Happy 2011

Happy 1-1-11!!

Here's all of us before we loaded up and started on our journey home.

We left Mesa yesterday and made it to Albuquerque last night. We decided to not risk going up through Payson, as those roads were all restricted to chains or 4WD, and drove I-17 to I-40 instead. It's further if you go that way but I don't think it takes any longer because you have higher speed limits. The roads in and around Flagstaff were wet & slushy, but clear & dry for the rest of Arizona. In New Mexico, though, we ran into some snowpack and icy roads from the state line to Grants. Apparently, New Mexico believes in the "au natural" method of snow removal. Oh well, we made it safe and sound.

We got into Rio Rancho at 9:30pm, stopped at Walgreen's for party hats and noise makers, picked up a movie at Redbox and then settled in to wait for the arrival of the new year. We watched "How to Train Your Dragon" and then, at 11:50pm, switched on the TV to watch Dick Clark and the ball drop at midnight. Jamie was SO excited to get to stay up until midnight!!

We spent the first day of 2011 being lazy! We watched the Rose Parade and the Outback Bowl and then went to Julie's Gram's house to visit and watch the Rose Bowl game. Owen, Chuck, Brian and Tyler were there too and Sharon showed up right as we were leaving, so we got to see a few people that we would normally see at Christmas. Gram was not feeling well and, even though she was sitting in the living room with us, she slept for most of the time we were there. We got back to the house in time to get Jamie to bed on time tonight and Bill just left to go to Cold Stone with Billy. I asked him to bring something back for me...we'll see if he remembers!