Sunday Sara Time

 

My silly sweet Sara! We have not had one on one time in awhile so we headed out last Sunday for some lunch and a little shoe shopping.  She surprised me with paying for lunch.

We enjoyed a yummy salad and pizza.

We ended the day with going home and hanging out on the back porch with Ben, some music and a-little fire, and a little dancing on the porch.  It was a great weekend with fishing on Saturday with Ben, my son and his girlfriend to Sara's visit.  A perfect way to start a new week.

Ben's Birthday Fishing Day!

 

There are very few moments when Ben is not being silly or trying to make others laugh.......

The night before his Birthday Fishing Day!

Men....little boys walking down the path heading to a day of fishing.

Kyle is ready!  His grandad's hat and his dad's vest.

so cute....he will always be my little boy 

some photo fun...but come on you have to admit its a cool pic :)

White Horse Lake, Williams AZ

Enjoying a moment before the rain rolls in.

Wine in a can!  Not to bad!

Kyle and his girlfriend Maddi :)

I was busy trying to look cute! Hahahaha

A man and his dog.

First time fishing

Kyle teaching Maddi how to fish.

Lily

It was a fun day! It was so nice to be outside enjoying the day. We people watched some since there were so many out on the lake in the kayaks, little boats and paddle boards.  There is fish in the lake we saw some catch little ones, even though we didn't get a bite at all.  I think we had more fun enjoying each others company and watching Lily play in the water.  Kyle wore her out with all the sticks he threw in the lake for her to go after.  Eventually the big dark grey rain clouds started to close in so we had to pack up and head back.  Next time we all want to be out on the water.  I look forward to the next fishing day.  I enjoyed my son coming with us for the day so much.  My heart was full.

My Karlee Girl

 Today is Saturday, September 25, 2021. Today my oldest child, Karlee Marie turns 24! Its so crazy to think that when I was 24 I had a beautiful baby girl.  Times have changed so much with relationships, timing of children and living life.  This world is so turned upside down right now but in the midst of it there is always joy, blessings and happy moments.  I have a beautiful daughter who had a rough start coming into this world when she was making her entry into it but since that moment she has been on the go go moving forward in this life living it to the fullest no matter the ups and downs she has had to go through in her young life.

My girl is a rock star! My girl is a leader and a supporter! An organizer, an uplifting spirit! She is full of life and her smile is loaded with warmth and fun.  She loves hard and strong.  She loves to try new things and experience new places.  My girl is a courageous adventurer! 

She can be stubborn and moody but she is there when you need her to be.  She has her flaws but that is part of her beauty and strength. She is not too proud to break down and be weak and ask for her help.  She has a huge heart that loves and doesn't give up.

From an adorable little girl with energy and moodiness running around Chaparral NM, to zebra prints and the color pink, to the crazy boy phase to the living life and loving it with a loving heart, to loving freely another soul that brings joy to her world to allow me to have another daughter in my life that loves my Karlee girl.

My Karlee girl is a beautiful, strong, fun, loving, adventurer! 

Happy 24th Birthday!

I love you Karlee Marie! 

Keep being bold, loud, strong and loving!

That's all I know........

Blooms, bunnies and birdies

I love living out away from town.  I love the critters that come around the house.  I've enjoyed sitting outside this summer with the flowers in our flower bed and the wild flowers that surround the house.  I love watching the birds in the bird bath.  We have three little bunnies that play in the back yard and then one that likes to sit in the front yard eating grass.  It doesn't seem bothered that I stand there watching it and talking to it.  Being outdoors can be so refreshing and just what I need to be able to take another step into the next day and the next.  This world can be crazy and busy but when I stop and take time to sit outside and enjoy what surrounds me.....its perfect and helps me to relax, take time to reflect and be grateful. 
 

Weekends

Yesterday, was Saturday and Ben jumps up out of his chair around 11:30 a.m. and announces that we were going to to to Williams to go walk around and get out of the house.  I was excited when he said that! I wasn't in the mood to do things that need to get done around the house but I wasn't wanting to sit at home either so it was perfect!

We walked around Williams in some of the shops. The weather was perfect, it was sunny and warm but not too warm with a nice breeze blowing at times. We bought Karlee a birthday gift from one of the shops. Before we left we went to a coffee shop and got a couple of frappes, mine was green tea and it was so yummy and Ben's was cookies and cream with some coffee.

