CruiserMania

Anthem, AZ

We drove to Anthem on Friday night for the beginning of CruiserMania. We met all of the other PT'ers (even a few from our Colorado Club) at the Gavilan Peak Pizzeria for dinner. They was an impromtu light show in the parking lot after dark. Afterwards, we made the long drive back to Mesa and helped Bill & Jamie get their things packed.

On Saturday morning, we got up bright and early (very early) and dropped Bill & Jamie off at the airport. They flew back to Albuquerque while Emily, Julie & Shelby drove to Anthem where we parked with many other cool PT's on the grass at the park. We laughed because they actually had string to mark where each car parked. We parked with the other Colorado Club members

Unfortunately, Julie had come down with a horrible cold/sinus infection and was feeling miserable. Also, it was cold and drizzled rain all day and some of the planned activities were cancelled. Shelby was disappointed that the amusement park rides were not running. We walked around briefly and talked to the other PT owners but, for the most part, we spent the day sitting in the car. The event ended early and we went to Starbucks for hot Chai tea to warm our blood. We drove back to Mesa and Julie loaded up with cold medicine and crashed!



On Sunday, we packed all of our stuff and drove back to Anthem for the final CruiserMania event, a short cruise and a pancake breakfast at the Pioneer Living History Village Saloon. The sun was shining and things were a little bit drier. After breakfast, the coordinators held the door prize drawings (postponed from the evening before). Emily won an exhaust manifold thing and Tim said he'll install it for her if she'll come to Denver.



We said good-bye to everyone and headed from Pioneer toward New Mexico. We stopped in Winslow, AZ (on I-40) because we had heard that there was a cool monument thing to commemerate "standing on the corner in Winslow, AZ". There were 2 different displays and I'm glad it was on our way so that we could stop. It wouldn't have been worth it if we would've had to go out of our way.

Doing the Zoo

Spring Break - Day Seven

Emily & Shelby drove to Arizona for CruiserMania. While Emily spent the day cleaning and getting her PT ready for the show, we took Shelby and went to the Phoenix Zoo. The first thing we had to do once we were at the zoo was ride the train. The train goes all around the zoo and helps determine what exhibits to see on foot.

We all had fun at the zoo, seeing the exhibits and playing at Harmony Farm (the petting zoo). When we discovered that both kids were sound asleep in the back seat on the drive back to the "Casa", we determined that it had been a successful adventure!

Rockies vs. Angels

Spring Break - Day Six

We went to Tempe Diablo Stadium to watch the Rockies play the Angels. We were a little worried about how Jamie would do but he was so awesome. He stayed calm and played in our little area. He paid attention to the game occasionally but mostly just had fun being out with us.

The Rockies won which made it even more exciting!

Emily & Shelby had arrived by the time we got back to the "Casa". Jamie was so excited to see his cousin! They played outside with the bikes & scooter and then Shelby showed off her newly acquired reading skills by reading bedtime stories to Jamie.

Dobson Ranch Storytime and Park

Spring Break - Day Five

We found a storytime at Dobson Ranch Library in Mesa. We heard a couple of fun stories and then made a craft.

Afterwards, we played at the park that was next to the library.

The park had a small lake where we enjoyed watching model sailboat races.

Mother Goose & Polar Express

Spring Break - Day Four

As part of her "Spring Break" research, Julie found out about this storytime at the Superstition Springs Mall on Tuesday morning. It was cute and we had a fun time.


Later that afternoon, we went to see "The Polar Express" at the bargain theater. This was our third time to see this movie and Jamie still loves it. We will definitely have to buy this one when it comes out on DVD!

Maricopa Live Steamers!

Spring Break - Day Two

Wow!
Julie found this place online and knew that Jamie would love it!
It is a train park built in the north Phoenix desert with over 8 miles of track for scale steam locomotives and modern diesels. Every Sunday afternoon, they offer free rides for the public. It is run by grown men who act like little boys with their train toys.
It took forever to get to the park from Mesa but it was worth it. We rode the trains all afternoon and Jamie had a blast! So did we!

Hot Air

Spring Break - Day One

We left Albuquerque on March 12 and on our way out, we happened upon a church rummage sale. We were with Julie's mom so we HAD to stop. They were also giving tethered hot air balloon rides so Bill & Jamie went up. I, of course, had to stay on the ground for photographs. Next time, I get to go up!

We stopped in Payson/Pine to visit our friends, Chris & Linda, before arriving in Mesa on Saturday evening. Jamie was awesome in the car during the long drive.

Gymnastics

Jamie just finished a gymnastics class at Alamosa Parks & Rec. We didn't know if this class was going to happen because the instructor said she feel comfortable with this age group. I guess she thought the kids would be older??? She didn't do very much with the kids but they were able to run around and expend some energy. It was a good indoor activity for this time of year. I'm glad that we did an earlier class with another instructor and had an idea of some things to work on with Jamie. He had fun with his friends, Ashley & Jessica, who were also in this class.

