Monsoon Mundane!

July begins the Monsoon season in Arizona. Monsoons are usually very violent, dusty, windy, wet storms. This year the Monsoon season started really late and has been very weird. Yes we have had the humidity (YUCK!) and the heat but there has been very little wind and rain. Of course, now that I say that we will have a dousy on the way!

Did I mention I hate humidity? My hair goes flat, even out of the shower you feel sticky, and no one has any energy to do anything. Yesterday we were going to go out on the boat. But after church, no one really wanted to so we watched movies all day instead. Everyone just wanted to stay inside, with the air conditioners running, watch movies or read.

Saturday Jay did take the boys over to his Valley Metro Rail Facility on a tour. He was doing a tour for another employee's family so the boys went along. They had a great time seeing all the trains, but the best part was the Brant... Next time I will have to go so I can tell you what all they did. I did hear about the racing around on the security golf carts though.....

While the boys were all gone I cleaned house. It is so nice to clean the house when no one else is home. Takes me half as long and I remember all the little things like dusting the picture frames, cleaning the nooks, etc. While cleaning I listened to Deathly Hallows again. When the boys came home they ended up finishing the book on CD with me. I think we have officially read/listened to it 4 times now. But there isn't anything more interesting to do while you clean!

Jaron starts school in 0ne week. This week he has his open house for seminary and his introduction to High School. To say he is disappointed is an understatement. As for me, I am still trying to figure out where the summer went! Soon we will all be back to the grindstone for sure.

WOW!!!!

What a weekend.... I loved it, spending time as a family, I really don't think our house has been so quiet in a long time. Jace and Jay were listening to the Audio book CD's. Jaron and I were each reading a book. Jaron and I were both finished by Saturday after picking up the book at the Barnes and Noble Friday Night party. Jace and Jay finished on Sunday. All I can say at this time is, WOW!!! We loved it.... It was so worth the ride.

The boys were a little embarrassed by the emotions Jay and I display. I guess you have to be a parent to understand the feelings that go through us with the Harry Potter stories. Just the fact that they are done is another sign out kids are growing up and moving on. The world of Harry Potter has brought my little family through many years of fun. Can't wait for the new movie to be out in DVD next.

I will miss the wonders of the world of Harry Potter. The characters live and learn with greatness, and fears just like we do. So when my personal fears or anxiety becomes to much for me, I will still pull out the books and escape into the world of Harry Potter.

And I will be making Jay a Severus Snape costume for Halloween next year... He was convinced many years ago that Snape was a true hero.

As always, Monday came again!

I always hate Mondays. To some it is just another day of the week but to me, it is back to work. Don't get me wrong, I like what I do but just the thought that my free time is over makes Monday hard for me. This week was a little harder than most because Jay is in Minneapolis. Jay and I usually get up in the morning and get ready for work together. We even car pool into the office together. That makes Monday a little easier but today I did both alone.

We had a wonderful weekend full of nothing but leisure. We watched movies on Friday and just relaxed on Saturday. We did go to the HP movie again on Saturday which I completely enjoyed. Then we started reading the Half Blood Prince when we got home. We have the book on CD so we could all read it together. Of course, I had the book as well because I always have to read on ahead. On CD it just seems so slow to me. On Sunday we played in the pool while we listened to the Half Blood Prince. We were only 1/2 through when Jay let for Minneapolis so he had to load the remaining CD's onto his IPOD. It was kind of funny that we were all so into it. After Jay left I finished the book and crocheted.... I love these kinds of weekends.

The only good thing about Monday this week is we are one day closer to Saturday. Saturday is the release of the final book in the series. I am afraid we are addicted. It is getting so hard to wait.

Amazingly fun....... The Twins are the best!

Last night was so much fun..... It is one thing to go to a movie you are looking forward to but going to it at midnight is another. As I mentioned the boys wanted to do this and I am so glad we did. It was literally a party at the theater. Because we bought our tickets online we were seated in the theater at 9:00 p.m. No waiting in line outside like the rest of those getting tickets that night. This time the theater did it right... So much complaining happened last time because you got the tickets online, went early and still didn't get a good seat. We had perfect seats and everyone was just excited. The boys took a laptop with us and watched "Goblet of Fire" while we waited.

Going to the midnight movie is a little different. People cheer for the characters, talk to the screen, and really get into the story. That must be why the boys wanted so badly to go. And this movie is true to form. I won't say much other than.... We all loved it, even Jay who wasn't so sure about the book. You really love the characters, new and old. Or you really hate them, depending on their side of the story. It was amazing.... Boy, holding my tongue until everyone gets a chance to see the show is going to be so hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who's your hero?

