The prairie dogs were also happy to have guests. They came out of their homes and tried their best to talk to us. We also saw elk, a black bear, several different reptiles, and an eagle.

We enjoyed looking at all the different cacti on display in the greenhouse, the bobcats, who were sleeping, and the cougar, who was ready to play chase!

The next day, we toured the Living Desert Museum, a State Park.

After the ride, we went to the history Trinity hotel for a delicious meal.  We also learned the history of the hotel, which is now haunted by 2 ghost!

We bundled up for a ride down the Pecos river, enjoying the holiday lights on display along the river banks. Carlsbad is know for its program, Christmas on the Pecos.

We also had fun playing in the visitor's center.

We took the elevator down 750 ft., walked a mile along the trails in the cave, and hiked a mile out the natural entrance.  The bats had migrated for the winter, so we did not get to see any as we hiked out.

The caves were dark, but highlighted in areas to show the stalactites and stalagmites.  It was amazing to see.

 We took a trip to Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Barrow was also excited to get a remote controlled helicopter which he charged up and practiced flying around the house.

Christmas arrived.  Barrow was excited to get a Magnum 44 play gun.  He just graduated from New Mexico Hunter's Safety.  On Christmas Eve we saw Rise of the Guardians, went to church, and enjoyed some posole at the Pollard's home.  Barrow came home and wrote a letter to Santa, listing all of the gifts he would like for Christmas. On Christmas day, he said he was a little disappointed that Santa did not bring him and "M" rated game.  We told him Santa was probably waiting until he turned 18!

Barrow, Cate and Caroline helped dad knock down the playset - which had spent 10 years with our family!

Chef Barrow and Chef Lowell enjoying their treats after cooking class

The spa next to the pool was filled with concrete!

Dad showed up at practice so much, he was recruited for the role of Charlie!

Barrow did a great job as Peter Bailey, in St. Paul's UMC production of It's a Wonderful Life.

Concrete filled the dirt hole...getting closer to having our own pool!

Barrow enjoyed helping prepare food in the kitchen while Dad fried the turkey.  There was a mishap with the turkey...the turkey and oil caught on fire.  Dad quickly stopped the fire, and finished cooking the turkey.  Even with black skin, the turkey meat was delicious.  We decided that burning it wasn't such a bad thing after all!

For Thanksgiving, we met Mimi and Dick Daddy in Red River.  There was a good bit of snow along Middle Fork Trail, but not in town. Rather than skiing, we decided to stay in the cabin and visit with Mimi and Dick Daddy.

Cubmobile 2012.  Barrow and his Den 2 cubmates were the stars of the race!

For Pack 5's Annual Cake Decorating contest, the theme was National Monuments. Barrow chose Gettysburg.  Watch out for those cannons!

Poco found a new place to hang out in the early hours of the morning.

The lake's dragon was being refurbished, but they still enjoyed a trip in the water.

 We loved going to the Renaissance Fair, a Las Cruces tradition.  As always, we made a stop at the Ratapult!

A big hole was dug in the ground, soon to be filled with a pool!

Cate fixed up Mapache for Halloween!

Halloween 2012 - Barrow dressed up as an "assasin" and joined Tanner for Trick-or-Treating.

We walked a total of 6.8 miles!

We were pretty pooped by the end!

We stopped to rest, had a picnic lunch at the Pratt house, and enjoyed learning about the history of the area.

The deeper we walked into the canyon, the more fall colors we saw.

We even found some trees to climb!

The next day, we headed to the Guadalupe Mountains.  We hiked into McKittrick Canyon and enjoyed the beautiful fall foliage.

There were several places, to take pictures.

...and the slides!

We also enjoyed the games at the Maze...

We finally made it to the Maize Maze. First stop...the pumpkin patch!

Barrow moved to 5th Gup in Tae Kwan Do.

They also enjoyed hiking around the rocks

Pack 5 had a fall camping trip at the City of Rocks.  They enjoyed a show about star gazing that was given by the state park.

Barrow enjoyed J Paul Taylor Academy's field trip to a Reenactment of the Civil War.

Barrow demonstrated TKD forms, sparring and board breaking at the Fall Fitness Festival.

We spent the night in Greenville, before heading home. Barrow quickly found the computer in the hotel lobby!

We drove by mom's old home, toured the Clemson campus, saw Pop's old office, and shopped at Judge Keller's store.

The next day, we headed to Clemson, South Carolina, where mom grew up.

We were happy to have friends from Clemson join us at the party. Farrell and Ann Brown, mom's old neighbors, and Bob and Susan Brown joined in on the festivities.

That evening, we joined family and friends, to celebrate Nana and Pop's 50th Anniversary (about 2 months early)!

After the tour, he was full of facts, and began planning a presentation for his class about the air craft carrier.

Afterwards, Dad and Barrow headed to the Yorktown.  Barrow soaked in the history.

The next morning, we were up early...for family pictures on the waterfront.