• I loved how we could go up towards the mesa at night and look back over the city and how it was so beautiful and sparkly.
• Going up the tram as a family and how our hair would stand on end at the top because of all the static electricity
• Walking to and from church
• Our house getting built
• Doing my laurel project (renaissance fair) in the church parking lot
• Learning to drive and going for long drives to nowhere and turning around just to get my ridiculous amount of hours in
• Being in the ward choir, even when I was only 11. Scott Jorgenson was the choir director and he had an incredible amount of patience with me. As did everyone else in the choir and those who had to hear me! Linked to this memory was when our ward choir was invited to sing at the dedication of the Mormon Battalion Monument (which was by the side of the freeway out in the middle of nowhere). Scott got so into directing the song that he ended up throwing his baton over his shoulder into the audience, but he didn't even miss a beat and went on conducting as if nothing had happened. Now this memory is extra special since I served at the Mormon Battalion Visitor Center in San Diego and learned more of their sacrifices and examples.
04 January 2010
Albuquerque Temple
Helping clean out the lot before the ground breaking. Chris had a picture in the New Era and I had a quote in it (although the way they quoted me made me sound like a ditz…)
The ground breaking—was on Lesley’s birthday
The open house—we went on Mommy’s birthday
The dedication—was the day after Papa’s birthday
I also remember several youth baptism trips I was able to participate in before we moved to the Philippines. One in particular was a daddy/daughter temple trip and I remember taking pictures with Papa outside the temple. :)
The ground breaking—was on Lesley’s birthday
The open house—we went on Mommy’s birthday
The dedication—was the day after Papa’s birthday
I also remember several youth baptism trips I was able to participate in before we moved to the Philippines. One in particular was a daddy/daughter temple trip and I remember taking pictures with Papa outside the temple. :)
Temple trips
Although not directly an Albuquerque memory, I remember traveling to the Mesa, AZ temple before Albuquerque had a temple. (the first year we did this over spring break and I was not yet 12. So Jacob Sowards and I were in charge of watching the kids. Jacob ended up playing with Lesley’s baby doll and I ended up playing with Jacobs crutches. Jacob seemed to always have some sort of broken bone.)
Nebekers visit Albuquerque
When the Nebekers came with their cousins and Antinaus. Our backyard wasn’t finished yet and Antinaus walked around on his hands near the hole we had dug for the trampoline to go into.
I also remember taking them all up to the petroglyph park and feeling like an expert as we gave them the tour. :) I think there was also a camcorder involved, which probably explains our performing for them.
I also remember taking them all up to the petroglyph park and feeling like an expert as we gave them the tour. :) I think there was also a camcorder involved, which probably explains our performing for them.
Festival of Trees
In Bernillo there was a festival of trees every year. Church members would decorate a tree and then the trees would be donated to people in the community in need. Mom was always super creative with the trees that she donated. One year was a Noah’s Ark theme with Beanie Babies as the animals. Another year was a race car tree with a ribbon road and lots of matchbox racecars. It was always so fun to help mom decorate the trees and then to see the nativity displays afterward.
12 Days of Christmas
Every year we would choose one family that was in need and usually a family that we were friends with to give the 12 days of Christmas to. We give them something to represent each of the 12 days of Christmas. It was always so fun to sneak around trying not to be caught. :) As we got older our tactics got more complicated, but the fun was always there and feeling like we were helping someone made it so worthwhile!
New Years
Instead of doing Christmas presents for friends (too expensive and who needs more sweets really…) we would always do New Years Party bags for friends. The contents usually include a bottle of sparkling cider (aka: bubbly), Wheat Thins, cheese, blowers, hats and confetti. It was always fun to see people’s reactions and since Lesley and I were usually the deliver-ers we would always dress up to celebrate, which added some fun to the tradition. :)
Chinese New Year
Oh how I loved the parties! Chinese New Year was a favorite because it was one that very few other people celebrated. We would have several families come over and we would chow down on lots of great Asian inspired food and end the night with a white elephant gift exchange. Somehow a can of sardines usually got in the mix and Papa would always fight for them! Oh Papa! :) But there was always many laughs to be had and great friendships to be strengthened.
