Throw Back Thursday

For my #TBT post ( I will have many throw back posts due to having to start a new blog due to the issues with the old blog I started back in 2006) Anyway, today I picked a TBT of my hubby and his bike he got last year. He was like a kid in a candy store getting this beauty. Its a 2014 Harley Davidson XL 1200 Custom. A lot of people say the Sportster is a bit too top heavy especially for newer riders. He's known how to ride for almost 25 years but honestly I didn't want him on anything less that 4 wheels for a long time. We took the riders class together. We do look for things to do as a couple. I knew he was going to want to buy a bike after taking the class. I asked that he not get a bike for awhile. Well two months passed from the classes and he had his truck paid off so really there was no longer a reason to make him wait. We went to the local HD where we took the classes and he bought himself the bike he wanted. He's had her for a year and has put some miles on her. He loves weekend rides and rides to work even in the heat of the Arizona summer. The man is dedicated to the bike and the life that comes with being a biker. The thing that a lot don't get is this machine on two wheels has given him a new lease on life. I'm so happy to see the joy it has brought to him. I ended up getting a bike as well. It was many months later (March 2015). We do ride together however the heat makes me pretty sick so he's been riding a lot solo these past couple of months. I'm ready for the summer to end so I can get back to the weekend rides with the love of my life. 

In the spirit of riding and of course my celeb crush Charlie Hunnam I have to share a quote from his character Jax Teller on Sons of Anarchy (My youngest grandson was named Jaxon after this fictional character) 


Something happens at around 92 miles an hour - thunder-headers drown out all sound, engine vibrations travels at a heart's rate, field of vision funnels into the immediate and suddenly you're not on the road, you're in it. A part of it. Traffic, scenery, cops - just cardboard cutouts blowing over as you past. Sometimes I forget the rush of that. That's why I love these long runs. All your problems, all the noise, gone. Nothing else to worry about except what's right in front of you. Maybe that's the lesson for me today, to hold on to these simple moments. Appreciate them a little more - there's not many of them left. I don't ever want that for you. Finding things that make you happy shouldn't be so hard. I know you'll face pain, suffering, hard choices, but you can't let the weight of it choke the joy out of your life. No matter what, you have to find the things that love you. Run to them. There's an old saying, 'That what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger' I don't believe that. I think the things that try to kill you make you angry and sad. Strength comes from the good things - your family, your friends, the satisfaction of hard work. Those are the things that'll keep you whole. Those are the things to hold on to when you're broken.

Ok now that I posted that lets get back to my hubby and I on this post :) I have a few more pictures to share. Usually I am really selective on what pictures are shared of me but riding I have learned its better to have on a helmet and end up with flat helmet hair and if my makeup comes off from sweating its really not a big deal.

Isn't he smokin' hot! That's not really a question its a statement lol! He's all mine! :)

 So this is my baby "Stella" She's the same bike just different goodies on her than the Hub's bike. I rode her home from Chandler HD on the freeway with hubs following behind. I fought with the helmet (It was his) I left mine at home. Certain things I wanted to conquer. Freeway on the bike was just one of them. It was the first thing I did. I drove through a dust storm. I am grateful that it wasn't during our monsoon season. That would not have been good for as new as I was. Now, I am comfortable with taking Stella out and riding on my own but its always more fun with the hubs!

 This was from the first time we went on a ride together. It wasn't a long ride. We only did about 50 miles because he wanted to see what I was able to do. He said he was proud of me. We went to lunch at San Tan Flat and just enjoyed our day. The next time we rode was much longer. It was nice to spend that quality time together doing something we both enjoy doing. Wind therapy has become our saving grace in dealing with daily stress life throw's at us.

 Total helmet head and 100% worth it! I'll admit at first it was hard for me to get used to having it.

 Our daughter Alysha snapped this one of me on the bike. It was my first night ride and I loved it! I got the hubs to ride at night with me and he enjoyed it as well. Its so much cooler on summer nights.

I'd like to say this is my bike but honestly I am not sure. Hubs has saddle bags on his. After a double take after loading this its mine. He has different mirrors too. Sad huh? I couldn't tell if it was his or mine. I guess getting the same bike (because I rode his and was used to the Sportster) might have been a bad idea or at least I need to get my custom paint he has promised me at some point! 

So, I had to share this.... Its a few months old and was from my Vegas trip with the girls but it just shows that with a little makeup, I do clean up pretty good!

