Turquiose and Tamales in Albuquerque

I thought Eliza needed a little fringe action for our trip out west.  I tried out two different styles, and liked things about each of them.  I think I'll continue to tweak my pattern for another pair by the time she's actually walking around.

I've had this thing with Albuquerque for a couple years now.  A teeny obsession (well, I don't usually obsess half-way, so maybe it was more than teeny) with this random New Mexican town that I'd never visited.  Every now and then I'd look at homes and properties in the area.  I'd email Collin withe the specs of some fantastic place, "and just look at the price!!  Five acres for horses and a gorgeous house for as much as you'd find a drafty two bedroom condo here in Belmont.  Look at that kitchen!  The bathrooms, swoon!  All that lovely desert dirt for our kids to run around and get dirty in!  When can we move?"  My friend, only half joking I think, calls this sort of thing "house porn."  It's deceptively harmless, looking at house listings in some foreign city across the country--it's intriguing, it's addictive, it's destructive to current happiness.  Well, I reigned myself in, but every now and then I'd still just peek at offerings in this charming city in the west.

So when my cousin and his finacee were planning their wedding and mentioned that it would be first celebrated in the bride's hometown, I totally informed my cousin that we would likely be crashing the wedding.  He graciously (and I didn't really deserve a gracious reply) said we were fully invited.

Collin had vacation time stored up and deserved after busy season, and my family was due a visit, so we combined the two--an adventure in a new city, a road trip, and a family visit and vacation all in one.  Not to mention mountain springtime.  You know when it's a bit hard to come home (to awful not-winter, not-spring muddy moody Boston) it was a wonderful two weeks!

The barn where the wedding festivities were held was perfect.  Rustic and real.  I loved it, and the kids did too.

We (shocker!) didn't go to any museums in Albuquerque, though the city boasts several that are nationally recognized as wonderful museums.  The closest we got was the sculpture gardens outside the main art galleries in Old Town.  It was just marvelous to be outside without jackets, so there was no regret in spending a good hour wandering the garden with nary a peek inside.

The center of Old Town is really touristy, but in the best way.  Lots of shops with niche and kitsch and a cozy piazza for relaxing.  There were mosaics, turquoise, dream catchers, moccasins every where--all my favorite things.

Eliza has been raring to go ever since she passed the nine-month mark.  She tasted the joys of walking with helping hands.  I can just feel my back ache thinking of the next few months.  But she's too stinkin' cute to deny.

Down by the banks of the Rio Grande.  Two kids were out cold and could not be woken for the excitement of the big river, but Davy put his finger in the river and floated some leaves down.

Proof that spring is coming!  The flowers were blooming and lovely.  So exciting.  I look forward to spring more each year I'm alive.

I love to see the temple, and we saw many on our trip.  The Albuquerque temple is as lovely as they come.  It was so perfect to see my cousin and his bride come out the doors of the temple fresh from their sealing all smiles and grins and overflowing emotion.  It was a nice reminder of Collin's and my day.  I remember vividly that feeling of beyond happy to the point of shaking.  So in love and so bursting with the Holy Spirit.  My love for Collin has deepened more than I could have imagined that day pre-three kids, but it's a good reminder to every-now-and-then let the heady rush of jittery twitterpation show a little.

Hot Pepper Pinata, Albuquerque

Before I get into the details of our recent adventure west, I thought I'd highlight one of the, well, highlights.  The Kimball family has been doing pinatas for longer than I've been alive.  I remember every family reunion included a pinata, with my grandpa as pulley-master.  He'd make it easy for the little kids, but the older grandkids (me included) better watch out as he was one tricky pinata-string-puller.  My cousins Peter and Chase, in particular, had a wicked pinata bashing swing.  Over the years we've had some great pinatas, but the most memorable have always been made by hand by Aunt Sarah.  She's done a stunning globe, an elephant, a mosquito.  I know of several more on the idea table, like a cricket.  Just that kind of awesome stuff.

My cousin Chase's wedding to a lovely native Albuquerquian (word?) was gorgeous--full of turquoise and all good things New Mexican.  Sarah, the specialty pinata creator, had fashioned this chili pepper for the new couple and their celebration.  She asked me and my trusty Nikon to help document the beauty before it was broken.  I'd never taken portraits of a chili pepper pinata (and likely won't again), and had a surprising amount of fun posing it around Old Town "Burque." 

The wedding was at a perfect little farm, with rustic barns and picturesque horses and lots of great dirt for the kids to play in (pictures of that later).

Sarah stuffed the pinata full of hot stuff (for the grown-up kids) and other, less spicy, goodies for the little kids. Such a cool tradition and creation.

And some real chili peppers from Old Town Albuquerque.  I have to admit, previously I hadn't seen the aesthetics of chili peppers in Southwestern decor, but now I have a better appreciation for their beauty.

Of Mice and Men and Purrell

Yesterday we had Daddy with us for Saturday and a little taste of spring.  By all appearances it was the set up for a perfect weekend day.  We had headed up to Concord just because and, after some exploring in town, found ourselves at Verrill Farms with a coupon for two free chocolate cupcakes.  And that's when the real story begins.

There was little thought at the beginning of the afternoon of what the day would ultimately bring to our adventuresome band.  In the beginning there were smiles and kisses all around.  We took off coats.  We faced into the very bright sunshine with no fear.

We tried out all five of baby's teeth.

Eliza tried out her favorite seat in town and got a great ride around the farm stand, gripping most bravely on to her noble steed.

Sticks were found and used alternately as paintbrushes (with the melting snow puddles as paint) and tickling sticks.

The baby got lots more attention and candids taken as she is so adorable and we just can't help ourselves.

Valuable odds and ends were discovered under the picnic tables.  Broken bits of pottery and arrowheads (just kidding--shards of plastic buckets and plastic spoons and the like) that had been hidden under layers of snow and ice for months saw the light of day again. 

 

And then our fearless archaeologists unearthed a monster of mythic proportions.  

Claiming all the while that they were unafraid of the fearsome beast, the brave adventurers carried their trophy for all to behold and admire.  The shrieks of horror were slightly alarming to the discoverers.  The mother immediately, responding to some primal instinct, ran for the bottle of hand sanitizer she keeps in the car for emergencies.  The father valiantly carried the offending specimen away and discarded the carcass honorably.

The circle of life talk was most informative on the long trip home.  David and Edward agreed that they would like to have a boy alive mouse and a girl alive mouse so that they can have lots of baby alive mouses.  The statement, "when you live in your own house and make your own rules but never in mine" may have been uttered by a shuddering mother.

And so ends our tale of the tail.