WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY HAVE ALREADY DONE EVERYTHING????

 By

Gypsy Rhapsody

(a 1977 Airstream that loves it when the Texas crew comes)

Always lots of fun!!!

V and D's Texas daughter, Emilie, and grandkids, Vincent and Maddie, have been coming to see us in New Mexico for the past 10 summers.  That's right...10 summers.  They pack in the fishing, swimming, shopping, summer tubing, zip-lining, go-karting, and hiking.  They do like to repeat all the old stuff, but trying something new is always fun.

Soooo, back to the same question...What to do when they have already done everything???

Their first newbie for this summer was the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado.  It wasn't entirely new, but it had been so long since they went, that it felt new all over again.  They were up for the adventure.   They piled in the truck and headed north.  They rented sleds for sledding down the dunes.  

Maddie, Emilie, Vincent ready to slide down the dunes.

...but to get to the sliding part, they had to walk a LONG way.

Maddie and Emilie to the left.

Vincent to the right.

wished

This is Vannie...sitting on a log in the shade.

Perfect

She said she wished she had taken a photo when they finished.

Sand was stuck to every inch of their exposed body.

Thankfully, there were outside showers available.

Their second newbie was Zapata Falls.  The falls are right outside 

the Dunes Park.  After parking, it is a short hike to the falls.

Maddie, the butterfly whisperer

Look closely at her finger...there sits a butterfly!

It took walking through a stream, and climbing over rocks to get to the falls.

...but they said it was so worth it.

Their third newbie was the Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimarron. One of the highlights of the ranch is the Villa Philmonte.  An official scout was their tour guide, and Dave said he was as delightful as the villa itself.   He knew his stuff and loved sharing with them all the nooks and crannies of the establishment.  

The villa was built around 1926 in the Spanish Mediterranean style.

Living space is over 28,000 square feet.  It still has some of the original furnishings and fine art, which includes a wonderful player piano.

Vannie said Dave could not resist sitting down and playing a tune.

Their guide said it had been a very busy summer with seminars and various learning activities for leaders.

For lunch the crew headed back to Cimarron to Kathleen's Burrito Banquet.

They all said the food was delicious, but the highlight was the green chili lemonade.  

Wonderfully refreshing, with a light afterburn.

Fourth newbie...picnic at Eagle Rock Lake in Questa.

They have hiked at the lake lots of times, but never opted for a picnic.

menu...hot dogs, chips, Oreo cookies

This was taken after lunch, near the Questa Falls.

If you look closely, you can see the Red River...right behind.

Now, just for a look at some repeats...

Ice Cream

Corn Hole

art projects with friends...check out that deer photo bombing

Hiking Columbine Trail between Questa and Red River

The trail was full of wildflowers.

Go-Carting in Red River

Vincent's in the lead...

Followed by Maddie..

...and then Emilie

Bingo

Winner's...Maddie and Emilie

Their stay was ended with the traditional Rainbow trout dinner.

Fish caught by Vincent!!!

On a side note...Maddie actually flew out by herself a week ahead of Emilie and Vincent.

Vannie and T-Pop had a blast with her.

Eating

Acting goofy

Creating new drinks

...and...getting more beautiful!!!

...and as that great scholar, Winnie the Pooh, said,

"We didn't realize we were making memories.  We just knew we were having fun."