was oh so good!!!! This pizza party was a little different because we made individual pizzas for everyone and Brent cooked them on the grill. This was a first for us all....and it was a HIT! They came out AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The pizzas looked good....and tasted great!! Definitely the first of many pizza parties!!!

06.12.2010: Earl Klugh Concert

Saturday evening Vince and I went to the Earl Kulgh concert at the Music Instrument Museum in Scottsdale. The MIM is the only one of its kind in the world, and just opened recently. A week ago, I found tickets to the concert...in the second row. Before the concert, we got to meet Earl and Vince chatted him up for a while....and got a nice pic. He is a super nice guy, and put on a very impressive show!! Had a GREAT time!! Wish they were bringing more jazz artists here soon...its an amazing theater!!

06.12.2010: Pre-Fathers Day with Drake

Since Vince and I were going to be in Vegas for Father's Day weekend, we did a early special day with Drake. First we went to Sports Authority to find Vince some new tennis shoes....since we all know that he doesn't already have enough in every color you can imagine ;) But he needed new ones....so we did a little shopping! Then Drake wanted to take him to lunch. Drake wanted to take him to Quiznos, but since it was Vince's special day, he voted for Grayhawk Golf Course. Not only is it GREAT food, but also amazing views! So Vince won! We both had a side of gormet mac & cheese...which hands down takes the cake on best mac & cheese ever. It had big ancho chilis in it ....yummo! I am waiting to recreate it at home soon.

It started raining in the middle of lunch, which was awesome since we LOVE the rain....we even waited to move under the patio until we got too wet....great outside lunch day! After we ate, the boys went down to give the leftover french fries to the fishes....tradition!

06.10.2010: Crabfest and Slumber Party

Brent was out of town for a couple days on business, so Alisa and the kids came over for a slumber party. We spent the afternoon swimming at the pool, which wore the kids out like crazy! Vince and I decided to make Alisa his most famous and delicious crab legs. The crab is the most AMAZING crab I have ever had in my life. I wake up in the morning craving them! So we loaded up the grill for an amazing crabfest....and Alisa did her part!!! There was no holding back....YUMMO! Of course we had some delicious wine along with the crab too...no magnums, but we did some bottle damage.


















While we were savoring our crab and wine the kids decided to put on a show after they were done eating. A gangster show....music was going, they went and found their props, rehearsed some dance moves, and start showing out! It was hilarious! Nana had a hard time with her mean face....it ended up scrunched up every time! Although we all KNOW she has it in her! Heehee! They had a great time....

As they wound down, they sat in the chair and chilled in front of the tv....a couple years ago, they all fit side-by-side in that chair...no more! But they figured it out....cuz they needed to be together. Not too long after that, they moved into the room, and crashed in the bed....so cute!! Yes, Andrew likes to cuddle in his sleep...and Drake didn't seem to mind. :)

06.09.2010: Kaizen Update

Our little puppy is growing up....her face has changed...her fur is getting fluffy...she is getting fuller....and she has turned into a BIG BABY!!! In the last few months she has gotten unbelievably needy. She doesn't like being alone or sleeping alone....she is always around now!! We used to have to go look for her in the house because she liked her "alone time"....now she needs people time! OH - and she sits like a human on the couch. She lifts her back legs up, scoots her booty on the couch....keeps her front legs on the floor....and watchs TV with us. Wierd dog....but our dog! :)

06.06.2010: Day Trip To Tucson

It was Saturday....and was predicted to be the hottest day of the year in Phoenix....and even though we had been traveling a little lately....Vince decided he wasn't ready for the heat yet. So, we turned on the A/C for Kaizen, got in the car, and left. We stopped at the taco shop for some road trip Breakfast burritos, and made our way to Tucson. Vince had researched "The Coldest Place in AZ" that day...and it was Mt. Lemon in Tucson. So, Mt. Lemon, here we come!

It seemed like the longest drive ever, but we got there. The drive up the mountain was heaven....temp dropping by the mile. We stopped about half way up at a little lake....and ate our snacks and grape soda. There were a lot of people there fishing and hanging out by the water, so we didn't stay long. We made our way to the top, where we rode the ski lift to the top, top. It was cool...as in cold up there!! Loved it!! Stopped at the best cookie shop ever for some giant cookies....a great appetizer before our mexican dinner at our other favorite Tucson stop! After our mexican dinner, stuffed, cooled off, and ready for Phx once again, we hit the road home. We made a quick stop at Brian Greene's as we got into town because we brought him back some Tucson menudo...which is very different than the regular menudo.

Great day out of town....great day trip....NOW we are ready for the heat....kinda! :)

06.05.2010: Cactus Flower

When we got home from babysitting, Vince noticed the cacti right outside our door was blooming. It only bloomed at night, and hid in a bulb during the sun of the day. We noticed it earlier in the day but it was just a small bulb. I had NO IDEA what it would look like at night. It was absolutely GORGEOUS! So glad I went out and took some pics of it. The next morning when we woke up, someone had torn off the flowers, and they were gone. I was sooooo sad. :(