"Boon"

Last Saturday Evan and I got to go on a hot air balloon ride. Marv's Body Shop sponsored a hot air balloon in the "Central Plains Hot Air Balloon Race" and since Evan is now part owner in the business we were the lucky ones that got to ride along.

We had to be out at the field at 5:30a.m.. Needless to say that didn't provide me with much sleep. We went to bed around 11/11:30p.m., Makenna was up to eat at 3:30a.m., and then the alarm went off at 4:30a.m.! It was well worth it though.

The hot air balloon race works like this: one balloonist takes off, then lands, and lays out an X. The other balloonists then take off and try to throw their "beanie" (like a bean bag) on the X to win.

Evan and I during the preparation time of getting the balloon ready

Evan was part of the crew that helped get the balloon ready for take off. To fill the balloon with air they run a fan and 2 people hold open the bottom of the balloon for the air to go into.

Look at those big muscles!

There were lots of balloons, so the field was very tight with all the balloons as they starting blowing them up with air.

Starting to set the balloon upright. The balloon comes upright by the heat of the fire, which also is what takes the balloon into the air.Up, up, and....away!

A look down at all the other balloons just taking off or getting ready for take off.

Depending on your height in the sky depends on what wind current you hit. In order to get to the X we had to stay pretty low to the ground as the wind had changed since the first balloon had taken off therefore most of our ride was not high in the sky.

What a view!

Coming back down. We had a nice landing, although the basket did bounce into a fence.

The crew followed us and helped as get the balloon down and put away.

After the balloon was all put away we participated in a "ceremony". The first balloonists could not really determine where they would land therefore they landed on someone's land. They also thought that it was the smoke that made the balloon fly (when really it was the heat from the fire), so they were covered in soot. The landowners saw this big balloon fall from the sky and these dirty, sooty people came out of it. They did not know what to think so they went running after them. The balloonists got away, but after that they decided they better come baring a gift. At this time champagne was created and so they brought this as their gift. Thus a tradition was made that after landing you were to be "baptised" with this gift. They fill up a glass with champagne, have you face towards the sun, and then you must kneel and pick up the glass (without your hands) and drink it. The pilot then says some things which I cannot remember exactly what he said, but something about thanks to God for arriving at the destination safely, etc. While you are drinking your champagne the pilot then pours some champagne on your head.

At the end the balloonist prayer is said:

"The Winds have Welcomed you with softness. The Sun has blessed you with his warm hands. You have flown so high and so well that God has joined you in your laughter and set you gently back again into the loving arms of Mother Earth."

We thought that Denver would enjoy seeing the balloons too and there was a race in the evening as well, so we took the kids in the evening to watch and for Evan to be extra hands to be a part of the crew if they needed him.

Daddy and Denver

Makenna hanging out in her stroller.

Denver and Mommy

Watching all the "boons" as Denver says.

"Look Dad, they went up high in the sky. Bye, bye!"

Here is a video of the balloon getting ready for take off. Towards the end of the video you can here Denver say "hot" as he could feel the heat from the flame.

And they still like each other!

JUST PICTURES!

A picture with both of the kids looking!! Lots of Love!

Denver is always needing a hug or love from his sister and has to give her a good night kiss before bed!

Pretty in Pink

Cool Dude

Look how strong she is; she held her head up like this for at least a minute I'd say!

(Makenna also rolled the other day....off the couch and thankfully into my arms as I was right there to catch her! Those rolling days should be several weeks away I thought....I know...they are, it was just fluke...but we do keep finding her in interesting positions if we leave her in her boppy or something.)

Oops...Mom didn't put the top of the sippy cup on right!Makenna playing! She's becoming more and more enteractive. She looks around a lot now.Playing together because Makenna has "cool" toys!More Love!Denver is constantly playing with his tractors and trailers.SMILES! The smiles have started and they are so much fun! (For some reason blogger kept flipping this picture so sorry you have to look at it sideways!)

Happy 80th Birthday Grandpa Melvin!

On June 7th we had a big Open House Birthday Party for my Grandpa Melvin to celebrate his 80th birthday. Denver had a great time as you can see from the pictures!

"Mmm...Grandpa you should have more birthdays! This frosting is good!"

Denver and Daddy on the 4 wheeler!

"Forgot Mom, look at all this candy Grandma!"

