Life is Sweet

Pretty Little Liars

2012-02-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

We had family game night recently and learned that the kids like to cheat. What was interesting was that they each had their own technique & style.
We were playing Headbanz - which is kind of like 20 questions. When it's your turn, you ask as many "yes" and "no" questions before your time runs out. Charlie was up first. He had a fire hydrant. After getting stuck, Greta started giving clues:

Greta: Remember when the fireman came?
Charlie: FIRETRUCK
Greta: No, it's the thing that a fireman use and dog's like to pee on.
Charlie: FIRE MAN!
Greta: FIRE HYDR . . .
Charlie: FIRE HOSE!

After taking several turns to guess fire hydrant, he was done. After his next turn, he announced he had to go to the bathroom. He came back in the middle of Ella's turn & announced as he was walking in "I'm an IGLOO."

Style points: 0

Subtly: 0

When Ella got stuck, she would pretend like her headband fell off & that she wasn't looking. On her next turn, she would guess her card, but couldn't keep a straight face.

Style points: 3

Subtly: 2

Miss Greta gives the best clues. I was on a roll & Nick was so excited that I got a hard one.
Me: Is it an animal?
Nick: Yes
Me: Is is a pet?
Nick: No
Greta: Well, it is if you are Mr. Poppers.

We were caught up on Nick's turn. He was stuck on car - he had guessed every moving object except for a car and the kids thought it was very funny. Greta quietly slipped out of the room & came back with lotion for her hands (we live in the desert). She worked on her hands through my turn, Charlie's turn & Ella's turn. Then, she was up.

Greta: Am I an animal?
Yes
Greta: Does it live in a nest?
Um, yes
Greta: Am I a chicken?

Style point: 10
Subtly: 9.5

Greta was one cool cat with an impressive poker face. Ella won the Super Bowl pool. If the girls ever figure out a way to combine their skills, we are in big trouble.

Because Everyone Should Have a Serenade on Valentine's Day

2012-02-13T20:07:00.002-07:00

Love Notes

2012-02-08T07:46:00.000-07:00

The girls had fun helping me make this little project. The hardest part was collecting all the parts from the craft store. {and then repainting the box after Charlie decided to write his name on it} Nearly everything was on sale making this one cheap distraction from other things I should be doing.

When I first put out the box, the kids fought over the privilege to leave loves notes for other family members. They were so excited to read notes from each other.

Now, they can hardly be bothered to read the notes. Come Valentines Day, this box will be packed away and brought out again next year with new found enthusiasm.

100th Day of School

2012-02-03T10:06:00.002-07:00

I'm working on a new computer & don't quite have the setting rights on my color - I'll get that worked out this weekend.

In the meantime, happy 100th day of school! When we were at Target last week during our {third} Target/birthday present run of the month, we picked up some white T-shirts for Charlie & Greta (less than $5 each). I also

As I was brainstorming ideas for their class celebration, I came across these cute T-shirt transfers.

They wore their new shirts to school today for their hat parade. Charlie made a hat with 100 (all clumped together) stars. Greta put 100 butterflies on her hat. I just don't know if there is anything cuter than seeing the smiles on the kinders faces as they marched through the school while the "big kids" stood in the hall cheering for them.

All I Need is Love

2012-02-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

January was not as productive as I had hoped. I started strong & then got swamped with life. We did, however, knock out some valentines.

First up, Ella's class. On the verge of being too cool {temporarily} for hearts & love, this holiday is saved by candy. She decided to make mustache & lips tootsie pop holders. We used this template & cut the design out of foam.

Charlie signed all of his cards WITHOUT COMPLAINING this year. Such a milestone! And he was done so quickly. Love how he signed his "CHARLES."

I downloaded this template (she has lots of fun designs) and printed them as photos at costco. The toads are from a party store (.30 each was a bit pricer than I wanted, but I decided it wasn't worth visiting another store looking for them at a cheaper price).

Miss Greta's crayons were the most time consuming. All the kids helped with this project. We followed the directions from this site. I had to modify the end result a bit. First, I don't have her fancy machine so my heart punch (Michael's on sale). was too small to use the same heart mold she recommended. So, I picked up the brownie bite silicone mold from Michael's (with a 40% off coupon). I also didn't have the fancy stamp so I used clear address labels to print "Valentine" and "You color my world." Greta signed the backs. We used old twine and the same sticky tabs from the toads.

Finally, I wanted to do something nice for the teachers. I downloaded this image and changed the color scheme in photoshop. They were printed as 5X7's at costco. I grabbed a few extra coffee holders when I picked up the gift cards. Very fast, simple & cute!
If we can get Charlie & Greta's shoeboxes decorated this weekend, I will feel like we are on the ball! Now, I just need a little something for my Valentine & to put some finishing touches on surprises for my mini-Valentines!

Taos Ski Valley

2012-01-30T07:27:00.001-07:00

While Uncle K was still in town, he went with Nick & Ella to Taos for a day of skiing. It's a big haul in one day - nearly 5 hours of driving. It's also a lot more advanced than Sandia Peak. Nick says the twins & I need to get comfortable on the hill close to home before the family makes the trip to Taos. Since the twins & I haven't made it skiing once this year, I'm guessing Taos will be on next seasons plan.

The conditions were really nice and they had a great time. Even though Ella isn't skiing as often as she used to, the guys said she still skied like a pro.

Uncle K is always so good about taking lots of pictures which makes it fun for me.

Next year, I want the twins & I to take lessons so we can {try} to have more family adventures. Of course, this month I've worked every weekend, but I'm hoping the end is near.

Spring break is just around the corner. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the snow will stay & we can get the rest of the family on the slope this season.

Sandia Peak (Albuquerque)

2012-01-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

Ella was thrilled to have her skiing buddy back in town over the holidays.

Compared to last year (or Utah so far this season), it's been a fantastic snow year in the local mountains.

Sandia Peak is either a 5 minute drive to the tram or a 30 minute drive around the mountain. On this day, the tram line was crazy long so the crew drove around the mountain.

It was a beautiful day. Pretty blue skies. Not too windy. Nice powder.

Now that Ella has her ski legs for the season, we need to get the rest of the family out & practicing.

Hello again.

2012-01-11T18:30:00.001-07:00

Greetings 2012. Where did you come from? It's been a busy few weeks. Here's a little of what's been keeping us busy.

Art Projects:

handprint snowman. The girls are mid-way through a super cute butterfly project.

Massaging Kale:

I've been trying to duplicate a fabulous kale salad I ate last year. While the flavors were right, I couldn't get the texture correct. To me, raw kale has a decidedly cardboard texture & it's hard to eat much of it. Then, I discovered this recipe and accompanying video. DELICIOUS!

Progressive Dinner Parties:

We hosted a progressive dinner/game night in early December with two other families (appetizers, main course, dessert each at a different home). It was a very fun night.

Our neighborhood had a community New Year's Eve progressive party between 7:30-midnight. Each hour, we went to a new house. The kids were in heaven, the parents didn't need babysitters and no one had to be out on the road. Such a nice way to spend time with our neighbors. First time we all made it to midnight!

Toasting in the New Year:

Nick is very hard to buy for. Last year, we tried to be creative. The kids & I came up with THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY FIVE special memories with Nick. We printed them out on a little strips of paper & put them in a huge jar. We thought starting each day with a family memory would put a smile on his face. He opened 10 last year.

So, this year we got creative. Nick & Uncle K both got bottles of the cabbage patch kid of bourbon - 15 and 20 year old bottles of Pappy Van Winkle. I guarantee he won't have any bourbon leftover by this time next year (and no, it's not how he starts each day).

Training:

Nick is committed to a half marathon in April. The twins were able to join Ella at the running club at school & I've been obsessed with a barre studio that my sister & I tried while she was in town over the holidays. We will try to resist the urge to include bathing suit photos in our 2012 Christmas card.

Reading:

Ella surpassed her goal of reading 1000 minutes over Winter Break. We've got an ice cream celebration planned for this weekend. I finished several interesting books lately:

The Marriage Plot - liked it a lot more than Middlesex (though apparently Amazon reviewers disagree).

Back Spin - Mom's favorite author for vacations

The Little House - Gregory is a well established historical fiction writer. This was very different & intriguing. (book club selection)

Hypnotist - touted as being in the same vein as the Dragon Tattoo series, I found this book a little creepy.

Dovekeepers - in the middle of this right now, but I look forward to my nightly reading time with Ella so that I progress a little more.

Litigators - typical Grisham, but this one hit a little too close to home. I think I developed an ulcer reading it.

Resolving:

The kids created their super-cute 2012 resolutions. Ella wrote that she wants to get better at ~~taking testes~~ spelling. Greta wants to get better at coloring. Charlie wants to hit a home run in T-ball (game rules may make this a little tricky). Nick & I have a little catching up to do with the kids.

Documenting:

It's the annual January rush where I print photo books like mad. My 2011 album of daily photos is done & ordered. Spring Break 2011 ordered. December {2010} Christmas album done. Nick's Europe trip {from 2010} was under the tree. Several more to go . . .

Digitally organizing:

Nick transferred two old hard drives to a portable drive we can actually access. I'm culling photos & digital files onto one drive. It's time consuming but rewarding to see all these lost files again.

Dreaming:

We've been rearranging furniture & thinking of ways to create a little work space for me. I'm excited for my new idea & just need Nick to get home from his work trip so we can see if it will work out. When the dust settles, we will post an update.

Farolito Run

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Ella's running club sent home an opportunity to do an evening family fun run.

It's darn cold here during the day. I don't know what I thinking about running at night.

It helped that the official starter was somewhat of a local celebrity.

The running path was lighted with farolitos (aka luminaries) which made for a pretty adventure.

Nick had an emergency root canal the morning of the race, so it was me & the kids representing. I ran with Greta who provided a continuous commentary through the race.

MOM, WHERE ARE CHARLIE & ELLA? I CAN'T SEE THEM.

WOW. THOSE PEOPLE ARE RUNNING FAST.

PHEW. I THINK I NEED TO WALK FOR A MINUTE.

OK, LET'S RUN AGAIN.

WAIT!!!! NOT SO FAST MOM.

LOOK! I CAN SEE THE FINISH LINE.

MOM, I'M GLAD I STAYED WITH YOU SO YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO FINISH LAST ON YOUR OWN.

Ella loves to run & had a good race.

Dad was ready with the camera & battled low light for some action shots.

But, this little dude also likes to run & in the twilight, Dad missed his photo finish completely. The kids all had a great time so I hope we'll have more fun runs in our future (especially once the weather warms up).

Merry Merry

2011-12-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

The weather passed & the family arrived safely. We are ready to kick back, relax & celebrate being together.

We hope that your day is filled with wonderful moments of joy.

Merry Christmas!

Away in a Manager

2011-12-22T22:08:00.001-07:00

I used up a Groupon tonight at Jane Butel's Cooking Demonstration. My friend Jodi & I braved the winter storm in our neighborhood to get to class. It was strange that 2 minutes from our house, the roads were clear and the wind stopped blowing.

Southwestern cuisine is still very novel to me. I tried the mild chili powder & met my match (she said it was basically paprika). Her husband sprinkles chili powder in his oatmeal. She has former students who carry green chili powder with them when they travel in case they encounter bland food. She claims that eating chili powder at least 20 days a month can lead to weight loss (perhaps because you kill your taste buds).

At this point in the night, my sister called to say they were about two hours away (they are driving from California with their dog).

She's a fun story teller but at this point in the class, I started to get a bit self conscious taking photos. Our traditional menu included

Guacamole with Tostados

Special, Fiesta Green Chile Chicken Casserole

with Salsa Verde Creme

Red Pepper and Endive Salad with Salsa Dressing

Empanadas

This is a bizcochito = the state cookie (does YOUR state have an official cookie?) that includes anise and cinnamon. It was a fun night - great break from the holiday bustle. On the way home as Jodi & I were brainstorming ways to attend a weekend cooking retreat, my sister called to tell me that all roads into Albuquerque had been closed. I could hear the panic in her voice, but was powerless to do anything while driving. I made Jodi stop telling me a story about a family that got lost for almost a week in a similar situation.

By the time I got home, Nick was on the Internet trying to find a hotel room that took dogs. There were no rooms at any inn. After almost an hour, they gave up & were headed back to the truck stop. The thought of them wearing all their clothes to keep warm at night was just a little disconcerting.

I was so relieved to learn that the Baptist Church in town opened their doors to the weary travelers. A later message indicated it was very crowded (and that Tucker was not the only animal in the manger). We will be up early to watch for the news that the roads are reopening. Hopefully the rest of their trip will be uneventful.

-Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Holiday Brunch

2011-12-22T11:30:00.000-07:00

We hosted a holiday brunch recently. It was nice because the main course (quiche & breakfast burritos) was catered. I just hit Trader Joe's for some pre-made goodies (baking hasn't been a priorty this year). Chocolate covered waffle cookies, chocolate covered cherries, peppermint candy canes, chocolate covered Jo Jos, and pretzel m&ms were the biggest hits.

We set up a mimosa/OJ/water/coffee station.

Made a mega fruit salad.

And then waited for the party to arrive.

It was Nick's first White Elephant experience & I think he had fun. The kids loved selecting & opening the gifts. The only thing we need to figure out before next year is how to accommodate 20 more people with seating for lunch. I think we might be investing in some card tables & folding chairs.

Santa Fe

2011-12-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

For my birthday, Nick & I spent the night in Santa Fe. The kids were well taken care of by a fabulous babysitter who is home from college for the holidays. Nick was hoping to convince me that the only camera I need is my phone so all the pictures this weekend are from the iPhone 4S that he was testing.

Along the way, we stopped for lunch at the Greenside Cafe - one of the restaurants between Albquerque & Santa Fe that Jessica saw on a restaurant tour. This was a fun restaurant - artichoke po'boy. The sauce (homemade in house) was wonderful - not too heavy at all.

We stayed in a hotel with a nice spa. Not as nice as the one Jessica & I visited last year, but it was still a very relaxing afternoon.

The hotel lobby was channelling a little Disney with this baked sculpture.

The rooms had a single shared balcony. The bags are farolitos (aka luminaries) and are my favorite New Mexican tradition.

I didn't eat much at lunch & was starving after our vigorous spa treatment so we stopped in the lobby for happy hour - DELICIOUS calamari.

Nick made dinner reservations at Cafe Pasqual's. I've been to Santa Fe four times and eaten at this restaurant the last three visits. Though seeing how much Nick enjoyed his dinner, I was happy we came here again. The lentil coconut soup was fabulous.

I had the thai basil mussels. Unlike last year, the restaurant was surprisingly slow. Holly Hunter came in & sat at the community table that Jessica & I sat in last year. She was chatting up two little kids from the family seated next to her. That was our excitement for the evening.

It was a cold walk back to the hotel! But, Nick was invigorated by our discussion with our waiter - a self proclaimed ski bum. Taos & Santa Fe already have better ski conditions than last year. He's looking forward to getting in some ski days before the end of the year.

Every time we visit Santa Fe we worry about what we are supposed to be doing. It's such a popular tourist destination that we feel like we are missing the hot spots. It came to us at breakfast as we were sitting by a fireplace overlooking the old chapel sipping our coffee that eating & purposefully doing nothing is exactly what we love about Santa Fe.

Countdown to Christmas: Advent Calendars

2011-12-21T22:52:00.000-07:00

I always loved Advent calendars as a kid. I remember when my Mom brought this tree home from our Church Bazaar. My sister & I loved hanging the ornaments on the tree. She would do the odd days & I would do the even ones. It was {almost} as good as the candy advent calendars.

I took this picture yesterday. As you can see, it's not a crowd favorite with my kids.

Our elf is more of a tradition than a true advent calendar, but it is the first thing the kids look for when they get up in the morning.

Ella even wrote him a note asking him a lot of questions about Santa & whether reindeer & snowmen really poop donut holes. The pesky elf has yet to respond.

My favorite advent calendar is our Christmas book countdown. 24 books wrapped (thanks Aunt Jessie) with a new book eagerly unwrapped each day. The kids were very excited to unwrap It's Christmas David. I've built my collection over several years - gifts & post-Christmas sales are the best!

This is our traditional advent calendar. Sometimes there is something in the pocket, but usually the kids have to ask me what the advent activity of the day is. Sometimes it's a gift (new slippers, new gloves, chapstick, gum, their completed autograph books from Disney)

and sometimes its an activity (movies with Grandpa, farolito race, making cookies, etc.). The best is when the kids decide that something we already did was the advent activity.

Greta "Mom, is the advent calendar ready?"

Charlie "I think it was having Dad's work party here today."

Ella "Yes, that was probably it."

Score!

Our new tradition has been a hit - Lego Advent Calendar. This was the advent calendar surprise on December first. Each day, a little lego is built. While the kids are supposed to take turns, Charlie usually tries to wiggle his way into doing more than his fair share.

I can't believe the big day is almost here. The fact that the twins are now adding every toy imaginable to their wish list. I finally realized that they do this every year and that I shouldn't try to capture some of this "wants." I'm done with gift shopping. Now, it's the forty visits to the grocery store before Sunday!

**And if you are wondering about the no soliciting sign in the first picture, the sign was on our front door when we bought the house. I promptly took it down and then discovered why the former owners had it on the door. Did you know there are still traveling salesmen? And, missionaries that aren't twenty-something with name tags and uniforms can be a little scary when you are home alone (I thought they were neighbors). The sign went back out after some missionaries asked if I was the cleaning lady. Apparently my telecommuting wardrobe isn't very fancy.

Blizzard of 2011

2011-12-20T07:25:00.001-07:00

It snowed all day yesterday. If we weren't on Winter break, I'm sure school would have been canceled.

The kids used up all the snow in the backyard for a single snowball.

Roads were closed & we fielded several calls after the national news media really built up the size of the storm. I guess it just missed our neighborhood. Nick is hoping the storms resulted in some good snow. All he wants for Christmas is a good ski day!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Superstitious

2011-12-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

The first time they slept with their PJ's backward & a spoon under their pillow, they woke up to this. And, they rejoiced.

For New Mexico, this is a mega snow storm (yes, they still miss the Utah mountain snow).

The second night they slept with their PJ's backward & a spoon under their pillow, they awoke to a snow day (it's a New Mexico thing). They felt a magical connection to Mother Nature.

Now, they eat waffles for breakfast because it's easier than trying to look through everyone's sheets to find our missing spoons.

It's a milestone day here. Playing hooky & heading out to Santa Fe for a rare night away.

On My Mind

2011-12-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Art projects.

We've got a couple in the works that we need to finish up this weekend.

Good books.

A few months ago, I put several of the "most anticipated" fall books on Amazon's hot list on hold at the library. I am loving Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. It's the first book in a long time that I think about trying to find more time to read. If you decide to read it, don't read the bad reviews on Amazon. Now, I'm questioning why I'm enjoying the book.

Markle the Elf on the Shelf.

December mornings start with Ella's alarm clock blaring. Then, lights sequentially turn on as she races through the house trying to find Markle. We hear either a jubilant "GUYS, GET UP QUICK! I FOUND MARKLE!" or a desperate "Mom, are you awake, I don't think Markle is in the house."

Christmas programs.
Charlie & Greta's Spanish Club sang songs last week. It was pretty darn cute. Before the show, Greta kept telling me she was so nervous. We had two little hams on stage. We took some not so great video from the back of the cafeteria that I'll share.

Christmas gifts.
The kids spent the weekend decorating cardboard boxes. It's the same struggle each year. How do I avoid buying the kids gifts that are never played with? My shopping has been tremendously scaled back this year and I am this close to saving our recycling & letting the kids open that on Christmas morning. They play with leftover boxes & trash longer than any toy they've asked for over the last few years.

Christmas Traditions.
Ella needs to bring a food to school tomorrow that represents a tradition in our home. She choose peppermint bark - something my sister & I have made for neighbor gifts for the last few years. I would not have thought about this chocolate melting as a family tradition. But, we've done it enough that in her few years, Ella associates this activity with Christmas. And that my friends is how new traditions are born.

Elf On A Shelf

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

He's back!
And, he's been very mischevious this year.
Stay tuned for more on the adventures of Markle - our Elf on a Shelf.

Adieu Epcot

2011-12-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

From Animal Kingdom, we walked through the Beach Club resort (chocolate carousel) directly to Epcot. We indulged Nick & had beer & brats for lunch. Along the way, we signed the kids up for a Kim Possible Mission.

When Nick & I visited Epcot as kids, it was a bit boring. With a cell phone in hand, we couldn't tear our kids away. They were entertained for hours in Italy, Japan and Norway.

While the kids were busy WORKING TOGETHER, we enjoyed some Grey Goose slushees.

Greta broke off from the mission to meet another princess (Mulan).

Greta & I started walking back to the hotel & tried to find another character. We made it to the front of Alice's line just as the rest of our crew came passing by. I can't say enough wonderful things about the characters. They really were contagiously happy. Since it was going to be a late night, we took a little break at the hotel. The kids wanted to swim, but it was a little chilly.

We headed back to Epcot for our dinner reservation at La Hacienda de San Angel (in Mexico). Fabulous food. Great view of Illuminations. A perfect way to end our trip.

Thankfully, the booths were comfy & we weren't far from the hotel.

It was a perfect vacation. On the airport shuttle, another couple asked the kids what their favorite part of the trip was. They replied, in agreement, swimming at the hotel pool - and why didn't swim more often?

I have a few more Disney experiences to share, but I'll save them for after the holidays.

Animal Kingdom Part II

2011-12-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

Our last day in Walt Disney World was Thanksgiving Day. Crowds at the Magic Kingdom were expected to reach capacity so we decided to try our luck at Animal Kingdom. Eight buses to the MK left our hotel before our bus to Animal Kingdom arrived. We arrived at AK before the 8 am rope drop. Our strategy was for Nick to run & get Expedition Everest Fast Passes while the kids & I walked to the Safari.

It worked beautifully. Nick grabbed 5 FP & we walked onto the Safari without a wait. It was recommended to do the safari twice since you see different animals (and we did). To entice this twins back on this experience, I invested in some disposable cameras (more on that later).

After the Safari, we enjoyed coffee, hot chocolate & pastries while listening to live African music. Then, we started wandering toward Expedition Everest (the park is not well laid out in my opinion - lots of backtracking). Even though we didn't know Terk, the kids were very glad to meet her. We watched people get SOAKED on Kilimanjaro Rapids (and so we decided to wait for a warmer day to try that ride) and generally took in the lovely park. By the time we made it to the ride, Nick was able to grab 5 more FP. I took Ella on the coaster with 4 FP & Nick took the twins to the Boneyard.

Ella & I rode the coaster twice with fast passes & then one as single riders. We couldn't sit together, but we had no wait. The kids played at the boneyard & then we headed over to catch Flights of Wonder. The kids thought it was a funny show.

Greta's head popped up right when I was taking the photo. But, you get the idea. Lots of very talented birds showing off. Another favorite experience of Ella's.

We were ready to split up again so that Ella & Nick could ride Everest with the 6 remaining FP. The twins were a bit peeved that they kept getting the short end of rides. So, we decided to do some face painting.

It was a great call. The shorties of the family needed to feel special too. Ella & Nick met up with us & the kids went back into the boneyard for a last visit. I think the kids could have spent hours at that playground!

To entice the kids to leave the Boneyard, we let them use the last of their spending money on caricatures they had been drooling over all week. It was cute & a great way to end our day at the park. By this time, it was starting to get crowded. You really feel the presence of people at both Hollywood Studios & Animal Kingdom. We felt good about everything we saw at the park so we decided to bid adieu to Animal Kingdom and catch a bus to Epcot for lunch (visions of Germany's biergarten were dancing in his head).

Animal Kingdom

2011-12-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday morning, the kids were given the choice to visit another park or go out to breakfast & have a little pool time. No surprise, they choose the pool. The Yacht Club has a spectacular pool. If it had been just a tad bit warmer, I think we would have spent even more time poolside. Because the pool didn't open until 10, we made reservations at Kouzzina on the Boardwalk for breakfast. Though I don't watch the Iron Chef, I was curious about Cat Cora's restaurant. We loved the breakfast & I would definitely love to try it for dinner.

Just before lunch, we decided to head to the Animal Kingdom. Usually, the park clears out in the early afternoon. This rule apparently doesn't apply during Thanksgiving week. It was crazy crowded. While Nick went to find fast passes, I tried to decided what to do first. We tried Camp Minnie Mickey for autographs, but it was too crowded. So, we decided to do the next showing of the Lion King.

Ella & I saw the Broadway production a few years ago & I was hoping this would be a similar show for the twins.

I enjoyed the performance, but it was quite a bit different (both in costumes and content) than the play or movie.

I was very impressed with all the Disney performances we saw. Truly amazing performers.

