Veteran's Day 2011

I usually NEVER want the weekend to end… and after having a wonderful 3-day Veteran’s Weekend… I really don’t want Monday to come!!!

Our weekend began Thursday night as we welcomed the Suarez Clan to Arizona! Joe’s mom and dad came to town for the long weekend and we spent it honoring our Veterans… with a little fun mixed in.

Friday morning we woke up nice and early and walked over to the Anthem Park to take part in the dedication ceremony of Anthem Veteran’s Memorial. There was a great band, lots of inspirational speeches, and an F-16 fly over (Joe’s favorite part)!!

Over a year ago, Joe helped with the fundraising efforts for the Memorial and purchased a brick in his grandfather’s honor. Grandpa Cason served in the Army and he is now a small part of our community! Grandpa Cason passed away a short time before I met Joe, but I can see that he left a large imprint on Joe’s life. I never had the honor of meeting Grandpa, but from all the stories and memories shared, I know he was a wonderful man! I look forward to the day Joe and I will take our children to the Memorial and show them their Great Grandfather’s Brick.

Saturday was a fun-filled day!

We began the morning watching the Anthem Veteran’s Day Parade. Joe and I live 2 minutes from the parade route, so we all walked over to enjoy the festivities. The weather was perfect and the parade was very well done.

There are so many wonderful activates our community hosts.  I am impressed each time I attend one!!

After the parade, we got in the car for the long trek down to Picacho Peak, Arizona. Joe’s mom had found an Ostrich Farm there that she wanted to visit. I had no clue what to expect and was a little unsure about the whole idea… but it turned out to be a lot of fun!

The Ostrich Farm is family owned and operated and you could really tell. Everyone was so nice and knowledgeable. I learned more about Ostriches than I ever needed to know…. So very interesting!

Ostriches were not the only animals on the farm. We were allowed to feed Donkeys, Deer, Goats, and Lorikeets. It was no neat! The animals were so friendly and VERY excited to eat.

If you have children I would highly recommend this farm! It is very close to Tucson… so if you are headed down there for any reason… stop in along the way.

I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend! Does Monday have to come???