Celebrating our Independence with Granny & Grandpa

We decided to spend July 4th in Marlin this year. We were originally set to head to Oklahoma, but with Brad's job, we decided to stay closer to home just in case....we also just love going to Marlin and the countryside and knew we wouldn't be able to visit again till the fall....here are some pics from our short visit:Grandpa & Maddy in the car...they are so funny together!

Maya & Bailey in the truck bed while we shot off a couple of fireworks....
Grandpa attempting to polka with Madelyn...
Bluebell and great-grandparents...

Brad, Bailey and the super long snake skin ... oh, and Bailey did attempt to eat it after Brad put it down....YUCK!

Super Sassy....sassiness heightened when wearing glam boots
Typical time spent at Grandpa's

Maya...

Random Paw notes:

Hurricane Alex may well have made landfall hundreds of miles southwest of us in Mexico, but for the fourth day straight we are feeling his wrath. It has been raining here like crazy and these strong flash-flood storms have taken their toll on our little Maya. Our eight year-old lab mix is terribly afraid of storms. She can sense them hours before they roll in, and you should see her heightened anxiety. She trembles in fear, paces, and stays within a foot of me...following my every step or hiding away in our windowless, bathroom closet. I just snapped this picture of her...she is under the desk right now by my feet.

Our neighbors have just lost their two dogs (Sedona, 17 yrs. old and KC, 7 yrs. old)within the last two weeks, and our friends, the Hammer Family, have just had to put down their dog this week. They say bad things come in three's, and that is just what has happened. It's a good time to think of and appreciate all the joy dogs bring. They are incredibly loyal creatures that place so much trust in us, their owners. Pets are a huge responsibility, and we need to make sure to respect our roles. Maya has been my side since I lived with my parents after college....she means so much to me, and Madelyn is totally in love with her too...may she bring us plenty of more days to love and enjoy her!

Animal House

So, in addition to our two high-maintenance dogs Maya and Bailey and our partially-adopted cat, we are now the parents of thirteen freshwater fish (plus two baby Mollies Brad thinks won't make it). Madelyn's PaPa sent her the money for a new aquarium for her birthday, and we are all enjoying its presence.
Before we moved and had Madelyn, we had a rather large thirty gallon tank filled with all sorts of freshwater fish. It's nice having the water life back in the house...who knows...a bird, some horses, they may be next....

Birthday Business

Maddy and I shared a birthday weekend this year...it was an incedibly fun weekend filled with friends, family and relaxation. It's hard to believe Madelyn is already four. Sometimes I notice how grown up she is becoming, and I am awe-struck at her maturity. We are a fourth of the way to her sweet sixteen, and at this rate, it will be here before we know it!!! We had a small birthday party at the roller rink this year...the theme was tie-dye. >Do you like Madelyn's rainbow cake?? It was tie-dye inside!I'm four! Taking the smores process seriously at the beach...Madelyn and her cousin Madison... Brad taking the girls (Madison, Taylor and Maddy) out for a little swim...gotta love the beach!Celebrating our birthdays at Omi and Toe's...Omi made a peach cake...yum!Madelyn and Uncle Freddy Cousins Andrew and Nicole

Fee-Fee, KC, Tortillas, Lupe...

Some of you may know I am highly allergic and have a somewhat moderate aversion to cats. It's really their dander I have trouble with....it seems the more "tabby" or "street" within their "breed", the worse my reaction.
A few months ago our beloved neighbor's cat Mike-ee simply disappeared one day. I can say he was beloved because he was truly a gifted, talented and much adored cat. He was incredibly kind, relaxed and well-mannered. The kids would pull on his tail, jump over and run circles around him, and he practically fancied it...he thrived on company and socializing, and he would always make his daily rounds along the street looking for anyone to befriend. When he disappeared we were all upset and sad. His name and memory live on however.
Dogs,cats...animals in general are mysterious creatures...their behaviors can be so curious and compelling, especially when it comes to issues surrounding territory. As soon as Mike passed here was this other cat to "take it's place"... and I say that in the most humble of terms. She exhibits many of the same behaviors, although physically she is no match for the snowy white Mike....but she lives for, like Mike-ee did, company and socializing.
Any ways, she is all skin and bones, and to make things worse...she sheds like crazy. I wasn't sure if the shedding was natural, but I knew she was being deprived of nutrition...so after a few weeks of ignoring the facts and filing them in the back of my mind...I stepped up to the plate. We are now officially caretakers for this fortunate feline. Every morning she is there waiting for me to open the door. I refresh her water bowl and fill her feeder, and let me tell you, this girl can eat. She is a definite communicator meowing in response to everything.
Madelyn, being the animal lover that she is, has already named this cat...the name was changing daily for a few days there, but as of late she has been constant with calling her tortillas...because according to Madelyn she looks like "Lupe Tortillas"...a favorite restaurant of ours...how she looks like a restaurant can only be described by a 4 yr-old. Ironically though, Maddy's cousin's cat is also named Lupe, so that could have a slight impression on the name at hand.

