All the Monkeys aren't at the Zoo

 Amy and her kids came to visit over President's day weekend. Of course we ate good food, but healthy food - Amy wanted my house to be like a "health spa." Like a health spa was a stretch, but we didn't go crazy and have creme brulee french toast like before, so it was definitely an improvement. (I did have to make smores bars though, for the kids, you know, YUM!)
We played scrabble, but only two times, because Amy couldn't stand to lose three times in a row. I smoked her. We also tried to sew a cute paper-pieced crazy heart but only successfully made two because of machine issues.
We did have a lot of fun going to the zoo, going on a hike, and going to explora, a hands-on science museum that the kids really love.
We realized when we were at the zoo that it was a big day for the baby rhino - his coming-out-for-the-first-time day. Honestly I didn't even catch a glimpse of him because there were too many people crowded around. And then before I knew it, I looked over and Jacob was getting wired up with a microphone and being interviewed by a local news channel. The guy asked Jacob questions about the new baby rhino like what he thought of his name, Chomper ("It's great.), what he thought of how big he was, ("Wow."), and what he thought of how much food Chomper ate everyday, ("That's alot."). I watched the news that night for Jacob's riveting interview, but for some reason they didn't air him.

It was a beautiful day, just a tad bit cold but not bad, and the kids loved running around and climbing on every available rock and tree trunk. Here are Mikey and Jacob.

We did get one good picture of all of us (Rus was the photo man). Bekah's face is half buried by Sarah's school bear Barney. Marianne LOVED the attention from Luke and Joshua. They were so cute with her!

The next day we went on a hike in the Sandias. It was another beautiful day. There are a ton of sky shots because the sky was such a perfect deep blue color. The kids could not get enough of climbing on rocks. I say "rocks" but I mean gigantic boulders/small mountains. They could scamper up there without a problem, but getting down was sometimes trickier.

 Show me your belly buttons! I love that Beau still has a baby belly.

Amy and Sarah have been doing a photo series of bridges. Sarah does excellent bridges. I don't think bodies are meant to be so bendy...but hers sure is.

 The cool kids. I really should have taken a picture showing how high up they were.

Oh wait, here's a good shot...Hello up there!

An action shot of Luke jumping off a big boulder. If this was me it would have ended badly with one or two or seven cracks. But for a limber ten year old, this was no problem.

 Luke is my buddy. He is the best joke teller. He is also way too big to have a piggy back ride. But I gave him one anyway because his feet hurt (maybe it had something to do with the previous picture), and because I wanted to be the cool aunt.

Here's Amy and the Sandias. Amy looks good in hats.

 Rus was there too. He and the Bug were pals. She was such a happy traveler - she didn't even make a peep the whole time. I think it was because she was holding her bottle between her teeth the whole time, a habit of hers. I took it out for the picture.

The whole weekend was wonderful and low key and fun. The morning before she left we had crepes and conversation for breakfast.
A memorable weekend, to be sure.