"Boys Weekend" in ABQ

With Jamie and Eva at a wedding in Illinois the boys were flying solo in ABQ. We had planned to go camping in Chaco Canyon on Friday immediately after dropping them off, but the winds were forecast to be in the 35 MPH range with gusts up to 50 MPH. It turns out it was a good idea as the winds were at least that much and had whipped up a sandstorm in the Chaco Canyon.

After dropping the ladies off at the ladies off we dropped by an airplane and helicopter display on base. Elijah loved walking around the planes and helicopters.

After nap we decided to go to a miniature golf  place that ended up having all kind of activities. Elijah wasn't that bad of a golfer, but he enjoyed putting the ball in front of the hole and hitting it in the most. 

I think though Elijah's favorite part was when we went in the bumper boats (sorry only picture I got). He absolutely loved it even though he didn't like getting wet from the other boats. 

When we first got there I had asked if Eli wanted to go on the go-karts, but he was to afraid although he enjoyed watching them. By the end of the time there he wanted to ride it and by the look of his face in the below picture he was pretty nervous. At first I started slower because I didn't know if he would do ok, but after a few laps he was loving it and every time I asked him if he was ok he would smile up at me and "I ok". 

Saturday we spent the day working on our cars, changing the spark plugs, oil, and belt tensioner. Eli "helped" me out most of the time. 

We left early Sunday morning to drive to a World Heritage site and National Historical Park called Chaco Culture Center about three hours from ABQ. The drive was amazing with many vistas and passing through small southwestern towns (think Radiator Springs in the movie Cars). In order to get to Chaco we had to drive on a road to the middle of nowhere and then take a dirt road for another half an hour to even more the middle of nowhere. 

Thankfully the parks loop road was paved. Chaco was the meeting place of many native america tribes over 1000 years ago (kinda like Rome for the southwest). Great houses were constructed in this valley with material carried in from hundreds of miles away. 

Once we arrived we setup our tent. Eli was having a blast and wanted to take a nap immediately to test out the tent. This was his first time camping and he didn't exactly know what to expect, although he was excited. 

After finishing setting up the tent we went a hike on the rim of the canyon and saw some great vistas as well as some ruines near our campsite. 

After the hike we drove to some of the large complex of ruines dating back to the 900's AD. At first we were with a great tour being given by a park ranger, but Eli ended up adding to much of his own commentary for us to continue with them. So we wondered around. Eli loved running from room to room and all of the doors were just his height. 

Although many of the pictures show Eli running around the majority of the time he was riding in style on my back.  

After our great day of hiking and checking out the sites we headed back to the campsite to cook dinner. Unfortunately, our single burner stove wouldn't stay lit with the small amount wind we had and I thought we were going to eat a cold dinner, but our neighbor offered to cook our mac and cheese for us on his stove (one of the things I love about camping is the generosity of campers). 

Later that evening we had a family setup their tent next to us and started a camp fire and cooked smores. They invited us over and Eli experienced his first taste of marshmallow(at least that I can remember). He was a big fan. 

The night ended up being pretty cold (~32 deg F) so I was glad I had dressed him in his footy PJs with an extra sweatshirt and pants. He didn't wake that night. At 2am I got up to look at the stars and just as I put my head out the tent I saw large shooting star! I have never seen such a beautiful sky as last night. The stars where jumping out at you. I had meant to take pictures, but it was to cold to say out to long.

When we woke up the next morning Eli decided it was time to go home. Although I think it was a bit rough on him he wants to go camping again he said and take "mommy and Eva". 

Julia's Wedding

Eva and I took a "girls trip" and went to my cousin Julia's wedding in Illinios!  It was the first time I was able to have a little one-on-one time with my little girl, and the first time she was able to meet my extended family.  The boys stayed in ABQ for a boys weekend, doing crazy things like go-karting and camping... Because David wasn't with me, I didn't take a pictures.  Maybe a few shots on my phone. Sigh.  So I swiped some from Mom.  We don't have pictures of everyone, but I wanted to put up the ones that we had.

The bride and groom were gorgeous and happy, the wedding was beautiful (and hot!) and it was wonderful to reconnect with loved ones.

Eva enjoyed meeting her second cousin, Naomi, and dancing the night away.  Our little extrovert jumped in my lap the moment the music started.  Sadly, the little heart-breaker wouldn't let me out of her grasp.  She would burst into screams the moment I would step away.  I spent a lot of "close" time with my little girl!

I loved watching Julia and Corey smile and laugh together, and wish them a long and very happy marriage!

the beautiful bride and groom Julia and Corey

Eva meets her great-grandma "Yia Yia"

Flower girl Naomi and my cousin Jessica enjoy the shady bench with Eva and me.

