Now let's get on with the photos. (Warning: there area a LOT of them this go-round.)
Shae giving tips to Dad on his reading enunciation skills.
I know: let's go to Santa Fe! Okay!!
One of Shae's favorite things to do right now is to demand the camera whenever she sees Mama taking pictures (which, as you can see, is quite often). This is Shae's picture of Baba.
Cheeeeese!
Where we were. Just because.
Crossing the street to get back into the car with Gram and Baba.
Now some Santa Fe scenery shots. This is the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in the heart of the city.
Beautiful statue outside the basilica. (More on who she is in a moment.)
Front doors to the basilica.
Posing with Baba and Gram.
Doing some running. Lots of running, actually -- it's a long drive from Denver to Santa Fe!
A pretty flower. That is all. (Note: Shae is still running in the background.)
Santa Fe scenery -- the museum of art.
Time out. Mama, is this real? I think I'm a little uncomfortable...
Oh, okay. This one is definitely a statue. **whew** 
Look! Mountain lion statue boogers!
Driving the scenic route around Albuquerque and Santa Fe. First stop: Jemez Pueblo (or Walatowa to its residents), and the Jemez State Monument.
Let's have a picnic while we're here!
A really pretty waterfall on the drive. I'm pretty sure there was some kind of signmarker that explained its history and significance... we didn't see it.
Through the car windshield on the drive. Santa Fe is in peak fall colors right now -- really, really pretty.
At the top of one of the passes on the route is a ginormous, vast volcanic caldera. It's really quite striking!
After a nother looooong day in the car, Shae decided to burn off some energy in the pool with Baba. It wasn't really very warm so an outside pool made everyone a little chilly, but it was worth it! 
Back downtown. Doing some dancing to a mariachi band playing in the main square.
A couple videos of the dancing in action:Longer version (about 2 minutes): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKjb8T9mZ78
Shorter verson (gotta turn yer head): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsPFhiBz9kU
Going for ice cream for Mama's birthday. Mmm... chocolate...
Leaving Santa Fe to head home. We took the scenic route through Taos -- so, so beautiful!
Home again! Now, on to the birthday celebrations! Shae and Mama decided to make birthday cupcakes for Shae to bring to her daycare class to celebrate her special day. Shae, of course, had a hand in the preparation of those treats.
Leaving Santa Fe to head home. We took the scenic route through Taos -- so, so beautiful!
Home again! Now, on to the birthday celebrations! Shae and Mama decided to make birthday cupcakes for Shae to bring to her daycare class to celebrate her special day. Shae, of course, had a hand in the preparation of those treats.
Shae sings "happy birthday" (to herself) while decorating her cupcakes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSMrHRe_p9Y
Thanks for sticking with our little blog for the last two years -- I invite you to click back through the months, as I have done this morning, to watch this little turkey grow up right before your very eyes. Hard to believe it's already been two years... So many more good times to come!
