Lake Havasu Balloon Festival

This year marked the 4th annual balloon fest in Lake Havasu which is a three day weekend event with vendors, food, entertainment, sky divers and balloons-lots of balloons.  They launch the balloons in the morning each day and at sunset they have the 'Night Glow'.  We decided to go in the evening and it was pretty darned awesome.

There was a bit of a breeze and some decided against inflating their balloons for fear the wind would pick up.                                          Watching this process was interesting in and of itself.

After unhooking the balloon from the basket-

The organized crew 'humps' the balloon into a storage container.  No easy task.

Most of the others decided to brave the breeze and inflate their balloons.

As the sun was setting

The sky divers appeared

And then it was time 

For the night to glow

David was in awe

As were many others

Fire em up

And make them shine

Last but not least is the Wells Fargo Coach which was 10 stories tall and takes a commercial pilot to fly it.

This is a must see if you are ever in an area that has a balloon festival- I hear that Albuquerque NM has one that tops this one, I cant even imagine.

4th annual Lake Havasu Balloon Festival

Thanks Debbie K for the lesson on shooting in aperature priority....critique away and I am ready for my next lesson :)     

Christmas

Minnesota Style

Our annual Christmas in Prior Lake was another huge success-great food, fun conversation, lotsa laughs and time spent with Momma Loi...priceless.

These two girls so look forward to Grandma Loi visiting and I love seeing their excitement.

Show off time for their 'Old Grandma'

And a big ole hug from Shelby

Lenny and Julia helped Loi open her gifts

And Kelly L nailed it.  My momma Loi is rather, shall we say hard to please because anything she wants or needs she buys- but this year Kel wins the prize for the best surprise.  

This is a picture holder to hang on the wall-not only did she think of the holder but she went on Facebook taking the time to find pictures of each grandchild and family, had them printed and put in the holder.  Very thoughtful Kelly Leonard and it touched Loi's heart for sure.

Last year Loi mentioned she like the fragrance of whatever candle Kel had burning-remembering this Kelly found a candle warmer for a second gift, added the same scent and wallah-perfect gift number two :)

Grandma Loi's gift to the girls was a huge hit as well.  The next morning Julia announced that she slept on hers and loves it 

Every year Auntie Kelly W scores a big hit in her gifts.  Some sort of play-dough factory or another this year, and the best part is sitting down with her to play.

I have often said that none of the grands will know that they had a grandma named Bobbi because I am always the one taking the pictures-there are very few shots of me with any of our grand kids....thank you Lenny for taking the camera getting a few.

 Our Shelby is a talker, non stop talker, talk talk talk.....this is a wonderful thing for her and she loves it.  Did I mention that it is likely the only time that she is quiet?

Engrossed in the book

After the gifts are all opened and the company has left-the best time is siting quietly watching my kid play with his kids.

Len and Julia spent about an hour on her new Light Bright

While Kel and Shelby 'played' together with a few of Shelby's  toys.  These two parents amaze me-as busy as they are with their work life they always, always find time for times like these.

 I loved the lighting on her face as Julia was playing with her new Furbee

These may be my favorite shots of the weekend 

I crawled on the floor to get them from this angle and thank goodness they are used to me taking pictures as they pretty much ignore the camera-and me  

Sisters playing together-priceless

Yep-Priceless 

It was another wonderful Christmas in Prior Lake thanks to Len and Kel for hosting once again

Our Holidays A Little Here and A Little There

We were happy to have Rachel and Dezbah drive down to spend the night with us last weekend.  It was our own mini Christmas celebration complete with a non traditional meal of venison roast and Rachel's favorite cheesy potatoes.  

I know that it happens, but Dezbah has grown like crazy-she is in 1st grad and is already reading some...could I read in first grade?  I dont know but it caught me by surprise to hear her reading words.

Of course the camera came out and this has to be my favorite shot of Dez. 

Opening presents-Dezbah helping Grandpa open the gifts from her.

 And for Dezbah, a Furbee.  I love these things as annoying as they are but they are fun.  

Getting to know her new partner in crime.

Before heading out the next day Grandpa was itching to take his girls out on the Cami. It wasn't too long after they left that my phone rang-it was Gramps announcing that they had rolled the Cami but that everyone was OK...however, would I ask Bob (a fellow rider) to go help them out of the sand pit they were stuck in.  Believe it or not they still had smiles on their faces when they returned.