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Showing posts with label spring break. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spring break. Show all posts

Friday, March 20, 2026

Southwestern Adventure Road Trip

 Imagine this: after a long and fun week of road tripping across Texas and New Mexico, a family stands in the parking lot of a national park after sunset gazing toward the sky. 

All together they see a shooting star race over their heads and through the sky in front of them until it ultimately disappears.

They can't see each other but look around any way to verify if they all saw what they think they saw...and if everyone else saw it too. One by one everyone comes back to earth and announces they saw the magical moment. They ALL saw the shooting star together. Some cheered; some leaped up and down with excitement. Some ran toward each other to hug and embrace and cement the love and amazement of this magical moment. 

That family was us. We stood in the Carlsbad Caverns visitor center on the last night of our road trip before we headed home. And we saw the shooting star. together. 

I didn't need to make a wish, because mine had already come true.


This was the best spring break...and our first major road trip... and one of our BEST vacations of of all time. I will cherish it forever!

From the mid-way point of Route 66 and  slug bug ranch and feldman's fried steak. To hiking Palo Duro canyon in the cold mega wind (and almost getting lost). To eating at Big Tex's Ranch.

To exploring the mountain side and galleries of Santa Fe...to exploring the intersection of Victorian houses and weird dreaminess at Meow Wolf.

To the zany kitschiness of Roswell and the majesty of Carlsbad Caverns...

Hot tubbing on the roof and swimming in the pools with you Aidan; hiking to the cross of the martyrs with you Julia; sharing all these memories together with Mom, me, Aidan, and Julia...this road trip definitely lived up to New Mexico's state slogan...we entered a land of enchantment... and part of me never wants to leave :)







Friday, March 17, 2023

Spring Break 2023: Hot Springs!

 


Crazy Wax Museum! Holding Alligators! Wanting to adopt baby goats! Slow service, cool shops, whacky magician, the best science museum, and delicious spring water. It's Hot Springs!

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Spring Break 2019

OH YEAH! Vacation time! 

Julia- YOU have the week off!

Aidan- YOU have the week off!

Mommy- YOU have the week off!

Daddy- YOU took the week off!

So what do we do with ourselves?????

Well... we had a relaxing, all-inclusive, puppy-filled, fun-time, day-trip, all-inclusive STAYCATION!




There was a LOT of lounging around the house, spending quality time with our friends and family...and fuzzy family..




Both of you and me worked in the kitchen and tried out Grandma Ida's Banana Bread Recipe...and the results were.... very very appealing!











There was a LOT of outdoor scootering and biking and playing, when the weather allowed it... and when it didn't we always have inside too!






You guys BOTH went on separate sleepovers. Julia you went to your pal Ella's slumber party; Aidan you got to spend the night with Brady. Not much footage exists of this, since we weren't there, but you both had a fantastic time. I'll never forget the two of you embracing before you left on your respective adventures. You hugged, embraced, and told each other not to worry; you'd see each other soon.


...and you did! In fact, when y'all got back, we loaded up the car and headed east to Wayne Ranch, the land and cabin of your kindergarten teacher, Ms. Mary, and your friends Teddy and Korah from school! 

We. Had. A. BLAST at Wayne Ranch!

Playing on hay bales. Getting (two) trucks stuck (and unstuck) in the mud! Camp fire! Fishing! Hammocks and tractors and bones and melting glass and the world's biggest earth worms and friends, oh my!











We can't WAIT to go back to hang out with the Shockley family again!


































When we got back home, we did even more amazing staycationing around the house...


















...in the mudpit...




... out and about...

We went to Ikea...


Hibachi...



...and the Dallas Zoo on a picture perfect day!


















From one birthday party at a park...

To Sawyer's at Chuck E. Cheese...







This spring break was so relaxing, so fun, and so lovely...just to be with you, to be part of your smiles, and laughs, and part of your worlds. Happy Spring, my beloved children!