Las Cruces, NM
We spent the Thanksgiving holiday with my parents in Las Cruces, NM again. We had a wonderful time exploring some areas the kids had seen before (White Sands National Monument) and other areas that were new to them (downtown Mesilla). We flew out on Tuesday evening and the airport was eerily empty; we walked right up to security. Similarly, on our return flight, Harry Reid Airport was the emptiest I have ever seen it.
White Sands National Monument
On Wednesday, we explored White Sands National Monument. This place is always impressive and the endless mounds of gypsum sand provide the perfect sledding hills. We then drove about an hour West to Cloudcroft. This town sits at 9,000 feet so there was snow! While there, we visited a few of their local shops and enjoyed some local pizza and beer at Cloudcroft Brewing Co.
We spent Thanksgiving Day watching the Lions lose a close one and helping Grandma prepare Thanksgiving dinner. Terry and Linda Schukei, who we hadn’t seen in a few years, joined us for the family dinner.
Friday was spent hiking to Le Cueva in Dripping Springs National Monument and playing tag in Old Mesilla. Le Cueva is a cave that was inhibited by a man known as The Hermit in the 1860s. We took a small half mile hike to reach it at the base of the Organ Mountains. Mesilla, established at the conclusion of the Mexican War in 1848, is now a bustling tourist attraction with galleries and gift shops. We enjoyed the local Christmas décor surrounded by fall berries and leaves, while we played in the grassy town square.
We spent our last day visiting the Avalos Family and making a pre airport stop at the El Paso Zoo. Initially, the Zoo left much to be desired, however, as we spent more time there, we were able to see more impressive animals including: tigers, giraffes, zebras, lions, orangutans, and Miles’s favorite: spider monkeys. Thankfully, we had a very uneventful flight home and even landed about 30 minutes early!
While we don’t live close to my parents, we are grateful that we are able to see them every month or two. I continue to be grateful for their good health and mobility. I’m even more grateful for the memories they are making with Ella and Miles. Ella was able to show off her newly acquired reading skills to Grandma and Grandpa by reading her Elephant and Piggie books.