After the show, we had an amazing lunch at the Flametree BBQ and then someone was VERY happy when another guest told us that there was no line to meet Tigger & Co.

Animal Kingdom does not have a lot of rides. The triceratops ride is the only one the twins could ride. Greta declared it L-A-M-E.

Nick didn't heed my advice to skip Dinosaur. The reviews I had read were 1. It's not that fun and 2. It's super scary. But, a lot of people wanted to ride it, so Nick wanted to check it out. He declared the ride L-A-M-E and said that Ella had her eyes shut & ears covered the whole ride.

One of the favorite parts of AK for the kids was the Boneyard. They would have happily spent hours here. It's basically a really, really big playground. The kids would only leave when we promised to take them back the next day.

At about 4 pm, I took the twins to the Safari while Nick & Ella went to try Expedition Everest (the mega roller coaster). We walked onto the Safari (it's a hot ticket at the park).

I really enjoyed the safari and I think the twins did too.

It's far too short.

And, very bumpy (& dark this time of year). Lots of my photos looked like this!

After the safari, we met up & saw A Bug's Life (again, enjoyed by all).

Followed by the Finding Nemo musical (one of the kids favorite shows of the week). The musical does a great job of hitting the highlights of the movie in 30 minutes.

Miss Greta was super tired at this point so we decided to use our Expedition Everest fast passes. The twins patiently played with glow sticks and loved that Nick & Ella wore them so that they could see when they flew past us.

Since we had a late lunch, we took the bus back to the hotel for dinner. We had some quick service credits to use. The closest place to use them at our hotel was at the poolside restaurant. Greta apparently thought this was very glamorous and told her class all about it.

It was early to bed this evening as we prepared for our last day in the Magic Kingdom.

Cinderella's Royal Table and Magic Kingdom (and DHS)

2011-12-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday morning, the girls & I got up uber-early to catch the 7 am shuttle to the Magic Kingdom. I made my reservations for Cinderella's Royal Table in June (5 months before our trip) & that was too late to score 5 spots. So, the boys slept in (though there were plenty of spots for them when we arrived - but I digress).

It was pretty neat to see the park so empty. We took some photos, but we were all a little puffy from our decadent Monday & lack of sleep.

The girls wanted to get gussied up for our meal in the castle (and they were just a little disappointed that I 'forgot' to pack a dress for breakfast).

Even though you are eating at Cinderella's 'house', she doesn't join you for the meal. Though she did a splendid job of chatting up the kids during the meet and greet.

We were so excited for Greta when we saw Snow White. She was thrilled to meet Sleeping Beauty (aka Aurora) again because we forgot the autograph books on Friday night. This access was worth the admission price to the breakfast (2 dinner credits per person).

Greta was a little out of touch with her Disney princesses! We've since caught her up on some of the classics. Because the girls were either too excited or tired to eat, we were the first people done. The girls scurried to the bathroom to change. Our reservation was at 8:20. We were changed & poised to enter the rides before the 9 am rope drop.

We followed the cast members to the rides and grabbed three fast passes to Big Thunder Railroad (and texted Nick to do the same). After riding the newer coasters, Ella was sure that the railroad was running more slowly than Friday night. It's a good beginner roller coaster. We rode the railroad a few times & splash Mountain once (too slow for me).

Ella wanted to ride Aladdin's Magic Carpets. We arrived just in time to meet Jasmine & Aladdin (Greta didn't know who they were either). The night of the party, we could have met Genie & Abu, but Greta wanted to ride instead of wait in line (don't blame her).

Nick & Charlie hit several rides before we met up. I can't remember why we separated again. Maybe I was going to try to find Rapunzel for Greta. The lines for the fairies seemed long so we didn't stop. Then, we ran into Peter Pan. Greta has a nervous habit of pulling up her pants when she meets characters.The line for Rapunzel was ridiculous. I waited in line while Nick took the kids to the Mad Tea Cups. Then, while they colored, he grabbed fast passes to ride Space Mountain.If we had remembered our autograph books on Friday night, this wait would not have been necessary, but seeing their smiles, it was worth it. They aren't going to be this excited about autographs forever.Afterward, we hit the Haunted Mansion, grabbed lunch, rode Big Thunder Mountain with our fast passes (oh that line was crazy), saw Mickey's PhilHarmagic (a 'must see'), took turns taking Ella on Space Mountain (one of my favorite coasters - Nick didn't fit on the ride very well), entertained the twins, met Daisy Duck and at 2 pm, grabbed a bus back to the hotel. The kids were ready to swim (I fell asleep by the pool). For dinner, we caught the boat to Hollywood Studios and ate at the Brown Derby. Another fabulous experience. Though, next time I will eat there for lunch (dinner uses up two dining credits). They have nothing to do with horse racing as Nick thought so don't try to order a Mint Julep. After dinner we stumbled around for a bit trying to see what had reasonable lines. The kids would have waited in line to meet Phineas & Ferb (but we declined). We ended up seeing Voyage of the Little Mermaid (on our second try). Then, we headed toward the 8:00 showing of Fantasmic! I wish I had realized that the stadium is unbelievably huge & the park is very small. It seemed like we needed to be in line, but really Nick could have taken the kids on another ride while I waited (or joined them). I think everyone got into the show. My cousin Denise suggested that we pack glow sticks. It kept the kids entertained while we waited for the show to start.It was an amazing show, but not one I will worry about catching next time we visit. After the show, we split up. Nick & Ella rode coasters. I took the twins on Tower of Terror one last time & then we SPRINTED to the other side of the park to meet Mater & Lighting McQueen.

We were the last family admitted for the night. Greta is cuddling up to Lighting McQueen here, but it was cute to see Charlie run his hand along the car as we left. He's a huge Cars junkie. The twins searched high & low for abandoned strollers on the way out of the park so that they didn't have to walk. We were all tired! Talk about a full day of adventure!

Animal Kingdom Lodge

2011-12-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

If we had another day in Orlando, I would have visited other Disney resorts. While a great location, the Yacht Club is nothing spectacular (compared with other Disney resorts). I'm so glad that I was able to arrange a dinner reservation at Animal Kingdom Lodge. It was GORGEOUS! I'm also glad that I didn't keep my 8:30 reservations & kept searching until I found the first reservation of the night.

None of my photos do it justice. The lodge is probably the least convenient of all the Disney resorts (we took a cab to the lodge because it's so far away), but after seeing the grounds, I know why people stay on the property.

We had a few minutes of daylight before our reservation. There was so much to see in the lobby and observation deck.

The kids watched birds being fed and listened to a lesson from the workers.

I tried not to think about Nick's comments that he thought it was odd that all the restaurants in the lodge were very meat-centric.

I remember seeing these birds in Nina's photos from her African Safari.

In true Disney fashion, all the flora and fauna were brought in from Africa.

We ate at Jiko for dinner that evening. It was a spectacular choice. Easily our best service of the week and the food was fabulous. In addition, the ambiance rivaled any fancy, hip restaurant in your town. It was quiet & relaxed, but not too slow. We had a great wine (all African varieties) and a mini-date night. The kids happily colored on their placemats and ate their kid friendly dinners (that were not chicken strips). Our food was delicious and Nick choose a no-sugar added apple tart with beet ice cream for dessert. Alone, the ice cream tasted like beets. But, the pairing with the tart was lovely (really!)

After dinner, it was back to the hotel to roast marshmallows on the beach.

Just kidding. We couldn't move. Too much food for one day. Thank goodness we were walking a lot. The kids went to sleep & we caught Illuminations from our balcony. Another successful day.

The Day Nick Gained 5 Pounds

2011-12-06T05:30:00.000-07:00

For our family, it worked if we had a late night followed by a not too early morning and vice versa. On Monday morning, we woke up and started walking to Epcot about 8:40. By now, Nick was a pro at rope drops. He scurried to Soarin' and grabbed 5 fast passes. I met him at the ride with the kids & we enjoyed our first ride. I loved it and I think the kids did too. It's a virtual ride (like Star Tours) and Nick prefers the real thing.

Afterward, I rode Mission Space with Ella (my stomach would only permit 1 ride) and then we met up with Nick (the line at Test Track was too long so he took the twins to meet characters) & let the kids spend their money. Ella picked Perry the Platypus. Charlie picked a Popemobile and Greta picked a cute little kitty in a blanket.

It worked well for us to have a set budget and one shopping stop all week. After shopping, we used our fast passes on Soarin' and headed to France for lunch. It was great timing as Future World (the part of Epcot with 99% of the rides) was super crowded. It was a tough walk. Everyone was tired & hungry & it's a bit of a haul into the World Showcase. Thankfully, there was a character in France. We learned her name is Marie & she is from the Aristocats (and Greta picked out her stuffed animal without knowing it). Everyone was in a happy mood after the visit with the kitty.

Today was the only "table service" lunch that we had. It was so nice to sit & relax & not juggle overloaded trays through a busy restaurant for a change. I picked Les Chefs de France because I knew a little animatronic friend (Remy from Ratatouille) was scheduled to make an appearance. It was quick - maybe 1 minute - but it was a fun surprise for everyone.
I was a bit concerned about choosing a French restaurant over an Italian one. But, Nick had no trouble finding food to eat. He choose the Lobster Bisque and had me order the French Onion Soup. I tried them both. He ate them both. I was surprised that he ordered the macaroni & cheese for his entree. This was not your typical orange mac & cheese. This was mac et fromage. The cheese was decadent. I have no idea how he ate as much as he did. One of Nick's favorite desserts is creme brûlée. So, I was not surprised that he ordered it. I was surprised that the portion size was closer to the size of a salad plate than a typical little dish. My stomach hurts just thinking about all the food he ate. It is good to be tall.
After lunch, we walked about Epcot & stopped for a beer in Germany. Greta waited patiently to meet Snow White for nearly 45 minutes. We were second in line. It started to rain. They temporarily paused the meet & greet. Then, they moved it to the other side of the park (a good 30 minute walk - not going to happen for us that day). And so began the only prolonged tears of our trip. Thankfully, Nick recovered quickly. I kid!
We tried to wait out the rain in Germany, but we finally bit the bullet & made the 10 minute walk to the hotel in the downpour. It quickly slowed to a drizzle. We all needed a rest before our next ~~adventure~~ meal.

Hollywood Studios At Night

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

One of the best parts of our hotel was the location. It was a 20 minute walk or boat ride to Hollywood Studios. After a lovely swim & quick & easy dinner, we waited for the boat.

We didn't visit the Disney Board Walk at night on this visit, but it's on the short list for our next visit.

We had a clear plan for our return to DHS - Rock-n-Rollercoaster & Tower of Terror. Nick & Ella tested Tower of Terror & assured us that the twins would love the ride. It's a free fall elevator drop (my recurring nightmare) so I wasn't terribly excited to try it out. But, Nick & Ella were right. It was an extremely popular ride with our family! I think the twins & I rode it 8 times this evening while Ella & Nick tried to ride Rock & Rollercoaster two more times.

A few minutes before closing, we got in line for Toy Story Mania again. I liked the ride/video game even if the ride is far too short. We finished the ride about 10 minutes after the park officially closed & we headed to check out the Osborne Family Lights.

My pictures don't come close to capturing the magic/tackiness of this light display!

At regular intervals, the lights 'dance' to music & snow falls. It was truly a magical & beautiful way to kick off the holiday season.

After an enjoyable stroll, we headed to the boat dock & went back to our hotel.

Hollywood Studios

2011-12-01T08:40:00.001-07:00

Traveling to Disney isn't what it used to be. In order to minimize the wait times, you need to have a plan of attack each day. My friend Shauna recommended this great site. It gives you touring plans in the park, has a forum with tons of great information from Disney veterans and also identifies which park is recommended on a particular day. It also has a crowd calendar that shows how busy the park will be each day. We knew that we were traveling during high season, but we were not ready for the crowds on this particular Sunday.

This is what it looked like outside the park 45 minutes before opening.

Here's a shot (via Nick) 10 minutes before opening. We were not alone. The plan at this point was to send Mr. "I can walk faster than you can run" ahead of the family to grab fastpasses (kids definition: a ticket that lets you cut in line, but not right away and maybe not in front of everybody) for Toy Story Mania - the bottleneck of this particular park. I did a lot of pre-trip planning & told Nick that he should probably shimmy up toward the front of the pack (or at least in front of all the strollers). I had read that if you want to try to ride TSM twice in one day, you need to grab a fastpass ASAP because they sell out very quickly.

