2011

January

February

March

April 

May

June

July 

August 

September 

October 

November

December 

as far as I know, we didn't come across any aliens

Christopher and I just returned from a little vacation-in-a-vacation.

We didn't actually go to Los Angeles, I just find it fascinating to see a sign that says LOS ANGELES ---->. It's not something I see everyday. I don't see this sign everyday either:

Our first stop before hitting the road was Barnes & Noble, where we stocked up on coffee and maps. At one point in our trip, Christopher looked over and asked me to get the map and find out what exit to get off. I wondered why he would assume that I, the person who frequently gets lost in her own state, was up to the task, but I opened up the large map book and tried to look like I knew what was going on.

I did not.

I may have silently stared at the page for a grand total of 3.5 minutes before realizing that all the numbers and letters were not making ONE BIT of sense to me. I also may have looked at the cover to reassure myself that I was indeed looking at a map of Arizona and not a map of Nova Scotia. In the end, I told him the correct numbers and we arrived at our destination- Sedona.

It was just lovely.

After Sedona we drove south (or was it north? I certainly don't know) to spend the night. It seemed that everyone and their brother, aunt, uncle, and fifth cousin also decided to spend the night there, so we had to stop at six hotels before we found a room. (There was no room for us at the inn which is pretty fitting considering we're still in the Christmas season.) The hotel we stayed at had this sign out front:

It's not everyday I stay at a hotel that also welcomes vacationers from Mars.

Up, Up and Away

Monday morning we woke up at dark o'thirty and went on a hot air balloon ride over Phoenix!

It was fascinating to watch the men set up the balloon.

 

Stephanie and her cute little family. 

Sadie Bug hung out with Oma while we were flying through the sky.

Back in my youth I was a member of the Balloon Federation of America. I am not sure how I became a member since the only time I had ever set foot in a hot air balloon it was tied to a truck and didn't go higher than ten feet off the ground, but a member I was. (Hello, run-on sentence.) They apparently never got that message, so they continually stuffed my mailbox with papers, pins, pamphlets, and paraphernalia. I think the people at BFA would be proud to know that a former member went thousands of feet up in the air after a decade hiatus. 

The man piloting (steering? driving?) the balloon gave us little foam airplanes and parachutes to drop out off the basket. They went swirling and twirling through the air. I am extremely proud of the below picture. Maybe the Balloon Federation of America will consider using it for an advertisement.

If you look very closely, you can see the Red Sox symbol on the bottom of this pool. Even on the other side of the Mississippi people are members of Red Sox nation.

After we landed in a parking lot, Dwayne the pilot/steerer/driver let Logan take off his shoes and run on the balloon to get out the air. Look how tiny he is compared to the balloon!

Before we left, Dwayne taught us The Balloonist Prayer:

The winds have welcomed you with softness,

The sun has greeted you with it's warm hands,

You have flown so high and so well,

That God has joined you in laughter,

And set you back gently into

The loving arms of Mother Earth.

First Christmas

A cute ornament from Christopher's mom! 

We got so many nice ornaments for our tree!

Sadie Bug and I on her first Christmas Eve.

She celebrated the occasion by wearing a big blue bow.

Logan had no shortage of toys or smiles on Christmas morning!

Christopher and I in front of our first Christmas on our first Christmas together.

♥

Joy

The first official Sarah & Christopher Christmas card

our very first Christmas tree

Visit to the North Pole

Thursday afternoon we hit the road and headed for the Polar Express and the North Pole.

Apparently this is what the ride to the North Pole looks like.

To make the experience more memorable, we all wore matching pajamas. 

Logan got VERY excited as the North Pole got closer and closer.

And this, my friends, is the North Pole.

 I promise it's not as blurry a place as this picture makes it seem.

Look who left his post behind his sled to visit the children on the train!

 "This bell is a wonderful symbol of the spirit of Christmas - as am I. Just remember, the true spirit of Christmas lies in your heart." 

Out in the (not so) wild West

Monday night I flew out to Arizona to spend Christmas with Christopher and his family.

I like to title this picture "View from the Plane". Obviously it's a very creative title.

The next morning we went to a park and rode around it in a little train. Logan spent most of the time looking like this:

Sadie spent most of the time looking like this:

The train park featured a train museum so we spent some time exploring the world of extraordinarily small model trains.

I spent most of that time wondering why there was a train coming out of the wall.

That night Christopher and I decorated his parents tree. Decorating Christmas trees ranks among my Top 5 Christmas Activities so I was more than happy to help out.

Wednesday morning we went out to ride bikes. I held Sadie most of the time because when given the choice between a bike and  a baby, I will ALWAYS choose the baby.