Chicago

Volleyball has taken us to many places, but by far (so far!) the coolest place was Chicago. We flew into the Windy City for an Easter weekend tournament after both Tony and AJ had the stomach bug that week. We prayed that Cienna and I would stay healthy while all sharing the same hotel room. Turned out we had some luck on our side. Not only was everyone feeling better by the end of the first day, but we did not get the plague!

Our first day of being tourists we had to go see the big bean. I'm not sure why....it's not the most impressive thing I have ever seen....but TikTok said we needed to so we did.

We logged some more miles going to the Chicago Museum of Modern Art and doing a really cool "Mob Ghost Tour" around the very cold city.

We also managed to go to a White Socks game where we had a Chicago Dog and watched first hand why they call Chicago the Windy City. There were 2 pop up balls to the infield that got caught by the wind so badly that they were both dropped! It was awesome.

We went on a VERY cold archetectural boat tour. When I say cold I mean it was sleeting on us. Freezing. But we still managed to see some really cool buildings!

Probably our favorite thing was going to the Billy Goat Tavern where the burgers are as simple as can be but as good as you can dream up! A true dive. We ate there twice! The girls played well but did not win, but that was ok because we felt like we won the jackpot getting to go to Chicago and do so much in so little time!

The Carolinas

This year we spent our Spring Break in the Carolinas with Uncle Jay. Jay and Monique moved to Concord, NC a few years ago and now they are moving back to FL...so no time like the present to go for a visit! We began our trip with a trip to the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Having never been to a NASCAR track or event, it was a new experience. And while we didn't get to see a Sunday race, there were some cars on the track and we got to experience just how loud it is!

The next stop on our tour was the NASCAR Hall of Fame, also located in Charlotte, NC. Inside we found lots of classic race cars and some interactive experiences...such as being part of the pit crew and racing another team to change a tire and fill the tank with gas. It was fun!

After experiecing what appears to be North Carolina's favorite pasttime (the mall), we headed out on a road trip to Hilton Head, SC. This is where it's at! A picturesque beach town, I could definately get used to a yearly trip to Hilton Head! We rented beach cruisers and quickly discovered that you can actually ride on the sand because it is so compact. We blared Bob Marley and toured the town looking at gators and dolphins, spooky moss trees and beautiful beach homes.

Next stop was Savannah, GA for the day. It was underwhelming to say the least. The highlight of the day was when we got pulled over and Tony gave the police officer his name and he stopped writing, looked up and said "what are you? Some type of gangster?" It was a true LOL moment.

Last but certainly not least, we traveled to Charleston, SC. Here we went on a not so scary horse drawn ghost tour (honestly it was the worst ghost tour I have ever been on), and we toured a plantation before trying some soul food. The plantation tour was sad and eye opening for all.

We finished our break back at Jay and Monique's and some snuggles with Large Marge. It was a very fun way to spend a week!

Wierdest Year Ever

That pretty much sums up our 2020. Wierdest. Year. Ever. This year brought new experiences, many challenges, and a new perspective on life. We slowed down. We were thankful for our large home and even larger yard. We took lots of road trips, did lots of fishing, and became chicken people. Tony faced many difficult times. But somehow we managed to make it through, and have a fantastic Christmas to boot!

These Are A Few of Our Favorite Things!

Mimi and Papa Spent The Night

Wiped Out

Someone Wake Duke Up And Let Him Know Doganta Came!

Mimi With Sunshine

Mama Got A Brand New Bag!

It's Exhausting Work Waiting For Next Christmas! And now for your reading pleasure, our 2020 holiday newsletter!

Mexico in December!

We rounded out our COVID National Park year with a trip across the border to Puerto Penasco, Mexico right before Santa comes to town. A "short" 10 hour drive away, we arrived to beautiful but somewhat cold weather. When I think of Mexico any time of year I do not think of low 70's!

Upon our arrival, we headed out to one of our favorite haunts, Wrecked at the Reef. Good food, great drinks and lots of ambiance!

We spent the next few days sightseeing, walking the beach at low tide to explore the tide pools (the tide can vary up to 24' per day!) and just enjoying each other's company. AJ got to eat lobster for the first time, and mom may or may not have had one too many margs and tried to hide from her kids after a dip in the hot tub. Overall, it was a wonderful trip with lots of great memories made! Now it's time to get back to NM before the fat man comes down the chimney!

Cienna Schooling AJ

Good Thing We Ran Out of Sand

Wrecked at the Reef at Night

COVID Beach Walk

Low Tide

AJ Made a Friend!

First Blood

Last weekend we decided to spend a few days at the cabin and see all of the beautiful Colorado trees changing color. I had no idea that it would turn into such a bloody eventful time! Saturday morning Tony and AJ went with Beau to hunt antelope. After finding their target, they initiated AJ into the world of hunting by having him stick his hands into the chest cavity and holding it's heart!

I was relieved when AJ came home and said that he was a bit nauseous from all of the blood. I knew I wasn't raising a serial killer! After the excitement of the morning hunt we drove over to Pagosa Springs to look at all of the leaves. They did not disappoint!

And I had so much fun I forgot my pants!

Sunday morning the boys went bird hunting. Well, Beau went bird hunting and AJ just fetched the downed geese and ducks!