My first date
My very first date took place in Albuquerque. Although I had lots of crushes in high school, I was never really interested in one particular guy. So after waiting 8 months for a boy to ask me on a date, I finally got tired of waiting and asked a boy out. His name was Matt Jones and he was a good friend of mine. He, Jacob Sowards and I would hang out a lot at school. We were nerds, but we had fun together. So I asked him to go to Winter Ball with me. I borrowed a friends dress and we went on a group date with Janalee Payne and her date and Chelsea Henrie and her date. I don’t remember much of what we did, but I do remember that he was a perfect gentleman and we had so much fun! I also remember that Jason and Adam were on their missions when the date occurred so Jason couldn’t make good on a lifetime of teasing me about threatening any dates that came for me.
Piano lessons
In Albuquerque I finally learned how to play the piano. I had been playing from several “teach yourself piano” books for quite some time and had done rather well, considering. Eventually I took lessons in high school and Chris and Lesley also ended up taking lessons. :) I know I wasn't always enthusiastic about practicing, but I am so grateful that I have the talent of piano now. :)
Musicals
In high school I participated in two musicals. The first was Brigadoon and I was a towns person. I loved it and had so much fun doing it and the Scottish influenced music was awesome. :) Unfortunately during the second night of performance someone tripped me during the chase scene. This resulted in a sprained ankle that meant I could not to the Scottish Reel for the next night. I was so stubborn that even though it hurt the night after that, I still danced on it. The other musical that I did was Oliver! I played about 5 different roles in that: orphan boy, towns boy, chimney sweep, Fagin’s boy, and a Bow Street Runner. My favorite was probably being the chimney sweep. During the opening night’s performance I had a dance scene where I entered the stage by doing a cartwheel (as one of Fagin’s boys). I must have been extra enthusiastic because I managed to rip the seam in my pants from the zipper all the way through the crotch to the other side. I realized this immediately and just did one handed cartwheels across the stage to the other side! I quickly pulled down the pants, safety pinned them and was on stage before my small dance quartet. Whew! :) One of my friends watching the show that night said she could tell something was wrong when my face turned bright red. What a sight I was, I’m sure!
I'm sure all the family remember my participation in these shows because I was constantly singing the songs and practicing my dancing (since I never had any real lines to worry about). Thanks for your patience, everyone!
I'm sure all the family remember my participation in these shows because I was constantly singing the songs and practicing my dancing (since I never had any real lines to worry about). Thanks for your patience, everyone!
County Line
A nice steakhouse that we loved to go to for special events (Papa’s MBA graduation or the like). Their food was fabulous and they served a wonderful New York style cheesecake that I always got for dessert. Papa loved that he could get buttermilk there and the vanilla bean ice cream was a favorite.
Seminary
I LOVED having mommy as my seminary teacher freshman year. As Mike and I read scriptures together, I am constantly bringing up a seminary lesson I remember. I think I got more out of seminary that year than any of the other years. :) Thanks mommy!
Also linked with this memory is how Papa would frequently have warm bread ready for us before we left for seminary. Thanks Papa!
Also linked with this memory is how Papa would frequently have warm bread ready for us before we left for seminary. Thanks Papa!
Golfing
Going golfing with Papa. It was fun being his caddy and it was time spent with my Papa. And it was much better than watching golf on TV with him, which I've been known to do as well...
Trips shopping with Mommy and Papa
I loved going to the grocery store with both mommy and Papa, or either/or. It was just a great time to talk and have one on one time with my parents. That is honestly one of the more touching memories from Albuquerque.
