I checked out the efficiency apartment on a Saturday, July 2. I was set to leave the following Tuesday. I also had 2 interviews set for that Tuesday morning. On Sunday, Jeff went on a motorcycle ride with his friend, and Lins and I took the boys to Pecos, where we got rained on (the one day it rained for several hours the whole month I was there.)
Monday was July 4th. we went and had breakfast at a little cafe, then Jeff dropped Lindsey, Zach and I off at the Plaza for the Fourth of July festivities, which were really neat. they had a car show, lots of vendors out with jewelry and things (Zach wanted pink sparkly butterfly wings lol) and we met up with some friends. We went to the park by the historic church and let the kids run around for awhile, then sat on the grass in the plaza and listened to music, got cherry lemonade and ice cream for Zach, then went back to the apartment. Meanwhile, I answered an ad about a casita in La Cienega that I had found on craigslist. La Cienega is about 17 minutes south of where Lindsey and Jeff live, about 10-15 minutes from the Plaza. It's kind of out in the country, but still considered Santa Fe, not much different from where I live now. there is a gas station closeby, but it is about 8 minutes from Cerrillos Road, and the grocery stores, etc. (about like where I live now.) I immediately fell in LOVE with the place, and the owner of the main house. She is a physician's assistant, and her husband makes dentures in a little office off the side of the main house. The "casita" is a little area of the house they had sealed off and made into a separate apartment rental. (casita is Spanish for "little house.") My area of the place has a large porch area, with plenty of landscaping room, a concrete porch, and a wooden dining table with a bench. Adobe-looking walls enclose it, with square openings that act as windows. It has French doors and Saltillo floors. The kitchen is the first thing you see when you walk in. It's amazing. It is bright blue tiles bordered by different southwest-style accent tiles, complete with a stove, oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, very cute pantry, tin-decorated cabinets, a coffee maker, toaster, and tea kettle. The kitchen also includes dishes, silverware, pots and pans, etc. The bathroom does not have a bathtub, but it has a SAUNA attached to it, which they put a showerhead in. so it's a shower/sauna. the Living room area has two couches covered with white slipcovers, several endtables, and a little breakfast nook (benches attached to the wall in the corner) with a small table in the middle. There is a small opening to enter the bedroom, where there is a double bed, 2 dressers, a large mirror, and a sliding door closet. Everything is included. Lindsey and I stayed and talked with the woman for an hour and a half while Jeff jogged Kyle and Zach biked to Ragle Park. I told the woman I was very interested, but was just waiting for a job offer. We went and met up with the boys at the park, stopped at the Burrito Spot for dinner (as opposed to the typical h-dogs on the fourth of July). Lins and Jeff bathed the boys and got them in bed. When it was time for the fireworks to start, which we could just watch from the parking lot of their complex, Lins went up to check on Zach (who has never seen fireworks.) This was around 9 p.m. He was just sitting up in his bed looking at books lol. :) Lindsey invited him to go watch the fireworks. Needless to say, he was ecstatic. It was quite adorable to see him jumping, spinning, and running around in his pjs. He hadn't experienced fireworks before! He didn't want to sit still, he wanted to jump up and try and catch them, etc. It was adorable. We ALL will remember it for a long time. When we got back, Lins had a tough time getting a tired,excited boy to bed. He kept telling her about Target, and Hobby Lobby, or "Hoky-Loky" as he calls it, and about his favorite dinosaur. He made my Fourth of July. :)
Tuesday, my last day in Santa Fe, was probably the worst day of my life. lol just kidding, but it was close. We were all relying on Kyle to be our alarm clock, since Jeff leaves for work at 6. Well Kyle slept in. I had an interview at 9 and another at 1045, and Zach had preschool at 830. The plan was for me to drop Z off at preschool, then go to my interview, which on any other day would have been completely feasible. WELL... I woke up late, Zach of course was trying to sleep in since he had been up late for the fireworks, so we were all rushing. Lindsey and I had said that as long as we left by 830 (Zach can be a little late to preschool), we would be find. so around 810, Lindsey got Zach up, sunscreened, dressed, and packed him breakfast in a lunchbox lol. We walked out the door at 839. As soon as I pulled out of the apartment complex, a big truck appeared out of nowhere and I had to slam on the brakes, shocking Zach and sending his milk sippy cup flying under the seat in front of him. Poor guy, just trying to stuff his breakfast down on the way to preschool, and he loses his milk. He exclaimed, "Annie! What button did you push that made the car do that and my milk go flying onto the floor?" lol. I promised to get it for him, but we were in such a hurry. Finally at a stoplight I put the car in park and "climbed" into the third row, with my legs up in the air near the steering wheel (at this point Zach was cracking up), trying to retrieve his milk. I couldnt. 