Spring Breakaway

I have come a long way from Los Lunas. Long drive, lotsa movies and stupid Dora chants, and one close call with a policeman in Overgard. (I batted my eyelashes and got out scott-free...just kidding...about the eyelashes). After that my mom and kids kept telling me how to drive and now I charge a quarter for each "well-intentioned direction."
We stopped in Payson for pizza at a super yummy, somewhat fancy place, can't remember the name, where we smuggled in chicken nuggets and a hamburger for the kids. I taught Jacob how to eat his hamburger from under a napkin whenever the waitress was not around. It was only slightly successful.
I met up with Amanda and her family in Chandler. Jacob was in boy heaven - guns, army humvees with men to go in them, cars galore, and very imaginative playmates - and Bekah loved playing with Madison. She even got in on the war games with the boys. Amanda gave Beau a box to hold cars and he was a happy camper too. We hung out, played, and guarded the fridge from Hayden. Man does he love frozen pizza in the morning. Or anything in the morning, as long as it's not what I'm making.
Did I mention my mom was with me? She flew to Albuquerque just to drive back to Sierra Vista with me. Crazy lady! It was her birthday Sunday and so she came along so we* could all sing properly to her.
(*we means Amanda and family, Casey, Jeri and kids, Jerry, Kim and kids, and Grandma and Grandpa with the Gum, as Bekah calls them because they give her gum. It's not an indian name. Or a reference to deteriorating teeth)
My cousin Kenna is a pie making fool. We hit her up for pie crust making tips and her berry white chocolate pie recipe. Can I just say YUM?! Tom, you totally missed out.
Yesterday I took Amanda's kids to Sweet Cakes in Mesa where I bought them each a cookie as big as their face. Big enough most of them couldn't even ask for more. I had a homemade Oreo that had green filling for St. Patty's Day. Amanda and my mom were turned off by the green. Definitely no Irish blood in them. Bekah, on the other had, is super gung-ho about this very important upcoming holiday. She is very insistent that we go to the dollar store and get decorations for Grandma's house.
Then, after saying bye and buying something special for my friend Taffy at Ikea, we took the world's longest drive down to Tucson. I'd tell you all about it but my mom made me shake hands and swear I'd never mention it again. We met up with Gina, Tyler's friend at a pizza restaurant where Tyler moonlights as chief pizza maker. She was great, the food was good, and my kids loved watching Tyler behind the glass partition. He would throw the dough up against the glass and puff flour on them, and Jacob would say, "Tyler, do you know I love you?" and "Tyler do you know you're awesome?" and then Tyler would blush and smile. Oh I have the best brothers! Tyler might even be my favorite.
And now I'm home. The home where I'm surrounded by my mom's beautiful and comfortable style and where my dad leaves my favorite almond crescents from the German bakery on my bed. The home with the pink robe and purple hair towel that are waiting for me after I relax in my mom's giant jetted tub, and where my kids can fight over the dozens of Chevron cars that are property of Amanda, but reside here.
And now I really must go. I'm super busy, you can see, trying to catch up on all the relaxing I've missed.
Chow (how do you spell that?), Bella.