Uncle David with his two beautiful daughters, Hannah and Maddie

Our little dancing girl had a blast jumping in my lap when the music started.  We put her on the dance floor for a bit!

Eva meets her second cousin Naomi (the utterly adorable flower girl!) and cousin Brian

It was hot... close to 100 and humid... We were so thankful they gave us cold water and fans!

"Girls Weekend" to Illinois

On our girls weekend to my cousin Julia's wedding, we had a great time hanging out with family! Eva met her great-grandma "Yia Yia," went swimming for the first time, and napped while her Uncle Jeremy set up a baby monitor using his Apple devices! It was a great time to reconnect!

Eva sitting up

This morning Eva decided to start sitting up as if she's been sitting up her whole little life.

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sent from my mobile phone

Elijah turns 3

Elijah is 3!

We had a birthday party for him at Explora, Albuquerque's children's science museum, along with his buddy Easton.  The two boys are a day apart and have most of the same friends, so Jennifer and I decided to team up with their birthday party.  I think sharing his party with a friend made it even more exciting for Elijah.  He couldn't sleep the night before because he was so excited for his party.

We decided on a "Super Why" birthday party, a favorite show of both of the boys.  Super Why is a reading show, so we emphasized books and letters. We had a friend from MOPS make an adorable and yummy cake that looked like stacked books with "Super Why" on top. We also had "fruit wands," "Super Letter cookies," cheese sticks and chex mix.  I covered water bottles with pictures of the Super Readers.  Jennifer made notebooks and crayons for party favors.  We decided not to have presents, but have people bring an optional donation of pajamas or books for the Pajama Program. 

This was our first shared birthday party so we didn't exactly know how it would turn out, but it was wonderful. Elijah is such a people person and loved spending his special day with so many of his friends doing fun and unusual activities. He would run from one activity to another, sometimes getting caught up in the moment, and sometimes looking for a friend to enjoy it with. 

We had time to explore the museum for a while.  The kids loved the giant bubble table.  Jamie, Ryan, Leah and Elijah were here for quite a while!

Happy Birthday to you, Elijah and Easton!  I adore how they are looking at each other with absolute glee on their faces!  They got a kick out of blowing out the candles.  Elijah has been playing "birthday cake" ever since.

Explora provided age-appropriate experiments for the kids.  We made a bouncy slime and played with vinegar and baking soda.  It was a big hit!

A Visit by Dad Voss

A few weeks ago Dad Voss was out in ABQ for work and was able to stay with us for a few days. It was especially sweet as it was the first time that he was able to meet his granddaughter Evangeline.

Eva loved having her Grandpa around and smiled and cooed at him... that is at least when she was in her Mama's hands. When Grandpa tried to hold her, though, she pulled her Punk Stunt, crying till she's back in Mama's arms. Thankfully I was there to capture it with the camera. (Don't worry, Dad, she does this to everybody)

Elijah loved having Grandpa around. He showed him how his squirt gun works, his fort under the tree in back, and "reading" one of his favorite books.

 The last day we were able to take Dad up to a spot we like to go hiking near our house. He did great especially considering he was over a mile high. The hike provides great views of the city as well as the Sandia Mountains. You get the chance to see some of the high desert vegetation such as juniper trees and cacti.

Eli and Grandpa ran ahead and Eli decided to race back to his Daddy and Mommy. (How is that the adults were getting tired, but Eli maintained a high energy run for most of the hike?) 

We were even able to find a massive beetle that Eli was able to examine with grandpa. 

Overall it was great to have Dad here and we were so thankful for the opportunity to see him. It reminds us how thankful we are for family and how much we miss them.

Evangeline at 7 months

Evangeline Elizabeth at 7 months

 Big changes for Eva this month:

Laughing!  Eva has this amazing cackle which we hear all of the time.  She's ticklish on her belly and really ticklish on her neck.  When I'm washing her face and neck before bed I find myself unable to resist winding her up by making her laugh because it is just so amazingly cute.

 She is very interested in toys, and enjoys having her giraffe around.  She can now roll and scoot to where she wants to go to get at a toy.  She seems partial to Brother's firetruck, and squeals with delight at his train set... hmmm...

 Eva is a great little eater.  She is now a pretty good little sleeper, too, after we night-weaned.  Life is so much better in the Voss house now that we are all sleeping.

 This little lady adores her big brother.  She lights up when he's around.  In this picture she is laughing at his antics.  One of his favorite things to do is to "Make Eva Laugh!"  Eva also is becoming attached to her Daddy, finally!  She likes being held by him, and thinks the noises he makes for her amusement are very entertaining.

She will be crawling any day now.  She gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth, ready to take off, but not quite strong enough or coordinated enough.  But the desire is there.  She can't wait to be mobile.