Albuquerque

 Due to Covid, we hadn't seen Grandma and Grandpa Bundy in over a year. We kept making plans to see each other and restrictions/risks due to exposure made it really hard for us to travel there, or for them to come to us. 

Finally, in December 2020, we were able to go visit. Since the boys had winter camp right after Christmas, we headed out the week before Christmas. The drive was fairly uneventful...we just avoided stopping as much as possible and tried not to touch anything when we did have to stop for gas/restrooms/etc. 

New Mexico has been very strict with quarantining, asking everyone who visits to quarantine for 2 weeks before going anywhere public so we knew we would mostly hang out at my parents' house. We picked up Cameron from his art class on Thursday the 17th and headed straight to NM, getting in quite late. 

The next day Mom was ready to bake with Lily and Becca. They made lots of cookies and other goodies.

Cameron had lots of (maybe too much?) fun in the hot tub with Rob. 

There were bed-time stories read...

My brother John flew in Saturday morning. 

We went for a walk in the Bosque. The kids loved playing by the river and climbing the strange trees there.

On Sunday, we got to tune in to our ward's Christmas program through Zoom. Dale and I played a piece together on piano, violin, and trumpet. That night my sister Hannah flew in so Mom and I went to pick her up. When we got home, John had surprised Mom with an inflatable T-Rex. Kimball worked hard to set up some luminarias that day too.

Monday we celebrated an early Christmas with turkey, potatoes, and all sorts of yummy food. We exchanged gifts that night and played some games. 

Judy, John, Cameron, Dale, Grandma, Becca, Hannah, Lily, Grandpa

That night the "Christmas Star" was visible. It was the planets Jupiter and Saturn getting the closest they have been in 400 years, and 800 years since it happened at night. 

Tuesday we explored the Sandia foothills. Lily wanted to walk and walk...probably a bit of cabin fever.

Wednesday we enjoyed the morning there and started our drive back home so we would have time to get ready for Christmas the next day. Our kids did not want to leave! Covid has sure made the things we are all so used to much harder. But, it was wonderful to go and create new memories.