October is our yearly pilgrimage to New Mexico, our excuse being the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The perfect reason to book our tickets as soon as we can, and for Michael's family to descend on Albuquerque. This was our 5th year in a row at the Fiesta, and we had a wonderful time seeing the balloons and spending so much time doing all of our favorite things in New Mexico, and most importantly, spending time with the most important people in New Mexico!
Just a note: There are a LOT of photos in this post. If you want to just flip through the photos at some point, just click on a photo, and it will bring up a slideshow, and then you can just scan through. Enjoy!
Bright and early at the airport as always. Alex was in heaven watching the airplanes!
Planes!
Recreating a photo we took of Nathan when we moved to ABQ.
We arrived Saturday afternoon, and Grammie and Papa picked all of us up at the airport. Then we jumped right into it. We had a great dinner with Michael's aunt and uncle, Kit and Gary, and Lori and Jay.
Alex settled right in to Nathan's old high chair, and showed off his love of eating corn off the cob.
Lori had VIP tent tickets at that night's balloon glow, so we left the kids with Grammie and Papa and had a fun evening out with Lori, Jay, Kit and Gary. Unfortunately, it was the first of many times the Fiesta would be impacted by weather (even the smallest winds are dangerous to the balloons and crews), and only a few balloons did a "glow" before they packed up for the night. But we enjoyed the people watching and the fireworks display.
The few balloons that inflated, glowing in the setting sun.
The next morning we took the boys to the Aquarium and the Botanic Gardens. There were some new areas open in the Aquarium, so we enjoyed exploring as much as the kids!
Looking at the manta ray tank, Alex got very excited!
The new water "tunnel" under the fish, Alex trying on Michael's sunglasses.
The boys checking out the fish.
Nathan was very excited about the giant starfish to climb on. He also was excited to see Nemo and Dory in person!!
Checking out the manta ray.
In the Botanic Gardens there is a Children's Fantasy Garden. Here Nathan is riding the giant ant.
We had lunch in downtown Albuquerque and went to one of our favorite stores. Michael, Nathan and Alex walk down Route 66 (Central Ave) afterwards.
Lori and Jay had us over to their house that afternoon for dinner. The boys fell asleep in the car on the way over, yet only one remained asleep after the transfer to the house. Shockingly, it was Nathan!
Nathan happily asleep in one of Lori and Jay's big comfy beds.
Jay grilling ribs and poppers. Lori and Jay are amazing chefs, we ate well!
Nathan getting a good snug with Daddy after his nap, under the "Another Perfect Day" shirt (Randy's clothing company).
Lori had some special toys for the boys, Nathan is busily playing with his Hot Wheels "crusher".
Nathan made an acquaintance with a praying mantis.
Lori being silly with the boys.
The next day we went for a hike at Tent Rocks (also called Kasha-Katuwe) National Monument. We had wanted to hike here when we lived in New Mexico, but they had closed it at the time for paving the entrance road, so we were very happy to have the chance to finally hike it. We made sure we had the frame backpack to carry Alex, packed up good snacks, water and off we went!
Nathan being "funny" with Grammie.
Climbing one of the narrow passages.
The beautiful slot canyons.
The backpack was kind of a waste, as Alex just wanted to hike along with the rest of us!
Some of the "tent rocks".
Michael and Alex hiking along.
What backpack?
Crawling through...
Snack time!
Crawling through the "tunnel tree".
Good photo op of the boys :)
Alex doing his "cheese" face :)
Finally almost down, slow going with little 15 month old legs...
The next day, Michael and I left the kids with Grammie and Papa for a few hours to do a little New Mexican shopping. We met them at the park after we got back.
Having fun on the slide...
Down goes Alex!
We also just hung out at the house a lot, the boys enjoying all of Grammie and Papa's toys, and just spending time with them.
Nathan playing with trains, his favorite activity at Grammie and Papa's house!
Nathan helping Grammie out with watering.
Papa and Alex (Alex would starting saying "Papa" over and over whenever he entered the room)
Alex stacking the pegs until they tipped over!
Cheese!
Had to include this photo of the beautiful lamp that Jay made at Grammie and Papa's house.
