Desert Livin'

Wondering what our accommodations were like?  Allow me to paint you a picture.  Bumpy dirt roads (that put E right to sleep), breathtaking mountain range views, horses out front, one-room studio pueblo filled with windows and skylights, and evening star-filled skies.  Although off the beaten path, this place was right up our alley.

Waving to the Horses

The View from Our Front Door

Reading Her New Prayer Book from the H Family

Eleanor Peeking Out Over the Play Yard

Final Day

Here's everything we packed into our Farewell Cruces Tour: Farmers and Crafts Market (with kettle corn and biscochitos), Museum of Nature and Science, Charlize's softball game, (a third trip to) Andele's, and Movies and Baking at the H Family Home.

E's Modeling Her New Hair Bow

Learning All About NM Wildlife

Charlize's Figure Made of Recycled Materials

Zonked After the Market and Museum

Charlize Batting

Charlize Crossing Home Plate

Testing Out the Easter Cupcakes

White Sands

We got the H Family... all to ourselves... for an entire day... at White Sands National Monument.  Sledding, picnicking, and the warm New Mexico sun on my face were just a lagniappe to an already dream come true.

On this run, I got sand all in my britches.

Having a Ball

Stacy's Happy Face

How I Miss This Wonderful Family

Charlize's Attempt at Sand Surfing

E loved scooting down the hill on her bum.  No sled needed!

Pulling Charles With All Our Might

Without hiking...

it wouldn't be a real trip to New Mexico.

After missing it for nearly 2 and a half years, we welcomed our favorite trail, the Aguirre Spring 4-miler.

Eleanor rode on Daddy's back and peacefully slept through the entire hike.

Like a reunion with a dear friend, for a moment or two, it almost seemed as if no time had passed at all.

Getting Started

Like the Old Days (except now E's strapped to Kyle's back)

FAST Asleep

Time to Come Down