Adventures in Ho' Mexico

My Mom came to visit us last week (her first time in New Mexico) so we took her around to see all the sights....here are a few pictures of our adventures!!!

Getting ready to take my mom around to expolre Santa Fe!!!!

Me and Naters checking out the fish at the aquarium... I look really in to it don't I???

Sitting infront of the Shark tank.... Nathan was a little nervous at first but by the end he was hitting the glass.

Me and Jaecie at the Bio Park in the "Dragons cave"

Ready to check out all those fish!!!

Jaecie showing off her Jackalope that Grandma Jill bought her... she even sleeps with it (I cannot imagine that those horns are too cozy!

Us at the zoo in the "tropical" exhibit... it STUNK sooooo bad in there (notice Jaecies plugged nose) She kept gagging so we had to get out quick I thought she was going to puke!
Mom and the kids hanging out at home... Nathan was her little buddy the entire time and Jaecie had a hard time sharing her Grandma with him!
My Mom infront of the big Catholic church in Santa Fe.

The good ol' State Fair!

We went to the State Fair this Saturday with some friends and I thought I'd post a few pictures of the big event! The kids had a good time and there really weren't any more scary people there then at any other State Fair which was nice to see......
Nathan checking out the animal at the petting farm


Jaecie with her little friends poseing in front of the giant pig


They are becoming such better pals lately and it is so fun to see!

I would have to say that this was the main event.... after one failed attempt to put a ring around a ducks neck we decided to let Jaecie try one more game and to our suprise she won this Giant Pink monkey... (thanks to a little help from our friendly carnival worked pictured above) it was pretty danged hillarous!
The whole crew showing off they're winnings!

All in all a pretty fun day!

My little school girl!!

My little girl is getting so big!
Jaecie had her first day of Preschool today and in VanAusdal Family tradition I had her pose with a sign saying what "grade" she was going into. Since she did not go last year she was very excited about her new adventure! I did not cry but I will admit that it was very hard for me to tell her goodbye (she could have cared less that I was leaving) I just cannot think about the fact that she will be in Kindergarten next year... she is so old (and I guess so am I) I always thought that moms with kids old enough to go to school were old but now I am one of those moms....:( Oh well, it was nice to just have Naters for 3 hours (he does not ask any questions)
Nathan felt left out so we let him in a picture

Our drive up the mountain

So, we decided to take a drive up the mountians hoping to see some green... what we did not expect to see is this! Taylor spotted it running across the road and we stopped to check it out... a GIANT TARANTULA!!!!




This is as close as Taylor dared to get but this should give you some perspective on how large this sucker really is... Taylor wears a size 11 shoe! This guy was big!!!!

New Mexico is a pretty all of it's own... if you like sage brush... but one thing I will give it is that it has beautiful sunsets... these pictures do not do it justice but you can imagine!!!