Makenna hanging out with Grandpa Rodney

Zoo Fun

On Makenna's 1 month birthday Denver, Makenna, and I met our friends Aimee, Abby, and Mason at the zoo. Abby is Denver's best friend! His face lights up when he thinks of her and we catch him laying in his bed trying to fall asleep singing "Abby, Abby, Abby". Denver, I hope you aren't too embarrassed some day if you read this! The kids had a great time and it was a nice way to get out and enjoy the nice weather and for us Moms' to have some adult social time too!

There was a baby monkey which the kids liked as they are learning all about babies now that they are a big brother and big sister!

The kids sat in their strollers quite well other than when they couldn't see an exhibit and wanted "up" so they could see. At the end we let them out and let them run around a little bit.I got a zoo pass so I can take the kids some more! We are excited to see the 2 new baby tigers that are expected the end of July! Check out www.keloland.com and search for the story "Cats in the Cradle" to learn more.

Makenna 1 Month Pictures

I'm falling behind on my blogging! There just are not enough hours in a day. I decided that while the kids nap today I need to attempt on getting the blog updated so we'll see how much progress I can make!

Makenna Betty was 1 month old on June 5th. Since my last post with Makenna's "stats" we've had several appointments.

May 26: 8lbs 5oz

May 29: 8lbs 15 0z (this was a different scale though so give or take)

and I believe she was 20 3/4 in long

June 9: 9lbs 15 oz (Makenna started at the 10% for weight and has jumped to the 50%!)

Makenna also had her hip ultrasound which was normal! Her appintment on June 9th was to check on her murmur again and our pediatrician did not hear it at this appointment so he said we'll just listen again at her 2 month appointment. I have not listened lately so I don't know if it's still gone or if it's a murmur that still comes and goes, but I'm not worried about it so I don't stress on it and find the time to listen! At this appointment we also discussed reflux and decided that it was in Makenna's best interest if we started her on Zantac. This past Saturday I saw a huge difference. She was less fussy and barely spit up, but Sunday came and she was fussy and spitty againg and the last couple days have been better than what they used to be, but not as good as Saturday so hopefully the Zantac will do it for her and we won't have to put her on Prevacid which is what Denver is on for his reflux.

Here are some 1 month pictures. I don't have as much free time so I did them in broken up times trying to get a picture I loved. I had hoped to get some better ones, but I still do like these. She is adorable in all of them of course, right?!

Here is a picture of Makenna on my very special wall hanging that my Grandma Betty made for my sister, cousins, and me out of left over scraps from our clothes that our Mom's made for us. Since we can't have a picture of Makenna with her namesake I thought this might be the next best thing!

Makenna is outgrowing her newborn clothes!!!! I don't think Denver outgrew his this fast, but he also didn't gain weight as fast as she has so I guess that would make sense! She is on to 0-3 month and 3 month clothes (depending on the neck opening...she's so narrow that some of her 0-3 month clothes don't fit yet because they fall off her shoulders) and in size 1 diapers!

Here are some pictures of her clothes that she had on for the last time or 1 of the last times. Poor thing keeps getting crammed into little clothes because I don't want to pack them up yet!

Denver's 18 Month Pictures

Denver turned 18 months on May 17th....I'm a little behind, I know, but at least I'm trying to keep up! :) I don't think I really have much to add from what I wrote about Denver around the time of his "18 month birthday" and then his video post, so this will be mostly just pictures, but that's what everyone likes the most anyway, right?!

Denver is talking more and more every day. I love listening to him jibber-jabber, but it's even more fun to hear him repeat me or someone when I have no idea that it's coming and he hasn't said it (whatever it was that was said) before.

Denver continues to love his baby sister. I never imagined that Denver would adjust to his "new world" so easily! Besides thanking God for Denver's adjustment I need to thank each and everyone of you who has been praying for us and for Denver during this adjustment period. God truly listens!

We're praying for the nice weather to return! Denver loves the outdoors and it's been raining and icky so he hasn't gotten to go play outside as much as he would like. We did get to the zoo with his good friend Abby last week so hopefully there will be a a zoo post coming, along with some other posts such as Makenna's 1 month, last check up, etc, and other things...say a prayer I have time to get them done! :)

Words, words, and more words

By the help of another blogger friend I found out how to get my videos to upload again! Shorten them! I tried to shorten the videos up and so there are several of them. Enjoy!

"Cheese" and "No"

"Pizza" & Animal Sounds

The Wheels on the Bus (also known as "round and round" in our house)

"Vroom" and "Abby"

"Cool Dude"