The Crafts, the Draft, and some Sunshine

It seems that many of my favorite Flagstaff people leave too soon. First Heather, and now my friend Kristen Craft. Kristen has been working at NAU with me for a few months now and it won't be the same without her around. We attended a picnic at the park in our neighborhood on Sunday afternoon. Here's a picture with Kristen. I'll miss you!


End of last week and through Saturday we were busy watching the draft, at least we were once I remembered the 3 hr. time difference:) Missed CJ's selection the first time around, but caught it on nfl.com Saturday morning. I'm very happy for all the Clemson players who find themselves NFL bound; a dream in motion for many wonderful young men.

The weather is finally starting to turn around; we spent a lot of time outside on Sunday raking and bagging pine straw and watering flowers that are just starting to poke their heads through the dirt. It's still freezing at night and we always have the potential for more snow so we're holding off until mid-May to plant our vegetable garden.

Happy Birthday to our niece, Emelie, who turns 2 today, and her dad, Jason's older brother Erik, who turns much older than 2 today:) Have a great Birthday!

Enjoy the rest of your week! XOXO

Lance Armstrong Bailey

Richard came second in the Cat 3 cycling race in Charleston this past weekend. Way to Go!

A Reunion for All

Some friendships know no distance or time, but continue to enrich and sustain our lives through many years. Caroline Hartley and I have been friends since our summers together at Camp Gravatt, and although we have never lived in the same city and only continue to move farther from one another, it is like coming home whenever we have the opportunity to be together. I was there the day Caroline met her husband, Jimmy, and thankfully he and Jason share the same sense of humor, so our time together is fun for all. We've experienced laughs and tears, graduations, beach trips, weddings, and now Caroline and Jimmy are 2 months from the birth of their first child, William.

Here is a picture of me, Caroline, and William (in the belly:)) in Sedona.


We took them to our favorite restaurant, Tinderbox, for dinner and got drinks outside the famous Weatherford hotel, overlooking downtown Flagstaff.


I am so thankful they took an extra day of their trip (Caroline was attending a conference in Phoenix until Saturday afternoon) to visit us. Madeline, who lived with Jimmy until 4 years ago, had a nice reunion too. I think many of our laughs this weekend were focused around tales of Madeline through the years, some real and others the product of our collective imaginations.

A picture of Jason and I at the restaurant.


We can't wait to welcome William into the world and watch their family grow. I look forward to visiting Caroline, Jimmy and William soon!

"Pretty nice little Saturday...

...we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time."

[10 points if you can name that movie]



It appears Jason and I have reluctantly entered suburban bliss. Replace Will Ferrell's Bed, Bath, & Beyond with World Market's wine section and you have our Saturday.

I must admit, through clenched teeth, it is surprisingly comforting to spend a weekend shopping for rakes and wood files, catching matinee movies, and sleeping by 9:30pm on a Saturday night. I don't think I am yet settled enough (nor may I ever be)to enjoy that every weekend, but it was refreshing. Also, Jason was pleasantly surprised upon our realization that wood planter boxes are far cheaper to purchase than make; he got himself out of hours in the garage surrounded by cedar planks and wood glue.

We saw "Date Night" with Tina Fey and Steve Carell. I am so glad they finally did a movie together; Tina Fey is absolutely my favorite female actress (with Helen Mirrren in close second) and the movie had plenty of "belly-laugh" moments. The plot line gets a bit "predictable", but with those two actors there isn't a dull moment. Absolutely recommend!

Sunday Jason went biking in Sedona with his friend David and I enjoyed my afternoon in an OCD induced cleaning frenzy. Our house is now spic and span and laundry free in preparation for a short visit from our friends Caroline and Jimmy Hartley. Caroline is 6 months pregnant and I am DYING to see her! I will post pictures of their trip next week.

I am off for a short lunch hour walk to Target (located too conveniently close to my office) to find some plastic cups with lids. It appears Madeline's newest trick is to stick her snout into water glasses on our bedside tables at about 3:30 in the morning, only for the glass to come crashing down from the table, spilling water and usually breaking the glass. Hoping to find some plastic cups with lids to save us from these mid-sleep surprises.

XOXO

Petrified Forest

I was reminded today while looking out over the Petrified Forest that many of the most amazing things come completely from nature. Unplanned, undeveloped by anyone, just there for us to enjoy, to simultaneously awaken us and calm us. It is so easy to get wrapped up in the many little things we do everyday, but taking the time to get away together, even just for a day, reminds me of how simple life truly is. Enjoy these pictures of our day trip to Winslow, AZ, the famous La Posada restaurant and hotel, and the Petrified Forest National Park.

Outside La Posada in Winslow, AZ. La Posada Hotel was built in the 1930's as a luxury stop along the Santa Fe railroad. Unlike much of the rest of Winslow, the hotel is beautifully restored, reminiscent of a grander time.


Many of you have heard of the man "standing on the corner" in Winslow, AZ from The Eagles song "Take it Easy" (playing) -- this is a good depiction of Winslow today



Tepees in the Painted Desert, located inside the Petrified Forest Nat. Park



At a look out point in the Petrified Forest. The area was inhabited by Native Americans centuries ago, and dinosaurs years before them (or at the same time depending on who you ask...kidding). There are many fossils and petroglyphs in the park that tell their story.