Later in the afternoon we went to have a drink at a bar called Roadhouse, its in Bellmont.  Its closing soon and Ben had spent a ton of time there in the past so he wanted to go check it out and have one last drink there.  We laughed when we saw the white claw surf board it made us think of Karlee and Natalie.  I took a pic and sent it to them and said they should have one and hang it in their extra room.  Karlee sent back a laughing face.

After we got back from having a drink and driving the back roads with a load of water we grabbed a drink and sat out on the back porch for a while. 

For some reason I painted a couple quick ones and they both are for October.  I found it funny since this September.  I took a canvas that Sara had messed up on and after slapping some of the black and grey paint on it I decided it needed to be the cute little ghost.  The little painting is suppose to be a spooky night.  I took the left over paint from the other one and covered it and let it dry and then I made it a night painting to go with the little boo ghost.

Today is Sunday and I'm working on the laundry.  Ben helped me clean the kitchen. I swept the kitchen floor and vacuumed the living room before the vacuum died.  I made some deviled eggs and now I've ran out of energy and plan on relaxing and resting the rest of the day until I make dinner.  

Last weekend was a long weekend.  It was Labor Day Weekend.  We stayed home and didn't do too much since we had just gotten back from our trip.  I made a point last weekend to slow down and enjoy the weekend. 

I painted these over the long the weekend. I really like them. I think they came out pretty good.

Ben smoked a stuffed meat loaf, mac and cheese and pork ribs.

Love our weekends, filled with time for each other, time to rest, and time to do chores and things around the house and time to make and enjoy yummy food.  

Highlights from Summer Trip Aug 2021

Ben was invited to a family reunion in Arkansas, he asked me to go with him.  I was happy and excited that I could go with him.  I haven't been on a vacation/road trip in years.  

I love the views that you can see and enjoy as you drive down the road. This is the second day, in the early morning leaving NM to head to Oklahoma and Arkansas.

We discovered that I could travel more comfortable in the back seat.  My fibromyalgia it makes it difficult to sit in limited positions in the front passenger seat for long periods of time. In the back seat I was able to move around more and not get so tired.  It was fun actually, I felt like a kid again.  I was happy with my to do bag just like a kid, I had my coloring book and markers.

The first thing I noticed was how green Oklahoma was.

This a pic from the back seat driving down the road before we got to Oklahoma

Our room in Van Bruen Arkansas.  It was a really nice one, much better than the one we stayed in Santa Rosa NM the first night of our travels. 

A beautiful view that I had to capture as soon as I got out of the car when we pulled up to where Ben's sister is staying during the visit.  So pretty!

The outside of the very pretty place that Ben's sister's family was staying.

An awesome view from Mountainburg AK

Ben and his sister Rhonda looking through old family pictures. 

Long and Muldrow OK.  Ben drove around showing me areas of where he lived when he was 12 years old.  The one thing I noticed right off were how narrow the roads were and how green everything was around. 

Still in OK

This is also in Oklahoma, I say that because there were times when we were driving around that I got confused on which state we were in.  You can easily go from Oklahoma into Arkansas.  Ben thought it was funny at how confused I was getting.

Fort Smith Arkansas

Back in Mountainberg OK where Rhonda was staying, in one of the trees there had a chandelier in it!  I thought it was cool and would have been really neat to see all lite up.

The Catfish Hole in Oklahoma.  The night before the reunion several members of Ben's family met up for dinner.  I think we were a group of 20.  It was a neat place, and the catfish was very yummy.

This is a gorgeous backyard of where the reunion was at.

The reunion was huge.  I was surprised at how warm and welcoming everyone made me feel.  I really didn't feel out of place.  So many nice people gathered enjoying each other's company and good food.

Ben and his sister Rhonda and her daughters (Ben's nieces)

Ben and a very special man to him, Willie Dean (Willie D)

The Fort Smith Arkansas Cemetery, where is dad is buried. He was in the army.

A quite moment with his dad.

Of course I found a wall with a butterfly on it. (Fort Smith AK)

A road side pic from the car on our way to Groom TX on our way back home.

A beautiful fountain in Groom TX

Groom TX

You will find a 19 story cross!

So powerful!

All around the cross you will find Jesus on his journey to the crucifixion. 

Ben walking up the path from viewing a different area after the cross.

The whole trip was great!  We had so much fun making memories.  We look forward to our next trip!