Happy Holidays

Mox does not find her transformation into a reindeer nearly as amusing as I do.

13.1 Miles

Last weekend, I ran a half marathon. I use the term "run" very loosely.

Rosie, the namesake of my future child, was a great sport waking up before dawn, acting as chauffeur to and from the race, popping up several places along the route to cheer us on, and photographing all the action. Here are a few of the highlights.

Kim and I getting ready to start.

Being outpaced by an old man with bad knees.

Happy to be almost done.

Just finished and got my medal.

I think we are all ready for a nap.

Conquering the Black Canyon in an 18' Scanoe

We have acquired a scanoe. What is a scanoe you ask? Good question. I didn’t know either until we had one. It is a square-backed canoe. Scanoe. The more you look at that word the more wrong it appears to be spelled. No matter, moving on.

Nathan is a man of adventure and risks. I am a woman of adventure, but not so much risk. When he suggested that we load all our camping gear up in our big, green, duct tape over a hole, not sure if it even will float scanoe and take it up to the Colorado River for a camping trip, I was a bit hesitant to say the least. Typically when Nate gets a new water toy it ends up broken down or on fire during some point in its voyage.

Nonetheless, he talked me into it, and away we headed to the great state of Arizona.

We put in at Willow Beach (notice giant patch job on the side).

It didn't sink!

Some cave exploring.

Water levels were so low all the beaches were covered with some kind of marsh muck.

I absolutely love this place.

Also, I absolutely love this man.

In all, the trip was a huge success. I'm glad Nate was able to overlook my "I don't want to go because the boat is going to sink and we are going to die" attitude. He's made a scanoe believer out of me.

Halloween

We had a party.

It was our first official party since moving into our new house. I think it may be the first of many, provided our friends don't keep on having babies. I only got a few pictures, but since the only people who read this blog were unable to attend, I wanted you all to see what you missed out on.

Lots of food

(cupcakes courtesy of Hardy's Haunts)

A very historical family

The Whittier Drive pumpkin carving tradition

Nathan's big mustache

Next time, you guys should totally come.

Rosemont Farms

In being unemployed I have decided that my true life’s calling is to be a rancher. I realize that it is a little tricky to do living in a small suburban subdivision. However, undeterred by our location, Nate and I started this dream with some chickens, a dog, and a nice little garden out back.

Well, we have just added on and taken one step closer to being a real farm. Allow me to introduce to you the newest members of Rosemont Farms.

Hank

Big Momma

Little Boy

Bunny

One day what I really hope to get is a small herd of these:


Your eyes do not deceive you - that is a miniature cow.

But I think that day will have to wait until we buy a property that is actually zoned for animals.

Pioneertown to Big Bear

Now that I have an action/adventure car, we decided to take it out for some real action/adventure. It was time for my little Subaru to do more than conveniently carry both the Mox and a week's worth of groceries. Its maiden off-road voyage was a trail from Pioneertown to Big Bear.

And the journey begins...

Pioneertown is an old western movie set from the 1940s right in the middle of the desert.

From there, it was through the Yucca Tree forest.

Up the hill.

A few stops along the way to do a little geocaching (our first time).

Through the river.

Up another hill - or two or three or more.

And finally, Big Bear Lake.

What a champ.

Stachetober

What in this picture doesn't belong?