My favorite vacation

If you haven't noticed, I'm on a travel kick right now. I'm planning our Christy Family Trip to Asheville, NC followed by a family trip to the Myrtle Beach area, so it is just on the brain.

After posting my US Vacation Dreams and Overseas Vacation Dreams, I started thinking about what my absolute favorite vacation has been.

As much as I talk about the places I've been, I want to add that I feel very blessed to have been able to go all these places. I realize that travel is a luxury and I never want to take that for granted. For every trip we go on, I spend HOURS finding the best deals, so know that I don't just throw money around for these trips - they are very planned out - and I am a queen at using miles and points for free trips (San Antonio was almost free for us!). Of course, it helps that my husband flies to places like Hawaii and Alaska quite frequently :).

Anyway, I digress. I want to tell you about my favorite vacation - ever. I really, really wanted it to be the 2 and a half weeks Garet and I spent backpacking across Europe (which is second), but it was one of the most simple trips we've ever taken...all the way to New Mexico. I often joke that Garet's second home is White Sands, NM. In our first few years of marriage, I felt like he was out there every other week. In March of 2003, I decided to join him to see just what NM had to offer. What transpired was one of the best times of my life! We drove up to Ruidoso, NM and checked into this very basic cabin - I don't even think it had a TV or a phone. We spent a couple days skiing in REAL mountains, drove around White Sands, spent time in El Paso, and also Las Cruces. I celebrated my 25th birthday out there as well. Most importantly, Garet and I were able to just spend time together - no big agenda, just time together. That's what made this trip so wonderful.

I'm curious, what was your favorite vacation? Did you find it was a place that is often glorified as an amazing vacation spot? What made it special?

Oh the Places I want to go...US Edition

Growing up, I was very fortunate to travel all over the US thanks to my parents. My mom loved to travel and so we were always going here there and everywhere and that is not an understatement (41 states so far). I, of course, loved it. I've lived in 6 states (CA, SD, IL, AL and summers in CO & GA) and that really helps when visiting the US (and it also makes for an eventful childhood!).

So, here's my "Top 5 US Locations" that I hope to visit soon:

1. Grand Tetons. Ever since I did that Beth Moore Bible Study where they are in the cabin in the mountains, I've wanted to go. Yellowstone would also be on this itinerary and by the end of this trip, I would hope to have Idaho, Wyoming and Montana checked off. I'm pretty sure I want to go here in the winter time (skiing!) - is that the best time?
2. Seattle and Portland. Garet and I have wanted to go here since before we were married, but we always end up planning on going somewhere else. Not to be missed here would be Mt. St. Helens. I would also like to take the ferry over to Canada. Washington & Oregon = check!
3. My parents tell me that I have seen the Grand Canyon, but I obviously don't remember it. Therefore it is on my list. I need Nevada and Utah still, so this trip would include those two states as well. I have no desire to go to Las Vegas (although I'm sure it is a sight to see!), so I'll have to research other areas of Nevada.
4. Alaska. Garet has been a couple times with work, so this makes me want to go all the more (just not to the remote fishing village he goes to!). There are the cruises, big cities and remote areas. I really haven't researched this at all and will most likely be something we save for later, but I still want to go!
5. New York City. I've been here with work, but I have never ever "done" NYC. I'd love to spend a long weekend in NYC doing all things touristy. I think I want to go at Christmas time or at least when there is snow on the ground...there is just something romantic about that.

As with my overseas edition, I have some honorable mentions: Wisconsin (the only state I haven't been to and didn't mention above) - nothing draws my attention there - Peter/Kate?; The Big Island, HI; Miami & The FL Keys; Phoenix, AZ.

And a couple of places I've been, made an impact on me and that I want to experience with Garet: Boulder/Denver/Colorado Springs, CO and everything around that area; Niagara Falls, NY; "The Faces on the Mountain" (as I referred to them as a child) in SD; The Outer Banks, NC; San Diego, CA.

If you have been to any of these places, please let me know the best way to see these areas! I'm always up for good travel tips!

Our Week in Pictures...

Too much dirt from the slip-n-slide...baths outside:

Sometimes this is what I find in the morning:
Levi and his amazing toes:
Using the truck to get closer to the goal:
Two of my favorite people:

Levi likes his floats:Some of the cousins:Saying good-bye to Granddaddy:The kids with Grandmother Fields: Having fun with the new Boyachek kids:Levi riding the carousel with his new friends. Happy Birthday, John!:We pulled Levi's old play wall out and it was a hit:
He's going to hate me for this picture some day:

I took a lot of pictures this week...

Chicken Nugget Daddy....What?

If I didn't already think I had the best husband in the world, I was in for an amazing surprise when Garet became a Dad. Being a father came so natural to him. When I was at the end of my rope, he could come in and make everything better. The kids adore him and I love that they light up every time he walks in the door.

Thank you Garet for always going above and beyond with the kids - they love you for it and I do too!

First Few Minutes of Being a Dad - October 11, 2005 - with Levi: Daddy x2 - October 22, 2007 - with Levi & Kara:
One of my favorite pictures - reading to the kids:

Active participant in everything - I love this!
One of Levi's favorite things to do with his daddy:
Garet's favorite thing to do with Levi :):

I also want to recognize my dad. I wrote about him here, but I want to wish him a "Happy Father's Day" as well. Thank you for all of your hard work - I know I was a handful at times! Love you. With dad at one of his favorite places in the world - Yosemite:

Oh the Places I want to go...

