The Breens

A very busy season

2008-01-18T16:02:00.000-07:00

Well its been hectic to say the least .
My mum broke her wrist after being with us 1 day , then the wedding,then Christmas, Then skiing, then Mike off to NZealand, then Libby's wedding plans , then getting everyone back to the uk.

But it has been great wonderful memories, photos, and lots of laughs.

here are some photos

2007-11-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks giving

2007-11-23T14:30:00.000-07:00

It was Thanksgiving here yesterday and we celebrated in style with the Robinsons and Cockrams and The Beresics , cooking shrimp and steak outside which tasted fab.

We continued with more food and lots of laughs. Steve actually swam in our pool -he must be mad. there are photos of Mike cleaning it!!!

We have lots to be Thanks ful for - great friends -a wonderful new house- beautiful sunshine- minstry opportunities that continue to be blessed and growing - 2 beautiful daughters about to be Brides - a son who thrives in the USA - and of course our health .

We have just also returned from retreat in SC so these are photos from there too

BIg BUSY Year

2007-10-22T14:15:00.000-07:00

Well Libby is engaged to Gavin Culmer we are thrilled and delighted, as Mike said two down one to go !!!!!
They are getting married in Sheffield on june 21st so plans are being made.

we thought it might be a quieter year this year but we were wrong a house move, 2 weddings , a funeral,not to mention 18th, 50th and 80th birthdays and two graduations means we will be busy but happy !!!
Will post photos pf Libby and Gavin when I get some they are in sheffield we are in the usa makes it difficult !!!

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I have just come back from aweek in Budapest with lots of european Church planters it was really good time .

Mike's dad died in London just before our time in Budapest and his funeral in suffolk is on wednesday. It was wonderful that he managed to spend time with him and that he got there in time. He was a lovely man and will be missed but remembered very fondly .

Our garden is now finshed just waiting for tress etc to grow (it doesnt take long here) included some photos so you get the idea .

Wedding plans for Beccy and Phil are going great they both seem chilled now with only a few weeks to go . she is loving the new teaching post and Phil's drumming business is expanding .

Sam was busy with homecoming and other major social events when we where gone so not sure he missed us that much !!! Taylor was homecoming quenn a very big honour .

Budapest

2007-10-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

Star jumps in S Carolina

2007-09-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

2007-09-16T07:52:00.000-07:00

Well I have not bee very good at posting on the blogg recently . I think the combination of moving, travelling, wedding stuff and Face book have all been to blame but I am back on track now.

Last weekend Libby hosted a bridal shower for Phil and Beccy for about 60 people , it is culturally very far from us but everyone seemed to have agreat time and we have video footage to proove it !!!

My mum arrived about 10days ago and we have of course got her inspiring us as to how to plant things in the dessert otherwise known asa garden!!!

Pool should be finished by next week !!!! and the yard the wek after.

Libby got back safe and well and is off to france with Gavin and his parents this week . She bought herself a Smart car for getting about in and around Sheffield since she smashed her micra into a wall when the back axel broke in May !!!

Beccy has got herself a new job she is now the proud teacher of 23 little 7yr olds. She has always wanted to be a teacher but wanted to work for us asa detour along the way!! She is very excited and we are really pleased for her. so she has quite abit going on in her life at present , new job, getting married and moving into a new appartment but hey what fun !!

Sam is this season playing soccer for school although in this heat I am not sure why or how!!!

Mike is enjoying going to all the hub churches and we are loving having The Cockrams now as neighbours .

The photo is one I took on the beach and one which I love of the happy couple

2007-08-29T19:29:00.000-07:00

Been really busy travelling around and unpacking getting things straight but moving is always more work than Mike or I ever remember !!!!

Good news is school is back for sam after great summer and fab time at soul survivor where he gave an exceelnt seminar and talk and is all set for next year to go as an intern.