8:48. 6 minutes from preschool. Preschool is 9 minutes from my interview. At this point I've accepted the fact I'm going to be 5 minutes late. We finally pull in to preschool, I retrieve Zach's milk and he sucks it down, stuffing the last of his bagel into his mouth to the point that pieces of it are falling out of his mouth. Instead of using the wipes Lindsey put into my purse, I use my hand to wipe the excess cream cheese off his mouth and run the poor little guy into preschool. I sign him in. 8:54. I give him a kiss,make sure his teachers see him and me, and get outside only to find that another preschool parent has parked behind me in the 2-row driveway (no one was in the other row.) At this point, I'm contemplating not going. I'm frazzled beyond belief, shaking, nervous, and still 9 minutes away from my interview, sitting still in a driveway. 8:59- she comes out, apologizing, and get in her car. Traffic is crazy, and I finally arrive at my interview at 9:10. It was clear to everyone that I was very late for something you generally do not arrive late to. I was so nervous I was visibly shaking, and my words kept getting caught in my throat so I looked like a total basketcase. Well, I blew this interview right? Once we got going with the questions, I was kind of sad, because I really liked the team, and the school, and ended up staying there for 45 minutes. But I knew I didn't get the job. I was 10 minutes late! So I went back to the apartment to tell Lindsey about the interview I butchered, and about poor Zach's adventure to preschool. Then I had to leave for my next interview, which was possibly worse than the first, but I wasn't that interested in the job. So I came back to the apartment, threw all my stuff together, and Lins, Kyle and I left to pick up Zach and head to Albuquerque to grab lunch in time for me to jump on my plane. 10 minutes after we left the preschool and were stopped in traffic due to about 4 wrecks in Santa Fe (???), the principal from the 9:00 interview called. I knew he called to tell me they had chosen another applicant. However, I also knew he was on vacation. To my surprise, he scheduled a phone interview for the next day, when I would be in Indy. I was shocked. I told him about being late to the interview and such and he seemed okay with it (I think it was best that I just was honest about it). So the drive to Albuquerque was not great because there was terrible traffic there too. We were able to stop and eat and then had to quickly leave at the end of our meal because a. Kyle began screaming (not crying, it's a new "funny" thing he does hehe) and b. my flight was scheduled to leave in an hour, and I had bags to check. So we said our quick goodbyes, and I made the gate, flustered still, and insanely tired (oh yeah, i slept 5 hours the night before). All went well for the flight home, besides the lavatory being broken on the plane from albuquerque to phoenix, which makes no sense anyway, and our flight leaving 30 minutes late, but they made arrangements to be sure we would make our connections. (I have no idea why I am suddenly underlining everything.)
I met some really cool people from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on the flight from Phoenix to Indy, and we had a blast. They were coming from a Christian camp in Flagstaff, AZ. They were crazy, fun, loud, and hysterical. Daddy picked me up at the airport in my car, which I didn't recognize, and I got to drive home, which was weird since I have a car and i was used to driving the Highlander.
I decided to stay at mom and dad's. The next morning I got a call for yet another (this makes 4) position in Santa Fe. I talked on the phone with the principal for 45 minutes, at the end of which she wanted to schedule a phone interview for the next day. LOL. I had my phone interview scheduled from the interview yesterday. So I went to Starbucks and CVS and came back in time to have my phone interview, during which I was told that the team that interviewed me the day before (the interview I was 10 minutes late to) recommended me for the position. So my phone interview was just a conversation before the principal told me he was recommending me for the position to HR. WOW! So a few hours later, HR called with an official job offer, with a salary $3000 more than what I was making here. I accepted. Time to get the ball rolling! I called the owners of the casita, and after some negotiating, we agreed upon lease terms on Saturday. Sunday he emailed me the lease. On Monday, I mailed the signed lease, the check for first and last month's rent and a damage deposit, along with my signed acceptance of a job offer.
