You are what you eat.........you are AWESOME!

Super yummy Blake's Lotaburger for lunch.

Have you had this lately?

Hey! I think the bag says it all...

This patriotic fella is Blake

(click here to check out what were doing last year on this date)

The Gathering....

The annual Gathering of Nations Pow Wow is this weekend at the University of New Mexico Arena aka THE PIT.

This event is known as North America's Biggest Powwow.

The powwow runs April 26, 27, 28....beginning with the Miss Indian World Talent Presentations at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino at the Isleta Pueblo. The crowing of Miss Indian World is on Saturday evening at the Pit. There will be plenty of traditional native competition dancing, traditional native music, traditional arts and craft market, powwow, and Native talent on Stage 49. We love this time of year, when many NATIVE AMERICANS and other INDIGENOUS TRIBES from other countries come to ABQ. 

It's so beautiful to see so many lovely faces around.....

In front of the Pit: the lines are already forming for tomorrows OPENING DAY

This is inside the Pit where the stage AND sound are coming together.

Many people lining up for general admission tickets as well for
vendors license for those who are selling at the Indian Market.

Looks like the local news station is here to do a expose....

This is the back area location of the Indian Traders Market and Stage 49

Why.......you ask.....am I already inside???

Well, we volunteer every year for the Gathering of Nations as crowd control manager. Basically an assistant to help those unfamiliar with the Pit to find exits, entrances, special entrances for dancers and performers, and special VIP seating. Sometimes we volunteer as counter for the dancers-- to make sure they get credit for dancing during special competition events as well.

The Gathering of Nations is so much fun to attend.... the splendor of the traditional regalia is amazing and beautiful. To be here live as the beating of the drums and chanting of the singers brings your core to harmony...... NO JOKE....REALLY.

The sight of the dancers dancing....The sound of the traditional rhythmic beats.....The smells of the traditional foods is beyond words.... PUT IT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST THIS IS A MUST.....you should attend NORTH AMERICA'S BIGGEST POWWOW.

leaf only your footprint.....

The temperature has been getting colder.

The wind has been a little harsher.

So the leaves are finally falling off the trees!

We've been looking forward to these days all month long.

We love taking walks with the leaves crunching beneath our feet.

The leaves are littering the streets, the cars and every yard around.

It's a beautiful new sight........

Dia de Los......fun

Today we attended the Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Hispanic community center in the south valley. Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday celebrating and honoring friends and family members that have died.  This holiday is also known as Day of the Dead.

It is celebrated the day after Halloween, on November 1, in connection with the Catholic All Saints Day. 

Although we are not Mexican, it is a New Mexican tradition. 

We've come to celebrate, live, experience and learn another culture.

2011 Dia de los Muertos 

Upon entering we were greeted with traditional Mexican folk music.

Beautiful, talented, professional dancers swept the reception floor.

Mmmm......

We were offered an assortment of horchata and aqua frescas. 

The reception refreshment table carried a wide variety of Mexican hor d'oeuvres like empanadas, biscochitos, tortillas, conchas, sopaipilla, posole and other items. 

Warm dessert cup of fruits, nuts and cinnamon

Toasty and super spicy finger sandwich 

The Dia de los Muertos art gallery was filled with colorful imaginative images of skulls, skeletons and calaveras.

2011 Dia de los Muertos celebration

During the day of the dead, alters are built in honor of the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, candles, along with photos and memorabilia. Also favorite foods and beverages of the departed are also included in the display.
The legend is that people die three deaths.
The first death is when our bodies cease to function; when our hearts no longer beat of their own accord, when our gaze no longer has depth or weight, when the space we occupy slowly loses its meaning.

The second death comes when the body is lowered into the ground, returned to Mother Earth and out of sight.

The third death, the most definitive death, is when there is no one left alive to remember us.

Therefore Day of the dead is celebrated to keep the memory of your loved one alive.

The act of preparing an altar is done for honor and respect for those that have passed. The alter provides a special time to remember, and to transform grief into acceptance. The living invite the spirits of the family to return home for a few hours of laughter, tears and memories.

Elaborately festive alter

Alters for loved pets are included too

We ended our day with a festive mariachi performance in the auditorium.
As we exited the children were all given Mexican candy to take home to enjoy.
! Feliz Dia de los Muertos!

pleasant, peaceful trails along the Pecos

Bam went camping this weekend.
He had a great time at Villanueva State Park along the Pecos River.

