A weekend with Dad and Mom Stafford

We arrived in Crestline Thursday night (didn't get to leave until after my classes). Friday we hung out on the mountain. The boys did their thing with trains and took a mountain drive (due to the fog, rain, tree rain). Us girls shopped around "top-town." There are nice stores these days. Also, thanks to Mom, I have a gift shop to sell my original Cd's in. It is "My Favorite Things." The owner just moved into a beautiful big building and she is also doing card making and other creative things. The owner has had her shop FOREVER; so it is nice to see her be successful. Anyway, the owner wants to sell my music! She was super excited, so I have to get on with making my CD slip cases and start burning my music on the discs. Also, my longtime friend, Sarah, would also like to sell my Cd's in her gift shop up in Running Springs! So I will be a busy bumble bee:)

Saturday we all went down to Perris, CA. to the Orange Empire Railway museum. That was pretty awesome. We got to take a short train ride with the steam engine! The passenger cars and steam engine was actually used in the Clint Eastwood movie, "The Changeling." If you have seen the movie, you would recognize the engine and cars. I guess it took the crew 3 days to shoot the 10 minute clip. Pretty cool. Jeff, Dad, and Kent disappeared in trainworld bliss. The kids had a blast. They loved everything about the trains and trolley car (yes, we got to ride a 1946 Los Angeles trolley car).

It was a nice relaxing weekend, much needed : )

It's a squirrerly situation!

Take note...this squirrel was not harmed, as it was rescued by Jeff.

The short story...This is one of two squirrels that have decided to cause destruction and madness to our pine trees and trash pile (that will be sent to a dumpster). Well, I guess the one squirrel got into the trash, and decided that Yoplait yogurt would be fulfilling to his little belly. In the process of course, his head gets stuck. Jeff said this little guy was thrashing about jumping around trying to get the yogurt container off of his little head. Jeff thought for sure the squirrel could have managed to get out; but a 1/2 hr. later, the Yoplait yogurt cup was still on it's head. Jeff approached the squirrel with caution and it leaped 8 ft. into the air and was breathing heavily, but also looked weak and tired. Now, even though this squirrel has caused some problems, it didn't deserve death, and that would have been a horrible death of suffocation and starvation. We love animals here, so Jeff grabbed his gloves and yanked off the Yoplait cup and that squirrel flew up the tree with out a second thought! So that is why there is no "after "picture of the rescued squirrel.

The pictures are hilarious! We couldn't stop laughing. That squirrel has a bond, a connection with Jeff now. They are one:)

YES! Pictures of our finished home!

So okay, here they are...the pictures of our house after ALL of the work that was poured into it. All the mess, all the waiting for completion, it is here. Now, a side note, we still have to hang a few pictures up, like say, in our room, and over time we plan on upgrading the lighting; little stuff here and there. All in due time, of course. Also, yes, I am totally aware that most of the pictures are kind of blurry. I am pretty sure I had the camera set to a wrong setting; but I am too lazy to retake all of them. What can I say? So, welcome to our home:)
I assembled the kids' bunk bed by myself. Jeff did help me raise the top bed to the top and attach the ladder to the bed. That thing took me ALL day to build; but it is super nice. Real pine and the kids love it!

Our camping trip to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument!

This is a photo taken of a GUILTY THIEF! Jake stole a half full bag of beef jerky and a twinkie. We were sooooo irritated with him! Just look at his guilt. He knew it.

We decided to "spur" of the moment make a trip to the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on Saturday. We stayed for two nights and came back home this late afternoon. It was great camping with our trailer. We so wanted to get out of dodge, a.k.a. the SNOW! What a beautiful time it was. We took scenic drives, walked on some trails, had a BBQ, etc. The kids always enjoy camping. It is good memories to establish in their little brains:) We were very close to the Mexican border...like, we had a view of Mexico and their lights at night. You talk about A LOT OF BORDER PATROLS! Loved seeing them...that means they are keeping us citizens of this country safe. The pictures of the open pit mine was in Ajo, AZ. That was a copper mine, and I guess there are plans to reopen it! Other pictures are around our campsite and on our walks. Also the buildings are from the town Ajo. So I won't chat anymore...the pictures are pretty to look at:)