All in all it was a fun filled and bloody beautiful weekend!

No Es Un Bueno Cumpleanos

My birthday...was not good. It didn't mean to go that route but, alas, it did. Sit back, relax, and listen to the story that was my 41st birthday celebration. It was the week before Alexis's 41st birthday and all was going smoothly. She had ordered all of her birthday gifts (Pantagonia fleece pullover, Lululemon leggings, Ugg throw blanket) and was preparing her self for an uneventful occasion when she woke up on September 17th and could not locate her fake front tooth (aka "the flipper.) She did not immediately panic. She assumed that she had put it down in a random location to be found later in the day. It was not until nightfall when the first tinge of anxiety began to settle in. "Oh well, there is always tomorrow" she said to herself as she drifted off to sleep. The next day she awoke in a complete an utter panic. Where was the flipper? Where could it have gone? Did the mice infestation that they had recently experienced drag her flipper into a tiny little mouse house and they are using it as a TV stand? She began tearing the house apart, inch by inch. Tony and the kids joined in along with employees and any friends and neighbors who happened to stop by. No one could find it. It was gone. After a nice good crying fit Alexis said "oh well, I only have to make it one more month without a front tooth and I can do it! I have to wear a mask in public anyway so no one will know!" Out of the corner of her eye she caught Tony gently raising his hand. "Yes, Tony? What is it?" Tony meekly replied "I kind of had something planned for your birthday and you are going to need a tooth for it. Or at least, you are going to want to have a tooth in for it." No. No. No. No. No!!!! "What did you have planned my love?" she asked. "Um, well, it is supposed to be a suprise so are you sure you don't want to just keep looking for the tooth and we can keep it that way?" he replied. Alexis began to gently weep. She knew that she had already looked everywhere and anywhere that it could possibly be. It was not going to be found. "Just tell me" she said in her stern mom voice. He took 3 steps back. "Paige and Ian and Jen and Justin are flying in for your birthday on Friday. I bought tickets for the tram and we are eating dinner at the restuarant at the top on Saturday night." This was the worst possible scenario next to booking a glamour shot photo shoot with everyone she knew for the weekend. She began to sob uncontrollably. This was going to be the death of all of her self respect and dignity. The next day Tony had great news. He had called their neighbor who is a dentist and he said he could make her a new flipper in 24 hours. Crisis averted! The party was on! All was well in Alexis's world. Friday, September 18th. This is where things start to really take a nosedive. All of the preparations had been made in anticipation of the arival of Alexis's besties. Paige and Ian had just landed and Tony was picking them up when Alexis called Tony's phone and when answered all she heard was Tony screaming and Paige's voice. After a few minutes of not being able to talk to anyone she hung up. A minute later her phone rang. It was Ian from Tony's phone. "Alexis, I want to start by saying that Tony is going to be OK. He tripped and fell and hurt his arm and knocked out his front teeth." Wait, what? "He is being transported in an ambulance to the ER and we will drive his truck to your house." WTF? Why? How? Why right now? I could not wrap my brain around it. When Paige and Ian got to the house they explained, "We were driving from the airport and Tony saw something in the road. So he pulled over to run out to see what it was and a car came around the corner screetching the tires so he started running to get out of the way and he tripped and fell and in order to protect his right shoulder (oh wait, did I mention that Tony JUST had shoulder surgery on September 9th and is in an arm sling?) he put out his left arm and it snapped and he ate concrete." Oh. My. God. After 14 hours with him in the ER and 2 attempts to reduce his left shoulder back into place they decided to admit him and take him into the OR the following morning. Alexis got a whopping 4 hours of sleep and had not eaten since noon the day before. She woke up groggy and wishing, just slightly, that she did not have house guests. After a pep talk from all of her nurse friends, she decided to go on a hike and have a glass of champagne. Then the hospital called and said that Tony was all set to come home. Well here goes nothing.

Tony was feeling no pain when he arrived home from the hospital. They had relocated his shoulder and the top pallet in his mouth and had put 4 braces along his top teeth to keep them in place until they needed to be yanked out. The shanangans ensued. Please note that Alexis still has not eaten and is on 4 hours of sleep.

After attempting to catch up with everyone else (from the night before) it was time to get ready for the big dinner. The 5 of them got ready while they waited for Tony's night nurse to arrive (AKA "the Meems") and then they posed for this old school prom picture.

They were off to the tram and to enjoy (somewhat, without Tony it just wouldn't be the same) a nice dinner at the top. As they were waiting in line, they snapped this COVID friendly group photo:

That would be the last photo that Alexis remembers. Actually, once dinner was over and they were waiting for the tram ride down was the last thing that Alexis does remember. She awoke Sunday morning feeling as though she had been overserved. She was blissfully unaware of just how overserved, malnutrisioned, and dehydrated she actually was. Everyone had an early morning departure and were on their way back to their normal lives. Alexis felt like she was having an out of body experience and was in charge of a patient who could, just barely, wipe his own butt. By early evening it was evident that this was a hangover like no other. Her "check liver light" had come on. She was having a medical emergency. For the next 24 hours (which coincidently was also her actual birthday) she could not hold anything down or in. She was dying. This was it. End of story. Plot twist: She lived!