This foot bridge took the boys across the pecos and gradually up the canyon wall.

Bam was so excited to tell us about all the fun he had at this riverside state park.
From the sandstone canyon walls, the great hiking trails, the native trees and tall Cottonwoods to the ruins of the Spanish colonial.
Bam told us it was an amazing time of year to be there.

www.nmparks.com

Bam had an awesome time camping this weekend.
He recommends that our family go up there some time.
Another great camping memory........

living a story book adventure

Today Sweetheart and I attended the class field trip to El Rancho de Las Golondrinas near Santa Fe.
What a beautiful day to be out in the warm sun under the big New Mexico blue and turquoise skies.

The El Rancho de Las Golondrinas is a historic living history museum located on 250 acres in a rural farming valley south of Santa Fe.
The museum is dedicated to the history, heritage and culture of 18th and 19th century New Mexico.
While hiking throughout the trails we stopped by many living exhibits who told us the history and life of living on the rancho.

Burros were used mostly for transporting heavy items.

These women were carding, spinning and dying wool

Las Golondrinas is rich in language, culture, art, traditions and history of Spanish Colonial, Mexican, and Territorial New Mexico.

Historical hill top chapel with campo santo on site

Utility wagon parking lot..........

Historical water mill / grain mill in action

Beautiful traditional adobe oratorio

Sweetheart and I hiked all about Los Golondrinas with the class. We visited the placita house, blacksmith shop, candle maker, riverside laundry, wheelwright shop, winery, vineyard, morada, descansos, oratorio. and to the hill top chapel with campo santo.

Stunning NM beauty

Amazing Autumnal view

Various films were shot here at Los Golondrinas including:
Tiger Eyes (2010) featuring Willa Holland, Tatanka Means, Based on the book by Judy Blume.
MacGruber (2009) featuring Will Forte, Powers Boothe, Val Kilmer, Ryan Phillippe, Based on a Saturday Night Live skit.
Doc West (2009) featuring Paul Sorvino, Terence Hill. Premiered at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
Kites (2009) featuring Hrithrik Roshan, Barbara Mori. Asian and South American cinema
Shoot First and Pray You Live (2008) featuring Jo Blackstone, Erik Bockemeier
Comanche Moon (2009) featuring Val Kilmer, West Studi, Rachel Griffiths
Kit Carson (2008) featuring Michael Murphy. documentary, The American Experience
Seraphim Falls (2006) featuring Pierce Brosnan, Liam Neeson, Angie Harmon, Anjelica Huston.
Into the West (2005) featuring Gary Busey, Judge Reinhold, Tom Berenger, Rachael Leigh Cook, Keith Carradine. Produced by Stephen Speilberg.
The Conquest of America (2004) Documentary narrated by Bill Curtis.
The Missing (2003) featuring Cate Blanchette, Tommy Lee Jones. Directed by Ron Howard
All the Pretty Horses (2000) featuring Matt Damon, Penelope Cruz, Henry Thomas, Sam Shepard, Bruce Dern.
Vampires (1998) featuring James Wood, Daniel Baldwin, Maximilian Schell, Sheryl Lee.
The Staircase (1998) featuring Barbara Hershey, William Peterson, Diane Ladd
Gunfighters of the West (1998) Documentary narrated by Brian Dennehy
Fools Rush In (1997) featuring Salma Haayek, Matthew Perrry.
Nobody's Girls: Five Women of the West (1995) featuring Cloris Leachman, Ester Rolle.
Wyatt Earp (1994) featuring Kevin Costner, Gene Hackman, Dennis Quaid, Mare Willingham
The Legend of O.B. Taggart (1994) featuring Ned Beatty, Earnest Borgnine, Larry Gatlin, Mickey Rooney, Ben Johnson, Randy Travis.
Young Guns (1988) featuring Charlie Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Lou Diamond Phillips, Kiefer Sutherland, Terence Stamp, Jack Palance, Brian Keith.
Wild Times (1980) featuring Sam Elliott, Harry Carey Jr. Bruce Boxleitner, Dennis Hopper.
Butch and the Sundance: The Early Days (1979) featuring Tom Berenger, William Katt, Jill Eikenberry, Brian Dennehy, Christopher Lloyd.

Familiar??

A quick game of lunch time tag.........

Good bye Los Golondrinas........

We had a great time!!

