Sandia Crest

  The longest aerial tram in the US is here in Albuquerque.  We had plans to go up on it a couple weeks ago but it was closed due to maintenance. We decided to go up the mountain anyways and drove up Friday afternoon. The drive was very pretty and very high up. Whenever we would come around the bend and see how much higher up we were Andrew would remark on how he doesn't like heights.
  The view from the top was so beautiful and reminded me of the Wasatch Mountains. We walked around for a short while and then drove back down. This late in the year everything is closed during the week so we missed out on a few things that we hope to be able to experience when we go up on the tram.

Poor Becca Boo cried the entire drive up.  The elevation bothered her ears and that plus her hating car rides in general made for a long drive up.  Here she is getting ready for the long ride, right before she started to freak out.

 Ellie was excited to get out of the car and hang over the edge of the wall. Living on the edge is what this girl is about.

 On to running down the steep hill and playing on the icy stairs. 

 Mandatory picture with the sign.

Our walk around the top.

 Thank goodness for fences.

Becca was happy all warm next to me.

 She eventually fell asleep.

 There was a little bit of snow at the top, mostly in the shade.  Abby saw it and said, "Yay, it's Christmas!"

 We saw two white tails on the way down.  Can you spot where one is?

 Kate and Abby fell asleep on the drive, the two that don't need a nap.  

 And the two that need a nap stayed awake the whole drive.  Ellie tried shushing Becca because Kate and Abby were sleeping.  It didn't work.

  We're hoping for more snow the next time we go up and that the shops are open.  We did enjoy the beautiful drive, even if a crying baby was constantly going the whole way up and back down.  #familylife

Albuquerque Zoo with new friends

  We were invited to go to the zoo with our new friends from church a couple weeks ago. The girls had been asking to go for quite a while and it was fun to go with new friends for the girls to play with.

  The elephants were my favorite.  When we first came to their exhibit, most of them were in the back.  Right as we were about to move on, a momma and baby came out to say hi.  The baby was adorably huge.  So cute.

Abby and Kate liked the giraffes. Or maybe it was the big boulders they enjoyed climbing on next to the giraffes.

 And Ellie's favorite were the "oo-ah-ahhs".  

  After we were done looking at the animals, we went to the outdoor restaurant to have lunch and let the kids run a little wild.  The kids had fun chasing the peacocks around and getting dirty looks from some animal lovers.  A couple older ladies tried to tell Kate and Abby to stop chasing the birds, probably because they were the biggest and fastest of the kids.  Good luck to that.  They don't listen while they're having fun until you yell at them five times, using their full name, in a "you'd-better-effing-stop-NOW" tone.  It didn't bother me.  Peacocks are pretty rats to me.  AND they have wings!! If they really didn't want to be chased, they'd fly away.  Instead the birds didn't want to give up the chance to scavenge. Chase away, my children.  And see you next time peacocks.

Early mornings with Gerald

  A nice perk of getting a puppy that isn't 7-8 weeks old is that they can sleep through the night. Gerald was 12 1/2 weeks when we got him and slept till 6:30 his first night. Most mornings he's up around 6, never past 7. Kate and Abby have been told they can't come out of their room until 6:30. Kate is often out of her room at 6:30 on the dot so my early mornings have not been lonely. We have all enjoyed many cool mornings outsider together as we watch the sun come up over the mountains.

  One of the first mornings Gerald was with us, Ellie was up early as well. It worked out great that there was a leaf bug in our yard so not everyone was fighting over who got to play with or hold the puppy. Go figure. They each happily took turns holding the bug and then playing with Gerald.

Days at the park

  I'm sad to say that we haven't gone to the park nearly as much as I thought we would. I had it in my mind that we would go a few times a week, if not almost every day.  The nearest park is a 10 minute walk from our tlf, so not far, but we/I at bare minimum have to load up the baby and 2 year old into the stroller. I have to make sure both diapers are clean, baby has been fed, 2 year old has gold fish, water is full, bikes and helmets out for the older two, they need to be told a dozen times to get their shoes on and go potty... It just takes a whole lot. Like 45 minutes of yelling at everyone to get ready. So much fun.
  I need to be better at just up and going with no prep. Maybe next month.  We have had fun the times we've gone. It's always nice to get some fresh air and light exercise.

Our first trip to the park Daddy was able to come along with us.

 Abby and Kate had fun trying out the monkey-bars.

 The second park we tried out had a playground for younger tots and a climbing tower made for much older kiddos.

 Becca often sleeps on our walks to the park.

 This ladder caused lots of tears for Abby and Kate.  They totally lacked confidence in their ability to climb.  I chose to show them tough love because Ellie had no issues climbing to the top and making my heart stop multiple times.  I told Kate and Abby to figure it out.  If Ellie can do it, so can they.

 By the time we were ready to go home they were climbing up and down no problem.

 The best park we have found so far is right by the McDonald's on base. It's a couple miles away so we drive whenever we go and all the girls have a blast running from one playground to the next. 

 The little ride on's are cute.  Ellie especially loves them.

Kate and Abby have such fun with their imaginations. Here they were driving a ship past a bunch of sharks.  They always become super silly whenever they see me watching them.

 Reminding Kate and Abby that their little sister is watching them is a constant thing.  Monkey see, monkey do.