Goodbye 2010

What a great year! We had so much fun this last year, I only hope 2011 can be just as good if not better!!

January 2010

In January we were in Vancouver, WA. I think it was one of my most favorite places we've been so far. Pa and Grandma came it visit. While they were here we saw Cannon Beach, OR. The Tillimook Cheese Factory, the Portland Zoo and Multnomah falls. As a family of 3 we also went to Mt. St. Helens and Silver Falls St. Park.

February 2010

In February someone turned 4!! We enjoyed our last couple of weeks in Vancouver and packed up and headed back to Ut. Once we got to Ut we had a fun bowling party for Keegans birthday and settled into life at "home"

March 2010

In March Keegan started swimming lessons. Despite the face he LOVED them, he was just mad I wouldn't let him get in the pool yet. He spent his days playing with his new best friend Evan and playing with Pa as much as possible.

April 2010

In April Josh and I went to Mexico with our friend Tyler. What an amazing trip!!! We had so much fun! While in Mexico Keegan got to spend quality time with Grandma Sue and The Viehwegs

May 2010

In May once it warmed up outside Keegan spent as much time as possible outside. He loves to ride the razor. Keegan loved the time in Ut since he was able to play with his favorite people. He loves his Grandma Sue, The Viehwegs and anytime possible Mom and Keegan snuck over to the Willis' house I just love being 2 houses away from both of our BFF's

June 2010

In June we snuck away to Spruces and had a campout. Our friends The Floyds joined us for dinner and smores. We were lucky enough to see some wildlife. Also in June we spent A LOT of time over at the Viehwegs. They were remodeling the kitchen and we got to help paint, tile and install wood floors.

July 2010

In July we FINALLY got our next assignment. We ended up in Roswell, NM. We saw A LOT of aliens. The little town was.....little. It was just a short 1 month assignment. We were lucky enough to be placed in a cute little house with a backyard so there was plenty of time to play and run through the sprinklers. We also made a trip to Carlsbad Caverns to see the amazing cave system. One of the other fun places to visit was Bottomless Lakes SP. It was a cute little lake with a fun swimming area and beach.

August 2010
In August we left Roswell behind, spent almost 20 hours in the car and headed up to one of our favorite places ever! We joined the family in Island Park, ID. We spent a great week with Grandma and Grandpa "Cow Ball" as well as the rest of the Viehweg's. After our week in fishing heaven we packed the car up and headed right back to NM to start a new assignment in Albuquerque. We got to ABQ so Josh could go back to work at The Heart Hospital. It's where he worked when we were here last year and of course, they loved him!

September 2010

We spent September filling our freezer with yummy green chiles and reminding ourselves why we loved Albuquerque. We visited the new Hard Rock Hotel, the Albuquerque Aquarium, the Rio Grande Zoo and of course all of our favorite places to eat. We also headed back up the tram to visit the top of Sandia Peak.

October 2010

In October we had a GREAT time at the Balloon Fiesta. Our favorite visitors came to experience the fiesta for themselves. It was a week of early mornings but it was all worth it. We had a lot of fun while they were here! After Pa and Grandma left we had another visitor, Tyler came for the weekend just to relax and hang out. October also ment Halloween, this year Keegan had wanted to be Batman. Everytime you asked him what costume he wanted it was always the same response.....Batman. When it finally came down to picking out his costume he chose a Ninja costume. Keegan and I had a great time trick-or-treating, he made a killing. As usual we carved multiple amazing pumpkins, it's our thing, what can I say.

November 2010

November was a lot of fun. We went to the Natural History Museum and finally got the picture I had been kicking myself for not getting last year. We spent some fun days at the Aquarium, Zoo and Botanical Gardens. Josh had a few days off so we packed up the car and headed over to Phoenix to see Tyler. He is always a lot of fun! We spent time hanging out, eating cupcakes from Sprinkles.....so yummy! We also went to the Phoenix Zoo! It was really nice, the enclosures are so big and nice. The animals there are really lucky. We had a great Thanksgiving with just the 3 of us. I made all of our favorite dishes with a great turkey to make the best turkey sandwiches ever!

