Santa Fe Forest Adventure with Joe and Adam

We wanted to do our annual adventure with Joe and Adam and convinced to come our way for the trip. As always, it was full of enjoyable conversation, some hiking (though we may or may not be getting weak there. No more 13 milers like our first year to the Grand Canyon), and delicious food. We headed up on a Thursday afternoon, picked Stan up from work and drove up to Panchuela Campground near the Pecos Wilderness Area.

I was packing up and Scott disappeared for a while. When I went to find him, here he was. I asked what he was doing, "Just relaxing."

All packed up and ready to go! Birthday crown on Scott and all

We had to carry our stuff into camp a little bit and that wasn't too pleasant but we lived and the area was beautiful. Joe and Adam got there late that evening, we had yummy hamburgers for dinner and enjoyed a nice fire.

Chip beak

Sleeping was not super great that night and come early morning Stan was super nice and took the boys on a drive so I could rest.

Beautiful mountain meadows

Sweet boys love hanging out with Dad

Beautiful mountain road

Friday morning we had our traditional breakfast burritos that are so delicious. After we got cleaned up and all dressed, we headed out on a hike to find some caves. Find them we did, along with some refreshing water to play in.

The water went into the cave and then dipped down under the rock on the left.

Stan and Joe went down into the cave and followed it around to another exit.

I didn't go as far in, it was a little hard to bend down too far with a stomach in the way :)

Scott wanted to see the cave so Stan carried him inside for a quick look.

From the cave looking out at our rest spot.

Three miles back to the campground and we had ourselves a good hike!

We had a chipmunk friend at camp that got more and more daring with every encounter. Sterling LOVED it and kept chasing it around.

He can't get enough of Dad's radios.

Joe and Adam were in charge of dinner on Friday evening. They did not disappoint. We saved some pecan wood from my parents pecan trees to cook the steaks over. It was amazing.

Look at that beautiful dinner!

Sterling loved the corn!

We had a gorgeous fire that night with pretty coals.

A little morning walk to keep him occupied before everyone else woke up

We got up and went fishing at Cowles lake down the road. No bites from the fish :( but it was a pretty morning. I don't know how I didn't come back with any pictures...My plan was to drive back with the boys while Stan, Joe, and Adam did one more adventure that afternoon. While I did some packing up, Stan took Dad duty seriously with getting Sterling to take a little morning nap. He is the master of getting Sterling to nap on him.

Stan was able to catch a fish on their hike that afternoon and they got home in time for dinner. We enjoyed having Joe and Adam come to our house that night, we played a game, visited, and hit the hay. They headed back to Utah on Sunday morning. What a great trip!!

Fishing the Pecos

Stan had been wanting to get some fishing in so we decided to go up past Santa Fe along the Pecos River. We found a beautiful spot to have our BBQ lunch and then the river was right there with a good trail to go down.

Happy to be out of the car and wandering around.

Getting a good look at the bugs, and yelling at them.

Stan getting his line ready

Our DELICIOUS lunch

"Hanging" out

We got sprinkled on a little bit so here is Sterling waiting in the car for lunch.

 The rain cleared up and it was a BEAUTIFUL afternoon.

Scott with his "hiking stick"

Stan fishing. Scott's hiking stick became his fishing pole. Stan had some line that had broken off and he gave it to Scott to tie to the stick.

Caught a fish!!

Sterling hitting the tree with a stick because what else are you supposed to do in the woods?

Using a hiking pole.

Scott was SOOO cute copying the exact motions that Stan was doing with his pole.

Headed back towards the car with his pole in hand. He carried on his shoulder, reminded me of the Andy Griffith Show.

One last fish spot stop.

 It was such a perfect, beautiful day! Love our adventures!

Around Albuquerque May 2017

May was a beautiful month. We love spring!

Went in one night to find Scott on the floor like this...His arms were in a little different position right before I took the picture and I looked over at Sterling was in the exact same position

So this is how Scott was right before I took the picture.

It was my birthday and all I really wanted in the way of cake and ice cream was Breyer's Strawberry ice cream and a maple donut.

So my eyes are shut but I love Sterling's

And I got a new sleeping bag! I love it. Here I am trying it out.

 
Stan was working on a radio project to send messages digitally. It would make a specific noise each time it started to send and the same noise at end. Sterling was walking around imitating it. 

One Sunday, right after church, Stan went into the bedroom and all of a sudden I heard a loud scream. This little guy was hiding in a pile of clothes in our room! He ran across my feet when we were catching him and it sure tickled! Look at those long claws! Sure was a beautiful skink.

With the gorgeous weather, we spent a good amount of time outside. Here's one day's outing to a park.

Sterling loved running through the puddles.

And here's the bike rider:

This kid just loved running after Scott on his bike. He was so funny walking along this wall. He would start to make a louder noise the faster he would run. He is a such a little boy.

Getting ready for Father's and Son's. I was trying to convince that sleeping in the sleeping bag was a cool thing.

While Stan and Scott were at Father's and Son's, Sterling and I went to Hobby Lobby. We found this adorable hat that if I was rich we would have bought it.

Just a little brotherly fun

Cream of Wheat mustache and beard line down the chin.

Sterling was so quiet one Sunday morning...here I found him. Not touching, just sitting, happy as could be.