Looking west into Arizona from Mule Creek Pass, Highway 78.
Border of NM and AZ.
Driving north on 180 in New Mexico...the Gila Wilderness.
We visited Silver City, NM... the "city built to last" is about to fade away since the price of copper dropped and a rumored 70% of the town's work force will be outta work. 
Another dirt lot emergency diaper change...dirt lot with a view. Now, ya can't find those on yer freeway systems.
Great-Aunt Lela. Selah was jealous of Lela's cool red hair, so she asked if she could wear her red bow. Now who's jealous, eh?
Mimmie teaching Selah how to have fun without getting caught.
Sweet Grandpa Mike with one tired little girl.
Mimmie in recovery from emergency surgery at Trinity Mother Francis Hospital.
Mimmie got that babydoll through a series of events involving motorcyclists...Selah laughed hysterically when she saw her new plastic friend.
Selah's cousin Zachary met us for coffee in Arlington early Saturday. 
As a monster baby.
That baby with Uncle Matt and Aunt Andie.
Aunt Melissa put that baby to sleep WITHOUT a pacifier TWICE. It's the Melissa Method. It's awesome.
Selah 
and Cousin Chapman. New 6 month skill: Sitting up all by herself. Still not quite crawling, but she did start scooting forward today.
Her cuzuncles from Dallas are Chase (13), Chandler (10), and Chapman (6). The boys' parents are Blair and Melissa Dillard. They're awesome. They love baby girls.
This was the greatest moment of my life since Selah was born. I could watch it a million times and it wouldn't get old. It makes me want to be a better person.
Got another one for good measure.
ont of Guadalupe Peak (to the left).
Here is Selah as a white trashy diaper gal, in a dirt lot, in Orla, TX. She needed a diaper change severely, and Casson kept suggesting that we wait til we got to Orla. In Orla there is a dirt lot perfect for the job, and not a lot else. By the way, there is no working gas station between El Paso and Kermit, so FILL UP.
Sunday morning we went to Chandler to watch Jose Yanez do a backflip on a BMX bike. For those of you who forget or didn't know (like me), Jose was the stunt man in the 1986 classic Rad. He was the first guy to do a backflip on a BMX bike, and now is the oldest man to do it, it being his 50th birthday this week.
Awesome, eh? Despite being called "little feller," by a few folks, Selah really loved the show and the crowd. It was a chilly 52 degrees, but she stayed warm in the blanket that Michael had given her for Christmas.
Here is Selah with her new friend, Mandy. Mandy and her husband, Billy, own a house with Dave. They are pretty much the coolest couple around. I had a great time getting to know Mandy better.
Watch one video per day to make them last... I don't know why I took so much video this week.
Monday night we had dinner at Rachel's to celebrate Sara Ashurst's visit. She was in town for this Thanksgiving week. She's been working as a kind of governess for a family in New York, and hasn't visited since June. Tuesday night Sara and Doris threw a surprise bridal shower for Rachel, which I nearly spoiled at least three times...going even as far as showing up at Rachel's house with a present in hand, only to find Rachel and Dave hanging out, and no invitees within three miles, for they were all at the party's intended site, Doris's house. Thankfully Rachel just thought that I'd been stood up by Sara. She actually felt badly for me! I arrived at the correct place only moments before Rachel and Dave showed up. When everyone shouted Surprise!, Selah began crying. She got over it soon enough, and we had a very sweet time telling Rachel how awesome she is and how great her and Dave's marriage will be.
At about 5:00am this morning, Casson's phone started ringing. After ignoring it a few times, he finally looked and saw that it was Tom calling. He and William had been in Tucson for Thanksgiving. They were on there way to the airport in Phoenix, for Will to catch a 7:00am flight, and they decided to make a visit. So, not long after Casson hung up the phone, our favorite twins were at the door. Will had never seen Selah, but she was fast asleep. No problem! We used Tom's night goggles to take a peek at her.
We had a great time this past week. Got to see a little of all our Minnesota/Kansas family members. The Thanksgiving meal was delish! And though Uncle Jay was without his fun-loving cohort, Aunt Teri, he still managed to set the bar high for a good time. He took all the willing Browns family members to a matinee on Thursday afternoon...a Thanksgiving tradition that goes back many years. Friday day was spent Christmas shopping (I'd never been out on Black Friday before), which wasn't the absolute worst way to spend a Friday (remember: work, illness, cleaning a toilet). Dinner that night at the Blonigan's, with conversations revolving around the Corn Huskers, timeshare, babies, jello shots, adoption, dog races, and many other things that my ears didn't pick up.
