Sandia mountains

We try to take advantage of moons first day on nights. He sleeps in, we enjoy a big family breakfast, and then we do something fun together until nap time, when he also needs to sleep for about 5 hours. Once he's on a night schedule he needs a full 7-8 hours of day sleep. So yesterday, his first day on nights, we did the Sandia crest drive which was so beautiful. It's 30 minutes from our home and you get to over10,000ft. It was so fun for the boys and Eli was excited to see snow! He kept warning us about bears (which we didn't see).

That same afternoon, after a library trip with the boys, I was sitting on our front step with henri when I sadly witnessed my first taste of Abq's rougher side. A black suv backed into our wonderful next door neighbors drive, quickly got out and grabbed a large box off their front porch before driving off. I initially thought they were turning around, but when I realized someone got out I stood up (I suspect they didn't see me), and when I saw them lift the box I began walking to the end of our drive, like "what are you doing?". They sped off but I got the full plate, make/model of car, and described the guy I saw for cops who later came by. Sadly it was a stolen vehicle so who knows if they'll track them down. What they got off with? A humidifier that was ordered for their kids room. I've wrestled with my thoughts on it all, but mostly feel a peace that no human (or property) was hurt, and no altercation had (I don't think they wanted that either, and suspect they were surprised to realize someone saw them). So looking back at these pictures of our sweet morning in the mountains reminds me of the important work in raising good, brave, boys who will go into a dark world and leave their mark. Moon is on nights for a week and going to sleep in a quiet home without him I've been triple checking our doors :), but I sleep fine. Because living in fear will not provide safety. And if my "bad day" is watching my neighbors be victims of mail theft, i will find the courage to keep living life, enjoying the many (many!) safe and happy parts of Abq. (But I'll also be collecting their packages for them for the next few weeks). #neighborhoodwatchmom