Sunflowers equate happiness

What is it about sunflowers that always brings about happiness? Their size? Their vibrant hues of bright yellows? Their enormous faces and green silky, stalky stems? It's probably a combination of all those things, and that's why we are so fond of them in our household.
We decided to hit up the Manna Fields' Sunflower Festival today, and we are glad we did. About a thirty minute drive through countryside southwest of us, the heat was unbearable, but the small town gathering of rural folk and farming festivities made it all worthwhile.
This was by far the best $2 ever spent on a sunflower...Brad ventured into the depths of the sunflower patch to find this perfect beauty! Check out the heights on these bad girls! Snow cones desperately sought after sweating so profusely!Look at her go!!!

Durango

Memorial Day Week I remember the first time I ever visited Durango, Colorado. It was spring break in March, and I was in my third year of college at LSU. My mom and I flew into Albequerque and drove up to Durango for a week. Roland and Liz were dating at the time, and Liz took off a week of work to hang out and show us around...what an awesome future sister-in-law to take time out for us (Roland proposed that June)! I'm pretty sure we went to Mesa Verde, Telluride, and all the other popular local hotspots. It was definitely the beginning of a Mora tradition. Going to Durango never gets old. I have visited all seasons, flown and driven in from every which way, and I must confess summer and early fall are my favorite times to venture there. The fact that both of my brothers live in town is a huge plus, and that made this last visit all the merrier. I love walking out the back door, down the street and up one of the many nature trails to Ft. Lewis, walking in to town to Maria's Bookshop, taking a cruiser down the rivertrail, walking barefoot on the amazing grass at Tremble Hotsprings, Ginger cookies from "Bread", hearing the train whistles during the early morning departures or late afternoon returns, burgers on the patio at The Palace on Monday nights, Bloody Mary's at El Rancho when the time is right, Papa Murphey's pizza to go, and the list goes on. After almost twelve years vacationing there, I think of Durango as my second home, an oasis of family and outdoor relaxation always awaiting my arrival. It's a special place to me, and Brad has also fallen in love with it as well...he loves fly fishing when the river is low, rafting on the Animas, hiking and biking...oh, and we both adore HOMESLICE pizza and Serious Texas BBQ...yum yum. I am so blessed and incredibly fortunate to have such an eclectic, animated and adventurous family...nothing is ever boring when you throw us all together. With Madelyn absolutely connected at the hip with her cousin Isabel, I know she will want to visit more and more as she gets older...and we hope to one day maybe (cross your fingers) be able to afford a small second home there. Our family is certainly growing, Isaak Edward was born while we were there (what a little blessing) and it couldn't of been more spontaneous and exciting...I think he wanted to make sure we met him before we left!! Edward and Judi are soon expecting in November, and then, wa-la...our family has grown by two! I am so grateful for this special place that holds a huge space within my heart. Here are some pics from our travels last week:

Above: Brad, Edward and Mora Friends rafting the Animas at Smelter ...

Hanging out in Silverton by the Animas....crackers, cheese, Modelo and exceptional scenery...

We can't go to visit Edward now without a picture by the train...this time it's just leaving Silverton heading back to Durango...

Below: Andrew's Lake...a pass on the way to Silverton....good times! Judi and Edward Above: I love this picture so much!! Click on it to expand...

Above: Such a sweet of the girls with Isaak...

Below: Yay!!! Liz, Isaak, Isabel and Roland....family of four! Way to work it Liz!!! Welcome Isaak Edward Mora...you are so loved...what an amazing gift for Roland's 40th birthday! Izzy when Roland met us outside the hospital to bring us in....

Above: Judi on the phone with Liz...her water had just broke while she was in a late afternoon meeting..we were so excited! Brad gave the girls giant blow pops to distract them...think it worked?

Below: At the River Rat having lunch....a favorite lunch spot for us!

Above: A little shower of surprise for everyone....YAY!

Below: Hanging out in Mancos Couldn't resist posting these pics of the girls in their boots!!! Framers? I think so! Below: Good times with Art...check out this handmade beauty and his spunky and spooked horse Avatar... Above: Another framer...blue skies at the park

Below: Madelyn taking full advantage of picking flowers in Aunt Judi and Uncle Eddie's backyard...

Enjoying the festivities during the Iron Horse Above: Roland and Liz's new house....you know you are in Durango when parties equate major bike traffic and parking.. Above: Aunt Judi and giant lollipops!

Below: Crazy facepainting and fire throwing....nice Roland!

Memorial Day Weekend BBQ at Roland and Liz's