Yesterday I met Jami and her boys Luke and Reid, Meghan and her girls Presley and Peyton at The Farm at South Mountain for lunch. This was Jami's first trip back to Arizona since they moved to Colorado last November. It was so fun to see them all again and to be able to catch up. Although I get to see Meghan often it was fun to spend some time with her and the girls too! I am lucky to have such great girl friends!!

Grayhawk Girls Get Together!

Last night the "Grayhawk Girls" (we all worked at Grayhawk together at some point) went to Singne's house for a little Christmas celebration. We enjoyed chocolate fondu, apple martinis and wine! We then watched the 2008 video. I made the girls a DVD of pictures from our 2007 times together and so now it is a yearly thing. Fun to watch and laugh at the fun times we have had together through out the past year. Here's to 2009 ladies!!

Holiday Feast with Friends

John and Jennifer, the wonderful hosts














My friend Jennifer invited me over last night for a little Christmas get together. It was a wonderful dinner with fun drinks, and festive treats! Thanks for a fun night John and Jennifer!

Therapy Dog #2

I just wanted to share the good news that Bogey passed his Therapy dog test!! I was a little nervous that he might not pass. Jesse is much calmer and Bogey loves people but is just easily excited! I was nervous that being in a new environment and around dogs etc. that he might be a little too high strung but he did great! Part of the exam is also the AKC CGC Test. (American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizen) So now Bogey and Jesse both have a certificate that says they passed that as well. I am so proud of both of them!
We can't make any visits with Bogey yet because I need to turn in all his paper work. I also have to go meet with my Hospice of the Valley Coordinator to have them evaluate Bogey as well as fit him for his own vest before we can make any visits with them. I am excited to get him out there meeting some patients too! I think they will love him!
Stay Tuned for Pictures of Bogey at work too!

Thanksgiving Dinner #2

Tine and Joe the last few years have made Turkey Paninis the day after Thanksgiving. She insisted my parents and I try it this year because it has become a favorite of hers that she looks forward to. Well we tried them last night...and she was right. They were YUMMY! I would highly recommend! Even my dad liked them and he can be a tough critic!

Thankful for Snow

The view out the back door..looking out to the golf course.
Thanksgiving morning we woke up at the cabin to it snowing! It was so fun to not only be in cold weather but to enjoy it snowing all day! The dogs loved it too! While it was a great Thanksgiving and my parents and I enjoyed a few days at the cabin it wasn't the same without Tine, Joe and Tye. We were definitely thinking about them and Thankful we got to see them the week before! As always, I find myself thankful for all the blessings in my life..I truly am blessed!

Danish Visitors

My Aunt and Uncle visited from Denmark for almost two weeks! It was so fun having them and getting to spend time with both of them. I only get to see them once a year or once every other year. Therefore, when given the opportunity, I spend as much time with them as I can. They are a lot of fun and we love it every time they come! Hopefully they'll be back sooner than later!

Me and My Uncle Lasse and Aunt Vibeke

Best Halloween Costume of '08

I got this in an e-mail and just had to share with everyone. Jami and Heidi..you K-State fans can appreciate this one just like we Missouri fans do!!

A HOWLIN' HALLOWEEN

Happy Halloween from Bogey The Witch and Jesse The Ghost!!

Golf and Girlfriends

Sunday Singne, Mitzi, Meghan and I went out to Grayhawk for a few hours to have a little lunch and enjoy the golf tournament. Just another fun afternoon with the girls at The Hawk!

Freaky Friday

Friday night I went to my first Haunted House!! I can't believe I am almost 32 and I have never been to a haunted house! There were 8 of us so I definitely didn't feel alone which was good. Mitzi had STRICT instructions to let me hold onto her the entire time which helped! Once it was done, I admit it was kind of fun! Not nearly as scary as I expected and a nice way to celebrate Halloween.

Therapy dog at work

Friday afternoon Jesse and I were asked to attend a Hospice of the Valley health fair for a few hours. Jesse did well and enjoyed meeting some new people. It is always fun for me to see that she enjoys the visits we do together. There is no doubt that she loves people!!

Celebrating 32!

Last night I celebrated my birthday with the girls. I know it was a little early but trying to get six girls schedules to coordinate can be tough. We enjoyed salad and pizza at a new place called Grazi. We then went for another drink at a bar down the street that I had never been to called Temple Bar. It was another fun night out withthe girls celebrating the coming birthday!

