Taos 40th anniversary of the return of the Blue Lake

My Mom, Cousin Lil, Me

I made a quick last minute decision to go to Taos NM for the 40th Anniversary of the return of the Blue Lake.
It was just Macade, A'mooh, Grandpa and me. It was a great trip for me. Mac was the perfect baby (of course he was because I had to hold him the entire time). My Dad got sick, so it wasn't as much fun for him.
This was the first time I was able to meet family members on my mom's father's side of the family. It was great to put faces to names, and everyone was very kind.
On Thurs. we met some family at my Uncle Tony's house. Friday I opted out of morning mass, but did meet up with some cousins and uncle Tony for breakfast. I ended up eating three breakfasts that day.
We had lunch with John Rainer Jr. (my mom's brother) and his wife. We finished up the day at a reception about the return of the blue lake.
Sat. we went to the pueblo for the celebration. Most of the people involved were able to speak, and tell of their account of the return of the lake. It was one of those events where things divinely fell in place to make it happen. It was great to hear how many different people worked together.
Sat. afternoon we went to the Ohkay Owingeh pueblo to see their harvest festival dancing. I was so impressed. Pueblo members dance and sing for almost 6 hours straight. It was like running a marathon! I love the dress, the singing, the drum, and the complicated choreography. Our cousin Diane Rayna was participating this year. After we were graciously invited to family members house of Diane for dinner. It was delish! We had frito pie and posole.
Sun we stopped by Sante Fe to eat and to visit the O'Keeffe museum on our way to visit my Uncle Colin and Aunt Louisa just outside Albuquerque. This was the first time I was able to see their place and animals. They cooked us a very yummy chicken dinner.
We spent Sunday night in Albuquerque and flew home on Monday.
It was a very memorable trip, and I am so thankful I was able to go. AND thanks to Mark for holding the fort at home with the girls. :)

Mac's first airplane trip!

Feeding Mac without a baby chair

A'mooh and brother John

The excellent traveler

Church at Taos

Going to the O'Keeffe Museum

Lunch in Sante Fe

Colin and Lousia's place

My grandma Kathryn's kitties in their new home

a White Peacock

Party for Jensy

We had an early party for Jensy- it worked out that all the fam was able to come! We broke in the new pool at A'mooh and Grandpa's house. It was good times. The gigantic elmo pinata was a hit:)

Jens 3 year old interview

ugh! gotta love blogger. for what ever reason it is not uploading this video. so here it is written out:
Jens 3 yr old stats:
Weight: 36lbs
Height: 40.5in
Favorite color: blue, then pink, then back to blue.
favorite food: candy (that's my girl!)
favorite snack: fruit snack
favorite toy: ariel (the one auntie em got her for her bday)
favorite movie: ariel (even though she can not sit through the entire movie)
I will try to upload again, because it is so much better in her own words. :)

Bald is beautiful

First first day of school

Maissie started Kindergarten!!! We all were excited. Everything went very smooth. When she came home I asked her how the day went, and she said "Good. But we didn't even learn to read."

week-o-fun in Roosevelt

We spent the first week in Aug in Roosevelt. I don't know how, but we managed to talk Sam into going with us. On the drive down I am sure he was second guessing his decision. Before we even got there, we decided to come back on a midnight dash in hopes the kids would sleep.
We forgot our camera for some of the cool things we did-- like swim at the local pool, or raft the Green River (I am really hoping to see/get some pictures since I didn't get to go).
We did get some pictures of Grandpa Lemon's flowers
Jens loves the horse in the basement of the office. I think she was on that thing for a good 45 min. AND almost fell asleep on it.

The girls got a dental check up- and enjoyed playing with the chair.

It was UBIC weekend in Roosevelt so there were lots of fun activities. I read there was to be a "pet show" so we got up early to goo see it. It was quite literally a pet show. People brought their pets and one by one introduced them into a microphone. The best was when the goat got away and jumped on the bunny's card board box.

We checked out the swings after the Pet Show.

The girls played with the hose.

We went to the parade:

There was more candy than at Halloween!

And they even handed out popsicles

Mayter was there

And ended on a high note with a cow.

The girls also had a great time playing with the kitties around the neighborhood. Or in this instance, rescuing the kitty from the rain storm in the trailer.

Take one

Take 2

my how time flies. Check out 2 years ago!

you may try to sleep . . .

Jens fell asleep on the floor, and Mac thought it was great. He also demonstrates this LOVE for

Oh Jensy

And Mark :)

New Jammies

pretty much the only time the girls are excited to get their jammies on is when they are new OR have someone to show them off to. Here we have both instances: