We had the greatest time in Albuquerque last week. You have to get out of a small town once in awhile or you start going crazy. I need a mall once in awhile, maybe a new place to eat out, some interestingness in new faces. Albuquerque is a really neat place to visit and I’m so glad we got to get away.

The babies did really well sleeping in a new place, which I worried about. The first day we wore the kids out so much that Noah wouldn’t fall asleep– cried hysterically. I finally got him to sleep and he was conked for the night. The next 2 nights we all slept like babies. We stayed at a nice suite and it had two seperate areas, so Austin even had his own bedroom and tv. It was wonderful. The hotel cooked a beautiful breakfast for free, complete with anything the heart could desire. They also had a happy hour from 5-7 pm where we could get free drinks while a clown entertained the kiddos– painting faces, being silly, blowing balloon animals. The hotel also had an indoor pool and an arcade for Austin. Fun for all!

We ate at the most amazing buffetts (I gained 2 pounds. Yes, I weighed myself to see what vacation(s) had done to me), went to Old Navy where we stocked up on clothes for the kids, ate at this awesome place called “Itz” where the kids (and us old farts) all had a blast! (Click on photos for larger view)

 I kicked Austin’s butt in some horse racing…

I also managed to get my butt kicked by the tweenaged girls and Austin during a round of bumber cars…

Jeremy and Bella had a blast on the roller coaster. It moved surprisingly fast for a toddler coaster and Bella was such a sport! She loved it and made me ride it too. Between the bumper cars and the roller coaster, I was struggling to hold on to my over-indulged pizza buffet dinner.

We went to the Zoo on Saturday and made great memories there. You should totally check out my Flickr pics because I got some great pictures of some of the animals.

Nooskers loved the Aquarium…

 Jeremy was all romantic and picked me a rose for my hair.

But, OMGoodness, this is the best part:

This mommy monkey brought her baby right up to the window and showed us her baby. She held the baby up to show us! She nursed her baby just 2 feet in front of us. She watched Bella and showed her the baby. Finally I leaned into her (the momma monkey) while puckering my lips and… WHAP… She smacked me in the face! I guess she doesn’t like kisses from other women. She then left us, laughing, and with a great memory to last a lifetime! Bella tells EVERYONE how the “Momma monkey smacked mommy in the face!” So cute. But the momma monkey was just trying to let me know I was getting to close for comfort, protecting her baby. And you can see why she’s so protective. I mean, LOOK at this face!

Anyways, it was an amazing trip. I’m so happy that I got to have 2 wonderful vacations– one with my birth family, one with my created family. I’m in awe of how blessed I am. Life is beautiful.

I got tagged again, this time by Robyn. And this one is a fun meme too, so I’m happy to give her a try. Consider yourself tagged if you want to be:

4 Favorite Jobs:

1. My very favoritest job was a Modeling Instructor for an Agency I won’t bother mentioning. I got to travel, meet interesting (though not all very nice) people, make very good money, etc. My very favorite aspect of modeling was runway. I was TERRIBLE in front of a camera, so runway and makeup were my favorite subjects to teach. I quit my job after my 2003 car accident which left me with some problems physically. I wasn’t sure I could handle keeping my full time job with the government and juggle the part time work with the Agency with my new health problems. Also, I got pregnant with Bella and then Noah. It was really hard to leave. Really, really hard.

2. My government job was sooooo fantabulous. I loved it more that a person should love “work”. It was extremely rewarding. I was offered a 10% raise not to leave, but was heart set on being a stay at home mommy. I sure loved my job, and it was a hard choice.

3. You’re so totally going to get a kick out of this. I worked at McDonalds when I was 19. Probably because I just didn’t have any experience or self esteem. But? I LOVED it! I love being good at what I do, and take pride in it no matter what it is I’m doing. The McDonalds I worked at was super fast paced and the day would zoom by. I went home stinky and greasy, but I really tried to make the best of it. I remember hearing that they would hire me on at $5 an hour and I was all, “Hell yeyah, I’m rich. I’m makin’ the big bucks.” Silly girl. Five dollars an hour!?

4. My first job was for The Limited clothing store. I loved the discount mostly. I hated the job. But since I have to name 4…

4 Favorite Local Places:

1. The Children’s Museum

2. The Park

3. The River

4. The Recreation Center

I’m such a bore…

4 Favorite Foods:

1. Chinese anything

2. Minty sweets

3. Honey Bunches of Oats

4. Italian anything

4 Favorite International Places

1. & 2. I’ve only been to England and Jamaica, so obviously those are my 2 favorite.

