Colorado Balloon Classic!

Better late than never...
here are some pictures form our fun Labor Day weekend!
We (of course) spent time with grandmama and papa...
woke up EARLY...
put on our sweatshirts...
and went to see the fun big hot air balloons!

This is where the balloons would dip into the lake on their way outta town!
Look - even all the animals got to dip!
The ark was an obvious fave of Miss Thing!

I have so many pictures of Allikaye (and whoever was holding her)
straining their necks up to the sky...
she was taking in as much as she could of the cool balloons!

It is so fun to be able to share new memories with Allikaye!
The innocence and excitement she has...
for everything... is so refreshing!
She makes me act more like a kid...if that's possible!

How fun!

Funny Panda...

I found this video
as I was showing Allikaye different animals.
We both jumped the first time...
and then watched it over and over...
laughing every time!
It is only 13 seconds...
so pay close attention!

There is always humor in any situation...
especially when you are a mama!
Hope you have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

A Few Things I'm Thankful For...

The chance to make some new blocks...
for my NEW Etsy store...

My BEAUTIFUL new cuff...
from Brown Eyed Fox!

Finally...number one thing I am thankful for today...
well, not counting hubby and Allikaye...
ummm...and my mama and dad...
here it is...

No...I'm not thankful for the tornado...
but I AM thankful that...
the beastly thing didn't come to our house...
we didn't have to go hide in our bathroom (no basement)...
and that the bathroom was ready for us...
just in case!

You can make fun of me if you wish...
but I was FREAKIN' out!
I have always been so scared of tornados...
had the dreams that my dad would be watching it, and not taking cover...
dreams that I couldn't find my cat during the storm...
you know...the typical nightmares.
Well...this was the first time it was up close and personal!
AH!
Matt was running outside to take pictures...
while I was loading up the "safest place" with anything I could find!
Here I am after the fact...
Matt wanted to take a picture...
mostly to make fun of me...
but I'm ok with it...
notice the waterbottle...ya need hydration...
and we have the toilet paper ready...

And I am THANKFUL!!

Alexa...Our Hero

Before we get to Alexa...
I have been loving making blocks!

I have made some cute seasonal ones...
lots of personalized blocks...
mostly for baby showers or birthdays...
so here goes...
I have opened a little Etsy shop!
Yep..come and get em!

Next thing...
Meet Alexa...This is Alexa's bed...This is how it is going these days...
If Alexa takes a bath...
Allikaye takes a bath.
If Alexa changes her diaper...
Allikaye lets mama change her daiper.
Alexa goes to bed...Allikaye does to.
Get the picture?
Hey...what ever will work.
And my mom always said...
"Imitation is the best flattery."
So Alexa must be feeling pretty darn good!!

Grow Thier Minds!

We took a little trip to the Children's Museum!
It was such a fun little adventure...
new for all of us!
Let me just say...what a cool place!
It reminded me of the kindergartens in Germany...
so tactile and creative and inspirational!
Here are a few little photo memories of our day...The kitchen area looked a little like the other kids were stashing away for Y2K...
So maybe I should have a talk with Allikaye that this isn't the safest way to flip the bread...

And the painting was soso fun!
We went out and bought some paints after this...
Miss Thing loved it!

We were there for TODDLER TIME too!
Here is Allikaye in the middle of the read aloud...
I would say she was a little excited...

Then they taught us how to make sidewalk paint...
we went outside...
and Miss-toddler-time painted all over those sidewalks!

I heart the fair

The awesome fair...part 2...
a parade...
barbecue at the firehouse...
daddy throwing a baseball at beer bottles...
winning Allikaye some stuffed animals...
a ride down a big slide...
a jump castle...
animals, animals, and more animals!
(click on the pictures to enlarge)

Here is a little tribute to my dad...Allikaye's papa!
He got all decked out in his John Deere hat and cowboy boots...
brought his beautiful cowgirl (aka grandmama)...
and came down to play with the country folk!

I love you daddy!
And so does that granddaughter of yours!
She called papa on her cell phone today....
and said..."papa...papa....hi..." then some other stuff I couldn't quite decipher!

So who's comin' to the fair in Colorado with us next year??
Get yo tickets!

Sign me up for 4-H!

Oh how I love the fair!!

We used to grow up going to the fair in Nebraska...
and my cousins would show their hogs and cows!
I loved it and always had a piece of me that wanted to
be the one slappin' the rear end of one of those big ol' swine...
as the judge looked on!
Well...we are blessed to live right next to the
Douglas County Fairgrounds!
And it is FAIR TIME!!
We have honestly been almost everyday this week!
First we went and watched the girls...
in all their rhinestoned beauty...
show their horses.
Then we went back to see the pigs, lambs, goats, ducks, chicken, and cows!

Oh my! Allikaye LOVED the "amals!"
She would crack up when the sheep would yell and pigs went crazy!
She would put her hand on her face and say,
"silly sheep!"

Of course my favorite part was dressing Allikaye in her cowgirl boots!
She had on a shirt with a horse...
pigtails...
and those BOOTS!
Oh I couldn't take my eyes off her!
C.U.T.E!

And finally...we went on our DATE NIGHT to the...
RODEO!!!
Matt and I were hoopin' and hollerin'with all the country folk!

Here I am in all my rodeo ready gear!! I am even rockin' the salsa!

Here is my cowboy...I told him to look country...hmmm..