I think you can tell where this story is going. He didn't listen. It took us 10 minutes to walk to the ride. 10 minutes later, Nick was still in line for fastpasses & the kids & I were walking into the building. Eventually Nick caught up with us in line (but without passes).

The line inside is deceptively long. The ride is short (and overrated if you ask Nick). It was 9:45 by the time we got off the ride which is a problem in DHS because most of the attractions are performances rather than rides. We were already behind schedule &, more importantly, behind the huge crowd. At this point, our group split up & Nick took Ella to do Rock & Roller coaster (twins too short) & Tower of Terror (I wasn't sure the twins would like this).

As we left the ride, we saw Buzz & Woody - the only two characters Charlie wanted to meet. The line looked reasonable so we hopped in line. Charlie was a bit grumpy from an early morning start & badly skinned knee. I thought posing with the props would boost his spirits. Instead, upon seeing my phone he shouted "GRETA!!! WHY DO YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO RUIN MY PHOTOS?" I thought it was very funny.

Afterward, we tried to get into the Voyage of the Little Mermaid (sold out 30 minutes before the show). So we kept walking & were the last people admitted to the Muppet Show. It was a pretty neat 3-D show. When Ella heard she missed it, Greta said "Don't worry, it wasn't that good." What can I say? I liked it.

We met up with the roller coaster riders & caught the 11:30 Indiana Jones Stunt Show (SRO).

I thought it was a great show, but a little more violent than I expected. The girls didn't like the loud noises.

After lunch, we hit Star Tours. And, we realized that our kids have never seen any of the Star Wars movies. The ride was a big hit - especially when Charlie's face popped up as the secret agent we were trying to help escape. This would be the second time that Charlie's face appeared on a ride & he totally missed seeing it. After the ride (which we all liked, but never got to ride again), we walked outside to a crazy crowd of people. So, we decided to head back to the hotel to swim & relax.

Hoop De Doo Revue

2011-11-30T07:58:00.000-07:00

Obviously my live blogging from Disney fell a little flat. I was so excited yesterday to start blogging about our trip when Nick mentioned that it looked like Hogan was having some trouble breathing. Within 30 minutes, he was gone. While we knew we were on borrowed time, we didn't expect him to die yesterday. He had such a great couple of days after we returned home. Sunday, he pranced around the park. Monday, he jumped up & into the car every time I left the house. Needless to say, it was an emotionally draining day. We'll give Hogan a proper post soon. Right now, I need to return to the Happiest Place on Earth.

We left Epcot on the monorail & then caught a boat to Fort Wilderness. It's good that we left early as there was a 30 minute delay on the boat. While the sunset was lovely, the kids would have preferred a little more time on the playground at Ft. Wilderness.

My friend Christy said her kids loved this dinner show. Since we are on the dining plan, we used 2 dinner meal tickets for each person. On our first night, we didn't eat a sit down dinner so it wasn't an issue to use two tickets on this night. If we had paid out of pocket, it would have cost $220 for the family. Not an inexpensive night. But, if you can eat cheaply on other nights to compensate, it would be worth the money.
Looking at Charlie's unhappy face, I was worried this was going to be a long night & poor investment.

I shouldn't have worried. Once the show started, Ella & Charlie's faces lit up. They love any type of visual entertainment (movies, plays, musical performances). The show is broken up into little skits between courses. After the intro, Greta clapped & asked {hopefully} if it was time to go. Performances don't capture her attention in quite the same way.

The show was great. The food was enjoyable & much better than I expected. Salad, cornbread, ribs, fried chicken, potatoes, beans and strawberry shortcakes served family style.

We were impressed with all of the Disney performances that we saw. Even Miss Greta started humming the tunes after the show.

The kids talked about the play the rest of the trip. Definitely a fun night. The only downside was that our seats weren't great. They are distributed as people pick them up. Since we arrived the day before the performance, we were among the last families to get our table assignment. We still enjoyed the show, it just would have been better to be closer to the action.

We made it back to the hotel fairly quickly (boat to Magic Kingdom & then bus to our hotel). We were thrilled to discover that we could see the Epcot fireworks from our hotel balcony. It was a great end to our second day!

2011-11-23T13:29:00.001-07:00

The kids are having so much fun collecting autographs.

I'm loving all the Disney photographers so I don't have to fumble with my camera as I juggle three autograph books.

It's been a magical week!
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Epcot, day one

2011-11-20T13:49:00.001-07:00

After our late night, we let the kids sleep in & hit Epcot at about 10:30. We loved being able to walk! Greta loved the Nemo ride (me too) & we all loved Talking with Crush.

Nick got fast passes for test track (roller coaster) for everyone. We rode it twice yesterday. Nick & Ella rode mission space (Ella liked that more than nick!). We had lunch, saw lots of characters (Greta was the only one who wanted to wait in line for autographs).

We were all dragging today. An afternoon ice cream break was just what the doctor ordered.

Tomorrow I will remember to pack wipes! Six hours flew by fast! Our only misstep was choosing to fast pass test track instead of soarin'. That will be our first stop next time!
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Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

2011-11-20T13:34:00.001-07:00

A successful first night!

We attended a Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom. The kids weren't really in to the special events, but loved walking onto the rides.

I loved the perspective from the top of the Dumbo ride! Please excuse my terribly blurry photo from my phone.

After the fireworks, I took Greta to meet the princesses while the rest of our crew hit the rides. Loved that Rapunzel noticed Greta's shirt & said "oh look, you got my nose right!" (a play off of the movie if you aren't up on your Disney movies)

Seeing Miss "I don't like princesses anymore" star struck was very cute. Hearing her describe her roller coaster of emotions afterward was priceless. That little girl is very insightful! My favorite part of the evening was when she said "mom, look at my face! I can't stop smiling! I can't believe I just met all those princesses!"

So many more fabulous memories to be made on this trip!

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3, 2, 1 . . .

2011-11-18T09:17:00.001-07:00

Bags are packed & fully loaded. Piggy banks were raided. The kids decided to supplement their birthday spending money with an additional $3.82.

Disney mismatched socks are on.

Fingers crossed that there are no delays in our way to Orlando!

Disney here we come!
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Try, Try, Again

2011-11-16T04:54:00.001-07:00

Between Ella's math class & the upcoming Disney trip, the tape measure has been out in force. Greta still has Charlie by a half inch, but his wingspan is greater than hers.

The girls are regular monkeys on the bars.

Charlie prefers other playground equipment.

On this particular day, he was determined to cross the abyss.

The crowd was going wild.

He got so close on so many attempts. He doesn't like to fail & tends to give up when something doesn't come easily & quickly.

But, this time, he kept going.

And, after several attempts . . .

Success! Way to go Charlie!

Here's to conquering that monkey on your back.

Ode to a Dog

2011-11-14T04:30:00.000-07:00

My sister's family lost a little piece of their soul last weekend when Buster made his way to the Rainbow Bridge. He's been a staple in my sister's life for nearly 14 years. Neither a dog's dog nor man's best friend, he kept a very tight circle of friends. He loved Jessica dearly and made everyone else audition for his approval. When I brought Nick to Indiana for the first time, I wasn't worried about whether my family would like him, but whether Buster would allow him to enter his house. We stayed in Jessica's apartment one night. By that time, the four-footed Houidini had cracked opening his kennel and was waiting for us when we entered the apartment. Nick passed the test.

Several years ago, Jessica called to tell me about someone she met while volunteering with the Sundance Film Festival. When Jessica introduced him to Buster the same weekend, I knew Uncle K would be sticking around for awhile. While distrustful of all people, Buster never questioned whether our kids would be included in his circle of trust.

He had a special relationship with my mother. Back when he was living in Indiana, he would spend time at her house. She was always surprised when he took things, like a whole ham, out of a garbage can that didn't have a lid. Because he had such a guilty conscience, he never ate his treasures, but saved them for my sister. Under her pillow.

He loved his brother Tucker and tolerated Hogan {the stick in the mud}. He loved fancy dog treats {he would gingerly lick the icing off his treat while Hogan & Buster inhaled theirs}, dressing up in costumes, prancing around the house with his leash in his mouth, retrieving humongous branches and looking out windows. He took several trips with us - Lake Tahoe, Big Sky, Montana and Vallecito, Colorado.

It's been a tough loss for the kids. Lots of tears. Lots of trying to process the finality of death. Greta has promised to honor Buster on Día de Muertos. And though his bad breath was only surpassed by his bad gas, we will miss him for a very long time.

Sunday Dinner: Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars

2011-11-13T21:53:00.001-07:00

Looking for a different twist on dessert for Thanksgiving dinner? Not satisfied with the number of calories you consumed last year? Have no fear. I stumbled across a delicious solution to your dilemma.

Paula Deen to the rescue! These bars are very tasty & can be made a day {or two} ahead of the big meal. Don't try to cut them until the dish has totally cooled. Start logging a few extra minutes on the treadmill now - these bars are worth it!

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup sugar, plus 2 tablespoons, divided

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped (I used a food processor)

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (you can be generous here)

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Streusel topping:

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup quick cooking oats

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup caramel squeezable store-purchased sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a medium bowl, combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Press evenly into a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese with 1/2 cup sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Then add eggs, 1 at a time, and vanilla. Stir to combine. Pour over warm crust.

In a small bowl, stir together chopped apples, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Spoon evenly over cream cheese mixture. Mix Streusel topping and sprinkle evenly over pan. Bake 30 minutes, or until filling is set.

Let cool and cut into bars. Drizzle with caramel topping when served.

Good Riddance!

2011-11-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

I feel like such a scrooge, but I am happy Halloween is over for the year. We've been on pumpkin overload. The decorations were out early.

We hosted a mini-Halloween craft party to kick off the month.

We rented a limo with friends for a night on the town. I've only been in limos for weddings and airplane transports. They've all been very nice. This one smelled like a bar the day after a big evening. Stagnant smoke. It also had fabulously low ceilings & windows that wouldn't open. I felt so claustrophobic when I stepped inside. The kids thought we were glamourous though.

But, it was a fun night (and yes, we are the ones in the lamest costumes). New Mexico is having a very bad football season (hence the bag over the fans face). He kept that bag on all night.

We had fun playing at Kiley & Alyssa's Halloween Party (Greta, costume #1).

We enjoyed Spooky Story Night at School (Greta, costume #2) while Nick was out of town (one of 4 times he was out of town this month).

We had all sorts of parties & storybook character parades at school today (Ella, Captain Nobody, Greta, costume #3, Charlie Gordon the Dragon).

We carved pumpkins.

For the main event, Ella channeled my lame costuming abilities and went as "Someone in Pajamas With a Mustache". Greta's costume #4 is Barbie Cheerleader with black lipstick. Charlie stuck with a classic Batman ensemble. Next year, the girls are going as mummies or vampires. Their favorite part of the costume is the make-up.

We had a lot of fun at the neighborhood party bobbing for apples

& playing with friends.

The kids had a great time on running the streets on this fabulously mild night.

I distributed nearly 20 pounds of candy while the kids were out walking with Nick. Ella came home early to help me & also sort their collection.

Before bedtime, there was a call to Uncle K to see what his favorites were. Tomorrow, I'm off to Salt Lake City for three jam packed work days.
Here's hoping all the candy is gone when I return! We've started the countdown to Disney. And, with Christmas just around the corner, I've started thinking about shopping and advent calendar surprises.

McCall's Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-30T22:17:00.000-06:00

We made a trek to the pumpkin patch in Moriarty, New Mexico recently. It was crazy busy, but the weather was fabulous.

We got lost in a ~~lame~~ totally cool corn maze.

We waited in line a very long time for a very short slide.

We had a blast on the pumpkin trampoline.

Their faces made the wait in line worth it!

Next stop, pumpkin patch.

This little dude found his pumpkin in the first three minutes and promptly sat down & patiently waited for the girls to make up their mind. I think I picked up every single pumpkin in the field before deciding on the winners.

Our verdict on McCall's was mixed. It's the best in town, but doesn't have as much to offer as CornBelly's or Black Island Farm in Utah.

Where the Wild Things Are: Mesa Verde National Park

2011-10-27T16:52:00.000-06:00

I don't think there is anything more beautiful than a healthy, happy {non-dangerous} wild animal.

Our car was missing Clark's eagle eye & we didn't see these pretty deer on the way into the park.

But, on the way out, we spotted 4 bucks with impressive racks.

Until we meet our cuddly bear {preferably he'll have the disposition of Yogi} or graceful moose, we'll be content to hear the wild horses neigh, watch the mule deer get annoyed with us,

snuggle with our own wild animals.

