They aren't tulips...............

and I don't think there are many tulips blooming here in the desert but this prickly pear cactus is in bloom and there are many more buds getting ready to blossom! That's purple lantana in the background.

This is my little rose - a transplant from Mark and Linda's house in Vancouver, Washington. It's trying really hard to grow big and strong.
One of our newest additions to the front garden. Love that deep red!!!

Family Home Evening - Young Single Adult Style....

Once each month (usually the 4th Sunday) we have the Young Single Adults from our church over for Family Home Evening. Larry and I are the Maricopa Stake Young Single Adult Advisor Couple. Tonight was the last time we will see one of our own for a while as he is going into the Army on May 5th. Eddie is a lot of fun to be around and you can see from his smile (which is always there) that he enjoys life!
Here he is with McKay Monson our YSA Stake High Counselor.
Amy doesn't like to have her picture taken and Carissa is unaware!

We had baked potatoes with butter, chili, cheese, sour cream, and broccoli topped off by apple pie! Hunter is partaking of the later.

McKay, Melanie, Larry, & Carrisa.

Chad texting while Eddie and Ryan chat with Larry looking on.

No need to check your vision......

Duchess is mostly a blur these days. See what I mean???? She's seven months old and weighs in at 36 lbs. Hopefully she will stop gaining weight soon because she's only supposed to reach 40 lbs!!!!



Sometimes she slows down just a tad....I try to get her centered in the photo but it just doesn't seem to work!!!

Missed her completely this time....well, almost completely....

She loves her chews.

Here she is as the "two-legged dog".

Evil eye.

She's got that chew.....

And there she goes again.....

Easter in Arizona wouldn't be complete.....

........without going to the Easter Pageant - Jesus the Christ at the Mesa Arizona Temple. My pictures didn't turn out so I found these on the internet. The first one shows some of the cast as they are preparing for the production. The cast (except Jesus) mingle among the crowd prior to the production. It is a wonderful family event with people coming early and taking advantage of the beautiful green lawns to have picnic dinners on. We opted to eat sitting in our chairs! There were about 12 of us (among the thousands of others) that met to watch the story of Jesus the Christ.

Here are the ten virgins portrayed in song and dance. Wonderful, wonderful costumes and even better is the story being told of the Savior's life, death, and resurrection. That He paid the price we could not pay - His loving atonement for our sins allows us to return to our Father in Heaven. How humbling.

I don't think there was a dry eye as Christ was taken and crucified for us.

This photo is a little fuzzy but you get the idea - - Christ lives! He came to earth, suffered, bled, and died and then his body and soul were resurrected again! The message is so glorious! He is our Elder Brother and while we might be willing to die for Him, are we willing to LIVE for Him?

Come to Arizona next year and we'll go to the pageant together and you'll see how magnificent this portrayal is and how it only gives us a tiny glimpse of what price He paid for us.

The following is taken from one of my favorite hymns:

"I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, He lives who once was dead. He lives my everliving Head. He lives to bless me with his love. He lives to plead for me above. He lives my hungry soul to feed. He lives to bless in time of need." (Words by Samuel Medley)

April means birthdays, lots of birthdays.....

We really didn't have any April birthdays until our kids started marrying and having kids. Now we celebrate Matthew's birthday April 2nd, Tierra & Taunie's April 9th, Kirsten April 12th, Joyce April 15th, and Melissa April 23rd. HAPPY BIRTHDAY EVERYONE!!!! WE ARE FAMILY!!!!

Welcome to the family.......

It's official!!!! Jacob and Mandi are getting married in the Salt Lake Temple on May 2nd!!! They will be sealed for all time and eternity!!!! That means FOREVER!!!





I took this picture last 4th of July at Ty & Karen's home in Vancouver, WA. Most of our immediate family was there and we had a wonderful time! Mandi fit right in and the kids couldn't get enough of her! What a wonderful "first impression" she made on the family!







This picture was purloined from Mandi's facebook photos! As were the rest of the photos!





How cute are they????

Welcome to the family Mandi - it wouldn't have been complete without YOU!!!!

Spring has sprung......

Duchess and I took advantage of the beautiful spring weather and changed our normal route from Pacana Park to Walmart! We clocked 3+ miles on the odometer and had a great ride/run. Walmart is scheduled to open in about 6 weeks and you can see that it will be a beautiful addition to our little city.




Here is the sign that faces the Casa Grande Highway. The store is the first in a new shopping center called "The Wells". Evidently Maricopa Wells was an old stage coach and then train stop that was popular because it was one of the only watering holes this side of Phoenix. Here's a little bit of the history: "A 1694 journal entry by Father Euseblo Francisco Kino records a description of what would become Maricopa Wells. He noted an established agricultural community populated by friendly Native Americans who were established traders.In the Mid-1800's, when everything south of the Gila River was still part of Mexico, Maricopa Wells was a dependable source of water along the Gila Trail. It became an important and famous stage stop for the Butterfield Overland Mail Line that stretched from San Antonio to San Diego.The 1870's brought the railroad south of the wells and the ever-adaptable people of the area moved to meet the needs of progress. Phoenix was little more than a tiny village on the Salt River but growing political influence led to building of a spur line from Maricopa to Phoenix. Today's Maricopa Road (John Wayne Parkway) lays over the top of that old rail line." (This information was taken from www.cityofmaricopa.net)

As Duchess and I came off the side street I took this photo. You can see that there is space for another building that is sure to come soon now that Walmart is almost finished.

I took the following two pictures at The Duke Golf Course. We had dinner there and as we were walking in we noticed how impressive these flowers were. The agave in the foreground sends flowers shooting out on this spike that can reach up to 18 feet high!!! The bougainvillea plants show off their red flowery blooms and have always impressed me with their beauty. They are very stunning! I would love to have them in my yard but, as with most green things in the desert, they are very thorny and messy!

Here's Larry with another agave. Another impressive plant! ....and husband!

Duchess has claimed this soft space where she can be close to Larry and have a bird's-eye view of her surroundings. What a way to end the day!