We had a fantastic 10 days in Albuquerque with Kim's mom and dad (Grammy and Papa), Kim's sister and Matt's brother (Amy and Jason), and Kim's brother and sister-in-law (Andrew and Sarah). As usual during time with family, Ian was spoiled by having a playmate at every waking moment! :) Matt and I were spoiled, too! We were so grateful to have the chance to relax, take naps, and play games between eating large and super yummy meals! Thanks, Mom and Dad!
We arrived in Albuquerque on Kim's 33rd birthday. Kim's mom had prepared one of Kim's favorite meals (a yummy chicken-almond stir fry) and the cake Kim requested almost every year growing up (German chocolate). What a treat to be with family on my birthday!
Ian was a big fan of helping to blow out the candles.
Grammy got out lots of Kim, Amy, and Andrew's old toys and books for Ian to play with. Two of Ian's favorites were this car mat and a marble roller Kim's grandpa had made.
Ian also loved these shooting spinners. By the end, he got the hang of how to do it himself!
A modified version of the board game "Crackers in my Bed" was also a big favorite. (Thanks for teaching Ian the game, Aunt Amy!)
Trigger, the horse Kim's grandpa made, also got a lot of use. :)
There were plenty of other playing opportunities even without toys, including doing sit-ups with Uncle Jason,
playing piano and singing songs with Uncle Jason and Grammy,
and being read to by Aunt Sarah and others!
Ian loved getting a squeeze from Aunt Amy!
Ian also enjoyed watching some of our old Disney cartoons on video! They brought back great memories for us "kids," too!
Ian was a little too young to be able to fully put together the puzzle Kim's Uncle Mike made, but he still enjoyed playing with it with Uncle Andrew.
One night, Jason and Papa made us all homemade wheat pasta while Grammy fixed her homemade spaghetti sauce!
Daddy, Momma, Grammy, and Aunt Amy worked with Ian to make a gingerbread train. Ian was proud to show it off to everyone that came over!
We enjoyed a yummy ham dinner/lunch on Christmas Eve!
Matt and Jason worked together to light the luminarias ...
... while the rest of us got to enjoy playing Stone Age inside. (We are completely hooked on this new game and, of course, had to order it right when we got back home. Have you tried it, Gottschalks??? You'd love it!)
Grandma's official cookie taster in action ....
After arriving home from Christmas Eve worship, Ian sampled hot (warm) chocolate for the first time ever.
It's safe to say he enjoy it quite a bit. :)
On Christmas morning, Ian helped Grammy and Papa stuff the turkey
and then put it in a turkey bag to cook while we went to church.
a whole-family picture: Matt, Kim, Ian, Jason, Amy, Grammy, Papa, Sarah, Andrew
We enjoyed a yummy lunch and then took naps before gift-opening began.
Kim was excited to give Sarah (and Andrew) her first-ever completed rag wreath. It was relatively easy to make and turned out well. :)
After opening the tongs that Amy and Jason gave him, Ian was excited to use the tongs to help open the rest of his Christmas gifts!
He enjoyed the cut-able food ...
... and loved the chance to play games on Grammy's Kindle. (Drew, Ian said, "There's an Angry Bird, Momma!" when we were in the store the other day! Ha ha)
One morning, Kim, Aunt Amy, and Ian headed to the park for sliding and throwing pine needles in the air.
We drove to Bosque del Apache Wildlife Refuge as a family to see all of the birds. Unfortunately, they had received quite a bit of snow the week before and the roads were still unpassable. :( At least we made it to the visitor center where we saw a few birds on the ground.
Each morning we were in Albuquerque, Ian found a treat inside a stocking titled "Grandma's Favorite." Soon, Grammy will have to add an "s" to the end of the word "favorite." :)
Ian loved being silly with Uncle Andrew!
Playing games with Grammy, playing the Wii with Uncle Andrew (which was an awesome gift to our family from Drew and Sarah ... thanks, guys!),
and roughhousing with the uncles kept Ian entertained.
Matt, Jason, and Andrew continued their biennial Frisbee Fiesta competition at a nearby playground.
It was a close battle that ended with Jason taking first, Matt taking second, and Andrew taking third. :)
Aunt Sarah played with Ian on the playground during a lot of Frisbee Fiesta. :)
Then we all gorged ourselves at Tucano's Brazilian Grill (all-you-can-eat meat! Yum!)
Our last evening in Albuquerque was spent playing games (Ian liked Fruit Ninja, while the rest of us preferred Guesstures),
eating a great meal that Ian and Andrew helped fix,
and enjoying Drew's signature dessert .. chocolate souffles!
Thanks for the great time, family! We love you guys!
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