Fall Break Overload!

Usually, we go to Moab for Fall Break with the Trapnell clan. But this year, not everyone could make it (I'm not sure anyone could make it), so we decided to take a trip to ABQ (Albuquerque, for those of you not knowing the New Mexico lingo) to visit Jeff's brother, Russ, and his family. Jeff's parents went too, although with just two of them, they could fly without paying a small fortune.

Here are all the pics, sorry that some are out of order. 

It took us just under nine hours to get down there. We stopped in Monticello for gas, but didn't stop again until we were about an hour away, when McKay got carsick and threw up. We stopped again for Carter to do his peeps, and then AGAIN when Carter got carsick and threw up. That last hour was a little rough! But we made it, with the quail in tow.

We went at a good time (the balloon fiesta), but we weren't sure we'd actually be able to see the balloons launched, as there was some pretty strong wind. This was Thursday night, when we basically got a feel for the atmosphere without seeing any balloons. Still fun to be out of the car and with our family!

We stopped at this Mormon Battalion monument on the way to our hike at Tent Rocks. This was supposed to be everyone acting like soldiers. Some are clearly better suited to the military than others. I'm kind of thinking Kyla with her baby doll would be sent home.

Some from the actual hike, which we took the quail on. She thought she was being released into her home habitat and refused to follow us, insisting on exploring the dirt and rocks. Jeff had to carry her almost the whole way, and we got a LOT of comments from the 40,000 fellow hikers who were there at Tent Rocks that day.

HUGE buffalo we saw along the road

The main event, the Balloon Fiesta. There were over 600 balloons, and we got up at 4 am to see them. We got to the fields by about 5:30 and had time to kill in the freezing early morning hours before the sun came up and the balloons started launching. It wasn't a lot of fun. But it was worth it once things got going. 

After MUCH whining and crying, McKay and Carter both fell back asleep. They were much happier once we woke them up to see the balloons. How rude, to wake them up at 4:00 am!

The girls after the hike 

A Mexican bakery Russ took us too with awesome pastries.

The oldest church in Albuquerque, built in 1706. Old Town.

Kyla with baby Emma, who wasn't photographed much with all the cousins. Proof she exists. 

Grandpa was so sweet to read stories to all the kids 

A couple more from our hike

We had a great time, and can't wait to go back! Well, we can wait to do the drive again, that wasn't our favorite, but we all agreed that it was worth it! We miss our cousins!