Happy New Year

We want to wish everyone a very happy 2013.  May your year be filled with happiness!
  We started off the day at the Az Mills outlet mall.  Our grandchildren were impressed with the selection at the big mall the other day, but were really wide-eyed at this one.  It's a mile around the outside of the mall & the only familiar store to them was Starbucks.  We started at the Neiman Marcus end and power shopped the afternoon away.  Everyone got something and best of all they bought things that no one else in their group at home will have.  This appears to be important for teenagers.  LOL
  Went on to Cabella's for a short tour, Brennan didn't even buy anything, there was just too much to look at.  The gun library, fish tank, huge mountain covered with full mounts, it was great.  There were a couple of 50 cal. sniper rifles in the $10K price group that he liked, hah!
  We went on to Tempe where they had a downtown block party for kids from 6-9PM .  What a great idea, it was filled with family activities, even the entertainment was provided by kids and they were amazing.  It culminated in a fireworks display at 9PM, so kids would not have to stay up too late.  After this there was an adult block party, with midnight fireworks.  At the end of the night, they gave away a new Chev Traverse to some lucky person in attendance.  The street decorations were amazing.  The only negative was it was chilly, in the 40's, I believe.  The street was packed with young families.

 This young boy is 11

 

 This young girl is 14

 There was a photo booth idea, where you dress up with accessories they provided, it was hilarious.

  Back to Bill & Patti's after where we stayed until midnight to toast the new year.  Haylee started a puzzle, saying she remembered doing one at the cottage in England as a fun thing, so..  I guess her plan must have been to finish Jan 1st, because she sure is close.