Just a Little Update...

Steven vs. Indians

Chris golfing in the desert, drooling over the PGA store, and Karmen in Old Town Scottsdale

Well Spring Training 2009 officially began for Chris today. He had a long day at the field, but he is off to a great start. The pitching coach from the High-A team in Bakersfield and the head guy in the minor leagues told Chris that this is the best they have seen him and saw a lot of improvement in one of the pitches he struggles with occasionally. He came home smiling and excited, and it was great to see him having fun doing something he loves! Please pray that he will continue to stay healthy and be able to use his talents to glorify God on the field.

I have been filling my days with working out in the fitness room at our condo or going out for a run in the morning before it heats up. The Arizona sun gets so hot by about 9 or 10! I'm the head chef (and only chef) in our condo, and I have to brag on myself a little and say that my cooking skills rival the Iron Chef. =) Just kidding! I have been cooking dinner every night for Chris and his teammate, Matt, that is living with us for the month. I've really been getting into putting together good meals, and I think I've got a little bit of my Mom and Grandma in me because I really like to take pride in what I do and put together something that everyone can enjoy. I hope Chris's parents and my parents are ready to eat because I'll have some yummy meals ready for them when they are here. So beyond working out and cooking dinner for the boys, I usually lay out by the pool and read, and I have enjoyed my trips to the local library a couple times a week to stock up on new books. If anyone has suggestions of good books to read please pass them along because I'm running out of ideas!!

We have gotten out and explored the area a little bit around Surprise, and I really like the area. The day after we got here we went over to Goodyear to the Reds and Indians complex and watched our friend Steven throw for the Rockies. We were sad we couldn't see his wife and their sweet little girl, but we may get to see them sometime next week. Chris prefers to explore by checking out golf courses, and I prefer to explore the cool desert scenery and of course checking out all the best places to shop but we know how to compromise when we go out. We went for a day trip over to Scottsdale and walked around the mall that is full of shops where we can't afford a thing, but it was still fun. Chris bought a pair of cheap sunglasses and I bought a pair of flip flops because the cute shoes I had on turned out to be painful to walk in. We also checked out a part of Scottsdale called Old Town that is set up like a old western town and pays tribute to some of the Indian heritage around Phoenix. To make up for all the hours of window shopping, we found something we both love: food! We found a neat little Thai place in Old Town, and we have decided that we love Thai food! On the way home from Scottsdale we stopped for a little more shopping to get a 1st birthday present for baby Jackson (Miss you Jack Jack and Happy 1st Birthday!) and then we balanced out the shopping with a trip to a PGA tour golf course outside of Phoenix and a trip to a PGA Superstore that Chris claimed he was going to sneak away and spend the night at. Chris has only gotten to go golfing once, and I rode in the golf cart with him because it was a nice day. I enjoyed the nice day, but I had enough of golf by the 5th hole and I think I will avoid the golf course from now on and let my hubby go enjoy himself. We are excited to get out and explore some more when Jerry and Kelly come visit and when my parents come visit.

Chris's parents will be joining us this weekend for Jerry's spring break from school, and I am excited to have some company and someone to share my free time with during the day. It will be nice to have some family here, and I know Chris is looking forward to some competitive golf outings with his dad.

We hope everyone is doing well and having a great week! I'll keep ya'll posted on how Spring Training is going and everything else that is going on in our life!