Control Burn And Halloween

Here is the latest. We have all been super sick, for the past week and more. I have been the sickest, and it has sucked really bad. Just NOW, finally, starting to feel better (minus my tickle cough and sore throat keeping me up all through the night). Kent and Jeff are better, but Samantha just now started her cold. So far, just a stuffy nose (lets hope it stays a simple cold). Jeff and I got screwed with this sickness, and the kids bounce back so much quicker. Ahh, to have a young immune system again...A couple of days ago, on the lot directly across from the front of our house; the local fire department, did a control burn. Let me tell you, that felt fantastic with my already stuffy nose and sore throat. It was so smokey and ashy, and today is the first day the smoke has stopped. Our home has smelled of a campfire for a few days now. Where are the marshmallows?! Crazy. It was a little unnerving having a control burn, just feet away form the front door; but all is well. Today is Halloween. The kids are dressed up and ready to do their trick or treating tonight! Kent is Darth Vader, and Samantha is the girl from Brave. I took one picture of them this morning, before they hopped on the bus, so Kent doesn't have his mask on. I will take more pictures of them this evening, in complete costume, and we will be trick or treating with our good friends, the Oftedahls. So we have a night ahead of us! Oh boy!

Did You Say, Dead Horse? An Alligator?! Dangerous Times ;o)

 Here I am, yet again, blogging about our weekend, on a Wednesday. What is wrong with me. Better late than never I suppose! So this past weekend, we took our trailer out, to Cottonwood. We camped at Dead Horse Ranch State Park. That was our second time staying there, and this time, we got the full hook-ups! We had a nice time. The weather was warm, and the hikes were plentiful. We had our campfires, with our marshmallows at hand. We stopped in at my favorite antique store, Larry's, and I picked me up a little something. Starbucks coffee we drank, food we ate; visited Jerome, and took the Douglas Mansion tour. We love that mansion. The last time we took that tour was at least three years ago, if not longer. We wandered through a local fall festival, and that is where the kids got their legs eaten, by an alligator. Yes. All I could do was take their pictures. What a nice Mommy I am ;o) All in all, it was what we enjoy to do...camping and exploring the areas. The final picture I took two days ago. Our property has photo opportunities all the time!

Family. Beach. Priceless.

  I am finally posting our pictures from this past weekend. This week has already been super crazy! So here we go...we left Friday morning, to head out to Mark and Paula's new home, out in Camarillo, CA. They have a beautiful, big new house, sitting on an acre. We had a great time visiting, sitting out by their huge fire pit, drinking wine and talking. They took us to Ventura Beach to spend some time out there. It was Samantha's first time seeing the ocean; and it had been six years since the last time I saw the ocean! You could say, we loved it! It was the clearest, blue water day. After the day at the beach; they took us to Underwood Family Farms. This place was huge and very crowded, but awesome! We got us some Indian corn, and little pumpkins for the kids (since they already have their pumpkins from the Freeman Farm). It was just great to get to have quality time with Mark and Paula. I didn't take any pictures of the inside of their home, because they are still unpacking and such; but take my word...it is a great home for them! On Sunday, we headed up the mountains to be with Dad and Mom Stafford. We stayed one night with them. It was really nice seeing them too, even though it was super short. I gave them the sign I had painted, for their church. Dad secured on the wall, in the church's basement, where the congregation go for meals and social gatherings. I think it looks pretty great! So all in all, we had a great, busy weekend, and I am still trying to recover from it. Good times.

A Hike Of A Day!

 Jeff decided to take Kent, on a hike, up to the inner basin, of the San Fransisco Peaks. The same trail Jeff and I took this past Monday, but he went all the way up, with Mr. Kent. It was a good father and son day. Jeff said that aspen grove, which I fell so much in love with, that had the golden yellow leaves, was bare. We hit that at the perfect time! Of course, Jeff and Kent still encountered lots of beauty, being so similar looking to the San Juan mountains up there, in the inner basin. What's not to love? Jeff took a picture of the old snow survey shelter, elevation 9,500 ft. There were also natural flowing springs in that area, that supply Flagstaff with most of their water. The boys had a blast, while Samantha and I stayed home and chilled. This weather, by the way, is just fantastic! Last night's low was 30 degrees, and today's high 70 degrees. Nice! Fall=Love=Happiness.