Sand and lava and bike wrecks, oh my!

With less than a week left until we hit the road again, I find there is so much to do that I want to just go take a nap. We have been in NM for 5 months now and the amount of stuff that we have accumulated in that short time is a bit scary. We ended up buying heavier coats for us all and bigger clothes for the boys, as well as used bicycles for them. We will donate those things but will still have more than we arrived with. We drove out here in a Ford Focus hatchback and will be driving back in Chad, a Volvo SUV with a roof box.

On a positive note, Ian learned to ride a bicycle! It was difficult for all involved, because he’s obstinate and independent and would not accept much help or advice. (Rob and I have NO IDEA where he got those traits, btw.) Ian was very cautious which was frustrating to the observer, but he did come through the learning process unscathed. Eli, however, had a pretty bad accident. He did not break anything and was wearing his helmet but his entire left side ended up either bruised or abraded. He has always been my accident prone child.

On a happy note, we finally got to go sledding! After multiple failed attempts to sled on Sandia Mountain, our sledding experience actually came in shorts in White Sands, NM. I was under the impression that parts of the Star Wars movies were filmed there but it turns out that I should’ve fact checked that. The first two in the Transformers series were, though. Neither of those tidbits were what interested the boys, however. The place is beautiful and unlike anything we’ve ever seen. Plus the sand is amazing. It doesn’t stick to you and is soft and fine- well, until the NM winds start throwing it at you at 40 miles an hour!

Also, for anyone heading to White Sands, make sure to drive through The Valley of the Fires! We had no idea that it was there until we drove into it. I read afterwards that the lava rock is up to 165 feet thick in places and stretches 45 miles long!

We almost missed the beautiful owl who had made a nest in the junction of the limbs on this tree, but someone was kind enough to point her out to us. I am convinced she was sitting on eggs because I think she would’ve flown away, otherwise. I zoomed in so you can see her better.

For those interested in the big trip, here is where it stands…. We will leave Albuquerque on May 21^st and the US on June 5^th and will return October 28^th. In total, we will be travelling for 160 days and will visit 49 cities! Everyone is excited and anxious to go!