We all have our hero's.... I think mine is Winnie the pooh! He doesn't need all the Junk that we all get stuck on, the trappings of life. He just needs to be with his friends and family, and have a little honey..... :)
My lovely husband's hero is Homer Simpson. What does that say about him? You tell me. The boys and I tease him about it all the time. Homer is loud, basic, and not to bright. Jaron's assessment of Homer Simpson, "the worlds biggest coach potatoe".
I have no idea why this is Jay's choice for a hero but it could be worse. It could be: X-men's Magnito, Lex Luther, Agent Anderson, Snape, Voldermort, or Delores Umbridge......
I have a one track mind... Tonight is the premium of the new Harry Potter movie. We have tickets to the midnight show. I didn't want to do the midnight show on a weekday but we have done every other HP movie. I guess to the boys it is a tradition because they really wanted to. I know we are all looking forward to it. We will have to tell you how it goes tomorrow....

Happy Independence Day All!@

I love the 4th of July. Just the thought of what we are celebrating puts me in a good mood. It is a good thing I wasn't born before our Independence was won. Jay always says that I hate being told what to do more than anything in the whole world. Just imagine me trying to live in the 1700's. Too all the men, women, and children that fought and suffered for our freedom, those in the 1700's and now, we are ETERNALLY grateful.

The 4th in Arizona is different than anywhere else I have ever been. Just for one reason! It is so dang HOT! We don't have a parade, or spend time outdoors unless you are in the pool. For the 4th this year we made Jace a quilt to take to school. A Brenchley tradition is that the family ties a quilt for each child. Well, we decided to continue the tradition mixing with a Harper tradition, the quilt is presented to the child on High School graduation. The boys were great sports about it and actually helped tie the quilt all afternoon. We had it done in a couple hours but it was fun for all of us. Ok! mostly fun for mom. Jace chose the sheets we used, kind of wild huh.

We also watched movies on the 4th, and went shopping to buy Jay new shorts and swim suits. The 4th is a great time to shop in AZ. Everything is on sale, with extra mark downs for the day. After shopping we had to go swimming just to cool down. We didn't go see all the city firework displays because again "IT WAS TOO HOT". hee hee hee. We did watch firework celebrations from around the country on the internet. What a great blessing the internet is.

Well, all in all it was a great holiday, one of which I didn't get homesick for the freedom festival nearly as much as I usually do. I hope everyone else enjoyed the day and celebrated the fact that we are free. Freedom isn't easy, cheap or painless but it is ours! I can't see the flag, watch the fireworks, hear the anthem, or see a soldier without feeling the tears well up. God, please help us protect our freedom the best we can!

Tim the Toolman Taylor he is not!

Drumroll please...... This is the end result of our many days working on the master bathroom. Whenever I walk in this room I think of the episode of Tool Time where Tim is going to remodel the bathroom for Jill. He doesn't get the measurements right for the tub so they have to cut out the exterior wall to get the tub in. Well, Jay is no Tim Taylor. Jay got it right the first time and I love this room. We don't have the motorized closet but who needs it when you can just relax in here.


All the tile around the shower matchs the tile pattern around the tub. It is hard to see in the picture but the toilet room is bright red! Kind of funny when you are in there. We don't have the new lights in yet. They have been ordered but if you want to see the bathroom with the new lights, you have to come see us!

When we started the project I didn't plan on tiling around the tub but I have to admit, Jay was right again. It makes the whole room.

Happy Birthday Baby!

Friday was Jay's birthday..... He isn't much for birthdays, especially as his age increases with each one that passes. This year wasn't any different. Jay did take the day off, we took him out to dinner, made him two different birthday cakes (both his favorites) and went to a movie as a family. It was a great day for me although I had to work. Jay had a hard time relaxing. When he has a day off, doesn't matter the occasion, he feels like he should be working on something. Made for a long day for Jay!

The weekend we spent finishing up projects. And I am happy to say the Master bathroom is finally done. It was something we couldn't stand being torn apart any longer. I have to admit it looks wonderful, and Jay outdid himself on the design and pattern of the tile. I could just sit in their for hours and enjoy the environment. I spent the weekend cleaning up after the projects, painting the bathroom, touching up things, and finishing the grout. But it was worth it.

We also had to take the dog to the vet again on Saturday. I mentioned before the dog loves the pool. Well, he gets in the pool so much and has so much hair, he doesn't get dry. When he doesn't get dry, his skin gets irritated, and now he has a skin infection. Jay dropped the dog and I off, then picked us up. I thought he would faint when we got the bill. Whenever we have to spend money on the dog, he becomes mine alone. When Jay came to pick us up he told the receptionist, "I am looking for my spoiled wife, and her more spoiled dog!". I think the office staff were still chuckling about that comment 15 minutes after we left.