friends are family too

It's been a long hot summer and the children are excited to see their friends again.

The children have made some wonderful friends over the years. Some of them sweeter than other.

But it seems that my children's best friends seem to have become an extension of my little family.

They're usually in my home and often share in many of my families activities.

I think of them as my "extra" daughters and sons. 

They are well behaved kids from nice families.

I am pleased that my children have such a wonderful bond with their friends. A friend to one child doesn't just have that single friend but a whole family too. 

Cheers to Friendship

family movie day

The curtains are drawn

The cheese, crackers, popcorn and juice boxes along with a big bowl of rainier cherries are on hand for family movie day.

Todays featured movies are Stand by Me (www.imdb.com/title/tt0092005/)

Pretty in Pink (www.imdb.com/title/tt0091790/)

127 hours (www.imdb.com/title/tt1542344/)

Little Mermaid (www.imdb.com/title/tt0097757/)

butterfly identification

Morning time is a beautiful time to see butterflies in N.M.

Perfect landing

After migrating many miles this butterfly decided that Fifi's shirt was a good place to rest after mistaking it for juicy live nectar.

Follow me Mr. Butterfly

Very delicate handling

The children ran in to identify this butterfly. After much research they concluded that this is a male Two-tailed Swallowtail aka Papilio multicaudata from the Papilionidae family. They also informed me the migration patterns begin in British Columbia east to Nebraska through central Texas and South to Mexico. I can't figure which is more amazing the migration pattern or the butterfly research by my children!!

Temporary research containment

Butterfly, butterfly fly fly away........... 

Okay Mr. Butterfly its time to get on with your journey

growing pains

It is time to think about back-to-school, which is just around the corner.

Getting four little ones ready for school is no easy task.

We've have to get the doctors appointments, dental appointments, school registration and school supplies before we think about clothes, shoes and backpacks!

Today is registration day for Cookie and Sweetheart at the elementary school.

The view from the window

I was handed pages and pages of forms to fill out for both of them. My hand was so tired after filling everything out in duplicate! (whew.......)

It never fails, I always begin to feel the blues when my children head off to school every year. I feel exact like I felt when they went off to their very first day of Montessori. 

Every year I'm always the mom standing outside the classroom with a tear in her eye waiting to rush back in the moment my child should cry out.

But they don't cry out nor do they ever cling to my leg. They're always happy, ready and eager to begin the school year. What can I say? My kids love school. 

✄  ✎  ✄  ✎  ✄  ✎  ✄  ✎  ✄  ✎  ✄  ✎  ✄

It helps having people like Ms. Jo, Ms. Christine and Ms. Sue at the school. They helped me with my registration documents today and always show care and concern for my girls. Plus I'm always just a phone call away or 42 steps..........(but who's counting)  

what goes better with a Cookie?

Now that the bills are paid we need to get the house back in running order.

Grocery Store Adventures

Mommy's junior helpers

The following is a grocery store list devised by Fifi

------------------------------

Cookie

Cheese Pizza

Skim Milk

------------------------------

Does cheese pizza go better with Cookie??

Or shall we be a traditionalist and stick with milk and Cookie instead.

I think we'll opt for taking Cookie and making our selections quickly.

I hope you have as much fun on your next grocery store adventure as we do!

monthly bills can be funny.......

I'm taking care of my financial responsibility today.

Nothing can be fun or funny about paying bills!

But maybe I can find light heartedness in that dreaded monthly activity.........

Hahahaha.............

chasing rainbows and finding lunches

Today we met up with a very good, long time friend of ours in Gallup over lunch. 

Her name is Ms. Kathy Garcia. She is a fun, kind, knowledgeable, generous lady I met years ago. She's been a good friend through thick and thin when we lived in Gallup. She was always there to offer up a laugh or some great advise and she always had lunch ready for the kids. It's been a few years since we've seen her in person. We had a good reunion, a good time reflecting and a good lunch. 

