Fish and Butterflys

We went to the aquarium and the botanical gardens two Saturdays ago and had an amazing time! The weather was perfect and the crowds were minimal because the State Fair is going on right now.

We went to the aquarium first and as we were passing by the pond to the entrance we could see tons of baby fish swimming around. Harris was fascinated! He really wanted to catch one but I told him that the water was too dirty and the fish would probably dart away before he cold catch one. So he settled on sitting at the waters edge and just watching. There were also a lot of bigger fish swimming around under the waterlilies that were in bloom. It was so beautiful and relaxing to just sit and watch. Side note: waterlilies remind me of my mom, she loved them...

While we were there they had a new interactive area where you could "pet" sting rays and bamboo sharks. The kids were so excited! They both touched the rays but there was no way Harris would touch the shark even though I touched it and explained that this kind of shark didn't have teeth. I guess some people don't find sharks as cute and cuddly as I do. ;)

After we finished with the sharks and rays we made our way through the rest of the aquarium with Liv taking pictures along the way. She did an amazing job and got some great pics!

Here we have a sturgeon, a rock fish, a needle nose gar and the most terrifying fish ever; a barracuda... He's looking at me!!!

There are 2 of these seagulls that live inside the aquarium. They are rescue birds and can't fly. They have "seaside" habitat next to the stingrays. They are so noisy! We didn't get a video though, maybe next time...

The moray eels. Very creepy looking...

A remora, tomato clown fish, sea horse, unicorn fish, and an angel fish.

We finally made our way through all of the little tanks to the big tank at the end where there are sea turtles and sharks.

When we are looking at the big tank we like to sit on the floor right in front of it and just watch. This time we sat for about 45 minutes. It is so relaxing.

When we were done with the fish we headed next door to the gardens. When we walked through the gate to the garden we saw a group of people taking pictures of a giant spider web. Upon closer inspection they were taking a picture of a GIANT spider! And not just one. There were 5 separate webs each with its own giant spider attached...

That "little" guy is about 5 inches in diameter. He was beautiful!

When we were finished gawking at the giant spiders we went to the castle for the kids to play in.

Awwww- hugs inside the castle.

The kids love the slide and the mazes inside the castle. It is fun to watch them run around inside the castle. :)

The gardens are absolutely beautiful right now! There were a lot more flowers in bloom this time than last time so it was like a totally new experience.

The thing behind the kids is a flower fountain. The water drips down from the top through all the plants and collects in a pool at the bottom. It sounded like rain. So very cool...

This is the wedding pavilion. In the spring there is purple wisteria hanging down everywhere. So pretty!

During the summer they open an area of the gardens called the "Butterfly Pavilion". There are hundreds of exotic butterflies that they raise there. Some of them they can let go but the rest just live their short lives inside the pavilion. It was fun to see how many different kinds we could find...

Here are a few that we could get pictures of. There were some that just didn't want their pictures taken and would only land for a second and then they would fly away again.

Right outside the pavilion there is a mini village that has mini trains that run through it. The kids can push different buttons around the village that make different trains go. For some reason they only had one train set up that day so we didn't hang out there for very long.

There are little ponds all over the gardens and there is one right by the village that is filled with waterlillies has a little bridge and waterfall that the kids like to look at. While we were looking at it we noticed several frogs peeking out at us.

It was the perfect day and I am so glad that we were able to go. I can't wait to go again!

On The List

So I am adding a new creepy crawly to the list I now have of New Mexican bugs that I hate. It's this guy...

It's called a tiger striped centipede or the common desert centipede.

We have seen these around outside the house lately and they FREAK me out. Mainly because they are the biggest bugs that I have ever seen outside a museum! I mean look at that sucker!!! That one was at the bottom of the pool. Chet was working on the filters and I wasn't in my swim suit so brave little Liv got the net and got it out. We put it in a baggie and she took it to school the next day to show her class. They thought it was pretty cool.

This morning I went out front to let the dog and cat out and found one trying to get in the house. Fortunately he didn't make it very far because we have some serious bug poison sprayed around the house to keep the roaches out. So here he is writhing in pain, dying...

I do feel bad that he died because I don't think it is necessary to kill them unless they are going to kill me but I didn't find him until he had gotten to the poison. On the plus side, the poison is keeping the bugs out. Yay!

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend we spent in Utah with all the fam. We had so much fun just being with everybody. It was a quick trip but I am so glad that we got to go!

We spent a lot of our time at the Robinsons swimming. Even Diz got in for a swim. And after a long day Liv enjoyed a massage from Grandma Wendy. :)

When we were with the "Browns" we also spent our time outside. Jann has an awesome back yard filled with wonderful grass perfect for soccer and gymnastics.

Besides it being Labor Day it was also Aubry's first birthday! I can't believe that it has already been a year! She is still just a tiny thing at only 12.5 lbs but she is crawling and bearing weight! So we thought an exersaucer would get her on her way to walking! She loved it!

It was another great visit and look forward to the next one!

Sisters

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! 

Rainbow Bright

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!

Bithday Pumpkin Pie

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!!!

Back to School

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...