family time and a big celebration

Last week I went home to Santa Fe to see family.

I arrived Wednesday in time for a good New Mexican dinner with my parents.

Thursday they took me to the phone store and got me an iPhone. I finally have a smart phone you guys. That night we enjoyed beer and appetizers at Second Street Brewery. Late Thursday night Ryan arrived!

Friday Dad and Ryan went fishing ("I'm the fish whisperer," said Ryan on his way out). While they were gone all day Mom and I got mani/pedis and massages! I also squeezed a five mile run in there. That evening we all visited with my grandparents for a little while and then went out for a nice Japanese dinner. We tasted different sakes, had noodles and sushi, and enjoyed fun desserts.

Saturday Ryan and I went out for breakfast. Then it was time to help get ready for the Santa Fe visit's main event.

My grandparents' 70th anniversary was on July 15, so we had a party that weekend. It was held at my parents' church, and we had about eighty people come for lunch and to celebrate Grandmother and Granddad. It was pretty neat.

Cute couple.

Then and Now pictures, and the 1944 newspaper with their original wedding announcement.

Granddad greeting his guests.

The crowd.

The cake, with some unintended Spanglish thrown in.

After the party (and a nap) Dad and Ryan and I went downtown. We had a beer at a block party at the Rail Yard, walked around downtown, and then had margaritas and nachos.

Playing around.

Contemplating nachos.

Sunday I went for another run, then joined the family at church. Afterwards we went to Tortilla Flats and I ordered the roast beef quesadillas I used to get years ago. So good. After lunch Ryan had to head back to Utah. 

Jackson

Once he was off Dad and I went downtown and visited the Site Santa Fe Biennial show of contemporary art. It was fun. Then we walked around downtown some more. That evening my parents and I just hung out at home, eating popcorn and talking.

Dad checking out some art.

And playing King of the Mountain.

Early Monday morning they drove me to the airport in Albuquerque and I headed back to Virginia.

It was a really nice time spent with my family, and I was so glad we could all be there to celebrate with my grandparents!

beach time

Last weekend I went with family to the beach! They stayed all week but alas, I could only stay two nights. It was a good short beach break though.

Saturday I drove to Richmond to meet up with them, then drove the van with Grandpa to Sandbridge (in Virginia Beach). We all stopped at the Virginia Diner along the way for lunch.

As soon as we arrived to our beach-front condo Grandpa made a beeline for the balcony to enjoy the view. So we sat out there with some drinks and snacks and reveled in seeing the ocean.

Sunni and her friends made their beeline for the beach.

 Later in the afternoon I went for a walk on the beach.

Beach sighting!

Sunday I went out to lunch with Sunni and her friends, but otherwise I stayed inside all day. It was windy out and I didn't think going to the beach would be relaxing. Sunday was also my aunt's birthday, so that night we had a nice big meal and hung out singing show-tunes and telling stories late into the night.

Sunday morning sunrise.

 Monday I finally lay in the sun and went in the water with Sunni. I love jumping waves. The water was really cold though, so we just went back and forth between the cold water and the hot sandy beach. It was fun and relaxing. And of course it required recovering with a nap as soon as we got back inside. I did a little more hanging out after that, but then left around 6:30 and drove back home.

Relaxin'