Why We Live in Arizona

It's about 70 degrees outside, sunny skies and a beautiful, open desert awaiting us. Downtown Phoenix and it's lovely brown cloud hanging over it.

A great opportunity to teach Ava about Native American Hieroglyphics!
Mommy's best girl!
Daddy's best girls! Nee-Nee taking a little break from the hike.

A fun-filled hike = two happy pooches anxious to get home and take naps!

My Hopes for 2009

I have great expectations for this next year, as I'm hoping it can't get much worse than the events of '08. Let's pray that we've all learned a little something about living within our means and the scary domino effects of greed. And I'm hoping that at some point over the next 12 months, we'll learn as a country to stop turning to Government to "bail" us out for our poor decisions, because lets face it, pretty soon the Government is going to have to stop the printing press when the American dollar is worth NOTHING.

I'm still optimistic for our country because history tells me that we can weather tough storms--but only if we truly learn from our mistakes and not have a repeat performance.
May our Country continue to be safe from those around the world that wish us harm.

However, since I have not yet received a phone call from President elect Obama to join his Cabinet team, I think I'd better focus on the things I might actually have some control over in 2009.

Here's my list of hopes...

1- For my mom to go see a neurologist. She's too young to not care that her memory is suffering and the unavoidable impact that Dementia/Alzheimer's will have on my father, her children and a lot of other people that love and care for her. The potential of this disease taking control of my mother's life weighs heavily on my mind and breaks my heart. May 2009 be the year she gets some real help before it's too late.

2- For my sister to heal 100% and return to the happy, outgoing, fun person that I know her to be. I may not be able to heal her...but I can make sure she feels loved and enjoys some good laughs. I'm going to make more time in '09 to spend quality 1:1 time with my sister and make her smile.

3- For Nee-Nee to feel better. I'm going to take her back to the vet and request additional tests to find out why she continues to limp. If it's Arthritis, then I'll vow to find some medication to make her more comfortable with the least amount of negative side effects. She's only 5 years old and I want her to live a long life. She's everything to our family.

4- For me and Ian to continue to have success and fulfillment in our careers. And continue to keep our priorities in check on what really matters in life. Less "things" and more travel. (Paris is calling my name)!

5- For Ava to continue to grow into a smart, funny, appreciative young girl who knows she's loved unconditionally.

6- For our friendships to deepen and flourish with those around us who are positive influences on our lives.

7- And lastly, I'm hoping I can personally find more patience (for everyone and everything) and more time to enjoy the outdoors.

I think 2009 is going to be a great year.

Welcoming in the New Year

I've realized over the years that New Years Eve partying is OVER-RATED! I'm too old to be bothered to hang out in the cold, standing around on Mill Ave with people I don't know (or care to know), trying to find an empty bathroom or a place to sit down and have a glass of wine. Yep, I don't like to be inconvenienced. I'll fully admit it. My idea of a wonderful New Years Eve is going out for a nice, quiet meal with Ian and Ava and then coming home and getting in my cozy jammies and curling up on the couch and watching the ball drop in NY on TV. Boring, I know. Even better, is to be at home with friends and/or family sharing some cocktails, food and laughs. I'm a simple girl. I don't need fancy parties, or fancy clothes to welcome in 2009. Plus, I really don't want to be out driving around when so many people still make the conscious choice to get into their cars after drinking.

So, tomorrow night we have reservations here and then we'll come home with full tummies and relax. We're also planning on picking up our neighbors (Jennae, Rob, Kylan, and Aidan) from the airport upon their return from NY. We've missed them while they've been away and Ava is so excited to see her best bud Aidan! I figure they will be plenty tired from their trip, but may still be up for having a glass of wine and catching up. And the best part is that they live 3 houses away from us, so we can drink and walk home.

But just for fun...if me and Ian were to have plans to go to a fancy party in New York for New Years, I would probably wear something like this:

Actually, I think I like this dress better in black (by Adrianna Papell- Nordstrom $159.00)And this one is pretty as well (by BCBG-Nordstrom $298):

Maybe someday we'll have an excuse to get all dressed up. I hope so, because Ian looks REALLY handsome in a tux!

I hope everyone has a safe and happy new year!

Why stare at a computer screen...

when it's 70 degrees outside and my hubby's home and my two black dogs have some serious energy built up? It was time to get outside and take a nice brisk walk along the canal. Before Ava's arrival into our lives, me, Ian and Nee-Nee used to go for long walks, hikes, and even rode our bikes for miles. I love to be outside and I love to see my dogs happy, prancing with their tongues hanging out of their mouths. It's heaven on earth.

I need to get out more...I need to get out of the house and run and hike! No more excuses. I just bought some new running shoes and I need to use them. I need to make time for my health--not so much to lose weight--but to FEEL better.

I already feel better having just taken a wonderful walk. It's a start.

