02.20.2013: SNOW in SCOTTSDALE??!?!

So, literally 2 days ago, we were having a swim party in the pool in gorgeous 80 degree weather.  Today, it just started SNOWING!  Yes, it is beyond ridiculous!  I have never been here when it has snowed, like no kidding snowed, at our house.  I don't know if it ever has, EVER.  Vince and I had been prepping for Christina's big engagement party this coming weekend....and everyone was looking forward to coming into town for some AZ spring sunshine....and it snows.  Beyond crazy!

 

The saddest thing was that Drake was flying to Texas with his Mom for the weekend...and missed it.  He was sitting in the airport when Vince called to tell him, and he said he literally started crying.  He was already missing out on the big party for the weekend...but now the snow too!?  Life is so not fair :)  Poor guy....

 

But really, it was crazy...it lasted about an hour or so...then slowly started melting.  The kids in the complex made a snowman by the pond...like a real one, not a mini one.  So, yes, it was really really snowing!!!  Loved it!!!



 

02.18.2013: Happy Birthday Nana!!

The kids all had today off school for the President's Day holiday....so we had a little swim-birthday party for Nana at our house.  Alisa & the kids came over for lunch and to swim...and we had a big strawberry cake and birthday presents for Brianna for her 7th birthday.  It's ridiculous how old she is getting...it's not fair!  I was just reminiscing about when she was born and looking at some old pics.  It is hard to believe how fast these kids are growing (good thing we aren't!!).

 

Happy Birthday Nana!!! 

 

 

 Gorgeous baby girl....

02.16.2013: Engagement Photo Session

Vince and I were out in CA to help out with Gramma & Papa duty for the weekend.  On Sat, we drove out to Newport to take Christina & Lex's engagement photos for them.  Since Christina hasn't posted them yet, or sent out the invites, I told her I wouldn't put them up here on the blog....so here are some random photos from the day :)  We did a sunset photo session....so got tons in the light, and tons right at sunset...luckily we had an amazing day with amazing weather.

 



 

02.02.2013: Riedman's Reunited....

Vince and I drove Ray & Lois out to CA this weekend so they could visit with Gramma & Papa...and all the other Ca relatives.  We do this each year with them....going on 3 or 4 years now.  It has become a great tradition for us, as we really enjoy the trip with them, and are so appreciative that we are able to do this for Papa.  He only gets to see his brother once a year, and I am glad we can help facilitate it.  So, we didn't have many free weekends while Ray & Lois were here this year, so we decided to come out this one...Superbowl weekend!

 

We got out in Riverside on Friday afternoon.  It was a good drive....Ray catches Vince up on all his hunting & fishing stories from the past year.  He also fits in a few old Riedman stories, which I LOVE hearing!  Usually by the end of these trips, Vince knows more about Ray & Papa growing up than I do!!  Lois catches me up on all the family gossip and what is going on with all the relatives that we really don't talk to anymore.  Ray & Lois are good because they really do keep in contact with all the brothers & sisters...and their kids.  So, it is great being able to get caught up on how everyone is doing!

 

Friday night we introduced them to the "Friday Night Albertos Dinner".  It is a Friday night Durbin tradition, ya know!  They loved it..... 

 

On Saturday, they came over to Gramma & Papa's to visit for a while in the morning.  Papa and Ray ended up  out on the back patio...drinking some beers.  It was really cute...and one of those special moments that I know Papa & Ray both really cherish.  Papa doesn't get many of these kind of days anymore, and it's a big deal.  Mom, Gramma and Lois had gone for a walk (Gramma for a wheel) around the block while the boys were out back drinking.  So, I guess I was left in charge, and I got pressured into boozing them up!  What was I gonna do...tell them NO!? :)  While they were back there, they started telling stories and Ray was catching Papa up on all the North Dakota gossip.  I love, love, love hearing these stories, but also thought it was important to give them their alone time....so I went in the house to wait for the girls to come back.

 

On Sunday, Mom took Ray & Lois to church...then over to visit with Gramma & Papa again.  I think the visit from the day before kinda wore them out, cuz they weren't too talkative.  Sunday afternoon we had a mini superbowl party at Mom & Dad's (well it was just the 6 of us)...but was relaxing!  Vince made ribs for the group, and we ate until we couldn't move!  It was pretty funny because we had the tv & stereo system on surround sound for the game, and Ray kept complaining about the noise.  Kept saying Brent should be able to come fix that?!  We were like, Brent was the one who made it like that!!  :)  He just couldn't understand why the noise would be like that on purpose :)  Very funny!!!

 

On Monday, we woke up and hit the road back to AZ.  We got an early start so were able to get home, drop them off back in Mesa, and get some work done before the end of the day.  It was a great little vacation weekend with them and we are already looking forward to next year's trip!!  :)

 

 

01.19.2013: Drake's Second Flag Football Game

Drake's second game was a good one too...they played the "Chargers".  This was actually one of the better teams in the league and had either been together for quite a while, or practiced a LOT.  They did have a few cry-babies on this team though...haha!!  You'd think at this age, they could hold it together a little better...but no, some of them were pretty bratty.  Anyways, we held our own against them though...lost the game, but put up a great fight!

 

Drake had a pass in this game...and again, a bunch of running plays. 