GAME DAY

Saturday of my trip to Missouri we drove from St. Louis to Columbia for the Missouri vs. Oklahoma State football game! We enjoyed going to Tiger Spirit, CJ's for Wings, and Harpos and Willy's for some cold beer! It was a fun afternoon in Columbia but the 7:00pm game turned out to be quite the disapointment when we lost!! Oh well...atleast I got to be there and enjoy a game in the stadium! I love going back and as you all know I just love my Missouri Tigers!

Trip To Missouri

Last Wednesday I flew to St. Louis to see Linda and meet her new son, John "Jack" Maxwell Doherty! Thursday we took the hour and 45 minute drive down to Cape Girardeau, Missouri to visit Aimee and her boys, Sam and Max and meet her newest addition to the family, Allie Grace Cairns! It was a fun day with friends and their little ones! Linda and I only spent the day there but enjoyed hanging out with Aimee, having lunch and playing with the kids. Friday we enjoyed lunch in Forest Park at the boat house followed by pedicures and a nice dinner and wine on the deck. Then is was off to bed to rest of up for Game Day.....

Linda and Jack, Aimee, Sam and Max and I

Trittler Wedding

Last Saturday Paul's daughter got married. (Paul has three daughters and three sons and this is his second oldest daughter.) Since I have worked for Paul for over 9 1/2years and his daughters are close to my age, I have become friends with them through the years. Lindsey was nice and included my in the wedding festivities. I attended her shower and bachelorette party and of course the wedding itself. Lindsey and Luke looked so happy and it was a beautiful wedding at Grayhawk. Now they are off in Hawaii for their honeymoon! Wish I were there sipping a mai tai myself!
TheBride and Groom!
Mitzi, Me, Amanda and Stacey Trittler and Amanda's daughter Madison

37 years!!

I went to dinner with my mom and dad last night to help them celebrate their 37th anniversary! It was nice to be able to celebrate with them. They have been a good example for my sister and I of what a happy marriage is all about! Congrats mom and dad! Hope there is 37 more ahead!

Martinis and Manicures

Yesterday we celebrated Singne's Birthday. We went to Old Town Scottsdale to a place called Furio. Every Monday night they have Martinis and Manicures for $10! It was a lot of fun and the martinis were yummy! We then went accross the street to Salty Senorita for a drink before we called it a night!
The girls getting their manicures!
A quick "pic" before we called it a night!

Cabin almost complete

My Parents are building a new cabin in Pinetop. I went up this weekend and got to see it for the first time. I am really looking forward to going up again once they are moved in because it is really amazing. It is on the 8th hole of the golf course. I am already starting to think about some fun ski trips this winter. Hopefully they let me use it! :)
Back of the cabin, view you see from the golf course
The Kitchen

Running in Sin City

It is official, I signed up today to run the Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon on December 7th! Mitzi and I are going and hopefully our friends, Meghan and Singne will be going too. So back to training for me! I am determined to make a time goal that I have in my head, no matter how many it takes! So wish me lots of luck both when I am there and running and when I hit the roulette table!

3 weeks and counting

I am so excited for college football to begin! My tigers play 3 weeks from today! Can't wait to cheer on my tigers to another great season! Hope we have another big win over those Jayhawks too! GO MIZZOOU!!

Horray...Junior camps are done today!

After a long, hot summer of teaching summer junior golf camps...today was the last day!! I have taught 9, 3 day camps and at times I thought it would never end. This was definitely cause for celebration. Mitzi and I went to RA for some sushi and drinks and Singne met us. After dinner Mitzi and I went across the street to Ocean Club for another drink. It was a fun night toasting to being done with all that babysitting!

House Guest

My parents are in South Carolina visiting Tine, Joe and Tye so I have Casey at my house. My parents are gone for 11 days so this is a little bit of an extended visit. Jesse especially enjoys playing with her. Bogey could care less. Just makes for more dog hair for me to sweep up each day! She is a good dog though and fun to have!

Happy 4th of July!

The dogs in their 4th of July visors I bought at Target for $1.

I enjoyed the 4th by going over to my friend Jennifer's house in Marabel. They recently built a beatiful house up there and so they had people over to celebrate and watch fireworks on their roof. A huge rain and hail storm postponed the fireworks but it was a fun evening. I was in charge of dessert so I made a festive fruit pizza. It was yummy!

Wine Time!!

