...Part II

On Thursday Mom Kim, the Monkeys, and I drove to Albuquerque (two hours East) to see Rita, a friend from high school. We went to the

"Sandia" means watermelon. The mountain is called that because when the sun sets and reflects off the rock, the whole mountain turns pink and looks like an enormous watermelon. The tram is the longest one in the world. It was lots of freaky fun.


Here S is trying to avoid the inevitable ear-clogging that goes with pressure changes. He is why I buy gum from Costco.


This is at the restaurant at the top of the mountain. It is called High Finance. The food was yummy, but my boys were more occupied with catching two enormous moths which were flying around the window by our table. By the end of the meal they had succeeded in catching them and entrapping them in the air vents in the window sill. Isn't Rita gorgeous?



After lunch we hiked around a little and followed a trail that gave us some beautiful views. They'll be easier to enjoy once the boys are older and I won't be so freaked out about them falling off the mountain!





Once we were safely down at the bottom again we found the Albuquerque LDS temple.

Due to the fact that there were at least 3 huge dead bugs floating around in the fountain, it was a struggle, to say the least, getting the Monkeys to turn around for a picture.



But we succeeded in the end!


It was HOT that day, and since grass is scarce in that part of New Mexico, we all took the opportunity to lounge around on the temple grounds. Very pleasant.


After locating a Bed Bath & Beyond and buying my mom her much-desired cherry pitter, we picked up Rita's husband Sne and toured the climbing gym where my parents go. It's huge! The Monkeys were especially fascinated by the overhang that was 40 feet up in the air and the "Fall Zone" that was down on the ground below it. It prompted all sorts of questions: "Why is there a 'Fall Zone'? Do people actually fall from way up there? Why do they have it go over like that if people could fall? Don't they know it's not safe?!?"

And here is a picture of one of Sne and Rita's cars. Oh blessed New Jersey license plate. It immediately made me homesick!



Rita and Sne. It was so nice to see her again. I'm afraid that when I left high school, my only intent was to be out of there and away from NJ. That Dixie Chicks song, "Wide Open Spaces" totally used to make me cry with the profound truthfulness of it all. I've grown up enough to know now that I was only running away from myself...hmmm, but that's a whole other post. Anyway, it was so nice to see Rita and remember that I do have friends who aren't white Mormon housewives. (Don't get me wrong, white Mormon housewife friends, I love you all dearly!) I'm so glad she's moved West and is only a 2-hour plane ride away from Salt Lake City. I hope she'll come see me soon!

If You Ever Plan to Motor West..., Part I

J left for Idaho on Sunday, July 5th. Rather than spend the week at home, we decided to drive to Gallup to see Mom and Dad Kim. After managing our irrigation turn on Monday night, we woke up bright and early on Tuesday and were on the road to Gallup by 7:30 AM. (That's what I get for telling the kids, "We'll leave as soon as we wake up and have breakfast.") My parents were planning on meeting us in Moab (about halfway), but they weren't ready when we called to tell them we were leaving, so we ended up meeting in Cortez, Colorado, about 6 hours away from home. The Monkeys were so good in the van the whole way down. What could be a better reward for their patience than homemade ice cream at my mom's that night?


Ham it up, H!

The next day we ran some errands with my mom and then went to Red Rock State Park (is that right, Mom?) to see if we could find some prairie dogs. The Monkeys of course wanted to catch a few and take them home, but alas, 'twas not to be.


My mom busted out the kiddie pool on the second day as well, and from that day forward, any time we were at home, that's where O and H could be found. S decided, after being splashed too many times by those wild little brothers, that lying in the sun was much more fun.





Every Wednesday night in Gallup from Memorial Day to Labor Day at the City Center, Native American dance groups perform. It was interesting to watch.

These are the musicians. They sit around the circle and beat on a big drum, all the while singing at the top of their lungs.

My mom won't like this picture because her eyes are partially closed, but it's the best one I have of all of them.

We were asked to stand several times to show respect for the song and group performing. It looks like H has it all under control, doesn't it?

A First, A Fido, and Some Fireworks

In the afternoon on the Fourth, J took out his motorcycle to get it all ready to take to Idaho the next day.



H and I watched.


Then, with the puppy dog look in his eyes that I can't refuse, J asked if he could take O for a little ride on the motorcycle around the block. On the conditions that he wear his helmet and jeans, I said ok.

J and O



J and S

After dinner we had my neighbor and her friends over. My neighbor brought some fruit dip, which H seemed to like quite a bit, don't you think?

We weren't planning on getting a dog on the Fourth, but it seems we had one!

And no 4th of July is complete without watermelon! What do you think O is thinking?



H was all about the sparklers until he burned his finger. Then he went to bed!

But S,

O,

and J all enjoyed them.

My pyrotechnician husband put on a nice little show for us, after which we all went to bed. J and I considered going up on the roof of our house to watch the Stadium of Fire fireworks (minus the Jonas Brothers, what could be better?), but after getting bit (and bit and bit) by mosquitoes, thought bed sounded much more appealing.

Balloon Festival and The 4th of July

We've made a tradition of going down to the Balloon Festival every year. Last year the kids were miffed because, instead of seeing the Balloon Festival on the Fourth, they had to come watch me run over the finish line of the Freedom 5K. This year we went on the first day of the Balloon Festival -- the day the balloons didn't launch because of inclement weather. Oh well, it was fun to walk around the hot air balloons as they inflated!

On the Fourth of July I ran the Freedom 10K (although "ran" may be a rather generous term, considering how many people passed me). When we were running up by the state mental hospital we saw a deer get attacked by a dog. One of the runners had the presence of mind to run over and give the dog a swift kick, giving the deer enough time to run away. Excitement all around.

After I crossed the finish line and claimed my awesome white water bottle, I met up with the boys, who had found a good place from which to watch the parade.

I love how H stands with his hands on his hips.

S and O

When the parade was over we walked down to Colonial Days. This man was dipping candles. S was fascinated because he just finished reading "The Swiss Family Robinson" and they dip candles in the book.

We shared a funnel cake and headed home. It was a fun morning.

The Sandbox

J's been gone a lot this summer. Idaho, Montana, Idaho, Idaho, Idaho. In between Idaho trips he decided to build a big sandbox for the monkeys.

At the "Manly Store" buying supplies:

Framing it all in:

S sanding:

Priming and painting (with help):

Poor, perfectionist J ran around and tried to catch runs. You're fighting a losing battle there, Sweets.

Two truckloads of sand later:

All done!

The Monkeys have loved it! They play in it after our morning weeding of the garden until lunch. I can send them out to play in it when I'm making dinner, and before bedtime, they are usually in the sandbox.