Is it just me or does anyone else feel like cacti

are always flipping us off?

My Aunt Terri said, “They have their arms up ready to give you a hug!”

~

My very first memory of life was in Arizona.

I was two years old. {I know this because my brother was not yet born.} My dad pushed me into my grandparents’ pool {to teach me how to swim?}. I remember sucking in so much water and screaming and crying and feeling like I was drowning. Of course, I didn’t know what drowning was at the time, but I knew the feeling. Of course, that feeling felt like forever to me, but my dad promptly “saved” me, hoisting me out of the water and laughing all the while. I was bawling.

We never did go back to see my grandparents while they lived in Arizona. I’m sure that didn’t have to do what seemed to me to be a traumatic event, but quite probably just life circumstances and our growing family. For the record, this incident didn’t scar me for life. On the contrary. I eventually took swimming lessons and love being in the water!

In fact, that’s why, after my first visit back to Arizona five years ago, I concluded that I could never live there. Sure, I did love the dry heat. The humidity during Minnesota summers can be unbearable. But I love water so much that I need to be near it!

That’s probably why so many Arizonans have pools. 😉

~

Still, February is that perfect time of year to be outside in Arizona – a couple of months later and no one will help you move, unless it’s at 5am. It’s also the perfect time to visit when you are experiencing bitterly cold Minnesota winters!

In the morning, Rob and I would make some coffee and go read on the back patio. Sometimes it was even a little chilly!

And usually, one or more of my Aunt Terri and Bryan’s five dogs would follow us!

I swear, D.O.G. is the happiest dog on the planet! He’s always wagging his tail to see you and wants lots of pets.

At night, he’d sleep outside our bedroom door. When I’d get up to go to the bathroom, I’d hear the thump, thump, thump of his tail wagging and hitting the wall. He has All. The. Love.

Now Jake is what Bryan likes to call a “bachelor’s dog.” Although he may look fierce at first glance, he is anything but. This sweet and charming pooch just wants your love!

Max, pictured below, is the smallest of the five and also the alpha! It is very interesting to watch… When I first met Max five years ago he was not alpha. But I remember asking Terri and Bryan who would be alpha when the current one passed. “Max,” they said in unison.  Here is a selfie of us in the a.m. while I was out on the patio with my coffee.

Also, when I first met Max, he had both eyes. An unfortunate circumstance with one of the other dogs left him with only one. But that doesn’t keep him from being happy nor from being alpha!

It’s fun to watch Max play with and shake up this huge stuffed animal!

Then there’s Missy and Mira – the other two Doxies. Missy, although a bit heavier, can play ball for hours. Mira is just a little lover!

You can only imagine how heavenly it was for Rob and I to be around five dogs! The amazing part is how well they get along. It’s quite the sweet little family.

~

We spent every moment possible that we could outside while we were in Arizona! My aunt arranged for my cousins to come over for a cookout and a bonfire the first night. It was wondrous! However, I kept getting the feeling that the bugs would be out soon and I’d be slapping myself and need to go in. But it never happened. I wasn’t in Minnesota or Wisconsin in the summer. I was in Arizona in February.

Instead, I got to sit outside and hangout with family over the fire for hours. What could be better?!

Still, I find it painful looking back on all my photos that I failed to take pictures of those that I love. Why is it that I shy away from taking pictures of people? I’m constantly taking photos of scenery, food, beverages and dogs! This is something I declare to work on in the future! Because life is the business of making memories and people are the best part of those memories.

Where do you like to go to spend time outdoors?

Other posts on our 2016 trip to the Phoenix Area:

• AZ-Perfectly Timed – Craft 64
• A Day in Phoenix
• Virtù & Old Town Scottsdale
• A Few Arizona Breweries
• It Felt Like Vacation…

Cheers~
Carrie