Somewhere in the middle of all this, Alex decided it was time to start walking. After a few days of 8 or 10 steps, he was off and running!
Wednesday morning we got up early to go to Santa Fe. We decided to take the Railrunner, the commuter rail the runs from south of Albuquerque and north all the way to Santa Fe.
Waiting at the train station.
A special bonus, the station was just south of the Fiesta park, and so we watching an amazing mass ascension go just over head.
The train headed north, right next to the Fiesta grounds, so we watched the balloons take off.
It was a fun ride up, and our first stop in Santa Fe was to Flying Star for coffee and some of their awesome breakfast food (need to figure out the recipe for their flapjacks!)
The train at the station.
"Water tank" at the train station.
Our next stop was a great toy store run by a friend of Michael's from high school.
Alex dozing in the pack as we did some shopping on the plaza.
Nathan sleeping on me at Tomasita's, our favorite restaurant in Santa Fe. (Seriously Nathan napped like crazy in New Mexico!)
Alex was a big fan of pintos and tortillas!
Nathan with his "little pillows" (sopapillas)
After lunch we went to give the kids a little fun at a local park.
Nathan on the "merry go round".
Lifting weights...
Climbing the rocks at the park.
The next morning we got up early and went to the balloon park to watch the mass ascension.
Alex looking a little cold!
The sunrise over the balloons...
The Rainbow Ryder balloons always make for great photos.
The sun peeking over the horizon and making the balloons glow!
Off they go!
It was the "special shape rodeo" which meant there were lots of neat balloons to see!
Alex checking out the balloon trading card for the ladybug balloon.
The bees (Mama Bee, Dada Bee and Baby Bee), always a favorite!
Nathan's favorite, the ladybug, starting to rise!
Ladybug
Penguin and crab...
Friday morning we took a trip to the Natural History Museum and Explora (kids science museum).
Nathan checking out Dory.
Looking at different items under the microscope.
Seeing what animal tracks look like.
In the little explorers area, a very similar photo to Nathan at the same age!
Having fun with the "ball machine".
We met Michael's good friend Ray and his family out for lunch at Sadie's.
Allie, Adri and Nathan enjoying their food.
Alex started taking off his shirt. Our laughing just egged him on, and he couldn't keep it on after that!
The two families...
Many mornings we were able to watch the balloons from Grammie and Papa's house, and Saturday morning many of them flew just overhead. Tania and her family arrived as we were watching the balloons, and we walked around the neighborhood trying to find any that had landed... Then we spent the day relaxing at the house.
Michael with his boys watching the balloons!
The balloons getting closer!
Nathan and Patrick had a great time together, here they are doing a little arts and crafts...
Turkeys!
Grammie reading to the boys.
Grammie and Nathan.
Out front playing with an airplane...
Elisabeth playing with Alex.
Sunday morning we went to the mass ascension again with the whole clan. It was a beautiful calm morning for the final event of the Balloon Fiesta!
Nathan snuggling Alex before heading out.
Dawn patrol twinkle glow.
It was cold!
Nathan checking out his Flight Director pin, obtained from the "Zebras", the launch directors.
Darth Vader making his way through the crowd with his entourage (there is a Darth Vader special shape balloon).
So many balloons!
It is hard to capture the mangitude of the mass ascension in photos, so I tried to take a video of the morning...
The shark balloon taking off as we left the grounds, another Balloon Fiesta under our belt...
The final morning in New Mexico, we return to Explora, as our previous visit had been cut a little short.
The Malenfant men experimenting with hydraulics.
Alex was so excited to see the balls floating down, he kept grabbing them and screaming "balls!"
More balls!
Exploring colors...
Making a windmill...
Alex having fun with his new skill...
Michael riding the counter balance bike.
We had lunch at Church Street Cafe. While the food is only so-so, the patio is beautiful!
Alex. Eating salsa with a spoon. True New Mexican.
And Nathan double fisting sopapillas.
Watching the Sandias glow in the light of our final sunset for this visit.
Until next year... Meanwhile, Alex is similarly obsessed with balloons as Nathan was at this age. Back at home, here he is, looking at the program from the Fiesta.
