Balloon Fiesta Fun - Part 1

We had a lot of fun the first weekend of the month. Our house was full and full of fun when Kris, Lonnie, Jodi, Jeff, Jesse, Hayley, Nick, Tricia, Dakota, Sailor and Tag all came to visit! We had a great weekend together. We went to see the balloons in the morning, down close to the park but not actually in the park. We have to remember the spot we went to because it was a pretty good one. I got a few good pictures of family, but unfortunately, except for the balloons I just wasn't thinking about taking pictures. We had so much fun with everyone and hope they come back next year. Especially since we bought tickets for the balloon glow and fireworks and they were a total bust. It was too windy and the pilots were afraid of burning their balloons because of the wind. What's that about? Just kidding. I'm sure they spend a lot of money on their balloons and burning them was the last thing they wanted to do. Then the fireworks still went off but it was like they were in slow motion. These are the gems I caught.

The girls had fun reading with their Aunt Jodi while Daddy went to pick up Gramma Kris from the airport.

Ryan, with Kris and Lonnie.

Leah didn't like being bundled up too well, so she didn't stay interested for long.

Tag, Dakota, Sailor and Monica, ready for the ride to get a little closer to the balloons.

They got pretty excited about finding Nemo!!

We love the fall when the skies are filled with hot air balloons!

Kris and Lonnie

Monica and Me

The huddle- Monica, Jesse, Tag, Jodi, Hayley, Lonnie, Tricia, Dakota and Sailor

Hayley, Jodi and Jesse

This balloon went right over us.

I think next year we will try to go in the park for mass ascension.

It is really fun to see the balloons fill up and take off the ground.

Thanks for a great weekend everybody!

Hey Daddy, let's play some poker...

First I put a card on your forehead...

Then you put one my forehead.

Now we check each other out and make our bids.

Neener, neener, I win!!

Ok! Ok! I'll stop rubbing it in, I promise!!

HA-HA! Victory is sweet...

Good job, Sister!

On SEPT 19, 2009...

We went fishing!

Monica got in some great practice casting her line...

And there it goes...

So proud!

Elisha also had some good form.

I think it went out pretty far.

Matt and Aly chillaxin'...

My mom. Isn't she cute?

Me and my dad.

Hmmm, I think I need new glasses that don't glare.

Leah had fun too!

I love the scrunchy face...

My attempt at taking a scenic/profile pic...Yeah, I'm working on it.

Leah also got in a bit of fishing with Papa.

I think she sounds like the cutest little owl when she gets excited, "Hoooooo!"

But it was short-lived.

She only stayed there for a few minutes and then it was off to collecting sticks.

It was a wonderful trip and we had a great time with Nana, Papa, Aunty Elisha and Uncle Matt. I guess I can't forget Aly, too! We fed the ducks, got caught in the rain, enjoyed the outdoors and had fun with each other. Dad caught the only fish of the day, but turned him loose because he was so teeny tiny. On the way home we stopped for some Indian bread and it was sooooo yummy! We love going to the lake with Nana and Papa! Hopefully one of the next times we go, Ryan will be able to go with us! He was at drill the last couple times. Hooah!

Babies, babies, babies...

No, I'm not announcing anything.

But I did want to post our pictures of our latest trip to the zoo.

Turns out we have a ton of new zoo babies. I didn't get all of them. But here are some of my favorites.

The baby orangutan was adorable!! He looked to be about the same size as Leah!

The mom and dad giraffes were walking around all fun and happy, but this little guy and his sibling wouldn't budge from their spots. I think they were a little camera-shy.

This little baby elephant was born just a few weeks ago! I remember seeing Rosie when she was a baby. So maybe this is her baby now? I didn't ask about the stats and who the baby belonged to.

But it was sooooo cute!!!

Up next on the Cat Walk were the baby Snow Leopards. We didn't get to hang out much to watch the two little ones romping around and pouncing on each other. There were signs asking for quiet and Leah was shrieking and Monica couldn't contain herself either. We were getting a few dirty looks thrown our way, so we didn't hang out for long.

