TAPP 2012

For this TAPP Buddy and Sarah were in charge. They were living in California at the time. We actually helped them pack up right as we got to California and after TAPP they moved back to Arizona. YAY!! :) Love having them close. 

We camped on the beach in Carlsbad, Ca and it was VERY nice! It's a hot spot so we were lucky to get our reservations a year early!

Mom and Dad had Thomas that year. He was a foreign exchange student from Switzerland. He was a lot of fun to have around. Very friendly, entertaining, and sincere.

The View. The water was too cold for my taste but it was fun to sit around and watch the kids attempt the waves. 

Sug and Keith were in the area so they stopped by. 

 Please! I know I am cute, but no more pictures! haha

For some reason we went to the mall? and got Dairy Queen. This was Chelsie's first TAPP and it was fun to have her around! :) 

HAHA Oh Brighton, I love you MUCHO.

Play hard, Crash hard. Jensen just couldn't fight it any longer. 

And this is where I celebrated my 27th birthday! :) I woke up to my tent being decorated in the night! :) 

Memories of this TAPP

Something about Buddy and Sarah and a lifeguard tower?

Flying Attempting to fly a stupid kite. I will never like flying kites again. Guaranteed.

Dropping my phone in the ocean while attemping to fly said kite.

Going to pick strawberries at the strawberry fields

Helping buddy and Sarah pack their house

Talking with Thomas on the beach

Riding bikes around camp

Preston and Chelsie's first TAPP

Possibly Robyns first TAPP?

Having a Mary Kay party put on by Chelsie.

Haws Reunion and Memorial Day 2012

Beware...lots of details ahead. :) I just want to remember all this stuff. My memory is awful and if it's not on the blog, it won't be a memory in a year. 

What a crazy holiday weekend! I can’t believe all that I was able to fit into 1 weekend. One amazing weekend full of awesome people. I want to call it an epic weekend but after a recent conversation/debate with friends I have to say that it was not epic. However I can say that it was just under epic. J

Friday after work I picked up Dallin and Thomas from my parents and we headed to Arizona Mills Mall. They did a little shopping while I went to watch BATTLESHIP with  Chuck. It was a pretty good movie if you like the action/alien thing. It was cool to see the “war tactic” used. Trisha and Brynn happened to be in the same movie! So we got to chat with them after the movie a bit. We were sad to hear they wouldn’t be coming to the Haws reunion.

          After the movie we headed to Scottsdale to meet up with the family. Uncle Jeff and his wife Kathy planned a great reunion this year! They were all at a resort swimming. There was quite a group there! It was a lot of fun to see everyone. All Dad’s siblings were there and some of the cousins. Mitchel baker, Alicia, Jeffs kids, Michelle Thueson and her two boys, Jeff and kathy with their kids, except Keldon, Lawana and clint's family, Dorie, DeAnn and Artie, Taco and Janell with their 2 boys. Rand and Karen's family, Tyson and kim family, Lindsey and Robyn, Deveney, Willis and Kathy, Lee and Alison's family, Sug and Kieth, Kayle and Annette. Mom and Dad with Dallin and Thomas. I hope I didn't miss anyone.. With only a few of the cousins there it was amazing how many little kids were running around.  We busted out a picnic table right there in the grass and enjoyed a picnic. Thomas said that is one thing he will remember about us. We picnic anywhere, and everywhere. No shame. J I think picnics are under-rated, and going out to a restaurant is over-rated. We had an awesome game of tag going for a bit. Everyone got a kick of watching Uncle Jeff chase after Uncle Ted. When it got dark the adults headed into their family meeting and I headed home with Dallin and Thomas.

          We got back to my house and there were some peeps there doing a little Karaoke so we continued the party there. It was pretty late before we got to bed.

Saturday we were up and out the door on our way to Lawanas house for lunch. She has the coolest 4 story house WAAAAAAAAAAY out in Queen creek. It took me longer than expected to get there so we showed up just as everyone was leaving. After a quick tour of the house and some fried chicken we headed to a waterpark.

          Cheapest water park ever! $2.25 for an adult and $1 for kids! There were 2 slides, a lazy river, Olympic size pool, splash park for kids, a cool whirlpool thing. It was great. We had a “base camp” where everyone sat around and visited while taking breaks out of the sun.

