Last year, we decided that instead of alternating Christmas visits with each family, we'd visit both families each summer. This way, we won't have the stress of winter travel, or the unpredictability of the football bowl games (and Mark's marching band work). Instead, we're hoping to visit every summer, more or less at the same time. And we'll have the bonus of seeing everyone more often!
So this summer we tried out our first approach: back-to-back visits in ABQ and OK. We started with a few days in ABQ at the end of June, then flew directly from there to OK, staying through Mom Cook's birthday, then home. Other than Mark and me coming down with a cold, things seemed to go pretty well. We definitely got to see everyone, and we felt like it was a good amount of time to be gone. There were flight delays on each travel day (and it was a lot of airport time in a short window), but we got everywhere on the right days, and we saved a bit of money compared to two separate trips (3 travel days instead of 4). We might adjust our plan for next year since quite a few of the folks from the Cook side will be joining us on our Alaska cruise in May. We're not sure if we'll make a trip to OK, too, or just ABQ. There are quite a few winter plans on the horizon for Mark with the marching band, so it does seem like it'll be good that those aren't competing/conflicting with a family visit. Ok, enough backstory! Here's what we did in ABQ.
Of course, we made the rounds to our favorite breakfast burrito spots (Blakes, Twister's, and Weck's). We got Dion's pizza the night we arrived, on our way home from the airport, and had Garduño's another night for a belated birthday dinner out (for me and Grandma). We also tried Tula's, the new place next door to Dion's (same owners). I don't think we usually eat out this much on one visit in ABQ, but it was delicious!
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| half of a Weck's breakfast burrito |
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| Garduño's (by Cottonwood Mall) |
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Daniel & Julie (I think I didn't give them
quite enough time to pose for the pic!) |
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| Ben, Mark, & me |
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me, Grandma, & Mom
(sorry I caught you with your eyes closed,
Grandma--I should have taken two!) |
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| Dad & Grandpa Mike |
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my go-to order is back on the menu!
(it's the el pequeño appetizer) |
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| walking into Tula's |
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Daniel reading the menu--very seriously
(no matter that it's upside down ;-) |
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| Mom's fancy Italian soda |
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| green chile stew and salad--all very tasty! |
One day, we spent some time at Grandma's pool. It was fun to see Daniel engaging in a totally different way than when I was there two summers ago (or the stories I heard from last year).
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| at the pool...and look at that mountain view! |
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| Daniel loved this floatie ring |
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| me, Daniel, Mom, & Julie in the water |
We were excited to get the in-person tour of Julie & Ben's new house! I had the right layout in mind from pictures and a video call, but it was really fun to see in person. Daniel especially enjoys the backyard, which they didn't have at the condo, and I think everyone is glad to be on a single level and have more garage and driveway space...well, also just more space all around!
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| Daniel showing us his room |
We also finally planned a visit to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History, which Pop-Pop and Grandma have contributed to. I'm so glad we finally went--there's lots of interesting and important history represented there, with a variety of cool artifacts, too.
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| museum entrance |
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| plaque near the ticket window |
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Pop-Pop & Grandma's
element tile in the entrance |
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| red wagon display |
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| origami cranes |
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military aircraft outside (it was too hot, so
we just took a quick look from the doorway :-) |
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| more of the exhibit outside |
Another day, Dad drove Mom, Julie, and me down to NM Tea Company so we could restock some of our favorites. We rode in Georgia (one of Dad's classic cars).
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| me & Mom in the backseat |
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| some of the tea for sale |
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| teacups and teapots for sale (and an elephant planter!) |
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Dad & Julie in the front seat
(see the mountain view through the windshield?!) |
Dad also drove people around in Verdella (another classic car). Daniel especially loves the cars--he'll go for a ride any time it's offered, and also likes to "drive" (in the garage :-).
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| Dad & Mom up front |
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| me & Mark in the back |
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| Dad takes Daniel, Ben, & Mom for a drive |
Besides those outings, we enjoyed time hanging out at Mom & Dad's.
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| garden paradise in the backyard |
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| Papa and Daniel doing some gardening |
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| Nana & Daniel blowing bubbles |
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| Nana reading to Daniel |
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| Papa & Daniel feeding the fish |
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| rock & cactus garden in the front yard |
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| morning tea |
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| Papa & Daniel taking the trike bike uphill |
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| Daniel riding downhill |
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| another day, another teapot |
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| Grandma & Mom in the garden |
It was really fun to interact with Daniel in person. At first, he was clearly having to figure out what it meant for me to be there in 3D versus the usual video call. For example, he wouldn't let me play blocks with him the first night. Instead, I was supposed to sit on the couch and watch (like I do on the laptop :-). He warmed up to us quickly, though, and the conversations at this age are so fun. One day at lunch, he asked Mark a long series of questions: "Hey, Uncle Mark! Do you like grapes?" "Hey, Uncle Mark! Do you like blueberries?" and so on, for a whole bunch of different foods. He's still mostly referring to himself in 3rd person, which is hilarious. And I'm tickled by his intonation: he can mimic whatever someone says with perfect intonation and pausing, but when he's verbalizing his own thoughts, he often pauses after every word--so deliberate! It's adorable.
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| me reading Daniel a new book: Green |
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| reading close up |
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| group photo: Ben, Julie, me, Mark, Daniel |
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| Nana, Daniel, & Mark fixing some dessert |
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| Daniel eating dessert with Uncle Mark |
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| Aunt Amy & Daniel selfie |
I'm so glad we were able to spend time with everyone! I'm thankful for my grandparents, who are so kind and generous to us (and the whole family, including each other). And Mom and Dad, for their hospitality (including keeping the swamp cooler running more than usual because we were there :-). And Julie and Ben, for making time to come over and hang out a lot, as well as invite us to their place. It was a good trip! Next up...Oklahoma!
