Valley of Fire

Last weekend, we went to the Valley of Fire with my dad and Patty. I hadn't been out there in years. I'm a terrible wife. First we went to Roger Springs which I must say looks downright terrible now that all the trees are gone. I used to love swimming here but now that they've discovered some sort of amoeba, I guess nobody swims there anymore.

Next, we went to Echo Bay. It's so weird to see the lake lookin' so raggedy. But the carp are still there and my dad really enjoys feeding those carp. The birds didn't seem to mind either.

Afterwards, we went to the Valley of Fire. Holy smokes, it's easily been 15 years since I've been. Here's Elephant Rock.

We even saw a longhorn sheep.
We went through the whole park checking everything out again. My dad's favorite is Mouse's Tank. I used to think it was so lame because it was just a little hole with some water in it. But now that I understand and appreciate the story, I think it's pretty cool. This is the watering hole an Indian named Mouse used to hide near after he had stolen things from settlers. I guess he was a pretty brazen guy. When he finally got caught, he decided he wasn't going without a bang and so he mooned his capturers. Legend has it they shot him right in the butt!
The rest are just some pictures of us goofing around.

Home Already

I got home last night and it just seems like time always flies when I'm on vacation. Oregon was so much fun-Brenda and I had a blast. We truly can't be trusted together. Here is a picture of Kitten, the stowaway. I think he planned on coming with me.Once I got there, we went to coach some little kids in volleyball. The Brownsville Rec Center reminds me a lot of the Logandale Community Center before they refurbished it. It has that old gym smell. The next day we went and walked with Brenda's neighbor Tom. Tom is this mean, cranky old man (ex-LAPD that moved there for some peace and quiet!) that has 2 bulldogs. What are their names? Spike? Butch? Nope. Cupcake and Buttercup. CUPCAKE AND BUTTERCUP! Just goes to show that even the scariest of men have their girlie side. Anyway, I really like Tom, he makes me laugh and his dogs are so stinkin' adorable.
That's cupcake. Below is Buttercup.
They're so funny. They snort and drool and are crazy but I have to get my fix of the girls. We walked to Randy's where yes, he did in fact have blackberry crumb cake made just for me. So fabulous. Here's me and Randy and the poetry that is crumb cake.
I don't know why my hair looks like that. I was cold and apparently didn't care. Brenda and I also had some hot chocolate to warm up (it was way too stinkin' cold there).
We spent the majority of the time shopping, scrapbooking and taking housewife naps...and sitting in the principal's office. Taylor got in a fight at school and we had to go talk to the principal. I'm pretty sure that would be an extremely sucky job. Anyway, I can't wait for Brenda to come visit in March!

Brownsville, Oregon

Today I'm off to Oregon to visit Brenda & her family. I love going to Oregon, it's so fun. I love going to places that are green. Brownsville is particularly fun because it's so stinkin' small (yes, smaller than Overton--easily!). There's no grocery store. No street lights. There's a gas station and a bank and a bar. This is a picture of downtown. ALL of downtown.

And Randy's. Randy's is a fabulous coffee shop that sells everything homemade. It's so good. Last time I was there we stopped and had a devine berry crumb cake. I loved it so much that Brenda stopped in last week to warn Randy I'm coming and that he better make some for me. Brownsville is where the movie Stand By Me was filmed. Brownsville natives are very proud of this fact and they have an annual Stand By Me celebration every summer. This is the Coke wall in the movie.Something I find very charming is that there is a town dog. I don't know it's name, but basically this dog just runs around town and different business owners/government officials feed him and take care of him. He sleeps in the bank at night. When you walk down the streets, you can see his doggie toys lying around and there will be watering bowls and food dishes for him. Here he is hanging out in someone's truck while they're at the bank.It feels like forever since I went to Africa (September!) and a vacation is definitely due. I love spending time with Brenda because she truly lives the life I need to lead. Everyday she has designated housewife naps from 12-2. And she takes Thursdays off. How does a stay at home mom take a day off? She doesn't clean. She doesn't cook. The kids have to cook for themselves that day. It cracks me up-that's totally something I'd do!

Christmas

Christmas was good this year. I know the post is a little late, but that's okay. I got some of my favorite pictures I've taken framed, a plane ticket to Oregon, and a Wii Fit (we got a Wii from my parents)...which by the way, I have to tell you about the Wii Fit. I love it! It's so fun...the only bad thing is when I get on, it groans! It seriously groans! Like I'm too fat. Way harsh. Later in the afternoon, we went to Overton to spend the holiday with my parents and the extended family. My extended family are evil beasts, but it cracks me up. My grandma hasn't been doing so well, but there's certainly nothing wrong with her tongue--she's still just as nasty as ever.It was good to see everyone. Of course, we played our traditional Bingo game. Now, I've got to tell you that we have played Bingo for as long as I have been alive and I am convinced the old Bingo set was missing a few numbers. The's the only explanation for why I lose EVERY stinkin' year. Except one year, I did win one game. The prize? A toilet brush! Who does that?!? So anyway, this year, my present to my grandparents was a new Bingo set...with all the pieces. Well, I still lost. But Dan won twice, so he gave me one of his prizes.
The thing I love about Behmer Christmases are the treats. People in the city don't make treats like they do in the country. No home-made caramels or suckers. None of that. My favorite is the Raspberry Slush that, again, has been a Behmer tradition since before I was born.That's Dan making slush. There was a crazy storm in Overton on Christmas night. It was still a great Christmas...one to remember.