          There was a quick trip home to change and we headed off to Carolinas for dinner. Mmmmmm best place ever. ;) Then it was over to Chase Field to watch the Diamond backs defeat the Brewers. Grandpa Haws loved to go to the baseball games. It’s nice to keep tradition alive. I love having a family that is way into tradition.

          You know me, not huge into sports, so after the 4^th inning I was toast. We headed back to my place, after hitting up Quick Trip for the 3^rd time that day. Time for a midnight bike ride with Dallin and Thomas that got a little crazy! Maybe more on that one day. Maybe.

Sunday we almost slept too long to make it to church! A huge clan met for church at Uncle Kayles ward and then went to his house after sacrament for some dinner. It was fun to sit outside and visit. We were lucky to have awesome weather all weekend! It made it a little chilly at the water park but I would rather that then being to hot out under the sun.  To close the day Mom read her poem for the reunion and we all talked about we liked/didn’t like for next year. I think they said this was the first time in 5 years that all my dad’s siblings had been together!  

Headed home for the night and my roommates announce that we are going to socialize at a ward dessert night. Sounds good to me. I really like the kids in my ward. We chill there for a bit and some are talking of going to someones room to watch a movie. Uh? Really? Your room? Haha how about you guys come over to my house, I invite. They did. SCORE. “he” did. Bigger score! Haha too bad that cute kid is only like 23 IF that. We watched Hot rod, which is an awesome/ridiculous movie.  Midnight rolls around and Emily, Sarah and I realize we didn’t have our ingredients ready for the memorial day BBQ. Off to walmart we go. Then, naturally, to Quick Trip. So there Emily and I are at 2 in the morning watching the last ever episode of House, dozing off, and waking up randomly to take sips of our drinks. Haha classic.

MEMORIAL DAY

BBQ at my friend Abbie’s house. Swimming, eating, and cute boys. Doesn’t get much better. After a few hours of that we headed to our friend Ben’s house to swim. Little did I know him and his friends had mad diving board skills! I can’t remember the last time I was on a diving board. They kinda scare me. They were playing a chicken game off the diving board so I was all lame just floating and watching them do these cool tricks. I really need to add diving board skills to my personal achievements.

For dinner that night we went to POSTINOS. Lindsey and Robyn have been telling me about it for FOREVER and I decided to plan it. Ryan, Emily, and Sarah came with us. They have the BEST bruschetta ever. Seriously. Amazing. The atmosphere is also really fun. Just casual and makes you feel like you can hang out there, no rush.   

PHEW. That was my weekend. See how it was just under epic? Great family and friends, good food, and lots of laughs.  Now it’s onto California this weekend and MY BIRTHDAY! The big 27! Yikes.

Haws reunion events May 2012

Friday: We will be having a graduation, birthday celebration. If you fall into one of these categories please be ready to address the audience! We will be doing this at the Scottsdale Thunderbird Suites, (7515 E. Butherus Dr. Scottsdale AZ). This is the Resort where all the sibling will be hangin' for a couple of days. Jeff and DeAnn are in charge of this meal. We will be starting at 6pm. Please bring swim suits and game boards to play. We will be able to set up a couple of rooms with games and those that want to swim can. There will be a meeting for siblings and spouses. This night will come to a end when you are ready to go home or to bed...

Saturday: We will be gathering at Lawana & Clint's  to have lunch (Lawana will you please send out your address). Willis and Ted are in charge of this meal. We will be meeting around 10:30am with lunch being served at 11am. The water park opens at noon so need to be heading out around 11:45am or so . Hariella and Dorie are in charge of snacks. If your kids love snacks you may want to bring more. The Dbacks game got rescheduled for 7pm, so with that in mind we can either stay longer at the park or go get something to eat before the game. Please come to Lawana's with your thoughts on what you would like to do regarding this. Anyway so at 7pm we need to be at the game!! 

Sunday: Church is at Kayle's ward starting at 11am with lunch following Sacrament meeting. Kayle and Taco are in charge of this meal. The church is located on Extension just north of 8th Ave. Anyway the last time I went, this is where they met. Kayle if it is different please let us know. I am so excited to get to see those that are able to attend. We are not getting any younger, right Willis? It will be good to spend the weekend with family! 

