Easing Back Into Normal

It's been a pretty quiet week here at Casa de Haggis. My mom is here visiting with us and I have managed to not take a single picture. I'm going to have to remedy that before she leaves tomorrow!

One big thing happened this week. Summer started her last semester of high school! Due to ridiculously high COVID numbers in Arizona, TVHS is still remote, so she started school again this semester in her PJ's.

We are enjoying some wonderful warm winter weather here in Tucson. Since it is my last week before I start the Spring semester, I decided to sneak in a little reading in the sunshine. One of my 2021 goals is to read 52 books this year. I'm currently working on Book #2.

As always, we have had some spectacular sunrises and sunsets this week. Here are a couple of shots of this week's sky candy!

Big news coming later this week!

Happy New Year!

 2021 came in like a lamb here at Casa de Haggis. As a family, we were pretty well scattered. Dennis was in Virginia. Paige was in Phoenix, ringing in the new year with her friends, and, of course, forgetting to take a single picture. Summer was holed up with her best friend, Alex, who was here visiting from Texas, and I was bundled up in warm fuzzies on the couch. Den and I facetimed at midnight his time and then I went to bed. HA! 

So fancy!

Our poor Lilo is terrified of fireworks, so we spent some time in a blanket fort

New Year's Day was equally quiet. Summer and Alex went up the mountain to take some pics. And, of course, we had our blackeyed peas to ward off the last remnants of the train wreck that was 2020.

This is my go-to way to make black-eyed peas and it is AH-MAY-ZING. You can find the recipe here.

Seriously, I can not handle how beautiful these girls are! They could not be more different, but they are the BEST of friends. We were so happy to have Alex with us for a few days. 

We were really fortunate to enjoy such beautiful weather here in Tucson. Poor Dennis has not been so lucky back east. The weather there has been wet, and windy, and cold, and generally gross. When I asked him to send me any pics he's taken since NYE, this is what I got! He's having to wear his big waterproof hunting boots to go back and forth to his truck!

Life will be getting a little more exciting around here in the next week. Summer goes back to school and my mom is coming for a visit. And later this month, stay tuned for another crazy twist!

Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July from Casa de Haggis! We were worried that, due to the Bighorn fire, there would be no fireworks this year, and we would have been totally ok with that, BUT... DMAFB rose to the occasion and put on a lovely, socially distant display on the 3rd. The 4th was a family affair, with just the four of us spending the day together before Dennis and Summer left for San Antonio on the 5th. 

Masks and social distancing were the order of the day at the fireworks

We managed to find a brisket!

Can't let a chance to dress Shelby up pass me by!

Popsicles for the pups

Football may be on hold for TVHS, but not at Casa de Haggis

Lilo was less enthusiastic about her 4th attire

We dipped pretzels for a tasty dessert

Backyard fireworks from the pool is definitely the way to go

Except for Lilo, who spent the evening in our bedroom closet

Thanks again to DM for the beautiful show!

A Christmas Surprise

Dennis had to work this Christmas for the first time in a long time. Rather than hang around the house missing him, the girlies and I decided to make a trip to the Fe on Christmas Day to surprise my  family. 

Dennis decided to surprise US by upgrading us to First Class. What a treat! It was the first time for all of us to fly that way and hopefully, it won’t be the last. We were totally spoiled. 

The only person who knew we were coming was my Uncle Joe, because I just HAD to tell someone. This was totally worth it!

We shared Christmas with my family which hasn’t happened since the girlies were tiny. The family has definitely grown since then. We went to visit some of my other grandparents on the 26th, but we got so busy catching up, that I didn’t take a single picture. Something for next time.

I’m the oldest of the cousins and Josh is the youngest

I was so excited to meet baby Henry and get some snuggles while his mama and daddy ate a hot meal at the same time

Love my Pop!

Much fun was had by all. Including a little Robert Earl karaoke and some Tik Tok dances.

Hopefully, now that it’s not such an ordeal to get home (I’m looking at you 18-hour drive!), we’ll be able to do this more often. I really want to. I kind of like these people!

Menu Plan Monday

This week's menu embraces all the fresh, tasty goodness that summer brings. I hope you enjoy it!

Breakfast
Hard Boiled Eggs and Blueberry Smoothies

Snacks
Celery and Peanut Butter
Almonds
Minty Watermelon Shakeology

Lunch
Roast Beef and Swiss Sandwich, Snap Peas, and Watermelon

Dinner
M: Steaks and Arugula Salad with Watermelon and Feta
T: Nicoise Salads
W: Salmon and Summer "Pasta" Salad
Th: Garlic Butter Chicken with Spinach and Bacon
F: Lemon Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli
S: Leftovers
S: Chicken Waldorf Salad on Croissants and Leftover Arugula Salad

Dessert
Key Lime Pie Pudding

Boat Drink of the Week
Coconut Cream Martini

Prom

Summer and a few of her other sophomore friends got to go to Tanque Verde's prom. You know our Lulu, any chance she has to play princess for a day, even now, she's going to jump on it.

Our amazing secret weapon, Kelcie made a house call

And look like a princess she did!

She HAD to take a pic with Big Blue

We stopped by so her adopted Aunt Julie and Uncle Tony could see her all dressed up. Bonus that Uncle Mikey was there too!

Summer and her friend Murphy went together

After the obligatory pictures they were off to meet up with their other friends and headed to prom!