Diego to the third power

Here we are at the party store once again.
Last time we were here we had so many laughs (click here to revisit that blog)

Once again we perused the many themes to see what might spark our imaginations....


                                                  There was the Western Cowgirl theme

                                                         The Rock and Rock 50's theme

                                                          The Roaring 40's theme

                                                       The Teen pop star theme

Then there was the 

                                            Go, Diego, Go theme...............creeeeepy!

Guess who......

triskaidekaphobia

What do you think of Friday the 13th??

Are you superstitious?

Don't worry about it!

At least Jason gets a balloon!! 

Hahaha or maybe muwahaha......

--Walk safely and move swiftly today--

Super family fun.........

New York Giants vs. New England Patriots

It's Super Bowl Sunday.........

Bam, Princess Fifi, Sweetheart, Cookie and I absolutely enjoy watching the big game together.

Whether we're watching as a family live, in person or on t.v.

We enjoy a good game.......

There are pom-poms, NY Giant mylar balloons by the t.v., and mini footballs......

The girls have painted their tiny nails with tiny helmets, glitter, and gems.

OOhhh........ what a grand affair.

We're ready to attend an exclusive, private Super Bowl party.

So exclusive and private that there wasn't any invitations sent out.

Hint: We're NOT in Indianapolis

We're in our own home........... this party is meant for us. 

(we don't know any one else as big a fan of "The Big Game" like us anyhow)

This is our very own, personal Super Bowl party.
Ultra exclusive, we had......
fresh berries and melons (yummy antioxidants)
7 layer organic dip (mmmm)
home made pumpkin tofu cookies (soft, healthy, and yum)
hoagie sandwich (subs are a requirement of any Super Bowl party)
angel eggs (not deviled)
Root beer soda (dessert??)
Super Bowl cupcakes (with mini super bowl rings atop)
Baked lays (crispy)
orange smiles   :-)
mozzarella sticks (cheezy)
macaroni salad (Fifi's secret recipe)
Green chile, sour cream dip (hahahaha.......soo delish)
Home made tamales (not shown because they went super fast)

We had a great time!!!

Princess Fifi and I mingled about the snack table......
While Bam and Sweetheart were in their team jerseys getting in on the best seats in the house.....
(in front of the tv)

But who knew Cookie would be the BIGGEST "fan"atic in the house........
(wearing her "lucky" Giants t-shirt and the gloomy bears beanie she wears to every winning Super Bowl)

CONGRATULATIONS NEW YORK GIANTS
GIANTS 21, PATRIOTS 17

Happy un-Birthday

Today we celebrate our un-birthdays.

Today you are you!

That is truer than true!

There is no one alive who is you-er than you!

(Dr. Seuss)

Not another year older but another year better.

Guess who enjoyed his birthday cake??

Big flame for big wishes.........

Who says you can't have cotton candy on your birthday

Hold on tight,  birthday Princess

Do my kids love me or what????

Never too old for birthday cake and balloons
Happy un-Birthday to you too..........

the mini chase crew

Look who got up bright and early.........

The air is chilly on this Sunday, last day of the International Balloon Fiesta.

We're

dressed in layers

 Sun block on our faces.

hand warmers in our pockets

breakfast burritos in our bellies
with our eyes to the sky

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 

ABQ International Balloon Fiesta

This is Hamlet the flying pig
 one of our favorite special shaped hot air balloons

Upon Hamlets' descent, Hamlet's chase crew gave us the privilege to deflate Hammy.

Hamlet's chase crew scrambling to tighten the under lying tarp

Hamlet needs help.........

Fifi is more than happy to help roll out the air from Hammy

Sweetheart is having a ball 

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin' keep 'em kids rollin'....... 

Hamlet's chase crew along side my little balloon rollers.
Sweetheart, Fifi, Miss Katia--Sweethearts BFF, Cookie and Miss Deja--Fifis BFF

Thank you pilots and chase crew for giving my girls great memories.
It truly was an honor.

See you next year Hamlet!!

Doesn't this photo look like a balloonist trading card??

