four corners and things...

Last weekend, my mom and I had our third annual girl’s trip. We went to the Four Corners area of my home state, and it has to be said: there is not much life going on down yonder. I mean, there’s Moab (which is pretty spectacular)…but beyond that, it’s just a whole lot of NUTTIN’.

But do you know what? That doesn’t matter. Not when I’m with Momma. We always have so much fun when we’re together; even in the remotest of places where all you see is a whole lot of nearly-dead landscape (we’re talking sagebrush and tumbleweeds and…umm…an occasional trailer home…aaaaand, like, dirt and weeds)…

Even in such bleak surroundings, Mom and I have ourselves a good time. *cue the cackling*

Mom and I left Thursday morning and headed south on I15. We drove and drove until we hit Moab (which, as it turns out, isn’t so bleak and depressing as basically everything south of it), where we stopped for a late lunch. We ate at a tasty place called Twisted Sisters, and then we headed northward (for just a minute) to the Wolfe Ranch trailhead. And then we hiked to the Delicate Arch.

On the drive to the Wolfe Ranch trailhead.
Mom and I decided they look rather Egyptian.

I had lied, as it turns out, to my mother. I told her that the hike to the Delicate Arch was only 3 miles round-trip, and that it was mostly flat. (I was right about the distance, but the hike itself was more up-hilly than I remembered. That’s the way it always goes; I’ve hiked to the Delicate Arch 4 times now, and the optimist in me remembers it as a basic nature walk. I’m not saying it’s a horribly difficult hike, but it ain’t flat, either. The second time I was about to hike it, I didn’t even take a water bottle. Sure, we hiked it at night that time around, but COME ON, Gina! Take a dang water bottle! What can it hurt?)

Anyway, it was a rather warm day…somewhere in the mid 80s…and it was up-hilly.

Just follow the cairns... 

But the view was totally worth it…

Swoon, huh?

The first of several selfies of the weekend...

Oh look, another selfie. (Can you see a tiny bit of the arch between us?)

After hiking the Delicate Arch, we got back on the road and headed on south to...Monticello, Utah.

Have you ever heard of Monticello? I'm not sure I had until I started looking at hotels down in the "Four Corners Area" of Utah, to be honest. We were either going to stay in Monticello or Blanding, and we opted for Monticello because they have a temple there, and we wanted to do a session there. And do you want to know something? Besides the temple, there's not much else in that teeny, tiny community. 

Aaaanyway, we got to our hotel later than we intended, and we took the quickest showers of our lives, and we rushed off to the temple (which was less than 1/4 mile from our hotel) to make it to the 7:15 session in time. 

We made it in plenty of time, by the way. (I think we were dressed and seated with more than 20 minutes to spare; but we'd rather be early than late.)

It's a wee little temple, but the workers inside were some of the kindest people I've ever met.

We didn't get out of the temple until around 9:30, and by that time I was stupid with hunger, so we drove around the little town (it took all of five minutes) in search of a place to eat. The only "restaurant" that was open was Subway, which was actually inside a gas station. But I was ever so grateful that it was open. (I'm telling you, we drove past the little grocery store, and it seemed like that might've even been closed by then.)

Wow, I'm being really wordy here, aren't I?

Let's see if I can be more concise for the remainder, shall we? 

Friday morning, we found our way to Four Corners Monument: Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico. It was quite hot, and we enjoyed walking around the artisan booths looking at Native American jewelry and sand paintings, etc. Then we weaseled our way into the gaggle of human tourists to get our picture taken as we sat on all four states at the same time.

Along the way, Mom said, "I wonder how many snakes per square foot there are out here."

My butt was in Arizona, and Mom's was in Utah. Boom, baby.

This was obviously another selfie...

After Four Corners, we headed to Cortez, Colorado, to check out the Indian ruins...but I hadn't done enough homework to figure out exactly where the hyroglyphics were located, and my GPS led us into private property, so we didn't get to see the writing on the wall...

The locked gate was the telltale sign that we were on the wrong road.
Thanks a LOT, modern technology!

Instead we hightailed it to Mesa Verde National Park, and blah, blah, blah...we went on a ranger guided tour of something called Balcony House. We ended up going up a rather high, steep ladder, and my feet were sweating the whole time in my dang Chacos. It was a dang cool tour, though...

Before we got to our tour, we stopped a few times to take pictures of the cliff side dwellings.

It's crazy to think that people lived right inside the cliffs like they did!
Just for reference: this cliff house here? It's at the top of a very steep cliff.

This cliff, to be precise.

At Balcony House. This is right about the time that my feet started sweating...

This was another ladder. Not as high as the first.

Inside Balcony House

Ummm...this is looking at one of the Kivas, I think.

Proof(ish) that we were there.

This part was the worst. These teeny, narrow little steps cut into the cliff side.
You better believe I white-knuckled the chains the whole way up. While praying.

