Rocks, wine, and ghosts

On the 3rd day of Mom and Dad's big adventure, they were very busy.  In the morning, they headed to this cool place called Slide Rock.  It's basically a natural water park with slick rocks and mini rapids you can slide down.  Oh, and did I mention the water is from melting snow?  They said it was a bit (i.e. A LOT) cold.

Here's the whole gang...

Mom, coasting down one of the rapids

Dad, jumping off one of the cliffs

After all that cold water, the gang all headed to 3 of the local wineries to warm up with a drink.  The mini wine tour was pretty fun.  They went to Javalina Leap, Oak Creek, and Paige Springs.  They thought Paige Springs was the most fun.

Well, then, after all that wine, they needed some food.  They drove up some very winding roads to one of the neighboring towns called Jerome.  It use to be a big mining town, but now they call it a ghost town.

Some folks recommended The Haunted Hamburger as the place to eat.

Nice view, huh?

Mom and Dad, enjoying some prickly pear margaritas 

It was really great food and even better desserts (the largest carrot cake and chocolate cake Mom had ever seen).  The restaurant is said to be haunted by a ghost named Claire.  Mom thought Claire locked her in the bathroom, but it turned out Mom just couldn't get the door open.  

The night was capped off by a few "shortcuts" down some scary back roads (who willingly drives down a dirt road named Gulch Road???).  

Everyone thought it was a really fun day.

Molly's Big Day!

Molly's big day finally arrived.

Mike got ready on the patio.

Kelly psyched herself up by trying to scare a lizard.

And finally everyone arrived in style via a crazy golf cart ride down the main drag in Sedona (is it legal pass people in the turn lanes if you're in a golf cart?  Our driver thought so...)

The wedding and reception were in this beautiful grassy area next to a creek.

Congrats Molly and Joel!

Did someone say there was a creek???

Of course, Mom and Dad and all their friends had to get in the water for a picture!

After the wedding, the whole gang and the bride and groom headed out for a Pink Jeep Tour of Sedona.

Don't they look cute?

The first stop was Submarine Rock.

Awesome view.  

Probably not a great idea with the coming thunderstorm and lightning in the distance, but what a great picture!

Well, the rain came (in buckets) and there was even pea-sized hail.  But on the plus side, all sorts of waterfalls formed in the rocks.

The Pink Jeep drivers were crazy.  They LOVE to drive as vertical as possible.

Mom and Dad said it was SO fun.

Then the gang all headed back to Molly's parents hotel for a little down time.

They literally held Molly down and stole her room key.

In the gang, it's tradition to break into the new couples hotel room and leave them a little present (upside down furniture is a favorite).  Unfortunately, Molly was too smart and called the hotel to deactivate the key before Dad and the guys could get over there.  

They are plotting their next move.

Mom and Dad's Big Adventure

For the first time since I was born, Mom and Dad took a trip for a little "alone time."  Their best friend from high school, Molly, was getting married in Sedona and they decided to do it up right.  So the whole gang from high school--Mom and Dad, Kelly and Shane, Mike and Amber, Mike and Andrea, Brad and Nicole (his new fiance) and Amy and her new boyfriend--headed to Arizona for a vacation.  Mom and Dad and a few friends stayed at a really cool house owned by a friend of Grandma J and Grandpa Mike.  Everyone flew in to Phoenix and drove to Sedona.  

So how do I know all this?  Well, I spent 5 fun days with both sets of Grandparents going to the mall to play on the playground, building my new dog "Dona" (like Sedona) at Build-a-Bear, going to the train store, playing at the pool, petting Bubba the horse, etc. etc.  When Mom and Dad got back, they told be this really long bedtime story about all the adventures they had.  It was a pretty entertaining story, so I thought I'd share.

The drive to Sedona was filled with all sorts of beautiful scenery.

And this odd rock painted like a frog.

The roads were REALLY winding.  Those two lines you can see is the road going back and forth--the switchbacks.

Once they got to Sedona, Molly and Joel (the groom) hosted a dinner for everyone.  

After dinner, everyone went to the house for some drinks and such.

Here's the gang, checking out the stars (it was really dark and Mom said you could even see the stars glittering!)

Day 1 was a good time!

Memorial Day at the Cabin!

Mom actually got Memorial Day weekend off (or at least most of it), so we headed to Truman Lake to hang out with Grandma J and Grandpa Mike.

