Part 3

The wonderful weather in Albuquerque allowed us to go hiking in the Sandia mountains, walk along the Rio Grande and do some much needed R&R in Meeghan and Raymond's back yard. With the right company doing not much of anything can be the best of times! That is what it's really all about.

Walking along the Rio Grande

(These were all along the river; huge metal beams with wire weaved all through them. We had many guesses on what they were for but no absolute answers.)

Playing some "Bag-O or Corn Hole" which ever you prefer. The boys loved playing this game on their own while the adults hung out at the patio table and when the adults were playing there was nothing better than playing on the swing set or in the sand underneath. Baths were in order every single night especially with sand in all cracks and crevices.

Uncle Raymond can throw me HIGH!



Mmmmm..... cooookie

Our Sandia mountain hike was incredible and incredibly painful all at the same time. Let me explain. At the very bottom of the trail we pointed out one of these:
Meeghan told Sam, "Be careful of these Sam. These are cactus and they have sticker things on them and it would hurt if you touched one." "Okay sure." Sam said. Can you see where this is going? About 5 minutes into our hike up the trail Sam was complaining of some small pebbles being in his sandle (Yes sandels, with 80 plus degree weather I didn't think to pack shoes. So we start this hike with two pregnant women, two small children and Joel as our strapping young man to assist us up the mountain side! An equation for success right from the beginning.) Before I could say anything or grab Sam out of danger he proceeds to sit down on a cactus hands down to his side bracing his impact and everything! He looks at me, I look at him, I tell him to stand up and the tears start to roll.
I'm crying too but out of hysterics. Good Mom I know, but it was just too funny. I then bend down to check his little bum out and then started to feel sorry for him because of the massive amount of little blond stickers in his shorts, shirt, hands, and yes his rump roast!


So after seeing the damage it was time to drop 'trou' so that Meeghan and I could proceed to pull out the stickers while Daddy sought a good photo opportunity. Lets just add in that after Sam dropped his drawers at least 6 people from the trail happened along at the perfect time; all of which were smiling or saying, "ewwww. Sat on a cactus?"


I was even getting stickers in my fingertips from trying to pull them out of Sam. Those damn things do hurt! I wasn't laughing as hard now.

Our view from the mountains

I hope you have enjoyed our journey with us. There is still another part or two to blog about and then we'll be back to our regularly scheduled blogging. :o)