Yuma

Even after receiving the news of my Grandpa, Maria and I decided to go ahead with our plans to Yuma. We had a really good time and enjoyed the trip. We listened to a book on tape which made the drive go by quick. The statue and the park where it is was amazing. It is a large park with playgrounds, lakes, grassy areas, animal preserves, a humming bird garden, and long walking trails. The statue is nearly hidden from site by car but sits along side a trail that intertwines through the park. The statue is tall and faces southward (that is the rising sun looking east in the picture). I am very glad that we were able to go and had a really good time. I am sure that my grandpa would have appreciated the idea and enjoyed the gift, but I now learn that even the best of ideas when put off only two weeks may forever only be "good ideas" rather than great gifts or great memories. The trip will always be a great memory for Maria and I but will also forever be tarnished with the thought "had we only..."

Regrets

There are few things that I regret doing or not doing in my life. I would imagine that everyone has something in their lives that they regret.

Maria and I had planned on going to Yuma a few weeks ago to see and take pictures of the statue that my Grandpa bought to honor the Mormon Battalion. Regretfully we did not go as we had planned but instead put it off til tomorrow. I was so excited to go and was planning to take some pictures of us and the statue to frame to give to my Grandpa for Christmas. I had been so excited and my excitement had grown as I talked to my Mom and Dad about it and my Dad had told me how much he thought that would have met to my Grandpa (my Grandpa was to ill to go to the dedication of the statue and had never seen it). When we were there this last August for his birthday he was so proud to show off a miniature replica of the statue that had been sent to him in thanks. He would have loved the pictures and a note from us about our trip.

Just a few moments ago my Mom called me to tell me that my Grandpa has passed away. He was found by my Uncle in his chair.

Regrets, we all have them right?

Christmas...

What a wonderful time of year. I have always enjoyed Christmas. When I was really young our family would go and chop down a 20-25 foot Christmas tree and decorate it in our living room. We would borrow a ladder from the power plant just to put the angel on the top. It was always so much fun, but a lot of work too. I don't entirely blame my parents for buying an artificial tree but I think it changed the ambiance* of Christmas in our home. We did less and less each year until one year I decorated a potted house plant because we had made no effort in putting up even the fake tree. I am happy to be married and beginning a new family and new traditions as well. Maria and I put our tree up after coming come from our cruise and put some lights on the porch. We have hung our two stockings and a little one for Nachito our dog. We have presents under the tree, including the urinal I bought for the guys, and our Nativity Set out on the table. It is Christmas Season alas.

So I ask...

What are some of your childhood memories and/or traditions of Christmas, and what are some of the newer ones you are beginning now with your families.

*inside joke

My final final finally!

I am happy to see the end of what had seemed to be an endless path. This semester has been a difficult one but a fun one too. I really enjoyed a couple to my classes and merely endured others. I am glad to say though that I survived them all and will be done after tonight. Accounting 230 is my last final and I can finally move on to my favorite part of school... the breaks!

Sleep walking...

There is one story that I forgot to include in our earlier travel log. One night I woke up because of a light on in our state room. I did not even sit up to investigate where the light was coming from and why, just nestled my head deeper into the pillow and tried to return to a deep sleep. I had difficulty doing so and after a while I decided to sit up and investigate the source of light. When I did was was alarmed and momentarily frightened to find that our state room door was propped open!!! After a split moment of disbelief and coming to a full state of reality I jumped out of bed and ran to the door to close it. I did a quick look around and inventory of our belongings and nothing appeared to be missing. The door had to of been opened from the inside because Maria was insistent (as she is at home too) that the deadbolt be locked at all times. I have a history of sleep talking and walking and have done it frequently (probably more often than I am aware of). I am still curious as to what I may have done or where I may have gone as I slept.

I know that I am not the only person who has slept walked or talked, does anyone else have similar experiences or funny stories?