Monday, February 8, 2010

The Painted Desert and My Baby

Last February I was feeling the Winter Blahs and made my husband promise that for our coming 10th wedding anniversary in December he'd take me far away to somewhere warm where I could stare at something pretty and drink coffee. Later that month we booked our flight to Sedona AZ.
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So fast forward to December 27th when we leave and land to this beautiful sight (among so many others). We landed in Phoenix and rented a car so that we could drive to Sedona through the Painted Dessert.


It's about a three hour drive so on the way we stopped at a gas station (the only place we'd seen in an hour) for some food. In the gas station they had "Cafe Charo". I was skeptical hoping it wasn't taco-bell-ish Mexican food. But MANNN I was wrong! The picture below is nachos! Nachos! (The chips are under there I promise). So freakin good... I was in heaven. If you know anything about me it's that I will eat food like this until I am sick, I love it so much.








The sun was setting as we came into Sedona - Breath taking.


We settled in for the night and the next morning this was the view from our continental breakfast. Big change from Candor!

I thought it was interesting to see turquoise "golden arches".... Later googled it and this is the only place that has them.




The first day we headed off for some horseback riding. It was about 45 degrees which was colder than i had wished but it was -0 at home so no complaints.




I know, I know, us kissing. We do it a lot.

We had a charming cowboy as our guide.

Mistletoe. I had no idea before our cowboy told us that it's a parasite. I guess it takes hold of trees and slowly kills them. We came across some white sage (the bush here). He said the Indians used to burn it and said it warded off bad spirits. What's cool is that when it burns it kills air-borne-germs so in a way they were right. He also pointed out this plant that smells fresh and told us it's the one that they make all of the rain scented candles, etc with.




Cold and hungry we drove around town looking for something to catch our eye where we could grab a bit to eat. I spotted "The Barking Frog" and how can you not go in to a place with a name like that?!
The food was great. Honestly the best part about being on vacation was the fantastic food we ate all day long.


Took the picture of the frog because I knew Elise would think it was super silly.

Next, shopping.... some cool finds.... Elise has always had a fascination with rocks too so this pic was for her as well:

The view from the front door of our room:
The view from our patio:The idea that started it all. So incredible. Pictures do it NO justice. Makes you feel God's bigness and your smallness.





Kissing again but after this one a bickering fest which two on-looking ladies thought was great. Yep, we're either making out or fighting... we're well aware. But it works for us.









My souvenir.

Lunch while shopping...


The town was full of art - a great place for me!





The above piece reminds me of my cousin Sara the dancer.





On the way home we had a long lay over. To entertain ourselves we bought a children's card game called "Go Nuts". Well, this game required you to yell out "Go Nuts" at certain times, bark like a dog at others, etc. It was REALLY fun but weirdly enough, the area we were sitting in cleared out quickly... :0) Rob and I have never been afriad to be the freaks in the room... in fact we sort of thrive on it.
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Sedona, you were all I had dreamed of and more. Happy 10th baby. I love you more now than I did then because we have refined each other over time... now kiss me.

Christmas

This year we hosted my parents, siblings and their families for Christmas on December 23rd. I, working in retail, worked all day leading up to it and and was completely wiped out so Rob took on all preparation and did an amazing job! When i got home the house was clean and smelling great from the 4 cheese pasta and pork loin he had made for everyone.







My 2 year old niece DaisieRob, my brother Mike, and his girlfriend Kim hiding in the kitchen. My Grandpa and Daisie (just one of his 26 great grand children).













Dad and my sister Jess chillin'








Malachi was happy because Abby let him help her open all of her gifts.









Emma and Uncle Michael




Elise got a musketeer barbie and was very pleased.







Mr. Abell and I

And what would be Christmas without ending the night with the Grinch.

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CHRISTMAS DAY:
Malachi shopped for Daddy and bought him the most expensive hammer in the store (much to Mommy's dismay! So much for the $10 I had planned for him to spend. But oh well, a hammer will be used for years to come so whatever.)

Rob got me this awesome box full of "Dean's Beans" coffee - my favorite coffee in the world. Organic and fairly traded. But even better than the coffee was the note he put inside about how we are both always busy and never get to spend time with each other any more but every time I brew some of this coffee he promised to stop and sit down and have a cup with me.
Of course there were many small gifts but this was the star of the day. Mal's guitar. He's been asking for one for about 6 months because he sees Rob and I play all the time and wants to learn. I was going to get him a $40 acoustic one online at musiciansfriend.com and one day Daddy came home with this... Hmmm. He wouldn't fess up to the price tag (which is good cuz I'd probably faint) but you only live once I guess and Mal LOOOVESSS it!
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Ya know, working retail this year was really hard because I barely got to enjoy Christmas at all. I was pulling 60 hour weeks and dealing with angry, mean, and impatient customers... but I did make myself do my holiday traditions like watch White Christmas while Rob did his Christmas Eve services, among other things. Maybe next year I will learn some tricks on how to still have a special holiday while working retail.