Reunited and it Feels So Good: Mesa Verde National Park

2011-10-26T09:05:00.001-06:00

We had a fabulous weekend road trip adventure. We met our good friends in Cortez, Colorado {sort of half way between ABQ and SLC} which is about a 5 hour drive from Albuquerque. Tia & Ella have been great friends for years & have maintained a steady snail mail correspondence since we moved. We were truly grateful the Blooms were willing to make the long trek to visit with us.

Parts of the area still had lovely color.

But the park, at nearly 7,000 ft. was past peak. The setting was still gorgeous and the weather could not have been more perfect.

The pueblos were amazing. Even though most of the park was closed for the season, we had plenty to do & see on our visit. Ancestral Pueblo people lived in this ares for over 700 years between A.D. 600 to A.D. 1300. I read that the homes {like the ones shown} were probably occupied in the last 100 years of their stay. The park includes over 600 cliff dwellings & many have been restored.

The kids loved climbing all the ladders. I learned that I would have been a giant among the people who lived in these homes. And, if I had been lucky enough to still be alive at my old age, I probably would have been a great grandmother.

Some of the dwellings can't be accessed. Can you see the houses under the overhang?

The buildings are very impressive considering there was no machinery or tools. And, I was astonished that researchers discovered cotton (which would have traveled from a southern location) and chocolate (South American treasure) in the area. Who knew trading was that expansive 800 years ago.

After our first adventure, we had a leisurely lunch and the kids completed their Junior Ranger work.

They were officially sworn in as Junior Rangers and we tackled one last dwelling before the kids demanded pool time. Is there anything better than a hotel pool when you are a kid?

The nice thing about this park is that you could spend half a day or several days in the area. So many hikes and little areas to explore.

A Boy & His Dog

2011-10-25T08:02:00.000-06:00

SPECIMEN A: at the suggestion of a change in activity, expect whines, moans, nasty stares & false complaints of unspecific pains.

The good news is, once we endure the moans and groans, his disposition usually improves once we arrive at our destination.

SPECIMEN B: when sensing I'm not paying enough attention to him, expect whines, moans, nasty stares & false complaints of hunger.

However, once HE arrives at his destination, expect ennui & inactivity (click on photo to read his report card). Our old dog is coming down off an excellent steroids high. He wasn't content to stay in the Old Dog's Lounge at the kennel this weekend. They said he barked until they released him to the general population. Once outside, he refused to play with the other dogs & just sat like a {happy} bump on a log.

TGIF

2011-10-21T06:13:00.001-06:00

Just another crazy week here.
One birthday celebration.
Service Project with brownies.
Homework central followed by the Amazing Race.
Work travel for Nick.
Five hours in the classroom {including starting Personal Yearbooks with two classes}.
Two trips to Target & Home Depot for Halloween {we were booed!} & Yearbook essentials.
Five hours taking & editing yearbook photos for the school.
And, it should be no surprise that given my overcommitment this week at school, someone quit at work & my workload tripled overnight.
I'm ready for the weekend.
Old Friends.
Lovely weather.
Pretty new scenes.

Leadville or Bust

2011-10-18T08:26:00.001-06:00

Nick has his sights on a new challenge for next summer.

Biking the Leadville 50. As in miles. And the distance isn't the tricky part. It's the altitude - up to nearly 13,000 feet. On a bike. Sound like fun?

There is a Leadville 100 so there are crazier people out there. Apparently, there are so many crazy people that they need a lottery to select race participants.

We are happy he made it off the inaugural run in one piece and hope to join him along the race trail next summer.

Chilly Camporee

2011-10-17T08:02:00.000-06:00

I froze my toes off Saturday night all in the name of brownies.

I loaded up the kids & headed "south" for the night. I knew despite our 80 weather during the day, it would be cold and I thought I prepared well.

I was wrong.

We layered & wore long underwear & packed our warm sleeping bags. Nonetheless, I have never been so cold in my life. I started hallucinating about down comforters & wondering if I would lose my toes to frostbite (despite two layers of socks and a sleeping bag). Jodi & I were up until midnight so that she could sign up for her December work schedule. We were so cold, it was hard to go to sleep (and stay asleep). I was kicking myself thinking of Nick's huge box of handwarmers in our garage.

Nick swears that he packed our "good to 20 F" bags (though I discovered last night that I had Ella's regular sleep-over bag). The only good thing was that the 5 kids in our tent stayed warm (they had the down bags). Although Jodi & I were really wishing at least one of them would wake up & come sleep between us to keep us warm.

Our proximity to the port-o-potties meant that most of us woke {to slamming doors} up earlier than we hoped. The 7 am church bells made sure the entire camp was awake.

Charlie toughed it out around a lot of girls. He enjoyed a little hot chocolate & singing songs that he learned at camp this summer.

This was my first time camping with kids & without Nick & I was proud it went so smoothly. I left my camera at home - it was a very freeing experience! Loved just having my phone.

It was fun remembering all the good times I spent in Brownies & Girl Scouts. Flag ceremonies, patches, songs {and yes, Girl Scout cookie orders will be coming soon}.

In my family, there is a direct correlation between how dirty they are & how much fun they had. Given the amount of dirt in the bathtub last night, I'd say it was a successful adventure!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Familiarity

2011-10-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

My goal this month is to use up as many outstanding groupons as possible. I bought one for photo scanning services and have been busy sorting through old photos trying to decide which ones are scan worthy.

The kids all look like Nick in their own way. So, when I find an old photo from my family that looks like the kids, I get excited. My sister's thumb sucking, swagger & crazy hair all remind me of Greta. The kids thought that the photo of Nina was me - which should make Nina happy because, like me, I doubt she saw many photos of me as a child that looked like her family.

My sister has fabulous hair now. It gives me hope that Greta's straight on top, curly underneath style will evolve into something a bit more manageable.

Sunday Dinner: Marinated Zucchini and Squash

2011-10-09T13:49:00.000-06:00

I've been 90% carb free, fruit free and dairy free since August. So, cooking hasn't been that exciting. I'm hoping to make it to Christmas before transitioning to a bit more sustainable diet. Until then, I'm getting excited for a good vegetable recipe. We've made this a few times and the veggies are even better on day two. In fact, I think the veggies need to marinate as long as possible before grilling. Make sure you combine the marinade in a separate bowl - mine were a bit too oily when I forgot to do that.

If your squash is big enough, cut them in long strips - it makes them easier to grill.

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound zucchini (about 3 large), trimmed and sliced diagonally about 1/4-inch thick
1 pound yellow crookneck squash (about 3 large), trimmed and sliced diagonally about 1/4-inch thick

Whisk the vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, and thyme in a large bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper. Gradually whisk in the oil. Spoon 3 tablespoons of the marinade into a small bowl. Cover and set aside. Add the zucchini and yellow squash to the remaining marinade in the large bowl and toss to coat. Transfer the mixture to a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Cover and marinate at room temperature at least 3 hours or cover and refrigerate up to 1 day.

Prepare the barbecue for medium-high heat. Grill the vegetables until they are crisp-tender and brown, turning occasionally, about 8 minutes. Transfer the vegetables to a platter. Drizzle with the reserved marinade and serve hot or at room temperature.

Recipe via

Albuquerque Balloon Glow

2011-10-05T18:08:00.000-06:00

Ever wonder who eats those huge nasty looking turkey legs at fairs? Now you know.

Before the cold weather came to town, we made it to the Balloon Glow at the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. We rode the shuttle & got there a little too early. The kids were running around like crazy chickens.

Finally, the sun started to set. The wind died down and we were ready for action.

The first glow was so exciting! The kids loved watching their first balloon inflate & rise.

As darkness began to set in, the glow became even prettier.

We loved how close to the action you could be.

It was crowded, but not too crowded.

The weather was perfect. A light jacket was all that we needed.

We timed the bus ride home perfectly. At 7:30 we hit the bathrooms for the kids & loaded the bus. By 7:45, our bus was rolling out of the parking lot.

We skipped the fireworks since it was a school night.

Tomorrow night the evening events start featuring the special shapes balloons (i.e, butterflies, bees, etc.). Nick will be traveling for work & it's been cold. We might have to wait for next year to see the shapes. If I'm feeling adventurous, I'll get the kids up early Friday morning to watch an ascension from the field.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

2011-10-04T05:26:00.000-06:00

We are enjoying our first Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. This is the biggest tourist draw for the State - over a million visitors come to see the spectacle.

We weren't ready for an early morning rise on Saturday. Instead, we just jumped in the car around 7:30 and drove near the launch field. All my photos are from the backseat of a moving car.

It was beautiful to see so many colors in the sky. The kids {Ella & Greta - Charlie elected to stay home with Grandma} loved identifying the shape balloons. I expected that the fiesta would include thousands of balloons. Actually, a world record was set on Saturday - 345 balloons were launched.

Next on the agenda, attending a Balloon Glow and Mass Ascension (4:45 wake up call for the morning launch).

Happiest Room On Earth

2011-10-03T04:33:00.002-06:00

Grandma & Grandpa came to town this weekend. They delivered some very good news. We are spending Thanksgiving in Disney World this year. Nick & I have been busy planning this for a few months & we were so excited for the grandparents to share the news. Nick put the Disney vaction planning DVD in, Grandma gave the kids Disney T-shirts and autograph books and then explained what was going on.

I said we would probably have to eat turkey for Christmas since we won't be eating it for Thanksgiving this year. Ella said that was fine because this trip will be way better than turkey.

We went to Disney for Thanksgiving once when I was growing up. I remember the park being empty. We rode Space Mountain several times in a row. It's not like that anymore. Thanksgiving is now one of the busiest times to visit Disney World. Thank goodness there are so many businesses ready to help you plan a route that goes against the crowds. It's a bit overwhelming to plan a multi-day Disney trip. Over the next six weeks, I will post some of the tips that I have learned so far.

Sunday Dinner: Pumpkin Cake

2011-10-02T14:45:00.003-06:00

I love pumpkin flavors. Yesterday, Nick brought home pumpkin glazed donuts. Delicious & worth breaking the diet. This was a cake I made last year for Jessica's birthday - when I could actually find pumpkin. I tried to pick some up today to make some pumpkin cookies, but three grocery stores were completely out. With the move last fall, I never got around to posting the pictures. It's hard to believe, Nick has lived in Albuquerque for one year already.
I haven't made many cakes from scratch, but this one was worth the effort. Moist & delicious! It's a fabulous way to get your pumpkin fix! Bring on the fall harvest!
Recipe HERE (via Joy of Baking)

Addiction

2011-09-29T05:43:00.000-06:00

I have a slight obsession with taking photos from my airplane window.

The quality is never great & half the time I can't tell where I am {LA}.

But, there is something magical about playing with light and shooting through a dirty window.

The challenge of shooting at dusk, in the air at super high ISO is that you never really know what you'll end up with. My family photography has hit a bit of a slump lately. I think it's time to think outside the box and challenge myself with my daily photos again.

New Mexico State Fair

2011-09-27T05:08:00.006-06:00

We hit the State Fair this year with an agenda - we had to check certain requirements off a list to earn a brownie badge. First off, the kids pavillon.

Next, we visited the Hispanic Art exhibit followed by the Flying K9 dog show (big hit). As fun as the dogs were, it made me sad that Hogan's jumping days were well behind him (not that he could ever jump this high). The brown dog in this photo is a mix between a coyote & a dingo!

Trying fair food was a requirement {I promise!} - but we have old school kids. Popcorn was the group fave.

It was hot, hot, hot. Unlike my memories of the State Fair as a child, now, it's all about the midway. We didn't see any animals this year (it was the last day & the animals might have been gone), but we got our money worth out of the ride wrist bands. Of course, with overpriced rides, it doesn't take long. The fact that Charlie & Greta rode the big slide 10 times (at what would have been $3 a pop each) more than covered the investment.

The carousel was the only ride that they didn't make adults pay to chaperone. But, it made us dizzy, so we only took 1 ride!

After a few rides, we had to divide the kids by height.

Out of sight, Charlie & Greta had a ball on the younger rides. The kids were exhausted & filthy by the end of the day! Next year, we need to save a weekend for a night visit when it will be {hopefully} a bit cooler.

Taos and the Enchanted Circle

2011-09-26T08:45:00.000-06:00

I took the kids camping last weekend. Nick had to attend a client event and couldn't join us. We were spoiled - staying in a friend's RV all weekend. It definitely felt like fall at night!

The kids were in heaven. Charades, hot chocolate, marshmallows, two sleepovers with friends. It was great watching them come up with games to play together.