Thank you Ms. Kathy for the greatest summer lunches and your friendship. We hope to see you again sometime soon.

The following photos are the sights of

Bááh Háálį, Vanderwagen, Chíchíltah, and Gallup through the children's eyes. 

Vanderwagen Fairy house (photo by Fifi)

Dancing juniper trees (photo by Sweetheart)

Double rainbows (photo by Bam) make us ☺and so does the song below.........

somewhere over the rainbow (by Israel kamakawiwoole) by tubaob

Do you see natures profile of Davy Crockett in the rock on top (photo by Bam)

Tranquil sunset amidst the embryo of posterity (photo by Cookie)

Do you know where this sign is located??

Honor Diné Code Talker

"In Boarding School, we were told to never use our Navajo language. We stand today, honoring the fact that we would not be here as free Americans if it weren't for our Navajo language." quoted by Nana and Cheii as they reflect.

Tségháhoodzání  Window Rock, Arizona

(www.navajonationparks.org/htm/veterans.htm) (www.discovernavajo.com)

We are with Cheii and Nana in Window Rock, Arizona. Today we all honor the Diné Code Talker for their bravery, dedication, sacrifice and love for our country. The Code Talker were recruited as boys, not even old enough to vote and came out men, with the biggest secret of victory. Cheii and Nana are sharing stories of my Uncles and Great Uncles who were recruited as young boys in the first 29 and the final 400 Marine Code Talkers in World War II. My children understand the history and the importance of the unbreakable Navajo code on modern American history. The importance of this day is far too often not recognized enough in our schools.
But today we listen to the stories that need to be heard. 

(www.navajocodetalker.org)

Diné men developed the most sophisticated military code system that was NEVER broken

----Honor and respect the significance of the Diné Code Talker everyday----

dog days of summer

We're having a good time today at the ranch......

"We're off to survey the land, Mom."

Bam looks forward to riding his four wheeler when we're at Cheii's house. (either that or his bicycle) Sometimes Cheii and Bam take the four wheeler to the cattle ranch to roundup and feed the cows.

**helmets were taken off for picture opportunity only**

Oscar Mayer the Weenie dog loves to go for rides

 Most of Nana and Cheii's dogs love to go on four wheeler rides. The basket was added to the front of the four wheeler for the "four legged kids." The dogs truly enjoy sitting up there with their ears flapping in the wind with a smile on their little face.

Lady Cholula sticks her tongue out at me when I said......."smile"

If you're wondering about Cholulas breed. She's a type of hairless Mexican Chihuahua known as a Xoloitzcuitli. (pronounced show-low-eats-queen-tlee) She is the breed of dog that Frida Kahlo adored. Frida featured many of her beloved Xolos in her art. Xoloitzcuitles are considered sacred dogs or gods by the Aztecs / Toltecs / Mayans, throughout history. Cholula's breed is not to be confused with a Chinese Crested. Cholula is a sweet dog with a heart of solid gold.
(www.akc.org/breeds/xoloitzcuintli/) (www.museofridakahlo.org)

Frida Kahlo and Xolos in Mexico 

The perspective view from behind the piñon tree

 ---In Nana's Kitchen---

Rolling in dough☺

Making homemade tortillas with Nana

A good cook always has a flower in her hair and flour on her face.........says Cookie.

Mmmmmm Mmmmm Good

The girls love to cook with Nana. They say Nana serves the best "cooked from scratch meals" and THE BEST TORTILLAS EVER.  Nana is always happy to have the extra hands in the kitchen/ Nana always says, "Many hands make light work" ***in Navajo***
Everybody loves Nana's kitchen; the place where meals and memories are made.....

enchantment

We are in the land of enchantment of Vanderwagen and Gallup, NM today.
Getting back to our native roots are the very quintessence of our heart and soul.
Amongst the past few weeks of living yachts, country club, movie premieres and big city life we now seek the appreciation of organic nature.
We're visiting Nana and Cheii for the next few days.
(Cheii is the Navajo word for Grandfather)

Tonight, we're at the summer nightly native dances which take place all summer long at the new Gallup Courthouse Square.
Each night they feature different pueblos or tribes showcasing traditional native dances.