Balloon Fiesta
• One of the many memories that came to mind about living in Albuquerque was the balloon fiesta! What a treat! Hundreds, if not thousands, of balloons would gather for this event that took place over the course of two weeks. There would be regular balloons and special shaped balloons of every color and pattern. For weeks before and after this event, and especially during, we could frequently hear balloons traveling near our house and sometimes they would seem so close I would worry they would land on the house.
• As far as attendance at the fiesta went, we would always get up extremely early and head over to the balloon fiesta grounds. This was always long before dawn and there was always a competition to see who could find the “dawn patrol” balloon. This was a balloon that would head up before any of the other balloons to ensure that the conditions were good enough for other balloons to come up. Donald was convinced that it was the “Don patrol”.
• After we finally parked and took the bus over to the balloon fiesta field we would get our breakfast. Favorites included mini-cinnamon rolls dripping with warm, sticky, gooey frosting, green chili breakfast burritos, and of course warm, rich, chocolate-y hot cocoa that we could put whip cream on.
• It was always extremely cold the first week in October (when the fiesta started). Ok so maybe it wasn’t that cold, but it always seemed freezing. :) So we were always bundled up in our layers of warm coats and gloves and hats and scarves.
• During the fiesta there are men and women to regulate all the comings and goings of balloons. These people are dressed in black and white striped uniforms, kinda like the type that referees wear. These regulators have received the nickname of zebras and some even wear zebra striped clothes. :) But you’d better look out for them because it can be slightly deafening if they blow their whistles right beside you. Not that I know from experience or anything…
• One of the things that was awesome about the balloon fiesta was being able to get up close and personal with the balloons and their pilots. You could always watch them lay out their balloon and fill it with hot air. Some might even let you touch the balloons, but it was always cool to see how huge the balloons really are.
• We had lived in Albuquerque for a long time before we all got to go on a balloon ride as a family. I believe it was the October before we moved from Albuquerque that we did so. I remember one of the boys folded a paper airplane and threw it over the side of the balloon basket and it circled around us several times before it changed course. It was cool! :)
• A couple times during the balloon fiesta there is an evening event called the night glow. For this event all the balloon crews fill up the balloons and then tether their balloons to the ground. Since it’s dark it’s kind of hard to see the balloons like this. But then the magic happens. Over the loudspeakers blasts some fun music with a strong beat. The crews then light up in beat with the music. It’s like musical lights and it was one of my favorites. Lesley and I would always convince mom to buy us the glow sticks and we’d dance along to the music. Once again we would usually get hot chocolate to keep us warm. Oh so much fun! Since I love dancing and music this was so very fun for me, although I don’t think my brothers enjoyed it like I did. :)
• During the balloon fiesta there were several days schedules as “mass ascension” days. This was when the most balloons launched from the field. As a child it seemed like thousands of balloons would take off in wave after wave. As soon as one balloon had launched, another would start laying out to take their place. For hours balloons would keep taking off. It was probably more like hundreds of balloons, but it felt like there were much much more than that. There was the mass ascension day for regular shaped balloons and then there was also the special shaped balloon mass ascension day. That was one day we tried not to miss. There were always so many cool shaped balloons. Lesley’s favorite was a piggy bank shaped pig named Miss Penny. Lesley was quite disappointed to find out that in recent years this balloon has been retired. I remember Adam always liked the Creamland cow and Chris liked the Darth Vader head. My favorites included the sunshine with sunglasses and the Tweety Bird balloon. Mommy and Papa like the two bee balloons that flew together. They are actually two separate balloons, but they fly together and the pilots are really amazing to keep them together. There were some balloons that were too special in their shapes and rarely made it off the ground. One was a wizard that was ginormous. The other was a coordinating purple dragon that was just too intricate. By the time the air made it to every nook and cranny of those balloons, the air wasn’t hot anymore and the balloons never flew. Plus they were just huge. But they were cool to look at and we always secretly hoped that they would somehow manage to take off.
