Santa Fe: Dale Balls,Tsankawi Ruins, Bandelier

Jim had accumulated a good number of vacation days, so we decided to go to Santa Fe for a week in mid-October when Rob had some time off. We flew out of Orange County on Saturday, October 14. Wrenzy wore a lovely outfit, selected by Ever, for the trip. Waiting for our shuttle to the John Wayne Airport:

Anna and Lucy were on a college trip to Seattle/Vancouver until Sunday night. Rob and Clara picked us up in Albuquerque while Tucker and Anders made dinner - curry, rice, and salad with two different homemade dressings. Talk about amazing kids! Tiny Tot loved the curry. Maybe she'll end up being a good eater after all.

Mercedes Wrenz warmed to the cousins right away and was largely oblivious to the effect of her couch antics on her hair.

Jim, Rob, and I stayed up crazy late chatting after the kids went to bed. Jim was shocked when I told him it was 1:00 A.M. when we were getting into bed! 

Sunday we went to sacrament meeting, where Tiny was impossible and the young couple next to us was gaming on their phones. Oh, technology, what have you done to us?

That afternoon we did a lovely little jaunt up the Dale Balls trails. I'd prepared for freezing temperatures on this trip, but the weather was glorious, as was the view.

Rob made us gourmet brisket tacos and Mexican rice for dinner. He's turned into quite a chef/baker, and I love how he cooks with the kids. Anyway, Rob and Anna borrowed a high chair and pack n' play for us to use while we were there. In the high chair, Tiny always folded herself in half and put her feet up by the table. It seemed less than ideal, partly because she had to reach and eat over her feet, but it was definitely her preferred position. (Also note that Jim realized Tiny's hair is exactly Brigham Young's. She went from Eric Stonestreet to Baby Brigham.)

The road rash on her forehead is from the day before we left, when she fell out of the swing behind our house and landed on the concrete while I sat just inside the door booking our airport parking. It was horrifying. She cried, and I held her. She quieted down surprisingly quickly and wanted to fall asleep on me, but she screamed if I tried to put her down. I sat on the couch and held her, terrified that I'd given her brain damage or something. I texted Jim and apologized, and he said, "Don't worry, honey. We're in this together." She seems to have emerged unscathed from the incident (other than some remaining discoloration on her forehead, which I believe will go away with time), and I'm so grateful. I can't handle the thought of anything happening to one of my kids. 

Clara had Monday off, so while the teenagers were at school, the rest of us went to the Tsankawi Ruins and Bandelier National Monument. The ladders at Tsankawi were exciting with kids attached to us.

Wrenzy was a good hiker and fearless climber. Meanwhile, Ever was in heaven since climbing on rocks is one of her favorite things. She wanted to climb everything, so the off-limits stuff at Bandelier was hard for her. 

Tiny was thrilled to be let down and allowed to play in the dirt.

I was surprised that pottery shards are just left out where they were found instead of gathered and taken to a museum. Pretty nifty.

Peekaboo.

I'm fascinated by this idea of cave dwelling. Very cool to think about how people used to live here.

Poor Tiny finally passed out toward the end of the Tsankawi trail.

The walk back to the car at Bandelier was so beautiful, thanks in large part to the magnificent yellow trees. Fall is the best.

Sweet Goose was so exhausted that she fell asleep in the car on the way home while holding Tiny's hand.