December 2010

Wow! December flew by, we put up our cute little tree and added all our ornaments that we've collected from our travels. We spent a week up in Utah visiting family and friends. We had a great time looking at lights and getting to see everyone. Keegan was lucky enough to get an early Christmas at both Grandma Sue's and The Viehweg's as everyone wanted to get to see him open his gifts. We had a great time but had to retun to ABQ. On our way home we spent the night in Moab and then the next morning took the tour through the cool house at Hole "N The Rock. Once back in ABQ we got SNOW!! Not something that happens often but we were excited to see it. We had a wonderful Christmas just the 3 of us. Keegan gets more fun every year. He decided to leave treats for Santa and not cookies he also left oats for his reindeer. Keegan has been such a good boy, he is so smart and such a joy!

Christmas Day

We spent out Christmas here in Albuquerque. It was fun, quiet and frankly P.E.R.F.E.C.T.

While we miss our loved ones far away it's also been nice to start our own traditions and do things the way we want.

Unfortunately a couple of us were under the weather on Christmas so there are no pictures..... I know, totally unlike me. Keegan got everything he asked for and more! It was so much fun watching him get excited about all the things Santa left as well as all the things that were wrapped under the tree. He has played with it all non-stop.

As for dinner, since it's just the 3 of us and there is no need to put on a huge deal with all the things that are traditional, we had this....

(this is the only pic taken from that day, and Josh took it)

It was a Seafood Extravaganza!!!

This is one tradition that I would love to continue next year!!

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas

We just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

We wish we could be home with everyone! We miss you and hope you have a wonderful day!

Snow in ABQ

So, we've been told it doesn't happen often, and it melts quickly but it was pretty while it lasted. Last week we rushed out of Salt Lake to get ahead of a storm only to be greated by rain as soon as we crossed the New Mexico border. It rained all of the next day (I almost forgot we weren't in Vancouver) and turned into this by the evening.

The tree right outside our patio

The apartment across the way.

in total I think we got 3 inches MAX and yet the schools were closed and some state offices didn't have to go in at the normal hour. We are definitely not in Utah.

Hole N'' The Rock

After our fun visit home we left a day early to miss a snow storm. Nothing says fun like Spanish Fork Canyon covered in snow....in the dark. So we ended up leaving and missing the storm. Since we weren't in a hurry we spent the night in Moab. We've driven through 9 times in the last year and never stopped for longer than it takes to eat breakfast.

On the south end of town there is this. It used to be the home of some crazy guy and his wife. He spent 15 years blasting a 5000 sq ft home out of the rock. Part of it is now a gift shop but the rest is still just the way it was when the couple lived there.

He carved this on the outside of the "house"

It's now just a place for tourists to stop and has a "general store" and a bunch of other "Art" around the property

Mater was on display

This golfer statue is made of golf club parts

Here is another example of the metal work here. This jeep is covered with liscense plates. And if you notice the wheels are all made of random metal things

See the "tire"

A front view. Not sure what the huge bone is doing on top.

For "Pa"

"Pa" Wanted more pictures so here they are.

Keegan and I spent the afternoon playing in the leaves. Not sure what that smile is but oh well.

Another leaf picture. He waits till I pile up all the leaves and then runs as fast as he can all the from the other end of the lawn area.

We went to the aquarium last week, here he is on the large starfish that is new.

So there you have it, new pictures for "Pa" I'll post more for you as soon as I take some.

Christmas in Old Town

Last night they lit the Old Town Christmas Tree. While we weren't there last night, we headed down tonight for dinner and to walk around. We went to a new Mexican restaraunt that one of the waitresses also works with Josh at the hospital. The food was good, and it was really festive in there. So festive in-fact, Santa and Mrs. Claus were at the very next table. You should have seen the look on Keegans face, he had a smile from ear to ear.

Old Town was pretty empty tonight, the city was having their big Christmas Light Parade just a couple of blocks over. We did walk over to see what was going on, but we must have been at the end of the route. It was taking forever and Keegan got tired of waiting so we left, it was so crowded we wouldn't have been able to see much.

Random Thoughts about Books vs. Movies

So for all you you book reading people (and I'm talking as if anyone still reads this old blog of mine) You know that complete annoyance you feel when you go see a movie that was adapted from one of your favorite books? The annoyance that no matter how hard you try, you just can't get over the fact that the book was so much better. The annoyance that, for instance, in the 6th HP movie they add whole scenes in that NEVER happen, like the fire at the Weasleys house!! Scenes that wastes a good 5 minutes, but they leave out parts (that were actually in the book) that you feel were important to the story line!!!

