More Fun in Arizona

While Scott and Jamie golfed nearly everyday,(until Jamie threw out his neck and back and couldn't turn his head), Aaron was looking for the more adventurous activities. He hit the jackpot with a Gun Club in Scottsdale where he used a machine gun!! And my 9 1/2 year old grandson, Caleb also was allowed to shoot a gun! Can you believe it? Papa Ben watched for an hour while they had fun shooting at the target! It was definitely a high light for Aaron! Next the Prueitt family went to a Go-Kart track, and we are talking high speed super duper go-kart track!! Aaron said it was awesome and will go back there again. Caleb thought it was awesome also!

After the boys were done shooting, we all went to a place for lunch called Meatballz. Yummmm, my dad had Pasta e Fagioli, he said it was just like the kind his mom used to make! The rest of us had meatball sandwiches or penne with meatballs! Lots of good food!

Both Jamie and I celebrated our birthdays while we were in Az, so we went to a Mexican restaurant for Jamie's birthday. Scott and I had a quiet dinner at Mirabel and then came home and had dessert with the family. There were 12 of us down there this time, it was a bit hectic, but we love the chaos. My dad particularly loved being around all the children and got such a big kick out of Jalen and Addie, those two little toddlers are full of mischief and funness (not sure if that is a word, but they are fun and keep us laughing with their silly faces and manners of walking or running or climbing). My dad said yesterday after we had been home a few days that it sure was quiet at his house, and he misses the noise! It was so good for him to be with us and so good for us to have him. Even the girls (Dina and Lacey) said it sure was good Papa Ben was there to watch the little ones while we were getting lunch ready or packing up to go to the pool, Dad was always keeping his eyes on the little ones for us.

Now the older kids had so much fun going into the desert and finding "rocks" -- special rocks, ones that shined or had sparkles. I wasn't sure there were many rocks left in the desert after they brought bags and bags full of them into my yard. Then they had to wash them and lay them all out. The worst was when it was time to come home and Ellie and Lily wanted to bring them all in their bags!! Lily's favorite rock was this big rock at least 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. She had a major meltdown about that "favorite" rock and we would not let her bring it on the plane! We finally settled it with having her bring three smaller rocks in her bag. Phew, that was a very big deal for her!

The last few years we have had the pleasure of seeing the Great Horned Owl have a nest in a Siguaro Cactus and we have even seen the little babies owls after they were born (cute little fluffy white things). This year, the owl was sitting in the nest, and I took a picture of her (or him! not sure!) Unfortunately, we will probably not be down there again to see the owl eggs hatched.

Just before we came home, we managed to get a picture of all the kids with Papa Ben! He is holding Jalen who will be 2 years old on May 20. Lily (5 3/4) is holding Addie (20 months). Ellie is standing next to Papa Ben (she is 8 on July 1) and then Caleb who will be 10 in September!! Lacey's little baby boy is due around May 6, she will have her hands full then!

Well, to sum it up, we had a great time with the whole family, loved to have my dad down there with us and share in the laughter, chaos, tears and good times. We hope we can have many more years all together.