Wedding plans are well in place and Libby is due to return to sheffield Sept 10th

my mum is due out Sept 5th

saw this and thought of lots of people

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new photos

2007-07-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

back

2007-07-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well we are finally home after 3 weeks away.
We went to Sheffield in June and it rained
We went to Norway in July and it rained.
we went to North carolina in July and it rained there too so we are glad to see the sunshine of Arizona although its now raining (monsoonal ) here too !!!!
We have got most of the house sorted but there is still the whole yard /pool thing to do !!!!
We have got most of beccy's wedding sorted but there is always something to do around that.
Mike and Beccy fly to NZ and australia for 2 weks on wednesday so Life does not seem to slow down exept when you are on the beach in SCarolina .
Libby is in San diego this weekend with Gavin after doing summer intern kids programme with Sam and some others for abour 10 weeks . She lost her voice last week because she had been shouting so much !!!!
Well now must post lots of new pictures of lots of places and our house

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holidays

2007-07-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

We have been travelling for the last few weeks . we have been to the lovely, beautiful and very stylish Norway where it rained heavily for several days . It reminded us of many days spent in the new wine fields stopping through mud!!!
We have then travelled to South Carolina to the beach house ( our childrens favorite place in all the world) and had great fun body surfing and gettinga good tan . we have taken loads of photos too. The pelicans and other wild life are amazing .

we are now on our way to North carolina to the mountains to celebrate Libby's 21st birthday.
On sunday the kids fly back to phoenix and work. Mike and I are doinga family camp in ashville for a week

The new house is looking good and feels like home . We have already had some visitors and are expecting some more. Hiro and Beccy called in from Japan and we are expecting Victor from India just before Mike and Beccy travel to Australia and New Zealand. Gavin a friend of Libby's also flies in next week.

will promise to post photos soon

moving

2007-06-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Well we did it again Moved and its great if a little tiring !!!
Love the new house which has fab veiws of the stunning arizona mountains !!!
only a couple of mishaps -we have no internet access yet always fun !!! which also means no Tv for mike !!! no football news !!
And Mike electricuted himself twice !!! and fell of his bike once into a cactus -ouch!!!! on both counts !!!!
Still he is still here no need to colect widows benefit yet !!!! so thats good !!!!
more updates when we get connected and will post photos then too

me, my sister ,my mum and my neice

2007-06-20T17:27:00.000-07:00

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me enjoying a cup of tea in my sisters garden

2007-06-20T08:33:00.000-07:00

We hada great time in sheffield took some photos for those of you who want to be reminded of how green and urban it is at the same time.the Order Gathering was very encouraging with many missionaries in many countries being represented.

Travel to and from the uk was as ever an interesting experience

sheffield

2007-06-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

Having a great time here in sheffield as ever its always good to catch up with everyone and to visit favorite places and eat some english food. Phil is doing really .well with culture shock and jet lag and St thomas' so thats brilliant. They have gone to London for the day and to see Grandad.
its mike's birthday so he is playing golf but its in the rain still never mind its still fun .
I have spent the day with my mum and went to Marks ans spencers what joy

what a great day

2007-06-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

What a great day Beccy is 23 today and got engaged in San jose near San francisco California just after midnight. We di of course get the Phone call Mike was on aplane and got it when he landed . its great and VERY exciting here are photos

what a great day

2007-06-06T22:44:00.001-07:00

what a great day

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worship

2007-06-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

Mike and I seem to know alot of worship leaders and this last week we had the delight of having another legend Noel Richards and his wife Tricia to stay whilst they are on a ten week tour of the USA .

It was lovely getting to know them better and I am sure our paths will cross again soon.

We just put them on their flight to Arkansas to see their daughter who his married to an american .

Sometimes it seems a very small world.

We are getting ready to leave for the uk and Europe this week so thats always fun

2007-05-28T09:24:00.000-07:00

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Summer is here and goodbyes

2007-05-28T08:36:00.000-07:00

Summer is officially here with school now out for about 14 weeks !!!

We had a great TOM lunch yesterday saying goodbye to all those who have been with us in Phoenix over the last 3 years and who now feel its time to move on, not everyone could make it but we had lots of fun and food . Here are some photos to show you

2007-05-23T13:56:00.000-07:00

Took some sweet photos of my two gorgeous girls this weekend can believe they are going to be 21 and 23 this summer.

schools out for sam as of today so no more school until end of august and then only 2hrs a day .

We are moving house this summer too.

Well we like to move and have been in this one 3 years which is along time for us !!!!

Actually the Cockrams are buying ours as when they came to stay they likes it sooo much they wanted it and its loads easier for them .

so we have bought a one storey over in a new part of anthem with fewer rooms and more yard and closer to the mountains and desert ,so I now have to get my head around packing again !!!!! and decorating !!!!

2007-05-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

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Our friends from switzerland love the pool and charlie . they have been throwing him balls to fetch forever . They go home tomorrow so we will all miss them but especially Charlie .

Took Mike to catch a plane today . He is off to Columbia, then Atlanta , then Houston back on thursday so onlya short trip .
Out next trip together is to sheffield -hurrah!!!

