New Mexico

After we left RMNP on Wednesday am, we dropped off the rental car at the airport and made the long trek in the RV down to the Lavin's Cabin in the mountains in NM.  I don't think there could have been a better last minute family vacation.  We were able to spend 3 nights hanging out and it was great!  Not to mention, of course, Ray, Claribel and I were able to finally kiss that little Lizette's head!  What a sweet, adorable little darling they have.  It is so hard to live so far away...  Hopefully one day we will live closer together again...

Ray, Tucker and Dad went fly-fishing one day and the rest we just hung out and enjoyed the wonderful mountain air on the awesome porch!

Rebecca said she was pretty sure Lizette had smiled at her,

all I have to say is that she smiled at her Aunt Melissa!

Claribel enjoyed wearing some warmer clothes and exploring a new place...

and of course meeting her new cousin! 

Although she wasn't quite sure about her mama holding another baby at first :)

Auntie Allison also squeezed in some snuggle time- good thing Lizette loves to be held...

Finally, the first of many Petty cousin photo shoots... very fun!

The visit went by really fast, and it was hard to kiss that sweet L's head and breathe in that new baby smell one last time before we see them at Thanksgiving.  WAY TOO LONG in baby time! 

Rocky Mountain National Park

All of the Pettys and Don and Monie were supposed to go to Destin, but with the unknown of the oil spill, that trip was delayed until next year.  Ray and I desperately needed a break from work and Texas heat so we headed to the Rockies!  We flew into Denver and rented a car to drive to Estes Park where we stayed in a pretty rustic cabin just outside of Rocky Mountain National Park.  My mom and dad bought an RV this summer and were staying at a campground in the park.  Sleeping was a bit of a challenge in our one room cabin, but we adjusted ok and Claribel was a champ as always! 

We had a great first vacation as a family of 3.

We went on a nice one walk one evening before we headed back to our cabin.  It was a rough ride for the Bob, but Claribel didn't seem to mind and took a nice little nap.

Ray was able to practice his fly-fishing skills with dad

our last afternoon we drove the long way out of the park to the north entry and took pictures at each pull off spot as Claribel napped in the back seat.  BEAUTIFUL... what a mighty Creator we have!