We saw so many cool animals - alpacas, coyotes, cows (I don't know if they count as cool - as we learned in Colorado, there is a direct relationship between the number of cows and the number of cow pies), prairie dogs, caterpillars . . . . Plus, a bear was spotted at the camp site on Friday night (another reason I was happy to be in an RV).

It's crazy, but the wildflowers peak in September - the only time it's cool enough & {relatively} wet enough for things to grow.

We were on the road a lot more than expected this weekend. We started Friday night in Guadalupita. Our campground was OK - probably not one we would return too (though the cabins looked cute).

Saturday, we headed toward Angel Fire and on to the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway. It was absolutely gorgeous. Nick would have loved to golf on the course we visited. We'll have to check out the skiing in town.

Both families are new to New Mexico so we called this our scouting trip. We saw a lot, but did not have time to really explore any particular area. Red River is another town we will all be returning to. It's also a ski town with a cute "downtown" and lots of horseback riding options.

We passed Wheeler Peak - the tallest peak in New Mexico at 13,161 feet.

We landed in Taos for the world's lamest Oktoberfest celebration! But, the town is cute and the skiing looks scary steep.

So how do you keep 5 kids happy during 8 hours on the road? Games, snacks, movies, books (the kids amassed lots of reading minutes this week!), math games, "scavenger hunts" - in other words, lots of creativity (and lots of running & hiking during our stops)!

I Don't Like Bunnies

2011-09-20T12:13:00.000-06:00

One of Charlie's favorite parts of our weekend in Colorado was the campfire.

Aunt Jessie swears that declaring your dislike of cute little cottontails will make the campfire smoke go away. The kids are true believers now too.

I love sitting around the fire on beautiful nights.

And, of course, the kids love roasting marshmallows. Someone has a tendency to eat too many marshmallows. So, someone was asked not to eat any until the roasting sticks were ready.

Someone had a hard time resisting the sugary goodness.

I'm loving our warm fall nights & hope they keep going for a bit. Now that the winds have died down, I think we need to use our fire pit again.

Blue Springs Caverns

2011-09-15T05:29:00.000-06:00

We had quite an adventure in Blue Springs Caverns. We mined for beautiful gemstones. This would be such a fun birthday party activity. Dirt. Water. Jewels. What's not to love?

We heard about the heavy rains that transformed someone's backyard into a big old mess.

Eventually, some curious folks discovered the caves. We loved traveling by boat & the cool cavern air. Ella & Greta especially loved the "cave kisses."

The blind fish were fun to spot.

But, the blind crawfish were a little creepy.

The cave was narrow in spots so passing other boats was tricky. If you are in Southern Indiana & looking for a cool adventure on a hot & sticky summer day, these caves should do just the trick.

On Golden Pond (Part 3)

2011-09-13T05:15:00.000-06:00

While Uncle K is undoubtedly King of the Water, the kids wanted a ride with Dad too. As he teetered into the canoe, I noticed that, for once, his height was not an advantage.

The kids loved the water adventure.

As the oldest, Ella had the honor of being allowed to paddle.

After her nap, Greta was given the privilege of the last ride. I started up toward the house with Charlie & since Uncle K would be helping to carry the canoe, I took his drink with me. And then, we heard the splash . . .

I turned around and all I could see was Nick's hat. I hestiated and by the time I took off my lens cap {with one hand}, I only captured a soggy Nick emerging from the {not so great for swimming} pond. Thankfully it was Nick and not one of the kids who fell in the water as the accident results in a lot less tears & a lot more laughter.

On Golden Pond (Part 2)

2011-09-12T05:42:00.001-06:00

I have a few more canoe/pond stories from our weekend, so bear with me. We were up on the deck reading when we heard crying from the pond. Buster, who not so long ago was a tremendous water dog, wanted someone to play with him. The mushy bottom made the old dog a bit anxious.

In the meantime, his brother wasted no time showing us that he really did know how to swim. Tucker is a runner, so he was in heaven being off leash in our fenced in yard.

Eventually, Buster got his groove back.

But, it was Tucker's adrenaline that was PUMPING.

And, it seemed someone was psyching himself up to take his first boat ride.

As I went into the house to check on my sleeping Greta, I looked over & saw Tucker resting his chin on the side of the boat and looking like the background of Luncheon of the Boating Party - all that was missing was a pretty lace umbrella over his head.

Suddenly, Aunt Jessie came running in the house. I was certain the boat had capsized. But, no, she was looking for a camera because Buster had joined the party.

During all this fuss, Mr. Hogan was sleeping off our big morning walk. I was certain the dogs would cause the canoe to tip over. But, only 1 person fell in the pond on our trip - and it wasn't caused by the dogs . . .

10 Years Later

2011-09-11T08:59:00.001-06:00

We had no kids. Nick was working market hours and was already at work. I was lying in bed listening to the radio when the DJ reported that a plane had hit one of the World Trade Center towers. I remembered thinking that it didn't sound like something that could happen by mistake. A few minutes later Nick called that a second plane had hit the towers. By then, the Today Show was on and it was clear this was not a coincidence. But, we were geographically isolated and the enormity of what was happening was not appreciated. We went to work and watched in horror as the day unfolded. I didn't realize so many family members were either in, or too close, to the towers that day. While we were all in the office, no work got done. We were trying to connect with friends and family on the East Coast. The panic in their voices was difficult to process. It was clear they had experienced something I could never fully understand. As we watched the reports through the day, we wondered when the attacks would stop. Was this limited to air plane attacks or was there more? We had never felt so vulnerable. Air traffic was stopped. Friends were stranded at at time when all you wanted was to be close to your loved ones.

And the deaths. The overwhelming sadness. Too many lives cut short. Too many children growing up without a parent. The stories were heartbreaking. And the premature deaths haven't stopped. Too many soldiers. Too much fighting overseas. Too much anger and misunderstanding.

Our lives were forever changed - and not just when we want to go on an airplane. But, unlike the nearly 3,000 people who died that day, our lives went on. Ten years later, I still can't make sense of the attacks. I don't think anyone can. My prayer for the day is in memory of those who died and their families that miss them everyday. My hope is that my children never experience such senseless tragedy. My intention is peace.

On Golden Pond (Part 1)

2011-09-09T07:32:00.000-06:00

Ella's favorite part of our Labor Day weekend was the canoe & pond on the property.

Hogan was very anxious the first time we used the boat.

Eventually, he came down to investigate.

Nick intervened before he tried to jump in the boat. The Poor old dog doesn't have very good balance these days.

The kids were all smiles as Uncle K paddled them around.

And as Aunt Jessie snuggled with them on the shore.

Happy memories of a fun weekend.

Let the Games Begin

2011-09-07T06:18:00.002-06:00

This weekend was all about slowing down & spending quality time together as a family. We felt like Little House on the Prairie. No real power (only solar & propane powered lights), no TV. We played lots of games. Charlie made it two guesses before cheating.

Well, if you're not cheating, you're not trying.

Just like Laura Ingalls Wilder, we survived the weekend without cell coverage or Internet service. Ok, so technically there were some modern gadgets that were used. And, Greta's favorite part of the weekend was curling up on the bed in her rockin' room & watching a movie projected onto the wall.

But, most of the time, we were playing.

And honing our skills.

Ella said Dad scammed all her lunch money when they were playing horseshoes.

It was great to see the kids running outside - even if the running was to make ice cream.

But, if you can't shake what your mamma gave you in the privacy of the woods, when can you?

Unplugged

2011-09-05T20:37:00.000-06:00

We unplugged this weekend in Vallecito, Colorado. The kids were super excited because we were meeting their favorite aunt & uncle for a much overdue visit. Somewhere along the drive, Charlie got concerned:

Mom? Is there a TV in this house?

No. But, we have a lot of fun things planned.

WHAT? But, I really like houses that have TVs.

{dramatic pause}

Does the house at least have a coffee table?

There is a silent battle in our house. Every night, I clean up the coffee table in our living room. Every morning, Charlie brings his large collection of cars back onto the table. All couch pillows are removed & a mini-city is created. I've accepted defeat, closing the freeway for only the most important reasons. Charlie was very happy to find that the house we rented not only had two coffee tables, it also had a tremendous mantle/window seat that was just perfect for his new car ramp.

Hope you found lots of reasons to celebrate this weekend too.

French Lick Scenic Railway

2011-09-01T12:08:00.000-06:00

Grandpa & Granny Jill sure know how to attract adventure. They took us on a nice train ride, the conductor warned us to hide our valuables because a notorious gang of outlaws had been spotted in the area. A very nervous Greta quickly gave me her special blanket to hide in my purse. All of a sudden we heard gunfire.

Charlie & Greta were sure it was the bad guys the conductor told us about. After confirming that the bad guys were just pretending to be dead, we de-trained & visited with the actors.

These volunteers are raising money for the Indiana Railway Museum.

The horses and actors were a huge hit.

It was such a hot day for those poor horses (and us!!) - I hope they got lots of cool treats when they were done.

Even though we were on an air conditioned car, it was pretty darn hot. I'd visit the train again in the fall or Spring. The Halloween & Polar Express trips look like fun!

Happy Weekend!

2011-08-19T15:56:00.000-06:00

It's been a crazy two weeks since we got home. School has started for everyone. We love the new teachers & are trying to adjust to our new early morning routine. What do the twins think about kindergarten?

They think its exhausting.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Indiana Traditions (part 2)

2011-08-05T05:07:00.000-06:00

The kids have been negotiating about how many fossils & geodes can come home with us.

Last year, Nina got stopped at airport security for carrying a large box of rocks.

It's not quite Big Splash, but it's closer & cheaper.

And we've spent oodles of time each day in the pool.

Last year, the twins liked jumping in the pool non-stop. They couldn't quite make it to the wall last year. But, this year, it was all about diving for coins.

We had a fabulous (and fast) two weeks. Charlie asked my Mom if we could move in & everyone is hoping Nick's next job placement is here. Until then, the kids are already making plans for next year. Greta told Nina there was one improvement she could make to her house - get a puppy.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Indiana Traditions (Part 1)

2011-08-04T05:51:00.000-06:00

The kids had some specific must-do plans about our trip to Indiana.

Back to school shoe shopping with Nina.

Tractor rides with Grandpa.

At least two rides each.

And everyone wanted to steer by themselves this year.

Lots of ice cream. (not a hard sell since both Grandpa's enjoy a frosty treat - especially in this heat.)

And, of course, the annual matinee with Nina - this year's treat - Smurf's in 3D. Non-stop crazy fun here.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Where I Run

2011-08-02T07:37:00.000-06:00

I'm trying a new iphone blogging app. It's much easier to blog camera phone pictures while traveling.

It's hard to believe my running course is almost over. I'm happy I've been able to keep up the workouts while on vacation. For two weeks, I traded this. . .

And this.

For this . . .

And this . . .

And this! I feel like a disney princess surrounded by animals here. It's been fun - but hot & sticky. I've really enjoyed the online running community. The Up & Running program has a 5K program starting on September 8. If you've thought about starting to run (it's designed for beginners), check it out. They recommend before you start their 10K training program that you be able to run a 5K in under 35 minutes. I'm not quite there yet. They have a bridge training program that I am considering following over the winter. The next session doesn't start until March, but I think that would give me time to really work on my speed.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Farmer's Market

2011-07-30T20:08:00.000-06:00

One of the kids favorite Indiana activities is to visit the weekly Farmer's Market. This was our shortest trip - it was hot & we had a second adventure planned - I didn't even take out my real camera.

It's so much larger & plentiful than the little plant sales & burrito stands we have out West. The kids were disappointed that the cloggers weren't performing today, but their eagle eyes spotted a face painter.

Can't you almost smell this basil? We were headed out for another adventure we couldn't get many vegetables. It was so hard to walk by such amazingly fresh produce. I was planning menus in my head as I walked by all the beautiful vegetables.

The kids were thrilled that Nina found some $1 bouquets and that the bouquets withstood 4 hours in the hot car before they were transferred to fresh water. It was hard to send Nick home today, but the kids were happy that he gave them a virtual tour of the house & confirmation that the dog was happy to be home. It's been a great first week and tomorrow is sure to be another jam packed adventure.

Camp - Week I

2011-07-29T04:44:00.000-06:00

The twins had an awesome first week at REAL camp (not just summer camp at their school). From the time we pick them up, until they fall asleep, they are singing all the songs they've learned.

Greta & Charlie have done several art projects including these shadow chalk drawings.

It's hot & sticky here. We are greeted each afternoon by rosy cheeked kids who are bustling with excitement.