A Whirlwind of a Christmas

It seems like just yesterday that I was busy putting up Christmas decorations and gearing up for Santa, and now it's over and I've spent much of this evening taking all of it down. Our house always seems so empty without the tree, and I always miss the soft glittering lights. Ava was so mad at me when she realized that I was boxing up the ornaments and other decorations. I had to sit down with her and explain that Christmas is over and now we get to look forward to a brand new year.

And boy, am I ready for a new year! 2008 was an emotional year for me--filled with many challenges. Luckily, I'm stronger and wiser for having survived it. And I'm grateful that the last two months of '08 were happier ones having reunited with my family. This Christmas was definitely one for the record books because I actually cooked for my entire family! (And no one had food poisoning--at least not that I know of)! But more on my Christmas day dinner later...

First things first--Christmas Eve in Tucson at my Grandma's house. Need I remind anyone that this amazing woman is 91 years-old and still hosts Christmas Eve dinner at her house for my mom's side of the family. I dread the drive to Tucson on Christmas Eve day, but we did it because I'm just not sure how many more Christmas Eve's my Grandma is going to have. Yet, even with a neck brace, she looked wonderful and was just as cheerful, grateful and optimistic as ever.

Me and my mom cleaning dishes. I think we both look and feel tired.

What else can I write about Christmas Eve...well, on the way home to Phoenix that night, we stopped off at the McDonalds in Toltec to grab a cup of coffee because both Ian and I were feeling a bit drowsy. When Ava saw the golden arches, she of course perked up and asked for some chicken nuggets. Little did I know that this simple stop would trigger a set of events that ultimately led to me choking on a piece of nugget from laughing so hard at Ava repeatedly yelling "There's nothing on it" to me and Ian ("it" being ketchup on her french fry). Someone has got to request the surveillance video of our car parked at McDonalds showing me gagging outside my car door while Ian's yelling at me asking if I'm alright, while Ava's still only concerned about her naked french fry. BTW, if you see someone choking on food, don't bother asking them if they're alright because--THEY'RE BUSY CHOKING, THEY CAN'T ANSWER YOU!

Good news--I managed to cough up the stupid piece of nugget that was lodged in my throat, and Ava got her ketchup. And we made it back to our home just in time to get things ready for Santa's arrival. It's just not a Flynn family holiday, without some sort of unnecessary drama.

Christmas Morning- Santa's been Here!

Christmas Day Dinner at Mi Casa

I prepared a mouth-watering beef tenderloin from AJ's Fine Foods--so good, even I couldn't mess it up. My mom helped with the mashed potatoes. And with a little wine (and beer)--the meal was served and enjoyed by all. (All, except for poor aunt Jen, who's still sick and doesn't have much of an appetite. But she did say the food smelled yummy)!

It was a great day. It made me so happy to have my parents and my brother and sister (and our spouses and kids) all in the same room together. It doesn't happen often enough, so I made sure to stop for a moment that evening, and take a mental note and whisper "thank you" to the great man above. And since I believe in guardian angels as well, I made sure to thank mine. They have yet to let me down.

My brother, Joel and his wife (Kelly) and their kids spent the night with us Christmas night. Logan, Braden and Ava played hide and go seek, and watched movies. I had to drag Ava to bed that night, as she was determined to stay up with her cousins and play all night long. And while everyone else went off to bed, my brother and I stayed up and chatted about life, jobs, and other stuff. Just like old times...

I've spent the last couple of days catching up on some sleep, cleaning the house, and even went and got a massage today. Not only did I survive this Christmas--I thoroughly enjoyed it. And I know Ava did too--because she has told me so at least 10 times today--and that makes it all worth it.

Bad Blogger Has Been Busy

I have a lot of blogging to do to catch up to today, so this is going to be a long one. And since I know I won't have time to write tomorrow or on Christmas day, I'd better get started! So, what have I been up to? Does anyone really care to know? =) Probably not, but I'll write about it anyways because 1) I love to write and 2) this is my scrapbook for Ava. Unfortunately, it's also proof that her mommy's loony, and she'll probably use this content in some way against me when she's a teenager...

One of the main reasons I haven't been blogging as much lately is because I've actually been working...you know, actually completing projects for the company that pays me a fairly generous salary and allows me to work in my pajamas each day. I kicked it into high gear this past week, which allowed some of my guilt to subside for a little while. Plus, I have taken the rest of the year as holiday so I had to cram about 2 weeks worth of work into about 3 days. And since I'm a huge procrastinator, this meant a few nights spent working on projects until the wee hours of the morning. Being a night owl sometimes has its benefits.

Also last week, my sweet Ava had her holiday dance recital at school. My sister (aunt Jen) and Ava's cousins Ethan and Emma showed up to watch as well. Ava was so excited about her audience. Not a shy bone in this child's body...she loves to perform.

This past Saturday (12/20):
- Picked up Ava's cousins: Ethan and Emma and we all went to see Bolt in 3D. We all loved the movie and I even got a little teary eyed. Can't help it--I love animals, even animated ones.