We also went up to crown king with tim and rebecca a real cowboy town and great views

charlie

2007-05-19T12:24:00.000-07:00

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our friends from switzerland

2007-05-19T12:19:00.000-07:00

New visitors

2007-05-15T16:58:00.000-07:00

As ever we are in a state of transition .

Libby has returned which is always wonderful she is here for many many weeks but has to go back to the uk to be at Soul survivor in August and then return to us again till september. She will then be in her last yr and heading to S Africa after that. Its very exciting that she hasa vsion and hope for the street boys in Durban and no doubt you will hear all about it when any of you see her !!

We have friends from switzerland here too . they seem to be really enjoying the sun , the pool and the BBQ ( photos will follow ).

We are havinga BBQ tonite for some CCOJ friends too as Tim ( from Swizerland )really wants to BBQ so it will be steaks on the barbie later !!!

Mike and I enjoyed Seattle it feels very familiar with its green trees and damp weather !!!

I had a lovely Mothers day on sunday very well looked after and loved . sam and taylor did a surprise lunch and cinema trip so lots of fun especially nice as Mike was away .

We all regrouped later on Sunday though with lots of laughter and screams as Sam and beccy hadn't seen libby for nearly 6 months so lots of catching up to do .

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Sam's High School Prom

2007-05-06T08:39:00.000-07:00

Its just like in the 'movies"

Sam had his High School Prom last night

It included all the essential elements of Flowers for his Date, a Hummer limosine, Tuxedo's and lots of amazing dresses.

There was also the voting and I am pleased to announce Sam was voted prom Prince!!! if I knew what it meant I am sure I would be excited .

He was thrilled bit very cool about it .

But my job was to make sure he had everything right including matching waistcoat to compliment Taylors dress and to take photos , so here are some for you to enjoy!

more on film and fatalism (and an interesting thought from historical research... )

2007-04-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

I seem to remember that when I was studying Old Testament Apocalyptic literature at Theological College I came across a theory of the origin of these books that suggested that when there is large scale 'social stress' and fear of the future like that which the current wave of war and terrorism has engendered, people often try to re-imagine the future. In relation to the Bible it was suggested that exile and oppressive occupation created the social and pschological context for apocalyptic prophecy to grow and that the strong emphasis on judgement for the wicked oppressors and freedom for the downtrodden was directly connected to the difficult circumstances that the prophets faced. Maybe this is what's behind all this fatalism and future stuff that we see in the movies right now.
I saw 'Meet the Robinsons' a few days ago - a family cartoon (not the kind of film I usually frequent these days) and there it was again; the future being changed so that what we feared most - a future ruled by heartless monsters-did'nt happen- and this is a kids film for goodness sake! Then I watched 'Heroes' (the new NBC hit on American TV) and the same theme was on every frame! I'm telling you there's something in the air!
What I'm thinking is this; we need to offer the Biblical view of the future (a view that was shaped by God in similar circumstances to those that many face today), which reveals that God will right every wrong and heal every hurt and teach that as Jesus works in our lives these future certainties begin to have an effect now. Just a thought.......Mike

2007-04-26T08:02:00.000-07:00

The summer is approaching fast here in the usa as Sam finishes his Junior year in 3 weeks .

Next year he will be a senior and because he has taken some extra classes in the summer each year he now only need to go to school as a senior for 2hrs aday not bad really ( its like 6th form in the uk )

He is begining to start training for swim team again which means he gets a tan whilst getting fit !!!

He is also campaigning for the fair treatment of children in Uganda with the organisation Invisible Children and is sleeping most of the weekend in a cardboard box with only water and crackers to eat !!!

TOM retreat

2007-04-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

Back from S carolina

2007-04-26T07:50:00.000-07:00

I have returned from a really great time in S Carolina retreating with all the seniors from the Order of Mission .

We had great scenery, great company. great food and great Bible studies .

I have added some photos .

we had guys from around the world join us and Ian Weaver from Australia did eventually get home !!!!

