Today the Finnegans met Chris' parents for a hike at Tent Rocks National Park, betweem Santa Fe and Albuquerque. It features a slot canyon with amazing formations, and a hard climb to the top of a mesa overlooking the Rio Grande valley. From left to right you will see Marilyn, Ben, Tim and Dave Finnegan, and Shirley and Jack Hanson. Chris was conveniently taking the picture :-) 

The canyon and rock formations were beautiful, and reminded us of a dry, small version of the Narrows at Zion National Park.  

Tim and Ben enjoyed climbing in the "slot canyon", and the rest of us enjoyed watching. Here, Gramps (Chris' dad, Jack) is brave enough to walk below them! 

Tim and Ben scurried up a downspout. Watching them get out witout hurting themselves was fun! 

The reward for an arduous climb was views like these! 

Finfam4 Christmas 2005 

Post-Christmas

Well, we had a lovely Christmas here at the Finnegan's. In addition to the five of us who call this home, Chris' parents, Jack and Shirley Hanson were here. They moved to the sunny Southwest last July after they both retired. They now reside in Rio Rancho, northwest of Albuquerque, and are not missing the Iowa winters at all.

Also with us on Christmas day were all three of Chris' sisters. Gwen and her husband Kirk, along with daughters Hallie and Atalie have also recently (the week before Christmas) moved to New Mexico, and now live in Edgewood, in the mountains east of Albuquerque. Jeni is still sticking it out in Iowa for the time being, but joined us for the holiday. And Annie is between projects, and on her way to Israel in January, and joined us also. We laughed so hard our sides hurt as we played the dictionary game, and opened gifts, and ate lots, and enjoyed the day together.