 

Team photo

01.13.2013: Food Truck Festival

On Sunday, Vince, Drake and I went to the Food Truck Festival over at Talking Stick/Salt River Fields.  Originally Brent/Alisa and crew were going to join us...but decided not to....so we 3 went solo (together).  It turned out to be a lot of fun, but also a lot of expensive!  When I think of food trucks, I think cheap food.  Not these days with these gourmet chefs and gourmet menus!  So, you have to pay to get in....then you have to buy food tickets so you can buy food & drinks.  Each "item" that you can buy at a truck costs anywhere between 3-10 tickets (at $1 per ticket).  So, we decided we better pick a few favorites and stick to those, instead of trying a little of everything, which was my original plan!  So, Drake picked Indian Fry Bread with beans & cheese on it.  Vince got one of those too.  I held out for the Lobster Grilled Cheese sandwiches!  The line for this one was about an hour long...but oh so worth it!  Glad we got there early because it was over twice that when we left!  We also tried some cajun gumbo with sausage.......green chili mac & cheese....a green chili & cheese baked potato.  Drake had a funnel cake for dessert too.  So, we got to try a few things, and were definitely full....but also about $100 in the hole.  Yes, $100 for 3 people to eat some food truck food. 

 

Oh well, it was a really fun event and very cool to see all the crazy trucks...and their crazy & fun menus!  Next time we would probably limit ourselves a little more on what we try....and maybe share more of the items! 

 



One of the BBQ food trucks....an old converted bus that was actually REALLY cool!

 One of the non-sharable items: 

The Lobster Grilled Cheese Sandwich

01.12.2013: Drake's First Flag Football Game

Today was Drake's first flag football game of the season.  He actually had a great team and a really good coach this season (which is pretty hit & miss in these leagues).  The league and team were both super organized...a rarity we have found in kids sports!  It is kinda nice now that Drake is a little older playing flag....they have real plays, the kids actually get it, it moves pretty fast, it isn't chaotic, they can throw & catch the ball, and they understand football.  It is slightly refreshing this year!!  Anyways, the game was a lot of fun.  Drake had quite a few plays that were both thrown and handed off to him.  He is the fastest kid on the team, so they had a couple great running plays geared toward him.  I'm not sure how many rushing yards he had, but it was a lot.

 

Oh, did I mention it was freezing!  I forget how cold it gets here in the early mornings in Jan!  :)

 

 

01.01.2013: Now That's More Like It

Ok this was supposed to be our New Years Eve dinner while we were waiting up till midnight to rock in 2013.  Oh well....I think this is a better way to start a new year, than to end an old one.  Grilled crab legs, roasted brussel sprouts, and blue cheese mashed potatoes....with a side of WINE, of course.  Delish!!!  Here's to a great, and loving, and promising, and healthy, and successful 2013.



 

12.31.2012: New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve PARTAAAAY!  Haha!  Vince and I spent a wild and crazy New Year's Eve right here at home!  We actually went over to our neighbor's house for a glass of wine...then came home to watch Dick Clark Rockin New Years Eve on TV, and had a feast!  Yup, that's the picture of the feast!  Homemade grinders, chips, and pickles!  :)  Haha!  We planned to have crab legs and wine...but were soooo exhausted we decided to wait on those until tomorrow.  Let's go ahead and end this year with some sandwiches :)



 

12.29.2012: Christmas with Christina & Lex

This year, Christina & Lex spent the week in Riviera Maya, Mexico at a gorgeous beach resort.  Lex took the opportunity to suprise Christina with an engagement ring!!!  While it was not really a surprise at all....everyone knew they would be engaged soon...Christina was still surprised & happy & excited...as she should be!  It was really cool too because Lex called Vince the night he was proposing to ask for "permission" to marry his daughter!  So cute!!  They have obviously had the conversation before, but Lex wanted to be traditional and ask for "real".  So the last night they were there, ready to go for a walk on the beach, under a full moon, and he called Vince on his cell and asked while Christina was in the shower.  So, so exciting!!! 

 

So, of course, we could not wait to see the finished product!  It was gorgeous, as expected!  CONGRATS!!!  And now to "officially" plan the wedding!!  :)

 

Oh ya, we also celebrated Christmas while we were there too!  We always love and appreciate the gifts they give us, as they are always so thoughtful.  We ordered in Thai food and had a feast right there at home with enough food for 30, and enough champagne & wine to keep the celebration going all night!

 

 

 The picture does NOT do this ring justice!

 One of Drake's amazing gifts!

12.28.2012: Another Christmas Celebration in Riverside

Vince and I headed out to Riverside for the weekend to be able to visit with Gramma and Papa, and also celebrate our Christmas with Christina & Lex out in Newport.  Alisa, Olivia, Mike and the kids also came out for the weekend to visit with Mike's family as well.  Brent didnt make the trip, as he was swamped at work!

 

The kids got gifts from Gramma & Papa, from cousin Scott (the boys got little helicopters that they had a BLAST flying around!)....Gina & Bill, and the Sparks.  Seems like they are continually overwhelmed with gifts by friends & family that love them.  Truly lucky & blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives!



 

 

 

Papa could not wait for the kids to come over & open their gifts.  He finds utter joy in getting things for them and having them be so excited to open them!  Its such a treat for them, and I'm glad we got to spend some time celebrating Christmas with them, even if we couldn't be there too long. 

 

Even though it's not the same as the old days where we would all gather at their house for Christmas Eve and wait for Santa to come deliver gifts in the driveway, every moment and every Christmas that we continue to get to spend with them is still special.  Not many people can say that they have spent every 35 Christmas Eve's (up until this one) of their entire life in the same house (Gramma & Papa's), at the same place (on Brentwood), with the same people.  Again, even though this year was a little different, it was still made special by those we were with, when we could be with them. 

 

I found this pitcure of the first Christmas of my life (2 months old), in this same house, same living room, with the same people.  Only then, it was just me!  I thought this picture was really, really cool so had to include it!

Now, I have to share with lots of other grandkids, and now great-grandkids too!

 

 

And now....I must share my wonderful grandparents! 

Good thing I really like my relatives!  :)