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A California Christmas

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Here I am! I’m not lost. I didn’t fall off the face of the earth. I took an unexpected bloggy break. I was planning on blogging once I got to California… but decided I would just enjoy the time I had with family and friends while I was there instead. So here is a recap of the journey to California and back. ;)

We left our 85 degree South Texas weather on Wednesday afternoon and headed west.  We made a quick stop in Fort Stockton and found this delightful Santa road runner! Biggest in the world, they claim!

27We made our way through West Texas (in case you haven’t experienced a drive across Texas… it is LONG.) and finally stopped in New Mexico. The weather was in the high 20s with snow on the ground. It’s amazing what you see in a day’s drive. The landscape, the weather, the towns… I love the variety.

Starting at the gulf coast we see plenty of open prairies which become filled with big trees as you head past San Antonio. And then there is West Texas. There is something so beautiful and frightening, all at the same time, about West Texas. It is so desolate;  it’s vastness feels like it will swallow you whole. But at the same time, it’s untouched landscape lends to daydreams about simpler times and visions of  pioneers, cowboys and the old west. Unfortunately, our West Texas experience was in the dark and it was quite stormy so I don’t have pictures to show. So let’s just skip to New Mexico, shall we?

29The New Mexico mountains (or hills if you’d rather) were beautiful.

28New Mexico had the same openness as West Texas but had such amazing hills with all sorts of shapes: jagged edges, rocky, smooth, snow covered. It definitely was a sight to see driving through.

Arizona came and went so fast. My favorite part is definitely the saguaro cacti. If I had to pick a favorite cactus, the saguaro would be my choice. ;)

However, one monumental moment did occur in Arizona:

30In-N-Out. Jon has been waiting a long, long time for In-N-Out.

Continuing on… it is beginning to look like California. ;)

31Yep. That looks like a California sunset to me.

32

This picture occurred moments before a bird strike. Yes. We tragically hit a bird. Feathers everywhere. R.I.P. It was very traumatizing.

33Over the hill and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go…

We spent approximately 44 hours in the car in the matter of one week. Forty four. HOURS. In the CAR. In ONE week. But it was all worth it. :)

Because of this:

1and this:

3I love the look on my sister Emily’s face as my nephew Luke attacked her with a foam sword. haha

Ahhh… family.

Yes, worth 44 hours.

Not to mention my babies:

212In case you missed my past post on this… our new (temporary) rental will not allow dogs so my babies are living with Grandma for a few months until we get to move again. I missed them an awful lot.

And so did Jon.

4

Emily decided to wear her decorative gift wrap as a headband.

5Which just so happened to match the pom pom scarf I made her. ;)

6

My other sister, Jessica, getting introduced to the Pioneer Woman. :)

7And with a new apron… she will be all ready to cook up a feast!

8

My brother, Jared… playing with a jet.

11

10Christmas was exactly as it should be… relaxing. with family. celebrating Christ’s birth. Can’t ask for more than that.

We spent a little time out around town during the week…

Somehow we ended up at Best Buy…

13My dad and Jon showing off their drummer skills. ;)

My mom and I did some shopping ourselves (more on that tomorrow).

We did make a trip to one of my favorite restaurants… Knott’s Chicken Dinner House!

23After a big ol’ chicken dinner… you get a yummy slice of Boysenberry Pie.

24Everything was still decorated for Christmas…

3635We had to pick up my FAVORITE Boysenberry Jam. I didn’t realize that Knott’s brand is not sold nationwide until I moved to Texas. No other jam will ever hold a candle to their Boysenberry jam. I’m all stocked up now. No cause for concern. :)

New Years Eve was a pizza night at my parents’ house…with the whole family. Unfortunately, I didn’t even think to take a picture. Figures, right? ;)

On our way out, we noticed these fantastic cloud formations! There were no less than four ginormous “hole-punch” circles cut out in the cloud layer… almost like looking up the center of a vortex. It was so unusual.

26 But anyway, that was the trip home to California! Now we are back in Texas and trying to get everything back in order. Today was spent unpacking and doing laundry and getting into the ol’ swing of things. Our Christmas will be coming down tomorrow… which I can’t wait to do. I feel like I am already behind with that…but I suppose that is the joy of traveling through the holidays. ;)

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!

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January 4th, 2010 |

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