QUEEN CREEK PERKS

Queen Creek is a great little town. I learned today that there are approximately 24,000 people in QC. This weekend I discovered a couple of novel little perks about my new "home town." As you can see on the crosswalk signal on the corner by our house, there is an extra button. It's up higher on the pole for people sitting up on their horses. Yeah, I'm serious, see the picture over the button?

Then there's this little perk:
I saw two people on horses coming into the parking lot at the Circle K that is just two miles from our house (about 1/2 mile from Tim & Heidi's). They moseyed right over to the HITCHING POST on the north end of the parking lot. I love it! All you horse lovers should consider making a move to this end of the valley. It doesn't get much better than this!!!
I may have to go out and buy myself a new mode of transportation! Unfortunately we don't have horse property, we're just in a normal neighborhood, and I don't think I could keep a horse in my garage! Dang!

Baby Emily

Emily Grace Adair was born Tuesday, November 10, 2009. Congratulations to Chad and Meagen!! She's a baby doll. They are such sweet parents. And I'm a lucky grandma. It's sort of funny that I had my surgery at the same hospital on the same morning that Emily was born. What a coincidence (since she was almost a month early) that she came on that day! Thanks for the hospital visit, Emily.
One eye open, trying to see who is holding her. "Is that you Grandma??" This was taken on Sat., she was 4 days old. Cute, cute, cute.
Grandma holding such a tiny bundle of joy!! Isn't she sweet!!! Little Emily--4 days old.

Polar Express 2008

Last year at this time, we went on the Polar Express with Sam and Jenn and the kids. It was great fun and the kids loved it. Well, they loved everything except finding out that they couldn't get off the train at the North Pole. That was a huge disappointment that was really hard to explain to them. Really hard. But we still had a great time, in spite of that awkward moment of realization for them.

We won't be going to the North Pole this year, but they are coming for Thanksgiving and that will be fun. I'm going into the hospital tomorrow to have surgery, but I will hopefully be feeling better by the time they come to visit. I'm not keen on surgery (not on me, anyway) but sometimes you "gotta do what you gotta do". So I'm doin' it. Wish me luck.

Berkeley, Jenn and Atticus

Me, Atticus, Berkeley and Papa

Jim and I

Gone but Not Forgotten

Last year while we were in St. George, we took the time to visit some old friends from Mesa, Pat and Pam Sheneman. They were our neighbors when we lived at 3810 E. Covina. We hadn't seen them in years, but stopped by their house and then went to lunch with Pat and their high school age son.

Sadly, we learned this week that Pat died suddenly of a brain aneurism and his funeral is tomorrow. They have older married children and grandchildren and also 2 younger kids. A high school boy and a little girl who is about 8 if I remember right. Pat was a vivacious, happy guy and he will sorely missed.

Here Jim is with Pat and their son (the one in high school); I think they're laughing at me.

Here is Pat and Pam. Pam is always cheerful and upbeat just like in this picture. And so was Pat. They've been married since right after high school and thankfully, their marriage is eternal. My heart goes out to Pam and their family.