Destination: Albuquerque

What better way to start off this new blog (and it's fancy new background), than with a journal entry about our recent excursion?! Our little break came in the form of an exciting road trip to Albuquerque!!!

About a month ago, Chris suprised us with news that he had booked a hotel room to celebrate our 7th wedding anniversary this year and news that our first family vacation would be to the Balloon Fiesta. This is the largest Hot air Balloon event in the world; almost 600 different hot air balloons come from around the world to participate. We only recently began attending these hot air balloon events in Celina and Highland Village (Planos was during Chloe's Birthday Party) and Marshall and Chloe just really got a kick out of seeing all of those balloons! So we figured, why not? Let's do it! And boy did we do it!

Day 1

We left Dallas on Wednesday night around 8pm shortly after Chris got home from work, then we turned around and drove for 10 and a half hours. We had a VERY VERY VERY VERY rough start. It seemed like we just couldn't get out of town (waiting on fast food, filling up the car, rainy conditions, every red light! geez it was crazy). Then, just as we get out past Denton, Marshall and Chloe both begin crying. And they cried for almost an hour...did I mention it was raining and we were both tired? I tell you we were so ready to cancel the trip right then and there. But I convinced Chris not to turn around and Westward we traveled.

(Random road trip event...just outside Amarillo, Some truck had hit an animal not long before we drove past. This was the most random animal we have ever seen. This 18 wheeler and a Ford F250 had hit something that looked like a polar bear. It was huge with a shaggy white coat. Very deja-"Lost-season 1" sort of thing.)

But eventually Chloe settled down and Marshall stopped crying. But then he just talked and talked and talked and didn't fall asleep until we were 2 hours outside Albuquerque. So it was like 4:30am Dallas time!!!! Sometime during all this chattiness, I turned to Chris and said, "Uh-Oh, I guess I shouldn't have told Marshall what it meant to drive to Albuquerque... " he was so wound up and excited about seeing hot air balloons!!! (Or "mAnOOns mAnOOns" as he calls them). I honestly didn't think he'd know what I was talking about. But nothing gets past Marshall.

We got into town just in time to arrive at the grounds for the Dawn Patrol and Shapes Glowdeo. This is the coolest thing to witness for the 1st time! Despite it being 38 degrees outside, our kids were just riveted by the awesome views of all of these interesting shaped hot air balloons rising into the air! I tell you Chris and I were amazed too and it totally made the drive worth it.

Then we walked a few miles (uphill with a 90 lb stroller) to the Hot Air Balloon Museum and did some arts and crafts with the kids, and then we dragged our tired bodies to the hotel for a 4 1/2 hour nap (at least Chris did...it took the kids over an hour to get comfortable with sleeping in the hotel room and winding down from the excitement.) But in the end we all got a VERY long nap! Got dinner then back to bed for us all!

Oh before falling asleep the local news says stories of some of the not so pretty touchdowns of the balloons from throughout the morning/day. This one guy was in his hot tub at 11 in the morning (recall it is 38 degrees and it is a Thursday) when balloon came down into his back yard. I'm sorry but I don't know what is funnier. This guy in his hot tub in the middle of a work week when it's freezing cold out or that the Albuquerquians are so casual about things falling from the sky into buildings, streets and residences. I'm sorry, I digress...just a random LOL-moment.

Slideshow of Day 1 Photos.

Day 2

Well we all slept in this day and finally found breakfest around 10 o'clock, then traveled to Old Town to absorb some of Albuquerque's culture and history.

First stop was the Nature & Science Museum. They had some amazing dinosuars at the Science Museaum.

But accross the street was the Explore! Childrens Museaum. Oh that place was so cool! So many arts and crafts, and some reptiles, some cool mirrors, Oh and did I mention the biggest elevator I have EVER seen. Complete with some sofas and home decor. It was hilarious!

Then we hopped in the car and cruised down Route 66, then turned around and cruised back on Route 66 to eat at a 1950's style diner. The kids had their first Frito Pie and LOVED it! The food was so delicious and the atmosphere was like walking into a movie set.

 

 

Then we walked around Old Town and visited some shops before heading back out to the Fiesta Grounds for the NightGlow show and Fireworks.

 

 

 

 

Can you say AMAZING?! Geez this place was so cool. You can walk right up to the balloon operators and strike up conversations with the pilots. (We met one pilot from Austin who told some pretty mean Aggie jokes, but other than him people were just so nice and friendly). You are right in on the action and it is so cool when all of the balloons light up at once. Marshall and CHloe both got to experience their first fireworks show. They both loved it and I had goose-pimples from how fantastic the fireworks show was!

Day 2 Slide Show Part 1 (Museums, Old Town, Route 66)

Slide Show Day 2, Part 2 (Night Glow & Fireworks)

Day 3

Out the door by 5:30 in the morning. But only to find ourselves in stop and go traffic for 10 miles and afraid that we might not be able to make the fair grounds in time for the mass Assention of almost 600 balloons; we found the first safe place to ditch our car and walked over 2 miles (pushing the 90 lb stroller, in 34 degrees, in long wet grass and rough terrain, then lifting the stroller over barbwire fences). I'm so glad we did. Not only did we make it in time but we were on a hill above the grounds and got some truely awesome pictures. Oh it was so spectacular. Word just can't describe and pictures don't do it true justice at how amazing this sight is.

So after our little work out we went to the Tram for Sandia peak. This is the longest Tram ride int he world. It is about 20 minutes ride to the peak of the mountain. We talked ourselves into taking everybody up to the top but after an hour of waiting in line, we decided that we would save this for our next trip to ALbuquerqie and we should maybe take a small road trip to see some of New Mexico.

Wow this was an amazing little side trip. Red Rocks, Driving through Indian Reservations, through one of the largest caved in volcano craters int he world, soda springs, old mission from the 1600's, indian pueblos, driving down and around mountains, amazing mountains and foliage, walk on trails in forest, climb into antient Indian cliff dwellings carved into the sides of mountains. Geez it was amazing everything we did that day. More than I ever expected. Definantly not Dallas. Very Spectacular. Definantly something to put on your Bucket list! Love Love Loved it!

Slideshow of Day 3:

Day 4

Non-eventful ride home (except that Chris thought Amarillo smelt like cow manure). It was just nice to get to see the landscape from Albuquerque to Denton since it was dark outside when we were traveling west.

Chloe was up most of the way home. Here are some shots of her playing in her carseat.

HANDS DOWN. BEST FAMILY VACATION EVER!