Hey Friend...keep in touch!

Dear friend,

So Elias & I have been living the nomad lifestyle for a few years now.  Moving in & out of various cities we have had the opportunity to meet incredible people!  And as I settle in to yet a new city, my heart aches for old friends.  With the realization that we may never live in the same city as family or some of our dear friends, I've decided to resurrect this old blog and write you all a letter once a month.  To, at the very least, let you know where we are living so you can visit us should you be in the area!

July:

We're living it up in Santa Fe!  "Santa Fe?" you ask...so do we.  Yes, like "Newsies"; yes, it's in New Mexico!  While we love San Francisco, we wanted to try out a small town, and so when Elias received an internship offer here with a great firm we had to try it out.  It's a city like none other.  A few things you may not know about it:

1. It's the highest capital in the USA with an elevation of 7,260 ft
2. It has a population of less than 70,000
3. While other desert cities such as Las Vegas or Phoenix try to fake it with grass, Santa Fe just embraces the desert landscape...everything is shades of brown. 
4. It's home to the oldest home and the oldest church in the USA
5. Average annual temperatures range from 85-20F, and it's extremely dry
6. A 45-minute drive will get you to a ski resort

While the hospital and school system have poor reputations, everything else is really pretty great.  It has that small-town charm, everyone is very friendly and as the third-largest art market in the US, it has lots of culture and a variety of restaurants.  Santa Fe has been good to us!

We've absolutely loved the beautiful mountain hikes within 20 minutes from our home.

 The Independence Day "Pancakes on the Plaza" felt like a big block party!

It's only a 6-hour drive to Tober (my parents' cabin) so we have been able to go up there a few weekends to help out with projects and enjoy mountain-living!  We can't get enough of Tober - it's magical up there and we absolutely love it!!!

 I've had time to explore some culinary skills like making apricot leather.

 We just returned from the Christensen family reunion up at Tober.  It was so fun to see everyone!  The grand-kids are a riot, Grandpa Peter taught everyone how to fish, we had Wilderness Olympics and we laughed until our sides ached!

Most of all - we have enjoyed time with SummerGirl!  She turned 8-months old today and is the highlight of our lives.  She'll give you a handshake, she loves peek-a-boo, she smiles all the time, has 5 teeth, loves swimming, and has a hay-day with any food she can get her hands on.  We get to say goodbye to her harness on Saturday and I couldn't be more excited!

 

Anyway, that's what we've been up to this month.  We love you all & hope to stay in better touch!

Always,
Britt, Elias, & SummerGirl