Just hanging around...


forward roll


jumpig through hoops


stretching


walking the line

"World's Greatest Hobby" on tour

We saw an advertisement on TV for this event at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver over the weekend. On a whim, we decided to go and see what it was all about.


There were trains EVERYWHERE!! Models trains of all sizes and gauges, miles of Thomas track for kids to configure and play with and booths with train wares for sale. This expo was for train enthusiasts of ALL ages!


Jamie had so much fun playing the the Thomas trains, see all of the model train sets, controlling a small model trains and soaking in all things "train". He even got to ride on a train.

Girl's Weekend in Denver (AKA Scrapbook Store Marathon)

Talk about shopping 'til you drop...

I spent last weekend in Denver with Carol & Tiffany and I am still exhausted!
We left on Friday morning and stopped at Big Lots in Pueblo. Then we drove on to Colorado Springs and went to the Current Factory Outlet. After lunch, we drove further north to Castle Rock and went to the Outlet Mall. We finally made it to Denver and got to Archiver's at 5:15pm. We had pre-registered for "Crop Night" and were there until after 11:00.

Saturday morning, we hit the pavement at 10:00am and went to every scrapbook/craft store we could find. Tiffany was our guide and she knew where they all were! We went to six different stores on Saturday! We also went to the cemetery where Tiffany's sister is buried where there was also a very nice memorial to the victims of the Columbine High School shooting. We met Tiffany's mom and niece for dinner at Chili's and stopped at Kohl's for non-scrapbooking shopping.

Sunday morning, again, we were out the door by 10:00am and off to Jo-Ann's and Michael's. (The two stores that we knew would be open on Sunday.) We had lunch at Red Robin and made one last stop at Archiver's...just in case we forgot to get something we absolutely needed at any of our previous stops. We didn't leave Denver until 5:00pm on Sunday!

I was sleeping in the back seat until just north of Pueblo when Tiffany hit the brakes and swerved. I opened my eyes in time to see a full sized sofa in the middle of our lane on I-25. That was freaky! Needless to say, we were all awake after that.

It was a fun weekend but I will "pay" for it for several days. I guess it was worth it.

AHS basketball

We've enjoyed following the Alamosa High School sports teams since Bill has been one of the school counselors. Jamie is always a trooper while we drag him along. He always takes his "hook" trains to play with and is completely fascinated by the band. Jamie found a friend to play with at last Tuesday's game...he did a great job of sharing his trains!

After each game, all of the kids in the stands gather on the court and run around and attempt to shoot baskets. On Tuesday, Jamie headed straight for the band platform and started playing the drums. It was so darn cute!

There's nothing as sweet as a sleeping baby...

crashed out on the living room floor

Play date with Spencer

After storytime at the library on Tuesday, the weather was nice enough that we went to the park to play. There was still some leftover snow and someone had worked very hard to build a huge pile in the middle of the park. Jamie & Spencer had so much fun digging in the snow, climbing up and sliding down the snow pile.

Picasso in progress

Jamie seems to love being creative and crafting. He has his own art supply drawer with Julie's scrapbooking stash and he loves to pull out the watercolors. And, as you can tell from these two photos, he is also demonstrating Julie's ambidextrous skills as well.

saying Goodbye to Aunt Claudine

Julie's Aunt Claudine Wood has been quite ill for a few years so it was not unexpected to get the news that she had passed on January 20, 2005. She had lived with Jan (her daughter) in Wisconsin for a while and was, most recently, living in an assisted living home in Amarillo, TX (where other daughter Glenda lives). Everyone returned to Albuquerque for the funeral service and to bury Claudine next to her husband, Julie's Uncle Elmo.

pall bearers were family friend Mike Goodson, grandson Douglass, son-in-law Steve, Ross Cox, nephew Jimmy and son-in-law Joe


Even though Claudine had not lived in Albuquerque for a few years, she still had lots of friends from her church and from the business she owned with Uncle Elmo. Her church provided a nice lunch for friends and family members before the funeral service. The service was held at 2:00pm on Januaury 25th at French's Mortuary with internment at Sunset Memorial Park.


Front row: Jan & Steve Deyoe and Glenda & Joe Hutcherson


Jimmy, Ross & Joyce Cox


Aunt Velma Wood, Joyce Cox & Douglass Toya


Jan Deyoe & Glenda Hutcherson


Jamie & Julie Brooks


Family gathering at Uncle Cliff & Aunt Velma Wood's house.
Front: Crystal Cox
Seated on couch: Jimmy Cox, John & Jean Wood, Cliff Wood
Kneeling behind couch: Joyce Cox, Glenda Hutcherson, Jan Deyoe, Jamie Brooks
Standing: Velma Wood, Jamie Cox (with fiance Brian), Ross Cox, Kathy Cox, Joe Hutcherson, Julie Brooks and Betty Thomas

Crystal, Glenda, Kathy & Joe having fun with Uncle John, seated next to Jimmy

Claudine Wood obituary
Elmo Wood obituary