After Balcony House, we headed back to Monticello. Fortunately, we got to town before all the restaurants closed up, and we ate at a rather tasty diner called PJ's Restaurant. Delicious burger and fries, PJ. Good job.

Since the night was still rather young (8:00ish), we walked all over the tiny town of Monticello to get in some exercise and see the sights:

"The sights" include the temple. And that's it.

I slept like a champ on Friday night. I think I crashed at, like, 10:00. Wow. And I do have to give a shout-out to our hotel (Inn at the Canyons); the room was very clean, and the bed is probably the most comfortable hotel bed I've ever slept on...

Saturday morning came, and northward we went! We stopped in Payson to check out the progress on the temple there. Also, we walked by the Provo City Center temple to see how it was coming along. Then we ate at a place called Guru's (YUM!), then we went to SLC for some shopping.

Maybe Four Corners isn't the most exciting place to take a little trip, but I think it's rad to have stood in four states at the same time. Mesa Verde is a really rad NP I didn't even know existed. And, as always, a weekend away with Momma was stupendous.

CHRISTMAS!!!

There is so much to love about Christmas, you know...

Going home and spending time with the family. Playing games. Watching movies. Making tasty food with Mama, and eating the tasty food we made. Driving around town in a winter wonderland to see the lovely Christmas lights. Chasing my cute nieces and nephews around...

(I just realized that most of the things I mentioned can be done regardless of the time of year, but whatever; the fact remains that I love Christmas.)

I went home a couple of days before Christmas, and I did all of the lovely things I mentioned above.

We broke tradition this year, and instead of having turkey for our O-family Christmas Eve dinner, we had pulled pork. (Mom and Dad were given a mostly-thawed turkey a few days after Thanksgiving, and Mom couldn't even think about eating turkey, let alone preparing and baking one.) I had no qualms with that; pulled pork is near the top of my "favorite foods" list. (Let's not go there right now, though...that list is rather extensive.)

YUUUUUMMMMM!

Yeah. Lots of Dec. 23rd was spent in the kitchen with my mama. (I like spending time in the kitchen with my mama.) ALSO, Dad totally went with me and Mom to see the Christmas lights around town. He insisted on driving (won't tell you why--unless you ask), but he totally drove slow enough for us to enjoy the show :)

On Christmas Eve, Brent and I saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie. We totally loved it. (And nobody understands it less than I do, but WHAT THE HECK?! How is it that Jude Law is a stone fox even when he wears a mustache?!? Gah!)

Shortly after we got back from our matinee, I discovered that I wasn't feeling well. At all. Yucky tummy feelings, you see. I figured it would go away, but I felt worse as time marched on.

And by the time my brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews got to my parents' place for our Christmas Eve party...well. Whatever. I didn't eat dinner with my family that night. The worst part, though, was being in the same room as my cute nieces and nephews and not being able to chase them and cuddle with them and gobble them up.

Definition of self-control:
Being presented with this cute face and keeping my lips to myself.
It was agony, folks.

Anyway...my brothers/sisters-in-law and I did our gift exchange (Brent got me a cool hand mixer), and we watched the kids open a gift from my folks. (I love watching my kids open gifts!)

I ended up going to bed early that night, and then...

Christmas morning wake-up call...

On Christmas morning, Vance, Abby and Jane came over to open gifts with Mom, Dad, Brent and me. Janie got super excited about, I think, every single one of her gifts, so unwrapping took a while (which is fantastic!). I was most excited about my new Magic Bullet. (If you click on that link, I won't lie: it's a dumb infomercial, but I LOVE my Magic Bullet!)

ANYWAY...

Christmas ended up being very lovely (although the lack of snow was a bit disappointing). We went to church, and my little stomach flu (or whatever it was) went away (ish), so I was able to eat a bit of leftovers from Christmas Eve. We played games and watched a Christmas movie (I think?) and relaxed and totally enjoyed ourselves.

Aaaand I also enjoyed the rest of my trip to Utah.

I went with Mom and Dad to babysit Aaron and Amy's boys while they went to dinner and a movie...and since I was feeling better, I got to play with my nephews! (HOORAY!)

Silly Seth

You better believe I planted my lips on his cheeks as often as possible...

Wow...Jackson looks so much like his daddy!

 Umm...what else? I hung out a bit with Vance, Abby and Jane...

Oh, how I love my Janie...

The biggest bummer is that Goose and his family were gone for Christmas (they were visiting Janel's family in WA), so I didn't get to chill with them and chase their little ones around...

BUT! I met up with my dear friends Julia and Jamie for lunch the day before I headed back to Idaho, and that was LOVELY! 

And now...I'm back in Idaho. I got my hair did this morning, and I've fallen ill once again. (Not a stomach thing this time, but still...what the devil is this all about?!)

Already looking forward to the next time I can spend some more time with my stupendous family...

Christmas Lights...