 Sweetheart and I had a memorable day at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas.
Sweetheart said it was like experiencing the life of Josefina Montoya from American Girl.
(http://store.americangirl.com/agshop/html/thumbnail/id/238/uid/35)
I agree that we did have a great storybook to life adventure today..............

breath deeply

This was the morning sky that greeting us as we headed to school.

The sunrise didn't even have a chance today.

The aroma of rain coming from those clouds was strong.

Although only a few delicate rain drops hit the dry NM ground.

The scent from that light drizzle was amazingly refreshing.

A great way to start the day........

Take a deep breath you might be able to smell the beautiful aromatic New Mexico rain.....

getting an eye full

This morning we saw this amazing oblong shaped hot air balloon and a couple of regular shaped balloons near the Sandia Mountains.

As you can see, the Sandia Mountains have a cold front enveloping it from the East. 

What a beautiful shot, it looks like an ocean wave roaring over the mountain towards the city.

 Bam got this shot and dozens of other, as the sky was filled with hot air balloons from every angle.

Tomorrow is day nine and last day of the International Balloon Fiesta.

Click the highlighted link above to be directed to their site to see time lapse recording of today and all the previous days of the Fiesta.

While there, you might be able to see the cold front off the Sandia in full motion as well.

Enjoy. It's eye-tastic.....

toys in the sky......

With my eyes big and my heart filled with happiness and wonder--I gaze at my toy box in the sky.
--This passage is from an original poem written by Princess Fifi--

This morning, as I took the children to school, we saw hundreds of hot air balloons enroute skyward.
We can look forward to this every morning, all week long. (weather permitting)

From the back seat I hear the children talking about the balloons. The conversation was as if they were talking about seeing old friends. As the kids point to the sky, "Look whose back." "I thought they couldn't make it in from Brazil this year." "I'm glad to see them again." "I hope they have a safe launch and good weather."

What a magical day......

Plus Princess Fifi is excited to report that she's made the cheerleading team
!!!!!!!!!!

jump ropes, violin, and vaudeville

6th Annual International Community Day

Cookie and the jump rope team performed at the International Community Festival at the grassy park in our neighborhood.
The jump rope team kicked off the festival with the very first performance after the opening ceremony from the NM Color Guards with the flags and pledge.

Cookie in her orange sneakers 

The International Community Day has been a neighborhood tradition since 2006. Every year Bernalillo County celebrates the diversity and cultures of District 3 residents through music, food, arts and craft activities, demonstrations, and family entertainment.
Beside the talents of the jump rope performance, we were also treated to a free concerto from the New Mexico Philharmonic and local music from Severo y Grupo Fuego.

Cookie performing a one legged trick jump rope routine

Once again the jump rope team did a great job!
 Special thanks to Coach Jarvis (white shirt) and Coach Cicarrillo for their dedication to the jump rope team.
--------------------------
After the show was over we perused the various booths.
There we found the Music Guild of New Mexico.
They support musical organizations, educate and build community relationships through music.

The girls brushed up on some music history; while learning some tones and notes from different musical instruments.

Sweetheart loved the seeded sounds of the maracas 

"Mommy, would you care to hear Saint Saens Intro and Rondo Capriccioso."

( --Sweet Sounds-- )
Afterwards we headed to the crafting station to make bird feeders and art projects.

A pine cone, a string, some peanut butter and birdseeds
made a fine natural bird feeder

Princess pressed some leaves and glitter between wax paper
for a stained glass effect window art.

Cookie opted for some art on her face instead......

On our walk home we stopped to watch some performers.
We've seen this troupe before at the JCC.
They're a family of vaudeville Renaissance style entertainers known as Clan Tynker. After standing there for a while, I realized they weren't part of the International Community Day. I think they were there for a birthday party. Although that didn't stop many from watching. Our apologies, 'birthday person' for stopping but also thank you for sharing Clan Tynker with us.

Clan Tynker /International Community Day
What a great day and to top it off we also got our van back......... 

biker dog

While on our way to take Bam and Fifi to a teen youth ministries field trip to mini golf.
We saw something surprisingly sweet and funny: a man and dog on a motorcycle.

The dog even has his very own custom raised seating.

I've heard people say, "God is my co-pilot" but I think this guys says, "Dog is my co-pilot".

 My children couldn't stop laughing at the sweet sight of the hound dogs ears billowing on the ride.

They think the dog is super cool on the motorcycle!

 --New Mexicans love their pets--