My little sweetie pies. Behind them are some of the baby zebras.

In between all the baby fun, we caught the polar bears on THE most playful day that I have EVER seen them!! They were tossing their big rubber things and jumping on them. Every time they landed on one, it echoed throughout the cave and to the park area.

Lee-lee Leah

When Emily and Julie were visiting, Julie would call Leah, "Lee-lee" and it has stuck around a bit.

I thought it would be a good idea since the last few posts have all been about Monica, to post a bit about Leah.

Her personality is really starting to come out.

She is a daddy's girl through and through!

Anytime she hears a door open or close, she runs around the house with a huge grin saying, "DADA!! DADA!!" I LOVE it! Especially because it was kind of hard to see Monica as a baby not respond the same way to her daddy. He came home from Iraq when she was almost 18 months old. And then it took until a few months after she was 2 for her to being allowing him to comfort her. So it has been fun, especially for Ryan, to be around all of Leah's milestones. I forget sometimes that this is the first time he is experiencing a first tooth, or first steps, or first words. In many ways, he is still a new dad, but with some of the experience and understanding of more seasoned father.  

 

Leah has also found her voice! She loves to sing when Monica is singing. And she loves to yell when Monica is being particularly loud. She LOVES her big sister and is always trying to get as close to her as Monica will let her. Her favorite thing this week is to get really close to her target and then belly flop onto them!! It's hilarious!! And if you mention the word 'popsicle' in front of her, you'd better be prepared to give her one, NOW!

Leah is still on the small side of the sizing scale. It's not particularly surprising since I'm technically not even 5'0" yet. (Notice the yet? I'm still holding on to the hope that Heavenly Father has one last growth spurt in store for me...) But she is still wearing 6-9 month clothes as she nears the 15 month mark. I'm thinking it's about time for her first haircut. These pictures from this morning have convinced me I may have waited too long!

Anywho, we love our Leah. She is an absolute joy! She is mild mannered, sweet, and loving. She is curious and helpful. She is obedient, even now. I can't wait til she can really start talking more, but especially because Ryan and I envision the best and funniest conversations between Monica and Leah.

Someday her prince will come...

Monica was playing dress-up one day but was so distressed that she didn't have anyone to play her prince that Ryan took pity on her plight and offered to dance with her. If you can believe it, they were actually dancing to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" when I caught this little gem. My camera died before I could get a picture of a wobbly Leah running to dance with her daddy too. She's actually gotten much better at walking and running in the last 3 months. But she does still fall over herself. I'll try to get a video of her soon, but she throws her arms in the air and puffs up her chest when she gets really excited and runs towards her target. It's too cute!  

More Chalk Fun

About a week ago, Monica asked if she could watch TV. It was about the 15th time she asked that day and I, in all my motherly frustration, sent her outside to play instead. She came back in sulking that she was bored, so I knew it was time to get off my rear and play with her. Leah was napping, so we pulled out a few of her coloring books and I asked her which ones she liked. So she picked out the My Little Pony first. Then I led her outside and we pulled out the chalk! I taught her how to keep her lines the same direction and smudge the chalk so that it spread into the cracks in the sidewalk and smoothed the look of the lines. Here she is next to her work. I drew the pony, and then she colored it all in.

Next, she picked out Tigger. I have to say, as an artsy fartsy mom, I am really excited to have an artsy fartsy child. I love being able to create pictures with her and watch her face light up as she recognizes what I'm drawing. And I LOVE her stamp of approval when she asks to take a picture with it.

We're also doing piano lessons. I'll have to take a picture of her playing. She is really adorable. But I want to avoid her being compared to me. I think a lot of well-meaning people ask her if she's going to be a pianist just like her mom, and while I don't think there's anything wrong with it, I don't want her to feel pressured. Or any of my children. Music will be a part of our lives. I just don't want any of them to feel it forced down their throats.