* Albuquerque was astonishing in early fall--a few crisp mornings turned into warm, sunny days, still allowing for the novelty of wearing long sleeves and close-toed shoes. I quickly learned my year-round relationship with flip-flops has yielded a motley brood of now-holey socks--embarrassing.
* The Southwest skies impressed us with real clouds that always seemed to be illuminated from above--at times lofty and made of cotton and at other times resembling the faint strokes of a brush that had nearly run out of paint.
Some mornings those skies were filled with hot-air balloons, drifting silently up and down on the horizon. Sometimes they sailed close enough for us to make out the roar of a flame filling its satin envelope with heat.
* Thin air tortured my respiratory system and my skin--as is usual when we visit this nearly mile-high city from our sea-level home--with daily nosebleeds and the need for continual lip-balm applications.
* I was treated to a glorious prenatal massage compliments of my mother-in-law, who sacrificed her regular appointment for my weary bones.
* We schlepped the children to the produce market to purchase green chile and wait for it to be roasted on the spot. Then we took it all back to Nana's kitchen, where we spent hours peeling, bagging and vacuum-sealing them to be frozen for the trip home to California. All told, N, brother-in-law C and I broke down 140 pounds of spicy, toasty goodness to be folded into burritos, simmered in soups and tucked into sandwiches all year long.
* I celebrated the sunset of my 32nd birthday at the feet of the Sandia mountains alone with my husband, who took me to the very same spot on my first trip to his hometown a dozen years ago. The view of the city was just as breathtaking as I remembered it being on that first trip.
* Quality time spent with family just doing the stuff of their everyday lives was soul-quenching.
L and I hosted a tea party for Nana when she arrived home from an afternoon of volunteer work at the hospital. We baked chocolate scones and filled heirloom teacups with steeped Lady Gray and Caramel Vanilla blend.
Sis-in-law C impressed us all with her horse-riding prowess and her work helping other people with disabilities guide these remarkable therapy animals. Sister C was nothing short of a heroine on horseback to L and C and she took home three blue ribbons from her horse show.
We gobbled burritos and green chile with Grandpa V and family.
Uncle C read books, played games and wrestled whenever a little voice spoke up with "Unca Chaw-oles, can you play wiff me?"
Nana doted on, adored and drank in her long-distance grandbabies. L sobbed when it was time to buckle up and make the journey home, knowing it will be months before we get to snuggle with Nana again.
The trip was just what we needed--one last family vacation with just the four of us.
Now bring on fall, the holidays, more house-hunting, football on TV, ballet and gymnastics ... oh, and that new baby, too.
You produced 140 POUNDS of green chiles?! Girl...I thought you were on vacation! :) But I hope the massage and chocolate scones made up for all the (delicious) work.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunset picture! Glad you had fun and made it home safely :)
I'm smiling and tearing as I read through this short take on our wonderfully love-filled week together. I am so amazingly, gracefully blessed to have you all in my life. Hugs, love, and prayers from here to there for all of you, my dear daughter. And I'm so glad you're back to the blog!
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