Mike is now in Arkansas with his Hub church there.

new arrivals from overseas

2007-04-11T21:10:00.000-07:00

I picked up Ian Weaver from Melbourne ,Australia this morning after he had travelled two days to get to us!!!
He is now desperately trying to stay awake .
He may get in the hot tub later.
We are all of to S .Carolina this weekend for the TOM retreat, which is always fab we are really looking forward to it
Mike has also taken him for a drive to Sedona

fatalism and films

2007-04-09T15:41:00.000-07:00

I've noticed something recently. There is an interesting trend in recent movies which seems to go as far back as Minority Report; fatalism and a fear of being controlled by predetermined and inevitable events. This appears to be a strong and perhaps growing theme in mainstream films at the moment. The Lake House, Deja Vu and Premonition all appear to present the same view of the future - a future which is fixed and unchangable. This leads the characters in the plot to try to trick their inevitable future with varying success. Whatever you think about this view of time (and I dont agree with it) it reveals a deep anxiety in the population. The anxiety is that our future is fixed and we cant change it. This of course, leads to a sense of powerlessness, depression and, in its most developed sense, and kind of fatalism found in Islam and Hinduism which excuses such things as the Caste system, brutalism, tyranny and all kinds of other things which are seen to be "Gods Will"-a determined future defined by an uncaring god.

As Christians we might have something to say about all this! We could address real fears that hold people captive from which God wants to release them. Our witness, at minimum, is to a God who can change our futures - who wants us to be free to follow Jesus and not determined by anything other than his love for us......Mike

Luggage again

2007-04-06T19:31:00.000-07:00

Here's another Barcelona photo very sweet of Libby .
I have hundreds !!!

Also forgot to mention the great service BA gave us by loosing our bags for 4days !!! we got them just in time for Mike to take them to switzerland with him .
it did mean i became an expert at shopping on the main high street in Barcelona every day they didn't arrive for more clothes , shoes, and other things like tooth brushes!!!
When we did get them they were tagged " RUSH and priority " how long would they have been with out those tags who knows !!!

Libby in barcelona

2007-04-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

2007-04-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter

Well everyone has returned from their travels and we came home to find the Bells staying with Nigel and Sue what a deliight to see them again and Sam and Jonny seem to have loads of fun and eaten lots of In and Out burgers.

Just finished reading the new Jodi Picoult novel called nineteen minutes about a high school shooting in USA. it was really good and it kept me busy on several planes .

What seemed slightly bizarre was that on Thursday sam didnt go to school but then we found out later loads of kids didnt go because there was a threatened High school shooting which everyone including the school were alerted to.

Any way it all seemed to not happen thankfully but just areminder how easy it is to get guns over here legally and illlegally .

BARCELONA

2007-04-02T21:22:00.000-07:00

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Mike and I met Libby and 5o others in Barcelon
We were meeting to look at church planting in europe and how to accelerate the process and progress.
It was a great venue -who could fail to enjoy barcelona
It was a great team
It was great fun
It was great to meet up with friends from all over europe But
It was best seeing our youngest daughter Libby and hearing all about her South africa adventures and seeing God give her a vision for what she might do in the future and knowing that God had protected her from any injury when she wrecked her car completely in the 12hrs she was back in sheffield between s africa and spain !

It was not so great having our luggage lost for 4 full days and no one knowing where it was.
It was not so great saying goodbye to Libby on Saturday evening

2007-04-02T21:04:00.000-07:00

Barcelona

2007-04-02T20:56:00.000-07:00

School concert

2007-03-20T15:40:00.000-07:00

Sam is in the school choir and he loves it , he takes after his Dad and Mum and his grandad(my dad )who Loved anything musical . so here are some photos of him and the gorgeous Taylor singing at school .

cooking a new skill

2007-03-15T17:15:00.000-07:00

Today I had fun
i went cooking and shopping with our interns here at Joy
Chris and Jo Saxton noticed that they never had any money but never cooked .!!!
So they brought me in to demonstrate how to shop i.e .actually what stuff its good to buy cheaply
and how it is possible to cook quickly and easily.
they all cooked great meals and invited friends and mentors over.
Here in the US most young adults eat most meals out and what they dont realise is that they have sacrifice community by doing this and the definately spend loads in restuarants and sometimes its even quicker to eat in .
So we had lots of laughs and I had a great lunch .

2007-03-13T22:25:00.000-07:00

Its definately hotting up here think we hit 85'f its perfect convertable car weather,
Mike is back after a great and productive time in Oklahoma and Atlanta.
We had a fab time of worship and prayer at TOM this week and it is always good to see everyone and catch up with everyones lives and to notice how many more babies we have on the way !!!
When we came 3yrs ago our youngest was Emily Mallon @ 5 yrs old since then we have produced 5 babies and 2 more on the way !!!quite amazing .
Trying to find some new music to Listen to so any suggestions would be welcomed I like acoustic stuff with good lyrics, country, and things like Cold Play ,John Mayer etc > I am going on some long journeys so i need to update my ipod .

