Vacation Number 3: Virden, New Mexico

After a long 16 hour drive we finally made it to our first stop; Safford,AZ.

When we arrived the hotel reservations were not found so luckily we stayed at the Comfort Inn. It was a really nice hotel and we spoiled ourselves with a king bed, they even gave us a deal since we had issues with the other place! 

Kelly & I went to Little Ceasars and got pizza & crazy bread (my favorite) for everyone, you could tell that no one is in a big rush in that town after waiting for the what should be a "hot and ready pizza".

Although it was satisfying after a long trip! 

After eating we decided to spend the rest of the night in the hot tub & relaxing! As I asked a million questions to Kelly about the families I would be meeting the next day! Phew, was it a lot to take in but I survived and I think it helped me out! 

Friday October 25,2013 was the wedding day for Kevin & Katrina! They were sealed in the Hila Valley Temple, it is a smaller temple so only immediate family was invited to the sealing. So Kimmy, Samantha and us two went to the temple later to see them walk out & for pictures! It was a gorgeous temple and reminded me a lot of the Oqquirh Mountain Temple with the exterior and windows! It was fun to sit and stare at what a marvelous structure! 

After pictures were done we checked out at the hotel and everyone went to a restraurant called La Paloma (authentic Mexican) and they aren't kidding they had some dang hot salsa! I got the bean & cheese burrito, it was yummy! Kelly got 3 cheese enchiladas! It was a fun place, I realized how loud Kelly's extended family and how funny they are!

We then headed to Kelly's grandparents in Virden, New Mexico. They didn't come to the temple because they weren't feeling up for it. The temple is maybe a little more than a half hour from their house!

Front Door of their home

As we made our way there we stopped in the Virden Cemetery and saw some ancestors graves. Kelly's aunt is buried their she died a day after she was born from RH incompatibility. (When a fetus has a different blood type than the mom, they have shots to cure it now). We also saw his great grandmas gravesite as well along with his grandma & grandpa Nelson (yes, they are alive they just already have their headstone done). As we talked about certain stories and the headstones Samantha started to cry because she thought Grandma & Grandpa Nelson had died ( we probably should of visited them first...oops).

Myrtle Nelson

We then drove past the dairy farm that Kelly's uncle owns. Also we saw the cotton gin that Kelly's grandpa use to work at. Finally we made our way into the dirt roads of Virden. What a cute town with old homes and laid back atmosphere. As we walked in to his grandparents house it was fun to see how Kelly's dad grew up since they still are in the same home! They were so happy to see us and we gave hugs and talked! Kelly's grandpa (Donald) is very deaf and couldn't hear much but man oh man is he the sweetest 94 year old ever!! Kelly's grandma (Myrtle) is 89 years old and completely full of life. My favorite thing she said was; "You kids have to keep doing the right thing because I won't have empty chairs next to me in heaven! I need every single one of you there next to me!" 

After a few hours of talking, looking through the Donald & Debra Nelson family book of pictures, organizing toys we headed back to Duncan for the ring ceremony and reception!

Katrina & Kevin are such a cute couple. Katrina wanted to make her own wedding dress and they didn't finish it until late the night before! Katrina was a marine and the sheriff of the area but she was a sweetheart! She quit being the sheriff so she could become more of a homemaker and now drives the school bus, that is why she wanted to make her own dress! She also told the girls in the whole primary that they could come be her flower girls for the ring ceremony. I bet there was about 20 flower girls, including the nieces & nephews! They were adorable! The kids loved her! Katrina is a convert she got baptized a year ago, she then met Kevin through a mutual friend as they discussed marriage she new she had to wait out the whole year so they could be sealed and not just civilly married! They told the story at the ring ceremony! The missionary who baptized her came back from his hometown in Florida for her endowments! 

We sat by them during the reception as they were trying to eat, they showed us their rings! She had her engagement band and then a wedding band that was pink camo around the inside of the band! Then Kevin's wedding ring was camo in the center of it as well! They were very cool rings and creative! 

They had the coolest posts for white lights and tulle! They used real quakie trees and shepherd hooks on the top! 

The family was all very welcoming and friendly! I had met his Aunt Diane & Uncle Skip they came out for our wedding and I also met their son and his family before he was deployed to Afgahnastan! It was fun to see Kelly's dad tell so many stories of his childhood and tour us around so many places! 

I did know one cousin; Jeff. He came and painted for Kelly's parents this last spring/summer! It was nice to see him again and to meet his sister Janeal & their dad, Uncle Dale. He was a riot! 

