Arizona Trip!

It sounds a little strange, actually it didn't to me when I booked it, but folks asked us, why on earth we would go to Arizona in May?  One reason...guaranteed sun.  And there was plenty for sure!  We had a nice long weekend away as a family  to celebrate each other and to celebrate Rafa and I's SEVEN year anniversary.  We swam and swam, ate and drank, and found time to go hiking and visit downtown Scottsdale. Rafa and I would even have Italian take out dinners with wine at night after Lu went to bed. It was a wonderful trip with the fam and we certainly weren't ready to come home.  Lucia, as always, did awesome on all flights and totally went with the flow, naps at the pool, different foods, little toys.  She is so much fun to travel with...thank goodness!  Next year, I think we will finally venture out again and take an international family trip.  Rafa and I used to go someplace foreign every to celebrate our anniversary,  but since Lucia arrived the last 2 years have been fairly local.  I would love to go to an Island somewhere :)

Hugs

Lucia has always been one cuddly little babe, but just this week, she started giving the biggest and best hugs, right around the neck. And once she wraps her little arms around you, she just stays and stays. My how I love this way to start and end a day. Simply heaven.

Multnomah Falls

So what is a visit to Portland without going to Multnomah Falls.  It as an exceptionally cold and wet day, so we didn't stay long, but we did stay long enough to view these gorgeous falls and get some hot chocolate ;)

Family.

So we were a party of 11 at certain times during the last few weeks, so many folks that I even ran out of blankets!  But despite the lack of bedding and the complete chaos that comes with a huge family visit, the times we spent together were wonderful and special.  Living apart from family, I will never take for granted the chances we get to spend together.  And this visit was a time for building relations, learning more about one another, and sometimes even forgiveness.  Life is like that, for family can be sometimes comforting and sometimes complicated, but at the end of the day and in the midst of a lovely life, it is family that brings us together to remind us what is important after all, happiness.  Until we all meet again....