Summer Solstice

The summer solstice was this week and on a whim, Bryan, James and I walked over at lunch time to witness the light effects created on this day at the Burton Barr Library. I had heard about this and thankfully Bryan remembered so we were able to experience it. I wasn't sure what to expect and I kind of feel like my photos look better than it did in real life but I am still glad that I went to experience it.

What happens is that the ceiling of the building is actually floating and the light comes through along both walls and the sky lights cause the tops of the columns to looks like they are candles that are lit.

Payson never disappoints

As my semester ended, Lani and I headed to Payson for a weekend at her family's cabin.  We accomplished some awesome thrifting and ate an amazing dinner.  I operated the charcoal grill which I was pretty proud of.  We grilled veggie burgers, potatoes, peppers, and onion in foil and corn on the cob.  It tasted so good.  Of course, we worked on a puzzle in the evening and slept-in in the morning.  The next day we headed to the Tonto Natural Bridge which was amazing.  I had never been before and the beauty of it took my breath away.  We saw a rattle snake (thank goodness Penny did not) and had a picnic in thee grass.  Afterwards we stopped in Strawberry for some ice cream and then closed up the cabin and headed home.  It was a perfect recharger weekend.

Jerome Home Tour

Oh, how I love Jerome, especially the home tour. This year I was able to share the experience with my Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob.

I finally ate at the Asylum at the Grand Hotel.  The food was good and we were able to sit outside on the porch and the weather was beautiful.

Original wall paper in a closet, which was beautiful.  This one is for Layla!

The Methodist Church was on the tour and they had cookies and drinks in the basement which was adorable. 

Beautiful flowers everywhere!

Billy Elliot

I went to see Billy Elliot!!  It was SO good!  My Aunt Karen and Uncle Bob came and had lunch at my house then we went to Gammage on ASU campus and sat way up high in the balcony.  Bryan and Michael sat behind us.  I loved the tap dancing and the music.  I am so glad that I didnt miss seeing the musical!

Out of Africa

I know that I have been slacking on my blog. So I will play catch up now.

At the beginning of May, the Wazny family and I went to Out of Africa which is a couple hours north of Phoenix. I was a littler nervous about going there but then once we were there, it was really easy to see how much the staff cared for the animals and how they had gone out of their way to rescue the animals from bad situations. We went to the Tiger Splash show and Matt and Katherine fed a tiger. It was chilly up north which was wonderful! Matt took some great photos so you will be able to tell which he took and which I took :)

We were all exhausted at the end of the day! 

We fed the giraffe carrots from our hands.  The girls got a kick out of it.  The giraffe was so nice and wrinkly!

Wazny Fun

Amy and I took her girls to Disney on Ice a couple weekends ago.  It was so cute to watch the girls enjoy the show.  They were so excited!  Katherine did say "Mom, I think there is a person inside that Genie," which was awesome!  Charlotte loved the bucket of popcorn that we bought.  I dont think she stopped eating it the entire show.

 The Evil Queen from Snow White with her awesome cape.

 The seven dwarfs - i think Sleepy was napping somewhere so we are one short :)

I celebrated Easter with the Wazny's.  We colored eggs yesterday and the girls also painted egg magnets.  Today, I acted as Easter Bunny and hid eggs in their backyard while they were at church then had an amazing meal and a quick trip to the Library booksale :) 

I am missing my family tons right now.  I wish that they were closer so that I could have come by to spend the day with them.

National Library Week

"It's National Library Week. You should be especially nice to a librarian today, or tomorrow. Sometime this week, anyway. Probably the librarians would like tea. Or chocolates. Or a reliable source of funding." -Neil Gaiman