Pheonix

Chelsea and Waddy

Rachel, Ashley and me

Waddy's grandpa and me

From our California groupies, Dominique was there- newly engaged herself

Marcus, in a rare moment where he is still long enough to be captured on camera

Ashley and I and her new sweet baby!
Rachel learns about spit up (the hard way)

Here are some long overdue pictures of Rachel and my trip to Pheonix to see my old friends the Cagles/Steeles for Chelsea's wedding on January 4th. In her usual gracious way Ashley (sister of the bride) let us stay with her even though there was SO MUCH going on! It was crazy, the way weddings always are but Chelsea was beautiful, there was some neat cultural flare (Chelsea's husband Waddy is from the Dominican Republic), and there was some great kareoki at the reception! As many of you know I have a knack for attracting strange men. Well Waddy's grandfather came to the wedding and for some reason he just loved Rachel and I and pretty much spent the whole day with us. He spoke English but it was a little difficult to follow. He lives in the US part of the year and the DR the rest. He was interesting and it was fun to hang out with him and ask him about his life but toward the end of the reception he started rubbing my leg a little friendly-like and trying to get me to do something with him after the reception. Well I kept my distance from him the rest of the night but I am telling you people- no one normal (or my age) is attracted to me!!!

Besides the wedding it was just great to remember how comfortable things can be with old friends (even when they have kids, and you have kids). Ashley and Robert were so great with Rachel and it was so wonderful to get to see their kids (Marcus and Evelyn) and observe what amazing parents they are. We got a great picture of Evy spitting up on Rachel!

I think everyone at the wedding who knew the Cagles when they lived in California grieved a little that they aren't here anymore, that their dad Denise wasn't there (he passed away about a year and half ago), and that so much has changed in the last 7 years for all of them. It is hard to know how to move on sometimes without losing your history but I appreciate that all the Cagle kids have maintained so many of their connections while facing the daily reality that life isn't the same.

It was fun for Rachel and I to drive to Pheonix. It is about 10 hours and since Christmas was so busy it was really good to have that one-on-one time. Ever since the adoption Rachel had been pretty distant with me but the trip seemed to help give us the time and space we needed to reconnect. We brought some books on tape from the library which kept us entertained, and on the way home we stopped in LA to have lunch with David and Angela (my brother and his girlfriend) who had just headed back to college. My brother had knee surgery and has been on crutches for a few months. It was fun when he walked into the restraunt where we met them without any crutches! A great end to a good (though not very restful) weekend. I was so thankful we went, and for the love of our far-away friends!