The family went down to arizona during spring break
to spend some time with my sister Karin and her family.
I really wanted to celebrate Karin's birthday with the whole
family there, like old times.
Reece and I had to come later and just spend a long weekend
due to work and school but even though the time was short
it was packed with fun and lots of experiences.
Our first stop was Taliesin West, a property/design school
designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Karin had read a children's
mystery about Frank Lloyd Wright to her boys so they were
excited to learn and see. I was excited to return as our family
had visited the property years ago when our family used
to go to Arizona for spring break during high school.
I was chosen to play a solo on the special piano in
the cabaret that is known for its acoustics. I played
a Chopin nocturne in E minor.
In one of the studios it was great to see some of the design
students' assignments... take an element of the dessert and
turn it into a geometric design.
The special piano and the cabaret. After visiting Taliesin West
the family went out for some fancy Italian, I loved the 5
types of Bruschetta taster. Yum. Then Kate and I took
Karin shopping at H & M.
One of the evenings I arranged flowers and put together
a birthday cake Karin style. (she really loves fruit)
On Saturday we went to a big renaissance fair. Its kinda
amazing to see how big of a show thats held in the middle
of the dessert. This fair has gained a giant following over
the years and really has grown to have some really
great events and wonderful details.
we were welcomed by the cutest Fairy ever!
We watched some jousting, the knight that our section
was supposed to cheer for was an evil knight that
really didnt care about winning. It was actually
pretty funny.
It was hot and orange sherbet in an orange was a perfect
snack to enjoy while browsing all the stalls trying to
decide what games to play.
Reece played all the manly games, hammer down and
throwing axes. But Kate and I did join him in shooting
cross bows. It took awhile before I got the hang of it
but my very last arrow hit the center of the target.
But I was no match for Reece who was actually a
very achieved archer while growing up. He earned me
the only prize the stall had to offer, a ring to small
for any of my fingers. But Im still proud of my baby,
thanks handsome.
Kate and I had to stop by the greyhound stall to pet
all the greyhounds. Many of them were ex-racers, now
loving life as a pet to adorable dog-lovers. I never knew
how large of dogs they were and really how beautiful
they are.
Then came elephant rides. First time for all of us.
I loved feeling their ears. Why was there an elephant at
a renaissance fair? they had a sign listing all the rulers
during the renaissance that gave or received an elephant
as a gift of peace.
we ate lunch listening to a harpist playing celtic folk songs.
we ended with doing brass rubbings. The man that helped us
was the sweetest. The boys got into it too. I did a larger one
of an Angel with a bronze crayon on white parchment.
Before we left we had a St. Patricks celebration. I helped
put together a scavenger hunt for the boys, Karin read
the history of St. Patrick to the boys and for every
clue they found they needed to answer a trivia question
before they could get the next clue. I wrote all the clues,
they all rhymed and were "from" a leprechaun that
hid all the clues under everything that was gold.
We then had a feast of stew, my dads famous french bread,
and special green cocktails.
Thanks letting us come visit, we love you guys.
Happy Birthday Karin.