Balloon Fiesta '11

Four score and...alright 6 years ago, my darling and I, sans babies and heavy one lab puppy, went to our very first Balloon Fiesta. You have to get up very early to go the mass ascension to get the real show and it is always a gamble. If it is too windy or rainy, the balloons do not go up and you have balloon hangover without the benefit of watching any balloons go up. We decided to risk it this year and wake up our kids who are trained to sleep until 7:30, a grueling 2 hours early to go to it. The Balloon Fiesta park which is a glorified stretch of grassy open space normally is about 8 minutes from our house. It took us and hour and 15 minutes to get there. Yes, people from outside our state, this is a BIG DEAL. Ok, now that I've nerded myself out here. There really isn't anything like it for adults and kids alike. To watch literally 1000 balloons go up in the air in a matter of two hours and float within view, you really cannot capture the sight with a picture. However, I made a feeble attempt at it. More successfully, I believe, I captured our family's joy in sharing this amazing experience together. I'm telling you, folks, its worth adding to the bucket list.

A returning favorite from Germany. Complete with stormtroopers walking around.

The middle bee is smaller than the other two because it has been added in the past year. Usually the other two fly holding hands in the sky. So the middle bee is their baby. We thought it was pretty cute.

My snuggle bunnies all bundled up taking in the show and waking up.

Imagine this times 50

The end.

New Mexico State Fair

For the first time in 6 years of living here and having the State Fair in town, we finally made the effort to go. It was a warm day but the activities were fun with the kids. Its funny listening to mariachi bands and seeing adobe style barns I have to admit though. They had great activities like this farm where the kids get to pick apples from the orchard, get eggs from the chicken coop, milk the cow, ride little tricycle tractors, and harvest the different crops from the area. At the end they get a prize. Hayden had a great time doing collecting everything.

In the chicken coop collecting our egg

Collecting our red and green chiles...one of the twists on State Fair that was new to me.

Riding our (saw) horse into the sunset

Ahh, the bounty after a hard day of work.

Daddy and Clare outside the FFA barn with a McDonalds sign on it. Ironic, don't you think.

In the FFA barn. Hayden and his next happy meal.

Clare taking in the scenery, but not without a little snack.


There was a Lego experience tent (Jackpot) and Hayden was in the zone. At best we can tell he was working on a predominantly polar bear zoo with all female zookeepers.

Daddy and the kids in front of the lion cages. The female lions were watching my children and the fences didn't really seem lion-proof so we didn't stick around this show very long.

Labor Day Weekend in Colorado

A morning up in the mountains taking the Georgetown-Silver Plume Railroad. Beautiful day for it and the kiddos loved it!

Aunt Rachael let me get away for the day with Aunt Michelle biking around Denver and enjoying leisurely meals and sightseeing.

At the park enjoying the flowers with Michelle and the kids.

11 Months (I'm a little behind)

I cannot get enough of this baby girl. I can only call her that for about 5 more days and then she's going to be on her way to toddlerdom. I'm a little behind on this but have been very busy lately. I was not going to let it escape me though, as she has just too precious of a face and too sweet of a disposition to let one slip by. She started taking her first steps just after she turned 10 months and gained more and more strength and balance and confidence in this month. She's so independent and feeds herself most everything. She drinks from her cup. She likes to figure everything out for herself. She loves her brother and imitates anything that he does (both a good and a bad thing.) She is perfecting the art of the tantrum. She is very dramatic and has a sense of humor. She loves to wrestle her Daddy. And, oh, does she love her daddy. That man walks through the door and she squeals with delight and heads his direction. In fact, most of the smiles you see in these pictures where on her face because he merely walked outside to see what I was doing with her. She's a beautiful little girl and her personality is showing itself more and more. She sweet but has her share of spice. I love my little girl and can't believe one is around the corner.

Hayden's First Day at Preschool!!!!

Our little man who we welcomed a mere 2 years, 7 months and 23 days ago (technically 24 as I am writing this because yesterday was the big day), is off to preschool. His teachers are very nice and he likes them. He didn't fuss or cry (though I never expected that from him because he's never been that kind of kiddo) and when I came to pick him up he ran from me screaming "NOOOOOOO!" Apparently home isn't providing enough stimulation these days despite my best efforts. He's been ready to strike off into the world since he could walk. Anyway, we did the pictures, celebrating the big day for him. We're so proud of him and are excited to see him grow in the next school year!

Clare at 10 months

Baby Girl is 10 months now. In her 10th month she started saying her first words which were "hi" and "bye" while waving. She says that all the time when we're out of the house to other people and even waves to airplanes in the sky. We've also heard "mama" and "dada" regularly and "cat". She is now gaining more confidence standing on her own and taking a step here or there. She's a masterful cruiser. She likes to climb on anything she can get her little leg up on. She loves to be tickled and will throw herself backward on the floor with her arms and legs out and wiggle to let you know that she is ready. She makes a great motor noise while driving cars around. She thinks its funny to put silly things on her head and call it a "hat". She has a sense of humor and is friendly and quick to learn things. I show her once how to do things and she remembers how to do them from then on out. She itching to walk and from the pictures you can see her hanging on the back door watching her brother play outside. He wants her to play too and will often bring sidewalk chalk over for her to draw on the concrete right outside the door. She is a doll, plain and simple. She is just a pure blessing to her and not a day goes by that I don't thank God that He sent her to us.