Mary, Mary

2011-07-28T05:58:00.000-06:00

Apparently, vegetables like water. The gardens here are amazing & put poor Nick's backyard tomato patch to shame.

Cool Times

2011-07-27T07:56:00.000-06:00

It's been tough, but the kids are finding a thing or two to do to kill their boredom while in Indiana.

Sweet Boy

2011-07-21T06:33:00.000-06:00

Mom, this is what I wanted to do on the horse in Texas but my mind told my body not to.

Santa Fe Opera: Griselda

2011-07-19T21:47:00.001-06:00

Last weekend, the kids spent the night with friends & we headed off to the Santa Fe Opera. I was so excited for this evening - the opera is legendary here. People travel from all over the country to New Mexico for opera season.

Though my phone doesn't take the best photos, you can see that the Las Conchas (i.e, fire that shut down Los Alamos for a week) is still burning.

We arrived early - just as the tail-gaiting was getting started.

But, we attended a dinner & were privileged to hear the director & set designer speak. I wish we had that luxury with every performance! It was nice to have "permission" from artists to think this particular opera was bizarre (which is exactly what we thought as we read the synopsis on the drive). Nick likes the hdr function on his phone, but it takes multiple images & merges them. So, if people are moving, it leaves a weird result.

The theatre has a roof, but no sidewalls. It was HOT that evening. The set was very vibrant and abstract. The costumes were very unexpected. The director called the opera - avant garde (meaning "odd"). It was such a great people watching experience - standing room only crowd. I can't imagine standing to watch the opera for nearly 4 hours. They have great opportunities for families to experience the opera at a reasonable price. It's on my "to-do" for next year. I think Ella might enjoy the experience.

It was a late night - nearly 1 am before we made it back to our hotel. We grabbed a quite breakfast at the Chocolate Maven before heading back to round up our kids.

Great Wolf Lodge - Dallas, Part 4

2011-07-18T05:35:00.001-06:00

On Day 3 of the Dallas trip, we headed to Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas - a water park chain. By this time, the twins were exhausted!

The Lodge is very watery/non-camera friendly. And, the emphasis in this 20 hour window was on playing , not taking photos so please excuse the camera phone pics.

First Impressions from the kids? This is going to be AWESOME!

Second Impression from the room? This room ROCKS! Any parent that has shared a hotel room with kids knows how hard it is to go to sleep at 8 pm when the kids need to go to sleep. With the "cabin" built into the room, the kids had enough darkness that we could stay up, sit on the little deck & watch TV without disturbing them.

The only improvement would be a set-up with three top bunks - Greta lost the coin toss.

For dinner, we ventured off hotel property & into Esparza's. The corno-a-rita was an experience!

The water park adventure was expensive, but memorable. The kids played non-stop for hours. Ella & Nick rode every slide at least once. The twins went down the big slides a few times, but had a great mini-slide play area where they were very happy.

You have to be a guest at the hotel to use the park and with a hotel stay, you get access on check-in & check-out day. Needless to say, by the time we headed to the airport, everyone was exhausted!

Sunday Dinner - Lemon Trifle

2011-07-17T21:27:00.001-06:00

I served this dish on Easter & forgot to share the results. It's a tangy, sweet treat! You can watch Tyler Florence make the dish right HERE. I'm sure you could easily substitute your favorite pudding if lemon isn't your thing. I'm a sucker for any dessert involving fresh fruit. I thought it was perfect for brunch. It would also be a great way to end your summer BBQ.

6 large egg yolks

1 cup sugar

4 lemons, zested and juiced

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut in chunks

1 pint fresh strawberries, stemmed and halved lengthwise

1 pint fresh blueberries

1 pint fresh blackberries

2 cups sweetened whipped cream

1 prepared lemon pound cake, sliced (I used angel food cake)

1/4 cup Limoncello or Grand Marnier liqueur (optional)

Fresh mint leaves, for garnish

To make the lemon curd: Bring a pot of water to a simmer over medium-low heat. Combine the egg yolks, sugar, lemon juice, and zest in a metal or glass heat-resistant bowl and whisk until smooth. Set the bowl over the simmering water, without letting the bottom touch, and continue to whisk. Keep working-out that arm and whisk it vigorously for a good 10 minutes, until the curd has doubled in volume and is very thick and yellow. Don't let it boil. Remove the bowl from heat and whisk in the butter, a couple of chunks at a time, until melted. Refrigerate until the custard is cold and firm.

To build the trifle: put the berries in a mixing bowl and toss them together so they are evenly distributed. Fold the whipped cream into the chilled lemon curd to lighten it up into a mousse. Line a glass trifle bowl with pieces of pound cake to fit. Drizzle or brush the cake with the Limoncello (I omitted this step), spoon a layer of the lemon curd over the cake, and then a layer of mixed berries. Repeat the layers until the ingredients are used up, the last layer looks best if it's the berries. Chill before serving. Garnish with fresh mint.

Fabulous Fort Worth (Dallas, Part 3)

2011-07-16T06:47:00.000-06:00

Before our last Texas adventure, Monica & crew took us to the best tourist attraction ever.

Josh has been to the rodeo before & his bull was ready to put up a fight. Ella was ready for more.

Charlie was all business, but Lucas was ready for some adrenaline!

I'm sorry to say Greta didn't have any fun at all.

It was hot, hot, hot. When Nick ordered a drink, I put a request in for a fried pickle. He ignored me.

We used up all of Monica's spare quarters waiting for the main event.

After a little play time, we were ready for the Longhorn Parade.

Everything is bigger in Texas!

These animals were so pretty.

And they were on a mission to get to the end of the road. No stopping to visit, just marching forward.

As we left the bathrooms, something was brewing in the courtyard.

A trio of outlaws were causing some trouble.

The situation turned tense.

And it got loud.

Our little law men were brave & visited the outlaws after the show.

What a tremendous visit we had in Fort Worth! Thank you Markleys for opening your home - we had a fabulous visit! We can't wait to get our families together again.

Fabulous Fort Worth (Dallas Part 2)

2011-07-14T06:49:00.000-06:00

After a quick trip with GG, we headed to Fort Worth to visit my friend Monica & her family. We have been friends since law school & trekked across Europe (with Christy) more than a few years ago! I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see these boys in person! I was in Portland for Monica & John's first date. Ella was born just before they got married. When Ella was about 9 months old, we were in Portland. Monica visited us in Salt Lake City just before I had the twins. But, this was the first time the kids were all together.

Nick is a Rangers fan. He was thrilled that the Markleys were up for meeting us all at a game.

It was Texas hot.

We found ways to keep cool (baby wipes: not just for babies).

Thanks to Monica, we had awesome seats.

It was an exciting game.

Lots of home runs.

Lots of celebrating. The kids all made it through the game without complaining. That is what you call a successful outing!

After cooling off, we took the game on the road. It was really impressive to watch Josh in action. He is undoubtedly the most athletic kid I've met.

And Sammy. So silky soft & happy. Hogan would have loved to meet you.

Dallas Bound

2011-07-13T05:14:00.004-06:00

We spent Memorial Day in Dallas. Day 1 started with a visit at GG's (Nick's Grandmother). She hadn't met the twins before so we were glad to make this trip.

It was unbelievably hot! We alternated inside time (Nick's Grandfather built an underground house that stays nice & cool) and outside time. Climbing the mesquite tree. Playing frisbee. Looking for bugs.

Then, we'd hurry inside for a bit to cool down. GG taught everyone how to play dominoes (Mexican Train). I'm not sure, but I think she's trash talking Nick. GG's a fierce player.

We are so impressed that GG's property was immaculate. She is certainly a hard worker.

We had a lovely visit & were so touched that GG opened her home to our craziness!

Vintage Albuquerque

2011-07-12T05:20:00.003-06:00

I think you can learn a lot about a town based on the activity of non-profits in the area. Last month, we attended a fundraiser for Vintage Albuquerque; an organization that is dedicated to fund arts education programs in New Mexico.

This is the view I thought we would have when we moved to Albuquerque. But, we ended up moving into a different part of town than we expected. If you twist the right way in our back yard, you'll get a {condensed} view of the mountains.

This is the view from the Santa Ana Golf course which was the venue for the 2011 Vintage Albuquerque Fundraiser. We also attended a tasting dinner earlier in the week. Our favorite wine from that evening was the Colome Torrontes - Valle Calchaqui-Salta 2010 (less than $15).

(sunflare on a camera phone - impressive!) Wine tasting & a silent/live auction full of cases of wine. It was quite a shock to the system coming from Utah. It was a hot night so we stuck with white wine again. The best part of the evening? Live auction items were selling for at least 25% ABOVE market value.

It's ironic that New Mexico has so many amazing artists yet the public schools can only fund art classes for students every other year. Ella is very disappointed that there will be no art in school this year. Quite a shift from her school in Utah where art was not only available weekly, but often integrated into aftercare. I know that many students in the state have less access to the arts than the students in our school district so I was very happy to be a part of this event.

Happy Monday

2011-07-11T10:21:00.000-06:00

After 7 months, it's finally raining in Albuquerque again (and after 4 months, we can finally make a left turn out of our neighborhood). This Monday is looking up.

Tours of Old Town

2011-07-11T05:52:00.001-06:00

I had a mini-Girls Night Out recently. Jodi & I made a last minute dash to Old Town to catch the Ghost Tour. I've done my fair share of walking tours, but have never thought to take a walking tour in my own town.

It was a great tour. Part history. Part Ghost Tour. Part (large part) Urban legend. I know we both felt like we understood the town just a little bit more after the tour. I also know that if we see a lady in a purple negligee near this mosaic, we should treat her with respect.

One of the more interesting parts of the tour was learning about all the interesting things we found on Christmas Eve when we were walking around Old Town. Like this Madonna in the Cottonwood Tree. The tree rests behind the San Felipe De Neri Church & locals believe that the carving cured the tree of blight.

My favorite part of the night was hearing the history of the lovely chapel that we happened upon on Christmas Eve. La Capilla de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe was built in 1975 as part of an Arts School. It's a quaint chapel with colorful windows, a perpetual calendar (and a ghost, of course).

Sunday Dinner: Ice Cream Cake

2011-07-10T18:58:00.001-06:00

My cousin Nicole told us about this cake. Super easy to make, guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser at your next BBQ. The girls helped make it for Father's Day. The hardest part about making this cake is opening all the ice cream sandwiches.

20 - regular ice cream sandwiches
1 - 16 oz container whipped topping (defrosted)
1 - 16 oz jar hot fudge ice cream topping
1 - cup crushed topping of choice (Oreo cookies,
m&m's, chocolate chips, sprinkles, graham crackers, etc.)

Layer a 9 x 13 pan with nine ice cream sandwiches running the long length of the dish. Cut one sandwich in half & lay along other direction. Spread (or drop by the teaspoonful) a layer of hot fudge topping on top of the ice cream sandwiches. Then spread half of the cool whip on top of the fudge topping. I thought about incorporating fruit, but then decided fresh fruit would be easier & more flavorful.

Repeat the layers again ending with cool whip. Top with crushed chocolate chips or any candy/cookie topping of your choice. Cover and freeze for 5-7 hours. A few minutes at room temperature & this dish is easy to cut (and it refreezes well).

Celebrate!

2011-07-07T14:47:00.002-06:00

Happy 4th of July!

2011-07-05T13:44:00.000-06:00

We had a busy weekend. Cookout & golf with out of town friends. Night on the town with new friends. Late night neighborhood block party followed by an early morning bike parade with popsicles. Hours outside in the hot sun. Water balloon fights & slip & slides. The kids slept over 12 hours last night!
With everything around us ready to catch fire, fireworks were subdued this year. We are on week 2 of 95F or above temps & high winds. This year, rainfall in New Mexico has been a staggering .03 of an inch. It should change soon. I recently learned that Albuquerque has a monsoon season (July) and the average rainfall this month is 1.5 inches. Suddenly, all those arroyos around town make sense.

Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument

2011-07-05T05:51:00.000-06:00

We had a true New Mexican adventure last weekend. Tent Rocks is about an hour drive from Albuquerque. We arrived a bit later than expected & were surprised to discover that, even at a higher elevation, the temperature was above 90 at 10 a.m.

The hike started slowly - there were several stops & snack requests in the first 10 minutes.

But then, we arrived at the slot canyon & the majesty overtook everyone. We had lots of trips down memory lane. Greta was certain she had been here with Eliot before (actually it was at Canyonlands).

