Saturday Adventures South of Albuquerque

When we first arrived in Albuquerque, I would ask everyone I met what were some of their favorite New Mexican things to do. Someone told me about Bosque del Apache. Sadly, everyone here says 'boss-key,' which drives my Spanish-speaking ears crazy...but when I say 'bohs-kay,' everyone stares at me like I don't know what I am talking about. Oh well. But I digress.

Bosque del Apache - an animal refuge where they plant fields that remain unharvested to provide food for animals year round. And there are numerous flocks which migrate here in the winter. So Saturday morning we left at 5:15 to drive 90 minutes south to San Antonio, NM, in order to arrive before sunrise. Because around sunrise, the flocks will take of en mass. We were told it was pretty cool, so we dressed warmly, and arrived just about 10 minutes before sunrise. We saw a large flock in the air near a pond, only to notice that even more birds were still on the ground. The birds in the air were mostly just flying laps around the birds in the pond. After we were sufficiently cold and had been there probably 10 minutes, they suddenly started to take off. For the next 30 seconds the air above us was filled with the sight and sound of thousands of birds. Happily, I caught it on camera.

Then we drove through the rest of the refuge, which was beautiful and full of loads of birds. But nothing was quite as breath-taking as the lift off.

After that we drove to truly the middle of nowhere. The Very Large Array is built where there is almost perfect radio silence, no light, and very water vapor in the air. All these things can disrupt the radio waves that these 27 giant antennae receive from space. I was surprised how cool it was...I thought the kids would be terribly bored, and I assumed that the self-guided tour would be lame. But we were thrilled with how much we all learned.

They actually reposition the 27 antennae every 4 months, after collecting data from all the targets on the agenda. It takes 3 weeks to move them to one of 4 arrangements, ranging from .7 miles to 22 miles across. They then collect data from those same targets again, from the new position. Then, again from the last 2 positions. Once they have collected data from all four positions, they are able to compile the data into a complete picture of the star, galaxy, or nebula they were targeting.

Then a trip to Pie Town, NM, which was not at all worth the drive. Oh well. At least I know not to recommend it to anyone else!

This and That - January, part 1

The kids got a box of geodes for Christmas, and after going to Home Depot to find a decent chisel, we spent

 After studying Germany in geography, the girls built a medieval castle.

One thing I love most about Albuquerque, and the thing that will be hardest to leave, is our Charlotte Mason homeschool group. Erin had us over to her home for some winter bird watching and then led the kids in an oil pastel/watercolor art project.

We started giving the kids an allowance to help them learn money management...and this is what Niels wanted more than anything.

The Holidays

Every year, as a homeschooling mom, I have every intention of doing at least some school over the Christmas break. But pretty much every year, I fail. 2017 was no different. I even ended up taking an entire extra week of vacation, knowing that all our Albuquerque friends were out of school on December 18th, we ended up starting our vacation then too, spending the week making candies and cookies, wrapping presents, watching holiday movies, Christmas caroling, and just having fun together. Paul's sister, Christina, arrived on Friday night, after finishing her last final of her college career. My kids were thrilled, and we felt spoiled, to have "Aunt Stina" with us for a week.

I ordered a 4 lb wheel of our favorite cheese, Saint Andre, as well as a 10-year Hook's aged cheddar, which I think I need to buy on a monthly basis, cranberry crusted goat cheese, and a triple cream bleu. We were almost transported home to Wisconsin.

Being married to Paul, Christmas is always a big deal. As scientifically minded and practical as he is with some matters, when it comes to gifts, it's all about feeling. "I don't feel like Niels has enough...Anna needs more books to equal Hattie...I don't feel like we've found the perfect gift for Anders yet," are statements always heard throughout November and December. I have learned after 12 years of marriage that there is no reasoning with him when it comes to gifts. He is going to give what he wants to until it feels sufficient. As much as I have tried to set a budget in the past, or tried to plan a strategy for what to buy, he always does his own thing anyway. I've learned to be okay with it, and actually love him all the more for it.

This year was no exception. It was magical, as the kids loved all of his thoughtful gifts (it should be added that they certainly didn't mind my gifts....books and clothes....but they obviously weren't the highlight of the day). Karaoke machine, 3DS, tanks, fighter jets, Nintendo Switch, dune buggy to name a few.

Paul was on call starting Christmas day through New Year's so the rest of Christmas week was spent exploring our new toys with Christina. A few times we went to the park to enjoy the dune buggy, drone, and laser guns given to us by the Eastons. We also snagged a movie or two. It was a perfectly lazy week, in all honesty.

Saturday morning the kids and I loaded up in the van to drive to Spanish Fork to visit Michael, Julia, and co. Christina flew off to Texas and Paul was stuck with a few more call shifts before he could join us Monday night. I spent my first 3 days in Utah alone visiting old friends...the Calders, Sara Garay and co, and Jenny Transtrum. We spent a very quiet New Years Eve alone in Michael and Julia's home, going to bed at 9:30.

Once Paul joined us, we did a few more fun Utah things...visiting BYU, seeing the lights on Temple Square, swimming, doing burger Saturday with the family, perler beads, board games, and just being together. The hopeful skiing didn't happen, since the mountains were literally bare. And we spent one evening at the Petersons who lived in Lubbock before. Always fun to rekindle friendships.

And Erik turned 1...what? My final baby just started cutting his first tooth around his birthday. He's such a good baby. Ever since we move to ABQ, he has been sleeping like a dream and is perpetually happy.

Then back to ABQ...to work, to homeschool, to a house full of Christmas decorations needing to be taken down.