Crrrazzy Midwest Roadtrip 1: Nashville and the High Altitude Balloon Conference

Hi there.
Jamie here, blogging from the road.  Literally.  I'm typing as we drive where it is flat and green, cornfields on either side so you know we're not in Albuquerque!

We are embarking on our first (and maybe last, we'll see how it goes) Midwest roadtrip, planning on hitting 3 family reunions, 2 showers and a conference, as well as visiting many, many beloved family members.

We rented a car because we weren't sure the little well-loved Saturn had the heart for such a trip. We are cruising in a Chevy Traverse 3-row SUV, and loving the space and the great air conditioning!  (And the fact we can play music and hear it over the engine noise.)

Our trip started with David being the keynote speaker of the High Altitude Balloon Conference in Nashville.  Keynote speaker!  Awesome, huh?  I'm so proud of him. 

David charted a course for us where we wouldn't be going more than 7 or so hours in a day, as we weren't sure how our two little ones would travel, and we know I get grumpy on roadtrips.

The kids have done fairly well.  Elijah is enjoying his increased time watching shows on the Kindle, though has been a champ reading books, munching snacks, train-spotting and singing to himself.  Eva enjoys unlimited eating of Gerber Puffs, and watching her big brother.  When things get hairy, both kids crying their little eyes out, we've stopped for a little ice cream or chocolate therapy.  Amazing how happy everyone is after a little treat.

David is a master at his smartphone, and has discovered several unusual restaurants (a fresh taco place, a 4th generation Italian restaurant in an Arkansas Mansion...) as well as a few favorites ("Where's the nearest Chick-Fil-A, David?")

In Nashville, we had a treat of seeing our dear college friend, Rachel.  She spent the entire day with us, and we had fun catching up and walking (Elijah ran, Eva stroller-rode) through Nashville's Opryland.  It was so much fun to see her!

We are now on our way to "the Farm" for David's family's Big Fourth of July Reunion.  Big.  70+ people.  We are in charge of photography, model rockets and sponsoring a 5km Family Fun Run.  We are a little bewildered by all the green and the humidity, and hoping the 100+ degree weather cools down a tad...

From the road,
Jamie
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sent from my mobile phone

Blue Hole

This past August was a whirl wind with me travelling three times in four weeks, resulting in us getting way behind in some of our blogs. So although they're kind of out of date, we're still going to update the blog.

This summer we drove back to the midwest for the first time since being in ABQ. After pricing out the different options we saved the most if were to drive, even with getting a rental car. We decided to take it easy on the drive out with our first stop being an artesian well in New Mexico called the Blue Hole.

The blue hole pumps out roughly 3000 gallons a minute resulting in an 80ft watering hole with crystal clear water. The hole is a great spot to dive folks come from all over to try it out. Unfortunately, Eli was pretty nervous of the large hole and people diving off so would only let us swim/walk in the spillway, which was just as refreshing.

 Eva, loved putting her feet in the water and would giggle whenever she got wet.

capturing Elijah's expressions...

Today I grabbed the camera and started snapping some pictures of Elijah while he was talking to me.  I loved the display of expressions in the pictures.

expressive

curious and interested

joyful

friendly

laughing

imaginative

loving

Elijah
both big and little

Evangeline at 8 months

Evangeline Elizabeth at 8 months

beautiful, smiley girl
she loves bouncing in her exersaucer

Loves her big brother

 These pictures are a perfect glimpse of our happy, engaging little girl.  We love the joy in her eyes and smile as she watches bubbles floating around her.

reaching out to touch one... To her surprise, it pops.  She liked the sensation.

enjoys sucking her thumb if she can't find her paci...

everything goes in her mouth, including hands wet with bubble soap

And looking back at us as if to say "I'm having so much fun, Mommy and Daddy!"

A Day Out with Thomas... and camping!

This past weekend we headed up to Chama in northern New Mexico for a Day Out with Thomas the Train, and a quick camping trip. 

We bought the tickets a month back, but didn't tell Eli till the morning of so he wouldn't get too excited too early. We had car trouble on the drive which unfortunately stretched a three hour road trip to five. Just as we reached Santa Fe, the compressor went out on the Saturn spraying freon on the belt. By turning the AC off we made it back to ABQ where we quickly threw the camping equipment and clothes into the other car and started out again, hoping to still make our train.

