Labor Day Pool Party 2010

As is customary on a holiday weekend, I invited over our friends and family for a BBQ and pool party! We had a great turn out this year, with all my sisters and their significant others, my parents, The Alvars, The Kings, and my friend Josh. It was great to hang out, watch the kids play in the pool (Sammy, my goddaughter, even let me pull her around using only a noodle and she would kick-pretty good for only being 2!!).

Zander was as friendly as ever, his face lighting up when he caught sight of the other kids and rushing right over to Elizabeth when he walked in the door: "Hi, I'm Zander, what's your name? Are you here to be my friend? Come see my baby and my daddy!!" All in one breath; he's definitely not shy!

My parents brought over the new puppy, so between Buddy the lab and Zoey the baby girl, there was plenty of cuteness.

4th of July Party-Wildermuth Styel!!!

For 4th of July this year my family came over to party, and my sister Danielle invited a few of her friends to enjoy a fine afternoon, a cool pool, and some great barbecue, courtesy of the ever-impressive Matt. Zander enjoyed the pool, Sadie had friends to live with, and everyone loved the pork tacos, babyback ribs, barbecued beans, and homemade potato salad.








After playing in the pool all day we headed over to Jim & Becky's for Jim's birthday party (fireworks every year) to watch the show from the school across the street and have cake. What a great holiday.

Super Bowl XVIII: Cardinals vs. Steelers

After a long and stressful season, the Cardinals entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the NFC West. Even at #1, they were not favored to win any of their matchups. Yet, in a nailbiter, they defeated the Atlanta Falcons. Hope began to appear on the horizon. The next week they dispatched Carolina, at Carolina, in bad weather. People in Phoenix could barely contain their excitement, yet we had so many reasons to doubt, and then, in the NFC Championship, the Cardinals dominated the Eagles. The town went crazy, people were in shock, waiting for ice to coat the I-10, the Cardinals were headed to the Superbowl, led by Larry Fitzgerald & co.





The Cardinals played a good game, but a few huge errors, and the Steelers' coverage of Larry Fitzgerald, lost us the game. But we made it there, and hopefully we will again next year!

There was a lone Steelers fan at the Super Bowl party. Luckily he left at halftime, so we didn't have to watch the celebration at the end of the game.

Halloween 2008

Here are some photos of my nieces in their Halloween Best!! Elizabeth was a princess bride, Riley was a princess peacock, and Sammy was in her Star Trek Onesie. Beam me up!!






Later in the evening I attended a party hosted by my friend Daniel Dodd (aka Bindi the jungle girl). There were quite a few good costumes, including a hillbilly couple, a missionary, and a Wheaties Box.


My friend Jim came as a Luchador, which was by far the best costume of the evening.




My boyfriend Matt & I took the most cost effective way to Halloween, utilizing items we already owned, and went as a Priest and a Catholic school girl.

A Surprise Party!!!

As noted in a previous post, I completed the work towards my Master's Degree at the end of February. On Saturday, my friend Allen and I went golfing at Papago Public Golf Course. It was a gorgeous day for golf, 70 degrees, and I played well, considering I haven't played for 10 months or so. But back to the point. Allen hasn't been over for a while, so we were going to have a few friends over for dinner, but Becky texted me to say that the Alvars had plans, and it would just be us, and she had to run out to the store, so she wanted to make sure I had my key. So Allen and I get back to our house, I open the door, and there are about 15 people in the living room yelling "Surprise" I most certainly was!!!


It took a few minutes to even register what the surprise was for, take in the fact that there were people at my house, and the fact that I was standing there after walking 9 holes of golf so all sweaty, with my hair a mess while there was a party going on for me!!! It was a great party, a great surprise, and just goes to show how great my friends are!!

We capped off the evening by going to the Big Bang piano bar, as my sister Danielle just turned 21, then watching the Mojo Farmers play at the Loft in Tempe. It was a good show, and the second show with the new drummer Darin Lugar, who has so far been an awesome addition to the band.

Baby Shower-Star Wars Style

This is how showers are run when nerds throw baby showers. Becky, the mommy-to-be, loves Star Wars, so a Star Wars shower she had. Slightly less girly than most showers, which was fine by me. We even had an R2D2 cake!!




My best friend is getting ready to have her second child, and while I was thrilled that she had not had the baby yet so she could attend the shower, she is anxious to not be pregnant. But she did have a good time at the party, and her daughter, who is 5, got several presents as well, so no one was left out!!



Good luck to Becky, and best wishes for an easy delivery and a healthy baby!!