Ruidoso Gone By

The trip to Ruidoso, NM was spent with good,  great, the best company, much laughing, dealing with children, eating calorie free food, and story telling. I can't convey in words the laughter that I have around the Manchke Park crew and the stories they have. I hope we capture many pictures through the years and see much of our city (and country) together. Thank you SuDan for letting this happen and inviting us along. I am so thankful for the friendships we've found.

The Girls....

Katie and Sophia

Julia and Leni

Laura, Laney, and Landry

Suzanne and June

Courtney and Charlotte

The girls did their things on Friday and the boys there. I've already displayed the pictures to capture our day. And I don't have to mention boys at a casino. Yet a good part of the day was spent there. Thank goodness Matthew came home a little ahead with his Nazi budgeting wife!

We went to dinner at the Texas Club Restaurant and had a blast. Matthew made me dance because he loves to show off....

and drink his whiskey.

Suzanne and David cutting it up on the dance floor!

Sunday afternoon the morning the Crowell's had to leave. I had quarter close to head into and had to head back to Texas. Boo.

 We had a brisk hike/nature walk though. I did not wear the appropriate shoes but it was fun..

 Dan and June went on a walk bright and early! She sported Landry's coat for the trip. Precious!

 Leni and Landry playing after they got up,bosom buddies. I love watching them grow together!

 My Laney and the mountain. She was the one that wanted to go on a hike. I think she might have some adventurous spirit in her!

On our way to lunch to say goodbye to everyone!

Awesome pizza at Cafe Rio and quite a crowd I might add. I was sick as a dog until I ate some yummy pizza! I get car sick quite easily and the mountainous roads are no bueno for me.

On the way out of town we saw a Pony Ride and stopped to let Laney have her turn. She was so happy and loved the pony called "Lady".

The drive home to Texas. Say what you will about West Texas. I know it's flat, windy, and dry. Even still, it holds a special place in my heart.

And you can't beat the sunset....

Ruidoso Part II- So it begins....

"The warmth of a friend's presence brings joy to our hearts, sunlight to our souls, and pleasure to all of life".

We made it to our destination, Ruidoso, and SA friends. The camera then began clicking......

A glance out the back door and of the Altos Lake Country Club Golf Course. It was around sunset and the deer were wandering up.

Landry was watching out the window as the deer creeped up, as all of the little girls did at some point, (and the big girls)!

Landry and June playing. These two were born about a week a part!

The first morning on the golf course--where the guys eventually got kicked off of-- Laney loved being outside as "one of the guys" and so did all the little babies and Daddies.

Laney found many pine cones. In fact, a few unwelcomed ones made their way home in my purse.
The cat puzzle. This puzzle started the first night when Suzanne wanted to play games. I don't remember what we played but she got this puzzle out for Laney. Hilarious, because I can't even do these puzzles.  Yet my adamant three year old wanted to do this kitty cat puzzle. Katie Evans and worked on the border and got the thing started. Then everyone else got addicted ( I mean the guys). I do not know how that happened but they finished it!

Here is the final product fast forwarding to the morning we left.

Laney playing golf and Miss Sophia. These two were buddies. I think so at least. The babysitters told me Laney would boss Sophia but they appear to love each other.

The mountains of Ruidoso....

The concrete at the Dream Catcher; a little restaurant we went to eat at lunch at. Anyway, I suppose I found it amusing that the concrete was the shape of the Great State of Texas in the State of New Mexico.

This wasn't the best picture we took, but I loved the sunlight that somehow sneaked through.

Suzanne, Courtney, and Katie at Starbucks. We had to get some good pictures in and document our day. We went to a store that was called Brown Eyed Girl next door that was decked out in hot pink! Next was a children's shop across the street where I found Laney "her surprise". It ended up being a pink headband that claims "I love soccer".

Alright, so Courtney climbed into the car seat. For the life of me, I can't remember what we were doing this for, to be silly? I know there was a reason but since quarter close my brain cells are depleted. Refresher?

