October 2010 Balloon Fiesta

Balloon Fiesta!

Yes, I realize I am very very late in posting these pictures but better late than never, right? I have been working as much as I can right now so that I can put my husband through nursing school and so it has not left me a lot of time to sit and post pictures on either my blog or on my facebook. This year my dad bought me a net book for Christmas and so I plan t0 post a massive amount of pictures to "catch up" and then hopefully I will be able to post more regularly after that.

For those of you who are outside of the Albuquerque area every year in the first week of October Albuquerque hosts the International Balloon Fiesta. The skies are filled with hundreds of hot air Balloons that are all different shapes, sizes and colors. My grumpy Gus of a husband does not like to go because of the crowds but we go every year because it usually falls on my birthday and because the kids love to see the hot air balloons.

Balloon Fiesta is the most photographed event in the world. There are thousands of people there taking hundreds of pictures. Here are some of the pictures I took. I must say that this year I tried not to take too many pictures of the same balloons from previous years.


The Creamland dairy cow balloon is always a fun one for the kids.

Hard to see but this one is a stork with a baby in its bundle. I thought it was funny!

Normally there are 2 bumblebees but this year they added a third baby bumble bee. The new one is the purple one.

The kids and I at the evening balloon glow. Although this year the winds were so bad that they did not allow the balloons to fire and so we sat on the field and waited for the fireworks. It was very very cold and windy.

Aurora and Leif in the morning at balloon fiesta. The kids were having fun.

My messy faced son...I don't remember what he had eaten that morning.

Daddy and daughter...could she be any cuter?

hiking in the mountains

My family has a very interesting birthday story. As many of you know my birthday is October 5, 1980 and my brother's birthday is October 6, 1979. The even weirder thing than my brother and my birthday's being so close to each other is that my Dad has been dating a woman whose daughter's birthday is October 5, 1979.

We have all been trying to get together for our birthday for a while but it never seems to work out. We still did not all make it together but Lindsay and her husband made it out to New Mexico and we all went to the top of the Sandia Peak Tram. Although in posting these pictures I realized I have no photographs to prove it.

The Sandia Peak Tram for those of you who do not know what it is, is the world's longest Tram. The Sandia mountains were so named because of how the sun hits them at sunset they look like watermelons. Thus the name Sandia which is Spanish for watermelon.

Here are some pictures of the mountains while we were riding the tram.

Once we arrived at the top we walked around and took some pictures of us. But Lindsay and her husband were snapping the pictures which is why they are not in them.

You can see the city behind us but here is my family at the top.

Not sure why none of us were looking at the camera...

Little man at the top. I know this is going to be hard to believe but this was also right at the top too. The terrain there is very interesting in that some parts are not woody at all and then all of a sudden you will be in the midst of trees!

Aurora looking down on the city.

There with her daddy...she stole my sweater even though I told her to bring a jacket she didn't listen and got cold at the top!

Daddy's Little Girl

A view of Albuquerque from the top of the Tram.

Leif and I at the top...once again I was trying to take the picture myself...I am really not good at it! Its the only way that I get to be in the pictures though.

Leif and I...He took this picture. I think because his arms are longer they always come out better when he does them.

This is at the top of the tram but I like this picture because you can see the cables that the tram rides down to get to the bottom.

Beach Fun

I am sorry that I have not been able to keep up with this blog as much as I would like but I figure better late than never. These are some more of our pictures from our trip to California. We met up with some of my very dear friends from high school I have not seen them since their wedding. Holly and Spencer were high school sweethearts just as Leif and I were. I have really missed them and had a great time seeing them and meeting their beautiful children.

We also were able to meet up with my mom and the kids had a blast playing with her.
Holly and Spencer and Audrey and Owen. Although Audrey was perfectly content hanging out in her snugli.

Holly, Owen and Audrey. I think that Leif and Spencer were having too much fun playing in the water to come pose for pictures.

One of my favorite pictures. Holly you really are great at taking good pictures.

Holly Audrey and I. I really don't remember holding your hand Holly but it is still a cute picture.

Aurora playing in the mud, or maybe building sand castles... my little cutie either way.

Leif playing in the sand. He was not that interested to get into the water which I found very odd because normally he loves the water.

Playing with my mother in the sand. Leif would not let my mom write his name in the sand.

Owen...I have to say I know that all children are beautiful but I really do think he is just as cute as can be. Holly you make beautiful children.

Owen again. I think I took more pictures of Owen than I did of my own children.

Aurora, she is definitely not camera shy, and why should she be?

Leif playing in the sand with my mother. He loved making sand castles.

Owen really wanted to get into that cooler but his mommy said no.

I had so much fun on our trip to California and I am hoping to do it again next year. I was thinking that we would go back around Christmas but I think that it will have to wait until spring break because we are going to Oregon to see my brother at Christmas this year. Either way it will be sooner than three years. Which is how long it had been since I had been home. I really do miss being there and maybe one day we will move back.

Dineyland!!!!!

Ok ladies and gentleman let me tell you a very little known fact about myself. I LOVE DISNEYLAND!!!!!!

No this was not my first trip to Disneyland actually I have been there many times. I was there December 31 1999 and stayed till till well after the new year. I was also there for my husbands grad night and spent the entire night in disneyland; and for those of you who don't know it is where my husband propsed to me.

This trip to Disneyland was just as good as all other trips to Disneyland. Although I was a little bummed that my husband didn't want to go with us but let me tell you something this was not going to stop me from going. I went with two other friends of mine. D.J. and Derrick. Derrick also brought his very adorable daughter ReAnna. We had a great time. We didnt get there right at opening but we were there by 11:00am and stayed till midnight. It was so much fun. Here are some of our photos.

I love the fact that my kids wanted to be in the cage on the train ride and so I couldn't resist taking a picture of DJ and Derrick in a cage.

DJ cant handle spinning rides and so here all 5 of us were inside the tiny tiny tea cup and DJ took the picture of all of us. DJ said we were spinning very very fast!

All of us in line for the tea Cups and yes I realize my pictures are in backwards order. Ooops

All of the kids locked up in toon town...or were they?

Super strong or super weak?

My favorite picture of the kids we were in line at Roger Rabbit

My little ham of a daughter Aurora!

The only picture of all 6 of us we were in line at the matterhorn! Leif hated it aurora loved it.

Aurora got to go with DJ in the first group of cars at Autopia with DJ and so here she is waiting for us to finish. Autopia is also where my husband propsed to me.

Derrick and ReAnna were behind us in Autopia

All of the children at toon town gas station

DJ waiting for us and aurora is off to the side waving can you see her?

Leif and I at Autopia yes I tried to take this myself and I am aware that it is not that great of apicture but I have seen worse.

Derrick...I have no idea where in the park we were..maybe Dumbo?

Leif driving his first car!

My little racer!

DJ again not sure where maybe tomorrow land?

The kids and I at Small world

Near main street

On the Tram (bus) to go and eat the worst sandwiches ever! oh well it is worth a good laugh right? For those of you who dont know yes peanut butter expires and it is always good to check the expiration date. The one we made our sandwhiches with expired in 2000!

On the bus to the car for lunch

At the carosel DJ and Aurora,riding buddies the whole day Aurora rode with him on everything!

Leif loved the carousel

Derrick and ReAnna

Aurora and DJ but in this one you cannot see DJ

Derrick and ReAnna in the yellow Dumbo closer to the water

Me and Leif on Dumbo with DJ and Aurora in the background.

Derrick and ReAnna but you cannot see ReAnna

Aurora and DJ on Dumbo..obviously

Dont you love Aurora's face? Little miss attitude!