Fourth of July Extravaganza - Day!

The Boys riding the golf cart to the pool! The kids thought it was so cool that this cart would come and pick us up at our room and take us wherever we wanted to go!

The Fryer 5ive poolside on the 4th of July at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador!
We lost track of how many times Cayden went down the 143-foot "Sliderock" waterslide!

Even Mark couldn't resist the waterslide! Go Daddy!

Keira loves her Daddy!

Cayden was in Wii Heaven down at the pool! The resort had two cabanas set up with Big Screen televisions, Nintendo Wii and tons of games!




Here comes TROUBLE! Carson ran from one pool to the next:-)

Keira sporting Mark's shades! So cute:-)






Mark looking real cool in the pool!

We spent two nights during the 4th of July weekend down at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador.
It was the perfect place for a family getaway! The highlight of our stay was the resort's Desert Springs Oasis. The kids really enjoyed the children's pool that was shaped like a fish with interactive water features in the tail! Mark, Cayden and I loved the waterslide! Tucson's weather was so enjoyable that I neglected the need to reapply my sunscreen and ended up with a bad, bad burn on my white back! The burn turned to a million blisters days later and now I have a ton of new freckles all over my back! Ugh!

After a day of swimming and Nintendo playing, we rode back to our room and actually ALL of us got a good nap in before dinner and fireworks! That's a first for us on vacation! We really enjoyed the 4th of July and Arizona's sunshine down in Tucson!

Fourth of July Extravaganza - Night!

Eating a fun picnic style 4th of July dinner! The chocolate cake was yummy!

The kids had fun after dinner playing some western-themed games!

What a beautiful setting!

We found a huge tarantula while waiting for the show to start!
We also found a huge lizard!

Family Fun before the fireworks!

Daddy and Keira. I love how the moon is coming up over the mountains.

Miss Liberty put on a show of her own!

Bang! The fireworks were set to some great American tunes!

After a day of fun in the sun, and a nasty sunburned back (me), we had a finger licking good bar-b-q dinner at the resort's Last Territory Western Steakhouse! This restaurant looked just like a western-town and had a bunch of western- themed games that we played after dinner! Once we were done with dinner and games, we headed next door to the golf course to set our blanket up for the firework show (the resort provided us with our very own blanket as a gift). We enjoyed two live bands out on the field until the fireworks started! The weather really cooled down and by firework time it was just the perfect temperature. The fireworks show was awesome! We had the best view! It was so much fun to sing along to familiar tunes and watch a spectacular show! Fourth of July weekend at the Hilton Tucson El Conquistador was the best! We never had to leave the resort! This will for sure be something that we will want to do again next 4th of July!

The Luckiest Day in the World!

Stephen Drew Bobblehead Day! Here’s Carson looking ever so proud of his new prized possession. Carson is a die hard Stephen Drew fan!


Carson and his buddy Ke'Marrion! These two go to church and school together!

Papa Bear and Carson during the game against the Atlanta Braves!

We were lucky to see some way cool Superheros! We seem to always find the craziest people at the D-back games! These Superheros sat a few rows in front of us! They all complimented Carson on his super cool Mohawk!

D. Baxter the Bobcat and Carson. I wonder how many pictures I have of these two together?

Cayden getting his shirt signed by D. Baxter!

We love you D. Baxter!

My lucky day because I got Papa Bear to take a picture with me! Papa hates pictures:-)

Stephen Drew bobblehead day was a day that Carson had been looking forward to for a few months! It was the day that he finally got his very own Stephen Drew doll! Seriously, Carson tries to play and talk with the bobbleheads (he is now the proud owner of a few) like a girl would play with her Barbie dolls. I think I'm onto something here........baseball dolls for boys! Ha ha!

Papa Bear made Carson's day even more lucky when he bought Carson his very own Stephen Drew Baseball during the game. Stephen Drew bobblehead day was definitely a very lucky day for all of us!

Tucson Fun!

Cayden & cousin Hallie being silly!

Carson and cousin Karlie swimming in the kids pool at the resort.

Cayden going down the 177 foot Slidewinder! This slide is Tucson's longest resort waterslide!

My niece, Jaycie, looking so dang cute in her swimming suit! Look at that belly!

Karlie and Keira dancing poolside! Shake it girls!

Papa Bear and I relaxing out at the pool before a late night dinner!




Dinner the first night was at eegee's! I miss this place! Nothing like an eegee grinder, bacon ranch fries and an iced lemon eegee! I heart eegee's!

The cousins had a slumber party at the resort! We rented movies from Redbox and had cookies & milk. My 3 kids were the first to fall asleep!

Day two of swimming at the resort. Cayden couldn't get enough of the slidewinder:-)

My good friend Diane's house was right up the street from our resort! We had fun visiting her and her dog, Beau!

Diane treated us to breakfast at a really yummy place!



Papa Bear had a Medical Conference & Convention at The Westin La Paloma resort in Tucson! He invited us to come stay & play with him for the weekend. The resort is nestled in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains and is such a beautiful place to stay. The kids and I loved playing in the five pools while Papa was busy! When Papa was not busy we ate at some yummy places and also visited the Pima Air museum. Thanks Papa for all the Tucson fun!

The King of Pop!

The King of Pop and I at the Wax Museum at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco, California. Michael Jackson passed away while Mark and I were visiting San Francisco.

I grew up listening, singing and dancing to Michael Jackson and feel that he is the most talented musical artist ever! Michael was such a passionate singer, but what I loved about him most was the way he worked the stage and performed! No one can pelvic thrust, spin or moonwalk like Michael Jackson! My family loves to tease me about my attempt to moonwalk like Michael in one of my jazz dance solos in the early 90's! We were just laughing about that a few months back:-) What a gift Michael was to all of us. We could always count on him to deliver the best sound and moves! Thank you Michael, for all the music and memories. Long live the King!

Pima Air & Space Musuem!!!

The Pima Air & Space Museum is one of the largest aviation Museums in the world!


The kids enjoyed the aircraft and exhibits on display inside climate-controlled hangars! They had fun climbing into a few and playing.

The kids in the cockpit getting ready to take Papa Bear on a ride!

Mommy in the Pilot's Seat!

Keira flying a plane just her size!

Cayden checking out all the cool aircraft!

Touring Air Force One was awesome! It was used by Presidents Kennedy & Johnson!

This is for Uncle Rob! Go NAVY!

We spent hours walking down rows of aircraft! It was truly unbelievable!

The "Super Guppy" was definitely an odd looking aircraft

My Dad (Papa Bear) spent many years in the ARMY! Carson thought this ARMY aircraft was real cool.

The kids and I checking out all the aircraft from around the World!

When we were down in Tucson in May, Papa Bear took us to the Pima Air & Space Museum! Seriously, this place is a must see for both young and old! You'll see more than 275 aircraft and spacecraft, both from the United States and throughout the world. We were all amazed by the collection and history behind all the aircraft!