Travel Update: Carlsbad Caverns

Since we had some free time this week, we were able to visit Carlsbad Caverns National Park! It. Was. Amazing! Absolutely breathtaking! We had been to caves before, and didn't think this would be much different...were we ever wrong! :) If you are ever near Carlsbad, New Mexico...it's definitely worth stopping! 

Behind Jed and I is the cave entrance. It was about a mile walk down to the bottom and at least another 1.5 miles from there. 

 The rock formations down there were absolutely stunning! We probably took over a hundred pictures all together, but I just posted two. :)

 

We're now in Tulsa, Oklahoma and tomorrow is Ike's 14th birthday!

Travel Update: New Friends & White Sands

While we were still in New Mexico, one of the board families from the Albuquerque convention invited us to their home in beautiful Los Cruces. After having a blast with them Monday evening and Tuesday morning, we all went to White Sands for the afternoon! 

Note: Never go to White Sands when the wind is blowing approx. 40 mph! :) We learned the hard way. 

Between the two families there were 12 kids. 

Here we all are at the top of the dune...

...and here we all are "sledding" down the dune. :)

One of the perks of RVing??? All the great new friends we get to make!

Travel Update: Albuquerque, New Mexico

We have now been "on the road again" in our RV for a little over one week. After a great homeschooling convention in St. Louis, Missouri, we are now stationed in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The trip thus far has been pretty uneventful, aside from driving through a dust storm with our awnings beginning to unroll, and having to get our generator's fuel pump replaced. :) Here are some pictures we took while driving through the beautiful...though very barren West!

New Mexico countryside! 

We literally "blew into Albuquerque"! :) It's ALWAYS windy out here apparently...but this was a little crazy, even for the locals! The picture above is the view through our windshield during the dust storm we drove through. Between the wind and the dust, our big awning began to unroll (after our smaller awnings were already tied down with ropes), so we pulled off and tried to fix it...along with all the other semi-drivers who were having problems. 

Anyway, we're here in New Mexico, half-way through our second convention in the RV. We don't have any conventions next week, so we're planning to do a little sightseeing in the area...I'll try to keep you updated. 

February Birthdays!

Since we have a LOT of birthdays around this time of year, I thought I'd just give you a quick rundown of who turned what in the month of February. 

Most recently, on the 26th, Maggie turned 9 years old (that's so hard to believe...already?)

Our birthday girl with her new friends, the Bitty Twins.

Blowing out the candles on her "horse cake".

Next up: Sam turned 18 on the 17th! I can't believe he's 18 already!!! 

This guy prefers ice cream cake over any other! :)

My "sweet sixteenth" was on February 10th. 

It's become something of a tradition that Maggie and Dad make my cake every year. They did a great job!!!

Indiana Snow Storm!

The weather these past few months has been CRAZY, switching from warm-ish and sunny, to snowy, slushy, and MUDDY! :) We finally got a good ol' snow storm yesterday/last night, and now we have about 8 inches of snow!

 The one downfall? The guys having to shovel out the car so Ben could get to work...no, it's not supposed to be at that angle. :)

 Cal, Maggie, Jed, and Dad making an igloo!!!

Maggie and Jed resting. Nice hat, huh? :)

Happy Birthday, Jed!!!!

Our Jeddy turned 5 this month!!! This little guy LOVES birthdays, and he wanted to go "bumper bowling"! We ended up splitting up into two lanes, one with bumpers, and one without...I think I should have gone with the bumpers...anyway, Jed loved it!!!

 

Here's the birthday boy getting ready to bowl!

Jed and Cal were so fun to watch, they sure got into it!

 Most of us lined up afterwards...Sam's shoes were different so he got to take the picture. :)

 Oh, did I mention Jed loves presents too???

Jed's "J" cake, which he helped decorate...mainly contributing the Skittles! :)

It's 2013!!!

This New Year's Eve the Weavers came up to our house for a night of pizza, playing games, watching a movie, and ringing in the New Year. It's 2013!

Best buds Jed and Katelyn! 

A Brocker family favorite: euchre. Joshua was the renowned champion...by a lot. :)  

(Ike, Matthew, Sam, and Joshua)

 Everyone camped out in the familyroom watching Madagascar 3!!! :)

I think Cal was a bit tired by the time the ball was dropping...don't you think? :)

Happy New Year, everyone! May you have a blessed 2013!