Today is Tuesday. Next Monday night, the 18th, I leave for a training for my new position and will be back saturday night the 23rd. During that time I am renting a car and will get to stay in my casita. Then I will be leaving for good the 29th, but might be returning for a few days that next weekend for a family reunion. I have 12 days in Indy to get things packed up. So far I've cleaned out the guest bedroom, 1/2 of the bathroom (most of which is Tiff's), thrown away a ton of stuff, and tied up some loose ends. Today I plan on tackling the garage, which I anticipate to mostly be trash. I can't say I'm too overwhelmed. Moving my classroom was overwhelming, and with my parents' help, I got it done in like 4 days, only working 4-6 hours a day. This is minor compared to that.
I am very excited, and only a little bit nervous/sad. The issue of finding a job and a place to live is taken care of. The next hardest issue will be the actual move, which I'm not that worried about, and leaving Mom and Daddy. That part I am worried about, but they are soooooo supportive of me doing this, and i know they'll be out to visit all the time, and I know they're so proud I'm doing this. I'm proud too, come to think of it! Wow! I'm moving to New Mexico! Alone! :)
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Santa Fe June 2011- Part 2
After Mom left, I got back into "nanny mode" as Lindsey had to work the next 3 days. Jeff was working from home that week- Los Alamos and the lab were evacuated due to the fire. 20-some houses were burnt, much of Bandelier and the Santa Fe National Forest, and a LOT of Indiana reservation land. They were able to keep the fire from reaching much of the lab though, thankfully. Wednesday was my birthday. I had cards on the table from Mom and Lindsey, and Zach woke up and sang to me, and planted approximately 18 kisses all over my face. It was a nice day. We went and ate lunch at Ragle Park (the park with the "big tower slide." When Lindsey got off work, I went and picked her up and we went to Trader Joe's and then to Baskin Robbins for some birthday ice cream. Best birthdya I can remember in awhile, combined with mom's visit. :)
Thursday I started calling Santa Fe Public Schools Human Resources Department to find out why I hadn't gotten any interviews yet. They directed me to call back on Friday to find out more. When I did, the man I spoke with asked me to come in that day. I didn't understand why, but I did. :) Basically it was a pre-interview. They wanted to make sure that, since I was an out-of-state applicant, I was for sure moving there, and would be worth the principals' time to interview. I guess I passed, because on Monday I got a call for an interview for a Kindergarten position, for Tuesday. The interview went well, I thought the job would be perfect! Throughout the week I got 2 more calls scheduling interviews for the following Tuesday, the day I was leaving to go back to Indy. Sunday (the 26th), Lindsey and I went to Madrid, a "biker town", where the movie Wild Hogs was filmed. We had a lot of fun. Lins bought me a TON of birthday gifts, and I picked up some things for family members, and then we ate lunch at Mine Shaft's Tavern, which is said to be haunted. I took pictures but there were no orbs. :( The shops there were very eclectic and hippie-style. I bought 2 necklaces (one to wear to Chad and Michelle's wedding with the dress I bought at the Plaza), 2 bracelets (one was made out of recycled bicycle chains, the other out of pop tabs), a recycled New Mexico license plate made into a notebook, a pair of earrings to go with the necklace for the wedding, and a t-shirt that says " Art Lovin', Dog Lovin', Hippie Lovin', Coal Minin' Town... Madrid, New Mexico. (The Madrid in Spain is pronounced "Mah- DRID"... This city is pronounced "MAD-rid"... just fyi :)
The week after Madrid, I had an interview on Tuesday, then a short week nannying. Lindsey and I went out to a restaurant that saturday night on the Plaza, and drove buy a place I was thinking of renting. I also checked out an efficiency apartment (I call it the hotel room) near Ragle Park. It would have been great for a month, but was just too small. It was one room, including the kitchen, and only a 3/4 bath. (No bathtub). I love my baths!