Wish list

Kohls has a rug like this that is fantastic. I have almost bought it multiple times but I guess I was never in the "I want to spend huge bucks on 1 item" mood. 

Doesn't the bird cage with candles look awesome? 

A white hutch. I have the perfect robin egg colored wall to put it on. I love the white kitchenaid on top of it! LOVE. 

A BB gun! I need this to practice my aim. I shot one this weekend and it was stellar. 

This purple pillow. I just bought the perfect duvet cover and this pillow would be bombtastic.

 A white table/Dresser for my bedroom. I have had my eyes open for one that I could paint white but haven't found it yet.

This table lamp from Ikea. I have the exact same floor one but need the complimenting table lamp

One of these cool lamps from ikea to hang over my jewelry station 

 An awesome belt sander for all the projects I want to do.

Home

Home. I spent my entire life growing up in the white mountains. I left just weeks after my 18^th birthday to go to college. That time of my life was so much fun, but I always enjoyed going home to visit. Weekend trips home. Home for the holidays. Home for the summer. It was home. The treehouse, and paris flats were just houses I was staying in. Run down and shabby college housing stuffed full with 6 college girls.  

This past weekend I went to my parents house, and then traveled home after the weekend. To my home. I always wondered when the switch would happen. When my current residence would become home and take the place of my childhood memories.  When I bought my house in Mesa I wasn’t expecting it to become home. I thought of it as another house I was living in with roommates. It wasn't even a conscience decision.I wasn't looking for it to happen, it just happened. My house has become my home. 

Keara's wedding

This weekend Keara Browning became Mrs. Andrew Hogan. 

5.19.2012

They had a beautiful ceremony up near Greens Peak.  

Fun and bright colors, Antique goodness, bales of hay to sit on, good ol' country food.

 She got to ride in on a PONY CART! 

How awesome is that?

 His little sign says here comes the Bride. So cute.

 Her pops Elwin walking her down the isle. 

 They were nice at first, and then got cake everywhere.

They did a $$ dance and had money pinned all over their clothes. 

 There was a fun photo spot with different glasses and mustaches and such. 

Danika and Quincy (Keara's friends) and I went up early saturday morning to get everything set up. Some of the families were their too doing their thing. We got it all set up pretty quickly and then hurried back into town to get ready. 

The wedding was at 1 and the day was PERFECT. After the ceremony we hung around till about 5. They had fun games to play like ladderball, a horseshoe type game, and fun mad libs about the couple to fill out.

Jennifer Mistretta and Neely Talbot were there so it was fun to catch up with them. They are both married now but I am not sure of their married names. Jenny has 1 daughter and Neely has 2 sons! Crazy how time flies. 

My feet were DIRTY by the end of the day. lol. Keara's wedding dress was about the same color about 2 feet all the way up from the bottom. haha that's a sign of a good time! 

Mexico 2012

MEXICO!! I love this place. If I could go anywhere, within my budget, I would go to Mexico. 

For 3 reasons.

1. It's cheap. $150 a night for a 2 bd room condo on the beach that can hold 8 people.

2. Fish tacos. Nuff said

3. It takes zero effort to get from the beach to the balcony. all day, just bounce back and forth. and maybe make a pit stop at the pool or hot tub. 

And I just thought of another thing.. The amazing people. So thats 4 reasons why I love it. 

We ate dinner one night at the lighthouse. It was good food but the drinks were PRICEY. The view was great! I had BOMB Jalapeno poppers. Never eaten something so spicy before. 

Steve and Jeremy doing their thing.... Whatever that is

 I think you'll find this look is normal for Jeremy 

 Here is the view from our balcony! It's epic. Now normally they railing wouldn't be in the way but I did that for affect to hold my little Gnome.  We were on the 3rd floow

Excuse our mess, but here is a bit of what the condo looked like. It was huge and super comfy! I don't think I have ever stayed in one that wasn't awesome.

Kristen, Jeremy, Mern, Randy, Steve

We never got a picture of the whole crew but this is everyone but Emily and Carrie