• One memory that is linked with balloon fiesta is when Keith and Allison and kids came out to visit us during the balloon fiesta period. We had so much fun with them. It was also when we announced to them (probably the first of the extended family) that we were moving from Albuquerque to the Philippines.
• As far as attendance at the fiesta went, we would always get up extremely early and head over to the balloon fiesta grounds. This was always long before dawn and there was always a competition to see who could find the “dawn patrol” balloon. This was a balloon that would head up before any of the other balloons to ensure that the conditions were good enough for other balloons to come up. Donald was convinced that it was the “Don patrol”.
• After we finally parked and took the bus over to the balloon fiesta field we would get our breakfast. Favorites included mini-cinnamon rolls dripping with warm, sticky, gooey frosting, green chili breakfast burritos, and of course warm, rich, chocolate-y hot cocoa that we could put whip cream on.
• It was always extremely cold the first week in October (when the fiesta started). Ok so maybe it wasn’t that cold, but it always seemed freezing. :) So we were always bundled up in our layers of warm coats and gloves and hats and scarves.
• During the fiesta there are men and women to regulate all the comings and goings of balloons. These people are dressed in black and white striped uniforms, kinda like the type that referees wear. These regulators have received the nickname of zebras and some even wear zebra striped clothes. :) But you’d better look out for them because it can be slightly deafening if they blow their whistles right beside you. Not that I know from experience or anything…
• One of the things that was awesome about the balloon fiesta was being able to get up close and personal with the balloons and their pilots. You could always watch them lay out their balloon and fill it with hot air. Some might even let you touch the balloons, but it was always cool to see how huge the balloons really are.
• We had lived in Albuquerque for a long time before we all got to go on a balloon ride as a family. I believe it was the October before we moved from Albuquerque that we did so. I remember one of the boys folded a paper airplane and threw it over the side of the balloon basket and it circled around us several times before it changed course. It was cool! :)
• A couple times during the balloon fiesta there is an evening event called the night glow. For this event all the balloon crews fill up the balloons and then tether their balloons to the ground. Since it’s dark it’s kind of hard to see the balloons like this. But then the magic happens. Over the loudspeakers blasts some fun music with a strong beat. The crews then light up in beat with the music. It’s like musical lights and it was one of my favorites. Lesley and I would always convince mom to buy us the glow sticks and we’d dance along to the music. Once again we would usually get hot chocolate to keep us warm. Oh so much fun! Since I love dancing and music this was so very fun for me, although I don’t think my brothers enjoyed it like I did. :)
• During the balloon fiesta there were several days schedules as “mass ascension” days. This was when the most balloons launched from the field. As a child it seemed like thousands of balloons would take off in wave after wave. As soon as one balloon had launched, another would start laying out to take their place. For hours balloons would keep taking off. It was probably more like hundreds of balloons, but it felt like there were much much more than that. There was the mass ascension day for regular shaped balloons and then there was also the special shaped balloon mass ascension day. That was one day we tried not to miss. There were always so many cool shaped balloons. Lesley’s favorite was a piggy bank shaped pig named Miss Penny. Lesley was quite disappointed to find out that in recent years this balloon has been retired. I remember Adam always liked the Creamland cow and Chris liked the Darth Vader head. My favorites included the sunshine with sunglasses and the Tweety Bird balloon. Mommy and Papa like the two bee balloons that flew together. They are actually two separate balloons, but they fly together and the pilots are really amazing to keep them together. There were some balloons that were too special in their shapes and rarely made it off the ground. One was a wizard that was ginormous. The other was a coordinating purple dragon that was just too intricate. By the time the air made it to every nook and cranny of those balloons, the air wasn’t hot anymore and the balloons never flew. Plus they were just huge. But they were cool to look at and we always secretly hoped that they would somehow manage to take off.
• One memory that is linked with balloon fiesta is when Keith and Allison and kids came out to visit us during the balloon fiesta period. We had so much fun with them. It was also when we announced to them (probably the first of the extended family) that we were moving from Albuquerque to the Philippines.
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