Thursday I started calling Santa Fe Public Schools Human Resources Department to find out why I hadn't gotten any interviews yet. They directed me to call back on Friday to find out more. When I did, the man I spoke with asked me to come in that day. I didn't understand why, but I did. :) Basically it was a pre-interview. They wanted to make sure that, since I was an out-of-state applicant, I was for sure moving there, and would be worth the principals' time to interview. I guess I passed, because on Monday I got a call for an interview for a Kindergarten position, for Tuesday. The interview went well, I thought the job would be perfect! Throughout the week I got 2 more calls scheduling interviews for the following Tuesday, the day I was leaving to go back to Indy. Sunday (the 26th), Lindsey and I went to Madrid, a "biker town", where the movie Wild Hogs was filmed. We had a lot of fun. Lins bought me a TON of birthday gifts, and I picked up some things for family members, and then we ate lunch at Mine Shaft's Tavern, which is said to be haunted. I took pictures but there were no orbs. :( The shops there were very eclectic and hippie-style. I bought 2 necklaces (one to wear to Chad and Michelle's wedding with the dress I bought at the Plaza), 2 bracelets (one was made out of recycled bicycle chains, the other out of pop tabs), a recycled New Mexico license plate made into a notebook, a pair of earrings to go with the necklace for the wedding, and a t-shirt that says " Art Lovin', Dog Lovin', Hippie Lovin', Coal Minin' Town... Madrid, New Mexico. (The Madrid in Spain is pronounced "Mah- DRID"... This city is pronounced "MAD-rid"... just fyi :)
The week after Madrid, I had an interview on Tuesday, then a short week nannying. Lindsey and I went out to a restaurant that saturday night on the Plaza, and drove buy a place I was thinking of renting. I also checked out an efficiency apartment (I call it the hotel room) near Ragle Park. It would have been great for a month, but was just too small. It was one room, including the kitchen, and only a 3/4 bath. (No bathtub). I love my baths!
Santa fe bound!- June Part 1
I guess I need to be updated people on specifics of what's going on in my whirlwind right now. :) (Don't worry, it's all good stuff.)
In June, right after packing up my classroom, I went to Santa Fe for most of June and the first few days in July. Jeff got a job, and they needed a sitter, so Lindsey flew me out and I was a "live-in nanny." It's a pretty sweet deal- all of my meals were paid, everything I did with the boys paid, no lodging payment, a car to drive (a Toyota Highlander at that) and Lindsey only worked 3 days a week! I flew in on a Wednesday night, and the following Wednesday, Jeff, Lins, and the boys left for a vacay in Durango, Colorado. Wednesday I just hung around, (until I was very disturbed at how quiet the house was), then I went to drop off my resume at an elementary school out there I was interested in. It didn't get me far-the school was under renovation, so the office was all packed up, and the only people there were 2 painters who spoke little English. I left my resume anyway, then went and drove around aimlessly, getting lost but not caring. (I turned on my GPS when I started to head towards uninhabited land and pure desert.) :) Then I went to Paseo de Peralta and checked out a Pilates studio and went to this adorable little shop and got Daddy a Father's Day gift. Everyone is so sweet and helpful out there... the woman at the shop helped me box up his gift. So then I took it to the Santa Fe Post Office, which was interesting. They still have the little machine where you pull a little number out and the cashiers call out the numbers. It took 30 minutes! But luckily I had done everything correctly, and his Father's Day gift was there by the time they had promised me. On Thursday, I got to drive down to albuquerque (a very different drive than to Los Alamos)- Albuquerque is a little over an hour south, and at a lower elevation. So it is hotter there than in Santa Fe, and it has way more of the "big city" feel. There''s lots of traffic and lots of attractions along the way. I went Thursday morning to pick up my mom, who came out to visit as an early birthday present to me. :) I picked her up and on her way back into town she had to pee so bad (we don't like peeing on airplanes) so we had to stop at a random office place in Santa Fe. Poor thing. Then I took her around where I had intentionally gotten lost the day before. We came back to Lindsey and Jeff's and took a short nap, then went and hiked the very short 2 mile St. John's Trail starting at St. John's College. We took the scenic route back, along a road called "Wilderness Gate Road" (how charming huh?) and walked through a neighborhood of several million dollar adobe houses. a lot of the homes were blocked by gates and large adobe walls for privacy, since they have a trail going through the front of their property. Still, mom and I couldn't resist posing at the front door of one unassuming house that had it exposed. (It was probably the front door to the privacy gate, behind which