Santa Fe Christmas

I went home to Santa Fe to hang out with my parents for the holidays. It was so nice to be back.

I was there for ten nights and don't remember all the details so I won't give my usual rundown, but I'll throw out some highlights.

Christmas Eve I went for a five mile run outside that included stopping briefly for two last-minute shopping errands. I liked being able to multitask.

Family came over for our traditional posole and tamales on Christmas Eve before we all went to church together. Then Dad and I walked Canyon Road to see all the farolitos, walked down a really long street with neat big old houses I'd never seen before, and checked out the lights on the plaza. Then we went to the cozy bar at the Hotel St. Francis (which has also become our Christmas Eve tradition) and enjoyed fancy cocktails.

Setting up farolitos at our house on Christmas Eve

Enjoying the lights on the plaza

Christmas Day my parents and I had a nice breakfast, then Granddad joined us for "tree," then more people joined us for "dinner."

The day after Christmas it snowed! Dad and I walked around downtown in the snow.

Santa Fe in the snow!

Snowy plaza

One day the three of us ate at Tomasita's before seeing the new Spiderman movie at Violet Crown. Mom and I really liked the movie. Dad napped. It was also neat to visit another Violet Crown (since there's one in Charlottesville).

We only went out for New Mexican twice, and both times I got a giant burrito with green chile.

The three of us also watched Godless on Netflix over a few nights while I was there. Dad still napped some though.

With all the snow, I helped Dad shovel several times. We also shoveled over at Granddad's house.

Mom made scones one morning for breakfast that were supposed to have cranberries but had to be substituted with dates. They were still really good. I love scones.

One afternoon the three of us headed to Museum Hill, where we visited a great modern exhibit at the Museum of Spanish Colonial Arts, took a quick spin through the Museum of International Folk Art, and arrived at the Santa Fe Botanical Garden just in time for sundown and their Glow. The place is small so we made two laps (the second one after it truly was dark), and took a hot chocolate break in between because it was freezing. Way below freezing, actually.

Snow and art on Museum Hill

Bundled up to enjoy lights at the Botanical Garden

Hot cocoa!

 To warm up after the Glow we visited the Chili Line Brewing Co. (new to all of us) to taste some beer. They do all smoked beers, and they had red and green chile flavors. Those weren't my favorite but it was a fun experience.

Tasting smoked Chili Line beer

 Sunday after church we ate lunch with Granddad, then Dad and I attended a little handbell concert at St. Francis. Then we walked around downtown some more.

Handbell concert at the Cathedral Basilica

Dad and I saw the new Mary Poppins movie, which I really liked, though he did a little napping again. Sheesh.

On New Year's Eve I went for another five mile run, only this time everything was covered in snow. It was so pretty! That night the three of us played Tri-Ominos. We had played earlier in the week too. And it snowed some more.

Snow packed running!

I think those are all the highlights. I also got to catch up on my sleep while there, which was really nice. (I didn't do it during the movies though!)