Balloon Fiesta 2014

October 11, 2014

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

My favorite time of year in Albuquerque are the 10 days in October when my kids are greeted each morning with a sky full of hot air balloons as they walk down the street to catch the bus.  Bennett was enthralled with all the balloons and would escape outside any chance he got to point at the sky and say, "LOONS!"  

So I was really excited to take him to Balloon Fiesta this year where he could get up close and personal with all those loons.  He loved it.  He only flinched a couple times when we got too close to the noisy burners.  But after awhile, he even started imitating the sound the burners make.  (That's a first--usually our babies cry when the burners startle them.)

Anyway, it was a glorious perfect day, and of course we took way too many pictures.

the inside of a balloon

breakfast burritos

Air-a-belle only goes up in the best conditions, that's how great a day it was.

Vader--this punk never turned around for us.

The bees!  (also a backside shot)

Yoda was new this year.  He's a pretty cool dude.

The pirate ship was also new this year.  He was finished just a week before the fiesta.

Super cool shot by Arthur.

Pumpkin Patch

October 10, 2014

Galloping Grace Youth Ranch Pumpkin Patch

Fall Break

I took the kids out to the pumpkin patch on their fall break Friday.  Galloping Grace Youth Ranch does a really cute job of their pumpkin patch. They have lots of cute games like tire races, bean bag tosses, pumpkin bowling, rubber duck races, giant sling shots, and even mini putt-putt course.  They also have fun animals to look at--goats, llamas, chickens, rabbits, and this huge mama pig who had 10 piglets!  Whenever Daphne went missing, we could always find her over by the piglets trying to get close enough to pet one.   Best of all, it's FREE to get it!  You just pay for your pumpkins.  Since the price was right, I let all the kids pick one.  And I couldn't resist getting one too.  

Daphne put his hair in a mohawk.  :)  He pulls it off pretty well, I have to admit.

Choosing the pumpkins . . . Mine's the tall skinny one in the wagon.  It's perfect!  I've never had such a tall skinny pumpkin before.  :)

Sean on a pumpkin throne

Happy Fall Y'all!

crazy faces.

September Quotables

Me: Sydney, we need some help!  Come help us pull some weeds!

Sydney: But I don't know how.

Me:  It's fun--I'll show you! (I'm a little ashamed that I told her weeding was fun. What a lie.)

 . . . .

Sydney:  Um, this help is hurting my hands.  I fink I'll just go watch Barbie and the Dreamhouse now.

Sydney:  (about a show Arthur was watching)  Why isn't this movie done?

Hayden's commentary as he was reading Hansel and Gretel to me for his reading log:  "They found a wonderful gingerbread house all covered with candy."  Now THAT would be the BEST!  Except at night chipmunks and stuff would come and eat your house.

Sydney: (when we asked her if she wanted to watch Lego movie) Nah.  That movie is too cheesy for me.

Daphne:  Syd, who do you want to marry when you grow up?

Syd:  Cooper.

Hayden:  Mom, three girls have crushes on me.  (smiling)  Crushes are fun.

Sydney got mad at Hayden when he laughed at something she said.  He said,  "Sydney, I like it when I say something that makes people laugh.  It makes me feel good."

Sydney:  Well I DON'T like when people laugh at me.

Arthur:  Daphne, I was talking with a guy at work today and he said his daughter was the sweetest thing until she started her period.  So I hope you don't turn mean when you start your period.

Daphne:  Well, I probably will.  Because Mom does.

Me:  Wha???

Daphne: You do, you say, "Just go to bed, guys.  Just go to bed."

(That's true--I do say that a lot at the end of the day.  But if that's the criteria for being hormonal and cranky, I may be PMSing pretty much all the time.)

Sydney:  I'm a fun girl.