Patriotic Speech Contest

Well...these kids may be proud to be Americans...but I am proud to be their Mother. Lincoln & Tyler both competed in their class Patriotic Speech Contest and each of them won and represented their class in the Paseo Verde School Speech Contest. Lincoln competed in the 7th & 8th Grade competition and took 2nd place. Tyler competed in the 5th & 6th grade competition and also took 2nd place. I was so proud of them. I was also so impressed with speeches given by their very good friends and fellow competitors...Ben Dorsey, Paxton Alger, Alison Lillemon and Alexis McCall. Hats off to each of you for writing & delivering very powerful messages about what it means to be a citizen of this country. I was moved to tears more than once. WELL DONE!

Patriotic Speech Contest Photos

View From My Window

I'll never forget the first time I planted flowers in Arizona. I planted them Memorial Day Weekend. They died the second week of June. Wow! A whole two weeks to enjoy my petunias. Obviously, I was gardening in Arizona but with my "growing up in Utah" gardening knowledge. It has taken me some time to get the hang of having a beautiful flower garden in an area completely foreign to anything my upbringing prepared me for. I guess that is why this view from my kitchen window is so beautiful in my eyes.

Welcome to the Valley of the Sun

I love tourist season here in Arizona. Only we prefer to call our tourists a more loving name...family. Starting the day after Christmas and usually lasting until the middle of April, we are thrilled to be visited by many out of town guests. Now while I like to think it is my charming personality that makes everyone just want to be near me, I have a feeling that it may be the fact that our weather during these months stays beautifully between 60-80 degrees while other areas are facing ice storms, temperatures dropping below zero, cars that won't start, driveways & sidewalks that need shoveling...you get the picture. But even if it is the weather that draws them here, we are the benefactors of some really good times.
We have been especially spoiled this year. My brother Allen & family visited us over New Year's. My Uncle Lamar, Cousin Bryce & friends were here for the Fiesta Bowl. My Mom was here in January. Donnalee came in February followed shortly by my brother DeVere & family. March brought my Mom again but this time she brought Dad. And most recently was my brother Kyle and his cute girlfriend Brynna (they just left this morning). What good times we have had with every one of these special visitors. We have had 3 months of swimming, playing games, shopping, spring training baseball, long walks, park days, rock band/guitar hero, and more Mexican food than can be numbered. And so now tonight while everyone has their own bed back and no one had to wait for a bathroom to be available, we are so sad that the tourist season has come to an end.
So here's a shout out to our family...mark your calendars now. The snow will fall in Utah...the sun will shine in Arizona...and the Crump Casitas will once again be taking reservations.

Confession Time

Okay...I have just a couple of confessions to make. First, I am a fan of the Twilight series, have read all four books and will read any future books in the series no matter whose perspective it is written from or how many times it was leaked to the internet before it was ready to be published. Second confession, I am a huge fan of Stephanie Meyer. I mean KUDOS to any mom who figures out a way to accumulate a fortune...not to mention make her name a household word...while never leaving her house and kids. And finally...yes!...I bought a ticket (along with my little sister Donnalee and a group of her college sorority sisters) to the midnight showing so that I could see Twilight the moment it was released. Whew! I feel better having all that off my chest. Now I have drawn the line at wearing a t-shirt that says "Bite me, Edward!" or naming one of my offspring after one of the main characters. But then...never say never!!!

St. Patricks Day

St. Patricks Day fell right smack dab in the middle of Spring Break this year. You'd think that would mean that we would all be off the hook from having to wear green or from receiving numerous pinches. However, my brother Kyle and his cute girlfriend Brynna made sure that this Irish holiday received its much deserved attention. We were greeted bright and early on Tuesday morning with the smell of bacon, eggs & blueberry pancakes. The kids had to rub the sleep from their eyes when breakfast was served...everything was green. Yummy! Never has green food tasted sooooo good. THANKS KYLE & BRYNNA!!!!!

Senor & Senorita Crump on a Mexican Adventure

Hola! Como Estas! Senor & Senorita Crump just returned from a fabulous trip to Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. We had the perfect recipe for a much needed vacation...lots of rest & relaxation, a spectacular view, gorgeous sunshine, a splash of adventure, and an endless supply of chips & guacamole served poolside. For Kyle, it also included some golf and fishing which I gracefully declinced the invitation and opted instead for reading in my favorite chair overlooking the ocean.

Perhaps the only thing Kyle loves more than adventure is convincing me to take the adventure plunge with him. I must have been intoxicated by the overwhelming scent of exotic flowers & suntan lotion when I agreed that an "Outdoor Adventure" did sound fun. Before I could say, "he cambiado mi mente" (I changed my mind), I was on a speed boat headed across the ocean. Upon setting foot on land, we jumped into the back of a truck & began the bumpy ascent straight uphill. When we ran out of road, we switched over to mules and traveled the remaining elevation on narrow, dusty trails. At the top of our climb, we strapped into harnesses and prepared for the journey back down...all accomplished through a series of zip lines and repelling. As I got more used to our method of transportation, I was able to really appreciate the scenery...the raging river below the zip line, the water fall we were repelling down next to, and the sun peaking through the trees as we hiked from one platform to the next. Six hours of adrenaline surges...but I survived with a smile on my face, a few sore muscles, sweat marks and only one bruise. Not to mention...I had a husband that was so proud of his adventurous wife. And how do I feel about him..."le amo mucho mucho!"

The Proof is in the Pictures