Albuquerque Hobbs: May 2025: School plays, lunch outings, dinner gatherings, and birthdays!

We had beautiful spring weather this year and the prettiest blooms from many of our plants in the courtyard, the front yard, and the backyard. I love springtime! We also bought a new hummingbird feeder to hang on our Japanese Maple tree (after I sadly dropped and broke the larger one that Jacquie had given me).

Mike and I have been visiting my mom at least once a week, usually on the weekends. Even when she's tired and not feeling well, she always looks forward to playing a variety of games with us. Between Jacquie and I, we took her back and forth to the dentist to get her new dentures adjusted, and she decided to forget about wearing them altogether. So she can only eat soft foods without her teeth!

Saturday, May 3rd: Rob and Lynda Miller over for dinner before their move to Utah on the 5th. We will miss these dear friends! Lynda was Sam's cub scout leader many years ago in the Ventura Ward, Albuquerque Stake.

Our delicious meal of steak, pan-fried yellow potatoes, sweet corn, and petite green beans with bacon--plus fresh fruit and dessert!

Seminary Teacher and Coordinator gifts I ordered to give during our Albuquerque North Stake Seminary Graduation on Sunday, May18th

Leather Journals for our Seminary Graduates this year

Our courtyard with colorful flowers this spring

At one of my mother's dental appointments for a denture adjustment

Lunch at Nagomi Japanese restaurant with my mother and Jessica

Thursday, May 8th: Brandon's school play, "Once Upon A Lillypad"

Brandon did an exceptional job on his many lines, and all the kids and their costumes were adorable

Dinner at Firehouse Subs after Brandon's play

And shaved ice at Bahama Bucks after dinner

Friday, May 9th: Cherry Hills ladies' b-day lunch at Red Robin

We get together about twice a year now to celebrate each birthday. This day, Betty Sloan and her daughter Krystalyn and grandson came; plus Stacy Devenport, Tami DeGolyer, Erin Schmutz, Sharee Gariety, and Maggie Naegle and her daughter Cassie. It was a big group!

Friday, May 9th: Also that evening, Priyanka Wigh and her husband Dean and daughter Sofia came over for dinner and games

Saturday, May 10th: We had planned to take my mom out for an early Mother's Day lunch, but she wanted to stay home. We ate together and played games with her.

Fun Mother's Day gifts from Jared and Jenny!

Haha, here I am in my LED face mask--scary!

Sunday, May 11th: On Mother's Day, we had a potluck meal and enjoyed having everyone together

Mother's Day gift from Jessica

The boys did an awesome job putting together a dance routine!

Hudson did a great job with the choreography

The girls needed more practice on their dance moves but were cute!

I especially loved seeing Jacob and Jess grooving out together!

Mike and Sebastian were hilarious on the sidelines

Jess brought a fruit tart for dessert (and funeral potatoes for the meal); Jacob and Shauna brought rolls and drinks; and I made the meat, a green salad, fresh fruit, and a dessert. Wish we'd taken some pictures of our dinner.

Time for some pickleball with the adults and older boys

Our ward missionaries, Sister Taylor and Sister Harris, came by to say hello

Tuesday, May 13th: Ladies Lunch and Canasta!

We had Patti Waseta, Erica Garcia, Cheryl Moss, Kara Eastham, Jessica Dunlap, Dot Contois, and Becca Anderson

The pretty UNM Cancer Treatment Clinic where both my mother and I have gone for tests and procedures

Thursday, May 15th: Breakfast at McDonald's before dropping Sofia off at school and taking Hannah for the day to celebrate her upcoming 10th birthday!

Hannah riding around the Cottonwood Mall

Shopping at her favorite stores

My sweet Hannah is growing up!

At Menchi's for frozen yogurt

A simple late lunch at our house

Friday, May 16th: Dinner at Cheddar's with most of the Dunlap's and Patti Waseta (while Mike and Beau are away at our stake's Father and Son Campout)

Food and games with my dear Mamasan every weekend

Monday, May 19th: Reunited with our dearest friends, Rob and Marie Sorensen. We played Canasta together like old times; played a game of bocci ball; then went out to lunch at Papa Felipe's.

Ready for a hearty meal together at Papa Felipe's

Tuesday, May 20th: Hot tub fun at Cecilia Chavez' 48th birthday pool party

Beau and Sofia loved the warm water

Hannah loved the cold pool!

Wednesday, May 21st: Elise's school play (about aliens discovering the United States). Elise had mostly singing parts and looked so cute.

I had lunch with Jacob's family at Pho Lin after the play

Wednesday, May 21st: Cecilia Chavez and son Owen at our house for dinner

Cecilia just got new braces and had a hard time smiling! I had forgotten that I had signed up to feed our sister missionaries too, but Cecilia loves having other people around--the more the merrier.

With Sister Farris and Sister Taylor

Thursday, May 22nd: Tyler's school play was all about solving crimes with Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Tyler had SO MANY lines to memorize! He did an amazing job and was so funny too.

There's Tyler, the tallest kid in his grade

Friday, May 23rd: We had Vernon duty tonight and took him to see the new Mission Impossible movie. He's been cycling a lot this year and talked to himself during the whole movie while eating popcorn and drinking his Coke. He usually loves going to the movies, but he hasn't been his usual happy self lately.

Saturday, May 24th: We had Cheryl and John Reich over for a Mexican lunch and games. It had been at least two years since we'd last seen them! They were our neighbors across the street when we lived in our very first home on Veronica (from 1990-1996). The Reich's and their two daughters (Andrea and Stephanie) moved in a couple years after we bought that home.

John used to come over every Saturday morning and ask if the girls could play. Jessica loved having girl friends to play with! And we loved having great new neighbors. Jess and Andrea have remained close friends since grade school, even though they attended different high schools and colleges.

Monday, May 26th: Out with Brandon for his 8th birthday date with Grandma

Looking for shopping places on the Coronado Center directory

Sharing a Cinnabon roll for breakfast

Searching for collectibles at one of the Asian shops

Looking for collectibles at Game Stop

At Round1 Bowling and Arcade in the Coronado Mall

Lunch at Tokyo Bangkok before our movie

My cutie pie enjoying his orange chicken meal. I shared my Pad Thai noodles with him.

At the theater to see "Lilo and Stitch"

Tuesday, May 27th: I hosted a ministering sisters lunch at our house and was thrilled that everyone could make it! Kylee Clark and I are assigned to Kris Steel, Melissa Gordon, and Erica Garcia.

Thursday, May 29th: We invited Angie and Brian Tolson and Dot and Mike Contois (two Catholic couples), and Patti Waseta over for dinner. We all had a wonderful time together.

Angie Tolson is a party animal and such a sweet friend

We had a baked potato bar, a green salad, fresh fruit, and brownies

Brian Tolson reminds me of Rob Sorensen--haha

Mike Contois dishing up

Dot Contois, one of my favorite girl friends

Patti and Angie. They liked each other from the first time I introduced them and became fast friends.

On a walk with Mike one morning I hit my big toe real hard on the asphalt and broke the bone below the first/top joint. I was lucky that the hardware from my toe surgery was still intact! This photo was taken after the dark bruises started to fade. I need to be more careful not to hurt my big toe again!