Happy Birthday to Grandpa!!

Look at those beautiful NM skies!!

We certainly enjoyed our weekend for MANY reasons, but the top two reasons were: 1. we returned to the Land of Enchantment and 2. we got to see Nana and Grandpa Lionbarger!! We thoroughly treasured our visit with family (and friends) and we were downright giddy being so close to home :-). We enjoyed some shopping (three cheers for birthday flat screen tv's and Mac laptop's), Farmer's Market strolling, eating great NM foods, piano playing, singing, game playing, laughing and even living room rearranging and decluttering while we were there. We are so blessed to have wonderful, healthy, happy, fun grandparents to visit and we praise The Lord for them everyday!!

Enjoying the cozy comforts of Nana and Grandpa's home!!

 

Celebrating Grandpa's birthday!!

 

 

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Homeschooling on the Road!!

It really has been amazing all of the places we have gotten to school during this trip...the far north, south, east and west corners of this great nation... even Discount Tire!! We accomplished our lessons while the truck was getting its tires balanced and rotated. We have put many miles on our hard-working Dodge truck, so tire attention was much needed. What wonderful places and adventures our truck has taken us, for sure!!

 

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Only in Texas!!

Only in Texas will the speed limit be 80 mph!! Rest easy that we won't be going 80 mph as we haul this big load down the road!! Plus, the winds have been horrible the last few days :-(. We have gotten to see lots of dust devils and tumbleweeds though!!

 

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Santa Elena Canyon, Big Bend

The cliffs at the mouth of the canyon

We had a couple of great hikes through the National Park, but I think our favorite was through the Santa Elena Canyon which wove through the huge, majestic cliffs that were cut by the Terlingua Creek...

Really nice pic of the cliff walls and the Terlingua Creek

 

Where's Luke?!!

 

Let's play "Lionbarger"...which means "king of the hill/mtn"...

 

 

 

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Everyone's a Lobo...woof, woof, woof!!

Even on the road we are huge supporters of UNM Lobo basketball...On Saturday, the Lobos had a huge win against Colorado State, in Ft. Collins and we got to watch it from of the middle of Big Bend...woof, woof, woof!!! It was a great game!!

 

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Big Bend National Park

I've taken lots of pictures in this desert of south west Texas, so I will just try to pick some of my favorites...

 

Driving into the far area of the National Park where our Rio Grande Valley Campground. I love the Mesa mountains in the background!!

Old building of a storefront in Big Bend near the hot springs...it was privately owned before it was sold to the govt. The owner of the property with the hot springs advertised its healing properties so people came from far and wide to sit in the healing waters...

 

The healing waters of the hot springs!!

 

The hot springs empties into the Rio Grande.

 

Pretty Texas wild flowers :-)

 

Majestic terrain of Big Bend

 

Majestic moon rise over the mesa of Big Bend

 

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Seminole Canyon State Park

Our guide Kevin...he was very knowledgable and fun to listen to!!

We spent one quick overnight trip in Seminole Canyon State Park as we were making our way to Big Bend and we took a tour of the caves and pictographs of the ancient people which was really neat!! Our wifi and cell services have been really poor in this part of Texas, so I will keep this quite short. We have successfully made it to Big Bend and are really enjoying it here...the nights are very cold and the days are very warm...just like the deserts of home!! Love and miss you all and can't wait to see you soon!!

On the canyon floor looking up...

 

One of several caves where the pictographs were found

 

 

 

Looking at the canyon floor, from the top of the cave...can you see the indentation that looks like a giant foot print?!? Cool huh!!

 

Our good-bye sunset :-)

 

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The Lone Star State

We landed in the big state of Texas over the weekend and have made our way to San Antonio where we have spent the last couple of days touring the Alamo and the Riverwalk. I tell you, I just LOVE Texas!! Feels like coming home :-))

 

The church...one of the only remaining structures standing.

 

In the gardens inside the courtyard of the Alamo.

 

 

The famous San Antonio Riverwalk...everything I'd imagined it would be...absolutely breathtaking!!

 

 

Sooooo lovely!!

 

 

 

Having lunch with music included :-)

 

Paigey had to feed the duckies...look closely...

 

Can you see the ducklings?!? They were sooooo cute...Paige wanted to take these home too!! Could you imagine us bringing home a stray kitten and brand new baby ducklings?!?

 

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Our Valentines's Day Visitor

I've done it...we're back online with the blog and I'm so happy because you just HAD to see who our special Valentine was who joined us for dinner...and with her, came much LOVE!!

When John was cooking our chicken fajitas on the grill for dinner that night, a stray kitty (we estimate she was about 6 months to a year old) came to see if we would share our meal...and of coarse, WE DID!! Slowly she began to trust us and we even coaxed her into our camper with the irresistible chicken. She reminded us so much of home and she warmed up to us so much that we seriously thought of taking her on the road with us and bringing her back home. She even stayed in our warm, cozy, loving camper all night and slept in bed with Lila!! The next morning, she went out, did her potties and then came back inside to have her breakfast :-). Man, we really wanted to keep her...but when we tried to put her in the truck as we were leaving, she jumped out of our hands and ran off into the woods. We all cried as we pulled out of our campground that morning...never to see our sweet friend again :-(

She was automatically partial to Lila

 

We had our bellies AND our hearts full on that night!!

 

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