77 Degrees

My brother calls it Random, but I like to call it pleasant. Last week it snowed almost 2 1/2 feet. Today, Caroline and I went to the Zoo in 77 degree weather. It was beautiful. I love the blue skies and the sun. Is it really November? (Already? This baby thing is coming up faster than I think I realize. I am 29 weeks.) Well I guess we will soon finish raking up our leaves and cleaning out our garden. Care to join us?

Clean-Up

The previous story reminds me of something that happened a few weeks ago and I want to record it for me.
We went to the Rockies baseball game with Aaron's parents. At the door we received white towels that said 'Go Rockies.' Caroline was sitting with Aunt Sarah most of the time playing with her towel and enjoying all of the action. Grandpa was four seats away. She went over and played with him a bit. He cracked open peanut shells on his leg and they ate the insides together. The peanut shells were (obviously) making a mess on his leg. So Caroline hurried to Aunt Sarah (it is not easy to walk in front of someone when you are sitting down at a baseball game- no leg room), grabbed the towel from her and scurried back. She informed Grandpa was 'dirty' and wiped his leg clean of peanut shells.
I would consider Aaron and I are clean people, but I never thought my two year old would be the same way. She always puts her toys away and cleans-up if her eating area is dirty. She loves to sweep and vacuum. Helps me dust. Helps me with the laundry. She always is helping me. And I just love her for it. (My Mother-in-Law says that Aaron was the same way when he was a kid.)

The Most Interesting Thing

Caroline and I were at Michael's craft store yesterday. I told her we were getting ribbon at the store. While I was looking at the Christmas selection of ribbon, she found the dollar ribbon bins and played around it with another older lady for a few minutes. I found the ribbon I was looking for and went to get Caroline. The lady that was there, also looking at the bins, said to me...

"I saw her do the most interesting thing." She threw 2 spools of ribbon in the bottom bin, where there were only stamps. She continued, "There was ribbon just like this and she (Caroline) found them and picked them up and put them in the ribbon rack where they belong. I don't even do that at my house!" She was shocked.

Breakthrough

Yesterday at church, I dropped Caroline off at the DOOR of nursery. I told her I would be back later and off she went to play with some toys!! Wow! It only took 6 months. I or Aaron or Grandma have been in there every Sunday before yesterday for AT LEAST an hour! How nice it was to go to Sunday School and listen to the whole lesson and then Relief Society after that! I did have to peek through the window during the break to see how she was doing. I saw her choose her stickers for her Birthday present. I just hope it goes well next week too. And then I will experience the joy of doing it all over again when the baby comes in January!

Wasp Sting

Caroline and I were pulling dead flowers from our garden yesterday, before the snow hit today. She was sitting on my lap nice and calm until, what I can guess now, is that she was stung by a wasp right in between her nose and cheek-close to her eye. She bawled and bawled. We went inside and I held her in my lap until she fell asleep. Last night at dinner, we noticed the area it was stung was getting puffy. I don't know if you can tell, but she doesn't look like the same Caroline around her eye. Poor Caroline.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Guess what my amazing, smart and sweet husband did today?

He passed the BAR! Yipee!

I'm so proud of you Aaron!

Caroline's 2nd Birthday!

I know Caroline likes Lasagna. So the first time in 7 years, I attempted my Mom's lasagna again- tweaked to meet the desires of my husband. It was a meat and veggie lasagna (no cottage or ricotta cheese). I can actually say it turned out yummy. I made enough to freeze an 8x8 pan for another day.

My sweet girl in my arms. I can't believe she's two.
She loved the cake, but I think she is an ice cream lover like her Daddy.

Happy Birthday Caroline

A random shot- at least she has the right idea.

A Birthday shirt from Aunt Sarah

I can truly say that she makes me laugh everyday. She loves to play with dolls and her kitchen items. She wants me to 'come' everywhere with her. Today she noticed some things outside my bedroom door. I told her that they go downstairs. She moved all of the items to to the top of the stairs- where I usually have stuff to go downstairs. She is a big helper. Yesterday she sat her baby on her chair and backed up several feet and said 'catch' and threw a ball at her doll. I think she could use a playmate. :) I love her. I'm so glad that I get to call her mine. She brings more joy to my life than anything I could ever imagine. I feel privileged to be called her Mommy. Happy Birthday Caroline.

Highlights

Well instead of an overload like I usually do I thought I would try and highlight some areas. I uploaded the pictures backward again, so you get to hear about the trip backward!

We stayed in SLC for a few days before we headed home. It was nice to be with my Mother.

We had to make a 5 hour detour in Reno to fix our car. Our throttle sensor went out and we could no longer accelerate up hills.

Chico was fun. We got to spend time not only with Aaron's grandparents, but also extended family too. This is Aaron's second cousin Jack. So cute!

We visited the redwoods state park. On our way we stopped in Fort Bragg. This is Glass Beach. Even though all of that looks like sand- it's not. It is glass. Way cool. By the way- that is hot chocolate.
It is at least a foot deep of Glass. Smoothed out of course from the water and other elements.
We drove-thru this tree
Just North of San Francisco, where we had lots of fun finding boy clothes, was Stinson Beach. A little overcast that day- but I think someone had fun in the water.
Caroline and I

My cute orange family

San Francisco Golden Gate bridge.. as we were leaving.

Whenever Caroline sees the beach now she says 'dirty.' It was Aaron's birthday that day- he got a little wet.

Before San Francisco we visited my grandparents for an hour in Laguna Hills and before that we spent a day in San Diego with my Dad. We went to Sea World for Caroline.

Where did the dolphin go?

Grandpa Moses and Caroline

Caroline and the Walrus

At Sea World they have Sesame Street stuff there. Did I ever tell you that Caroline is a #1 fan? She was in love. I can't believe she hugged both Elmo and Cookie!

Where did they go again?

Before San Diego, we stopped in Mesquite NV for a couple of days and then Vegas for a night. Mandalay Bay was so much fun. Caroline loved the pools they had there.

I tried to make a long trip short. We had a great time together as a family and it was well worth it. Aaron started work last Wednesday and I think Life will never be the same.

Southwestern Colorado

Four Corners

Last stop in Colorado

First and Last in New Mexico

The beginning of our Drive-Thru in Arizona

Utah a place we would return to before our trip was over

Four states in one stop

Mesa Verde

My Favorite stop on our trip!

Click here for more history

We had to hike down to see 2 of the Cliff Dwellings. What goes down-must come up.. in this case. Here is Aaron and Caroline climbing the ladder.

This is one Cliff Dwelling

The same cliff dwelling is on the right. I just wanted to show you how crazy they were to live so high in a cliff! It keeps going down too. You can't see it from my picture angle.

Caroline wanted Aaron to do this again and again

Do you see the cliff Dwelling?

This was the largest one: Cliff Palace

The same as the first Mesa Verde picture

The Great Sand Dunes

Dad and Caroline ready to hike the Sand Dunes

At sunrise: Here we go

It was amazing to see such big sand dunes in the middle of nowhere. It was an escape. We felt like we were in a Desert.

Royal Gorge

Huge scary bridge out in the middle of nowhere

You could walk or drive (1 car at a time) on it.

Do you see the line going across the top? That's the bridge. It still makes my hands sweat.

Cautious Caroline Carefully stepping over the Cracks

We're Back!

Over 4,000 miles, 6 states and 3 1/2 weeks of traveling by car. We're home!

Details to Follow. ( I still am trying to get my life in order)