They had done a full meal for everyone who came with BBQ Beef, rice, beans, salads, rolls etc. they had a delicious drink called a frappe (no, it's not coffee) it's like frozen fruit with sprite and fruit juice that's frozen before hand! They also had different cakes! Of course I had to go with the chocolate!!! That is when Uncle Dale realized I liked cake because he said I will bring you as much chocolate cake as you can eat all you have to do is raise your hand & I will come! Well after the 1st slice he got me my 2nd and then my 3rd by the 4th I secretly fed some to Kelly! After that Dale changed our names to: Kelly & The Cake Girl! (Sadly! I am proud of it.. Nothing better than a dang good cake)

Honeymoon Room

Nothing better than a Vintage Tub!

The Simpson Hotel opened in the 40's

On Saturday after a nice sleep at the cutest bed & breakfast we headed through the town searching for a Cabinet TV for me. After antique shops and talking to different stores the people who had them wouldn't give them up... darn them! Although, all was solved after we walked into a little boutique that is somewhat like the Quilted Bear; each vendor rents out a section to display their talents and each of them work once a week for the whole store. They had a homemade soap vendor and man did they have some good smelling soaps, I loved the pumpkin one. We ended up getting three soaps for 10 bucks. Sexy Man, Pumpkin & a Blackberry! I showed the "Sexy Man" soap for Kelly's mom to smell.. the first thing she said was; "This makes my mouth water!"... we shared that with some of the cousins later on it became quite the joke! Everybody ended up leaving the store with a Sexy Man soap in hand!

In that same shop they had our favorite commercial/product.. Poo-Pourri. You may not have heard of it but its a spray before you go toilet spray! The girl who is in the video is a student from BYU, she is probably the only BYU student I will ever like.. tehehe. But, because she has her British accent they had to give her the part of the commercial.. go ahead and watch it! 

Poo Pourri Website the video is on the top of the page

We went to the 3 Sisters Bakery, where we enjoyed sandwiches, a cookie and pumpkin doughnuts. It was yummy and super cheap for a bakery.. but after all it was Duncan Arizona.

This was inside the bakery! adorable!

After, we headed to Virden. Where we went on a walk with Grandma over to Aunt Jeanie & Uncle Nelson's house. It was fun to see them more since they were so busy with the wedding the day before.. talk about hilarious people! Uncle Nelson had knee surgery not to long ago and he showed us his scar, Deb told him you need to put Vitamin E on it he said "I don't know what that is!" "All I know is that I get Vitamin D, from the sun".. I laughed and laughed, maybe let out a few snorts..oops! ..The jokes were cracked about the Sexy Man soap and that Kelly bought some even though his mom said her mouth waters. It was fun to catch up with family for Kelly! I am very happy I got to meet them, talk about some of the nicest, happiest and funniest people!

Janeal, Grandma & Kimmy walking

Grandpa isn't he adorable?!

Walking the streets of Virden!

This cat hid from Samantha, it didn't want to be
played with

Best bakery right there folks!

Kelly talking to his Grandpa and doing
yard work for them

I am the same height as Grandpa

We decided to leave Saturday night around 5pm to do part of the drive. As we were saying our goodbyes, Kelly's grandparents were telling me how much they were happy to meet me and they loved the things they had heard about me! I started to cry, maybe because I wasn't sure if I would see them ever again, but probably because I had never felt so much love from someone in that short amount of time! We hugged and both me and kimmy were crying!

The picture on the left, is in their kitchen. They have some of the family measurements on there. Well, out of Kelly's immediate family I was the first to be put on there, none of his siblings were on there before me! hehehe.. but, then we had to measure Kelly as well! It was fun to see the years of everyone who was measured!

We made it to Chandler Arizona at about 11pm saturday night, we found a hotel and slept until 6 am. We ate breakfast and then trucked the rest of the 8 hours home! It was a long drive but it was nice to get home at 5pm! Kelly will admit to you that I was hard to handle the last hour of the drive because I wanted to get home! I was singing songs, making up my own and pestering him! The drive from SLC home has never felt so long! 

In short, it was so nice to be able to meet the family I have now been apart of for the last year & a half! It was fun to be welcomed in! I know Virden isn't a tourist place or a dream vacation! But, I do know after the 2 days spent there that some of the world's greatest people live there & luckily I can say I am related to them!

The last and final picture says it all! I am so happy I got to meet these
two adorable people finally!