Yearbook: 2006

This the story of Year Two in Arizona. We definitely tried to live the lifestyle! Several local events made the yearbook and sharing the national treasures int his state with our family constitutes the rest.

Home?


January Flowers

I was fascinated by the flowers in the desert. I had the Saharan ideal in my mind and was floored to see plants and flowers everywhere. The long growing season here makes monsters out of species I used to consider house plants.

We took some pictures from our temporary home in the Dakota Apartments. We added more photos from our yard at Sharon Drive. I even have some sarcastic shot of my flowers in January!

Photo Album: January Flowers Scottsdale, AZ January 2006

Gift Cards

This was a Gift Card Only Christmas. Since we fly in and fly back home we need to keep the gift from the family to a carry on minimum. I spent my Home Depot Gift Cards on a Wet Dry Vacuum. It is a completely guy thing to proudly show pictures of your Wet Dry Vac. My excuse was to show the folks at home what they "really" got me for Christmas.

Photo Album: Gift Card Conversion Scottsdale, AZ January 2006

Master Bath

Since we seem to be settling in to Sharon Drive it was time to update one important room. It was still the builder stock bathroom and had the "cultured marble" to prove it. We gutted the master bath and completely changed it to be more like the spa and Sandals bathrooms we love.

Photo Album: Master Bath Project July-November 2006
blog Entry: Living At Home

Birthday 36

This being 2006 I am 36. I invited some crazy drinking friends from work. One of them brought the Monkey. We had a small party for the occasion and i have the evidence to prove it.

Photo Album: Birthday 36 Scottsdale, AZ August 2006

Thanksgiving

We had a "just us" Turkey Day this year. I think this officially make Sharon Drive home. Karen's family is addicted to food events and has the need to share photographs of the big meals. This is not any weirder than my need to show off Wet Dry Vacs, but it just as weird.

Photo Album: Thanksgiving Scottsdale, AZ November 2006

TravelOcho Rios

We made it to Sandals again this year. We gave Brett a graduation gift, one week in a Jamaican paradise with his girlfriend. He loved it. we got to vacation at Sandals. Win Win.

Photo Album: Ocho Rios, Jamaica May 2006

NASCAR

Karen has gone completely NASCARazy since Jason Jones introduced her to the sport. She wanted to see the race live. We got weekend ticket to the spring races at Phoenix International Raceway.

Photo Album: Basha's 200 Phoenix (Avondale), AZ April 2006
Photo Album: Subway 500 Phoenix (Avondale), AZ April 2006
bLog Entry: NASCAR Done Rotted My Brain

Enough About Us!

2006 saw some interesting times for our family and friends.

Walsh Visit

Jill flew out here with her girls Pam and Theresa. It was springtime and warm so the trip was primarily a pool play and relaxation event. It was not ALL about rest. They all participated in Pat's Run and we made the mandatory trip to "The Canyon."

Photo Album: Grand Canyon, AZ April 2006
Photo Album: Pat's Run Tempe, AZ April 2006

Melcher Visit

My mother complained about our move to the desert as being just too far! This complaint fell on deaf ears when I learned that a trip to Las Vegas was planned for last year a few weeks after we moved. It seems Vegas is not "too far" but I was. This year my cousin planned to get married again. The wedding was in Colorado. This was also within her perplexing travel limits as Colorado is so much closer than Arizona?

Having toppled this myth we earned a visit from my parents. My niece Caily made the trek with them. Most of my pictures from this year are about this trip. I made a special insert for just this trip.

Tripbook: Melcher Visit July 2006

Other Events

Photo Album: Damien is also in Year Two
Noted: Bruce Harbach coached to Lancaster Catholic Crusaders to a second district victory
Noted: Brett Harbach Graduated from Kutztown University
Birth: Marcus Braden
Birth: Luke Jones