Villanueva State Park

For Labor Day this year we decided to go on a little adventure someplace new. Together. All of us. I only emphasize this because it feels like Rus and I spent the entire summer taking separate vacations. Rus decided to take us to Villanueva State Park because he somehow had never been there before. It's northeast of Albuquerque, and we learned, quicker to get to heading east on I-40 than going north through Santa Fe.
Villanueva State Park has the Pecos river running through it, a super brown river that was maybe two feet deep (at the deepest parts) and had a steady, but not too fast current. These conditions made it perfect for the kids to play in. Rus and I knew there was a river but prepared poorly for it, instead insisting that the kids wear their hiking shoes and socks. When we arrived at the park (after about a two hour drive via Santa Fe), we ate our picnic lunch and the kids played on the playground there. Then we found the footbridge and crossed the river to the other side, where minutes later the kids had shed their shoes and socks and were stepping gingerly into the water.
What is Beau's mouth doing in this picture? I'm not sure...

Check out those super chops!! I think Rus is adding a quarter inch of sideburns per year of marriage. That's eleven years right there. When he runs out of face I'm afraid he'll go for length...Marianne loves wearing hats. She's just like her daddy.

Such brown water!!

It wasn't too cold, but it was muddy and even though it was only a foot deep in most parts, you couldn't see the bottom. The kids enjoyed playing in it, but the rocky bottom proved challenging for their bare feet, and after about ten minutes they all had their shoes back on, in the water. Rus and I enjoyed walking in it too, and sitting on the big rocks in the middle of it while soaking in the perfect pre-autumn air. Marianne liked throwing sticks in the water and dipping her toes in it, but that was enough.
Here is Bekah helping Beau cross the river. Rus and I made a bet about which kid would be the first to get soaked before the kids even stepped foot in the water. I bet Beau would be first, followed closely by Bekah...I was right. It was only Jacob's careful and slow demeanor that saved him from ever falling down.

 Marianne finally decided to try walking around right before we had to leave...

 After our short play time was over, we loaded up in the van with four wet kids and a wet dog. (I forgot to mention Colonel came. He probably enjoyed the water more than anyone else.) We headed south this time and then west on I-40 and the drive only took an hour and a half. No one really cared because we were listening to The Lightening Thief on cd and the kids were enthralled.
It was a great day! I love family adventures!