[face=Arial][/face][color=purple][/color]

Hello everyone!  
My name is Amanda, mom to Kami, 7 and Ariah, 4.  I hope you don't mind me joining your group.  We live in Hawaii and will be visiting my brother in Farmington for a month in May.  I have never been away from home for so long with my kids, I'm a little nervous!  Hoping to fill our days with exploring your beautiful state!  I have enjoyed looking through to see what activities are held, and where field trips have been held.  So disappointed that I will be missing the homeschooling convention in April.  

My brother has given me a handful of places that we must see- Grand Canyon, Four Corners and a few others, but if anyone has any suggestions on things we MUST do (especially from a Homeschoolers point of view), or easy places to visit, including parks, PLEASE let me know   Or ANYTHING!  We have never been there before and we are so excited!!!

Also, what's the weather like in May?

Thanks so much for your time!
Mahalo, Amanda

Aloha, Amanda.  My mom is kama'aina from Pearl City.  Where are you from?  My family went back for a much anticipated trip in December and we look forward to saving up for another trip someday.

In May, Abq is usually lovely.  But on May 1st last year we had snow. I don't know how Farmington is usually in May.

There IS lots to do in our state!  As for what's a "must see," that's probably a matter of opinion.  Tell us what you're leaning toward and we can encourage or discourage based on our experiences.  

If you do venture down to Abq, we have our park days on Thursdays. My family will be gone the first half of May, though.  If you all get homesick, let me know you're coming and I'll whip up some poke for you!

I also have a 4yo and 7yo, as well as a 9yo - all girls.  You can see our recent Hawaiian adventure here:
http://theudells.blogspot.com/2011_02_01_archive.html
It starts toward the bottom with "Hale Koa Farewell Dinner"

Finally, when you get here, drink water and bring lots of lip balm.  It's much drier here!  And because the elevation is higher, take care in the sun.  Hope you have a wonderful trip, no matter what sites you visit!

Aloha, Amanda,

Our Molina Ohana all live in Makawao on Maui.  We would love to meet you if you venture down to Albuquerque during your stay.  I agree with everything she said above.  There are so many great things to do and see in New Mexico, you will definitely have to pick and choose.  I would also suggest you bring a light jacket - even if the weather is gorgeous, it gets really chilly when the sun goes down.

Welcome!
Stephanie Molina

Wow!  What a small world!  I'm surprised to find locals so far away from home   Pearl City and Makawao!  I live in Maui as well- South Kihei.  Thanks for the tip on the lip balm and sunblock.  WE live right across the beach  but I would have forgot that the sun/ air could really burn our skin up there as well.  

To be honest, I'm really not sure what I want to do while I'm up there.  My sister's grandmother lives on the reservation, so I'm sure we'll get a good feel of the life style/ culture there, plus do Four Corners .  I wouldn't mind doing an easy hike.  My main concerns are price and level of endurance required.  It will just be me and my two girls, and my SIL and her 3 year old son and a newborn.  So anything we do will.... well, have to be relatively easy.  I really like the idea of meeting you all on a park day!  That would be great to meet other homeschoolers in another state.  My brother is hoping to get another car for me to drive while we're there, so I'm hoping to feel comfortable enough to drive around.  Maybe by the 2nd and 3rd week I'll fell comfortable enough to make the trek out there