Last weekend my wonderful sisters and darling niece flew down for visit. It was so much fun having them here! We spent most of our time just hanging out and talking. Chet said we were like hens because we were "clucking" so much! Here is a recap of our fabulous weekend:
The first order of business was lunch. I took them to a very popular place here called Flying Star Cafe. They have lots of yummy food but their breakfasts are to die for! However none of us got breakfast, either way it was delicious!
Friday morning after I took the kids to school I came home and got Jann so that she could go for a run. That meant Linz got some quality time with Aubry before her morning nap. Isn't she the cutest baby?!
Chillaxin with Auntie Lindsay
When Jann got back from running we put Aubry down for a nap and headed out to the pool for some relaxation time. It was so nice to just sit with them and relax. Usually the pool is filled with kids and the dog so it isn't very relaxing. When Aubry finally woke up we were still sitting pool side so Jann brought her down so she could swim too. Jann forgot Aubry's bathing suit but we figured she would be fine with just a swimmie. She loved it!!!
Aubzy and Auntie Lindsay skinny dippin' Swimmin'
That night we took them all to dinner at an authentic Mexican restaurant in Corrales called Casa Vieja. It's a little tiny hole in the wall that is inside an old church (from like the 1800's). And supposedly the church is haunted by the priests that are buried in the walls! How creepy is that?! It's a good thing their food is amazing or I don't think I would eat there. ;)
In the courtyard at Casa Viaja
They are famous for their green chili chicken enchiladas. They are huge! So Chet and I split one and Jann and Lindsay split one.
The great debate: Red or Green
Dessert! A fresh doughnut plate! Seriously the best things I have EVER eaten!!!
Dinner was amazing!
After dinner we headed home to put the kiddos to bed. After all the kids were sleeping the adults headed out to the hot tub for a little more relaxing.
Saturday was much like Friday in that we spent lots of time by the pool and eating lots of yummy food.
You can't enjoy sitting in the sun without some liquid refreshment. Hard to tell we are sisters. ;)
Love my sisters!
Auntie Linz and Harris
Linz attempting to throw Liv
Jann getting a tan while reading on dad's her Kindle
When we were done swimming we got ready to go to dinner at Tucanos for Chet's birthday. One of Chet's birthday presents was a gaming table with ping pong, air hockey, and pool. So while some of us were getting ready the others played some games.
Some serious competition. Just look at the concentration on their faces! ;)
Dinner was so yummy. I love Tucanos!
Awwwww
During dinner Aubry grabbed the lemon from Chet's water glass and started sucking on it. She didn't quite know what to think of it. But it was sure cute to watch.
Tucanos is right in the heart of downtown so on the walk back to the car Linz wanted to stop and look at one of the fresco's on the side of the building.
On the way home from dinner Jann was dying to go see the Rio Grande. She didn't think that seeing it from the freeway was good enough so we drove to a park that has a walking path to it. It was a pleasant walk except for the mosquitos that were eating us alive!
Halfway down the path it ended and was just sand so to make sure we were headed the right way Chet pulled out his iPhone and checked the GPS.
Multitasking
We made it!
(I know, I should have put pink on)
It was a fun and relaxing weekend and I am so grateful that my sisters would take time out of their busy schedules to come down here and see us. Thanks guys! Love you!
We had another amazing storm last night that I just had to put on here. It started raining at about 4pm and was still raining when I fell asleep at about 11pm! It was insane! The storm was in a strip right over our house for a while. So it was raining down the middle and sunny on either side. It made the rain sparkle because of the sun reflecting off of it and the full double rainbow was the brightest and closest rainbow I have ever seen! It was beautiful! There was so much thunder and lightning it was almost constant and sometimes it was so close we could see the lightning strike the river and then the thunder would be so loud it was like an explosion! The weather here really is amazing. I love it!
The rainbow was so huge that we couldn't get a picture of the whole thing.
I zoomed in when it was at its brightest. You can even see the blue and purple!
Taking a video is the only way we could get the whole rainbow. Notice the sun on both sides and the almost constant rumbling of thunder. Eventually the storm covered the whole valley and the rainbow went away but we were able to enjoy it for almost 45 minutes. Soo cool!
