Monday, October 22, 2012

Balloon Fiesta

First Breakfast
One of my favorite things about fall in New Mexico was the Balloon Fiesta.  So sad to say that I hadn't been back in about 10 years and Sam has never gone.  This year we had a bye week in soccer so I decided to road trip it to the Q and go to the Balloon Fiesta.  Sam had a busy weekend and couldn't make it but we will get him there soon enough.
Day 1 was too windy so no balloons went up.  Day 2 we decided to go to a park instead of battle the traffic.  We stopped at Dunkin Doughnuts for breakfast and headed to a park that Grandma Fish had scouted out. Perfect combo-hot air balloons, doughnuts and a playground.  It was fantastic.
Peeking at the Buffalo Balloon

Getting cozy to watch the balloons fly over

Hangin with the Grandparents

Uncle Nick double timing the swing pushing

How could you not love a sky like this?

This Pumpkin Patch is a Farm Too!!

Goofing around

Whatever her brother does...she is going to try

Happy Fall!

Pumpkin Patch Time

This is the way to get to the field

Looking for the perfect pumpkin

The lucky pumpkins

His favorite one

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Family Hay Ride



Getting Goofy with Daddy

Happy Halloween!!
Abby and Luke had been waiting "lots of days" to go to the pumpkin patch.  We found a new one that didn't cost a fortune to get into and had a blast.  As we were looking at the pig, sheep and chickens Luke in all his wisdom, informed us that this pumpkin patch was a farm too!  They loved every minute of it...expect for Abby being itchy all day, we think she is allergic to hay.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Greeley Train Museum

Grandpa Fish came to visit us for the weekend (minus Grandma so he got all the attention) so we decided to go explore the Greeley Train Museum.  It is really fun to find interesting places to visit right in our backyard.  The train museum was pretty amazing.  I can't even begin to explain how many tracks, trains and miniature town replications they have.  It was fascinating.  If that wasn't enough, they had a real caboose to climb in.  We spent lots of time looking at everything and hunting for the 5 hidden dinosaurs.  I think we all enjoyed the time that we spent there.

On the caboose with Grandpa

Searching for the dinosaurs



Super Daddy's Day

Best Daddy in the World!
Father's Day weekend we were in Colorado Springs for the Penn Family reunion so we decided to be tourists for daddy's special day.  We usually go to the zoo but with Santa's Workshop so close we decided to head to the amusement park. After a breakfast and a quick dip in the pool we packed up the car and drove to the mountains to Santa's Workshop.  Sam had never been and I went once as a kid.  It is a super cheesy "North Pole" full of rides for the whole family.  Right away we went on the ski lift and had a beautiful view of the park and the mountain valley.  Then we headed to the Tilt a Whirl...not a mom favorite so I watch.  The kids laughed the entire time and when Sam got off he was bit dizzy.  We realized quickly how as you get older your stomach doesn't handle spin in circle rides as well. Thank goodness they had a kid area where we were way too big for the rides.  I think we hit every ride, had ice cream and tons of fun!  Happy Father's Day to you!

Tilt a Whirl Fun

Here we go!

Riding the Spinning Cups

Heck yeah...a rocket ship!


Gotta have an ice cream stop

#1 Dad goes down the Peppermint Slide

Just Cruising with Daddy

Monday, June 25, 2012

Mother's Day 2012


Love these kids! 
 Sam and the kids always make Mother's Day great! The day started out rather lazy...just how I like it and then we headed to my favorite Northern Colorado BBQ joint, Nordy's.  Lucky for us, they were having an all you can eat BBQ buffet...score!  We got there early enough that we didn't have to wait for a table and the kids were fantastic.  During lunch Abby informed us that she is a "little mommy" to her baby dolls so she gets to celebrate Mother's Day too.  I didn't mind sharing.  After lunch we went to one of our favorite parks in Ft. Collins to play. Then we hit up Eaton Grove Nursery for tons of flowers to plant in our many flower pots.  Abby and Luke loved helping me pick out flowers and they even helped us plant them.  It was such a lovely day and the best part was spending it with my wonderful kids and my amazing husband who makes it all happen!

Hand-painted wine glasses that the kids made with Nonnie for me.

Rock and Roll

This year Abby's dance class rocked it out to a cheering crowd to AC/DC's It's Been a Long Way to the Top.  You know you have a hit with 2-4 year olds dancing with blow-up guitars to a rockin' song.  Abby loved the song and the costume...she takes her dance class very seriously and has been looking forward to her show for quite some time.  This year I wasn't a back stage mom (been there, done that!) so I got to watch all the dances.  Some were very cute.  Grandma Fish and Grandma GG both came up to watch their granddaughter perform.  Luke did pretty good, although it was hard for him to wait until the 2nd act to see his sister.  He had the people sitting around us laughing when he cheered that the recital was over...after he counted down every dance to the end. :-) Daddy cheered the loudest for Abby, he is very proud of his little dancer.
Our little Rock and Roll Gal

A few of Abby's dance friends

Best part, getting flowers from her brother

Our family

Rockin it out on stage!



Got the curlers in!


Daddy's Little Dancer

Devil Ray T-Ball

We weren't sure if we would sign the twins up for t-ball or not, but a few of their friends wanted to play so we decided to do it.  Sam was too late to coach (completely my fault) so he is assisting their coach.  Preschool t-ball is a lot like Mighty Mite Soccer....a bit of chaos, lots of learning, laughter from the parents and tons of fun!  We have one practice a week and one game a week.  Each player gets to bat in each inning.  Once the ball is hit it is magnet ball all over...all the kids run for the ball and see who can grab it first.  A few games into the season and they are doing much better at staying in their area and not diving for every ball. 
Abby waiting to run the bases

The first game was a riot.  One kid was more interested in the dirt and let everyone know that this was really good dirt.  Luke was mad because the big kids shoes were faster than his and he couldn't catch the ball. By the second game he had caught 3 balls and was loving it.  Abby has a natural swing and whacks the ball with a big smile.  It will be a fun season.
 
Hit it Abs!
Oh!! I am going to get that ball!
Luke is ready for that grounder, or loving the dirt!
Abby waiting for the ball, pink princess glove and all
 
Run Luke!
 
 
 
High Five'ing Daddy after scoring
 
 

Team Penn Fun

We have been so busy and I have been horrible at keeping up with the blog.  I will get a bunch of post up this week...so keep reading! Here are some pictures of us just having fun!
First pool afternoon of the year...mid May!  Our friends gave us their old pool and they had so much fun splashing around.  We couldn't wait until our neighborhood pool opened up.
Luke with his "best dog Dexter"

Abby getting her face painted at the Jungle Book play
This little girl has won daddy's heart, fingernail polish time!

Twins!