Well, since I am a bit of a reader (ha ha ha) I feel this annoyance a lot. It's one of the reasons that I've not read Eat Pray Love, because I feel like I should see the movie first just so I'm not let down when I leave the theater. Josh however, has never felt this. He doesn't understand my ranting after having watched all the Harry Potter movies. He sits and pretends to listen but he just doesn't get it. Well, that is until today!!

Josh isn't a reader, he can read, he just doesn't like to. Well, today he went and saw 127 hours. The movie that was based on the true story of Aaron Ralston, the hiker that was trapped with his had pinned between a rock and the wall of a slot canyon. It was the 2nd book I ever saw Josh read. He actually really liked reading it. Today, FINALLY he understood my annoyance!

When he came out of the theater (Keegs and I saw Tangled, very cute BTW) I asked him how it was and he just kind of shrugged. He said it was alright. When I asked him if we will own it, (our way of rating movies) he said yes but only because we have the book too. Once we were at lunch and were talking about it, he was telling me that he was annoyed that they added parts in that never happened. (Uh, hello, I've been saying this for years!!) He also wondered, and was annoyed, by the fact that they left out some of his favorite parts of the book. (Again, a common annoyance for me)

So as I sit here bored tonight, I'm a little happy on the inside that HE FINALLY GETS IT!!

Happy Thanksgiving

We're spending a nice quiet day at home. We hope you are all having a wonderful day!!

Scottsdale and Phoenix

On Sunday night Josh asked if we should head over to Scottsdale to visit Tyler. Of course I said yes, so I called Tyler and let him know that Josh has Tues- Thurs off and asked if we can come visit, he says yes, so it's a plan. Monday morning I jump out of bed because I realize Josh is late for work, turns out that he got called off (somehow I didn't hear the phone). So at 8:00 am we call Tyler and let him know we are leaving right then instead of the next day. So we threw some clothes in a bag and we hit the road.

The drive is actually really nice. Once we got into AZ, we took a different route than last time, it was so pretty!!! Who knew AZ was pretty, it was all trees and mountains until about 40 miles outside of Scottsdale.

We got in Monday afternoon and already knew where we were going for dinner. Tyler got off work and we headed straight over to Cafe Rio. Mmmm

The next day while we were just relaxing at Tylers house he and I decided to go get a pedicure. It was so nice!! Right by the pedicure place was

this....

Keegan has his own eating establishment.

Wednesday we headed over to the Phoenix Zoo. It was really nice with lots of shade!! All of the animal enclosures are really big , and they have a fun petting zoo section were Keegan had to pet every single one of the goats in there.

The first thing we did was go to this little animal show, it was pretty cheesy but Keegan had fun. Here he is with a strange smile.


Muscle Man on a huge tree stump

Keegs in a kangaroo pouch

Riding a lion

Keegan on the elephant statues, he looks pretty relaxed

This was in a cute little village area, the animals were off display but I thought it was a cute place for a photo and he is almost smiling normal. (what you don't see is the HUGE bite of pretzel that he is somehow hiding in his mouth)

A lion

A view of the desert in the zoo

And we are done. We got there early and were able to get out of there before it got too warm.

We had a great time in Scottsdale with Tyler, lots of relaxing, lots of good food and even a Sprinkles Cupcake! so good!! And how can you forget a second trip to Rio.

Natural History Museum

We went to the Natural History Museum today. Because of the holiday it was free to get in, all the more reason to go right? Josh had never been so we had a first-timer with us.

Here is a picture of "Stan" chomping on Keegan.

Here is Keegan all the way in the mouth of "Stan" the T-Rex

when we were here last year I took pictures of Keegan in-front of the dinosaur and once I got home I was soooo dissapointed that I didn't think of this "pose" while we were there. I was so excited today to be able to do this one. (I'm a dork, I know)

Cute little painted sauropod


Here is the Seismosaurus that was found here in NM, just NE of ABQ

Keegan told me I had to take this picture too. I couldn't leave him out.

And one more on the way out of the museum because I noticed he had his eyes closed in the other one I took.

Loving This Weather

The weather here has been AMAZING!! I love it when the temps outside are perfect for long pants or shorts, and driving with your window down.

Here are some of the bright colors along the river.

Here is Keegs out for a walk with me and Koda. He loves his Halloween shirt and wants to wear it all the time.