4 Bowes and 4 Corners

Following a great week with family in Santa Fe we hopped in our car and began the next phase of our vacation. It was going to be a tour de force with a lot of driving, hiking, and adventuring. We couldn't wait.

Our first stop was Mesa Verde National Park, about a five hour drive from Santa Fe. We already had reserved a tour of Balcony House for that afternoon so we had to keep to a schedule. This is definitely an example of you have to see it to believe it or at least appreciate it. You hear about these structures and see pictures, but to be inside of them within that environment is incredible.

They warn you that there will be some climbing involved and they aren't lying. We went up ladders, went through tunnels, and learned a lot from our ranger throughout the tour. It's hard to believe how old these dwellings are and impressive to see they are still in good shape after hundreds of years. It is awe-inspiring to even contemplate how they were built.

We spent the night in the lodge at the park. The room was small but had an amazing view, and the restaurant served a delicious and pricey meal. The next day we hoped to have another tour but they were already booked so we had to settle for seeing things like Cliff Palace from more of a distance. This was certainly a perspective that helped us to see the overall beauty of the dwellings. Mesa Verde deserved more of our time but we had to hit the road.

We had a quick stop during our next phase of travel to get the iconic photo at the Four Corners destination located on the Navajo reservation. Not seen here are the dozens of people waiting in line in the 90 degree heat to take the same type of picture. There is a little bit of pressure since everyone is really there to capture this one moment to say they did it. No dawdling allowed, and certainly no time to try ten different variations of the shot.

Later that day we made it to Zion Ponderosa Ranch in southern Utah which would be home for the next four nights. We were glamping, which meant we had beds in a canvas tent that was on a wooden platform. This was a compromise since Sarah wanted to stay in one of the Conestoga Wagon rooms the ranch also provides. That was a hard pass for the rest of the family. Our first adventure here was a jeep tour out to Jolly Gulch. The ranch shares a border with Zion National Park so we got to see some of the park before we even officially went in.

One of the many highlights of the Ranch was the fact it had not one but two pools. We also went all in for the all you can play mini-golf pass. Reese and Callie made sure we took advantage of the pool as much as we could. As you see here, John did not need any more sun while the girls couldn't get enough. 

On our second day we arranged for a canyoneering trip that took us to one of the nearby slot canyons. As we may say a lot in this post, pictures won't do it justice. We first had a 20-30 ride in a four-wheeler through the back country to get to the canyon. Our two guides, Riley and Ella, were young college-aged women who had our lives in their hands. They were wonderful and we felt very safe, which is good since they were literally holding the ropes as we rappelled. But first we had to hike to the first slot canyon.

The first rappel was about 60 feet and Callie volunteered to be the first one down. She had a great balance of risk and caution, and set the tone for our group. It was quite impressive to see how she tackled the whole thing without blinking an eye. The first rappel was fun and got us excited for what we would get to do next.

As if the rappelling wasn't enough, hiking through the slot canyon was beyond cool. You had to stop and soak it all in so that you didn't take for granted the way the sunlight brought the rocks around you to life in such cool ways. And one of the best aspects of this adventure as well is that outside of Riley and Ella there was only one other person on the tour. So walking through the canyons was serene and we didn't feel like we were rushed or packed in like sardines.

The morning of the tour John got a call saying that there was water at the bottom of the last rappel and wondering if we would still want to go. Of course we still wanted to go even if we didn't really know what that meant. Well here is a picture that kind of captures what it meant. John is standing in cold, muddy water up to his chest waiting to help Reese when she gets to the bottom of the rappel. Without him there Reese would have had to deal with water up to her chin and probably would have had to swim out. It was awesome! After that last rappel we hiked out of the canyon and got to enjoy the ride back to the car. We would do this again in a hearbeat.

What better way to celebrate the Fourth of July then to spend it in a national park? We had the whole day set aside to explore Zion and it turned out to be a perfect plan. One of the best decisions we made was to rent e-bikes so that we could move around the park without waiting on shuttles. And since no cars were allowed in most of the park we ended up having the roads to ourselves for almost the entire time. It was such a beautiful way to see a lot of the terrain and Reese loved going fast and cruising through the main valley.

There is so much to do in Zion, but a top priority was exploring the Narrows. Since we went in July and there hadn't been much rain the Narrows were open to hikers and we made the most of it. For those who haven't been there, this is an entire hiking route that is in a river that travels through a canyon that has walls at least a hundred feet high. The further you go the more narrow the canyon gets. It is awe-inspiring.

