Weekend in Durango

This was my first trip to Durango, although Sam has been there many times, and even Rachel has been there once already.

Collecting firewood near our campsite-loving that this is only 3 hours away from Chinle.

Loving that I put her songs on my mp3 player--made for a nice car ride...if you don't mind listening to her singing along to all of the songs :-)

Hanging out at camp (she was drawing a silly picture of me and showing Sam how funny it was. --you can see the one she drew of Sam on the front.)

Another project was figuring how many states we have each been to-the official tally is:

Sam: 28

Amber: 22

Rachel: 12

We went for a hike--and this was the view--awesome! Thankfully we got to drive most of the way and the hike was only 3/4 mile.

My new Nantasket Beach sweatshirt that is now my favorite!

I would just like to say that for once, I didn't forget anything. WAHOO! (Heidi--you would be so proud!) It was convenient though that the city was just a ten minute drive from the campsite. We got in late Friday night and then spent Saturday afternoon in Durango-had some great Mexican food, played at a park, bought some groceries, and browsed through some small bookstores (I was annoyed they didn't have any used books though--who pays $26 for a book-even if it is a hardback?)

Photo montage of the rez

I have posted some pics of our house and our neighborhood but I have had some requests to show more pics of the town. So here goes...enjoy!

Denied?!

So yesterday while following an insider's tip we found this new video rental store that sells snowcones. Which is cause for double the excitement--not only can we get yummy snowcones without buying them out of the trunk of someone's car at the flea market, but we now have a place to rent videos! (the only only video store I knew about went out of business last month) :-(

So Yesterday I snapped this picture--look how happy Rach is with her snow cone and checking out the movies to rent. Wednesday's are $1 day so I planned to come back the next day to rent one.

I thought it would be my new favorite place....Until....

I returned today and took my time browsing all of the options before choosing 2. I was the only one in the store until right then when 3 people came in and got in line as well. So I waited patiently in line while the world's slowest person made 3 snowcones. Then I walked up and handed the girl my movies and she said "What is your account number?"
And I said "Oh, I actually don't have one yet, I need to sign up for one today." :-) :-)

"Ohhhh, we actually aren't taking any new members right now. hhmmmmm. Maybe check back in a couple of months."

I was pretty confused. The only kinds of places I have ever heard turning people away are high end gyms so they don't get over crowded and maybe Doctor's offices when they aren't accepting any new patients. But a video store...C'MON!! I would have thought that their store--half full of VHS tapes and decked out in homemade signs made with crayons and markers on posterboard and notebook paper could have used my $2.....but apparently I am mistaken. Apparently it is a high end, highly selective, member's only kind of place.

Good Grief! And they wonder why most people just buy pirated movies from the flea market.

Boston Trip - Day 7

• The Forecast: Rain in the morning, a short window of sunshine from 9am to noon, then rain the rest of the day
• The plan: Drive into Boston asap and have fun in the sun while it lasts and then head home (we were actually out of the house by 8:15am to make it happen--that is how serious we were)

Rachel was sad because I told her we could sit in the front row but then I made her move further back so we could sit next to our friends. I was a little bummed that she wouldn't smile for just one picture...but then I remembered this was part of the tradition (being grumpy on the swan boats)

2 years old (grumpy because she was allergic to all of the blossoms and was annoyed at her watery eyes and runny nose)

and again when she was 4 years old (grumpy because the sun was in her eyes..I think)

10am - Weather update: Sunny and hot! Sooooo glad Missy tossed in swim suits for everyone just in case (it was raining when we left the house that morning so we didn't even consider it. Major super-mom points for Missy!)

Noon - Weather update: still sunny...hmmmmm....

Impromptu change of plans: Missy and Christine headed home to put the kids down for naps and (as not to waste any sunshine on our last day on vacation) Rachel and I decided to stay in Boston and explore a bit and then catch the train back to weymouth

Checking out the new greenway park that was built where the freeway (that is now underground) used to be. Love it!




The reason for the train ride--Rachel had no recollection of ever riding the train, here was a conversation I had on our first day in Boston:

Rach: "Mom look! a Train!

Me: "Yea, Cool. There are lots of trains here."

Rach: "Really!?"

Me: "Yea, we used to ride them all the time"

Rach: "We did?"

:-( And that was my first realization that Rachel didn't remember anything about Boston.

I have to admit I felt a little betrayed. I just kept thinking "But you grew up here! WE grew up here! We explored the entire city together--red line, green line, silver line, blue line...Dad was in school all day and we went everywhere!...and you don't remember any of it?!"

I guess I knew that someday she would forget some things, but I didn't realize it would be so soon, and so much.

So for all of you moms there right now with little kids--just a heads up. Who knows-maybe you could try doing something different, stay longer, visit sooner after you leave, take more pictures--attempt to engrain it into their memory...but don't be suprised if someday they forget everything :-(

4 pm Weather Update - Still Sunny!! We totally lucked out!

What now? - Head to the beach - of course!

The kids played, we chatted, we all ate dinner...





and we stayed until the sun set and the darkness forced us to go home.

And that's a wrap!

Boston Trip - Day 6

Off to Rhode Island

We spent Sunday afternoon visiting Josh and Lindy and seeing their new house. It is adorable! And the little town they live in is great too--they took us to a really cool park, and then Josh BBQ'd some dinner on his new grill.

Rachel had soooo much fun playing with Jeets (who was a great sport about the whole thing, and even shared his toys when Rachel decided it would be just as fun to pretend to be a cat herself)

Boston Trip - Day 5

Spent the day on Martha's Vineyard

(Saying that never gets old!:)

SOOOO Glad that the rain went away for this one day so we could enjoy ourselves on

The Vineyard!