Santa Fe

We just returned home from a much needed long weekend getaway! Our fall schedule is crazy with school, sports and work so this family needed a little break!  We could not have picked a more perfect vacation in Santa Fe.  This rainbow was the perfect sign on our drive to Santa Fe that our trip would be fabulous!  Vacations are our happy place!

 First morning roof top loving at the hotel!

Our first morning in Santa Fe we hiked Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument.  The kids were rock stars and completed the 3.2 mile hike without too many complaints.  It was the most amazing hike!  The tent rock formations were formed by volcanos. 

 Love our little explorers with their binoculars!

 There were multiple parts of the hike that were single file, and sucking in, to get through the winding tight rocks.

 The last 1/2 mile was a steep climb but so worth this view! 

 We did it and LOVED it! 

 After hike refreshments!  So deserved!

 That afternoon we met up with cousin Jett (and Auntie and Uncle Matt).  The kids had a blast running around the plaza!

 Cousin love!

 And lots of smiles!

 The next morning we woke up at 3:00 am to head to Albuquerque for the Balloon Fiesta!  There were moments I thought we may have been crazy, waking up 3 kids in the middle of the night, to watch balloons take off with hundreds of thousands of people, BUT it was 100% worth it!  Such an amazing experience!  We were all in awe the entire time!

My middle of the night smiley crew!

 The dawn patrol are the first handful of balloons that take off to test weather conditions.  So cool watching the these balloons inflate in the dark.

 And the dawn patrol was off!  My fingers were crossed and I said a little prayer that the weather Gods were calming the winds for mass accession time!

 Pre mass accession flyover!  Never a dull moment at the balloon festival!

 National Anthem and American Flag flyover

  Then morning flare . . .

 And finally it was time for the mass accession.  Mass is an understatement!  There were hundreds and hundreds of balloons that took off.  And we didn't watch from afar, we were right in the middle of all the excitement.  Balloons were inflating and taking off all around us!

 The most beautiful sight was the sun rising over the Sandia Mountains!  Rise and shine Albuquerque!

 Pictures don't do the Balloon Fiesta justice!  I want to go back just looking at this picture!

 Going to the Balloon Fiesta was a bucket list trip checked off!  We were back in Santa Fe by the 10 am OU/TX kickoff.  We watched from a local sports bar with some of our friends that were in town for a work conference.  The kids were troopers.  Got up at 3:00 am and then sat at a bar for 4 hrs watching the game, and OU lost.  Still lots of fun!

 After the game, we headed to a local park to burn off some of the steam from the OU loss.  Loving the Santa Fe sunshine and fall temps!

 Nothing like playing in the fall leaves in Santa Fe!

 And nothing like ending our long and oh so fun day hot tubbing with a gorgeous sun set in the background!

 The next morning we headed to Meow Wolf Museum while Tyler golfed with some work friends!  Meow Wolf is another must do in Santa Fe.  So bizarre and so fun!

 Probably the only place you can climb through a washing machine to find another crazy room of wonders!

 or open a refrigerator door to find a secret room on the other side!

 Or look down a toilet to see people below you!  Such a crazy experience. 

 That afternoon we enjoyed a Native American dance in the plaza!  Very Santa Fe :)

I can not say enough amazing things about this trip!  It came at the right time and was such a blast!  We work hard and play hard!  Love this family of mine and all of our adventures together.