Phoenix and Minnesota family time

school is out!! Actually we took lilja out early as Aran’s mom wrote and produced a play .. We thought it was more important to show Lilja how her grandma’s hard work had paid off and she is following her dreams .. Aran has a conference in Phoenix right after so we drive to Phoenix, flew to Minnesota, flew back to Phoenix and drive back to Durango . A little busy but well worth it . Grandma’s play was amazing and we were glad we went . We even went to the gravesites of two of the people that the play was about . I love Winona!! Very green, clean and just beautiful ! Aran left early, so lilja and I had some special time with grandma and grandpa .. a ssoecial salad was made with violets in them ., lilja is quite the cook :)) Then I had the best day in Phoenix ever!! Laying at a pool , while lilja met some girls and played all day .. yes I had a margarita in hand and got some relaxing time .. now it is off back to bayfield ..

Beardance 2019

Lilja has a very strong connection with her Native American background . Luckily we both work at a tribe and Lilja has opportunities to join some traditions of theirs . The Bear dance is the dance of the spring . The women ( or girls) ask the men to dance and they can not refuse . Lilja has been doing this dance since she was 4 and her little assertiveness comes out !! She flicks her scarf and is not afraid to ask elder and even a man with a cast on !! What is amazing is that every year elder from the community have been gifting accessories Lilja For her outfit . This year it was moccasins ! They are beautiful !! Aran dances too and has been given a beautiful ribbon shirt from a friend of his. This year for X-mas we gave Aran his new hat and it looks pretty handsome on him .

Lilja is Citizens of the month is month for acceptance . So proud of her .. she has received one each year for honesty, resilience and caring . What great characteristics to have !! Great job lilja !! This year was the first time lilja tried skate skiing and she actually really liked it and had fun .

Doggie training class !

Because the weather has turned to winter wonderland, Lilja has not been riding horses this month. So she signed up for a dog training class with PIP. It is actually surprising how well she’s doing with him, and is signing up for the next one because she’s doing so good. Really fun to see her work with Pip like this

Minnesota for Xmas !!

This is the first time in about 14 years that Aran has been back to Minnesota and his family for Christmas. It was his parents his 50th anniversary and we thought that was the most special time to go this year. Usually Aaron is working for the tribe and is hunting elk for the elder and single families. Luckily he had all the hunting done before we left. We were very lucky that the lake that they live on was completely frozen over so we ended up Ice-skating every day. It was so fun to have to have everybody together. And Lilja and her cousin Tae were just two peas in a pod. Just FYI this blog is letting me only write captions for the first two pictures and then my phone does not let me do that anymore this happened before with my iPhone. So it’s a lot harder to do these blogs now so I apologize but will try and make a little story at the top and then you can see the photos when you scroll down. The photos with all the lights are at the botanical gardens in Albuquerque. It was one of the most amazing experiences. The only downfall was the thousands of people that were with us shoulder to shoulder bum to bum nose to nose trying to see exactly the same thing that we wanted to see. But for once in a lifetime that was really amazing

San Diego !!

For Lilja’s birthday, her and I went to San Diego to go to sea world. This was her big present from her daddy and I. When we arrived at the hotel, they had put a balloon and stuffed animals in the room, because I told them it was going to be her birthday. We ended up having a great time swimming in the swimming pool and the next day we ended up at sea world. What an amazing time that was. There weren’t very many people so we were very lucky. The highlight of the day was lunch with the orcas a big yummy spread and then a informational show about the orcas . They were right there 2 feet away from us. Lilja would see her favorite part was touching the tiger sharks she literally was there for 30 minutes until this day she still talks about that. I think we definitely have to go back to see world and this time bring Aran.

Mission beach !! The best weather ever !!

She is such a great traveler .. and loves it too !!

Lilja’s birthday and Halloween

Is she 9 already !! Where does the time go . Lilja has had kind of an up and down year this year. Lots of challenges and triumphs and traveling and stay home days . She is a very determined young lady who works hard on finding self confidence during her horseback riding . I can say lilja is probably the silliest girl I know , she has her own humor and a very good one !! She is very smart , loves to read , loves her friends and adores her family . I am so proud of this girlie girl.

I set up a Halloween party with two of my friends this year . So much fun to see her in her classroom with all her friends around her .

The pictures are not in order but this was one of her special birthday gifts. Her own pocket knife !! Here she is cutting through the paper to see how sharp it is !

Birthday dinner !! Such a big girl !