was probably another gate, before the front door... but we didn't care.) :) We stopped at the grocery store on the way home, then cleaned up and went to Maria's (my favorite Mexican restaurant in Santa Fe) and ate chile rellenos, enchiladas, tamales, soapapillas (yummm) and a couple more things that came with the gigantic sampler's platter. I feel like a "local" when they ask me if I want green or red chiles and I respond "Christmas"--- Lindsey taught me that is how you request both. Then we came home and rented Just Go With It- with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, and laughed our butts off. We went to bed early (big surprise)- the time change really catches you off-guard- when it is 9 pm in Indy, it's only 7 pm there, so we were ready for bed 930 Santa Fe time. Friday we decided to hit Bandelier (thank goodness we did!) It is my FAVORITE place in New Mexico. It is a national monument with I think 70 miles of trails through excavated Indiana cliff dwellings. We decided to walk to the Alcove House, which requires you to climb over 150 feet up on simple wooden ladders. Mom is afraid of heights, but was absolutely fearless! It was a great experience. We hung out at the top, where there is a kiva (dwelling place) that you can travel down into) then made our descent down. The way down was much more difficult, as a. the wind was FIERCE that day, and b. it's a lot harder to go back down! I love this park so much, because this is where I saw the black bear 25 feet away from me the last time I was in New Mexico. My allergies definitely hit me hard though after that... While we were in Los Alamos, we stopped by the Bradbury Museum, which is a Science Museum dedicated to the Los Alamos site and all about the Trinity explosion back in the 1940s and nuclear research, etc. We went to the pool that afternoon, then ate our leftovers (and still had leftovers from that) and watched our movie again, and laughed our butts off again.
Saturday my allergies must have hit me hard, because I slept until 845 ( mom was ok with that though, she sat on the balcony and read, and went to the grocery store again, since Jeff and Lindsey and the boys were due back that evening.) Mom was so ecstatic because there was a garage sale going on in Lindsey and Jeff's apartment complex. We stopped by there and mom bought me a pair of jeans and 2 super cute sundresses for 5 dollars. We decided to then go to the Santa Fe Farmer's Market, which was kind of a bust, because I failed to note that it closed at 12, and we got there at 1245. Luckily, the Arts Market was going on all day, as was the Buckaroo Ball, a fundraising festival. Kids were walking around wearing western attire and carrying around cowboy boots for donations (a definite "shoe-in" for collecting money.) We donated, sat in the grass and listened to the Texas honky-tonk country music on the big stage, and drank cherry lemonade. Then we went back through all of the overpriced jewelry and such and bought the only things that were resonably priced (you know us...)- a woman in Santa Fe actually melts or soaks lavendar-scented soap into loofahs, and voila! she has soap loofahs! Mom and I both bought one (they were $4!) and I bought some blue corn tortilla "flavored" face scrub. It looks like mud but smells amazing and is great for scrubbing your face. and no, it doesn't taste like blue corn tortillas. :)
Then I had to show her jackalope, my favorite crafts/garden/souvenir vendor on Cerrillos Road. she bought a wooden mobile that was so cute. She was going to buy it, then wasn't becauseof the plane ride, then I made her, then we got up to the checkout counter and the woman informed us they were made in Thailand. So much for a Santa Fe souvenir! She loves it though! :)
When we got home, we checked on the white chicken chili mom had simmering in the crockpot all day, then went to the park and swung on the swings until the Bomke's arrived home. That day was the start of the Las Conchas fire near Los Alamos (it started from a down powerline) so we went to the park with the boys and to check out the plumes in the distance. Little did we know what that fire would eventually become... 130,000 acres of the state's largest fire in history. Then we came home and ate out chili, got the boys to bed, and were sitting down to watch Eat Pray Love, when a curious 4 year old who did not want to be in bed came creeping down the stairs wearing an Easter Bunny mask. It was a bit creepy, but also hysterical. We pictured him coming up with the idea "I know I won't get in trouble if I come down the stairs wearing this, they will laugh and think I'm cute." It worked, but he still wanted to stay up. :)
Monday, Mom went for a walk through the area where Lins and Jeff live (there are trails everywhere!) and then we got ready to go explore the plaza. We went into some shops, Mom bought me a pretty little dreamcatcher necklace, then we stopped at Upper Crust Pizza off Water Street in town and had the lunch special. Then it was time to head back to Lins and Jeff's so Lins could put Kyle down for a nap, and I could take mom to albuquerque to catch her flight.