My Landry and my gray scarf. She was doing "up" for me. Sweet baby girl.

The Hargesheimer's made it with Leni!

These three little girls were all born with in a few weeks of each other. Leni February 7th, Landry February 11th, and June February 23rd.

Darlings

They all did different things with the deck of cards. But I wouldn't be surprised if the deck isn't quite full after the playing. Sweet Charlotte in the background--she started to sit up on her own in Ruidoso!

More to come on the exciting adventure in the land of entrapment.....

Ruidoso 2011 Part 1- The Beginning

 Our trip to Ruidoso began Thursday evening the 13th of January. The Biase's were in Lubbock, the Denton's and Evan's were flying to Lubbock and road tripping to Ruidoso together, and the Hargesheimer's were heading in the following day from SA to Fort Stockton to Ruidoso. All with different game plans but the ultimate goal to have a few days as a getaway together.

The Crowell's left San Antonio at 6:30 pm and arrived in Abilene around 11:00 pm. We were greeted by Bumpaw and Bar B Q. This has become a staple of West Texas food and our conversation consisted of our million dollar idea and implementation in S.A. I always love the random topics discovered in car rides with M.

Anyway, we arrived to discover that Momma (and Daddy) forgot to put a pull up on Laney. We are still trying to train her out of these at bedtime and it's a coin toss. Well, she fell asleep and had an accident. Thus, we got to deal with cleaning out a car seat at midnight in the winter chill in Abilene.

Friday morning-We woke up to get on the road bright and early to head out. Matthew discovered I had not packed for him nice clothes--I packed everything else comfy and left the nice stuff up to him. The lack of communication about packing for each came to a head and was a "fun" discussion. He made it through the weekend without a button up though (I swear) and was just fine.

The wind turbines that clutter the landscape in West Texas.

On our way out of town we stopped to get diapers and wipes. However, it slipped our mind to get gas. How you might wonder, considering this is a vital ingredient in driving a car? I/We don't have a solid answer. One would think we would recall, growing up in West Texas, many soccer weekends in Midland/Odessa, and highway driving that there aren't many gas stations in the middle of nowhere.

Here's the ridiculous story:

I see a sign that says we are 36 miles from Post. Two minutes later my gas light came on. Matthew asks "how many miles do you get when the light comes on?"

"Um, I would guess 26-29 highway" but how would I really know, right? I have yet to run out of gas in this car--did run out in high school but as a parent--I can only imagine what our parents would have said. I kept holding out hope for a small town called Justiceburg yet there was a sign and a couple closed down buildings.

Not a single gas station in sight.

M's plan: Hitch a ride or walk to Post if we ran out of gas.

Mine: Grab a rubber band, my running shoes, gas can in the trunk, and run down the highway to the nearest gas station.


Plan C won out and we coasted into Post. We were so happy at the gas station. Irresponsible, I know. I also wonder what my blood pressure was at this moment.


Matthew did call my car a lying s*(& though. This is why--it holds 17 gallons, roughly. We filled up to the brim and the meter at the gas station read 14.4. I do not know where the other 2.5 gallons are.
Our theory was the head wind and the gas gauge being off. I'd like to believe the latter yet more convinced of the former. Keep in mind, we are only into the first two hours of the trip. Geesh. But we were happy that we had a chance to make it! Laney got a Happy Valentine's Day Ring Pop to celebrate our success.



We stopped at a historical market 5 miles west of Post. It basically discussed the grasslands being settled 120 years ago, 1889. That was crazy to think about that the land I grew up around hasn't really been settled for that long. We also stopped at the Goodnight Loving Trail historical marker.  

Brownfield--As we drove into this small town we stumbled upon a couple of ponds full of geese. They must have been settling here for there southward stay. There were probably a couple of thousand! It was fun to stop and see them with the girls.