The drive was beautiful as we passed through the varied topography of New Mexico. Chama turned out to be a small, quaint town with the old railroad being their claim to fame. We found the depot and when Eli saw the steam engine trains with Thomas at the end he did a little jig down the platform. 

Of course we had to get a picture with Thomas. Eli kept asking whey Thomas didn't talk, but his eyes at least moved. When we first got on the platform to take the picture he got shy and held his hands over his face. Only when mom got up there was he willing to take the picture. Kind of a surprise as this kid has had a lens in his face since birth. 

Almost all of the families sat up near Thomas, but Elijah wanted to sit as close to the caboose as possible. This worked well for us as it meant we got a car entirely to ourselves. 

The staff were extremely nice at the event and would stop to take their pictures with the kids as this conductor did with Elijah. 

Eva loved the train as well and enjoyed looking out the window as we were moving. The train ride wasn't too long (about 25 minute's) but it was long enough for the kids to have a blast. Elijah pointed and shouted, "Look, there's Mavis!" (Apparently another character from Thomas) and pointed out other train features, such as water towers, box cars and plow attachments.  He was in train heaven.  The steam engine whistle surprised him with how loud it was, and his eyes widened in awe.  I think the whistle was a highlight for him. We went over a bridge, through some woods, crossed a road where they stopped traffic and into a field before reversing and heading back to the station. 

We stayed long enough to watch the next train head out with kids. As the train moved Thomas' eyes would roll back and forth. 

After spending the afternoon with Thomas we went lake Heron State Park where we camped for the night. This was our first camping trip with all four of us so we weren't exactly sure how it would go. Besides bed time, both kids did really well in the tent (it didn't help we had roasted smores, and the neighborhood campers arrived at 8:45pm to set up their camper). Below you can see our little European boy with is overalls and baby legs. He had a blast exploring the camp, playing with rocks, and doing things little boys love to do.  

I was able to slip away at sunset to snap a couple shots at sunset of the lake and the nearby cliffs. 

The following morning we made a huge breakfast of eggs, hash-browns, and sausage patties. Nothing like the open air to get the appetite going.

After breakfast we headed down to the shore for some swimming. The lake is designated a quiet lake, so none of the boats can go fast. Eli absolutely loved hanging out on the shore. We found a kind of kiddy pool where the water had formed a little pool. He spent most of the time playing in or around the area. At one point I had dove into the water and Eli was pretty scared for me and started crying begging me not to dive in again. After he stopped crying he kept explaining that I'm supposed to swim, not dive. 

On our way back out we spotted these giant cliffs off in the distance. A lady at the ice cream shop that we stopped at to cool off was telling us these were some of the oldest geological sites in the southwest. 

We will definitely be coming back to this area.  The green terrain, beautiful mountains and turquoise lake made it such a restful place to visit.

"Monks"

Elijah (climbing out of kiddie pool and hugging Monkey): Monks! You're all wet!

Where that nickname came from, we have no idea.

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sent from my mobile phone

Standing!

She can pull herself to stand... And wow, is she ever pleased with herself.

Playing together

They are starting to play together!

Sandia Cave

This morning we traveled to a different side of the Sandia Mountain range to take a hike and check out a cave that housed pre-historic items. In the cave archaeologists have found skeletal remains of sloth, mammoth, and mastodon.  The hike wasn't too long, but provided  a great view as we hiked along the wall of the canyon. Eve enjoyed riding on Jamie's back in the Beco carrier. 

We brought the backpack carrier for Eli, but he's enjoying hiking on his own more and more these days. Along the way he made a number of great and enthusiastic observations such as finding moths, beetles, and some interesting rocks (which he carried the entire time).

The final part of the trail hugged a cliff and in order to climb into the cave you had to go up a a narrow spiral staircase. The little thrill seeker Eli seems to have no problem though with the heights as he pressed along straight to the staircase (the trail was nicely protected by a fence including the staircase). 

 Jamie and Eva decided to wait at it out at the edge of the cliff. 

We went into the cave for a little ways but had only brought our camera along so didn't have enough light to go very far. 

At the trail head there was a nice stream where Eli enjoyed throwing a few rocks into.