September and early October 2013

It's been so long since I posted any pictures! Where has the time gone?
Right now we're in the midst of the government shutdown, freaking Richard out because he is on furlough with no income coming in for a week, and now starting another week....   This is really bad timing for us because we are about to close on the purchase of a house in Flagstaff. Yep. You read that right. We may finally own our own home! It should be a joyous experience but the shutdown and the upcoming battle over the debt ceiling has definitely dampened the joy. It's bad enough that Richard would be "commuting" on weekends from Petrified Forest National Park to Flagstaff, not being able to come home each night during the week. Having a possible economy collapse hanging over our heads just as we're investing all our savings is not helping. Our close of escrow date - Oct 18. Possible economy collapse - Oct 17 or 18, I can't figure out which. Any advice is appreciated.

So, to remember happy times in pictures will help! Here goes....

Daniel and his friend Isaac love to play in the tires at the Holbrook playground!

We tried "flyswatter painting" for the first time one hot day. It was super fun and very messy! Finger paints worked great.

We did a yummy brunch one day at La Posada in Winslow and then played with the blocks in the great room. They have a large round table and lots of colorful, various shaped, wooden blocks. Daniel loves them. We move them to the floor to make it easier to build.

On Richard's shoulders after a lunch in Flagstaff. Daniel's getting so big we'll have to switch to piggy back soon!

A weekend in Phoenix and pool time! Daniel gets better and better in the water every time we go swimming. He has no fear. We will do more swim lessons next year for sure!

Also in Phoenix is the Children's Museum with the most awesome "treehouse" every built! It is 3 stories high, with only 2 ways in and out - both on the lower level. Daniel and Richard spent quite a bit of time inside!

Daniel also liked this "machine" that spit out handkerchiefs. The hankies go into one of 2 holes then a strong air current pushes them higgledy piggledy through the tubes and spits them out at various places. 

Daniel, Walnut and I went on a hike at Petrified Forest National Park. It was such a beautiful day, except for the wind, which almost blew us down a few times. Daniel had to hold onto his hat! Look at Walnut's ears! We did cut the hike short, but still had a nice time exploring a new area of the park.

And in October, we managed a couple of hikes last week. One down in the Show Low area, on the Timber Mesa trail where we hiked along the mesa ridge for a round trip of about 3 miles. The other was in the Flagstaff area, ending up in our own private aspen grove. Picnic lunches taste best on a hike!

Daniel cannot resist a stick.