Canadians on a road trip

2007-03-10T23:00:00.000-07:00

Last night we had a couple of visitors staying --nothing unusual in that --except that they were on a road trip from Monkton Canada (on the far east coast) to California. they set of with the aim of getting to california and back in 31days , They had already driven 6000 miles in the rental car .
Sam and Mike met them last year on their eventful trip to Canada so they thought they would drop in. they are taking photos on the way and hoping to visit 30 states in all. they had some great stories to tell and it reminded me of how great and amazing and hospitable the american population is .
They had been offered , showers, food , places to stay and lots of company and stories mainly from complete strangers . They had no agenda just the trip and no map !!! what a joy that would be to me , i would love to do this type of trip , maybe mike and I should have a "gap" year and have a trip !!!
They were also swapping clothes along the way so Sam ended up with T shirts and hats fron canada and they went away with lacrosse shorts ,a cowboy hat and american eagle sweat shirts . a fair exchange .

2007-03-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

Sam the cowboy

2007-03-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

sam had a school dance this friday and the theme was cowboys I think they all look like naturals

mike looking mischievous

2007-03-05T21:18:00.000-07:00

Beccy looks happy

2007-03-05T21:14:00.000-07:00

2007-03-05T11:14:00.000-07:00

First time in 10 weeks I have no visitors staying !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
so guess what I am doing --- cleaning where does it all come from !!! the dirt and dust -- well we do live in a desert !!
Charlie is feeling lost as there is no unsuspecting person throwing him a ball for about 3 hrs
Sam has a lacrosse match -no broken bones so far and is injury free though i did hear a rumour that he lept a bonfire at the youth weekend away !!! wonder if he is following in his father's ways !!!

2007-03-03T22:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we get amaazing views of balloons that go directly over our house

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Its been a busy week .
We have had a conference here in Phoenix for 40 leaders and had friends from the Uk and Canada staying with us as well as hosting a cheese and wine for 50 last tuesday!!!
We had lots of fun with steve and helen ,photos are posted this time without steve and his wine glass, but it comes as no surprise I took helen shopping this time GAP and she did mamange to buy her years supply of clothes in 30 mins - not bad for a beginner !!!
Ian and Annabeth left late yesterday on a red eye back to Toronto hope they have recovered by now.
The sun is shining but its freezing - what has happened to the weather -and we missed the eclipse too !!!
Mike is off to Oaklahoma on Monday so its another airport run -the car drives itself

by popular request

2007-02-25T23:48:00.000-07:00

so here is a picture of Beccy and Phil at home with us this sunday after church in our back yard .this is posted by popular request for all of you girlies out there who want to know what he looks like etc !!!

pictures by request

2007-02-25T23:46:00.000-07:00

Zoe's baptism Photo's

2007-02-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

2007-02-24T08:42:00.000-07:00

Trip to mexico

2007-02-23T18:37:00.000-07:00

Joannah and I went on aroad trip today all the way to mexico. We set off in the dark and very early 5.ooam !!! with water and snacks essentials for any trip. the reason to go was Jo needed her passport stamped!!! We are all here on visas and it gets all very complicated with no real understanding of it but what we did know was that Jo needed a new exit?entrance stamp in hers , so off we went.
Well we did go to mexico and exited and entered 2 1/2 times!!! first by car with me driving -- Mexican driving is a whole different driving experience!! and meanwhile Chris her husband wasn't sure if we were insured in mexico !!!
That didnt get us the stamp so then we decided to go back by foot !! which felt abit weird and third worldy this didn't get us a stamp either !!! so we asked for one and a very nice passport control man told us we had to go somewhere else!!! we queued again Jo di get a stamp but it wasnt dated so we then saw the nice passport control man again and he dated it april 2009!!! hurrah . It did feel abit like a battle though and we didnt really see much shopping potential in Mexico but I did get a Tuscon strabucks mug to ad to my collection .
And we were able to chat for 10hrs without interuption !!!
What a good day

Friends from India

2007-02-21T07:34:00.000-07:00

We had Victor and Saro visiting us from India this week . Mike met up with them in November when he was over in India so it was great to meet them again in the USA. Victor works for YWAM in India and is planting churches and schools in his area .
We had fun with them we went to Sedona (in the rain ) met up with Beccy and her boyfreind Phil and then went shopping to walmart!!
I achieved something very special here and something Saro's family are very pleased about I got her some JEANS !!!!They have been trying for years to get her to wear them but it took the combination of me and Walmart to achieve it !