It was sad to see her go, because I had already realized that it was very likely I was going to move to Santa Fe. We had the most wonderful time in 5 days, and I was sad it was over. I know she agreed.
In June, right after packing up my classroom, I went to Santa Fe for most of June and the first few days in July. Jeff got a job, and they needed a sitter, so Lindsey flew me out and I was a "live-in nanny." It's a pretty sweet deal- all of my meals were paid, everything I did with the boys paid, no lodging payment, a car to drive (a Toyota Highlander at that) and Lindsey only worked 3 days a week! I flew in on a Wednesday night, and the following Wednesday, Jeff, Lins, and the boys left for a vacay in Durango, Colorado. Wednesday I just hung around, (until I was very disturbed at how quiet the house was), then I went to drop off my resume at an elementary school out there I was interested in. It didn't get me far-the school was under renovation, so the office was all packed up, and the only people there were 2 painters who spoke little English. I left my resume anyway, then went and drove around aimlessly, getting lost but not caring. (I turned on my GPS when I started to head towards uninhabited land and pure desert.) :) Then I went to Paseo de Peralta and checked out a Pilates studio and went to this adorable little shop and got Daddy a Father's Day gift. Everyone is so sweet and helpful out there... the woman at the shop helped me box up his gift. So then I took it to the Santa Fe Post Office, which was interesting. They still have the little machine where you pull a little number out and the cashiers call out the numbers. It took 30 minutes! But luckily I had done everything correctly, and his Father's Day gift was there by the time they had promised me. On Thursday, I got to drive down to albuquerque (a very different drive than to Los Alamos)- Albuquerque is a little over an hour south, and at a lower elevation. So it is hotter there than in Santa Fe, and it has way more of the "big city" feel. There''s lots of traffic and lots of attractions along the way. I went Thursday morning to pick up my mom, who came out to visit as an early birthday present to me. :) I picked her up and on her way back into town she had to pee so bad (we don't like peeing on airplanes) so we had to stop at a random office place in Santa Fe. Poor thing. Then I took her around where I had intentionally gotten lost the day before. We came back to Lindsey and Jeff's and took a short nap, then went and hiked the very short 2 mile St. John's Trail starting at St. John's College. We took the scenic route back, along a road called "Wilderness Gate Road" (how charming huh?) and walked through a neighborhood of several million dollar adobe houses. a lot of the homes were blocked by gates and large adobe walls for privacy, since they have a trail going through the front of their property. Still, mom and I couldn't resist posing at the front door of one unassuming house that had it exposed. (It was probably the front door to the privacy gate, behind which was probably another gate, before the front door... but we didn't care.) :) We stopped at the grocery store on the way home, then cleaned up and went to Maria's (my favorite Mexican restaurant in Santa Fe) and ate chile rellenos, enchiladas, tamales, soapapillas (yummm) and a couple more things that came with the gigantic sampler's platter. I feel like a "local" when they ask me if I want green or red chiles and I respond "Christmas"--- Lindsey taught me that is how you request both. Then we came home and rented Just Go With It- with Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler, and laughed our butts off. We went to bed early (big surprise)- the time change really catches you off-guard- when it is 9 pm in Indy, it's only 7 pm there, so we were ready for bed 930 Santa Fe time. Friday we decided to hit Bandelier (thank goodness we did!) It is my FAVORITE place in New Mexico. It is a national monument with I think 70 miles of trails through excavated Indiana cliff dwellings. We decided to walk to the Alcove House, which requires you to climb over 150 feet up on simple wooden ladders. Mom is afraid of heights, but was absolutely fearless! It was a great experience. We hung out at the top, where there is a kiva (dwelling place) that you can travel down into) then made our descent down. The way down was much more difficult, as a. the wind was FIERCE that day, and b. it's a lot harder to go back down! I love this park so much, because this is where I saw the black bear 25 feet away from me the last time I was in New Mexico. My allergies definitely hit me hard though after that... While we were in Los Alamos, we stopped by the Bradbury Museum, which is a Science Museum dedicated to the Los Alamos site and all about the Trinity explosion back in the 1940s and nuclear research, etc. We went to the pool that afternoon, then ate our leftovers (and still had leftovers from that) and watched our movie again, and laughed our butts off again.