The kids thought this hill was a little like the sand dunes they played on in Moab with the Sikorski boys.

And, Ella was sure that Carson would like this hike the next time he visits with his family.

The great thing about the canyons is that the temperature dropped & a nice breeze helped us on the 1.5 mile hike up the rocks. We still had several snack & water breaks along the way.

But, we didn't have any complaints the whole hike. Nick & I were very impressed.

There were a few tricky spots (for me - the kids scrambled up). But a lady walking near us made the trek in flip flops.

It was truly a beautiful hike.

Though you can't see on this photo (I just had my 35 mm - no zoom lens), we could see smoke across the valley from this vantage. We thought that it was the Santa Fe fire, but when we got home, we learned it was from the Los Alamos (Las Conchas) fire. Now, the largest fire in New Mexico history.

The day after our hike, Tent Rocks closed because of the fire. It's been a busy week here. Fire planes are flying over our house constantly. The ash is everywhere. But, we were thrilled to learn that the Los Alamos evacuation was lifted on Sunday. We can still hear the fire planes, but hopefully the fire is close to being under control.

The descent seemed to go much faster! It was steep - Ella said it reminded her of a hike she took with Tia, Kim & Holly.

It took our family about 2 hours to hike the Slot Canyon trail. Originally, I thought we could do both the Slot Canyon & Cave Trails. However, by the time we reached the Cave Trail trailhead, the temperature was well over 100 F & we were nearly out of water. Part of having fun with the kids is knowing when to stop the adventure & call it a success. So, the cave loop will have to wait for another day.

We were up on this cliff (and it was VERY windy). We are so proud of our little troopers! 3 miles, hot temperatures & no complaints. They earned their icy treats today!

Sunday Dinner - Chocolate Bites

2011-07-03T17:05:00.000-06:00

Dr. Oz has filled the Oprah void on my DVR. He's actually more motivating as I slog through my exercise routine. Nothing like looking at a fatty liver to make you want to do another set of squats. On one recent episode that I watched, Rocco di Spirito showed his black bean brownies. I was skeptical, but our recent health-conscious dinner guests seemed like the perfect dinner guests for these treats (unfortunately, she doesn't eat dairy & this version uses butter). I think the key to enjoying these treats is to remove the name "brownie" because that immediately gives you an impression of texture & flavor (that these are missing). But, they are pretty tasty given that they are under 100 calories. In fact, given the low cal results, you can add mini chocolate chips or sprinkle powdered sugar without guilt.

These brownies are dense - like a ganache. Ella thought they were a little like Grandma's fudge. Either way, they were devoured. The kids & Nick loved them. We will definitely make them again.

15 oz canned black beans, rinsed and drained

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp expresso powder

3/4 cup liquid egg substitute

3 tbsp whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 cup agave nectar

1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with non-stick spray.

3. Place the black beans, cocoa powder, egg substitute, espresso powder and flour in a food processor.

4. Blend until the mixture has no lumps at all.

5. Add the vanilla, agave and butter.

6. Blend again until everything is fully mixed.

7. Pour the brownie mix into the greased 8×8 pan and bake for 20 minutes.

8. Also, make sure to turn the 8×8 baking pan halfway through.

9. Turn the temperature down to 300 degrees and bake for another 5-8 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not overcook.

10. Let the brownies cool completely until they reach room temperature.

11. Place the brownies in the fridge for 3 hours.

12. Cut them into 12 squares and serve.

13. Make sure to refrigerate any leftovers.

Now, on the show I think he said the brownies are about 80 calories each (or 960 for the pan). I cut mine into 16 squares & served sprinkled with powdered sugar & raspberries.

Pakko Ridge Golf Club

2011-07-02T11:09:00.001-06:00

We've had a great weekend {already} with two out-of-town friends making time in their busy schedule for us. Today, Nick got up bright & early to play golf at Paako Ridge with his friend from childhood. Nick was anxious to break in his father's day gift (new clubs) on the extremely challenging course.

It was Nick's first time on the back of the mountain (without snow) and we are both anxiously awaiting the all-clear from the extreme fire danger warnings so we can take the family. This award winning course is tough! So if you visit, be sure to bring plenty of extra golf balls.

Dam It All

2011-06-28T07:16:00.000-06:00

After the Grand Canyon, we started making our way over the river & through the woods to Grandma's house in Las Vegas.

We decided to make a quick stop at Hoover Dam along the way. You can't see a thing from the road, but there is a {free} parking overlook that is impressive. Even though there are many {narrowly placed} guard rails, it made Nick nervous with the kids.

Then, you can drive down to the parking structure & either walk around or take a tour (no pets are allowed on the property).

The size of the dam is impressive.

You really can't capture the size & scale of the dam taking photos through windows.

With kids, you can only take the short tour. It was about $11 for adults & $9 for kids.

The tour held the interest of about 2/3 of our group. The other one was ready to get to Grandma's. We were the last tour of the day so we spent less than an hour at the dam (we stopped for drinks on the way out - it was a hot day).

This guy was a fun unexpected spotting.

You get a little glimpse of Lake Mead by the dam. If our trip hadn't morphed into a working vacation for me, we might have visited this time. It's on our short to-do list for our next visit.

Sunday Dinner - Scallops

2011-06-26T12:55:00.000-06:00

I have a new favorite cookbook. We've made half a dozen recipes & they've all been great.

After Sheryl Crow was diagnosed with breast cancer, she teamed up with a dietitian and chef (the author of the cookbook). The recipes we tried were {mostly} healthy & all fresh & flavorful.

12-14 extra large scallops

1/2 C shelled marcona almonds (I forgot this part)

3 t canola oil

1/2 C diced leeks (white part only - about 1 large leek)

1 1/2 C roasted corn kernels (about 3-4 ears)

1/4 C white wine

1 1/2 C arugula (abt 2 large handfuls)

3/4 C halved mini tomatoes

1 T unsalted butter

Parsley Oil (forgot this part too)

Gently rinse the scallops & drain on a paper towel lined plate. Refrigerate up to 10 hours.

Process almonds to a fine powder & set aside.

In a large saute pan, heat 2 t oil over medium-high heat (could use a little less oil). Cook the leeks & garlic for about 2 minutes. Add corn & cook a few more minutes. Add wine & bring to a boil. Simmer about 30 seconds and deglaze any bits left in pan.

Add arugula, tomatoes & butter. Stir to mix. Season with salt & pepper & remove from heat.

Add remaining 1 t oil to a different pan. When hot, gently place scallops in pan. Heat 2-3 minutes without moving. Using tongs, flip the scallops over once. Remove pan from heat. Allow scallops to heat in pan a few minutes.

Serve arugula topped with scallops. Dust with almonds & dress plate with parsley oil.

Up & Running

2011-06-22T07:33:00.001-06:00

I'm on day 2 of my online running club workout. Up & Running is a course designed to teach you how to run a 5K. The running loop by my house is just over a 5K. My goal is to be running the whole loop by the end of summer (August 14th). This fall, they will be hosting a 10K running program too. You can sign-up here for email updates.

I've been walking this loop since February. Now, the goal is to RUN. I ran a half marathon in 2007 so it might seem strange that I signed up to do this course. But, I had lots of friends to run with & I am missing them in New Mexico. After the race, I really didn't run again & I'm feeling it now. I also don't think that I trained properly for that first long race & my feet paid for my mistakes. I signed up for this course for accountability, an online support forum & the experience of seasoned runners. The class seems to be a mix of people of all ages & training levels. The course is designed as 3 workouts a week - very manageable.

After 3 1/2 months, my music was feeling a little stale. If your mp3 player needs a little inspiration try these ideas:

1. Cardio Coach - podcasts with a virtual personal trainer

2. iTunes or Amazon - there are tons of workout mixes for your choosing

3. Run Hundred - get new song recommendations from a music writer

4. Audio Books - my friend Pearl loves listening to audio books as she works out.

5. Mash-ups - Chris Lawhorn of Run Hundred suggests finding DJ mash-up songs if you get bored listening to popular songs. Two great places to start are DJ Earworm (radio safe from what I've heard) and Girl Talk (warning, this guy's songs usually start with rap & may not be kid friendly).
6. Jog FM - I haven't tried this out yet, but it looks promising!

Any other suggestions for inspired workout songs?

Cross of the Martyrs

2011-06-21T06:31:00.000-06:00

Some time ago, we had some VIP's visiting. Santa Fe seems to be more of a tourist destination than Albuquerque. So, while the kids went to school, we took a day trip to the capital city.

I had read that the Cross of the Martyrs was "the place" to take out of town guests. However, we found the view less than impressive.

The site commemorates 21 Franciscan priests killed during the Pueblo Revolt of 1680.

If you are staying in Santa Fe, I would recommend hiking to the site for sunset when the sky adds a lovely colors to the desert dullness. And, of course, have reservations waiting after the hike. Santa Fe is famous for its restaurants.

Nick & I have a night at the Santa Fe Opera next month - I am determined to try a restaurant other than Cafe Pasqual's!

New Favorite Show

2011-06-20T06:58:00.000-06:00

The kids have a new favorite show.

They think Nina's backyard would look fabulous Disney-fied. With all the shots from the Disney Florida parks, the kids are really hoping for a visit one day.

Acoma Publeo

2011-06-16T14:48:00.001-06:00

One of the great things about moving with kids is that school field trips can offer glimpses into new surroundings.

Last month, I visited the Acoma Sky City Pueblo with Ella's class.

The Pueblo is built atop a 367 foot sandstone bluff and is believed to have been founded in 1150 A.D. making it the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America.

I have to think this used to be lush, fertile ground.

There are approximately 250 dwellings on the top of the mesa - none of which have any modern "conveniences" like electricity, sewer or water (by choice).

I had hoped our house would have a small kiva in the backyard (though not in lieu of our oven). The dark stone is volcanic & probably came to the top of the mesa many years ago after a two week trek across the valley.

Construction of this church began in 1629 when Spanish missionaries visited the Pueblo. No photos are allowed inside the San Esteban del Rey Mission or at the nearby cemetery. In fact, photo taking anywhere is closely restricted.

Our guide said that the tribesman had their own religious beliefs before the Spanish missionaries forced the church to be built. It was an amazing feat to have the church built - nearly 20,000 tons of dirt and stone had to be carried up the mesa (there was no road). Many men who died during construction of the church are buried in the walls (destroying the church would wreak havoc on their souls). That the Spanish forced the Native Americans to build the church atop a sacred site is another reason it is still standing. The inside is very impressive - gorgeous paintings from the 17th century and beams of wood that were transported up the mesa & never allowed to touch the ground.

We were allowed to walk down the 'original' pathway (can you see the disgusting collection of chewing gum on the rock?). I felt like I was entering the canyons from 127 Hours. It was steep! And with 30 8 year-olds scampering down like little mountain goats, it was even scarier!

But, we all made it (even a sure-footed 5 year old). This part of the tour is optional - you can opt to take the bus down the path.

The Pueblo is about an hour and a half East of Albuquerque. It has a lovely gift shop and many local artists are selling their goods. The price isn't cheap - $20 for adults (or $55 for a family). But, it's not something you can see in many parts of this country.

Bring on the Heat

2011-06-13T12:04:00.000-06:00

Our puppy is ready for the heat!

It's hard to believe we are already in Week 3 of Summer.

In the last three weeks, I've been to Dallas, Denver & Salt Lake City. I'm finally feeling back to normal.

Ella is enjoying her new camp - especially creative writing & jump rope class. Her track week was cut short by the smoke from the Arizona wildfires (air quality is not good right now). But, she loved that someone said "You just got beat by a little girl" when she beat an older boy at a race. She definitely did not get her speed from me.

First Family Bike Ride

2011-05-27T12:59:00.000-06:00

I got a bike for Mother's Day & last night was our maiden voyage. The only question? "But, Mom? When did Dad teach you how to ride a bike?"

We loaded up the bikes & hit a trail. Nick likes to track his bike rides. When you don't go on a relatively flat surface & in a straight line, the maps are much more interesting. But, we had fun.

Distance:		4.96 miles
Elapsed Time:		52:49.8
Avg Speed:		5.6 mph
Max Speed:		19.2 mph
Avg Pace:		10' 39" per mile
Min Altitude:		5,840 ft
Max Altitude:		6,125 ft

Their little legs were tired, their faces were red & they drank all of our water. Thank goodness it was pajama day at school for the little ones & the last day for Ella. Everyone was super excited this morning. Charlie told Nick that if created a secret hideout at work, he could go to work in his pajamas too. Sounds like a good plan.