Hanging out with the petrified logs. They look like brilliant stones of many colors; read about the process that petrified the once expansive forest


Jason, looking out on the walking trail.


All in all, a great day


We wish everyone a very happy and relaxing Easter weekend.
XOXO

Mind the Gap...

England 2010 was amazing! Long plane rides and 24 hours without sleep, but well worth it. We got to London last Sunday March 14, rented our car and headed to Broadway in the Cotswolds. Thank goodness we opted to rent the GPS with the car; we must have gone through 50 round-a-bouts on our 1.5 hour trip. Jason did very well driving on the left side of the road; he only tried to turn right onto the right lane once. The Cotswolds were beautiful; we walked through the old village, ate Sunday roast at a local pub, and after an early night to cure our jet-lag we hiked up to Broadway Tower on Monday morning, our bellies full of traditional English breakfast grub.

Our bed & breakfast, The Old Station House


Post Office box


The traditional architecture of Broadway


Really small doors...


The main street heading up to the hills


Broadway Tower, built during the 18th century by a rich guy to better view his land


After visiting the Tower we drove another 2 hours to Manchester. Because the English don't typically enjoy progress or change street signs and lines in the road appear rather hap-hazard and silly. Our favorites were the squiggly lines and non-standard lines painted between lanes of the highway.

A sign for round-a-bouts


No idea...


We went directly to my grandmother's house where my grandmother, mom and dad were waiting for us. That night we went to dinner with my grandmother, parents, aunts, uncles and cousins...many of whom I hadn't seen in almost 5 years. Jason met most of my extended family for the first time. Overall I think he survived! Oh yeah, and it was our 2nd wedding anniversary...quite a nice way to celebrate:)

Two years and counting...


The whole crew at dinner...


Outside the Old Wellington Inn Pub in downtown Manchester. The building is hundreds of years old and was moved (literally the building was moved) after an IRA bombing in the 90's to make room for a new mall.


Jason, Aunt Julie, Helen, Adam, Mom and Dad


While in Manchester we visited my late grandfather's home, visited downtown Manchester, drove past Old Trafford (Manchester United's home pitch for those non-soccer fans), and spent a lot of time drinking tea and catching up with family. It was sad as always to leave my grandmother's house on Wednesday afternoon, but after another 4 hour drive back to London (Jason is now quite the expert on driving on the left side of the road) we spent two days exploring London, visiting all the tourist attractions. Here are some pictures...

The guards at Buckingham Palace


On my 29th birthday outside Buckingham Palace


Our rides around London


Fountain outside Buckingham Palace




We toured the Westminster Abbey. Our favorites were the graves and memorials with the likes of T.S. Eliot, D.H. Lawrence, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin.


Parliament! Big Ben! London Eye is in the background; we didn't ride -- too high!


On the Thames by Parliament


Wouldn't be complete without a trip to Harrod's.


A walk through Hyde Park was a perfect end to my birthday. Of course we had to visit Princess Diana's memorial.


Crosswalks at round-a-bouts have "look left" or "look right" painted on the street -- nice reminder!


Jason spent a lot of time using the London map to navigate our extensive walks around the city.


Queen Elizabeth I outside St. Paul's Cathedral


The Tower Bridge on the East End of London


Inside the Tower of London...a rainy English day


I made sure to have plenty of Walker's crisps, Cadbury chocolates, sausages, pastries, and Ribena. Jason got to try many new English beers, traditional meals, and I think he may now even be a fan of English food. It has been almost 5 years since I have visited England, and I think I forgot how much I love the country, culture, and quirky things that make the English so lovable. It was a little sad getting back on the plane Sunday morning, but also great to sleep in my own bed and see Maddie when, after 24 hours of traveling, we made it back to Flagstaff.

A classic "English" picture we just had to take!


Catching up on sleep, laundry and work this week and constantly feeling thankful for our opportunity to travel. XOXO

England...7 days and counting!!

As you can see from our England countdown up on the refrigerator, we are on day 7, or, the picture of fish and chips. We are going to Phoenix Friday March 12th and our flight leaves Saturday morning. We have a lay over in Philadelphia, and get to London on Sunday March 13th at 9:30am. We are renting a car (Enterprise, of course) and driving, on the left-hand side of the road, to Broadway, England, located in the Cotswalds. It is about 1/2 way between London and Manchester in the country. Here is a website of Broadway We're staying there Sunday night and going to Manchester on Monday - Wednesday to spend time with family. Wednesday we're driving back to London until Saturday the 20th when we head back to Phoenix. Looking forward to visiting with family, English food, sight-seeing, and celebrating both a 2-year anniversary and 29th birthday in the mother country :)

It's snowing right now, we had about 2 inches over-night and it's continuing through much of the day. Here you can see Maddie, in her favorite spot, watching Jason shovel this morning.


Much of the weekend we've been just hanging around the house, cleaning, doing laundry and packing for next weekend. Here is a picture of Maddie and I are the bar watching Jason cook chili on Friday night.


More posts once we return from our trip!
XOXO