Bucketlist trip to Philly and NYC

Christi and I took a trip to New York! Bucket list success! It was a fun filled week where we expanded our horizons and learned about the big city. 

Philadelphia, PA

Rita's Italian ice! YUM

Her friend Dave was from Newtown and happened to be visiting home the same weekend. I think he planned it that way. It was great to have a local show us the sights of Philly. He was a fantastic tour guide and gave us the insider scoop!

Here are the Rocky Steps! :) 

This is the Eastern State Penitentiary. If you visit Philly you should take time to do the tour! It was really interesting and had some great history! 

and fantastic photo opportunities! 

The Cell of Scarface

Alphonse "Scarface" Capone

Chicago’s most famous mob boss spent eight months at Eastern State in 1929-1930. Arrested for carrying a concealed, deadly weapon, this was Capone’s first prison sentence. His time in Eastern State was spent in relative luxury. His cell on the Park Avenue Block had fine furniture, oriental rugs, and a cabinet radio.

We rented bikes and rode all over the city. It was an amazing way to get around because we were able to get a taste of the "feel" of the city. Here is a park along the river that had a bike/running path. Beautiful views of the river too. 

Here is the home we stayed at. We stayed with a local who rents out a room to tourists. We got it from airbnb.com which is a cool way to travel! Rent rooms, or rent out your spare room! 

Pat's and Geno's are the two rivals in Philly. They are both known for their philly cheese steak. ordering food there made me nervous! They don't mess around and when you get to the front, if you don't know what you want, and order it the right way they will send you to the back of the line! See, intense! 

We were lucky to be at all the government buildings on the anniversary of 100 years since signing the declaration of independence. We were able to tour everything for free and they had special exhibits with the real documents, not just the replica. We saw the liberty bell and the different rooms where everything took place.

We took a tour up into city hall to the top where William Penn is a massive statue. Cool views of the city from so high up!

In one view he has his hand stretched out to bless the city. From a different view it doesn't quite look the same.... 

We also spent a good deal of time at the Reading Terminal market eating food! There were so many delicious things to try! 

We stopped at the Betsy Ross house, as well as the oldest row of houses still inhabited. It had beautiful cobblestone streets. When there is cobblestone you KNOW it's serious. 

New York City, 

Center of the Universe.

We saw Newsies on Broadway. One of my childhood favorites. They put a different spin on it, but I didn't hate it. 

Ripleys believe it or not. We bought a book instead of paying to go inside.

Ferry around statue of liberty to Ellis Island. We didn't get off at the statue. I wish I had a better picture of the statue! I just can't find it, but know I took one. 

Walked half way across Brooklyn bridge

The 9/11 memorial is finally finished. It was easy to feel the sacred nature of what is represented here. Names of all those who lost their lives were carved into the stones around the two fountains representing the two buildings. 

We took a tour up into the empire state building at night which was really cool! 

We also saw flatiron and went to the top of the rock during the day. There were very cool views of central park.

In the grand central terminal we stood in the corners and whispered back and forth to each other. Very cool part of architecture!

Richard and Rachel were there the same weekend so we caught a Yankees game with them! The were playing the Oakland A's. I remember it being an intense game and I think the Yankees won. 

My Pal Michael is living in NYC and I was so glad we could meet up with him! He showed us around Central park, and this cook walking trail above the city in between the buildings. I can't quite recall what it was called but it was very pretty. Thank goodness for locals to open your eyes to places other than tourist traps. :)

TAPP 2012 Carlsbad California

27th year of birth

So far, the 27th year of my life has turned out to be quite nice. The weekend of my birthday was spent on the beach of Carlsbad South State park. Then I came home to my room being heat attacked from my girlies. Christi Killian moved home. I had the ultimate birthday party on a friday with a full on cake fight, pizza, swimming, and movie. Peeps came over from the ward sunday night for games. I got to go out with my work team for a lunch shindig. I got to spend last weekend in Mexico with 5 of the coolest people ever.  

I feel like I am missing something too! I will have to upload some pictures from the past few weeks and that will jar my memory!

Now it's back to school for another class before I take a short break for MEP. I can't wait for MEP and LAGOON and roadtrip with sister and family and fireworks and fourth of july and mexico again. ahhhhhh I can't take it. Somehow I need to fit crafting into the equation. my "to-do" list is getting monstrously long. Cleaning toilets can wait, I have crafting to do.

24 hours in a day.

Lately I have had different circumstances that made me stop and do some thinking. Not just recently, and not just one person. There is no need to take offense to others actions, but it is simple, we have time for what we want to have time for. The same goes for money. We have money for what we want to have money for. Have you had that happen? When someone invites us to do something uninteresting we have homework to do. But when it’s something we want to do there is somehow less homework then we anticipated and more time the next day to get it completed. No money for that trip with those friends, but plenty of money for that trip with the other friends.

It’s understandable though. We are only one person. We can’t please everyone and be in more than one place at a time. There are only 24 short hours in a day and sometimes it’s hard to decide where that time must be spent. Personally, I am going to try harder to spend that time where it will mean the most to me. Give my time to those that mean the most, and show that meaning in return. Also, try harder to not take offense. Give understanding, because everyone is just doing their best. 

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!