Around Albuquerque 7/16

A friend invited us to go swimming in her pool and the boys loved it!

This was Scott's first real swim and he was a little cautious about it but he warmed up to it quickly and cried when it was time to get out.

One Saturday Scott grabbed Stan's tennis shoes as his foot attire. He also grabbed this rope and pretended it could ring a bell and said "Ding ding!"

Sterling's first time in the cart at the grocery store

One Saturday we took a little trip to our spot behind the Sandias. Stan and Kevin went ahead of us and we tried to talk to each other on HF radio. Though our radio attempt did not work, it was fun to have a little BBQ behind the mountains and enjoy the great outdoors. Here is Sterling chilling before lunch :)

One Sunday I had to go to meetings and was getting everything ready. Scott was having a bit of a hard day and said he wanted to go with me. I explained that he couldn't and was hurrying to get the rest of everything in car. When I came out, he had climbed through the driver door, across the seat, and was eating his apple. He hated having to stay, but it was pretty cute.

Sterling was laying on the ground and Scott said "I lay by my brother!"

Looked back while driving to Scott chilling :) Such a funny cute boy

"A tractor like Grandpa!"

So sweet!

Our strawberries are getting big!!

Scott shared such fun toys with his brother :) He just kept bringing them and bringing them

Scott and his friend Emma on the "jumping tramp"

We were shucking corn one day and there was a baby corn on the corn. Scott was SOOOO excited about it.

"The mommy corn! The baby corn wants to be with the mommy one! Both of thems together!"

Our delicious green chiles from our garden ready to roast.

 We had a summer rainstorm and Scott wanted to go and play

He was in heaven!

The picture won't rotate, but here are my matching boys! So fun to play with all day!

Fishing Trip

We decided to go have a day of fishing. There is a fish hatchery about an hour and a half away from Albuquerque that you can take your kids to fish and we thought that would be perfect for Scott. We learned that Scott isn't quite ready for fishing. Stan was allowed to cast it out, but beyond that we weren't allowed to do anything. The fish were just nibbling the worms off of the hook and bobbing the line all over the place but Scott just did not get the need to try and reel in quickly. He lost interest pretty quickly :( It was one of the largest tests of patience that Stan has ever had. :)

Ready to try fishing

Ready to watch his brother fish

Scott reeling it in

Scott wasn't quite strong enough to hold the line up so Stan would. This was when it was still pretty exciting. This was such a beautiful place!

Uncle Kevin walking around the lake

This Sterling boy is just too adorable. Here are a billion pictures of him:

Scott decided he was done fishing so we went to where Stan could fish. Scott fell asleep on the drive so I stayed with the boys and the car while Stan and Kevin headed up and down the river.

Staying busy while Dad fishes

It was a beautiful day and so fun, as always, to be in the wonderful outdoors. As we drove home that evening, Stan realized he did not have his wallet with him. We went home, prayed, looked everywhere there, looked at his work, prayed. We felt like we did not need to go back to Stan's fishing spot, but we did not know where else to find it, so off we went.

Sterling was SO funny while Stan was off looking (Scott stayed home with Kevin). What a cute boy!

We did not find it. :( And decided to give it until Monday morning when I would call some of the places we had been through that day. Well on Sunday during the middle of church I received a call from the Jemez Springs Police Chief. A couple had turned in Stan's wallet to them that morning, they had found it on a dirt road out where we had been driving. I drove up on Monday morning to pick it up from the police.

It is pretty amazing to think about the whole situation. It is so wonderful of the couple to be so honest. Wonderful of the police to spend AN HOUR to try and figure out to get a hold of Stan. Wonderful that the Lord had inspired us that we did not need to worry about the wallet, that it would take care of itself. We learned to listen

Trout Lakes

There are some lakes northwest of Santa Fe that Stan has wanted to check out so up we went for another camping trip. This was a beautiful drive and a beautiful area. We definitely want to go back to this area again.

We got out there and found a little camp spot that should work and got to work at setting up the tent.

My sweet tent setter upper helper

Stan and Scott trying out the firmness of the mattress

Stan wanted to see if he could catch any fish before nightfall. They were rising like crazy but he had no bites :( I think fishing is a patient-building experience but fishing with children is a league of it's own.

To give Stan a little space we went on a walk around the lake. Scott wanted to have a sit for a minute and it was a perfect photo op :)

So...we totally forgot to bring a lighter. So Stan was resourceful and used our self-starting grill to light a stick on fire and then to start the fire :)

I love sitting around a campfire with this guy...and the flash on the camera was WAY bright :)

S'mores!

The night went pretty well over all and we woke up ready for the day!

I looked over the next morning as we were getting things ready for breakfast to see Sterling sucking on this stick. I asked where he got it and Scott said "I share with him Mom! He likes it!"

Scott and his "BIG" stick

The master chef

Stan teaching Scott to fish

He liked using the spinner that he could reel in faster than when the worm was on it

We decided that we weren't in the mood much for fishing, packed up everything, and went for a little hike. Since we had planned on mostly fishing, I had not brought Scott's hiking carrier but he was so happy to walking himself. He has become quite the independent little guy.

Scott was running with excitement.

A beautiful mountain meadow.

We crossed a handful of little streams. They were beautiful! We found some nice back against the wilderness type of camping spots that we are totally going to go back to hit up!

We were trying to go and find some lakes that were a mile or so away. With Scott walking it sure took longer to get places. We decided it would be best for me to hang out with the boys while Stan ran to check out the lakes real quick.

"I'm a cow Mom. I eat grass."

These cute boys are such good buddies

He started to call big logs "trails". I am not sure how he made that connection but it was pretty cute. He kept saying "Look at this trail!"

Love hiking with my family.

These are the lakes Stan found. New Mexico lakes sure are not equal to the blue blue of the mountain lakes of Idaho.

Scott got a shoulder ride on the way home.

Such a cute father and son!

We had hot dogs for lunch and Scott got a little on his face. This boy is one happy camper! He loves everything about it and I love it!

Another happy weekend in the books :)