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*