Last night as I was driving home from the Temple (at about 9:20pm), I noticed lots of houses decked out in Christmas lights. And I totally loved it. I actually took the long way home (and may or may not have gotten slightly turned around in the process), driving around (unfamiliar) neighborhoods and subdivisions to really revel in the Christmas spirit that was so prevalent in my heart last night.

A few days ago Nearly two weeks ago, I posted about the things I love so much about this Blessed Season...

I forgot to mention another O-fam tradition, started in the early days of my youth.

A few evenings before Christmas, my family would pile into the Ford Aerostar van, and we'd drive around town to look at the Christmas lights.

This picture was taken on my phone a couple of years ago
on a drive around town with Mom and Brent.
ISN'T IT AWESOME?! It's, like, a real-life gingerbread house!

Some of us enjoyed this tradition more than others.

Now, I'm not going to name names, but...okay, yes I am. MY DAD was one of the fellas who didn't particularly love this tradition. (To each his own.) But he was a good sport, and he was typically the one in the driver's seat.

I honestly can't remember exactly when it happened, but one year (was I still in elementary school?), Dad was particularly unexcited about driving around to see the lights. He didn't really grumble much (or maybe he did?); what I remember distinctly about this time in particular is that Dad drove by each house at warp speed, and the lights seemed more like a blur of colors. There was absolutely NO slowing down to enjoy the lights, not this time. The entire trip (which took in a good portion of my hometown) took a total of something like 15 minutes--including loading all seven of us into and out of the van.

It was a total bummer.

And we haven't let Dad live it down ever since.

Anyway, last night as I was driving around looking at the lights, I called my folks at home--and who do you think answered, but my dear Dad!

I told him that I had a stellar idea: to drive around Brigham City the evening I get home for the holidays. And that I sweetly requested his presence. He told me, "I'll consider it," no less than five times.

Then he handed the phone to Mom; I asked her if he told her of my awesome plan (which he hadn't, probably because he's not excited about the idea. At all). But Mom likes my plan. And she heard Dad say (no less than five times!) that he'd consider it!

I think between the two of us, Mom and I can coerce Dad into coming with us.

And one of the girls will be driving; Dad will have to passengate (that's a word Mom came up with on the spot: a verb, meaning "the act of being a passenger." I get my brains from my Mama).

I'm still a little over a week out from heading on home for the holidays, and I've been excited about it since, roughly, the day after Thanksgiving.

And I'm kinda getting sentimental for our upcoming drive around town to see the lights this year...

Ginabean Loves Christmas...

You guys?

It's December 3. And do you know what that means?

THREE WEEKS UNTIL CHRISTMAS EVE!

I love Christmas SO MUCH! I love going home to spend time with my family. (I could actually stop my list right there, and my Christmas would be COMPLETE.)

We have some fun traditions (and maybe some silly ones?). When we were little kids, my brothers and I always got to unwrap a gift on Christmas Eve, and it would always be a new pair of jammies. (Now? We're all grown up...but the still-single children of my parents--namely, me and Brent--still get a Christmas Eve gift, but it's something more sensible. I'll leave it at that.)

Also, each Christmas morning, we'd wake up (no earlier than 6am), gather round my folks' bed, have a family prayer given by Mama (that always seemed to last SO LONG!), then go to the front room and find our stockings. Then Dad would give us our gifts one at a time so that we could watch everyone open each gift. Also, each year we get our own box of cereal. (Where was the year that we all opened our individual boxes, and we all got frosted mini wheats--except for Goose, who got Fruity Pebbles. Can you guess who helped Dad pick the cereal out that year?)

Ahhhhh! TRADITION!

Since we've all grown up, we've...adjusted some of the traditions at the O-household. Now we usually get together on Christmas Eve for dinner and a gift exchange and all that jazz. (Yep. I'm excited for Christmas Eve.)

Other stuff I enjoy about the Christmas season?

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER Christmas albums. I grew up with Mannheim Steamroller and I own most of their Christmas albums, and their music just lifts my spirit. Every time I listen to them. Especially Silent Night and Greensleeves. Honestly: they're both so beautiful I  could cry...

Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL is spectacular. Aaron introduced me to the tradition of reading it every year. I usually read it shortly after Thanksgiving. This year will be my fifth year. I love the story and its message. (I haven't read it yet because I have to finish reading The Hobbit first.)

Speaking of A Christmas Carol...it ain't Christmas without watching THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL. I don't even care if you judge me that I think this is the best Christmas Carol movie I've ever seen; I think nothing can touch the Muppet version. Nothing. I watch it at least twice every Christmas season. (Seriously? What's better than combining the genius of Charles Dickens with the genius of Jim Henson? NOTHING!)

Also? For some reason, Muddy Buddies make me think of Christmas...

Aaaand also: SCARVES. I love scarves. Dressing in layers is my thang anyway, and I don't love feeling cold, so covering my neck is an idea I can get behind. (And I totally do.)

This is what Christmas looks like at our place:

O CHRISTMAS TREE, O CHRISTMAS TREE...

Lovely...

Oh, yes. I love scarf season.