A Visit to Tiffany's Farm

This past weekend I went to visit my friend Tiffany, her husband Todd, her daughter Emma and her Grandma Jean at there home slash farm in New Mexico. We had a lot of fun times and some shady times. Unfortunately only those who were involved are privy to this information since Tiffany threatened to remove my fingers if I ever speak about it again. The minute I retrieved my bag from the airport I was hoping that this was not how the weekend would go. As we were waiting at the baggage claim watching each and every bag go by, we see a red bag all wrapped in duct tape and laughed but then when it came around again I recognized it as my bag. Oh no, all I am hoping for at that moment is nothing is missing. TSA left me a nice little notice letting me know that my bag was searched and if it was locked they would break the locks but my bag did not. Let me just say TSA is lucky that I have calmed down in my old age because it would not have been pretty





On the way home we stopped at a corn maze, petting zoo, and pumpking patch in Albuquerque. Tiffany, Emma and I went through the corn maze shaped like hot air balloons. We met Grandma Jean at the end by the petting zoo. Of course we got lost even though we were choosing the right.





Our other activites for the weekend included:

• Making Christmas cards


• Going to a craft show


• A visit to Espanola where the shady experience happened


• Dinner at Gabriels with really hot green chile


• Watching Season 2 of My Name is Earl


• Watching Baby Mama


• Drinking goats milk which really was not all that bad


• One of the rabbits gave birth to bunnies


• Getting my toe pecked at by a cornish chicken


• A visit to the feed store
  
• Eating, eating and more eating
  
  

What a great weekend. Thanks Tiffany, Todd, Emma and Grandma Jean for the all the fun and laughs we had.

Blaze of Glory

This is the sweetest fire Jake has ever had.

Happy 4th Birthday Sofia and Mirabel

Oh my I can not believe how fast these two beautiful girls have grown up. I remember the day they were born, waiting for that phone call from Alan. To see Sofia and Mirabel today you would never think that they each weighed just over 3 pounds when they were born.

Sofia

Mirabel

Each has had their own struggles but seem to be such happy little girls. So for their special day I will give 8 reasons why I love these girls.

1. Their beautiful voices. They love to sing.

2. Their blue eyes behind their cute glasses.

3. Their imagination, which is very extravagant. My favorite story was they were pregnant and traveling to Africa but not by plane because they did not like to fly.

4. Their hugs and kisses. When they were visiting over the summer every night before bed they would find me and anyone at home to say goodnight to.

5. Their laughs which are very contagious and make me smile.

6. The love they have for each other. Sometimes Sofia likes to be a bully but she has a heart of gold for her sister as does Mirabel and each would do anything for the other.

7. The knowledge they have gained so far. Yes I know they are only 4 but they are very smart. Living back in Washington DC, Meredith has taught the girls about all of the historical places. They are great tour guides during our visits.

8. Their fascination with pink and anything girly. They are not just a princess but a queen.

Today we celebrate the day Heavenly Father sent Sofia and Mirabel to our family and are continual grateful for their sweet spirits and the joy they fill us with.

Long Weekend in Moab

This past weekend some of the family met in Moab for some outdoors recreation. We all had a really great time together and all wished we could have stayed longer. Here is a day by day of our trip.

DAY 1
Dad, Mom, Annmarie and I left Friday morning for the 6 hour ride to Moab. Jake and Steve had gone down the night before. Riding through the mountains we were able to see the fall colors and they were amazing especially in Vail.



We made it to our condo around 2 in the afternoon. We rented a 3 bedroom condo from Vacation Rentals by Owner(vrbo.com). If you have not checked this place out it is pretty cool, you can find places to rent all over the country. The place was amazing and so comfortable for a home away from home kind of place.






Poor Annmarie had a killer headache and spent the night in bed nursing it. Aaron, Jen, Morgan and Braylen arrived around 5. We had dinner together and then went over to the hot tub and had a relaxing evening.

DAY 2
We woke up to a cold, cloudy, and rainy day but that did not stop us. We all loaded up into the cars and took off. We went into Canyonlands National Park and started up to the White Rim Trail.







Our first stop was Musselman Arch which speaks for itself. Its an arch suspended about 100 feet or more in the air and looks like a bridge that you can walk across if you have the guts for it.




After that we went up the Shafer Trail and found our way to the visitor center where we ate the lunch we packed along with us. All of the roads up to the visitor center were bumpy and bouncy plus it was rainy so it was muddy and the cars got caked with mud.
After lunch the kids were done so Aaron and Jen went back to the condo to let the kids run, they did not get to do much of this because of the weather. The rest of us went on and looked at a couple of the overlooks. We saw the top of the White Rim and where the Colorado and Green River come together.




It was a fun day even with the weather. We came home and Jen had dinner ready for us. Then it was off to the hot tub again to relax.

DAY 3
It was a much warmer day with the sun out and a lot less wind. We went into Arches National Park. What a beautiful place this is with all the red rock everywhere. Our first stop was to see Balanced Rock you probably can guess what it would look like but it was still pretty cool.





Then we went on to Delicate Arch. This is the arch that most people know of. We all decided to hike up to it except dad which while hiking I thought he was pretty smart. But even after the 1.5 mile hike up coming around the bend to see the arch was pretty spectacular.





We just sat and admired it. Some of us hiked over to the arch and stood underneath, it was huge. I was glad I did it because it could fall some day. If you look closely at the second picture you can see Jake sitting under the arch. The last two pictures are from the overlook area that dad was at while we were hiking.




After the long hike, we all went to Pizza Hut to celebrate our accomplishment. Braylen almost out ate everyone except Steve with a total of 4 pieces. I just think this is amazing since he is not 2 yet, but it is his favorite food. After dinner Aaron, Jen, and the kids left to go back home. We walked around downtown Moab and checked out all the souvenir shops. Then back to the condo to relax again in the hot tub. I definitely need to get me one of these.

DAY 4
Our last day in Moab, which came all to fast for us. This is a place you could spend a week and not see everything there. We all decided that we need to come back again soon. Dad, Steve, and Jake took one last 4 wheelin' trip up to Fins and Things while the girls stayed back and packed up the condo. When they came home we went to town and had lunch at the Moab Diner and then to the silk screen T shirt shop that we found the night before. Jake and I each picked out a sweet shirt to remember this trip, I know you are all jealous but just go to Moab and get one for yourself. Dad even found him a great new hat or maybe its the new thing in hair pieces.



What a great time we had together, we were sorry that the whole family could not come but maybe next time.