The first hike ...the first lacrosse game ...a birthday ..and the boy

Last Wednesday 26 hikers 'hiked' along the Mogollon rim which was near Payson

It was a 2 hour and 15 minute drive to the Lakes Recreation Area where we met and started on the adventure

Some hikers continued along the rim

Some hikers did the Rim Lakes Vista loop

A few hikers puttered along the rim and took lots of photos

and

Five hikers walked a few more miles than the rest of us

We all stopped for a snack before the groups ventured out on different paths

There were traces of snow amongst the pine trees

Back home in Gold Canyon the temperature was around 72 degrees

Up on the rim it was about 45 - 50 degrees

These trees were growing right at the

edge of the rim

The view was spectacular

I had packed my winter coat away so

did some layering

I had on 5 layers

Talk about being bulky with the backpack on

I eventually peeled off two!

We drove up with Ann and Jim from

New Hampshire

Lin from Wasaga Beach made up the three Canadians

At this point there were ten of us who

started down a trail

I spoke up and said

I'm not in shape yet to

COME BACK UP

We made a decision to walk for five minutes

Let me tell you..........

I struggled coming up with the

'out of shape'

and

the altitude

This tree was surrounded by healthy green trees

Joe, Ann and I decided to walk back to the parking lot by following the road

Up ahead we could see Mary and Carl doing the same thing

Five others continued walking the rim in the opposite direction of the parking lot

There was a walki-talki message for Ann

to pick up the five hikers

Lin and Jim brought up the rear!!

We checked out Willow Spring Lake before heading back to Payson for a late lunch at a Mexican restaurant

A great time was had by all

The end of a wonderful day

Madeline came out for a visit

She and Bing rolled around on the floor and played and played

They just seemed to pick up where they left off last spring

Saturday and Sunday we were off to Cave Creek

to take in Zoe's lacrosse tournament

Zoe and her team played well

This past summer the team travelled to Florida and California

What an opportunity for these girls!

Defending her goalie

Yesterday we had a birthday in the family

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE

Rod and Stephanie surprised Joe by taking him to

Scottsdale Square where they have a movie threatre

 Dinner is also served while watching the movie

We are waiting to go into the theatre

where the movie

J. Edgar Hoover was to play

Mother and daughter

Would you like a glass of wine?

Neat setup

The birthday boy is ready

He has a pillow

He has a blanket

and

his dinner is coming

We're all ready!!!!

*****************

Just to keep you in the loop with regard

to

the boy and his hockey

As you can see the boy has a full face 'shield'

Rules are as long as you are playing as a midget you require a full shield

Last week Beau's 'card' was signed by the Osoyoos Coyotes

So

now he gets to wear a 'half shield' just like his team mate in the photo

His time of playing with the Pentciton Vees Midget team has finished

This is what he has been waiting for

We're all excited for you Beau

The family whether in Squamish, Penticton,

Queen Creek, Gold Canyon or Sarnia Ontario

get to watch Beau and his team play hockey by tuning into their games on the internet

Are we lucky or what

LIFE IS GOOD