This last Sunday, the 22nd, our homeschooling parents got together and sent all of us children away so to speak. Two moms took 8 homeschooled kids (ages ranging from 9 to 16) out to a ranch in NM that afternoon, including Big J. and myself.
Our church lent us the van which was VERY nice and comfortable for everyone involved, and we headed out. We got to the ranch at 5:23 pm and quickly after, all 8 of us kids, plus two that got there after we did, climbed into one ranger and headed out to some rocks to climb on. All the moms stayed at the house and talked.
At the rocks, also known as The Little Red Hill, everyone climbed and then played sardines. Much laughter and joy was shared. By the time we were through playing, we headed back to the house. Now, there were rain clouds forming and coming in, so we didn't dilly dally too long to reach the house.
When we got there we had just enough time to tell the moms what had happened and were then pushed inside as huge winds began picking up dirt and cold air. So much for our plan to make s'mores outside! The rain came hard and fierce, as did the wind. The house by then was full of people. At that time, there were three moms, one college aged girl, and 11 kids. To say the least, the house was full and loud!
Some kids sang loud and out of tune. Some laughed, some ran about the house. It was a wild place, but also very fun. We had a supper of snack food because there had been food out since we got there, and later we did have s'mores...over the gas stove. Hey, it worked, alright.
When the rain had let up some, the boys took all the girls up to a cabin a couple of miles from the house. That was crazy. One boy yelled to drive fast over the bumps and puddles, but the other's yelled not too. We reached the cabin dry and safe, though two girls who had ridden a four-wheeler weren't as dry.
The boys let us unpack the ranger and put things in the cabin before we all loaded back up to drive farther into the canyon. It was getting dark now, so we used head lights and drove on the two track road going into the rocky hills of NM.
After that adventure was finished, the boys dropped us off at the cabin and drove back to the house, which was where they slept since they couldn't camp out.
Morning came and I got up first. We got ready for the day and the boys, once again, drove to the cabin and got us for breakfast. The drive back was exciting and this time we could really see the land since it was daylight. Soon after breakfast was devoured, we loaded all of our belongings and ourselves in the van. This time there were nine kids and two moms. We drove nonstop to Mt. Capulin. The time passed fairly quickly. Everyone in the back seats sang "100 Bottles of Pop"--yes, the whole thing--then other songs, any other song that hit their brain really.
We reached Mt. Capulin and looked at the visitor's center before proceeding up the volcano. On the way up we listened to jazz music and talked, while looking out the right windows. On top we scanned it, then walked, trotted, and ran down to the middle of the huge hill. (Why some people ran, I don't know.) We quickly read the sign at the bottom, looked at some sac worms and then (slower this time) walked up the path.
We pressed up the path going around the top of the volcano and ran into tiny bugs that went everywhere on a person. They were nasty little guys and made waiting for the slower walkers a pain. We descended and loaded in the van, ate dinner, and began the trip home.
This trip, homeschoolers' trip or kids' trip, whatever you want to call it, was a great success and a lot of fun. For me, at least, I have many great memories of a trip with friends to cherish in the years to come. : )
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