Santa Fe-cation

At the end of the kids' spring break, Cort took a day off from work so we had a four day weekend to spend in Santa Fe. Even though it's only an hour from home, it felt like a world away. It was so fun to hang out, go to many many museums, and see some sites and more importantly, do no yard work. Next year will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the settlement of 'The City of Holy Faith.'

First off, we saw lots and lots of turquoise. Claudia, eat your heart out!




We met with some friends from ABQ and spent the first afternoon at the Children's Museum. All the kids had fun. It was nice because it was in essence one big room, so keeping an eye on all three wasn't as daunting as at the Boston Children's Museum.







Ethan waited with his friend Maddie for over an hour in line to rock climb, and we mean rocks! His hands were sore after this adventure.
He got all the way to the top, then repelled down. He loved it, but it was a trick to get the sore out of his hands. Thankfully, he was all better by the time we got back to the hotel and the pool.

Look at those icicles we saw from our hotel room. There were a few inches of snow on our car leftover from Thursday night's snowfall. It melted pretty well during the next day, but was still cold for those of us unprepared.

Friday: First, the Palace of the Governors -- such an overstatement! If they had said "Fortress of the Governors" or "Refuge of the Governors" we would have agreed wholeheartedly. Ethan brought up an interesting point after the 45 minute tour (which he loved) -- Ethan noted it was overtaken a total of 6 times. All for the want of this little fortress. Pretty funny. It was pretty incredible inside, but no pictures allowed, and it's also just a fraction of the length it used to be, but still was hardly palatial. Oh well, us Euro-Americans and our snooty definitions of things.

The New Mexico Museum of Art was our next conquest (ha ha).




We did get to see a Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit there, but were too tired later on to go to the O'Keeffe museum. Next time, next time...

Ethan said, "This is art? I could do this." Well, then I say, get started!!!


It was so great to once again be in a walking city. I can't believe how much we miss the sense of community and feel of freedom to park your car and just go. Even though it was freezing outside, it still felt good.
Then the St. Francis of Assisi Basilica right off the Plaza where you can find the Museum of Art and the Palace of the Governors in the center of town. Breathtaking! It was also nice to visit during Lent. We loved the phrase "Love One Another Constantly" which was written on a banner and etched on the banister above the entrance. Elliot said this should be our new family motto, and so it is. Here's a slideshow -- it was really so beautiful, and I took too way many pictures. The kids and Cort loved asking me all sorts of questions about Catholicism -- it's such a great heritage to have. Afterward, Ethan was marveling, "Catholics and Mormons have so much in common! That's so awesome!" We loved the stations of the cross -- we took a picture of one of them -- the one where they take Christ down from the cross. I loved it because it included the tools you would need to do such a job -- a ladder to get Him down, and a pliers to get the nails out. So pragmatic! Also the stained glass was incredible, and Cort loved the architecture and the acoustics. We'll likely go up to see a concert sometime soon. We took no pictures of the outside because it is under renovation for the upcoming 400th celebration. We are very lucky to live so close and be able to go to some of the festivities next year. Apparently, it will last all year long.

Next we headed to the San Miguel Mission in another old part of town.Apparently, the oldest house in America. So see, Patty and Rhett? You have nothing to worry about. Houses older than yours do exist!

Talk about a fixer upper.
Then to the Mission of San Miguel -- which was just so fun! The ticket taker man told us this great fable and sang a chant: The man sang it so loudly and beautifully, and it was just hilarious:

"Ring the bell of San Miguel/ And the Spirits will lead you back/ to Santa Fe"

Hardly rhymed, but it was still so cool. Elliot spent the rest of the day coming up with better words to the tune: Ring the Bell and Santa will yell/ "I'll meet you today/ In Santa Fe" is just one version.





They did let the boys ring the bell of San Miguel, much to the dismay of the other visitors. I had to reassure a few of them that the man behind the counter said it was ok.

"Should I? Really?"


These two were tired of me taking pictures of other things, so I had to take a picture of real life beauty for a moment.

After some amazing lunch -- I had chicken mole cashew enchiladas (no cheese, and it was still good!) and Cort had a yummy pork plate with red and green chilis, we headed off to Museum Hill, where we saw the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the Museum of International Folk Art. After that, the kids were museum-ed out for the day. (Hmm.. I really should have taken some pictures of that cafe we went to for lunch...)


At the folk art museum, Elliot looked at this rug and said LOUDLY, "Look! This is great! An alligator, a fish, and a pecker!" Fortunately, we didn't get kicked out based on the technicality that he was correct.


Don't know if this picture captured it, but this statue looked like the warrior was bigger than the mountain. It was really magestic, and the kids loved it.



Elliot told Dad, "I don't look like any of these puppets. They're too British." That's a little insulting to British people, I think.Hmm... most interesting crucifix I'd ever seen
Ethan and Cort put on a shadow puppet show for us. Suspense! Laughter! Romance! Tear jerker! In this same room was all sorts of folk music instruments -- drums and glockenspiel (thank you, Sesame Street, for that word of the day -- the kids will never forget it). The kids had fun playing the music, but there was a real musician in there, too, and he was incredible! Gave a great soundtrack to Ethan and Cort's drama.



Lots of interesting miniature art. Kids loved this place.
Claire has gotten the taste of doll houses and tea parties, and she wants to go to there.



On Saturday after we visited two other museums that allowed no photography -- the Spanish Colonial Art Museum and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, and afterwards, the kids had had it with the New Mexican food, so we hit a (sigh) mall food court. But there was a fantastic carousel, so we had to take some shots of that, before we headed home.

ahhh, the pool...
Look how overjoyed Cort is that I left my swimsuit at home and he gets to be on lifeguard duty all weekend! He's a sport for going on vacation with a 7 month pregnant woman anyway.





I love this video of Cort and Claire. It reminds me of that McDonald's ad from the 80s. Aww.



Ethan is very proud of learning to jump in the pool and swim to the side. He'll take swim lessons this summer, but this was a big step for him. He spent all our "spare" time of the trip in the pool. He loves it. So does Claire. Elliot prefers to sit in the hot tub. We're with Elliot.

Elliot, Mr. Outdoorsman, insisted we go hiking. So after a whirlwind vacation, we went for an hour-long hike close to home. And it was so great. We're very glad we ended the trip this way.





Well, there you go. Lots of pictures, and a super long post, but it was such a fun time, I wanted it recorded and our family to get to see. And I'm sorry there are no pics of me -- alas, the job of the family historian has one perk -- absolutely no pictures in the last trimester.