Grandma got me this great bucket and watering can.

I really liked it.  We played a lot of "wa-der."

All this playing really makes you work up a thirst!

We played ball too.  It was a pretty fun day.

The next day, we headed out to swim.  

I got to drive the truck!

(Don't worry, it was on a gravel road for about 100 feet--no social services intervention needed)

After I got over the initial fit over the life jacket (it was really uncomfortable), things were a lot more fun.

Mom, Monti and I sat at the front of the boat for the best view.

We stopped at the end of this old road.  It was a perfect place for all of us to wade right it.  

I went in to my armpits!  I wasn't scared at all!

Here's Mom and Aunt Amanda.  I think Amanda is eating a cookie.

After all that swimming, Grandma J, Dad, and I stopped for a "nack" (that's snack).

Monti is sneaking something here...

Back home, Gus was holding down the fort.

After all that fun, bedtime came quick.

Even Monti was oh-so-tired.

The next morning, Mom and I made donuts for everyone for breakfast.

I was in charge of putting on the "mimum" (cinnamon) and sugar.

Oh, and I ate a few too.

It was a really fun weekend.  

We're looking forward to a lot more time at the lake this summer!

Hopefully Grandpa Mike is ready for us!

The Vannamans in the States

Saturday night, we went to visit our friends Kipp, Kylie, and Ollie (Mom went to medical school with Kylie).  They've been living in New Zealand for the last year and came back for a short visit before going back for another year.

I got to play with all sorts of new friends--Ollie, Hudson, and my two new girlfriends, Brin and Ceagan.  Cute, huh?  Their mom and my mom work together.

I stayed up waaaaay too late (Mom said I was in too good a mood to put to bed).

I made Mom and Dad pay for it the next day.

The more tired I got, the sillier I got.  Check out me in my shades here...

Here are Dad and Kipp...

...And Mom and Kylie.

We'll miss you guys!

Hopefully we'll make it out to NZ this time around for a visit!!!

Happy 30th, Danielle!

Mom turned 30 today!

At work, her friends decorated the NICU with signs wishing her a happy birthday and bought her cookies.

Then, Dad had a big surprise.

It all started with these flowers (Mom really loved them).  Dad had them sent to her work for a surprise, but the people at the loading dock lost them.  So when Dad called that afternoon and casually asked if Mom had got anything at work, he was surprised when she said no.  But after a few phone calls, the flowers were tracked down to the hospital distribution office.  On the way out of work (90 minutes later than usual--bad day!), security let Mom and Dad into the office and there were the flowers, safe and sound.

So this is where it gets good.  Dad had brought a gift bag into the hospital with him when he came in to get Mom.  He said she should open it now.  It was a new dress and jewelry!!!  And he packed matching shoes and undergarments (good thinking, Dad!).  He had a surprise planned...

So they got in the car and drove to the Velvet Dog for drinks.

Boy was Mom surprised when all her friends and Grandma and Grandpa were waiting there for her!!!

After a few appetizers and drinks, it was off to dinner in the Power and Light District at an Irish pub, Reglan Road.  Dad said they had the best bread pudding ever.

Then everyone headed to Big Sky for some dancing and bull riding...

Here are all the girls

(Kelly, Ashley, Amber, Mom and Grandma J; Andrea had to go home early--Zach needs his sleep!)

And here are all the guys

(Shane, Grandpa Mike, Allen, Dad, and Brad; Mike H is in line for the bull, Mike J and Zach are home.  

Where am I???  With Grandma P)

After a few drinks, Mike rode the bull...

Here he is getting bucked off.

Mom said she'll have to go back when she isn't in a dress for her turn.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Little Picaso

Mom and I painted flower pots for Mother's Day for the Grandmas.  I hadn't had enough fun painting, so we went to water-paint the driveway...

How's my smock?

Happy Mother's Day, Danielle!

Mom had to work on Mother's Day, so Dad and I went to the hospital to bring her dinner.

Happy Mom's Day!

Bathroom reading

Mom and Dad moved my chair into their bathroom so I had somewhere to sit while they got ready for work and such.  I thought I'd do a little reading.  

There is an airplane in this book about tractors that I'm REALLY obsessed with (you can see it on the page on the left)...

Air-pane, air-pane, AIR-PANE!