Christmas in ABQ

After wrapping up the semester, we headed to ABQ for a week to spend Christmas with my family. Just as we were getting ready to leave, the COVID situation took another turn for the worse, but we checked CDC guidelines, took rapid tests (which were negative), and put on our good masks to travel anyway. We certainly had some anxiety about this--not wanting to bring the virus with us or pick it up anywhere along the way, but we seem to have avoided any issues. And it was, as always, lovely to have the time with family and eat all of the delicious NM food! 

We stayed at Grandma's house, which is so luxurious with a guest wing all to ourselves and a king sized bed! We managed to eat lots of good local food, including breakfast burritos from several of our favorite places: Weck's, Blake's, and Twisters. We also picked up pizza from Dion's our first night and takeout from Garduños another night (the first time we've had takeout there, and it worked out really well!). There were also many excellent home-cooked meals, including spaghetti at Grandma's and Christmas brunch and dinner at Mom and Dad's. And most important, we spent time with everyone: Grandma, Mom, Dad, Grandpa Mike, Julie, Ben, and Daniel. Not surprisingly, having a one year old in the mix changes things, but Daniel is so fun! He's curious about everything, and happy to play with whoever is around. He's not talking or walking quite yet, but definitely close! 

Here are some photo highlights from the week:

me posing with a reindeer topiary
on a layover at the Denver airport

Grandma reading Daniel a book

Grandma and Julie at the St. James Tea Room

me and Mom at the St. James Tea Room

the tea menu, themed around 
Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"

the tea tray--everything was delicious!

my plate of savories

my plate of sweets
(I forgot to snap a pic of the scones!)

group photo after tea--it was such a treat!
thanks, Mom!

me reading to Daniel

the family room tree at Mom & Dad's

the living room tree at Mom & Dad's,
and SO MANY presents!

some lights in the neighborhood on Christmas Eve

our stockings on Christmas

Christmas brunch--and the most
beautiful Polish stoneware dishes

Papa and Nana help Daniel with his stocking

in case you missed it--there were so many presents!

Daniel helping Nana open her gift

Julie reading a new book to Daniel

Mom reading a new book to Daniel
(we're all in agreement about how 
much we love reading! :-)

Ben helping Daniel open a gift with
Grandpa Mike looking on

Daniel got an early start opening this 
present to me, from him ;-)

Daniel enjoying one of his new Dr.
Seuss books (from Grounds for Thought)

Nana and Daniel: how cute are these two?

the table set for Christmas dinner

my plate--such good food! 

more reading time with Daniel--a 
new pop-up book

watching Julie read Daniel the book I got them

after over a day covered in clouds, we finally see
the snow-covered mountains on our evening walk

Uncle Mark hanging out with Daniel in the kitchen

the desert view to the west
 from Grandma's driveway

the mountains as we walked east from Grandma's

Daniel showing Uncle Mark all the things

group photo: Zerbys and Cooks

Aunt Amy & Uncle Mark with Daniel
(what you can't see here is how ridiculous the other
adults are acting behind the camera to try to get Daniel
to look over there and smile...but it worked on me! :-)

We're truly blessed to have generous, loving families (on both sides!). Thanks to Grandma for your hospitality, and to Mom and Dad for coordinating and hosting so many gatherings. Thanks to the Zerbys for carving out so much time to spend with us on our short visit. Thanks to Grandpa Mike for hanging out and sending us home with more beautiful handiwork! We love you all. :-)