Musical Instrument Museum

Last week I went to MIM (Musical Instrument Museum) with my grandma and her 2 sisters. It was so interesting. They have instruments from every country and music playing from those countries.

This concert grand was made from burl wood. It was beautiful (and gi-normous)!!!

My favorite was a metal piano made by Steinway during World War 2. The factory was retooled to produce wings, underbodies, tail assemblies and other parts for U.S. combat aircraft. Steinway was given special permission to build this model: the G.I field piano. Over 2,500 of these were sold to the U.S. government starting in 1942. They played a key role in maintaining troop morale and proved their worth amid incredible climatic challenges and actual battle conditions. 

I loved this because I am really into metal furniture from that era. I have a metal bed and military issue dresser from that time as well. I never knew they made metal pianos, and I will propbably never own one, but it was still really cool. I also loved how a big company gave up their factory to help win the war. How many companies would do that now (they are mostly in China now anyways)? I appreciate their patriotism, selflessness, and love for their country.

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We ate lunch in their cafe and the food was arranged so cute. It also was very delicious!

peach cobbler

garlic roasted turkey sandwich with swiss cheese. Yum!!!

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I just thought this was cool so I took a pictures of it. The marble stairs were spiraled around this map sort of thing.

Finally, the end!

Roasting

Today in Phoenix it was 117 degrees. It is the hottest day ever in August. I am sooooo ready to be back where it is cooler, although I am getting a pretty good tan.

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My grandma is watching her neightbor's dog. She is the cutest!!! So, here is mimi, she is a golden maltese.

Cousins........continued

My cousin Hannah and I. Mostly, since she has to go to school during the day, we go swimminng whenever she gets home.

Cousins

My cousin Jessica and me. We have been able to do lots of fun things together this week. I have the greatest family ever!!!

more pictures of my other sweet cousin coming soon!

*This is both of our favorite*

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sleepy, late after church, and Starbucks.

Sorry it has been a while since I posted anything new. I am in Phoenix having an amazing time with all my family!!!! Yes, it has been insanely hot. The only way to cool off is to go swimming so I have been doing a lot of that as well. Today I am going shopping with my aunt, cousin, and grandma. Fun fun!!! 

Pictures of my adventures here will be coming soon, to a blog near you.

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Hotel Eklund

*then*

*now*

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A restaurant and hotel that looks like you would see it in a John Wayne movie.  It is the oldest building in the area, so I'm told. Last night my family had a to eat there. It was so much fun, and absolutely gorgeous inside.

There were beautiful chandeliers and the ceilings had so much beautiful detail on them. It was really a great experience!

A Day at the Lake

This morning I made cake truffles for dessert tonight. I thought they turned out a lot prettier than last time. I did make these ones devil's food cake instead of just chocolate, I know it is still chocolate, but it's different.

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Anyway, it was so horribly hot today but, we took our missionaries to Clayton Lake and had a very wonderful time. We made sub sandwiches and had a nice picnic lunch there also.

Missions Conference Decorations

Tonight is the frist night of our missions conference. We have a meal each night, through Sunday, at 5:00 and services start at 6:30. I am really excited for it. Here are some pictures of our beautiful decorations.

The entry way.

We have a flag for each country we support a missionary to. Some are church planters within the United States so we have the flag for that state. The sanctuary looks amazing with all the flags and bright colors. I love it!!!

Mexico

Uganda Africa, which is where the missionary family we have with us this year is from.

China and the Philippines

Colorado flag and our board has lights on the places where the missionaries we support are. I have never seen done before but think it is a very cool idea.

Shopping

This week is our missions conference and I am really looking forward to it!!! We will be having one missionary we already support , Paul and Amanda Hudson missionaries to Kampala Uganda, with us this year.

Yesterday we went to Amarillo to get everything for our missions conference.  We were able to leave super early in the morning and get everything finished before lunch time so (drum-roll)..... the best part, we got to do some for fun shopping, and have lunch, with some wonderful friends that met us there. It was really such a GREAT time. It had been a while since I have been able to do fun girl time shopping. It was an amazing blessing to me! With my upcoming trip to Phoenix I was able to get some things I needed, and some fun thing of course that I just liked.