Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Last trip to Phoenix???

During this past Labor Day weekend, we decided to head out to Phoenix one more time.  Although this time, it might be our last.  We have decided to put our "Phoenix house" for sale.  We have gone back and forth about keeping it, or renting it, and now selling it.  It has been quite the task going back and forth from LA to Phoenix and we now feel it is time perhaps, to settle down more so in California.

But before we put the house up for sale,... some clean up from the most recent storm!
Unfortunately, my roses didn't do so well.  I have brought them back to California and looks like both pots are enjoying the California sun on the balcony.  Will have a photo update in a few weeks :-)
Where are the kids hiding when they play their tablets in this Phoenix house???  In their turned over tent!
We will also be missing the Seville Golf Club.  Well, maybe just parts of it.  Bobby and I haven't really been satisfied with their service.  The kids however LOVE this place!  There was a soft opening for the playroom recently so they were introduced to some free arcade games...
... the free pin ball machine game:
... and the free golf simulator:
In the meantime, Mommy is busying cleaning and organizing the house and while I am loading up the car to bring it to yet another storage unit, I have to dodge the thunder and dust storm!
Well, okay... I decided to take a quick shower and by the time I got out, the dust storm was already over! And on the way to the storage unit, I was gifted with a pretty Arizona sunset:
This time, it is a smaller storage unit AND climate controlled. YAY!!!  Hopefully no more mold incidents!
Day 2... and another day of fun for the boys - starting out with watching the garbage truck.  What is it with the boys and their garbage trucks??!
More simulator games at the golf club:
Swim time!
And ice cream time:
We finally clear up ALL the stuff that was on this MASSIVE kitchen island.  Wow, so shiny!!!
And everything is so nice and clean!
It was so tough to leave everything so perfect as Graham and Charlie would sit on the couch and play with the pillows.  We had to leave it just perfect as the photographer was coming in to take photos for the listing.  Speaking of pillows, I was so proud of my new pillow for our outdoor bistro set :-)
I thought the colors were so pretty but yet the photographer didn't take any photos of it! Pha!
I was suppose to hang some lights on the gazebo but when the dust storm was about to blow by, I heard some thunder so I scrapped that idea.  The gazebo is actually a metal frame and I was also standing on a metal ladder!

We had the boys' room repainted to a more neutral and bright color. It used to be a really dark brown:
The guest bedroom - if I recall, this IKEA daybed was such a pain to put together.  We told our realtor that all the furniture is negotiable, except for our King size bed!
We are definitely taking this bed... and the matching dresser... and the cowhide... Hmmm... maybe we should just keep all the furniture :-D
Here is the office and/or playarea.  Actually, it is normally just the playarea for the boys.  The office table was situated in the kitchen area before but our realtor though that staging it in here might be better:
This configuration in the kitchen seems a bit weird as there just doesn't seem to be enough space for the kitchen table. The previous owner had remodeled the home and this is probably the only quirky spot.  But what drew me to this house in the first place were those double/french doors which opens up to the patio In my ideal home, it would open up to a sun-room.  I guess I just have to wait and keep dreaming!
Our cozy living room. This big couch is ideal for all of us!  Well, actually for me and Bob as I would take one side for napping and he would take the other side. Ha ha!
Just as we were about to leave the house, Bobby spots a scorpion in the master bathroom shower stall!!!  We have had random sighting of scorpions during our last few trips and obviously didn't dare to mention it to anyone!!!  We still wanted our guest to visit us if they did :-P
And actually, so glad no one got stung this time.  The painters actually found a live scorpion in the boys' bedroom.  I had been moving the beds around the previous day in that room and obviously didn't spot it AND Graham was sleeping on the mattress on the floor!  PHEW!!!

Perhaps our one last photo with the Phoenix house???!  We were all suppose to jump on the count of 3.  Looks like Charlie is not motivated at all. LOL!!!
One last drive-by by the entrance of the club house:
We will definitely miss the pool area - complete with slides and a splash pad:
Hmm... not sure if Graham and Charlie were actually noticing any of this.  Too occupied with tablet time!  Perhaps that was a good thing not being too nostalgic about the whole thing???
We never did take Graham and Charlie to hike Camelback mountain:
One out!
We make pretty good time on the road until we hit Morongo, California.  Gosh... this traffic is just miserable! I suppose it is a holiday weekend.  We stop at a restaurant for some dinner and when the waitress ask if there is anything else towards the end of our meal, I say "a magic carpet".  And she says that the traffic has been bad since noon-ish!  Sheesh!!!
Well, at least the boys got to enjoy some paper cars and a brain freeze.  HA HA HA!!!
I spotted an old photo of Scottsdale, Arizona on the wall in the restaurant.  Check out those old cars!
And Graham and Charlie plays with an old rotary phone (and yes, I made them wash their hands again!!!)
Urgghhh.... back on the road:
Well, we listed our home this past Saturday 9/8 and looks like we are getting a lot of views online!
Hoping the right buyer will come along soon.  Fingers (and toes) crossed!!!

Monday, September 10, 2018

Random photos

As usual, some random photos from the past few weeks.  I have been lagging behind as usual. Ha!

I have decided to start a task assignment board for the Graham and Charlie to get ready for school in the morning.  If they do everything without me screaming and yelling, they both earn 30 minutes on their tablet each.  Well... it has worked on some occasions.  Definitely work in progress!
Lots of interesting looking cars during our last trip to Manhattan Beach:
Supposedly this one was a rental? We need to get one of these next time!
And who doesn't recognize this fancy one... a Maserati - Bobby's favorite car!
Photo op by the water fountain.  I think it's a red dog?
We were at an Italian restaurant and there was this saying on the wall.  I need to put this on our wall.  LOL!
Mommy finally goes out and buys a new phone.  Now that Graham and Charlie are up on the hill in the new school, my old cellphone reception is terrible! Hence, the new phone.  The boys are REALLY testing out the new phones in the store, especially the gaming part of it :-D
I think I am living vicariously through our Malaysian professional golfer on the men's European Tour.  Gavin Green is not quite the typical Malaysian name but so glad he is doing so well! 
Last but not least, a photo of Charlie taking up the ENTIRE bed!  Bobby has been traveling a bit and so we are letting him sleep on Mommy and Daddy's bed while he is away.  Not only did Charlie do this but he also gave me a karate-chop on my back with his leg one night!  At this point, I am really hoping Bobby doesn't travel too much!

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Yummy ice-cream

We were driving along to the local Walgreens to pick up some photos and right across from the drugstore, we saw and interestingly named ice-cream store.  It was called "Dahlicious".  We were wondering if it anything to do with the English writer Roahl Dahl but come to find out, it's just the store owner's last name!

The ice cream was super yummy!!!  They did cookie sandwiches and as you can see, Graham was super happy with his.  And yes, as big as that sandwich was, he ate is ALL!
Charlie had some sort of cotton candy "rolled" ice-cream.  "Dahl-icious" for sure!!!
This is how the whole "rolling" thing works with the ice-cream.  First, they pour the liquid cream onto a really really cold freezing tray.
 From there, they put in all the extra ingredients like sprinkels or graham crackers, etc.
And then, they mush it all together and spread it really thinly on that freezing ice tray.  At this point, all I am thinking is how tired my forearms would be if I had to do this!!!
And then, they start to roll it:
It was a bit messy to eat but of course, who really cared about that when it is so super yummy!
Happy Pridgen boys!!!