Jennifer and I at Sterling Vineyards

My friend Jennifer and I got back from a wonderful trip to the Wine Country of Napa and St. Helena, California. We had such a great time and both commented how truly perfect everything was. We got there Friday mid day and just relaxed by doing some shopping on main street and relaxing before a wonderful dinner at Mustards. Saturday we woke up and even got a little excercise in before a full day of wine tasting. The day began with breakfast at Gillwoods, followed by tastings at Rombauer, Frank Family and Sterling. Then it was lunch on the patio of Summers winery and then tastings at Envy and Castello Di Amorosa and dinner at Tra Vigne. Sunday included more excercise (we were proud that we included that :-) ) breakfast at Gillwoods, tasting at Duckhorn, ZD, Miner and a stop at V. Sattui. We then enjoyed a wonderful dinner with Koerner and KR Rombauer at the Culinary Institute of America. Monday we got up and met KR at Joan's grave to put some flowers there and went to Meadowwood for breakfast before we had to hit the road to come home. (Meadowwood is where Tom and Katie Cruise and the Beckhams stayed when they were here as well as Oprah when she was in town) It was a busy but amazing weekend with a great friend! Can't wait to do it again!!
Jennifer and I at Sterling
Castello Di Amorosa (This winery is owned by the same owner as V. Sattui and he had every piece of brick etc. flown in from Italy or an exact replica made. It took 16 years to complete. The tour was amazing!)
Just a barrel during our tour
Jennifer getting a barrel tasting during our tour
Jennifer and I at Miner Winery
Jennifer and I at V. Sattui

Musical with Mom

Last night my mom and I went to ASU's Gammage to see the musical "The Wedding Singer". I didn't know that Adam Sandler not only played the role in the movie but wrote it. There were parts that were a little different from the movie but for the most part it was very similar. It was really good and both my mom and I really enjoyed it!

Run and Fun

Last Saturday I went to California for the Santa Barbara Wine Country 1/2 marathon! The race itself was nothing that I am proud of and I was disapointed that I didn't come close to my goal. The race route was beautiful and the weather was perfect so that was nice but the hills were quite a bit more than I had expected so that was a challenge. I had a great weekend though with the girls and there was a lot of laughing! After the race we enjoyed going to a few wineries and enjoying a free tasting set up for us by Meghan! I am hoping there will be another trip and race in our future!!
The morning of the race before we left the hotel...Jami,Meghan,Mitzi,Singne,Stacia and I
Team photo before the race began!
Enjoying some wine at Cambria, thanks to Meghan!

Dancing little Divas

Last night I went to Jeff and Mitzi's daughter, Claire's talent show at school. She and her friend Skylar made up a dance to Ashley Simpson's "L O V E" song. It was a cute dance and they did very well! It was fun to see her perform!

Birthday Bash...Fun In The Sun

Meghan,Me,Toni,Singne,Mitzi and Noelani
Saturday we spent the afternoon at the Pool at the Pointe Hilton Hotel. We reserved a cabana, had lunch and drinks and enjoyed getting tan! This fun in the sun was to celebrate Meghan's Birthday! As always it is fun to just hang out with good friends!

Suns Game

Friday night Mitzi and I went to game 3 of the Suns vs. Spurs playoff game. Unfortunately the Suns lost the first two games and lost Friday too! It was still fun to be there and see them play in person. I have decided that Shaq is officially a GIANT! He is even bigger in person than he looks on tv. It was fun to be there and cheer them on even if they didn't come away with the win!

Three down :-(

Well Tine and Tye flew to South Carolina yesterday. Needless to say it was a tearful goodbye! As I was saying goodbye to my sweet little boy, (and crying pretty hard) he looked at me and in his cutest little voice said, "It's ok TT"! That only made me cry harder! I know that this move will be so good for their family and I wish them all the best! I am just going to miss my little nephew and sister more than words can say! Already counting down to my first visit to the Palmetto State...less than 5 weeks!

One down...two to go!

Joe hit the road today to make the drive to South Carolina. His friend Scott came to town last night and they hit the road around 8:30 this morning. I know they will enjoy the cross country road trip with the dogs! Tine and Tye leave Monday, so be thinking about us. I will miss them terribly and am already looking forward to my first visit to the Palmetto State!

I love working for hugs and kisses....

This morning Jesse and I went down to the Hospice of the Valley office for her to get her vest as well as some other things for me to take care of before our first visit next Saturday. She loves going to the HOV office because everyone is so excited to see her and she gets lots of "cookies". It is good practice for her too, seeing people and not getting too excited but showing interest in everyone! We have found out that we will be visiting patients at Encore Senior Village. I am excited to get started and I know Jesse and I are both going to enjoy our visits!

The Gift of Laughter

Saturday was Mitzi's birthday so we took her to sushi for dinner and then took her to the Improv in Tempe for a comedy show. The comedian was Bill Burr. I thought he was really good and very funny. We all had a great night and as always, it is fun to have a night out with the girls! Next is Meghan's birthday in April so we'll see what the plans will be for her big day!