3. Would like to go to France.

4. Would love to visit Africa. And Belize, Greece, and Australia.

Your turn!

Uggghh. I’m so glad to be back home! We decided Thursday to go to the Hot Springs for a day but decided instead to drive to Albuquerque for a short stay. It was a wonderful time but I’m so glad to be home. We went to the Zoo one of those days and I have some fun pictures and stories to tell about that in my next post. But for now, I wanted to finish my post about my visit to NC:

I can’t even tell you how special this trip was for me. It was so healing and emotional and beautiful every moment. It was jam pack full of quality time with my family. I spent every night but the last with my dad and his wife. We talked, caught up, laughed. It was amazing. I spent time with my sister and grandmother too. Everyone got along to boot!

On Mom’s would-a-been 51st birthday, I took my sister and grandmother to Mom’s gravesite. We brought balloons and each wrote messages to Mom on them. Then we let them go and watched as they rose to the sky. We put fresh flowers on her grave and spent some time talking out loud to her like she was with us. And, even though I know her spirit is no longer where her body rests, I know she was with us– laughing, talking, smiling.

I laughed so hard I cried with my sister. We walked everywhere hand in hand like the old days. I love her so much. She’s so special to me, and I spend every day missing our connection.

I love her eyes.

I spent some time with her daughter, Mariah. My sister has given up custody of her daughter and doesn’t see her. Long story there. But Mariah’s father welcomes me in Mariah’s life and I am so grateful for that. I send her presents and cameras in the mail, he send the camera back full of pictures. But there’s nothing better than getting to give her the presents in person and to hold her. It’s amazing how much you can love someone you hardly get to see. She is a little doll!

I had a wonderful afternoon with my cousin, Chanda, and her 3 boys. We ended my stay with her with a delicious dinner and some yummy wine. It was soooo awesome catching up with her, getting to know her little fellas, and sharing stories of our childhood. I love her as much as I did when we were kiddos. Chanda memories are some of the best I have and I am soooo, soooo happy we had some time together.

I also had a wonderful time with Meghan! She is beautiful and funny and I am sort of sad that she lives so far away because I just know we’d be best buds if she lived closer. Her son, Xan, is an adorable and amazing tot, even more so in person. I would have loved to pack Meghan, Xan, and his fluffy cute cheeks in my suitcase and bring them home with me! Thank you Meghan for a wonderful afternoon and, also, for Photoshopping the huge zit on my chin out of this picture!

It was a wonderful trip, one that I’m sure I will be digesting for a while. I’m so glad I went. I missed Jeremy and the kiddos so, so much. But the time went so fast and here I am, arms full again. More about the Albuquerque trip later!

I’m baaa-aack! I got back home Tuesday evening, after a very eventful flight. But the whole trip was eventful and amazing. There wasn’t a moment in those 5 days that I didn’t absolutely love. Let me tell you a little bit about it…

Did I mention that I HATE flying? Oh yes. I hate it. My brain works in weird and strange ways when it comes to fear and I’m very fearful when flying. I’m probably my most freaked out when the plane takes off and lands. My hands sweat so much that I have to clinch a paper towel during the flight and my hands NEVER sweat. This says so much about how scared I actually am on a plane. And? I truly believe that the plane is going to crash. I pray. I clinch the back of the seat in front of me. I sometimes cry a little. I pray some more. Outloud. I think God thinks I’m a total woos. He’s very right. But, Canadian Whiskey, coke, and a bag of pretzels cure about every ailment…

The wedding was sooooo beautiful.

I got to see my family for the first time in 13 years. I loved seeing their faces and all of the beautiful changes. The laugh lines. The crows feet. The last time I saw most of my cousins and my step-brother was when we were teenagers. It was amazing to see my cousins as parents, my aunts and uncles as grandparents. I loved seeing my grandparents again. They are absolutely amazing, and their love for one another is so sweet, so special. They set such a loving example for us all.

I want to tell you about everything, but our house is so chaotic right now and I wanted to at least let you know that I am alive and sooo very well. We decided to take a trip to the Hot Springs today and I’m overwelmed with unpacking so that I can repack (not to mention still trying to catch my breath from the trip). I’ve missed you and will be back onto a regular blogging schedule soon!