Albuquerque Balloon Festival - Awesome!!!

Just another family outing - not by a long shot!  David, Kris, Amy, Kasey, Karsten, Pat , George and David's puppies - Mylee and Ty decided to go down to Albuquerque and visit our good friends, Mike and Rita.  We also wanted to enjoy the largest hot air balloon festival in the world.  Several hundred balloons all taking to the air in a matter of a couple of hours --- it is truly amazing!  This balloon festival is the most photographed event in the world for good reason.  We have witnessed the balloon fest many times over the years but it never gets old, there is always something new and we are so fortunate to have our friends, Mike and Rita host us whenever we are in town.  We have included  just a few of the 155 pictures we took over the weekend,  unfortunately we did not take one picture of Rita's outstanding meals, of Mike and Rita's family and extended family that were there for the Balloon Fest, and we also did not take pictures of the night on the town  or Casino night --- what is wrong with us!!!  But we can guarantee all of you that this backyard adventure was the best photo op we have had in a long time.

Kasey and Karsten coloring with Grandma on the way to Albuquerque.  These guys woke up at 5:30 and were just wonderful the entire 8 hour trip.

David and Kasey playing games on the IPAD -- yeah I know what is new, David has been playing computer games forever!!  Is the next generation taking over from Uncle David.

Grandma could not be happier - playing with Karsten makes her day plus it keeps him busy during our 8 hours in the motorhome.

6:00 AM and the balloons are lighting up the sky

David, Pat and Kasey walking through the balloons as they are getting inflated!  What an experience!

Kris had to hold on to Pat, she kept wandering off.  Besides it makes a great picture

Pat and Karsten, Amy and Kasey seem to be enjoying the morning's mass accession

There were so many shaped balloons like the Upside down elephant and the Little Girl!  Who thinks these things up?

The sky is filled with balloons of all shapes and sizes!

Some take off while others are getting inflated - wave after wave!

More Balloons!

Karsten, Pat, and George enjoying the beautiful weather and also a few balloons

 

We are so fortunate to travel and see the amazing sights this country has to offer.  However. what we appreciate more is our friends and how they open up their homes, allow us to join their family, and go out of their way to make us welcome.  We think we have the best friends and families in the world and we hope that we never take any of you for granted.  If you are reading this blog - that means you!

 

We are still traveling and still enjoying this life.  Our house hunting --- We have looked at a lot of houses but none have seemed like "our new backyard" so we are going to keeping traveling until we find that certain place.  Our next major trip maybe near Christmas but we will keep you posted as we find our way down life's path!  We hope you all are enjoying your life and if we could say it one more time -- Each of you are important to us, please take care of yourself.

The Boys with Grandma and Grandpa

Life is really good if you are grandparents and you get to spend time with your grand kids. 

We are so fortunate to be able to come back to Colorado and spend time with the family and so happy that every once in awhile we get to play with Kasey and Karsten.  Over the last few weeks we spent time together while Mom and Dad took a mini vacation to Las Vegas, attended a Bronco game or we just picked them up early from their daycare and played together.  These little guys might not remember Grandma and Grandpa playing with them but we will have these memories forever.  We took a few pictures (about 60 but will only post a few) with them over the last few weeks and thought we would post them for our friends and family to see how they are growing up.

 

 

Grandpa and Karsten at Buckley AFB in front of a F-100

 

Kasey and Grandpa in front of the same airplane

 

 

What kind of plane is this Grandma?

Karsten and Kasey in front of a F-86

 

These two deer happened by the front window at Kris and Amy's house - the boys went nuts and so did Grandpa and Grandma. 

Daddy, glad you got home.  Want to go for a ride on our new toy?

Kasey coming down the slide at the park

 

Karsten loved going through the tunnels at the park

 

Time to rest with Grandma

Kasey showing Karsten how to work Grandma's IPAD

We are so proud of these two guys.  We sat and watched them tear up the paper, throw it up in the air and laugh and laugh.  After it was all done and the picture taken, Kasey told Karsten that they needed to help Grandpa clean this mess up -- Problem was Grandpa didn't know he was going to clean it up!!  Got to love them.

Kasey loves to help Grandpa make blueberry pancakes and he is getting pretty good at it.  Karsten is not feeling so good but Grandma is there to cuddle with him.

 

We thought you would enjoy our little expose' on our time with the grand kids.  If you are a grandparent, aunt, uncle or just have friends with little kids that you love, you know the great feeling of just being around them, loving them,  and watching them explore, play, and grow.  It is the best feeling in the world.  Maybe not so much if you are the parents and trying to work, raise a family, deal with the stress of everyday life and of course doing the best you can to teach your kids to be the best they can be -- but just  maybe that is why God invented "Grand"parents!!!!

 

As we close this post, we wanted everyone to know that George's last PET scan came back completely clear of cancer.  He has taken his last chemo for this maintenance round and has started with a speech therapist to help him with the swallowing problems he has experienced.  This weekend the entire family will be visiting Mike and Rita in Albuquerque for the big balloon festival.  We think the grand kids will go wild walking through all the air balloons and watching the different shapes of balloons take off in mass ascension.  It should be a lot of fun for all the adults too!  We will take a lot of pictures and of course will share our time at the balloon fest with you, our friends and family.  Life is still an adventure for us, we hope you enjoy our view of the world's backyards.