After reading this post by Ashley and as my mom leaves to go to China, I started thinking about if I had to absolutely narrow my top 5 vacation choices down, what would they be? I quickly realized that this was impossible for me, so I divided them into "Top 5 US Locations" and "Top 5 Overseas Locations". Without further ado, here is my "Top 5 Overseas Locations":

1. Hong Kong - I've posted before about my Chinese cousins. They grew up there, and so we always were the recipients of gifts from Hong Kong from the time I was a little girl. I love to hear their stories about growing up in such a different culture than the US and therefore, one day I hope to accompany them on a trip. Of course, if I am flying all the way over there, I'd love to stop in China (Great Wall) and Japan (where my friend Miki is from).
2. Kenya, Africa - For those of you that don't know, this is where my parents met. A CA guy and a IL girl both applied to be Journeymen and this is where they ended up. My whole life, our home was filled with African art, jewelry, blankets, instruments and even a spear. We also grew up with many stories about the people and culture in Africa. Kenya is not exactly a vacation "hot spot" right now, but I hope that there is a time in the future when I will be able to go visit and finally see all I have heard about. I also want to go on a real safari!
3. Ireland - If you get a chance, go check out my friend Wallace's blog and his photography. Looking at those pictures makes me want to go all the more! It is so beautiful! We are tentatively planning to go here for our 10th anniversary in 2010. Since I am an "on the go" traveler, I also want to visit Scotland and Belgium while we are there. I went to England and The Netherlands with my family growing up and I would like to show those to Garet as well.
4. Australia - This used to top my list all the time. Then I worked with an Aussie for about 5 years and he convinced me otherwise. I still want to go, but he said it is so much like the US that Americans can be disappointed when they go. Obviously, I've never been and have no idea if that is true or not. Nonetheless, I still want to go. I mean, they have the Great Barrier Reef - that's pretty cool.
5. Somewhere in South America - I have no idea where though. Garet calls this the "forgotten continent" and I really think it is. I know very few people who have ever vacationed there, so that intrigues me all the more. I'm sure there are some absolutely amazing vacation spots down there, but you just don't see anything about them. Here's where you can help me out - anyone have any ideas?

Well, if I make those 5, that will give me 6 continents and that would be exciting. You know that I have some Honorable Mentions: The Caribbean (Dominican Republic or a Cruise), Greece, Dubai, New Zealand, Prague, Egypt & Thailand.

I'll post my "Top 5 US Locations" next week. Thanks again to all of you who prayed for Garet's Family - we appreciate it!

WC Fields

Last night, we learned that Garet's Granddaddy passed away after spending about 4 months in and out of the hospital with kidney problems. While a little expected, it was still a somber evening around the Fields house last night.

I've only know Garet's Granddaddy for about 8 years, but oh what a gentleman. I don't think I ever saw the man without his sport coat on - even when it was 100 degrees outside. He always stood when I entered the room (how many men do that anymore?) and was always focused on what I had to say (and let's just say that I talk a lot). There were several things we knew he would ask us about and we always came prepared to answer them: At our very first apartment, we got free breakfast every morning - he thought this was fascinating. He also wanted to discuss all the places Garet goes on travel (and let's face it, he gets to go some cool places). And, he always asked about my family. I appreciated that.

From day one when I became a Fields, Garet's family has taken me in as their own. There has never been an "in-law" stigma attached. I get the exact same treatment as Garet and his sisters. I've never felt any distinction. So it was with his granddaddy - I was another one of his grandkids. Having only lived near my grandparents when I was very young, the idea of having grandparents at every family function was foreign to me. I hope that my kids will always have the luxury of being able to spend time with their grandparents as much as Garet did with his.

In closing, Garet and Levi both share the name William with Garet's Dad and Granddaddy. So the 4 generation picture you see is 4 generations of William Fields (and Kara)! Thank you to all of you who have prayed for WC and our family! Please remember his wife, Martha (wife of 30+ years pictured above), as she goes through the next few weeks.

Mrs. Fields....Who, Me?

The other day, the kids and I were going to be visiting some friends of ours. The whole way there I talked about seeing Mr. FirstName and Ms. FirstName...and of course, so-and-so's Mommy and Daddy. Anyway, while we are there, another couple starts telling their children to call them Mr. LastName and Mrs. LastName. I actually stopped for a minute and thought "Who are they talking about?".

It got me thinking about what kids call adults these days. I personally don't think I have ever been called Mrs. Fields by anyone, and let's face it, I'm a full-fledged adult now (sigh). Anyway, when I was a kid, all adults were Mr. & Mrs. LastName and if I see any of them to this day, that is still what I call them. However, I have NO desire for anyone younger than me to call me by my last name.

The only arena I still see this played out with the younger generation is with teachers and I quite honestly don't know why we still do it (could you enlighten me Mrs. Miller :)? Even the kids (well, Levi) calls his teachers at MDO by their first name.

What do you think? When did the trend change? Have we become disrespectful?

I don't know why I do these things

I did it. I joined Facebook a couple of weeks ago. If we haven't found each other yet, please come find me. I have to admit, it is a lot cleaner than Myspace (Garet deleted his account last week - I haven't gone that far yet!) and I like the crazy networking it does. I have friends that know each other and I had no idea - crazy! Something else to do I guess. And please, if you send me a doughnut, make it chocolate!!! Who wants to waste calories on some fruity sugar puff!

Also, I went by and saw James, Miki & Jonathan last night. Here's the new family (minus Hannah). Miki tells me that she will be calling me a lot about "All things boy". Fun times ahead for them!