Saturday my allergies must have hit me hard, because I slept until 845 ( mom was ok with that though, she sat on the balcony and read, and went to the grocery store again, since Jeff and Lindsey and the boys were due back that evening.) Mom was so ecstatic because there was a garage sale going on in Lindsey and Jeff's apartment complex. We stopped by there and mom bought me a pair of jeans and 2 super cute sundresses for 5 dollars. We decided to then go to the Santa Fe Farmer's Market, which was kind of a bust, because I failed to note that it closed at 12, and we got there at 1245. Luckily, the Arts Market was going on all day, as was the Buckaroo Ball, a fundraising festival. Kids were walking around wearing western attire and carrying around cowboy boots for donations (a definite "shoe-in" for collecting money.) We donated, sat in the grass and listened to the Texas honky-tonk country music on the big stage, and drank cherry lemonade. Then we went back through all of the overpriced jewelry and such and bought the only things that were resonably priced (you know us...)- a woman in Santa Fe actually melts or soaks lavendar-scented soap into loofahs, and voila! she has soap loofahs! Mom and I both bought one (they were $4!) and I bought some blue corn tortilla "flavored" face scrub. It looks like mud but smells amazing and is great for scrubbing your face. and no, it doesn't taste like blue corn tortillas. :)
Then I had to show her jackalope, my favorite crafts/garden/souvenir vendor on Cerrillos Road. she bought a wooden mobile that was so cute. She was going to buy it, then wasn't becauseof the plane ride, then I made her, then we got up to the checkout counter and the woman informed us they were made in Thailand. So much for a Santa Fe souvenir! She loves it though! :)
When we got home, we checked on the white chicken chili mom had simmering in the crockpot all day, then went to the park and swung on the swings until the Bomke's arrived home. That day was the start of the Las Conchas fire near Los Alamos (it started from a down powerline) so we went to the park with the boys and to check out the plumes in the distance. Little did we know what that fire would eventually become... 130,000 acres of the state's largest fire in history. Then we came home and ate out chili, got the boys to bed, and were sitting down to watch Eat Pray Love, when a curious 4 year old who did not want to be in bed came creeping down the stairs wearing an Easter Bunny mask. It was a bit creepy, but also hysterical. We pictured him coming up with the idea "I know I won't get in trouble if I come down the stairs wearing this, they will laugh and think I'm cute." It worked, but he still wanted to stay up. :)
Monday, Mom went for a walk through the area where Lins and Jeff live (there are trails everywhere!) and then we got ready to go explore the plaza. We went into some shops, Mom bought me a pretty little dreamcatcher necklace, then we stopped at Upper Crust Pizza off Water Street in town and had the lunch special. Then it was time to head back to Lins and Jeff's so Lins could put Kyle down for a nap, and I could take mom to albuquerque to catch her flight.
It was sad to see her go, because I had already realized that it was very likely I was going to move to Santa Fe. We had the most wonderful time in 5 days, and I was sad it was over. I know she agreed.
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