Let the Celebrations Begin!

The girls know that their birthdays are special days. It's the one day of the year where if they ask for something, they will probably get a 'yes'. Want doughnuts for breakfast?... Sure! Top it off with sugary chocolate milk?... Absolutely! Balloons?... Pick 'em out! Will you make me my favorite cake?... Anything you want! This year Maryn really wanted to add 'Can I get my ears pierced?' to her special day's list of questions. And like I said, if they want it their birthday is the time to ask! So we invited Grammy to join Maryn, Brynna, and I on a fun girl's day out to go get Maryn's ears pierced. Since Grammy also knows birthdays are all about fun, she decided we should make a stop at Chuck E. Cheese's to treat us to lunch before heading to the mall for the moment of truth. You of course heard no complaints about that from the girls. Grammy is so cool!Maryn is wild about horses. So imagine her excitement when she saw they had a game where you ride the horse, steer it with the reins and even can jump it! She took it very seriously!

I dug out this old picture of Justin and Maryn on the same jet-ski ride a few weeks after Brynna was born. Maryn had just turned two then and now look at them four years later! My two long-legged chickadees!

After our bellies were full of pizza, games had been played and tickets had been redeemed we headed over to Claire's, inside the mall. Maryn and I had watched videos of other little girls getting their ears pierced together on YouTube, so she would know what to expect. (No horrific ones of course!) So she was feeling pretty excited when we got there. She picked out a sparkly, little pair of ruby earrings because they're her birthstone and hopped up in the chair.

The moment of truth!
She was still looking a little concerned after it happened. She was happy they were in but was thinking that maybe her ears were hurting a little bit. But really nothing a trip to the cookie counter couldn't remedy! She did so great, it made a Momma proud!More birthday celebrations to continue!

I promise I'm not ignoring the ol' bloggerito. I actually have plenty to blog about. It's just that Justin is gone with my camera. Hence my sad, little neglected blog. Sniff.

Grandma & Grandpa McLean

One of the highlights of my trip was getting to see my grandparents again. An entire decade had past since I had seen them last. It also had been almost fourteen years since I had been able to be in their home in Tucson. It was so great, not a single thing had changed! We moved around when I was a kid, so I can't go back to the houses I that was small in. But at Grandma and Grandpa's everything was just as I remembered it. They took Justin and I out to lunch and we just visited and talked, enjoying one anothers' company. I sat there across the table from them wanting to remember every little thing. Loving being there with them, hoping it wouldn't be so long before I could see them again.

In their living room was a drawing of my Dad when he was a boy. I love my grandparents for so many reasons. But I think the reason I love them the most is because they gave me my Dad. They raised him, provided for him and nurtured him. They helped shape the man he is today and for that I am so grateful to them. I love my Dad so much and the older I get, that love only grows. I am so grateful for him and for all he has done for me throughout my entire life and for all he has taught me. Sitting across from my grandparents I was reminded of how grateful I am to be a McLean. And grateful that through my children, the heritage and love that has been given me can continue to live on.

Sedona

On our way to the Grand Canyon we decided to take the long way and drive through Sedona. We had heard how beautiful it was and were assured that we wouldn't want to miss it. Once you got off the main highway the dry, scrubby, brown landscape gave way to beautiful, red rock jutting out of the desert earth. The rocks contrast against the blue sky only added to it's beauty.







We stopped at a cool artist's market that made you feel like you were walking the streets of another country. We decided to buy my mom a thank you present for making our time together possible. We searched through all the shops until we found her a perfect pair of little, turquoise earrings. We were so grateful to our families for allowing us this time together.

Grand Canyon

"Leave it as it is. You can not improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it. What you can do is to keep it for your children, your children's children, and for all who come after you, as one of the great sights which every American if he can travel at all should see."

-President Theodore Roosevelt

It is impossible, in my opinion, to look out at the vastness of the Grand Canyon and upon it's layers of history and not feel so very small. Like a mere blip on the timeline of history. But I also gained a sense of awe for my Creator. That His wisdom, creativity, intelligence, perspective and love are endless. I was reminded as I stood, unable to even begin to take it all in, that the same hands that made what was before me, created me as well. It's a humbling thought to say the least. Can you present your humble life as an example of His divine handiwork? Have you learned? Have you taught? Did you help others on their journey in life? What piece of you will live on as history marches past your time on this Earth?

I was grateful to be able to be there with Justin to see it for the first time. We only had one day to spend at the Grand Canyon, but still wanted to get in it and experience it away from the tour bus. We held our little map in hand and picked a trail to hike down into the canyon a little bit. Around every turn was a new breathtaking view.

(There's always time to be a nerdy nerd!)

When we came to our turn-around point we stopped to sit down on the rocks and rest for a minute. Up until that point I had been carefree, skipping and joking around down the trail. But then the mom in me came out. Justin has been known to trip over his feet or lose his balance from time to time. On the other side of the rock we were perched on a was a sheer drop off. Justin stood up, saw what was below him and promptly turned around and sat down! Which made me happy because I was having visions of him tripping over his foot and taking a spill over the edge.

Luckily our rest period was positively uneventful, other than the view of course! On our way back up the trail I looked up and saw a rainbow that completely encircled the sun. It was hard to capture on film because it was so bright. It was so beautiful and I had never seen anything like it.

We had to leave before sunset to head back to Phoenix so we could catch our early morning flight back to Atlanta the next day. But as we looked back behind us as we drove away that evening we were greeted to the perfect close to our day as we watched the sun slip behind the mountains. I felt at peace as I was reminded again that God is mindful of all of His creations... even me.

Eat At Joe's

One of my newest favoritos came by way of inspiration from Guy Fieri's travels on Food Network's 'Diners, Drive-In's and Dives'. Holy cow people, if you are ever in Arizona it is worth the drive to Agritopia in Gilbert to eat at Joe's Farm Grill. Pure deliciousness! We settled in at a picnic table under a shady grapefruit tree and proceeded to chow on some of the most delicious grub I've had in a long while! My chicken burger had hazelnut pesto on it. The sweet potato fries had a pineapple and Serrano dipping sauce. My milkshake was blended with strawberries grown fresh on the farm right there on site. The onion rings, big and delicious. Really, I could keep going on and on, don't tempt me! In addition to the mouthwatering food, the setting just added to the magic. It was like a beautiful oasis of green in the middle of the brown, desert landscape. It made for such a perfect afternoon, delicious food, beautiful setting and great company. What more could a simple girl like me ask for?!