Christmas 2013

This year, for the first time, I traveled to New Mexico to visit family taking only Ellen along. It was a really good trip. Not only is Ellen old enough to be away from her mother for two weeks, but she proved to be a fun and affable traveler.

Ellen at the Copenhagen airport Ellen, quickly adjusting to being on vacation with dad Dad Dad, experimenting with his camera Visiting the Thompson ranch in Springer Ellen takes a short ride on Sugar with help from Aunt Donna and Uncle Clarance DSC_2689.JPG Maracas! Nothing says Christmas like student wanna-be cops Call me nostalgic, but when I was a kid, Santa didn't need protection Call me nostalgic, but when I was a kid, Santa didn't need protection Call me nostalgic, but when I was a kid, Santa didn't need protection Call me nostalgic, but when I was a kid, Santa didn't need protection Carly dances at a school performance at the United World College Mom and Carly slave away in the kitchen Carly and mom slave away in the kitchen My sweet traveling companion Got some snow a few days before Christmas Got some snow a few days before Christmas Got some snow a few days before Christmas DSC_2893.JPG DSC_2900.JPG DSC_2905.JPG The drought has killed a lot of trees How did people travel with kids before the iPad was invented? Ben waits impatiently to be served at Sushi King Heather at Sushi King Diego at Sushi King Ellen entertained herself practically all day while I worked on some programming problems with Ben Ellen entertained herself practically all day while I worked on some programming problems with Ben

Ellen had a great time, but the highlight was the “River of Lights” at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden, which we saw with Ben and Heather. At one point she stopped running around and asked me, “Will we ever see this again?” I said I didn’t know — maybe we wouldn’t. She got sad, and has mentioned this possibility to her mother since we returned, so we’d better plan to return.

Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden DSC_2990.JPG Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden Part of the 'River of Lights' display at the Albuquerque Botanic Garden

We had a mix of weather, but generally it was warm and sunny, which was a welcome relief from the damp and dark of Denmark. We also had a bit of snow, so it’s not like it was so warm that we forgot it was Christmas.

Ellen squints in the bright New Mexico sunshine Mom, on a walk into town Carly reacts to her new tablet from Bon-bon and Pampah Connie covets a gift Ellen Arthur Nerd heaven Ellen got plenty of attention from her uncle Ben and auntie Heather DSC_3105.JPG DSC_3163.JPG DSC_3174.JPG Celina, Leah, Joe, Ellen, Cora, and Carly The Coppock gift exchange Celina Cora, Heather, and Ellen Mom and dad's house Waiting for our flight in Albuquerque Waiting for our flight in Albuquerque

One Thought on “Christmas 2013

  1. Rachel Dashnaw on January 8, 2014 at 5:00 pm said:

    Wonderful pictures, as always. And it is a good question how parents survived long trips without IPads.

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