Tonight, home at last, I find myself more than grateful for the opportunity to get away for a few days this week. The Ward's first ever family vacation is now safely in the books, & while it wasn't nearly long enough, it was certainly memorable. If you have never experienced the rich topography, exquisite art, vast wildlife, southwest food (particularly green chili sauce), & wonderful people of the good state of New Mexico, you are missing out on one of our nation's finest treasures. This particular trip focused on a descent well below the earth's surface (754 ft to be exact) at Carlsbad Caverns National Park. And though no amount of words could ever fully describe the mouth of this monstrosity of a cave upon first exposure (who many have labeled the 8th wonder of the world mind you), my daughter came close, when she exclaimed "This was so worth it!", which in turn, made it more than worth it for your favorite blogger & mine! ;0) Put a "W" in the win column for her parents. We were long overdue.
Well kids, Sigh....1st day of school is officially under way & you will be relieved to know your favorite blogger made it through the drama without getting slushy. Nope. Not one tear. I waited until I dropped the last child off for emotions to get the better of me (just between us girls). We kicked things off this a.m. with thick, center cut prize winning bacon, (Am I boring you?) my scrambled eggs that are to die for, fresh strawberries, Braum's milk, Orange juice, & of course, "Fox & Friends" buzzing in the background w/ your host Gretchen Carlson, Brian Kilmeade, & "The Deuce" (Steve Doocy). At first, both children seemed to be in an elongated zombiesque state upon entering the kitchen with remnants of sleepy dust still matted to various facial features. The look on their faces quite possibly implied "You gotta be kidding me?? It's waaaaay too early for a wii tournament." What can I say? They are their father's offspring & at no time in my adult life have I ever been accused of being one of those overzealous early bird types who thinks work can only be accomplished during neat & tidy banking hours. Besides, Baby Boomers destroyed that posh work week model some 15 plus years ago. But enough about poverty ridden work weeks that lower life expectancy (on the bright side, Social Security wasn't going to be there for my generation anyway!). So long Summer of Twenty Eleven. Hello New school year. All that's left now is to pray for cold weather, Oklahoma football, & fall off the bone smoked pork ribs slathered in homemade gritty bbq sauce (where duh sweat off duh brow iz pawt uh duh ingredients!) carefully prepared behind Pappy's barn right next to that strange, large, rusted metal contraption with coils coming out of it to accompany that cold weather & Sooner football. Please & thank you.