If anyone of you ever wanted to ride, do it! Life is so short. Take chances and enjoy life, you only get one chance at it. Make it what you want it to be. We hope that at least some of our children ride. Some are totally interested in it. When the time comes for the hubs to get a new bigger bike, he won't be selling his baby. That sweet ride is a graduation gift for our youngest (so far) grandson Jaxon James! I hope he loves it as much as his papa loves that bike and will cherish it just because of who gives it to him. I hope he learns the respect bikers have for each other that people in cages (cars) don't seem to have. I hope he finds a love of the wind and feels the freedom in his soul when he is on two wheels.
~ God Speed & Ride Safe!

Cereal and Stocking Up!

A good friend of mine sent me a message that Food City had Malt O Meal brand cereal on sale 5 for $5. The way my children go through it I had to get in on that deal! I went the last day of the sale and walked out with 45 boxes of different cereals. You must be thinking wow that's going to last a year, right? I wish! Truth is, we will be lucky if this lasts 45 days! My children go through at least a box in one day. Back when all 14 were still at home I understood it but now with only 5 minors at home that eat cereal (we still have 2 adult children at home until they start their new adventures next month - I'll blog about them as it gets closer). Anyway, I was telling the hubby that I wish I had bought more cereal. Then it happened! The mail came, the ads for the weekly grocery sales were in there and low and behold.... Albertsons has the same stuff 10 for $10 this week and you can buy one or 100. Imagine my excitement! We seriously need a cow now so we can have milk for all the cereal. I wonder how the HOA would feel if I tried that (yes, I'm totally joking here)!!! So, if you live locally to where I am it's time to stock up. If you don't live locally, check your stores because they just might have the same sell and you too can buy enough to make people think the end of the world is coming and you too plan to live on cereal! LOL

Grandchildren...

I do believe this should say The moms who survive raising their children get promoted to Grandmas! In my case the grandkids call me Nanna. I have been so blessed with 8 grandchildren so far. 4 boys and 4 girls! Rylee Nichole, Dylan Thomas, Layton Scott, Mackenzi Christiana, Kolston Bret, Brylin Grace, Kenadee Jayne Marie and Jaxon James. Only 4 of our children have become parents so far and with so many children we figure we will end up with at least 50 grandchildren and what a blessing that would be!

This is our sweet Jaxon. He will be one this month! Goodness the time has gone by so quickly. He really is his dads doppelgänger. His name was supposed to be Jeremiah but I asked his parents to name him Jaxon after my favorite TV character on SOA. They did! His middle name is James because my daughters call Mackenzi James so it was kind of a tribute to them and her.

This beauty is Miss Kenadee! She turned a year old in May. I remember the day she was born! It snowed in Colorado where she was born. I was able to watch her birth while I was stuck in Arizona through FaceTime on the iPhone!

This little doll is Mackenzi! The personality on this one is like talking to an adult in a child's body. She was an only child for almost 5 years and it shows. She is a good big sister to baby Jaxon.

Here is a picture that's a year old now but its Kolston, Kenzi, Dylan, Brylin and Layton. It was the first time they have all been able to hang out together! It was exciting. Kenzi and Layton walked around holding hands like best friends. It was so adorable! Rylee isn't in any of our pictures because her mom is not in the area and wont stay in touch or share photos. I have heard she looks just like her daddy though. Near or far, I love every one of these beautiful children. I wish I could see them more often. I do see Mackenzi and Jax several times a week normally because I watch them while our son and daughter in law work. This Saturday, Ashlee and Kenadee will be flying in from Colorado for a week. I can't wait to spend time with Kenadee and get to really know her as a person and not just the granddaughter from pictures and FaceTime or Skype.

Another Day Another Blog...

After spending hours attempting to fix the issue with my other blog I gave up. Yes, "I" the most stubborn person who can't let things go, gave up! I felt so frustrated I could have tossed the laptop in the trash or out the second story window! Who knows? Maybe it was time for a new blog anyway! Does it matter that the other blog was started in May 2006? That's a long time... I wish I could figure it all out but do I need to waste time one that? NO! I can go back and print my memories if I need to do that and for other things I can just let them go and move on! Yes! Yes that is what I will do. I will move on with a new chapter in life and leave behind the memories of RTC and Psych ward for Bryce and how much Kaitlyn has a love-hate with our family and the blog posts of my coma and seeing the pictures of our oldest and his ex-wife. Today, we start a new with memories both good and not so good and a new blog (that I will do my best to post on more often that I had been with the last one) Just like MTV killed the radio star, Facebook killed the daily blogger. So that's it! Just like that we are starting a do over and Its all about my amazing, crazy, beautiful, funny, obnoxious at times, perfectly imperfect family that I love dearly! Stay tuned for the McDonald Family Adventures! We have a lot of changes coming.