Thanksgiving 2011

With only Stan and Michelle at home last Thanksgiving it was great to have Cassandra home this year.  Having the whole family together would be fantastic but it will be many years, I think, before that will happen.  With Artem currently in Russia and Mike, Emily, Ayla, and baby-yet-to-arrive in Okinawa we were grateful to have Cassandra's presence. 

Coyote

We haven't seen our local fox for awhile but have been happy to see a coyote.  Stan has seen it on several occasions while out and about.  Michelle has seen it twice now.  The moose has been in our garden three times since it snowed but we haven't actually seen it - only it's tracks.  Cassandra, Stan, and Michelle were able to watch the coyote pounce and get a vole. 

Sherrill Family Reunion

Thanks to Grant and Debbie the reunion was a fun and memorable occasion!  We all appreciate their hard work!

Little Adventure

There is a very neat mountain with a slit in it.  It reminds us of Gunsight Mountain in Alaska.  We were hoping for a trail close to the mountain but there was none.  We drove along the road looking for a place to park where there were no "no trespassing" signs and found a little gate we could climb over.  We hiked a little way until we got to some pretty steep parts and turned around and went back to the hotel.  We didn't have the right foot gear to be too adventurous.  It was a very nice day to get out and walk among the cactus, though.

 Debbie and Elizabeth

If I were a bird I don't think this is where I would build a nest.  Good thing I am not a bird in Arizona.

Alaska Friends in Arizona

We met with some of our Alaskan friends while we were in Arizona for a couple of days.  It was fun to visit with them.  We met Kirk Howard (and his brother) along with Dennis Petty at Dennis' restaurant (Grove's Bar and Grill in Gilbert.)  It was fun to catch up on what has been happening since we last saw each other.

On the day we were leaving we had lunch with Douglas and Jeanne who had driven from Phoenix.  It was a great day to visit and have lunch outside watching the fountain.

Douglas was flying his helicopter over Fountain Hills one day while we were checking out the antique car show.  He called Stan and all of a sudden we heard his helicopter overhead.  It was quite fun to watch him circle overhead.

Fun with the Statues in Fountain Hills

There were a lot of statues in Fountain Hills, Arizona.  We spent a little time looking at (and playing along with) some of them.  These were some of my favorites.

 

Grandma is checking the mailbox for a letter from Ayla.