Saturday Selah and I spent the day with two of my oldest and best friends, Monica and Laura. By the end of the day I was all but signed up for Philosophy Camp thanks to Laura, and had learned how to put a baby to sleep within 5 seconds thanks to Monka. Casson and I met up with them and their husbands for a 10:00 showing of AUSTRALIA at the Heights Theater (movie not recommended; theater, yes). Pamela, Jody, and Jeremy hosted dinner that night. I ate more than two Thanksgiving dinners combined.
Sunday morning the immediate family had a Christmas celebration (limited to the present-opening part), in anticipation of not being together this year. We the Mathi will be in Texas, and Vanessa will be in Scotland. Basically the present-giving was heavily weighted towards Selah, and then too much to me and Casson. More thoughtful gifts couldn't be thought of. Then we all had a gourmet lunch at Hoolihan's before leaving for the airport. Papa and Grandma came inside to see Selah off. Can't wait for February?!?! Selah relished the plane ride, even though a scary flight attendant lady held her for part of the flight.
This is Maria and Miguel's wittoist beebee, Cristian Miguel Cisneros, being held by his daddy. He was born September 9th.
Cristian being held by my cousin Maria, and featured with Grandma Jody and Grandpa Jerry.
Casson is pretty sick this week. So far the baby hasn't been sick at all, but we'll probably soon find out what it's all about. I just hope she's not sick during her first week in Minnesota.
Anyways, as you see, Selah started the first stage of crawling... tucking her knee.
Granny (Avara) leaves for Indonesia on Saturday, so we'll be praying for her. It's a two-week trip, and Grandpa (Mike) will be alone (even Matt and Andrea will be in Phoenix), so we'll be praying for him, too.
We're leaving tomorrow for Minnesota. It's going to be cold and fun. At the moment, Selah is busy freaking herself out by repeatedly pulling the blanket over her face. That is how she puts herself to sleep lately. I have to barricade her onto her back, or she'll roll onto her tummy and keep playing.
Casson surprised me Friday morning. I really had no idea about any of it. I thought he was up and getting ready to leave for work, but he was really setting up a brand new bike for me in the living room. The best surprise was that he'd taken the day off work so we could go on a long bike ride and have a picnic and all that. We rode the Green Belt in Scottsdale and some of the newly paved paths along the Cross-cut Canal.
We ended up at the AZ Historical Society Museum in Tempe.
Saturday we hung out at home all day, and then headed over to the Kuyper's for dessert with a few other sort of newly-married couples from Open Door. Sunday was Daughter and Daddy Day all day. I was volunteering at the 3-Day. They went to Scottsdale History Museum and then on a bike ride with Mike S. We ate a rushed and nasty dinner at Honey Bear BBQ.
We all know what it's like to throw on a clashing outfit without caring because we're "just running out to grab the mail."
Friday night we had some new friends over for dinner, Ryan and Christa Joyner. Ryan works for Shmidt Shneck doing computer stuff. They came over to borrow one of our bicycles so that Ryan can start biking to work. His commute will be a few more miles than Casson's, and it's starting to be COOOOLD in the mornings. Christa graduated from GCU last year and is a teacher in Madison SD. We had a great time hanging out with them...I forgot to get a picture of Christa with Selah. Some people just look like natural parents, and she is one of those.
That baby kept trying to roll all day. Then when Casson got home, he was playing with her and suddenly exclaimed that she'd rolled over onto her tummy. I didn't believe it, so I flipped her over onto her back and pulled out the camera to see what she would do...
Congratulations to the new President. At least a year ago our friend predicted that Obama would win. I wasn't so sure at the time. His acceptance speech: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22887506#27546437
Obama will be to Selah, what Regan was to me, Eisenhower was to my parents, and FDR was to my grandparents. What do those previous Presidents all have in common? I'll take your answers in the form of "comments" - I'm desperate for a comment.
The point is that she'll learn more about this new President and his policies when she grows up a bit, most likely after he's no longer President.
I just have to say that McCain is such a generous speaker. Anyone else think so? He gave the greatest concession speech - in case you didn't stay up to watch it: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22887506#27545964. There were several very unpatriotic audience members (though they were often chanting "USA") who were not such gracious losers.
