A Slow Start....

We had a sloooow start to our day today.  Asher got up at 6:45 and was back in bed by 8 after a very sleepy and arduous breakfast experience.  It was a cold, cloudy day-- I can't say I blame him for waking up only to decide that it was a mistake.  Back to bed little boy!

But the day got a lot better after the first nap.

Such a serious little artist.

"I've got two hands, why not paint two pumpkins?"

Then we decided to go chase hot air balloons (not hard to do when they are literally falling out of the sky).  We followed one all the way down to Corrales and watched it land.  Asher was in awe.

Touch down!

Starting to deflate...

Asher is now officially concerned...

Balloon!  I will save you!

Hurry up Mom, you're saving it too!

What a hot air balloon looks like when it isn't in the sky.

Asher quickly got over his devastation and found a new balloon.

Of course all of this is Harlan's nightmare.  This poor dog hates ONE balloon.  There are thousands flying over our house every day.  He is officially stress paralyzed.  Just lays on the ground growling all day long.

Happy Things

Some fun pictures from yesterday...

Balloon Fiesta Flies On

Asher & Payson got to hang out all day yesterday at Renae's.  She said they just followed each other around and played for hours.   It is really fun watching them together, she has a good job!

Happy Monday!

On days like today, it is hard to  believe that for 18 months we worried about Asher's appetite and interest in eating.  His lunch today: pumpkin noosa, red pepper hummus, cornbread with honey, curry chicken salad, ham, and pirates booty.   Thank you Asher.

...and thank you Starbucks, for knowing EXACTLY what I mean when I say "I want LOTS of half and half".  

Painting pumpkins with his buddies.

Why Do Weekends Have to End?

Going to get the mail... a daily routine.

 (...even on Sundays, we just always tell Asher, "Shoot, no mail today!")

Balloon Fiesta started this weekend.  If you look carefully at the mountains you'll see the tiny dots of hundreds of hot air balloons.

Asher's face says: "I can do this.  I can jump off this ladder and land on my feet!"

Ben's face says: "He is going to jump off this ladder and land on his face."

My favorite way to end a day (well, an Asher day...).  Our 5:00 wind down. 

Beckett got baptized!  And looked pretty dapper while he was at it.

Fall is Here!

Finally, fall is here!  

It was 50 degrees when Asher and I ran errands this morning.  The air in Albuquerque actually smells like roasting hatch peppers, the cottonwoods are changing color, pumpkin patches abound...ahhh, fall.

Here is what we've been up to the last couple of days.

Asher and his buddy Karsen.  When I picked Ash up from Renae's yesterday, her ten year old came sprinting through the door (home from school), completely out of breath, and said, "I saw your van in the driveway and I ran all the way from the bus stop because I wanted to see Asher before you left!".  He is the cutest kid and Asher loves him.

Fall weather means fall clothes!

It wouldn't be fall without Jude dressing up for Halloween :)  Thank you Michelle for letting me post these pictures, and thank you Laura for being the best puppy Grandma ever!

 Messing with Harlan.

 Messing with the hose.

Just messin'.

Galloping Grace Pumpkin Patch!

Goats.  Asher was so brave today- he would stick his arms all the way through the fence to touch the animals.   I'm a little paranoid about him getting nipped at since I had an ill-fated petting zoo experience as a kid, but I will let him enjoy his childhood I guess.

 Beckett & Kira joined us.

  

Climbed all the way up the grain belt only to realize he did not want to go down the big, dark enclosed slide.

I will never eat pork again.  This was the best thing I've ever seen.

STOP TRAFFIC.  There are few things in this world that are more adorable than baby llamas.

Trying to pull the train (it was heavy).

This little girl kept asking Asher to come inside.  Ash wouldn't even turn around, he'd just say "No" and go back to playing with the truck.  Atta boy.