Dolce - the difference 1 month makes

Our fabulous kitten Dolce is growing so quickly!  This is her at 4 months old.

This is her one month later, at 5 months old.

I can't even believe it!!!

Balloon Fiesta - Mass Ascension

First thing I learned from this day:  I LOVE THE BALLOON FIESTA!

Second thing I learned from this day:  I need a tripod, STAT.

But alas, until I get one, I will have kinda blurry low light shots.  It's a good thing we will be in Albuquerque for a few years.  Goal: buy a tripod at least before my last Balloon Fiesta so I can get better shots.

Here are some of my favourite shots from the morning Mass Ascension.

Cute cold baby Josef

Blair and Luc-Palook

I love this one.  Very "Albuquerque Couple".

Poor MA was soooo cold, hence the sad face in this pic.  But soon Uncle Blair wrapped him up in extra layers and they were all happy and having a blast.

I like how the people are perfectly silhouetted in between the balloon's basket bars.

I love all the colours of the Balloon Festival!

Mary and Josef

Soooo many balloons!  I heard we actually broke the record for number of balloons in the air at one time!

Awesome.

Mary, Josef  and me in front of the kissing bees.  We saw these two go up from the beginning!

It was soooo much fun having Mary and the boys join us for our very first Albuquerque Balloon Festival!  I WILL be back next year.  Who'll join me?

My first Balloon Fiesta

My first "taste" of the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta was simply chasing them around the city.  We didn't go in the park grounds.  We didn't have a plan.  We simply woke up early, hopped in the car, picked a few to chase, and followed them around until they landed.  It was really fun!

My first picture of the Fiesta.  I was too excited, couldn't wait until we got closer, and had to snap one from the freeway.  :)

 Love this one!

Very Hawaiian of them.

So many balloons!

 I like that this one has the main Fiesta balloon, as well as all three of the bumblebees and the beer bottle balloons!

This is the first one we chased to the ground.  It landed right in the middle of someone's backyard!  Think I can convince the military to allow one to land in mine next year? 

 We loved the colours in this one, and chose to follow it all over the place!  We got lost a few times on random back roads in our attempt, but we kept our eye on it.

We were there right as it landed, literally about 30 feet away.

We even stayed to watch the crew dismantle it.  They looked like they were having so much fun!

Anyone know how I can volunteer on a balloon crew next year, in return for a Fiesta ride?  *dream*

Wedding Highlight Video

Today, as with every day, Blair and I walked to the mailbox during his lunch break.  Normally, we get one piece of junk mail every few days....and real mail far fewer than that.  It's pathetic really, and enough to make you feel completely and totally lame.  I mean, if you were really important, wouldn't you at least get more junk mail?  

So, I said a little prayer when we put our key in the box: "Please let there be a card and money in there."  (I debated just blogging about asking for a card as it sounds profoundly less selfish, but let's face it.  I did also ask for money.  'Twould be nice, you know.)  You see, in bible study we are going through the book "A Praying Life".  We've been discussing the importance of praying, for big and little...but having the importance rest on your asking, sharing your heart with your Lord and Saviour, and submitting to whatever HIS will is for your life.  And last week we specifically discussed being honest about all your wants, while knowing full well (and surrendering) that they may or may not be God's wants too.  

Anyways, I didn't get a card or money in the mail.  But what I did get was FAR better.  It was our wedding video!  I AM THRILLED!  Blair only had time for us to watch the highlight video while he was home for lunch, so we have yet to see the whole ceremony video. (I decided to be a good wife and promise not to watch it until he got home this evening.  It's not easy though.  Hence why I couldn't resist posting this in lieu of breaking my promise.)  But I am beyond excited about the way our highlight video turned out!!

 

Thank you so much, Bryce, for all of your hard work.  We LOVE it!!

All moved in....

And mostly set up and decorated.

The fall wreath I made for our front door.

 Front entryway.

 

 

 When you first walk in, you see our living room and window nook.

Living room reading corner

Living room

 Dining room

 World map with Kirk Family Travels  :)

 My spoon cases with spoons from around the world.

  Kitchen

 Which leads to the laundry room / Dolce's room

 The hallway

On the left side is my penguin display

On the right side is the "Wall of Us"

Then our guest room

 Then Blair's office and my craft room

  Then the guest bathroom

 And the master bedroom

 We still have plans and ideas...but this is where we are so far. :)  Please come visit!