Our annual pilgrimage westward brought us to the cactus-filled deserts (HOT!) and piney-wood mountains (NOT hot!) of Arizona.
This was a particularly special sojourn, because it reunited all of the Plaxico family (Plaxicos! Garechts! Wrights!), AND it allowed us to celebrate the health and healing of my Dad (Pops!) and of Mike (the Hubs!). Nobody does massive car accident, brain surgery and lung disease recovery like those two Dudes.
#MedicalOverAchievers
And God is good, people. God is so very good.
Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him….
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music…
Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; let them sing before the Lord!
Psalm 98:1,4,8
We had a grand ole time together.
But I’m jumping ahead of myself (and my penchant for telling long, emotive, adjective-bedazzled stories).
Let’s start at the beginning with…
TRAVELIN’!
By air and by land for over 12 delightful hours (unexpected flight delays included)!!!
(Nothing like some bonus hours in the car to get everyone excited! Winners!!!)
But we persisted. We persevered. And we perspired. But with a critical assist from In-and-Out-Burger, we prevailed!
And made it to
Sprucedale Ranch!
A place of beauty.
Of God’s creative masterpiece unveiled.
(Cue smiles returning to our Littles’ faces.)
(The *many* chocolate chip cookies we stole from Nena and Pop’s cabin didn’t hurt matters either.)
Henceforth we let the good times roll! Er…ride?
With…
COUSINS!
PORCH ROCKIN’!
COWBOY GROOVIN’!
Sister wrangle!
Someone needed to show those wranglers how to manage those horses in (sore bum, creaky knees, City Slicker) style.
HORSIN’ AROUND!
FAMILY EQUINE ADVENTURIN’!
Coyboyin’ can sure be tirin’!
FURRY CUDDLIN’!
COW MILKIN’!
TRACTORS and HAY RIDIN’!
RODEO RIDIN’!
Keyhole and Poles races
Even in the rain!
BUCKAROO AWARDIN’!
The Little Sir won the extra special award for #1 Cowboy!
(Oh my word, people, he was so excited! Thanks, Mr. Whitney!)
SKIT NIGHT & DANCIN’!
We were the Sprucedale Comedians for the night. Complete with a costumed rough-rider ensemble, pop-up punch lines, and encore performances.
One of my favorite jokes was made up by the Little Sir himself…
Caleb: What do you call a Ranch Owner who jumps into a river fully clothed?
Little Sir William: A Mister WET-ny!
(A certain Uncle of the Littles may also have taken part in said river jumping. Though regrettably for all innocent onlookers, his cowboy drapery was somewhat “lacking.” Thankfully, no horses, crawdads, or small-people-eyes were harmed in the taking of these photos.)
All the rest of the…
REVELRY AND SHENANIGANS
(Far too many to capture them all.)
Oh Sprucedale. There’s no place like you in the whole wide world. You were the cherry of top of what was a very big, very hard, very wonderful year. Parting is so hard (particularly when the Hubs and I get lost on the road out, can’t connect our phones to any GPS system, and accidentally take the CURVY route that provides for many hours of Littles’-vomit-catching-and-cleaning excitement).
But nonetheless, in the words of everyone’s favorite Terminator,
[WE’LL] BE BACK!!!
(Just with better maps next time.)
**********
We wrapped up our Westward Journey with a short jaunt to
Tucson
where we came to a deeper appreciation of words sizzle, swelter, and air conditioning, and had the BEST time visiting Martha and Jeff. They are dear friends from our DC days and Godparents to the Little Miss.
We love you, Martha and Jeff! You are Hosts Extraordinaire!
Desert Hike!
We found water!
And our inner sweaty zen.
We *may* have been a little loopy by the end of our grand Westward Adventure. But we sure did have FUN!
Till next time!
Happy Trails!