Yesterday was Chet's birthday and it was great. The morning started off with me taking my sisters to the airport at 8:30 after an awesome weekend together (but that's another blog). That meant no sleeping in for Chet, so when I got back I sent him back to bed while the kids made cards and wrapped presents and I made pancakes for breakfast in bed. :) Since it was Chet's day he got to spend a lot of time doing what he loves most, sitting in the sweltering heat of the sun relaxing and reading. And while we don't make a habit of swimming on Sunday we did take a dip in the pool to cool off and play. After much sunning and swimming we came in for dinner. Chet requested Cafe Rio's sweet pork burritos and pumpkin pie. Yes, pumpkin pie. Chet loves pumpkin desserts more than anything. Almost every year since we have been married I have made him pumpkin pie for his birthday. So on Saturday night I sent him to the store to pick up what I needed to make him some pie. He had been gone a really long time when he called me and in a sad voice said that nobody had any canned pumpkin! He had been to 3 stores and nothing. Finally he asked someone about it and apparently there is a national shortage of pumpkin so they are all stockpiling it for the holidays! Luckily he tried one more store and found some. Yay! It was fabulous pie!
I am so grateful that Chet was born! He is the most amazing husband, father and friend. Happy Birthday Hunny!!!
Yesterday was the beginning of the school year for us. I'm not going to lie and say I was glad that the kids were going back because I wasn't. I have never been like "I can't wait for school to start". Some people might feel that way by the end of the summer ;) but not me, I just like having my kids with me and not some stranger (just call me selfish).
However, I do know that school is good for them and it is necessary. So, with my sunglasses on and tears rolling down my cheeks, I sent them on their way (they grow up way too fast).
Headed Out
There was a lot of anxiety building up to school. Especially for Liv. Poor girl cried every day last week because she was so nervous about this new school. One of the reasons is because schools here are not at all like Utah schools. They are old and dirty and usually fenced in with barbed wire. Thursday was finally back to school night at their school, which is a charter Montessori school called The Montessori of the Rio Grande. Liv was really nervous and Harris just wanted to play on the playground. After a general meeting about the school and the program we got to go to their classrooms and meet their teachers and get a better look at the school. Liv has Mr. Rob and Miss Megan and Harris has Mr. Ian and Miss Erica. Each class has a teacher and an assistant teacher who is going through the Montessori training. I really like it that way. I think it will let them have more one-on-one time with the teacher. Liv has about 30 kids in her class which is made up of 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Harris only has 10 kids in his class! I also am glad it is a small school, only about 200 students. The teachers and the principal know all the kids by name! Liv and Harris also get to see each other at recess. I am truly grateful for that! Maybe I'm a little overprotective but I like knowing that they aren't alone and can keep an eye on each other. ;)
Out front and In front of their classrooms
The layout of the school is very unique. (as you can see behind Liv) It is like a strip mall shaped like a U. With all the doors opening to an outside common area and the playground. It is also located on part of a nature preserve right on the Rio Grande. They will be doing a lot of exploring and science by the river, something that Liv is very excited about. Almost all of their learning will be hands on there will be no worksheets or homework. Ever. I have mixed feelings about this because I am used to them having "busy work". The principal explained to us that she would rather have us doing things with our children like cooking, shopping, drawing, reading, etc. than helping them with various review worksheets. So I guess in a sense it is homework but not like I am used to. I am hoping that this new way of learning will teach them to how to learn better and to love to learn. It's going to be a good year, I hope...
I don't know why but for some reason I have never liked little boys dressed up in suits or shirts and ties. It's like trying to make them grown up when they aren't. That is why Harris has always worn a polo and khakis to church, until today. Living in the mission field we have had the opportunity to have the missionaries over for dinner a few times. Harris loves the missionaries. When we went to find him some dress clothes Chet picked out a white shirt and a blue shirt. (Chet never wears a colored shirt but he thought Harris would like the blue better) Harris would not even entertain the idea of a blue shirt. He said, "I have to look like a missionary"! So the white shirt is what we got. He looks so handsome but I'm still not sure about the "grown up" look.
Harris also loves his Daddy and loves to be just like him even when it comes to dressing. As they were walking out the door Harris took Chet's hand and in a proud voice said "Daddy, we match". It was a very sweet moment that brought tears to my eyes.
What a couple good looking guys. Man, I love them!!!
Yesterday, after dinner, we drove to the Northeast Heights area of Albuquerque to see the temple. It is a beautiful temple! (aren't they all though?) We walked around the grounds and just enjoyed the quiet time together. It was a nice way to end the Sabbath.
You can't really tell from this picture but the Temple is actually PINK!
The kids thought the fountain looked like a temple too.
The weather here in New Mexico is crazy! March thru May it's windy beyond belief, June is hot and dry and July and August get the monsoon. Take today for example at 10 o'clock this morning we were already in the pool and it was a warm 82. It is now 4:22 pm and the weather has changed dramatically, 77 and pouring rain!
It actually does this almost every day. Sometimes the clouds just move in and other times we get the full monsoon, with rain, hail lightning and thunder. I love it!!!
This is video of the storm flooding our courtyard. Awesome!!
I really love the weather here and can't wait to see fall and winter!
