The Amazing Phoenix Race

John called me several months ago and said "hey guess what you and Kevin are doing on your  birthday weekend? You are going to do a race with Shannyn and I." Well maybe that is not exactly what he said but it was an invite to race together in the Xperince Adventure race series.  What the heck is that? Let me explain.  It is as close as I'm going to get to The Amazing race. You are given clues to the exact location of the race. And then from there you are given a 10 challenges to find and execute in the city.  Yes you can use your cell phone, but you had to be on foot or use public transportation. My team rocked. I pretty much just ran around to catch up with them. John had it down. I did find one clue so I did contribute.  Here is the map of the area of the race. Which you had to figure out by clue.

I posted this one Instagram but I have to explain it.  We had to find this mural and the whole team had to touch one hand on black, one on green, and one foot on yellow.

Find the trolley museum

catch someone riding a green city bike.

Take a picture of solar panels.

find Darrell Duppa's grave.

and then flash your cool X at the finish

I love how in all these pictures at least one of us looks surprised that the picture was taken.  We had to get some things on video too, like singing the YMCA song with 3 strangers, memorize the Miranda rights and find the Ice House and balance a cube of ice on your head for nine seconds. OH it was so FUN!!! I loved the race and I loved my team.  We placed 6th, not too shabby for not knowing any of the cities' history.  Serious teams will travel the U.S to explore other cities. We talked about how cool that would be to do someday.  Great race, great fun, great team.

39

I was talking to my mom the other day and we got on the subject of my birthday coming up. She said "well really enjoy this one because this is the last good one." Meaning after this one I will turn 40 and I think that is when I'm supposed to start feeling old.  I have no problem with this birthday or the next I am happy every year that I have such an amazing blessed life.  I wouldn't trade any of my years for youth. Sure I can see the laugh lines and the gray hair and sometimes that's not my favorite. Or I see the my young friends bringing home new babies and know that stage of life has come and gone. But man oh man how I love what this stage of life brings. 

 I started out the morning running with my friend Natasha, 3.9 miles to commemorate the day. It felt great! I'm so glad that somewhere in the past few years I have really learned to like running, and so glad that I have founds friends that make it more enjoyable

At some point I hopped on the computer and saw that even google was wishing me a happy birthday.

 I made the kids birthday pancakes with sprinkles.  I made them just of them because I was really looking forward to eating an egg. I deiced that party pancakes would be a great snack for preschool too so I made a few more. My preschool kids and parents were very thoughtful and brought treats, gift cards, and hand made cards (my favorite).  I got some Dove chocolates and this was what was inside...

It's like the whole universe was aligned I tell you. Not to mention that when I jumped in the car to to go to parent teacher conferences, my jam was on the radio, Shut Up and Dance with Me.   At conferences  I found out the children are doing well in school and I am pleased with their progress. No complainants there. Kevin got home in time to make us lunch and then off we went on a Birthday Freebie Extravaganza.  I have always wanted to hit as many freebies as a could on my birthday but it never worked out. This year it did, and we went for it. 

Starting on our journey.

 First stop Cobble stone car wash Free car wash on your birthday.  Soooo happy.  The kids got up on the the counters and washed our car with the window guns. I'm telling you we were having a good time, and the car was so clean. YEAH!!!

 Next Firehouse Subs. Free sandwich on your birthday. YES please and THANK YOU.

Across the street for my sweet free treat. YES a cupcake on your birthday absolutely free.

Now it was time to hit the Gilbert Great 3. Liberty Market, I picked up a slice of delicious chocolate cake.

then across the street for Joe's BBQ for some ribs.

And my fav, the BBQ chicken pizza from Joe's farm Grill. When we got to the farm grill we picked out a nice table outside because the weather was yet another amazing gift and we laid out all the goods.  We ate, the kids played, perfect I tell you.

Our last stop before we landed at home Krispy Kreme. I got my doughnut and the kids got free doughnuts too because all of the A's they had gotten on their report cards.

We were stuffed, I was happy. Now we did save many of the treats for the next day, and the day after that.  Really I could not have asked for a better birthday. I loved being with my family and I'm always up for an adventure. Thirty-nine started out just fine.

