Ruidoso, Celebrating Gigi's Bday, and the Chihuahua's game!

It's time for our annual long summer trip to El Paso- yay!!! We like to drive down for a couple weeks (or more, if possible) in the summer so we have lots of time to see everyone and spend quality time! 

This year, since I am teaching 3 classes at the gym and needed to arrange subs, we decided we could really just stay a little over 2 weeks. But we definitely wanted to be there for Gigi's birthday!! So we hopped in the minivan bright and early on a Friday morning, and for the first time ever, drove straight to Ruidoso to meet Capi and Gigi! The drive was a little longer, but it was nice to see new scenery / towns as we drove (until Ellie decided she was done with the drive!!). 

We left our house at 7 am, went through a drive through for breakfast, stopped twice for gas, once for lunch (at the most busy Subway ever) and one extra stopped to change a diaper. Google maps said 9 hour 20 minutes... it took us about 11!! And the last couple hours, Ellie (who never fell asleep for her nap) was not very happy about much of anything!  But thankfully, the drive was otherwise not too bad!  

Thank goodness this little guy got a small nap- I wish they all had! 

So after a LOOOOOONG drive from Cedar Park to Ruidoso, we pulled into Capi and Gigi's house and let the kids run and Bella run for a while before heading to the club for dinner! When we got back to the house, although it was SO late, I made the kids quickly take a picture in front of the HUGE and amazing orange moon. The picture, of course, does not do it justice (but I do love the little faces in front!) 

The next morning, we woke up and walked to the club for breakfast! How cute is this clan!! 

Saturday night we had a mini- party at their house celebrating Gigi's birthday, and Sunday, Gigi's birthday, we started the morning back at the club for breakfast. We realized it was just a little too long a walk for Ellie, so we let her ride in the stroller, and the boys decided they would rather ride than walk to the club! Can't say I blame them when that's their ride!! Happy little monkeys with their Capi!!! 

 But we did walk home, and Evan even helped me push the stroller a lot of the way!

Capi let the boys and me fly back in the helicopter with him, and Barrett, Gigi, and Ellie drove our car. The boys and I were so excited! 

The view and flight in the helicopter is absolutely breathtaking to me!! We listened to great music and cruised through the beautiful mountains! 

Again, no justice done, but I took a quick video of our scene. 

We stopped in Alamogordo for gas, and the boys were offered ice cream at the airport. 

Also, an ambulance helicopter had just dropped off a patient in El Paso, and they were on their way back home. They happened to be landing at almost the exact same time as us, and were hanging in the airport lounge. The boys were fascinated by their helicopter, and when I mentioned it to them, they told us to come take a look! I had never been up close to look in one of these either- pretty neat!

Thankful for them!! 

The view after Alamogordo wasn't quite as breathtaking, but it was still awesome!! 

Although not awesome enough to keep these monkeys awake!! 

 We got home, got cleaned up, and let Gigi open a few gifts.

Then we made it to our first Chihuahua Baseball game of the year! Yay! A 3rd year in a row tradition for Gigi's birthday!!

And Ellie's first Chihuahua's game (although she has been wearing the shirts for years!!

 Family shot before entering the gate!  

 The boys were the most into the game I have ever seen!! And LJ was even telling me info about the players! Love it!

 Great seats and great fun!!

We left a little early (because it was so late!) but had such a great time!! 

Happy happy birthday to my beautiful mother!!! I love you so much and am SO happy we got to be together to celebrate you (and still have two weeks to celebrate some more!!!).