Fun Weekend in New Mexico

As a family, we headed off for a stake conference in New Mexico! Yes, Silver City, NM, is in our mission.

As we got out of the car in Silver City, everyone was shocked…it was cool and kind of crisp!  We all have been conditioned that when you get out of the car in Tucson, you are stepping into an oven.

In Silver City… NO OVEN!!

First thing in the morning, we headed up the road to the Gila Cliff Dwellings in the Gila National Forest.

As we drove, we all oohed and ahhed at how beautiful it was.

It felt like we were HOME.

These signs were everywhere on our drive up to the cliff dwellings.

That shows you the kind of drive we had.

This is the Gila National Forest. Just BREATHTAKING!

Look at this beauty!! TREES with LEAVES and wild flowers. We were giddy the whole drive!!

Finally made it up to the monument, 90 minutes or so later. All relieved to be out of the car and in the mountains.

We watched a little film in the visitors center and looked at some artifacts. It was very intriguing history and we wanted to go see and experience the dwellings for ourselves.

Let’s go!

From the trail, you could finally see the dwellings/caves.

They were so hidden away…no wonder they were used to live in.

Getting closer.  So cool!!!!

The gentle short hike was so enjoyable and shaded in most parts.

There was a babbling brook that we criss-crossed over and over with bridges.

 

 

A real, picturesque stream!! It was beautiful and sounded so relaxing.

We made it to the caves and were able to walk around and listen to a guide tell lots of facts and stories. Basically, the Mogollon peoples who lived here were only there from about 1275 to the early 14th century.  There were only about 25-80 people that lived in these caves at one time and that translates into just a few families.

A lot of vandalism happened in the late 1800’s and early 20th century so the roofs of individual rooms and such were gone and a little graffiti is seen on the walls from people marking their names and handprints on the cave walls . I really loved the look of the soot on the ceilings of the caves. I could picture the people that lived, cooked, worked and raised families there.

This is from the inside and top of the cave looking out.

Eboo heading down the tall scary ladder!

 

That was so interesting and unique! We all were so glad we made the effort to come.

Now for the drive back…

someone, and I’m not mentioning names, needed some air!

I felt like I was driving in the gorgeous American Fork, Ut, Canyon!!

SOOOO different from Tucson and the cactus.

After we got home, and fed our hungry bellies, the younger kids wanted to go swimming. Dad got in the pool too!

And yes, Mission Presidents can swim. When they are acting as Dad to their kids, they do things Dad’s do and the name badges come off. Kids love to swim, so Dad (and Mom) get to go swimming too!

 

 

Cold shivering kids…that hasn’t happened in a while.

After all our meetings on Saturday night and Sunday, we headed home.

We sure were sad to leave the perfect weather, but Tucson was calling us home.

As we were driving out of town, we stopped and snapped some last photos of the cute older downtown of Silver City and…

…found this amazing colorful and vibrant mural that was on the side of a building.

Goodbye New Mexico, see you next time!

 

 

Eboo and the little diddles.

Cool Presto.

 

Babups matches the mural!

 

JuBean loves, loves, loves watermelon so she wanted her picture with this mural.