Life is Full of Choices: Brrr... It's Chilly Outside!

Brrr... It's Chilly Outside! Well, it was for Erin and her fiance, Jeffery, when they traveled to Montreal a few weeks ago. Getting down below zero was a first for her. We just don't do that here in Phoenix!!

She is totally fogged in!!

Smith Family Christmas came and went this past December and celebration ensued from California to Arizona to Canada. We are becoming an international family this year with the addition of our Canadian son-in-law-to-be. Can't wait! And here is is on the hunt for the perfect Christmas pic!

Celebrating Zach's 30th Birthday - Nothing happier than Karaoke at Monkey Pants.

You should've heard Erin belt out an Eminem song without taking a breath.

I can't believe he's 30!!! I am the luckiest mom on the planet.

Zach & Sierra - baking in my kitchen and stealing a smooch or two.

This year is going to be filled with love and dreams - two weddings for the Smith's!!

Cali Christmas couldn't have been better. Check out these adorable pics of my Cali family.

Emma's 1st Christmas

JG4 with Santa!

These two are too stinkin' adorable!

Girls... Girls... Girls...

January brought us right back to reality with a quick trip to Carmel, California and a stay at the Happy Landing Inn. This B & B is the perfect little respite. I mean... perfect! The rooms are cozy and private, breakfast is delivered to your room each morning, the staff are amazingly gracious and friendly, and did I mention the fireplace and cozy room?? If you're headed that way, check them out at www.happylandinginn.com. You won't regret it.

Carmel is a great dog-friendly city with loads of places to shop, eat, and relax. We love this quiet little hamlet along the ocean. OH, and this week the waves were intense. We saw some that were over 12 feet tall with surfers trying to catch that perfect wave. Damn, I didn't get a pic!!

It's hard to tell from here, but this is along the 17-mile drive between Carmel and Monterey. The day was hazy, but the water was aquamarine blue. The pic on the right is the Lone Cypress.

Our perfect cemetery stop for this trip was a little cemetery in Paso Robles, right near Graveyard Vineyards. That's two graveyards in one perfect visit!

Best Tombstone Ever!

My traveling pals - Jeff & Wyatt outside Graveyard Vineyards. Stop in if you get a chance and chat with Cabernet Frank! He is knowledgeable about the area and all their wines as well. Graveyard Vineyard has a website, and here it is: www.graveyardvineyards.com

One of my retirement goals is to visit all of the standing California Missions along the Camino Real. On this trip, we were able to visit three of them. We first stopped into San Miguel Archangel, the 16th of the California Missions. This lovely place was founded in 1797 by Father Lasuen and is a thriving place of worship to this day.

We also fed our tummies in San Miguel at a little place called Taco Mafia. They don't have a website, but this town is pretty tiny. You'll be able to spot them on 14th and give them a try. Their posole and street tacos were out of this world!!! Yelp has 'em too.

Mission Nuestra Senora de la Soledad is located just outside Salinas. Built in 1791, this mission produced 100,000 bushels of wheat in its heyday, and owned over 17,000 head of cattle. The grapevines pictured below have been a part of the fence here for decades. Just beyond the grapevines you can see a mound of adobe that was the retaining wall for the workshop of Native Americans who lived at the mission.

My favorite mission of the trip was San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo, the 2nd of the California missions. Founded by Father Junipero Serra in 1770, this location is said to be his favorite. It is also his final resting place. This grounds are well-kept and the history throughout is immaculate. There is a thriving parish and elementary school on the campus, and it's all gorgeous.