Los Alamos Nature Center

This will be the last post about our Christmas trip to New Mexico.

The nature Center in Los Alamos is small and does not have a ton of things to do, but we all had a pleasant time. I was surprised by how much the kids and I enjoyed it. AND it was free! Always a plus.

 They had an area where the kids could put things under a microscope. I didn't get a picture but Andrew put his face under the microscope and we all got to see his big old eye. It reminded me of the big eye in the movie, Flight of the Navigator.

 Natalie looking at lizards, spiders, millipedes, scorpions and salamanders.

 I got a new camera for my birthday. It's just a point and take a picture kind but it has a more buttons then my old camera. I needed a camera with better zoom and faster shutter speed. There was a lot of birds at the nature center for me to practice my picture taking skills.

 ...And this is poo... For some reason the kids seemed to like this exhibit.

 Melanie was kind enough to pose for me. Thanks sister!

Right now I am listening to Palestrina's, Missa Papae Marcelli and feeling very peaceful. A feeling that I don't get very often. It's nice. When was the last time you felt at peace with the world?

Santa Fe Children's Museum

During the Christmas break my kids were able to spend some time with their Great Aunts and second cousins at the Children's Museum.

 There was bubble makings.

 And this thing... Hannah gave herself blisters! Silly Girl

My mother and her sisters. Aren't the cute! See what Emily started with the photo bombing! I have very few pictures where there is not someone photo bombing.

 The kids seemed to spend the most time with the magnets.

I always wish that there were more opportunities to spend time with my extended family. But the larger a family gets and the older the kids are the harder it is to find the same dates/time to get together.

Ice Skating

There are 5 non-Christmas activities that my kids believe have to happen at Grandma's and Granddads.

1. Ice Skating
2. Swimming
3. Hiking/ Looking for pottery
4. Hecks Hole
5. Sledding.

This last Christmas the kids were able to do all except for go down Hecks Hole. Personal if I had to list the activity's from most excited to least excited about Hecks Hole would be at the bottom.

Natalie thinks that we didn't go down because Aunt Jenny left and she is the brave one. How true that is.

I only got pictures from one activity. Ice Skating. I'm very thankful that Jim took pictures for me, but I wish he had taken less of me and more of everyone else. I'm not sure if I should be flattered or slightly upset...

These are the only pictures that have other family members.

Christmas 2015

This post will be mostly pictures. FYI

This was a great Christmas! I'm not saying that this Christmas was better then the last, but just that this vacation was so very needed.

All except for one sibling was there for Christmas Day. I'm telling you it was awesome.

Before leaving for New Mexico, we set up our little tree and opened up our family gifts.Even though we are the proud owners of a mini van and now have room for more things, it has become a tradition that we open up some of our gifts early.

 We are going to need a bigger tree next year. I still had 20+ ornaments that didn't make it on the tree.

 Natalie had Andrew

Mom had Hannah

Andrew had Natalie

Music a a HUGE part of the Helm Christmas. We sing, play instruments, bells, recorders, guitars and sing LOUD and sometimes really high!

 Angela set up a night for anyone who played a stringed instrument. Four cellos

 Two violas. The wooden chair was my chair. Four violins (one came late).

 And Two Basses. Doesn't Hannah's litle bass look so cute?

And Jenny was helping us all stay together.

On Christmas Eve we open one gift that is P.J. or the like. Emily really got into photo bombing. Here are some of my favs.

Emily inspired others to become good photo bombers

 Angela's P.J.'s were just a little too big. She is wearing the pants like a tube top.

 Christmas morning... the line up

 In the evening we had the Christmas pageant.
Very reverent watchers...

 I loved how the kids took their rolls very seriously and did their bests. They knew they were acting out something special.

I have a a couple recording of angels singing, but Tom made us promise not to post. I might for the right price...