Friends from India

2007-02-21T07:32:00.000-07:00

great songs

2007-02-18T18:39:00.000-07:00

Over recent months Mike and I have become good friends with Brian Doerkson and his wife . When they were visiting us recently they gave us Brians soon to be released Cd called Holy God which I especially like " You are my Home track 15" ( the words are very applicable to genX ) and track 16 which is from Psalms .
I am playing it at the moment waiting for all the TOM members in Phoenix to arrive . Its so up lifting and a great driving song but dont drive too fast !!as if !!!!
So recommend buying it when it comes out

Films by Mike

2007-02-17T10:25:00.000-07:00

I've recently seen some excellent films -but I always say that!

Blood Diamond...fab performance by Lionardo - better than The Departed performance in my opinion. The flawless S African accent and generally excellent acting give a weight to the bad guy turned good character. A tough, sometimes gruelly action movied with a redemptive message and a 'salvation thru sacrifice' story line.

Last King of Scotland....again brilliant acting - this time Forest Whitaker. For anyone watching these two films with half a soul its clear that Africa is the great battlefield of the Spiritual Powers right now - watching them makes you want God to win!

On a lighter note...The Greatest Game Ever Played and Music and Lyrics are real fun. The first the true story behind an amazing golf game between an unheralded amateur and the Tiger Woods of the day Harry Varden - really good. The second is a 'laugh out loud' comedy with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore -very funny in the usual quirky Hugh Grant way!

2007-02-17T09:24:00.000-07:00

Sam also lets him sit on his knee and as you can see Charlie is now rather large!!!

Sam and Charlie

2007-02-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

Sam and Charlie

2007-02-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

2007-02-17T09:19:00.000-07:00

We have had lots of visitors and charlie loves them all he is so extrovert in every way .anders michael especially loves Charlie and lets him sneak up on the furniture!!!Here is aphoto of Anders Michael in charlies bed !!! he wanted to take him home to his new appartment in Sheffield.
I didn't get any photos of Nikki who also stayed because she was working so hard ,but we did manage to get some shopping time in at Keirland and the outlets. its amazing how much shopping you can do in 30mins

Charlie

2007-02-17T09:17:00.000-07:00

2007-02-12T15:22:00.000-07:00

Hurrah Neil has fixed my computer i can download photos again

this was us on christmas day abit late i know !!!

Busy week

2007-02-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

Its very annoying but i cant post photos until Neil Birchinall remotely looks at my computer and sees what is wrong with it.
Mike is due home today -hurrah
I have been madly spring cleaning -nothing is safe from the black bag and bin !!!!!
Went to Old Scotsdale this friday had fun went on a trolley bus and looked at old type shops a bit touristy but mum is a tourist so thats ok.
Went back to fashion square on saturday Beccy wanted to go . Its the very posh shopping centre in Phoenix with all the designer shops -nice to look at .
Busy week ahead lots of airport trips 12 to be precise in the next ten days !!!!

Turn around

2007-02-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

Mike is in the frozen bit of USA whilst I am enjoying gorgeous weather in the high 70's here in Phoenix.
He should be back at the weekend to enjoy them.
New vistors arrive saturday, sunday and Monday from all over one from Canada , one from the Uk and one from denmark !!! then next week we have visitors from India . hope they all like my cooking !!!

decorating

2007-02-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

Mike and sam are in Florida where Mike is speaking at a youth event , so any one who knows me well will know what i will be up to --- decorating!!!
Thought it was time to get rid of some more of the white walls that the house comes with. This time its the loft are upstairs lets hope it looks good !!!
Also replanting some geraniums etc we have had so much cold weather and frost plants have died!!! with shock so replanting is essential !!

coffee

2007-02-01T08:41:00.000-07:00

We love coffee in this household as many of you will know.
We love starbucks and all that .

However at home we have tried many , many types of instruments to make coffee ,
drip pots, expresso makers, bodums etc.
I have just bought a new one- i have gone back to the old fashioned perculator!! remember the little pop pop noise they make and the HOt coffee they produce and to me it wins hands down I am still convincing Mike of course but I like it.

I also went to two new classes this week an exercise class at the community centre here in anthem -which was great and connected me with the outside world -always good
Photography class which also was really brilliant and made me realise how little i knew but how good it was to learn this stuff .
so busy week here in Phoenix