Full of Thanks

The holidays always hold a teeny tiny bit of apprehension for me.  I worry it won't all work out.  Feelings will get hurt.  I won't spend enough time focusing on the TRUE meaning of the season.  My kids will be exhausted.  I will burn the one batch of cookies I decide to make.  The gifts I pick will be wrong.  I will forget to buy a gift.  I will be tired and crabby at the wrong time. I could go on, but like I said... just a teeny, tiny bit of apprehension. 

But wow 2012 is proving me wrong this year.  Thanksgiving was great.  It was easy and painless.  I was assigned the veggie tray and cranberries so no chance of screw up there.  And the weekend that followed turned out to be just wonderful.  We finally went on the "Destination Christmas Present" that was given to us in 2011 by Justin's Parents.

It started out as the gift that kept on giving...*wink wink* but when we finally decided that Sedona was the place we would spend two nights exploring it was pure relief on all fronts.  

SEDONA

The Girls wasted no time getting in the pool.  (Yes, heated...but still it is November!)

The first night we walked through the lovely Light Display at Los Abrigados Resort.  Carissa spotted Santa and decided to get a closer look.  I loved that she is a pure hearted little 6 year old.  Full of belief and hope. 

 

She had a nice long chat with St. Nick.  He even whispered to her that he loved milk and cookies.  There is a strong possibility this wasn't one of Santa's Spies.  She thought it might have been the REAL one!  Audrey choose not to participate...

 

 The next day we headed out into the desert for a full 8 hours of 4-wheeling. 

 

 

Pink Goggles? Check.  Set Belts fastened? Check.  Let's hit the dirt! 

(You might not know this but apparently my family has a Need for Speed.)

 

 Our first stop took us to this cave on the side of a mountain.  Now I didn't personally witness this sight for fear of ... well, my life.  But Daddy took the girls.  And Grandma.  The next part is her story to tell so I won't include it but I will say it reconfirmed that I made the right choice.

 

So far we had diverted soo many obstacles.  Spirits were really high and the girls weren't even minding the hike.  It was like the aura of Sedona was flowing through all.  Until...

Audrey fell hands first into a cactus. 

 

If it was going to be anyone, it would be her. 

 

So we spent a good while extracting as many needles as we could then moved on. 

 

Next stop was the Hohokam Ruins (more Pics here).  They were over 1,000 years old.

  It made my life seem slightly insignificant in the grand scheme of things.   

 

The trip was fantastic.  We went.  We did.  We were spoiled by the Grandparents. 
*thank you thank you thank you*





With our new found love of 4-wheeling we may be doing it again very soon. 

 



 

Oh, and it's true what they say about Sedona.  It IS very calming.  Everything just felt right - so we couldn't resist!

 

To the great annoyance of our darling daughters!!