The girls eyes to the sky as they startle when the balloon's burners blast

The girls and the balloon's pilot
Miss Deja--Fifis BFF, Fifi, Cookie, Sweetheart, Miss Katia (Sweethearts BFF)

Hi Grandma-Great and Uncle Phil wish you were here.....

Trying to deflate the balloon, while keeping it off the cement
 is not an easy job UNLESS you have many little helping hands.

Sweetheart's tiny hands help well

Fifi and Cookie
hold the balloon off the ground

Fifi and Miss Deja stuff the balloon in the bag to the pilot's delight.
Cookie packs the balloon in by sitting on the bag.

That's the enormous hot air balloon all bundled up for next time

The "mini" crew and I had a great time chasing the big toys in the sky. 

We had fun this year and we look forward to next years International Balloon Fiesta.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures......

getting an eye full

This morning we saw this amazing oblong shaped hot air balloon and a couple of regular shaped balloons near the Sandia Mountains.

As you can see, the Sandia Mountains have a cold front enveloping it from the East. 

What a beautiful shot, it looks like an ocean wave roaring over the mountain towards the city.

 Bam got this shot and dozens of other, as the sky was filled with hot air balloons from every angle.

Tomorrow is day nine and last day of the International Balloon Fiesta.

Click the highlighted link above to be directed to their site to see time lapse recording of today and all the previous days of the Fiesta.

While there, you might be able to see the cold front off the Sandia in full motion as well.

Enjoy. It's eye-tastic.....

toys in the sky......

With my eyes big and my heart filled with happiness and wonder--I gaze at my toy box in the sky.
--This passage is from an original poem written by Princess Fifi--

This morning, as I took the children to school, we saw hundreds of hot air balloons enroute skyward.
We can look forward to this every morning, all week long. (weather permitting)

From the back seat I hear the children talking about the balloons. The conversation was as if they were talking about seeing old friends. As the kids point to the sky, "Look whose back." "I thought they couldn't make it in from Brazil this year." "I'm glad to see them again." "I hope they have a safe launch and good weather."

What a magical day......

Plus Princess Fifi is excited to report that she's made the cheerleading team
!!!!!!!!!!

let the magic begin......

Today is the first day of the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

Our big blue skies are filled with hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes. These hot air balloons are what Albuquerque is known for world wide.
During the next nine days our skies will be filled with hundreds of balloons from 7 am to around 10 am during Balloon Fiesta.
We could go to the Balloon Fiesta park and actually see the mass ascension with dawn patrol.
But that requires waking up at 4 am and getting out into bumper to bumper traffic by 5 am.
Although the Balloon Fiesta park isn't the only place you'll get a grand view. Just about anywhere in the city is a good place to spot a balloon afloat.

Its great to be able to see our favorite hot air balloons come back year after year. But it is also great to be able to see something new that we've never seen before.
No where else in the world will you be able to see:

a flying pig........

a stage coach......

 bees holding hands......(Joey and Joelly)

Darth Vader......

a haunted house.....

an angel boy....

or even a scare crow.....

(to say the least)

The International Balloon Fiesta also gives opportunities for volunteering on a chase crew. The chase crew follow the balloon (safely) on the ground. They help to find an open field or parking lot for the balloon to make a safe descent, deflate, fold and put away the balloon and equipment. The pilots are known to have elaborate, generous, special parties, gatherings and breakfast banquets for their crew. Many of the pilots come from other countries to fly here. It is a very expensive and pricey hobby to own and operate a hot air balloon or even more so for a special shaped hot air balloon.
Many of the pilots and peepers come from across the country and over seas. We get many foreigners and tourist to our little city. Albuquerque always rolls out the red carpet and the white gloves of hospitality for all those who visit us during this time.

The International Balloon Fiesta isn't just only during the waking hours though. They also have balloon glows at night. This is where the hot air balloons inflate but they do not leave the ground. The balloons glow from within from the burners. This is a very nice spectacle to witness. Come to think of it, anything Balloon Fiesta is spectacular.

Although today, we are not at the balloon fiesta park, we do look forward to getting out to the park sometime this week. But we are home, watching live coverage of the International Balloon Fiesta on t.v. in our pajamas, warm and cozy.......