White Sands National Monument

When we decided to drive from TX to AZ for Christmas, Jacob wanted to take a side trip to see the White Sands Missile Range. I'd never heard of it. But I'm glad he had!

We never got to stop at the Missile Range...... but we did go to the White Sands National Monument. And it was totally worth the drive!

White Sands is just that. White sand. LOTS of it.

As far as your eyes can see!

 

 

The kids were excited for snow! But they quickly learned it was not snow, just sand that looks like snow.

 

 

 

We got sleds at the gift shop and went sledding down the dunes!

 

Nathan agreed that it was a blast!

 

 

 

Faith enjoyed her first trip down. The second one scared her.

 

But once at the bottom of the small dune, she jumped with excitement.

She would go one more final time before deciding there were much better things to do with the sand.

 

With one less person interested in sledding, there were more turns for the 3 of us that wanted to go ;)

 

Aww - Jacob wrote "Jacob (heart) Kim"

 

 

Ruth wasn't interested in sledding. But she had a wonderful time being carried up the dunes in Daddy's arms!

 

Faith was a super climber! She was up those dunes faster than anyone. Nathan, though, struggled. I guess he takes after his mother in that department - slippery/rocky/sandy slopes always trip me up, too. Nathan hopes his sister would help, but she didn't want to get pulled back down. She did, however, cheer him on!

 

Ruthie was as happy as could be just playing in the sand!

 

 

And Faith eventually went sledding again, on Mommy's lap.

 

 

haha - I love her faces :)

 

 

It's one giant, 275 sq mile sand box! Ruth was in heaven!

 

Mommy & Daddy went down the steeper slopes too scary for the kids.

That was fun! I wish I'd gone a few more times ;)

Can we go back tomorrow, honey? :D

 

 

Faith & Ruth found plenty of other ways to entertain themselves with the sand!

 

 

 

We can't forget sand angels!

 

Even Ruthie made one, with Daddy's help!

 

And Faith was super proud of her heart. She hopes it stays there forever so everyone can see her love. Awww ;)

 

I took a few short videos of Jacob & Nathan sledding. Enjoy!

 

 
For those interested in knowing a little more about White Sands, here's some pics of the info booths. You should be able to click on them to enlarge them:



Carlsbad Caverns

On our road trip home from AZ, we made a few stops. One was to Carlsbad Caverns.

 

 

Faith was obviously not so thrilled to be there....

 

 

We took a Ranger's suggestion, and rode the elevator down 750 feet to the "Big Room"

The ranger told us the climb down the main entrance often tires little kids out before they ever get to the big room. She was wise! We had no clue that the big room was so... well... BIG! 357,000+ sq feet big! It was about a mile walk just in that room, alone.

 

We spent most of our walk trying to point out stalactites, stalagmites, columns, draperies, soda straws popcorn formations (after we educated ourselves about them first)

 

 

Giant stalagmites

 

 

A column (stalactite touches a stalagmite)

 

Lots of popcorn sprinkles about

 

This guy hung from the ceiling - a stalactite with popcorn on the end - it was called the "Lion's Tail" and very much looked the part.

 

 

Nathan enjoyed the tour!

Ruth enjoyed riding in Daddy's arms.

And Faith.... well, she was a good sport :D

 

Some soda straws (skinny stalactites)

 

This was one of the big views. Photos don't do it justice - that was a HUGE chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and as Nathan said, a GIANT skinny carrot coming up from the floor.

 

 

The bottomless pit. With the original explorer's ladder still in it.

 

 

I got her to smile, FINALLY, when she pointed out a how this stalagmite looked like poop. haha

 

Nathan wanted his photo by the stalagmite that he thought looked like a giant Christmas tree.

 

 

Even Ruthie posed for a photo

 

 

Well... Ruthie wasn't up for a photo without her Daddy! She's a Daddy's girl alright! 

 

But as long as she was in Daddy's arms, she was as happy as could be!

 

Tomorrow's going to be a rough day when they face the reality that Daddy's going back to work.

 

 

After the tour, the older kids got sworn in as official National Park Service Junior Rangers.

 

 

And the ranger photo bombed the photo I attempted with the kids and their new fancy badges. At least one people is smiling and looking at the camera... :)

 

From the parking lot, Nathan admired the landscape.

SOOO much space - you could see for miles and miles.