The Narrows is also a perfect hike when it is July in Utah and the temperatures are in the high 90s. However, the water really is cold and at a few points it is deep enough where you have to brace yourself to keep going, even when you are over six feet tall. This is the portion of the hike where Reese had to swim a little bit and it is also one of the reasons why Reese was shivering for a portion of the hike. The Narrows is not kind to those with little body fat.

Because of our e-bikes we hiked the Narrows in the morning, biked to the lodge to eat our picnic lunch, continued to bike out of the park and into town for ice cream, and then biked back up to the Narrows to venture back into the canyon again. From the park entrance to the path to the Narrows is about 7 miles, so needless to say we hiked and biked a lot. But it would not have been as easy without those e-bikes. And at numerous times during the day we stopped, looked around, and soaked in the incredible experience. These trips as a family mean the world to us.

Next on the agenda was hitting Bryce Canyon National Park which was only about an hour and a half drive from the Ranch. It was another hot day and we certainly felt it a bit more since we weren't able to spend the day walking in a river. Every national park is different and this one kind of looks like what we would expect to see on Mars. It is incredibly unique and beautiful, just the way we like our national parks.

We hiked along the rim of the canyon for a couple of miles and then ventured down into the valley for one of the many hiking loops to check out the hoodoos. As with every portion of this journey we have countless pictures to share but figured we would include one with Reese smiling because she did not start out the journey in such high spirits. In fact, as we were beginning our hike along the rim the girls were walking ahead of us but still overheard Sarah's comment that Reese appeared to be in her "I hate life phase." Thankfully, we were able to joke about this and it didn't dampen the mood for the rest of the day.

The final destination of our barnstorming adventure through the Southwest was Page, Arizona, where we had several excursions planned. On the drive from Utah we had to stop at Horseshoe Bend for the well known scenic view. Not pictured are the hundreds of other people jostling to get a similar picture. 

That very afternoon we also had a reservation to tour the lower Antelope Valley Canyon on the Navajo Reservation. We had seen numerous pictures and knew this was something we wanted to do, however we were overwhelmed with the beauty of the experience. We couldn't stop taking pictures in the hope that at least one would be able to capture what we were seeing in person. 

One of the incredible parts of it all is the hidden aspect of it all. To get in and out of the canyon you have to climb a series of stairs and when you finally get out and turn around the canyon just appears to be a narrow crack in the earth and gives no hint of the grandeur that lies below. We would highly recommend making sure you take this excursion if you are in the area.

Having done so many hikes the girls were definitely ready for a different kind of activity that involved water. Lake Powell is right outside of Page and we rented kayaks to spend the day venturing around the lake. The folks we rented from gave us good pointers on where to find coves off the main lake that would be secluded and provide opportunities to get out of the boats. It was just what the doctor ordered.

This was definitely one of Reese's favorite parts of the trip. We found one particular spot where we would test our cliff jumping abilities and overall bravado. This was the small jump. Callie, Reese, and Sarah all did an even bigger jump off a higher cliff across the cove after this one. We had packed lunches and were able to spend the day floating, swimming, and just enjoying being together in nature. We couldn't ask for more. To remember the day a couple of us purchased sweatshirts with a slogan that still makes us smile. Lake Powell. Fresh Water. No Sharks.

And because no day, even a long travel day, should be wasted, we had one final stop. It was going to be a long drive from Page back to Albuquerque where we were catching our plane the next day, but along the way we had to make a mini-detour to see Monument Valley. We did not have time to do the complete driving tour but ventured far enough to see a few of the iconic rock formations. We have been so fortunate to have such great adventures and see so much of the beauty this country has to offer. As we have said before, we made a decision long ago to emphasize experiences over things and from being to end we think this trip showcased why this has been such a priority for us.

Do You Know the Way to Santa Fe?

Back in 2016 to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Nana Banana and Sport we all went to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. It took us seven years to get the whole gang to do another big family trip, but we managed to all gather again in 2023.

This time around the destination was Santa Fe. Nana Banana and Sport generously rented a house that fit all the Bowes, Balestraccis, and Hannens. We just had to get ourselves there for a week of fun in the New Mexican sun. On day one we visited the downtown plaza in Santa Fe to check out the Indian market and explore the area. All the grandkids were present and accounted for, as this picture can attest.

As the group started dividing up, Sarah suggested that the older crew hit up one of the spots on the Margarita Trail. It's not that often that this group participates in day drinking, but it was the beginning of a great vacation and everyone was up for the fun.

