Fall in New Mexico

  and miscellaneous events . . .

We had a wonderful time this fall, enjoying the various harvest festivals, pueblo events, Balloon Fiesta, and laying in our supply of green chile, apples and cider, and Estancia Valley pinto beans! Silas and Amelia are continuing violin in the elementary and middleschool Orchestras, while continuing to homeschool. All of the kids are enjoying the extensive travels.

                                     

Albuquerque Open Spaces demonstartion garden

The kids were invited to participate in a 'one man tin band' at the Open Spaces Festival!

Volcano Cliffs at the Petroglyph Natnl. Monument.

volcanic rock recliner, apparently!

Jesse found a fat slow horned lizard at the trailhead

and we saw this huge freaky beetlebug thing . . .

Solomon's Baptism

a balloon landing in our backyard

September is tarantula season in New Mexico,

this one was on our house, next to the front door.

Oregon in August

As many of you know, Silas accepted an Intel assignment in Hillsboro, OR for 5 months. We drove to Oregon at the beginning of August--the long way--north through the top of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, then left through more of Montana, Idaho, Washington, to Oregon. We had fun visiting friends and family along the way, and greatly enjoyed the wilds of the western United States!

Once there we settled into our rental house. Silas went to work, and Alice and the kids had fun playing at the coast, picking blackberries, visiting family, and generally just using up the rest of summer before heading back to New Mexico for the beginning of fall and Green Chile Season!

Our cute little 'patio house' in a cozy cul de sac.

just don't ask Papa Silas for his first impression of the Tillamook Cheese Factory!

by the Octopus tree--Sitka Spruce

tons of these, and yes, Jesse was fascinated . . .

Okay, so Silas did have some fun too!

he even found some mushrooms . . .

Rugged coast of Cape Meares

Yes, Jesse went through the tree--

Haystack Rock

and . . . the Goonies House! (Astoria)

Astoria Column, the kids climbed it twice, wonderful view of the Columbia River meeting the ocean.

Solomon, Amelia, and Silas swimming in the Columbia at Horse Thief State Park, WA

the boys relaxing at Nana's house before the journey back to NM!

Jemez

The Jemez mountains are nearby our home. Gorgeous forests, arroyos, earth ranging from brown to red to ochre. We spent a pleasant day driving through the canyons and then hiking in the cool of the pines--actually, in search of some hot springs which we never found! Maybe next time! So, some of us dipped in the stream to cool off, instead.

Palm Desert Family Reunion

Mid July we packed up for a two week trip to Southern California for some fun in the sun! In addition to the planned family reunion in Palm Desert, with Silas's family, we decided to camp one night in the Mojave desert, take the kids to Legoland, and hit the beach at Carlsbad, CA. A lot packed into one trip, but a lot of fun too!

Our campsite at the Kelso Dunes, dead center of the Mojave Desert Preserve, in July, it was sooo stinkin' hot! Good thing we were only there from sundown until 9am next day! Amazing dunes, interesting animals, resilient grasses, and tiny little gourds.

fringe toed lizard, unique to the mojave

How hot is the Mojave in July? This hot!

One section of the dunes had an interesting black sand overlaying the lighter sand. Amelia looks like a little desert mermaid!

I had to include this picture for Becky! The wind blowing the grasses created these interesting circles in the black sand . . .

Perfect dunes! And we're quite high up, only one dune taller than this. A perfect spot to rest and get a family picture!

Here he is, Jesse, on top of the world! This tallest dune was probably 150 ft. It was a 10 or 15 minute climb from the base to the top, and a lovely 360 view of the surrounding chocolate colored mountains, harsh and barren and stark, cupping the soft pale sand as in the hollow of one's hand.

Dad, demonstrating how to properly jump down the dune.

(First in a series of three, as the dune was so tall, he/and we had to rest multiple times on the way down!)

Back to Legoland for 2 days of fun!

Happy 10th Birthday to Legoland! (and 8th b-day to Solomon!)

pretty casual for hanging out in a shark's mouth, dude . . .

mini golf--I can't tell you how many other groups 'played through', we were pretty slow, attention spans wandering, but it was one of the highlights for Mom!

Okay--I had to include this picture of a quite disgruntled little Jesse at Legoland in 2006, too young to go on the Bionicle Blaster . . .

 . . . and now, 3 years later, the dream fulfilled!

Amelia and Solomon

A real mermaid's purse at the Legoland Sealife Aquarium; baby shark inside.

this is what Amelia looks like in a Mermaid's purse.

Marriot Shadow Resort in Palm Desert

Chess playing boys.

I can see one of these in our backyard someday--that would be awesome!

No, he's actually reaching for the Lego Silver Storm Trooper on the cake; Happy Birthday Solomon!

What a summer for Solomon! "Turned 8, learned to swim underwater, decided I want to work at Legoland when I grow up, and ahh . . . now I need to relax. . ."

You can't see it because of the angle, but the girls are jumping into the upper tier pool; They literally spent hours swimming, jumping, floating, and playing in the salt water pool. Fortunately, the adults had nothing more pressing to do either, so everyone could tan and burn to their hearts' content . . .

A morning at the Living Desert Preserve, because Mom wanted to go. Thanks, kids, for humouring her! Jesse got to feed the baby giraffe.

Solomon gingerly petting this giant skink thing . . .

Lovely little hummers everywhere! You wouldn't believe how close I got to this one, resting in the shade, to get this shot on my macro setting--within 3 feet with my arms reaching out towards him, he didn't even flinch. Maybe someday I'll get a real camera!

Beach Day!

Silas and Amelia got quite brave in the water, learning to body surf and even swimming a little. Our first time actually swimming in the ocean. No wonder people want to live in San Diego!

Jesse and Solomon stayed nearer to the shore, leaping small breakers.

Dad, on the right, learning to surf.

Silas learning to boogie board!

Solomon, triumphant!