We made it New Mexico. We were in the middle of no where but the state we were aiming to get to at least. I forgot to mention--we bought the last Harry Potter book to listen to on tape. M and I are Harry Potter lovers/dorks and were quite focused on listening to the last book. This helped the time go to by quickly I think.

Our road trip marched on. Until about 2:00 pm--we hear Landry coughing in the back. She got very car sick and it was so so sad. She had never thrown up until this point in her short life and it was terrible. We pulled over, used about 100 wipes to clean her down, Matthew cleaned out the car seat, and we acted quickly. Still, poor baby, we felt terrible for putting her through the boredom and her getting so sick. The girls are such troopers when it comes to car trips and there isn't much fussing thank goodness. We broke the law a little bit and let her sit in the front with Momma. Then we made the executive, and legal, decision to put in her car seat after she seemed to feel better.



We did make it to Ruidoso and found our friends. More to come about our get away .....

Big Travels

Our first holiday with Miss Laney was perfect! She was such a good 2 1/2 month old traveler!

Big brown eyed girl, our little beauty....

Lesley and I ran in the turkey Trot Dallas morning. It was freezing cold! I have not been running like I used too, where is the time with a baby right? Anyway, we were pumped about the race and I felt like I was on fire until about mile 5. I took some "gu" from one of Lel's friends thinking it would help with my energy and injury (if your a mother you might understand-no need to explain). Yeah, I threw up at mile 8 crossing the finish line. It was hilarious! I never felt better after a race (because of the puking!).

Good morning Laney, happy 1st Turkey day!

Matthew brought Laney to meet us at the end of the race. It was freezing so we had to hurry back to the car!
Laney finally got to meet her cousin baby John! They just loved each other. In fact, Laney tried nursing on John's elbow while he was sleeping. It was pretty dang cute.

We had Thanksgiving in Dallas on Thursday and Friday. My mom, sister, and I got up with the crazies at North park Friday morning. You'd think I would have tried to sleep in with my lack of sleep but not yet! Our little family of three.....and the extended family that adores her! Laney you are so spoiled already! He he. I love it! I can't wait to shop for you and buy you dresses and such! Her grandad Berg......still have to see what you will be called! Uncle Lanno is ready for her to get big to play with her!
Morgan loves baby Laney! And she loved her Lily toy. we didn't make it back to Austin with it b/c Morgan made up a sweet little jig with the cute music. It was so cute, she is such a sweet good little girl!

We then headed to Llano to have Thanksgiving with the Crowell's. Let's go little! I tell you what though, I sat in the back with her some and got so car sick. I feel bad for babies having to ride backwards. I'd go to sleep too! You feel like terribleness!

Laney and her granddad Crowell! A "camo" bib and she didn't fit into the "Laney" onesie we got her. We might have to squeeze her into it for a pic! With Paige and Clairlene! Laney was full of smiles for everyone!

Giving "Coach", M's law school buddy, high fives!

Jason and Ashleigh Lincoln got to visit to meet Laney over the holiday in Llano (Ashleigh why did we not take pic!? Jason you better send them!).

More pics of the little girl lately......she is two months old! She weighed 11 lbs and 5 oz! And she now loves her bath time! Here is her little robey dobe and slippers!

I love her little lamb onesie! I was making the "bah" noise for her that sheep make, her momma loves being silly!


I can't get enough of you Laney and I constantly kiss you! But someday I won't be able to so for now you are mine to smooch!

Your favorite non crying position with your Daddy! Her little birth mark on her leg...precious. She is about to outgrow her lion that was once much bigger than she!

Her "very own" grandmas have been so helpful and we've made many memories over the past 2 1/2 months. But on Monday we are starting day care! I'm actually really excited because Laney will be 3/4 of a mile from Whole Foods and closer to her Momma! I will be visiting her several times a day and we will have morning conversations I know. This way I won't have to miss her in Round Rock and we can have more of a routine. We will see how it goes! And I'm sure there will still be days that we have help but for now this is the plan!





Sleepy baby.......sleep sleep sleep.