We had a lot of great things planned for our trip, and one of the first adventures took us to Albuquerque at dawn for a hot air balloon ride. Amazingly enough we got a balloon that fit all eleven of the folks who wanted to see the sights from up high. You can see us all smiling in the basket here. However, it must be noted that there was no door to get into the basket - you had to go up and over. It was an impressive feat for the older members of our group. 

The ride lasted for about an hour and was incredibly peaceful and uneventful. We were one of 8-9 balloons that went up that morning which made the experience interesting as the balloons jockeyed for position and relayed information about the prevailing winds and possible landing spots. One of the coolest parts was watching all that went into preparing the balloons and then the actual landing and packing up of the balloons. It was a very neat experience.

The house we rented was a very cool adobe style house and had everything we needed, including a dinner table that fit all of us at once. In addition it had a great patio/covered porch. One night it served as a perfect spot to watch an incredible lightning storm in the distance over the hills. It would have been tough to find a better place for the week, especially since it was only minutes away from downtown.

Another adventure we ended up taking was Bandolier National Monument, which was a relatively short drive away. We hiked up to the cliff dwellings and even got to climb inside of them. A few hardy souls went to the end of the trail to climb the ladders into the Alcove House. Those who turned back to head to the visitor center got caught in a massive rainstorm while the folks in Alcove House got stuck in the cliff dwelling for a period of time. Needless to say only a couple of people stayed dry.

The most unique experience of the trip, however, was a visit to the Meow Wolf Immersive Art Experience and Interactive Exhibit in Santa Fe. This is truly something that you have to see to believe because it defies explanations. For example, this picture shows John as he heads into the dryer of a house in order to go down a short slide that goes into another room. We also have a video of Nana Banana emerging from a refrigerator. 

The girls did end up having a fun time running from one area to another and seeing what strange or intriguing thing was around the next turn. We stayed there for a couple of hours but if we really got into the interactive part could have been there for much longer. We saw that they also have adult only hours in the evening with drink service that might take the experience to a whole new level.

Throughout the week few had days where some folks went in one direction and others took a different path. On this particular day Uncle Brian took the girls climbing at a local spot and paddle boarding at a nearby lake. Callie in particular loved the opportunity to flex her climbing skills and both she and Reese were impressed with Zoey and Uncle Brian. 

While the girls went climbing, John, Sarah, Katie, Michael, and Nana Banana drove up to Taos to visit the Taos Pueblo. This pueblo is over eleven hundred years old and there are still families who occupy some of the residences year round. We were able to take a tour and it was incredible. 

Another Santa Fe hotspot that we visited was the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. Normally you wouldn't think an art museum would appeal to the super young in particular, but everyone seemed to love Georgia. The Museum has a great audio tour you can get through your phone and we all learned a great deal about her incredible life and the artwork she produced. Two thumbs up for this museum from the whole crew!

When we weren't looking at art produced by others we were being entertained by the young members of our group. Honestly we don't remember what they were doing here, but this picture captures our favorite place at our Airbnb. The patio was big, covered, and had a great view of the surrounding hills. We started and ended every day with time on the patio. We think Sport and Nana Banana were especially grateful for this space.

Our last night in Santa Fe we went down to the Railyard area, had dinner, and enjoyed a concert by Ozomatli. Sarah and John remember seeing Ozomatli back when they lived in southern California, and it was great to hear them live again. This is now the second time the extended Bowes family has done a trip like this and we may finally be getting the hang of it. Wonder where we will go next?

School Ends, Summer Begins

 

The girls were running all over the place in spring. And by running, we mean they were running track in addition to playing soccer. Callie really enjoyed track at Morton so Reese was ready to give it a go, and it certainly helped that track would once again allow her to connect with Mary and Emerson. Reese and Emerson in particular often ran the same races which made it super fun for their parents. Reese had quite a successful season and wrapped it up by winning the 800 meter race at the 6th grade invitational. Those long legs and big heart served her well all season long.

On the soccer field, Reese's team was hoping to follow up on a strong fall season in which they held their own against some of the toughest competition in the Girls Academy. They were going to have to work hard because unfortunately one of their teammates suffered a torn ACL in December and was going to miss all spring and the following fall. Reese continued to work her butt off playing defense and showed tremendous skill and resiliency. By season's end the girls finished middle of their division (which isn't bad since the first place team won the national championship) and had the best showing of any of the top girls teams in LSC.

When school ended in May we had to take a moment to realize Callie had just finished her first year of high school and Reese had completed sixth grade. Both girls had strong academic showings and we are incredibly proud of how they balance their days amid all of their sports activities and other commitments.

