There is a patchwork of experiences that make up any life.  We start with our own personal big bang, the beginning, the story of our birth and how we made it into the world. We collect memories of parents, siblings and friends as children. Banal memories of eating scrambled eggs at the table with brothers and a sister, of walking to school, of playing with toys.  All laced with feelings of contentment and love and safety.  There are memories of events that shaped us, learning experiences where we saw something new in something we thought was known.  We had and will, hopefully, continue to have a multitude of firsts.  First day of school, first best friend, first time we saw the northern lights or the ocean.  I don't know of anyone who hasn't met with the devastating effects of adversity, or the joy of successes, both at times so intimately intertwined as to become nearly one and the same event, frequently so inspiring that others become a part of the memory through the sharing.  Each of these moments great and small make up our life, our stories, and regardless of the time you've lived in or the place or the circumstance we each have an amazing story.  Throughout it all, at the bleakest of times and in the most joyful nurturing some spark of sunshine inside just to keep things alive becomes an essential part of my life. It's not always easy and its source has come from some pretty interesting places.

Well, it's about time we figured out the darn password and got to blogging again. Here are a few pictures of the family during the holidays that recently passed. It was fun to spend so much time with our daughters and sons-in-law and grandkids. Hope you enjoy looking at them.

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

Well today started early, around 4:30 AM we rolled out of bed and threw on some warm clothes and hopped in the car to go to balloon fiesta. Today was the special shapes rodeo and there were certainly some unusual balloons we saw dragons, bees, sunflowers, strawberries too many to name really. Then Ken and Mandy and the kids stayed and watched the flying competition where a couple hundred balloons fly really low and try to grab a prize off a pole. Kinda cool or holy flying cow!

This balloon came from Switzerland, it was a Dom that was having a hard time getting the left tower filled with hot air.








Finally, we have lift off. The cow's behind the Dom but she's about to lift off too.

This one looked like a ginormous octopus with a bunch of seafood stuck to it.

The Big cow almost ready and finally it went right over our heads.
Thanks Mandy, Dallin and (even though you slept the whole time) Mia for coming and sharing the Fiesta with us.

Almost forgot this was the competition, they fly really low before they switch back and go up again.

A few nights ago I was sitting at the table and happened to flip open my cell phone when it decided to dial my Mom's number. I know, it's a weird phone. But since she was already on the line I figured someone was trying to tell me to call my Mom. Well, most of the conversation centered around her blog space and how lovely it would be if her children quit ignoring her invitation to post pictures and write entries. I figured since Mandy my daughter was coming there would be more interesting things to post after she'd arrived so here we are. Our first post on our own blog space and we'll probably add more in the future. Well, Maybe.

The Big Wooden Tent in Cedar Crest