Drive out West Part 2

It took us 2 days to get to our next respite.  We crashed in a hotel in New Mexico where we swam in the pool and had fun climbing on the luggage rack.

Then we headed for a small town in southeast Arizona, known as Safford, home of the Hargis family : Clay, Kristen, Grae, Barbara, Cal, Van, and Laurel.  They were our first good Army friends at our first PCS station at Ft. Bliss, Tx.  Clay was an Army doc, but has left the Army for the civilian world of Emergency Medicine.  We spent a wonderful day and a half with them.  They generously missed a day of school so they could play with us - isn't that nice?  The highlights of the visit were:

Lego Rock Band - definately aquiring this game!!

Trampoline mayhem

And a hike along Ladybug trail, up to Frog rock

walking sticks are a must

I think Cal's might be a little too big

My hiking buddy, Tess

Clay is the leader of the pack and natural explorer.  If you want to discover all the beauties of the Arizona dessert, you need to go hiking with Clay and his brother Wes - they are the MASTERS!

Regretably this is the only group shot I got and the only picture of Kristen (so sad about that).  We made it to frog rock and stopped for a snack of cookies and chips before heading back.  It was such an amazingly beautiful spring day, we loved it.

Clay is also a great story teller.  He filled the kids heads with stories about searching for gold and turquoise in the mountains.  He convinced them all that we could be rich and buy our own islands - keep wishing!!!

We had such a wonderful time with them.  One of the great things about the Army is that you end up knowing people that live all over the country.  I know we didn't stop and see everybody - that would take forever - but we are forever greatful to the Petty's and the Hargis' for letting us stay with them and for playing with us.  We love you both so much.

Part 3 coming soon.....