At the beginning of June we had special visitors in Kentucky. Sarah's cousin Tyler and his family came to Louisville so we drove down to hang out for the day. We had a great time at Top Golf and walking across the bridge over the Ohio River from Louisville to southern Indiana. Clearly we had so much fun that we neglected to get a picture of all of us together, so instead we just have the four Bowes in front of the bridge. We promise that they were really there!

Callie got to spend another week at Cathedral Domain summer camp, one of her favorite weeks of the year. This group of girls have gone to this camp together for approximately 7-8 years and they always look forward to going again. It is a classic summer camp experience without any bells or whistles. Old cabins, no cell phones, and a lot of outdoor fun.

For the second year in a row Reese went to soccer camp at Centre College in Danville. She roomed with Emerson but there were a lot of other girls from Lexington there as well. Reese made sure her room had an ample supply of candy and had a great time playing soccer and getting soft serve ice cream in the cafeteria. It doesn't take too much to earn Reese's camp loyalty. 

One weekend, one family, four different locations

In this post we tell a story in four photographs. It is a story of one weekend, one family, and four very different experiences in four very different states.

Kentucky. We begin our tale in Lexington, where Reese had the opportunity to spend the weekend with the Abrahams and the Hughes. She was holding down the fort, but had to do so in two separate households because everyone else in her family was out of town. You can see from this picture that she wasn't too disappointed or lonely as she had plenty of close friends entertaining her. These friends made it easy for us to leave the state and not be too concerned about her wellbeing.

Tennessee. Pictured here are Callie and her friends strolling down a street in Nashville heading to their first official concert. That's right, Taylor Swift, the Eras Tour. There is a long story behind it all, but the short version is that Callie got a last minute ticket and two different moms took care of the driving and chaperoning. From what we understand from Callie and her friends, and of course reviews from the other millions of people who have attended this tour, it was a pretty decent show. Not a bad first concert story for Callie either.

California. 2023 was the year everyone turned 50. (Unless you are Sarah, who turned 50 in 2022). For their respective 50th birthdays Sarah and John committed to supporting each other in traveling to be with friends to celebrate these milestones. So for this weekend Sarah was in Paso Robles for Auntie D's birthday celebration. The weekend included wine tastings, sitting by the pool, and a party bus. But more importantly, it was all about making more memories with good friends.

Massachusetts. John was the only one who headed east, making a dash for Boston and the 50th birthday celebration of his good friend from college, Masu. As with any celebration like this it brings together all sorts of folks, and John got to reconnect with numerous college friends who got to enjoy the great party Masu and her husband Bader put together. It more than just your average birthday party and each guest went home with at least one book that was a favorite read of Masu's. 

Not bad for a weekend full of fun, and while we don't want to make a habit of being in four different places, it's nice to know that we have the ability to do so.

Easter to Prom for a Goal!

Before we had our bearings in the new year, Easter arrived and spring was fully in bloom. We always enjoy seeing Mrs. H at FPC, but this was a special occasion because Reese and Mrs. H were twins without even pre-planning their outfits. It is crazy to think that Mrs. H first came into Reese's life when Reese was four years old when she taught her music through LOGOS. Now Reese is almost as tall as she is!

Of course Easter is also a day when we try and make sure we get our annual picture of the Abraham-Bowes girls. It's year two with Ella in college so we only got three of the four, but those three are pretty special. And Callie is now officially taller than Claire, so the arrangement looks a little different. This is also Claire's senior year in high school, so it is likely that the Easter 2024 photo will just have our two girls.

Our family photo was even more fun than usual this year. As we posed in the church garden we had a little friend join us. Ethan's family is part of our church and he was very interested in being a part of our family photo. We obliged and then took one without him. But to be honest, the picture with Ethan was the best one we had so that is the one we are using.

We have come a long way from the days when Callie sat alone on the stairs at home in bunny ears to take a picture on Easter. Now our two girls are growing up so fast and we can barely keep track of them. And as you can see, Reese is shooting up right before our eyes and one day might even challenge her sister's height.

As mentioned above, this is the spring of Claire's senior year in high school. That also means it is her last season of lacrosse at Lafayette. And boy did she have a fantastic year. She scored over 100 goals and was one of only two female lacrosse players in Kentucky selected as All-Americans. She was fun to watch even when it was below freezing at the beginning of the season. Hopefully we will get to see her play in college when she attends George Fox out in Oregon.

Claire is impressive in many ways, not the least is her dedication to fitness. Sarah once again stepped in to be the Abraham prom hairstylist, and she did a wonderful job. But she also insisted on getting a muscle pose from Claire and Claire did not hesitate. You do not want to mess with Claire.

