05.29.2018: Random Cactus Flowers

This cacti just outside our door is in full bloom right now! They only open up at night so you have to catch them in the early morning or later evening to get them open. So pretty! 

 

05.27.2018: Sonoita Ranching

Vince, Drake and I headed south for the night to check out what was going on at the ranch.  K&K were in the process of digging rows for the 60 grape vines they bought and needed to plant.  Ken was there showing Kelsea how to operate his tractor to make the process go faster.  It was cool to watch, but a slow and tedious job! (Still better than digging with a shovel tho!). 

 

Mom & Dad also built a chicken coup, and have 8 baby chickens!  So, we had to come visit our new family members too ;)   Love having chickens!  It will be a few months or so before they lay eggs, and I can't wait!

 

It was a gorgeous day and we were rewarded with another amazing sunset down here!  Love visiting the parents when we can!! :)

 

 

05.26.2018: First 7on7 Passing Tourney

Soooooo excited!!!  Today was Drake's first 7on7 passing tournament with Pinnacle High School.  He has been practicing and working out with the JV football team this spring, getting ready to tryout for the team this summer.  Today they started their summer ball with a tournament here in Scottsdale.  Drake is planning to play linebacker, and possibly running back.  Since this is a passing tournament, he played mostly on defense.  He did awesome and had a couple great plays, including an interception that he ran in for a TD.  So exciting!!!  He had a great time and Vince and I loved watching him! Can't wait for the season to start!

 

05.25.2018: It's Been Real

Well, time to head home today.  We had an afternoon flight so we did a little more exploring and driving around.  Vince's co-worker wanted a shirt from his old favorite bar along the ocean....so we headed over there to get him one.  We decided to stop and have some lunch before heading to the airport.  When I saw they served Imperial (my fav Costa Rican beer), had to have one of those too!  Great last lunch in Tampa!

 

And then it got real.  Real weird!  When we got to our gate at the airport, we noticed a couple TV cameras/reports there.  I walked over to see what was going on and a woman was there being interviewed about her dog, who just gave birth to a litter of puppies!  Yup. She was getting on a plane to go to Chicago, with her dog in active labor.  The gate agents held her from getting on the flight and called TSA.  She was sitting in the gate area watching the gate agents and TSA assist her dog in labor.  Someone must have called the local news station because they were there filming it. It was chaos. And one of the most ridiculous things I had ever seen. There was blood and fluids everywhere.  Besides the fact that this poor dog was surround by a ton of people gawking during this whole stressful process, the people that were involved in this (taking away them from their airport jobs), then the HAZMAT crews that had to come clean up the fluids, hair, and everything else you can imagine all over the carpet in the area.  It was a disaster.  I truly hope this idiotic woman is held responsible for the cost of all this havoc she created.  Ok, I ended up going over and taking a pic of the pups after most of the people disbursed, mainly to remember this craziness - and to tell others about it.  People - do NOT take your dog to the airport to get on a flight if she is going into labor!!! Please!

Ok, off my soapbox. Some people just amaze me, in a horrifying way!

 

05.24.2018: Tampa Chill Day & The Columbia

Today Vince had a few meetings in the morning they we headed over to the beach area in the later afternoon.  It was gorgeous! We drove around the waterfront areas for a bit before heading back to our area. 

 

We were planning to go to a nice dinner tonight at a Spanish restaurant called Columbia. I had done my research (as always) and had my eye on this place all week. I patiently waited, and tonight was our last night here.  No disappointment, it was one of the best dining experiences we had had in a very long time! It was amazing!!!  The restaurant itself was in an old building that held the original restaurant (in just one of the many rooms it has now) from 1905. Gorgeous décor, interesting & storied history that the waitress gives you when you sit down, the food was phenomenal, the wine was from their family vineyards/winery and was made just for the restaurant.  Their house salad was delicious!  Vince had the paella and I had the arroz con pollo.  Both were incredible - both in presentation and taste!  We even splurged tonight and had dessert and a specialty coffee drink.  Such an amazing and fun dinner!  We were in no rush and took our time enjoying this wonderful restaurant.  Another place I HIGHLY recommend if you are in the Tampa area.