The chanting and the rattles are at their perfection tonight

 Pueblo Buffalo Dancers of the S.W.

Bam and his Cheii enjoying the performance

My girls are captivated

We spent a warm lovely evening with Cheii and Nana.... along with some of the best entertainment Gallup can offer!

unpacking---repacking

blowing "the parachutes" off the dandelions

Isn't it funny that right after a vacation.....we feel the need to RELAX??
HAHAHA.....

I remember before we went on vacation, we couldn't wait to get out of the house!

Post vacation feelings are rejoicing in being able to stay in one place.
 home cooked meals
our own bed to lie in
No need to rush out for breakfast
No more daily luggage battles

Ahhhhh........ HOME SWEET HOME

But,,,,,, don't get me wrong,
We love our vacation time.
The lifelong memories DEFINITELY out weight anything!

In fact, tomorrow, we're headed over to Nana and Cheii's house for a few days.
We've missed them and my kiddos are looking forward to telling them all about our trip.

Tomorrow awaits yet another journey.....

home sweet home

GREETINGS ALBUQUERQUE!!

just East of ABQ:   Agave metal sculpture made from aluminum rocket fuel tanks

Another summer vacation has come to an end.
It was memorable, amazing and delightful.
We always love seeing Grandma-Great.
Until next summer.....we'll do it all over again.
 But right now.....it feels good to be HOME...

Its GREAT to be welcomed home to clear, blue skies filled with hot air balloons. 

HOME SWEET HOME

homeward bound on Route 66

As we're driving, this song plays on the radio.  We find it quite enjoyable and easy to listen to. It suits the view-.....WESTWARD with the GREATS PLAINS in our view.

Oklahoma City brings back memories

Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma.
Right now about now the children and I are getting homesick.
We're close to home..... but not there yet.

We're undecided......do you think this is awesome outdoorsy or awesomely eerie??  Rustic Lodge Antler Lightening
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antler)

This is the view from the backseat of the van (taken by Princess FiFi). That's our angel on the rear view mirror: Her wings have an inscriptional quote which reads:
You must do the things you think you cannot do.
I like that quote..... its a good reminder to never give up.........EVER.

This astonishing sunset on the Great Plains in Texas taken by Sweetheart

The U-Drop Inn in Shamrock aka "Ramone's body shop in Radiator Springs" is an awesome example of art deco architecture. This was featured in the animated Disney/Pixar movie Cars (http://worldofcars.go.com/) (www.shamrocktexas.net)

it's a beautiful day y'all

♥  Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis  ♥

Pigeon Forge Welcomes Us

Knoxville's Eccentric Sunsphere

Nashville the Country Music Capital

Stainless Steel Pyramid by the Mississippi River in Memphis

Y'all Come Back Now

When I asked the children why they loved Tennessee so much.
 They replied with the following:

Annual family berry picking
Homestyle southern soul food
Drinks served in mason jars
Dollywood / Splash Country
Wide green countryside and vines draped off of every tree and post
Cowboys and tractors
Old country stores and fleamarkets
Elvis and BB King
Country music and the Blues 
Farms-white fences-horses and cows (lots and lots of cows)
Smokin' Smoky Mountains

"There is a place. Like no place on Earth. A land full of wonder, mystery, and danger! Some say to survive it: You need to be as mad as a hatter." 
(quoted by The Mad Hatter)

Guess where the chess pieces are stored.......

"Fast is good but accurate is better! "

What a memorable day full of love, laughter and blue suede shoes...........

As we came out of the restaurant we snapped this shot of a stunning Memphis Sunset.