Fall Break the Cabin and the Lake

Fall break this year was going to be pretty low key. I really wanted to take off  to Arches or Zion but with this being the busy planting season Kevin had to be here to work and I wasn't feeling adventurous enough to go on my own. We jotted down some ideas for things that we could do here at home and felt pretty happy about our plans. The funny thing is we didn't get to things that we planned because we had some surprise adventures that were our favorite things during the break.

I got to talking with my friend Amy at church about fall break and before I knew it the kids and I just scored a overnight trip to a cute cabin in the mountains. She thinks I was doing her a favor by watching her youngest son while they went at a short backpacking trip to fossil springs. On the contrary we had a great time in the great outdoors and cooler weather just playing. See look at them running around we haven't been able to do that outside for so long. It was like heaven.

In classic wilderness antics the boys found weapons and are flashing worrier poses.

 Lilly let me take a few shots of her. I know the shadows are all wrong but I love that face.

We were only up for an evening and a day but it was so fun.

  

For our next adventure Kevin got home early from work on Thursday and said "hey let's go to the lake" and again off we went. We borrowed a raft and headed to Canyon Lake.  Kevin had been a few times with the youth on boating trips but I have never been. The weather was just beautiful! Warm enough to want to get wet and have fun in the water but not too warm to be uncomfortable on the shore or in the raft.  Luke's life vest was a tiny bit big for him. 

 We rafted, played in the water and had a picnic.

 Got to touch the buoy.

 Leading the troops to shore.

 And there were some falls followed by laughter.

Our other days were filled with bike rides, sleep overs, movies, popcorn and tablet time.  We were all sad when it ended but so glad that we had some really good days together as a team.

October 12

Happy Columbus Day to you all. Here is what my day looked like.

1.  Happy birthday to me! I bought new running shoes with a 2 year old gift card this past weekend. Pretty happy with the bright color. When I get tired I can just look down at my feet and think happy thoughts.

2.  That time in October when all of Arizona thought it was going to be fall so I put on a flannel shirt and then the temp that day will be in the 90's. Good grief.

3.  It's an even day so Lilly gets the front seat on our way to hair cuts.

4.  Cheeking out the Johnson's bunny farm. I don't know if we will ever be able to get hair cuts a salon because it is just too entertaining at the Johnson house.

5.  Luke loving his haircut. He was dying to get a fohawk.

6.  Lilly got her bangs trimmed and a fancy braid so Bella got one too and they were twins for the day.

7.  Making pumpkin cookies and I ate about 1/2 of them. There are just so good!!!

8. We were invited for a little getaway up north. When we got up there they had made us a scavenger hunt. We loved it!!!

9.  Playing in the cool mountain air

10. Finding a tiny bit of fall color.

11. Max found the horseshoes and was happy to throw them over and over. He got quite good.

12. My Lilly. She was a little willing to be my model because she had cute hair.

WICKED

This story starts 2006. I really wanted to see this musical.  We had just moved from LA, we just bought a house, and there was no real way that I could make it happen.  Then 2012 rolls around Wicked is at the Gammage. Could I pull it off? Not really, I just couldn't justify spending the money on myself when the money could go so many other places.  So I happily sang along to the sound track hoping that someday I will get my chance. Now in 2014 I see that Wicked was playing at the Pantages in LA, if I played my cards right I could be there for the holidays but again my plans were foiled and it didn't work out. In January 2015 I put a reminder in my calendar to check for when tickets are going on sale at the Gammage it was April 1. Well April first came and tickets where not purchased. It was a want not a need so I let it go.  At the end of August the show starts to run and so many of my friends are going and I feel like I'm the only one on the planet that didn't get to go. I'm happy for them but I still feel so bad that I'm missing it yet again. I got sucked into the comparison game. Shame on my I know.

In one of my moments of self pity I turned to Mandy to vent. After all that is what best friends are for.  I get it out and I feel better and I move on.   Mandy calls a few weeks ago and says "Happy Early Birthday You are GOING to WICKED!!!"  WAWAWHAT?!! The plan was that she was going to try to fly out and see the show with me but if she couldn't make it, then I could go with Lilly.  I was thrilled and excited beyond measure. I hoped so bad that she would make a flight but sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.  The flights were full, I was disappointed, but I was going to enjoy this show with my girl and that would be great too.

So Mandy (my one reader, or the only one that leaves consecutive comments) this is for you, These are pictures to show you that I really got to go. The show was amazing, it made my heart sing and it was a perfect way to kick off this birthday month. A million thanks for a present I will never forget.