wearing shorts and sandals in the snow....

 chirping morning birds, stunning blue skies 

It's going to be another beautiful day....

(so I think)

 Cheii and Nana will be joining us at Bam's Confirmation ceremony tomorrow.

So today we're headed to Gallup to pick them up.

What started off as a beautiful day for a drive turned into a very snowy cold drive, 20 minutes outside our arrival into Gallup, NM.

Click the video that Cookie made from the backseat 

☟

When we got to the Ranch, Nana was ready, Cheii was feeling under the weather.

Cheii decided to stay home to recover.

 Plus he didn't want to get the children ill by coming to our house.

It seemed as if, just as quickly as we arrived, we were back on the road towards ABQ.

Amazing climate differences in 138 miles--2 hr. drive.
Likely due to the altitude level of course.

Vanderwagen, NM is 6,514 ft. above sea level
Albuquerque, NM is 5, 000 ft. above sea level

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We made perfect timing back to Albuquerque.
Enough time for
a late lunch--
  a little relaxation--
 before heading to the church for rehearsals this evening.

Cheii's childhood stories (listening, learning and appreciating)

It's a beautiful, chilly overcast day at the ranch.

melting snow equals muddy grounds 

We're with Nana and Cheii relaxing at the ranch.

Today we're going to celebrate Cheii's birthday. 

(his actual birthday is on leap day--so he's actually a lot younger than we think.....)

Birthday greetings and decorations
 are lovingly placed about the house to honor
Cheii's special day.

Bam, Fifi, Sweetheart and Cookie got an early start on decorating for his celebration with signs, streamers, and balloons.

Then Nana and the girls picked up some scrumptious cupcakes for his birthday sweet, earlier, when they went grocery shopping.

Cheii and Bam spent time together too, as they went to feed to the cattle earlier in the a.m.

--------------

  Nana made a delicious home cooked meal. 

We sang happy birthday to Cheii.

Had cupcakes while Cheii recalled stories of his childhood and growing up......

Cheii was very happy and thrilled to be spending his special day with us. (early)

We were hoping to spend another day at the ranch with Cheii and Nana but we had to leave today.

 A huge snow storm was also headed for the area.

muddy van look like she had a great adventure......

The storm was a mix of hard freezing rain, blizzard snow and fierce winds.

--shivering--

what could've been......

A little wet weather and super cold temperatures kept us from enjoying a lovely field trip to Popejoy hall for an afternoon matinee today.

Sweethearts class was scheduled to attend the Mariachi Christmas performance today.

But teacher decided against attending due to the super cold temperatures and wet conditions; which would not be safe to walk in.

This would've been Sweethearts second year of attendance (and my fifth) to this visually wonderful Mariachi Christmas performance.

Oh well, there is always next year.......
--SAFETY FIRST--

the calm before the storm

 --backseat view en route--

We hear the BIG cold front is headed our way.

 Currently there is only very light flurries falling.
Although that doesn't mean something heavier couldn't come down later tonight.

We decided to continue with our Sunday plans anyways.

We venturing out to the South Valley, after we went to the children's museum downtown. 

We enjoy stopping at the Pros Ranch market when we're in the area.
This grocery store is very different from the regular grocery stores we go to.

Its a speciality grocery store with departments like a tortilleria (tortilla factory) right inside where they make fresh tortillas and tamales.

(We picked up a dozen tortillas and half a dozen tamales to enjoy at home)

They also have a cocina, (kitchen) serving ready to eat Mexican / Latin food and a panaderia (bakery), deli and juice bar with fresh aqua frescas.

(We treated ourselves to a soft taco plate and a round of sandia aqua fresca)

The atmosphere is very festive.  Its like a mini tour to Old Mexico.

 Explora children's museum and the market on a cold day...........this is our calm before the storm.

fun in footed jammies

We're staying home today.

Staying home

Staying warm

Staying close

The weather is getting so much more colder now.

Time to break out the footed pjs, bake some cookies and catch a Christmas show on tv!