- Ethan and Emma returned home with us and Ian took the kids to the greenbelt/park in our neighborhood to play, while I finished some laundry.

- On the way to dinner, Ava fell fast asleep in her car seat...and continued to sleep all thru dinner laying in the booth at Chili's with her head in my lap. Ethan and Emma kept asking "When is Ava going to wake up?" She of course woke up right when I was paying the bill.

- Next on our fun filled cousin sleep over party agenda - Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo.

Here's Ava having a melt down b/c I told everyone to yell "Ava's grumpy" before I took the picture. Apparently Ava doesn't like being laughed at. Then again, who does?

Zoo Lights 2008 was a hit. We enjoyed hot chocolate, cotton candy, popcorn and beautiful lights. And I got to spend quality time with my niece and nephew, which meant the world to me.

Sunday: Cooked breakfast for everyone and stayed in my pajamas for as long as possible. Sunday night we celebrated our friend, Rob's birthday at Flemings. Another wonderful night with our dear friends and neighbors. Managed to enjoy another amazing meal, this time without spending $400. Thank goodness!

Monday: Our neighbor Todd came over to watch a football game with Ian and we enjoyed pizza for dinner. Before Todd arrived, I put together the gifts for my neighbors, which consisted of yummy cookies and peppermint bark, non of which I can take credit for making. There's just some things I'm not good at, and baking is one of them. But it's the thought that counts, right?

I think my packaged goodies for the neighbors turned out pretty cute. And they have been signed, sealed and delivered. Later that evening, Rob and Jennae stopped over with their little boys (one of which is Ava's future husband), to share Rob's birthday cake with us. I always love a good excuse to eat ice cream cake!

And Tonight, we had our good friends and neighbors, Beth and Paul over for dinner and exchanged gifts. These two are like grandparents to Ava and we don't know what we would do without them in our lives. They have LOTS of their own grandchildren, and yet they manage to make us feel like a part of their family and Ava adores them. We love Beth and Paul dearly.

Well, I think I'm all caught up on my blogging for now. Except I forgot to mention that in the middle of all of the above, I managed to hit AJ's Fine Foods, Walmart, Target, wrapped a ton of presents and I even squeezed in a pedicure.

Folks, I think I'm ready for Christmas. And a good night's sleep.

It's time to get cozy!

And now that it's cold--really cold to me, all I want to do is curl up on the couch in something cozy, sip a cup of hot coffee or hot chocolate, and watch a movie. And today when the house was quiet and it was cloudy outside, I just wanted to go find Nee-Nee and curl up beside her in bed and take a nice long nap. But I didn't. I kept working like a good girl. And I know I'm lucky, because on wintery days like today, I'm able to work in comfy clothes with a blanket and listen to nothing else but the sound of my nails clicking on the keyboard. Here's some items I'd like to have on days like today:

Nordstrom: Barefoot Dreams® 'CozyChic® Eco' Hooded Jacket $68.00
Restoration Hardware- Luxury Plush Throw in Caramel- $39

Nordstrom: Free People Print Scarf- $28

Anthropologie: Olivia Twist Cap- $38

Nordstrom: UGG® Australia 'Dakota' Slipper- $99.95

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Saturday Morning: Ava all dressed up for the Holiday Brunch at our neighbor's house.

Saturday Evening: My best friend Christie, her husband Jeff, and their three darling children arrived at our house to stay with us for the night. Our neighbor, Michelle was nice enough to agree to babysit four kids (and two high maintenance dogs) for a few hours so the four of us could go out for a bite to eat and drinks. We ended up at the Pink Taco on Camelback Road for some delicious margaritas and appetizers and then we went to Dos Gringos for some cerveza's. We had a great time! And Michelle said that the little girls, Ava and Bailey played really well together and were laying in the bed giggling for a long time. I only wish I knew what they were giggling about. So sweet!

Sunday Morning: Well, it arrived far too soon and I had forgotten what's it's like to have an early riser- little Aidan was up at 5 am! Poor Christie... And then Bailey and Ava were soon up at 6:30 am! I'm not used to these hours, as my Ava likes to sleep in almost as much as I do. A few cups of coffee and Christie and I were feeling better and even managed to sit and chat while the kids ate breakfast and watched cartoons. It wasn't long though before the kids were itching to get outside.
Pictured: Taylor (12 yrs old), Aidan (2 yrs old) and Christie.

But it was COLD outside today!!! So we weren't out at the playground for very long.

Lola Jean sure enjoyed herself at the park. "Dig, Dig Dig!"

Sunday afternoon: Our house guests returned home to Tucson leaving our house very quiet. (We hope to see them again very soon). So, we all crawled back into bed and fell asleep for a few hours.

Sunday night: Chinese Take-Out. Laundry. Bedtime stories.

Back to the grind tomorrow.

Later this week: Ava's holiday dance recital on Wednesday! Can't wait to see her routine!