As we always say, the girls are very lucky to have such great friends and role models in the Abraham sisters. It is always wonderful to share these special occasions with them. The thing that is getting harder is to know that these milestone events are not that far in the future for our girls. Time keeps moving on.

Tampa 2023

In case spring in Lexington wasn't warm enough, Reese got the opportunity to head to Tampa, Florida to play in a USL Cup tournament with her current team and number of very familiar guest players from the younger team. To be specific, two of Reese's favorite people, Emerson and Mary, were playing with this team. So John and Reese headed to Tampa for a four day adventure in March.

It was plenty hot in Tampa and the girls were also coached by two folks who were not their usual club coaches. Coach Michelle was insistent that the girls aid their post-game recoveries with at least 20 minutes in an ice bath. Although they weren't excited about it they figured it would go better if they did it together and timed themselves. It was impressive commitment to their coach's recommendations and they stuck it out.

The team played well and won their first three games handily which qualified them for the championship. Reese did a great job on the field, but this tournament really showcased her abilities to braid hair. Reese's pop-up hair salon became a popular appointment pre-game, and what started as a line of girls stopping by the hotel room spilled over into the hotel lobby on day 3. 

Our last day in Tampa saw Reese and her team win the championship for their age group in convincing fashion. They played strong through the heat and for their work got to experience a whole awards ceremony with individual medals and a team trophy. It was a good experience and the team's success certainly made the trip even more worthwhile.

On our way home we had to make sure we took a picture with one of the neat features of the Tampa airport. The sculpture gives you the perspective of watching from below as a giant pink flamingo puts its head under water to catch a fish. Reese and John had a great time traveling together despite the unfortunate misunderstanding regarding a candy purchase on April Fool's Day.

Kicking off 2023

 As we kicked off the new year we were reminded that you always have to be on your toes when you are friends with Ella Hughes and her family. You never know when an invitation to have fun is going to arrive. Reese had a blast with Ella at a UK men's basketball game where she not only had great seats but got some proper sporting attire to show her team spirit.

Although it was a game early in their season she got to see them play Kansas. Our Cats didn't pull it a victory, but that didn't stop them from having a great time.

Even though spring doesn't officially start until March, the spring soccer season kicks off in February, which means that travel for soccer begins as well. It's always a good idea to wear the same gear so you can find each other when you stop for food on the drive. This picture is from the first of many trips together as Reese's team sought to conquer the Girls Academy League for the second year.

Overall the winter weather in Kentucky was relatively mild. We got very little snow and didn't even have to deal with an ice storm at any point. However, that didn't mean we escaped everything. Early March brought the forecast of a severe thunderstorm with strong winds. It sent us all home from work and school and the forecast didn't disappoint. 

Sarah was home looking out the back window when our neighbor's tree decided to snap and fall on their garage. It was quite a sight to see. Fortunately, no one was hurt and when the storm ended we didn't have any damage to our property. 

We did lose power however. Our neighborhood has so many wonderful big trees that make things beautiful. It also means that when bad weather arrives the odds are that we are going to lose power for at least a little bit of time. We managed to make the most of it and got a couple of games of Sorry in before we headed to bed early. We were also lucky that the temperatures weren't too hot or too cold and so the lack of electricity didn't make things too uncomfortable overall.

Over the past couple of years as a family we have done our best to consistently support and staff our church's monthly program that provides a lunch for anyone who needs it. By this point the girls have become veterans of the process and are always ready to pitch in wherever they are needed.

The picture above includes Susan Buhrow, who is certainly a master in the kitchen and one of the sweetest people we know. She makes every minute in the kitchen fun!

Did we say that the weather wasn't too bad? Well, as most folks say here in Kentucky, if you don't like the weather just wait a few minutes and it will change. The picture above says it best. Here we are on March 13 supporting Claire Abraham as she kicked off her senior season of lacrosse. Reese's face highlights the misery it was. We didn't even wait around for the end of the game it was so cold. It was good for the girls to get a good idea of what parents go through on the sidelines.

As winter ends and spring begins, flowers bloom and the outdoors is all about new growth. The same was happening indoors as well. Sarah continues to have mixed emotions as Callie is clearly outpacing her in the height department. Callie has embraced her new status as the second tallest person in the house and loves to ask if she can get items from top shelves for her mother. She is also borrowing a lot more clothes these days. 

The start of spring also meant the start of track for both girls. They were running so fast we barely caught any pictures of them. Callie caught the bug in her one year of track in middle school and was excited to be part of the high school team. Reese decided to follow in her sister's footsteps and joined the Morton track team in her first year of middle school. If nothing else we knew our spring was going to be just a little busy.