Way out West

The occasion of my sister's move from one small town in New Mexico to another, smaller town was just the excuse we needed to venture out West. What more does a mother of two small children, running a business, with a husband commuting once weekly need than her family to visit of course? I like to think we were a nice break from the moving in. In any case, I was interested to see this part of the country, romanticized by those traveling to and from Marfa via the Instagrams. 

The drive out was punctuated by stops in Texas at a lavender farm (of course) and stocking up at Trader Joe's (when the nearest one is 4 hours away, you go when you can). 

We arrived "late late late" as Serena would say and it was good indeed to have us Usserys all under one room (Mom and Dad had traveled a few days earlier). When under a roof with three small children it is impressive to make many trips but we managed to squeeze in two adventures. 

Our first was to White Sands National Monument at dusk, which was other worldly. The advantage to going so late in the day = fewer crowds but disadvantage = less time. I'll let the pictures do their job:

'twas a bit windy

I think we all felt like this!

There was a full moon tour which would have been fantastic - noted for next time.

In between trips, we squeezed in a visit to Lindsay's well curated boutique, Olive and June. I went on a mini shopping spree, aided by my sister's superior eye and Serena got to play shop girl, which of course she delighted in. 

we went out for authentic Mexican in El Paso, took in the Mexican sights including the local flora:

and Ben and I snuck in hot runs in Lindsay's neighborhood. There was a trail beginning at this very point but I was too afraid of encountering a rattle snake to venture very far. : )

We bookmarked the trip with a visit to Carlsbad Caverns. It was a drive from Linsday's - 3 hours or so, but well worth it. The trip took us from desert valley, to mountains, to desert hills. 

The kids all became Jr Rangers immediately following the 1.5 hour self guided tour

To be reminded that the ground underneath us can hold its own on the beauty scale was not unappreciated! 

In summer my mind is never far from finding a swimming hole. The family was very trusting in my navigation into the desert away from the main roads and all internet service to end up here:

Sitting Bull Falls is about an hour's drive from the Caverns and more than worth it. There are scattered picnic tables nestled in the mountainside and a well crafted walk way to the falls. We hesitated not one second in shedding our outerwear for swimsuits and jumped right in to the slightly frigid (but in the best way) water. Serena was so brave to swim with me directly under the falls. Henry was coached so well by his Dad in learning to swim in a smaller warmer cove adjacent to the falls. I floated, looking up at the falls and surrounding beauty, trying to take a photograph for my mind to go to any time in the future when feeling stressed or anguished. 

I didn't want to leave but there was quite a trek back, so leave we must. 

The days few by and too soon we bid adieu to our family, heading back to hope for precious mail containing an I800 receipt notice (which is an application to the US CIS to adopt and bring home a specific child; we have already been accepted to adopt "a" child, you see.).

Good bye, New Mexico!